Many times martial arts gets mythologized.
We emphasize Olympic level athletics and nearly superhuman abilities.
But we all learn there is a difference between the tall tales of super ninjas and Bruce Lee.
This is epidemic in most athletics. When athletes are recorded a couple inches taller than reality.
Recently I saw an example of reality. As christian martial artist friends had to face it head on.
My friends (we will cal d1 and d2) d1 and his wife 2 are both physically handicapped. They do not drive and rely on the bus system.
D1 is a 40 year old man. He is short and has cerebral palsy. limiting the movement of his right hand and leg. He was actually quite atheletic in the past but he has gotten older. As a result he uses a mechanical wheelchair to make up for his limits in walking.
D2 is obese and has limited vision as well as having scoliosis. She also deals with with disorders involving communication. She is also in her forties.
D1 is a 2nd degree blackbelt. D2 has a blue belt.
As they were traveling on the bus in the inner city, an unruly group of 5 came on the bus. A woman said some rather unruly things about D1 in his wheel chair. D2 verbally came to his defense.
The woman went and began striking D2. D2 noticed that she had a child. So out of respect she simply blocked the shots.
D1 stepped in to break them up. but then the others tackled him and held him down. He broke the locks. at which point the woman struck him. he responded with a punch. He was tackled again and held down. the woman jumped on him and pounded him in the face. He bloodied his nose. He responded by breaking out a second time. Then the police showed up.
The police took the side of D1 and D2. Asked them if they wanted to press charges and they declined. D1 felt ashamed and embarrassed that he had to strike a woman. But honestly she was attacking his wife and then him. I think D1 and D2 reacted appropriately. D2 decided to turn the other cheek and D1 had to protect his family. after all the danger D1 had a bloody nose, but no serious injury and the police took their side of it.
I think the general feeling about it all is very negative. And there are obvious reasons for this.
Violence is not good. Violence is not just the issues of physical trauma. you can practice physical threats all day long for years.
But there is a certain psychological devastation that comes from hatred. Violence is a sinful curse of our society and it may be just at times. But it is never overtly good. This is a microcosm of how we deal with war. We live in an evil world and will eventually have to have violent confrontations. We must be prepared for it. But in reality it is not something to enjoy.
In reality we are also not as prepared as we wish to be. D1, could have gotten out of it without getting hit once. If he was as prepared as he was the day before testing for his black belt.
But that is not reality. Reality is ugly and sloppy. By nature you will not be prepared. now some martial artist have become obsessed with this concept of reality. but the only way to practice for it is to get in a large amount of street fights. But there is a problem here. What if you become beaten up and crippled in your training? what would be the point of self defense if your beating yourself up anyway?
I remember watching a former gang banger talk about the killings he would do. it would sound like hes is tough. but now he has heart problems and is paralyzed from the waist down. obviously anyone could take him down now.
So we have to prepare ourselves. But let's not over do it. My safety ultimately is based on the protection from my God.
Psalms 92
9 For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
