Yesterday at school a kid pushed Justin against the wall and called him names, and while naturally he would have reacted in kind or worse, this time Justin did not respond, he held himself back and did nothing. As his dad related the story to me a week ago, he said that this was huge for Justin. He’s always been a bit impulsive and showing restraint was something new. When he picked him up from school his dad told him that he was very proud of him for holding himself back, but then he was troubled when Justin asked him: “Dad, why do we learn Karate if we can’t use it…?” It was a great reflection coming from a five year old.
Dr. Jordan Peterson often says that “a man is better when he is a dangerous man who is being good, than he would be if he was just a good man who wasn’t capable of being dangerous.” That is why martial artists train, the goal IS to become dangerous, while at the same time fostering a spirit of calm and disciplined restraint in the application of their abilities. In restraint lies the virtue, not in weakness or the inability to defend oneself.
At our Dojo, just like in every traditional Karate dojo, we recite the Dojo Kun at the end of each class. The Dojo Kun are the tenets of a Karate practitioner. One of those tenets states that one ought to: “Refrain from violent behavior.” So I ask our students what they make of that phrase. Answers range from “You should be nice to others”, or “Do not hit people”, but many do come up with the correct interpretation of “You should try not to use Karate unless you really, really have to”. And I could not have said it better.
As for Justin, he continues to learn about himself, how, as he becomes stronger and more skilled, his confidence allows him not to react out of weakness and perceived helplessness. From my experience, I truly believe that Karate empowers both children and adults to feel more secure in themselves. And secure individuals seem to be more in control of their emotions, they seldom lash out, burst out in anger, or feel the need to yell at others. This is what Justin is finding out without even realizing it. As Martial Arts instructors, observing this progression is a validation of our life’s work and our legacy to future generations.
Sensei Willy Strohmeier founded Colorado Karate Club in 2005 and has taught traditional Shotokan karate to children and adults in Brighton and Westminster, Colorado, ever since, and writes a monthly column for The Brighton Buzz. More about CKC