As the Pandemic eases how do we return to normal?
We’re Martial Artists. We’ve Got This.
By Jon Michael Davis
As we navigate our way though a period of time unlike any other, we must remind ourselves of who we are; we are martial artists.
Throughout history, our arts have survived wars, disease, famine, persecution, and genocide. We have persevered. Phrases like “unprecedented times” are used today and we all can grasp the severity of our collective experience.
Feelings of anxiety, fear, helplessness, pain, and stress permeate our culture. These feelings are fostered in a perpetual cycle of media spin and political posturing on a Machiavellian scale. Confusion and weakness are widespread, as we sift through information coming at us from every angle. Confidence in our government, medical professionals, and educators is tenuous. Relationships are strained, as friends and family members are not speaking. Social media, once lauded for bringing us together, has become toxic in its ability to divide us even further. From the outside, looking in, one could surmise that we are at a low point in humanity. Our physical and mental health are under attack. Our livelihoods and way of life are under attack, with no clear and immediate solution.
Having said all of this, we all can agree that it can’t last forever. Nothing ever does. If there is one thing constant in the Universe, it’s change. How it changes and at what pace depends on us. And by “us”, I mean martial artists. Our job is very clear. As we all know, our training and development goes beyond kicking and punching. Our history clearly indicates that we are survivors. We devise at all times. We don’t quit. We have an indomitable spirit. We’re familiar with these attributes. We cultivate them on a regular basis through our training. A good majority of those outside of our martial arts world may not. So, this should be a “Call to Arms” to all martial artists. A call to be beacons of health and positivity. A call to share a confident, calm, and centered mindset to everyone we encounter. When we approach family, friends, and strangers with grace and understanding, we give everyone we encounter permission to do the same.
BODY
A beacon is a guide. However, we cannot be a guide to optimal health if our current physical condition is not the best that it can be. As a martial artist, there should be no excuse for being in poor health. Common sense and a wealth of medical opinion dictates that good health and healing operate inside-out, not outside-in. The human body is always striving for a natural state of perfect health and healing, not sickness and disease. Our job is to assist that natural state of being by being conscious of what goes into our bodies. If disease and ill-health are our “opponent”, we must strive to move according to that opponent and provide our bodies the things it needs to assist in that process: Fresh fruit and vegetables, adequate freshwater intake, proper sleep, and proper sunlight for Vitamin D. Vitamin D has been found to be a super-powered immune enhancer through the production of several antimicrobial peptides that have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties as well as a modulation of cellular immunity. Assisting our body’s natural systems by eating whole, fresh food and limiting processed and de-natured foods is a huge step to achieving optimal health, proper weight, and an overall feeling of harmony and balance within our physical body. In addition to being conscious of what goes into our bodies, it should go without saying that we need to move our body. Regular training, physical exertion, and stretching should not be limited to martial artists. But, if we lead by example, with a steadfast attention to being in the best shape we can be, our energy can radiate to those around us in an encouraging way. So, this is a Call to Arms for our body. Let’s rededicate ourselves to strengthening our natural immune systems and reconnect with what it means to be a disciplined martial artist. In discipline, there is freedom. Freedom from ill-health, injury, weight-gain, depression, and lack of confidence. It all starts with the body.
“Awareness is without choice, without demand, without anxiety.
In that state of mind there is perception”.
-Hapkido Tenet #12
MIND
Where the mind goes, the body follows. All of those old adages apply: ‘What you believe, you can achieve”, “Fake it, before you make it”, “Where there is a will, there is a way”. All of these hit home the point that the mind is a powerful tool in the continued development and success of a martial artist. We’ve all seen extraordinary examples of martial artists demonstrating “mind over matter” skill and control. Honing self-control of the mind requires attention and a strength of vision. Clarity of mind and focus is enhanced through a combination of a regular physical practice, meditation, and breathing. Our task as martial artists is to find stillness and solitude and utilize those opportunities to enhance our connection with the extraordinary; simply stated, but not easily attained. Our modern lives are a constant barrage of external stimuli, from work and family, to the 24-hour stream of television news and social media. Pure and unadulterated distraction. This is a Call to Arms for our mind. How can we rewire current destructive mental habits and level ourselves up? The answer, quite simply, is that we reconnect with our martial arts roots, our not-so-distant past before the current media onslaught. The days when we chose what book or article to read. The days when we stood in line somewhere and spoke to a stranger. The days when we were dedicated to a meditation practice. The days when we could unplug on vacation. It is possible, trust me. All we have to do is make a choice. Consciously eliminating negative distractions, a little at a time, and opening up our lives to positivity and the time to foster mental space and health is attainable. We just have to decide and let that strength of conviction permeate our day-to-day.
Most change is hard, at first, we know this. But, growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone. To attain a martial artist’s mindset, get uncomfortable! Start freeing up mental space that doesn’t benefit you in a positive or uplifting way. Trim the fat, mentally. Simplify… breathe and meditate.
“To meditate means to realize the imperturbability of one’s original nature, that one cannot be disconcerted, disturbed or agitated. It is a state of complete emptiness” -Hapkido Tenet #11
SPIRIT
We’ve all heard the phrases: ‘A warrior’s spirit”, “A competitive spirit”, “That’s the spirit!”, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. As martial artists, we strive for a “strong spirit”. Does this elusive “strength of spirit” come naturally to some or can we attain it through practice and attention? The answer is a resounding “Yes, we can!” Building on a renewed connection to our body and mind, our spirit can be developed and strengthened. By breaking out of the fog of our current hyper-technological society, we can harken back to the way of nature. Taoist philosophy, which permeates traditional martial arts, extols the virtues of being in harmony with nature, going with the flow. Our disconnection with nature and natural laws are detrimental to our spirit. To renew and strengthen our spirit, it is absolutely paramount that we commune with nature. So, the final Call to Arms is directed toward elevating our spirit. Get outside. Walk in the woods. Breathe in the aroma and KI. Forest therapy is a new term for an ancient practice—taking a slow walk in a deep forest and soaking up its healing power. Research has shown that pine and other coniferous trees help purify air and help human immune systems, surrounding us with antibacterial and antiviral protection. Walk barefoot. The natural connection to our earth provides stimulation to pressure points on the soles of our feet, which are normally not accessed because of the shoes we wear. Drawing energy from the ground is also known as “earthing,” a scientifically researched practice with a number of remarkable health advantages, such as increasing antioxidants, reducing inflammation, and improving sleep. Seek water. Swim in the ocean or a lake. Find a natural spring or waterfall and get in it. Find a natural spring water source and drink from it. Climb a mountain (or a hill). Ride a bike and feel the wind on your face. Choose the outdoors, when you have a choice. Choose nature for a meditation. Choose nature for a workout. Choose nature for Yoga. Choose nature to be alone. Choose nature to be with someone. Observe and listen to nature. Be flexible in body and mind. Bend like a green reed and realize that nature is always correct.
“Spirit first, Technique second” Hapkido Tenet #4
With a renewed appreciation and attention to what makes us martial artists, it’s time to walk the walk;
- Embody all that is good in our practice and way of life
- Be strong, but be peace creators
- Listen to another’s point of view, without viewing it as weakness
- Stay open in mind and heart
- Resist the inclination to get bogged down in the frequency of fear. Resonate and vibrate in a state more in line with natural law
I say all this, not from a mountaintop of perfection. I’m speaking to myself, above all. Reminding myself, my family, my students and friends to keep striving for those ideals and remember:
We’re martial artists. We’ve got this.
Jon Michael Davis is the founder and senior instructor at Zen Hapkido in Austin, Texas
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