Self-defense

What is self-defense? Is it defense of the body? The mind? The emotions? The thoughts?

Self-defense of the body is rare. It seldom occurs. Usually you have someone who wishes to degrade another to varying degrees but it will rarely go “all the way” unless provocation is given to the attacker/ perpetrator. However, this is the defense seen by most in their attempts to justify why one should learn martial arts or any other type of defensive training.

You have to understand that the body is extremely resilient. Under many conditions, it accommodates itself. It can lose limbs and still be functioning. It may not function in its optimal or original condition but it will adapt to situations without any interference on your part.

Therefore, to state that one trains for self-defense is not valid when looked at from a bodily perspective. This changes, however, when one is putting the physical body in dangerous situations. Yet for the majority, such a scenario does not occur.

The mind, if not trained, will easily be ruffled. It will not have the fortitude to withstand pained attacks, especially those concerning its prized sensitivities. It need not be defended; it needs to be taught tolerance and endurance. Many of the verbal insults and small physical annoyances and harassments are not fun to deal with. But they cannot be responded to with physical judgements.

Emotions – they too – come and go. They make the world seem vivid as a painting or dull as a bat. They have to be kept in a limited range unless provocation leads to a frenzied response. These too, need not be defended. One needs to be equanimous in their interactions. As these interactions build, they will cause the emotions and mind to smoothen out and become estranged to agitating interactions.

The idea of practicing self-defense for self defense is not enough. There must be something else. There must be something else to strive for. One may call it self-discipline, learning how to use the body or something else. But there certainly has to be something else that is obtained through the training of the body. If there isn’t, it is honestly a waste of time and effort!