| As a martial artist, when you read the Tao, an | | | | But if we have no enemies, do we need |
| ancient book of wisdom attributed to Lao Tzu, | | | | self-defense training? And even if we meet |
| certain passages can leave you breathless. | | | | adult-to-adult resistance in our community or |
| One of them whispers, "The greatest tragedy is | | | | career, to what extent is pugilism going to resolve |
| to have an enemy." | | | | these issues? |
| This little statement makes you wonder, why is it | | | | Why invest the time, effort, money, and |
| tragic to have an enemy when we train so | | | | undertake the risks of sustained combat training |
| assiduously to defeat them? Do we have to be | | | | when you are unlikely to encounter mortal |
| concerned about rain if we carry an umbrella? | | | | enemies? |
| Preparing ourselves for battle presumes that | | | | And is it just possible our investment in training |
| battle is inevitable. Yet the fact is most adults in | | | | increases the chances that we'll attract enemies if |
| civilized countries will never get into a shoving | | | | only for the very purpose of demonstrating that |
| match or worse with anyone else during the | | | | we are capable of defeating them? You know the |
| balance of their lives. | | | | expression there has never been a weapon of |
| A lawsuit is much more likely, especially in | | | | war devised by humans that has not been used. |
| America, but would you go to law school and | | | | We armor ourselves largely because we are filled |
| become licensed because you're afraid at some | | | | with hostility that on an unconscious level we fear |
| point you might be involved in a dispute? Or would | | | | the world will reciprocate. |
| you contact a lawyer, if and when such a | | | | Recently, I came across a brilliant question that |
| possibility occurred? | | | | Albert Einstein said is the most important one we |
| One of the main reasons people are attracted to | | | | can ask ourselves: |
| martial arts training is that they FEAR being | | | | "Do I live in a friendly universe or in a hostile |
| attacked. Where does that fear come from? | | | | universe?" |
| A kid that is bullied and bloodied on a regular basis | | | | I believe your answer will help you to avoid |
| has a realistic, fact-based concern for his safety. | | | | making tragic mistakes of many kinds. |
| Training can help him. | | | | |