It is a privilege to have had the luxury of 36 years of formal martial arts training.  I encounter so many people that are bound up in fear, who for can’t fully express themselves in every facet of life.  I thought about this for awhile and in every case the barriers in most people’s lives are fear based.

I was very much the same in my youth but after my first few years of karate training, I noticed that I was becoming more extroverted and carefree.  It became very clear to me that I wasn’t afraid of much anymore.  Even as a young man, I would hold my tongue about various things, not venturing to voice my opinions or behaving in certain ways for fear of some type of negative response from others.

Martial Arts have given me a deeper understanding of myself, how I see the world and how to interact with other people. I see the martial arts philosophy in operation in every facet of my life. In my thoughts, my opinions, my way of performing tasks and even the most mundane routines that exist in my life. There exists humility, respect, order, creativity, symmetry and balance in life.

I see this as a result of a life spent, devoted to the pursuit of various martial arts arts. I highly recommend martial arts for personal self defense, naturally and to build one’s self-esteem, and live without fear.  But even more than that, as a method or way to approach life’s hurdles with confidence and to enjoy the challenge of living life without fear.