Students’ Thoughts and Insights

Injuries and Training

By Brad Pier

Everyone who trains in a physical way will have to eventually deal with injuries. Ordinary daily activities can lead to injuries also. Martial arts training can also result in injury. How do we deal with this, when it happens to us?

I have had to ponder this question myself, as I have had to deal with my own body. The choices are many.

You can try to ignore the injury, hoping it will go away. Denial can lead to long recuperation and longer time to heal.

You can stop training completely, at the cost of your progress and state of mind. This can be a necessary step depending on the severity of the injury,

I would like to offer an alternative. Listen to your body and train accordingly.

I remember the first time a teacher said that ukemi was self-defense. That took a while to sink in with me, but made perfect sense. By learning to fall or roll in the Dojo, you can learn to protect yourself from falls outside the training center. I believe the same holds true with injuries. Listen to your body, push yourself when needed, and also have the courage to not participate, or stop a training activity that would aggravate an existing condition, Don't let the challenge of training put your body at unnecessary risk.

Our duty in training with partners is to take care of our partners’ well being on the mat. I sometimes forget to give myself the same level of respect. Taking care of your self is true self-defense.

The Next Step

By Jason D. Vulcan

Sensei George made an interesting point in class the other night. The point, at least as I understand it, is that as we become more experienced in the art of aikido, we receive a responsibility to take aikido out of the dojo and into our daily lives. “The next step”, as Sensei George put it, is to use aikido to make a difference in the world. I realize now that the time is coming for me to take that next step.

I’ve been working on a writing assignment that is part of my testing requirements for Black Belt, or shodan (1^st dan). My paper is titled “Seven Stepping Stones”, and is about the seven “stepping stones” in my aikido path. Isn’t it ironic sometimes how very connected everything in life is; whether we realize it or not? Just as I near completion of my paper, describing the seven steps that have brought me to where I am today in aikido, I am charged with taking a new and even larger step forward in my study and practice of the art. When Sensei George was talking during class that night, I was pleasantly surprised to find such an unintentional link to my current project. “Yes”, I told myself, “everything is connected”.

We’ve had many discussions in class during my two years at the Center for Aikido and Tang Soo Do about practicing aikido in our daily lives. We talk often about the five principles of relaxing, breathing, focusing on our center, weight underside, and extending ki. Our discussion of practicing aikido in daily life has centered on applying those five principles in our daily lives, whether it’s extending ki while driving our car, or relaxing and breathing to keep our calm during stressful work situations. I believe that consciously and subconsciously, our group has begun to do that. I confess that some do it much more intently than I do.

What I hadn’t really considered until Sensei made his comment that night was “how do I go beyond using aikido to enrich my own life?” How do I make a difference in the world around me and in the lives of others through my art? For a long time, I’ve envisioned teaching aikido to my own children some day, and passing on the gifts I’ve received from my own instructors. I would like to do that. My various sensei’s have had a profound impact on my practice of aikido and therefore on my life. I would like to think that someday, when I am ready, I would have the skill and wisdom to make such a great difference. However, there are more immediate ways that I can reach out with my aikido. I just have to figure out what they are. So what is my next step?

There is beauty in that question. The beauty is that the answer can be different for each of us and we have the freedom to find our own way. The ways that we impact our world can be as different as we are from one another. I believe that I am a better person because of practicing aikido. It has given me a calmness that overflows into my daily life and affects how I interact with other people. So, whether our impact is great or small, what is important is that we keep training, polishing our art and striving to be better people. Over time, as long as we are reaching out, telling people about what we do, and letting our aikido “overflow” into our lives…we can’t help but “touch” their lives with our aikido. Given enough time, even those small impacts will add up and the combined effects of those innumerable small “touches” will be a great thing.

Seiza

By Robyn Gray

Seiza is a formal way of sitting in Japan. It is basically kneeling and sitting back on your feet with the hands folded in the lap or placed palms down on the legs. Interestingly it came about centuries ago because the Japanese found it to be the safest way for themselves and their guests to sit without fear of being attacked. Sitting this way now shows courtesy and respect for each other from training in martial arts, to meditating, to the tea ceremony.

Sitting in seiza is great training and development for the mind and body, your legs, your posture, relaxation and breathing, your hara, your one point. For beginners it can be painful on the knees, legs and ankles at first, but after a while of training it becomes natural. I can recall many training days in Aikido where we sat in seiza the entire class. Sitting cross legged is considered rude unless you’ve been told to sit comfortably or you have an injury to your knee which prevents you from sitting properly. After many years of sitting in seiza it becomes instinctual, you find yourself sitting that way at home while wrapping Christmas presents, tickling your child, deciding on which movie to watch from your CD storage drawers, or even petting your cat. It simply becomes much more comfortable.

Tips to Remember

By Gihan Fellah

Wow, our class is definitely growing. It is good to see so many new and returning students in our dojang. Just a few years ago our class consisted of a small core group of students who through hard work and dedication have helped the school become what it is today. It is exciting to see all the participants putting forth the effort necessary to learn an art that is so difficult and time consuming. Here are a few tips for the new students…

Whatever the reason for stepping on the mat and donning a dobok (uniform), a student must be prepared to follow etiquette and instruction without question. Watch and learn, and when the instructor addresses the class with, “are there any questions?” take the opportunity to ask. Read through any material given to you regarding Tang So Do/Tangsoology, and then keep it handy to refer back to often. With consistent practice, effort, taking notes after class, and having a good attitude, one can learn much. The section “Your Attitude” in the “Introduction to Tangsoology” remarks that sincerity and effort is necessary. Also, to always do your best. Everybody has off days this is natural. The ability to continue training and “overcoming feelings of laziness, worthlessness, depression, and mental agitation,” is yes, work, which requires (there is that word again) effort. Taking accountability for ones efforts are necessary to continue training in an art that one pursues for self-improvement. If a student injures themselves, let the instructor know and take the time to heal properly before continuing to practice. No need in making an injury worse. Besides, watching from the “sidelines” can be quite the learning experience also. One last thing for now… what a student learns inside the dojang (a safe environment) can be carried into the “real world” in many situations, not just physical (fighting) encounters which are hopefully nonexistent.

So, keep training, smile, and let the fun begin!

Human Instinct

By Brian Brogren

One of the things that I’ve observed over the years is that most of the people that I have met or come in contact with have always needed to be the best at everything or at least better than you. Whenever I play a game with a person I don’t know, they always have to talk trash to make them feel better about themselves or try to play with your head. I believe that it is an instinct for humans to be better than anybody else. It probably explains why we invented sports, or the Octagon. I think that Tang Soo Do can help with that though by helping you defend yourself against those that think that they can go around and make every person do what they want. When they look at you, the first thing that they think is, “there’s a guy I can pick on”. When he tries to start to manipulate you, you can show them that they made a mistake, but not by ripping off their face, but by redirecting their bad intent and deflect it to them by using Ki. When he is able to be taught a lesson but still have his life, that will make him think that not every person will be a pushover and hopefully not do it anymore. But, if he does it some more then he didn’t learn anything and this will bring him more misfortune. When you look at the animal kingdom, after an animal is beaten by another, it will hardly ever comeback. But that rule does not necessarily work with humans, since they will keep coming back if you don’t teach them well the first time. This is one of the reasons why I train in Tang Soo Do, to defend myself from people that would try to hurt or manipulate me. I think that there may only be a few that can practice this peacefully because they might use it for the wrong reasons.

The Will is in the Waist

By Mark Soppe

Tense your arm! Flex your muscles! Put all your might behind a strike!

That’s what I used to think self defense involved before I began my training at the Center. When I first started my training I was extremely tense. Being that tense my technique was extremely slow, awkward and weak. Not knowing any better I continued this way for a few weeks. Then I heard relax, and extend Ki.

After two years I am beginning to understand this concept. My technique is smoother, faster and has meaning behind it. No longer do I try to over-muscle what I am doing, nor do I think striking someone as hard as possible for self defense is always necessary. I have to thank all those in the Center, instructors and fellow students, for teaching me this concept.

Beginners say what?

By Jen Sanford

When I try to think back to my first night of Tang Soo Do, I really don’t think of myself as being uncoordinated, unbalanced, and, well, a complete mess. But, just like the new students, I know I was. I remember it took me the longest time to figure out how to do sitting stance middle punch from a ready position. You mean I actually have to prepare, then chop with my leg up, and land in a straight line while punching? Well, maybe I never really learned some things.

I have been told since that first day that beginners help the more advanced students learn. I really didn’t understand how setting back the entire class was beneficial to the other students. So when we recently acquired five new students, I expected them to help me learn. As I finish my form, I stand there watching the newcomers struggling where I once was. They don’t know a front stance from a back stance. I couldn’t help but feel they were actually holding us back from learning. We have to slow down when we march to make sure they can keep up. How can this possibly be helpful when I want to learn the higher forms and combinations for green belt?

We went through our lower forms for the new students the other night and although I knew them at one point, I realized I really don’t know them as well as I thought. Going through them step by step helped me recall many of the things I forgot, even though it may have been slow. Furthermore, one of our new students happens to be my boyfriend, Bryan, and I spend a lot of time out of class with him. Since he is convinced he can make yellow belt by June, I have been helping him train outside of class. Although I am often sore and tired, I know this is very good for my training. It also requires me to remember all those forms and combinations I once knew but have since pushed out of my head for new ones. Now if only we could review that whole ki-yup concept.

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By Ann Gillis

Explaining my feelings on why I train is a little like trying to explain to people why do I eat. I eat because I am hungry, because food tastes good and to stay alive. The same is true for Tang Soo Do. I train because I am hungry to learn. I want to know about as much as I can about everything. My curiosity feeds my need to train. I want to understand how to perfect my forms, train myself to concentrate and to have the discipline to continue my training. I train because it feels good. I like the feeling of waking up on Sunday morning, arms and legs aching. It’s a feeling of accomplishment that I know I am improving if not my skill then at least my strength. I train for my own mental well being. Knowing that I am improving myself and working towards a goal (promotion or otherwise).

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By Eric Anderson

I do karate because it gets me physically fit and mentally smart. I also like to do forms. Sometimes we learn a new technique. It also gives me focus and other important stuff. I also like my karate instructor. I think he’s pretty funny. Sometimes he acts like a history teacher, but this time it was English. That’s why I train.

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By Troy Anderson

My favorite part of karate is forms. First my favorite form is L4. I like that form because it has chops and my second favorite thing to do in karate is chops. Now you know what my favorite thing to do in karate [is].

My Tang Soo Do Experience

By Ben Davies

I’ve been training with my class in Tang Soo Do for about 5 months now, and I must admit that I am thoroughly enjoying it. At first when I joined, I was the most junior student thinking that I wouldn’t be able to advance anywhere. I thought that I would never be able to be senior to anyone, but recently, we’ve had loads of new members come in and I find myself actually being able to teach people something, instead of just having to learn it from everyone else.

I find that I enjoy the junior students training, because now I have to push myself not only to keep up with my fellow yellow belts, but also to perfect my technique and actually remember the older forms and combinations, and even exercises to such an extent that when asked by any member, especially my juniors, I can explain well enough that they actually understand and can do it on their own, assuming that they remember it.

Tang Soo Do is very hard, and I don’t expect myself to get it correct from when my instructors first show me something new. But I can’t help but get frustrated when I keep making the same mistake over and over again for no apparent reason. I believe that I’m in a sort of controversial spot in the class, at least for myself. I’m the 5^th youngest person, but I’m quite a bit older than the 4 younger ones, and so I feel that I need to really stand out from them and prove myself to the older and mostly senior students. But I also feel a sort of unofficial competition between me and the older yellow belts (Ann and Jen). I don’t know what they’re thinking, but I believe that they really don’t want to be shown up by someone of my age, and so the more one of us tries to outdo the other, the more each of us is pushed to perfect our techniques, and we all end up advancing at about the same pace, despite our actual capabilities or extra practice.

I really enjoy having the junior students in the class with us. I often catch them glancing at us, trying to do exactly as we do. Nobody likes doing things wrong, that’s just what happens though when you’re trying to do something new, you’re bound to make a mistake sooner or later. No matter how much they realize it though, I don’t think that they really want to be (for lack of a better term) out-done by their senior students. I’ll catch certain white belts trying to get their stance to match mine exactly, whether that’s so Mr. Miller won’t have to come by and correct them, or so people will seem impressed by how quickly they’re advancing, or for some other unknown reasons, I don’t know. But it does make me feel good that people are actually looking up to me. And I’m still looking up to my seniors, so that I can always be an example to those below me in rank.

Tang Soo Do is very hard to learn, and I hope that I can continue it as long as possible. I will continue to train as long as there is a school near me, and I’ve considered even starting my own school in 15-20 years, when I’ve finally learned what I hope is everything, and I know it well enough to pass it on to others, so that Tang Soo Do can stay alive as an art known by all.

Instructors’ Thoughts

One Year Anniversary Celebration in Maryland.

By Sabom/Sensei Medeiros

The Hagerstown YMCA Aikido Club celebrated its one-year anniversary on April 1, 2006.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our present YMCA members Andrew, Magali, Mindy and Steve for supporting the event.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Jack Simpson Sensei from the Fort Detrick Dojo and his student Russ for attending our celebration and to Gwen from Smiths Karate for her participation. I believe everyone had a wonderful learning experience.

The Instructor’s and students from The Center for Aikido and Tang Soo Do Studies were very impressed with your martial art skills.

The current 12 week Spring Schedule runs April 7, 2006 through July 2, 2006. *

The Aikido Club meets every Friday evening from 7-9pm and

Sunday’s from 5-7pm.

New students are always welcome to watch a class. Registration is always open

The web site for our school is www.aikitang.org

*The remaining 12-week calendar block for 2006 is as follows.

July 7 through October 1, 2006.

October 6 through December 31, 2006.

I would like to personally thank Sabom Mike Parenteau from our Longmont Branch Dojang and Kyosah Tim Speaks from our Colorado Springs Dojang Headquarters.

I would also like to thank Hal Render Sensei, Sam George Sensei, Sempai Jason Vulcan and Sempai Robyn Gray who all came to Maryland from our Colorado Springs Dojo Headquarters. I could not have done this special day without your support and martial art skills.

I look forward to seeing all of you on Saturday May 27 2006 at our Colorado Dojang/Dojo Headquarters and our August 2006 Exposition.

Aikido students should make plans to attend Isoyama Sensei’s Southern California visit in November 2006 to Paulson Sensei Dojo.

Tang Soo Do students will meet in San Diego for our special historical visit to Master Jong H. Lee’s school and all the people who were influenced by his teachings. Specific details for these two trips will be announced in August 2006

Thank you

Sabom/Sensei Medeiros

Evolution of an Idea, The Evolution of a Person

By Mike Parenteau

Master Jong H. Lee founded his first Tang Soo Do school on October 18, 1962. At some point, whether by Master Lee or by a combined effort between him and his students, a school pledge was born:

“We pledge to contribute to the happiness of the human race with the sword and the pen, using any ability we possess in the pursuit of justice for everyone, attempting to unite in perfect harmony, and further the traditions of Tang Soo Do.” – Tang Soo Do Pledge

After some time, Master Lee started the Institute of Tangsoology (1976). The pledge was modified from the above, and is still used to this day by the Institute:

“We pledge to contribute to the human race with the sword and the pen, using any ability we possess in the pursuit of justice for everyone, attempting to unite in perfect harmony in order to insure the progress of mankind.” – Tangsoology Pledge

As you look around in our world today, don’t you notice something…the lack of morality, decency, honor, justice, accountability and integrity? Why is that? Is it because we’ve become so involved in self-absorbed behavior that we forget the Golden Rule… “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”?

As you have read the two pledges and absorbed their message, what words stick out for you? Some time in 1993, Mr. Hal Render (you didn’t know he was a Tang Soo Do practitioner, huh?) and Sabom Nim Medeiros came to a point of a new evolution of what Master Lee started. Here’s the pledge they came up with, which is still in use today:

“I pledge to contribute my spiritual, intellectual and physical improvement to the human race, in order to unite and cooperate with others to insure a more peaceful society. To recognize falseness and align myself with truth, to lend assistance to others less fortunate than myself, and to further the teachings and traditions of Tangsoology?”

Do you notice the similarities and the differences? I’d like to point out one difference that I think is critical. When these two gentlemen put together this pledge some 12+ years ago, I’m not sure if it was a conscious effort, but notice the change from “we” to “I”. I would like to think that this change is a result of a change in our societal mores. What I mean is, Tangsoology, from this new perspective, puts the accountability on me as a person to cooperate with others, contribute my improvement, etc. For example, someone in a group setting can’t say, “Well...the rest of them will do it, so…I don’t have to.” Doesn’t it ultimately depend on “me”?

As Sabom-Nim will tell you, the pledge isn’t better than the original. It’s just an evolution of an idea, which in turn allows the individual to evolve. What do you think?

The Other Side of the Mirror

By Hal Render

Now that I find myself teaching more, I find the experience of attending class has changed. This is not surprising by itself, but the ways in which it has changed for me has been a surprise.

For example, when I was previously practicing as a student, I would observe the instructor, and then try to imitate the techniques as they were performed. I would try to see small details that had previously escaped me that might enlighten some dark corner of my technique. However, my ability to ascertain these small details limited my ability to improve my technique.

Now, as an instructor, I find myself observing the students and, when they do something I think to be incorrect, I ask myself, “Am I doing that?” Initially I was disconcerted by this duplication of my faults, but over time I have found it to be very helpful. If I do something wrong, I see it reflected by several of the students. If they try to do what I show and it doesn’t seem to work, I am then challenged to determine whether I am actually doing it correctly. As I have done more teaching, I think this has allowed me to see many of my own bad habits, and I like to think I have been able to correct some of them.

One could say that if the role of the student is to be a mirror, I have gone from being the mirror to being the source of the reflection. Put another way, the student reflects the teacher, and as a result, the teacher reflects the student.

Another thing about class that has changed has been my feeling about attendance. In the past, as a student, if attendance was low it didn’t bother me so much because I was only concerned about my own attendance. Plus, I felt I got more personal attention from the instructor, which would (I hope) improve my technique even more. Now I feel really bothered if attendance is low, since I feel the lack of students lowers the overall energy of the class and thus detracts from the experience for the students.

In general, I think the attitude about attendance among the students is not what it once was. Previously, students seemed to feel a much greater compulsion to attend class as often as possible. Now, it seems as if students attend when it is convenient. Some of this is due, I think, to the fact that many more of the students have job and family conflicts that limit their ability to train. Too, I think that the fact that George Sensei and I are not able to attend every class sets an example that gives the students the idea that attending every class is not necessary. Greater, perhaps, is the belief that previously we were more of a “dojo” whereas now we are more of a “club”. I don’t know. It continues to bother me, and I continue to seek remedies to the situation. It is one more difference I notice standing on this side of the mirror.

Lastly, I think the most dramatic difference for me regards the philosophy of Aikido. Whereas before I tried to understand and practice the philosophy, now I try to find ways to explicitly demonstrate and teach it. Some of these are physical (i.e. being soft, not contending with your partner), while others are attitudinal (attending regularly, making the extra effort to be their on time, being attentive to all things from cleaning the bathrooms to bowing). I do not know how I do on all these things, but it has really enlivened Aikido for me in a way that being a student did not. I find myself studying and thinking about Aikido much more, and so it has become even more a part of my life than when I was just a student. As such, it means even more to me.

My hope is that many of the current students will grow to become instructors, so that they can also see what they may learn from standing on this side of the mirror.

Cleaning the Studio

By Sam George

I would like to thank all participants for helping to clean the dojo. The number of people and new faces made short work of the task at hand.

When Sensei Medeiros would clean or repair the mats at our old dojo on Chelton Loop, he always thanked everyone for their help in keeping the dojo clean and repaired. I now have a different perspective on this tradition.

When all of the students come to clean the dojo, it is a very humbling experience. This dojo does have a life of its own. The students are the dojo because without you, we would not have one. To have a place to train that lifts our spirits and allows us to polish all of the sharp corners of our being is a gift given by each of us to each other.

A Brief Collection of Loose Thoughts on the Relationship Existing Between Beginners and Seniors, as Pertaining to the Recent Development of Our School.

By Jude Miller

Well, the first quarter of the year has been kind to our school! We have seen an influx of beginners, and we are steadily growing. Beginners are so important to any school for many reasons. For starters, beginners ensure the longevity of both the art and school. All schools and their arts take time to grow and develop. Martial arts have taken thousands of years to develop to the point it is at now. Without any new students to keep the art alive, it would first become idle before eventually dying off. New blood affords us the time and reason to develop the arts and pass them along.

Beginners help to sharpen the senior students of the art. The basics are everything in an art. Without basics, there exists no foundation to build on. By teaching beginners the basics of an art, a senior can continually polish and develop their own foundation even further. One cannot reach a master level without first mastering the basics.

Beginners also help to keep seniors grounded and humble. Beginners remind seniors of what it is like to be a beginner. The beginner mind can also see things from a very pure and innocent perspective. Seniors can, at times, over-complicate things such as teachings and techniques. By being reminded of the simple perspective that beginners bring, a senior can become re-centered in his or her training. It is refreshing for seniors to start from scratch, as the entire art appears new and exciting. Beginners allow this to happen. A beginner’s simple question can sometimes even stump a senior, forcing the senior to re-evaluate their entire training.

And further more, beginners help students develop into seniors. There are plenty of new white belts who have just given our yellow belts more responsibility. These yellow belts are now seniors in their own right, even though they are still considered beginners themselves. These yellow belts are now role models, and must set a strong example for our new students. They must re-evaluate, and refine their own training so as not to mislead our new beginners. This applies to everyone from the top on down. I myself must now re-evaluate and refine my character, teachings, and techniques. There are a lot more people counting on me than there were before. Again, this applies to everyone from the top on down.

Our school must be thankful for every new person who seeks to train with us. We must welcome them, because they are the key to all of our longevity and progress. They allow all of us to develop and grow, both as a school and individually. We must aid them in anyway we can. We must be understanding and compassionate towards their circumstances, because we were all beginners ourselves at one time.

Remember seniors! To ever turn away a beginner or junior who is putting forth their best and most genuine effort is to condemn yourself. Lead them as you yourself would expect to be led. By developing these beginners, you develop yourself.

An Analysis of Competition - And how it relates to Moo Do

By Tim Speaks

Competition has existed in various forms within human culture all over the globe for thousands of years. Immediately the Greeks and Romans spring to mind with their wrestling and gladiatorial arenas. In modern times the number of sports that humans compete in simply boggles the mind. This tendency for humans to seek competition is so prevalent that it raises the questions: why do so many people seem to embrace this behavior and what place does competition have in the martial arts?

Amazingly, almost anything can be made into a sportive competition. Even occupations or activities that would otherwise be considered a method of survival can be turned into competitive sports. For example, not that long ago, fishing was still primarily considered a good way to bring home food to put on the table. If you became good at it you would seldom go hungry. Today you can turn on TV and watch competitive fishing tournaments were the “Anglers” compete for large prize money and trophies. This all seems pretty harmless especially when they throw the fish back.

However, on a larger scale, competitive commercial fishing has caused dramatic decreases in the fish populations in some regions. Commercial fishermen are driven by a competitive market to catch increasingly larger volumes of fish. The fish can’t replenish their population fast enough to keep up with the losses. This is an example of unchecked competition causing serious harm.

Similarly in competitive martial arts we see an example of a human skill that was originally developed for survival being turned into a sport. On one extreme we have individuals who compete for trophies based on a point scoring system. On the other extreme are individuals who compete in so called “full contact” fighting. In both cases the competitors must focus their training methods to optimize their chances of success in their respective rings. This is a very productive way to spend your time if your goal is to win trophies or other prizes. However if your goal is to develop a dynamic range of self-defense skills in order to improve your chances of success in an unexpected life or death situation, you can’t spend all of your time on a single scenario.

Furthermore, in the pursuit of this goal, it would seem logical to have training partners rather than opponents in order to explore as many scenarios as possible in the safest manner possible. Indeed, some of the self-defense techniques employed are brutalizing or even lethal to an attacker. To explore these techniques in a competitive manner could lead to frequent injury of yourself or your partners, thereby interrupting your training.

So the question remains as to why competition remains so prevalent the world over. Proponents of extreme competitive behavior will tell you that it serves to determine the best of the best, to separate the men from the boys, and the women from the girls. They might also tell you that it encourages people to be the best they can be as they strive to be the best overall. But there’s only room for one at the top, or at most a select few, and their reign there is temporary. This amounts to a fleeting success, and if a person attaches their happiness or feelings of self worth to what is at best a temporary success, then their happiness and self worth will also be temporary.

In addition, those who have achieved relative success in competitive sports or other contest tend to exhibit addictive behavior. Once they’ve had a little taste of victory nothing else will do, and second place is merely the first loser. At this point winning is all that begins to matter. Often this need to win is transferred to everyday life and interpersonal relationships. In the case of relationships this behavior can be especially counter productive.

Lastly, if extremist competitive behavior is determined to be a counter productive or even destructive addictive behavior, then it needs to be treated as any other addiction. Steps must be taken by an inflicted individual to recognize potential situations that might encourage this type of behavior. Much like a former drug addict would avoid social groups that do drugs.

In conclusion, for the martial artist striving for self-discipline and success at life, any addiction, however seemingly harmless, is a thing to be avoided. The old adage, “Moderation is the Key” certainly applies, but behaviors that are too difficult to moderate should be avoided altogether. The most productive way to spend your limited time training is in a manner that develops good habits, both for self-defense, and for everyday life.