NOW WHAT?

 By Phillip Starr

“What got you started in the martial arts?” Every martial arts practitioner is eventually asked this question although the arts have been around in this country for more than half a century. Even many universities have karate, judo, aikido, taekwondo, and even kendo clubs on campus and youngsters enrolling in classes is no more unusual than signing up for Little League. Even so, it's a bit unusual and people are sometimes curious about what drew you to such arcane, foreign arts.

One of the main reasons, no matter how we try to explain it away, is fear. We're afraid of threats we've received, of handling stressful situations, of violence itself, of our inadequacies, of “aging.” Once we enter class, we are confronted by our fears directly. If I'd been previously worried about getting thrashed, I'm now in a place where any number of people really CAN do that. Sitting at home on my couch, I may have been able to convince myself that I'm about as tough as the next guy but by now, I know better. And a good teacher recognizes the element of fear as a motivation for beginners.

Sadly, there are some – too many – who never let themselves reach that stage. Such people are rarely happy people. Or mature. Children worry about their self-image and their ability to compete. Most of them grow out of this. Some don't and frankly, there's something a bit sad about a middle-aged man who gets up every morning, looks in the mirror, and wonders if he's still the toughest kid on the block.