How should a martial artist keep himself from feeling restless?

Question

As a martial artist, my practice and study has mainly been to improve my mind, body, and awareness. Martial arts have always been a spiritual journey for me, and the self-defense aspect has been a secondary benefit. I don't like to hurt people, but I have done so in self-defense. In addition, I am aware that I should know and understand my own capabilities as a person, but I occasionally feel the urge to prove myself and capability over others in combat. Do any of you feel the same way? If so, what can I do to assuage the feeling?

Answer 1

i now how you feel. there's a kid in my class i HATE i was so ready to tei- kwan- do his but i almost forgot i can only use in in self defense so i used a move that hurt him and told him to back off, i got him in between hi sholderblades with my palm. it felt so good and totly helped

Answer 2

You're talking about your spirit (fighting spirit, warrior spirit - whatever you want to call it).

My advice from personal experience? Get rid of the urge to prove yourself to anyone. It's a vanity/ego issue and eventually it'll prevent you from progressing further as a martial artist.

As far as your spirit goes; that 'restless' issue - learn to control and use it through meditation and focused form training. Otherwise, eventually, it's going to overtake you, and coming back from that, I can tell you first hand experience, is probably one of the most difficult battles you will ever have to face.

Answer 3

I know exactly what you mean. I took up Krav Maga 18 months ago for a number of personal reasons. The only proof you need is if you sense you are achieving those goals. If not, then you are not training properly or perhaps the system can not meet your needs, so try something else. At least then you get the added bonus of being an MMA fighter ;)

Working your way up the rankings is another indication but says more about your technical and physical ability, nobody can really assess your mind, it is completely private and unique to you.

Situations will present themselves, they always do. I had a confrontation with a total stranger myself just the other day, it started small and it just escalated. There is a phenomenon called displaced anger - something happens to annoy someone and they take out their stress on someone else. When that is you, you will get your chance and you may surprise yourself.

Don't go looking for trouble because it's not the same; When you are the instigator you have control of the situation from the start. The real practise comes when you are required to take control and turn a bad situation around. I don't think it's possible to simulate a situation like that and get the same adrenaline dump, but from personal experience Krav Maga has come close once or twice.

Answer 4

Don't you spar with the people in your dojo?

Answer 5

Every person feels the warrior cry from within.  There are a couple of MMA gyms near my house which have grappling tournaments every Sunday.

I use the heavy and kick bag almost daily, it really is a tremendous release.  It helps me work out my combinations and gets my fighting spirit up.  Sometimes I just practice Pinans and Kata till I drop.  Sometimes I will workout until I just can't raise an arm.

For me it was easy. I spent 10 years active in the Army (IDF) so my almost daily business was to do buisness.  This was a good release.

If you really want to prove yourself in combat, do the honorable thing, join the US Navy or Marine Corps.  When I was growing up, we started Pre-Army at 14, where it was probably determined that I was qualified for Sayaret (Special Forces), because I did somethings well.

The only way to know about the warrior in you is to release that warrior, today as a 50 year old man, 5'6". 140 lbs and 5% body fat, I am confident and fear little.  The warrior in me had a chance to come out and do, and I did, for 10 years full time and 20 years in reserve.

You are American, there is so much open to you, just take advantage of all the resources available.  When I first met Americans, they were US Naval personnel, very competent, very good, they were SEALs and SWCC people.   The US Army Rangers were also very good, these are ultimate warrior chanllenges available to you, perhaps more than you can handle.  Acceping one of these challenges will give you alll the warrior within and bring out your best.

I don't want to shill for the US Military, but in my home country, we had no choice but to serve, and it was a very good experience.

Lookd for challenges outside of your normal circle, boxing, wrestling, whatever...

Answer 6

You say it is a spiritual journey for you. You may be becoming restless in this journey. Try using your work outs as meditations. This will help you focus improve your fighting techniques and improve self control. I love sparring myself and like to get on the mat more. I have learned not to cling to the outcome of these matches before the match or after. The old sage said that winning a match sometimes has unforeseen consequences. Perhaps this is what he meant. We get off to much on winning and soon need another fix.

I personally have and still use my Kata to meditate. Like a moving meditation. It sometimes will remove that urge to fight.

Still a good match from time to time is great to keep your edge. If you are teaching you won't have the time to train as you should to be a professional fighter. You must still train to teach but the level can't be the same or you will rob your students of your best as a teacher. A teachers walk has by nature to be different. Maybe you need to take some time off of teaching to work this out or cut back to one student.

Answer 7

Apparently you took martial arts for the right reason.  Just remember you should use your mental toughness and self dicipline to keep from hurting the ignorant.  People are going to p**s you off from time to time, but you can't just go hurting people.  Take out your frustrations in training on a heavy bag or something.  Remember you are dangerous and most likely the people who aren't are the ones with the biggest mouth.  Surround yourself with people whose company you enjoy and love life.

Answer 8

I'd reccomend either working kata, running, or lifting weights.

Answer 9

Angry masturbation and pill popping.

Answer 10

Wow, you started off by saying, "Martial arts have always been a spiritual journey for me, and the self-defense aspect has been a secondary benefit." Which is a great reason to practice martial arts.

Next, you stated that you didn't like to hurt people but that you had done so in self defense.

Finally, you stated that you find the need to prove yourself in combat. As a martial artist it's quite necessary to train for realistic situations.

Martial Arts is the "Science" or the "Study" of war. I think a true artist must and should express himself freely in whatever medium he/she participates in. Your anxiety to prove yourself is really the manifestation of your own ego.

I do not practice martial arts for sport nor do I seek my own personal glory, Martial Arts is for self development and self defense - not for fighting. I think the definition of combat and simply fighting has to be clarified in today’s spectrum of Martial Sports versus Martial Arts.

The intent of the sportsman is to win his belt or cash prize. The objective of the martial artist (The Warrior) is to survive and live a full life. As a Martial Artist I do not train to fight, I train to survive and live a better life. I have had several unavoidable incidents where I have been forced to engage an opponent physically. The end result was and has never been pleasant. I would not consider the outcome as being a fight. I was for all intent and purposes trying to survive (maiming and killing if necessary).

If you want to grow as a Martial Artist then train and meditate. Sparring is great for learning application, Martial Sport is for great for fighting in a controlled environment, where one can flex his or her ego. Real life is where I express myself through martial discipline - free from ego, prestige, or false image.

As an artist I engage to the point of completion. As a quote from Bruce Lee "It must have emotional content". It must be the full expression of ones self, freeing itself from the bonds of traditional nonsense.

Kata and forms are good but without application - Kata and form become useless ineffective movement, a dance without rhythm or music. The feeling to prove yourself has to be lifted.

A singer that enjoys singing and writing - does so out of passion. The Samurai is born to the way of the sword - the sword being the extension of his spirit and not simply his arm. Practice for health, for love, for country, but never to over power others.

Martial arts is more than just self defense. Combat is both defensive and offensive and in real life situations meant to decimate ones opponent. As I stated prior, if you simply feel the need to win - take up Mixed Martial Arts or Full Contact Karate. If you want to kill something - as someone posted earlier - join the United States Armed Services.

I love all aspects of the Martial Arts, simply because I find it beautiful. I am content with myself and nature around me. I have no need to prove myself in a fight by fighting others.

Nor do I feel the need to engage in combat (killing) if not necessary. Finally, it does not take a hours of training, meditation, or exotic weapons to become a good killer, brawler, assassin, or criminal all that is needed is a little ego mixed with a bit of selfishness and a bit of pride.

Answer 11

Once fluent in one martial art, move on to learn another. eventually you will naturally find a more efficient study of the arts developed personally, that works well with your style. I understand what you mean about being restless.  You have all of this hidden knowledge and talent that is just banging to be released.  Sparring is one way, I guess. But not gratifying enough, right.  You say that your main journey has been spiritually, but unfortunately you need to search deeper. You may find your balance in a good strenuous workout. But the real glory is in training others. If you are good and seriously know how to apply your skills than the balance comes from deep down inside you, with the soul and the heart leading you to fulfillment. I personally believe that a martial artist needs some true structured tournaments and fights to really learn to apply his or her skills in real situations.   You may consider incorporating some Tia Chi into your every day strenuous work outs. With Tia Chi, a person can seriously involve the art with the deep soul searching.