Why do I practice jujitsu and karate?  Why?  What is it that I take away from this simultaneously beautiful and deadly art called “the way of the past and present”?  As a Kokondo-ka I find myself continually coming back to this basic question.  I do not serve in the armed forces, as a police officer, or as a bouncer, so it strikes me that my chances of finding myself in an actual self-defense situation are very low.  And to tell you the truth, I am glad about that.  Indeed, it is my hope to avoid conflict and to quell any hostile situation by using the least harmful methods possible (my Jukido training has taught me that much).  Sure, if the need arose to defend another or myself I would be ready to do so.  But in all likelihood I believe my chances for ending up in combat are slim.  And so that prompts my question—why do I practice jujitsu and karate?

One of the many reasons for my continued training and enjoyment of Kokondo is because I take so much away from it.  One example will suffice:  Fudoshin.  The ancient martial principle of fudoshin can be translated as “immovable mind” or “immovable spirit.”  This principle permeates both Jukido and Kokondo karate and yet is subtle enough to be overlooked.  A great example of “immovable spirit” in action was brought to my attention recently by my sensei, Scott Cohen. 

It was a Monday night and we were fortunate to have a visit from Master Steve Dunne.  We had a good long and hard workout that night, focusing especially on perfecting our jushin in all of our techniques.  Each kyu and dan rotated around so that lower belts were often working with higher belts.  This can be a great learning tool for all involved.  The lower belts benefit from the advanced knowledge of the higher belts and the higher belts benefit by helping and critiquing the lower belts.  But this learning situation can also be intimidating to lower kyus who are not of the right mind.  This seemed to be the case among not a few of us in the dojo that evening.  Some became easily frustrated when we were not picking up on a technique as fast as the more advanced students.  Some seemed to take a few hits in our confidence when doing jiyu-kumite (free-style self-defense) with the higher belts who delivered more strikes than they took.  I do not want to paint the wrong type of picture however; it was a great workout all around and everyone took something away from class that night. 

Just before we were about to bow out, Sensei Cohen brought to light a closing point.  Both he and Master Dunne had noticed it in the dojo that evening.  Fudoshin.  Imagine that, immovable spirit at work in the dojo, right before our very eyes.  Where?  In a kyu who had not been with us for many years, yet one whom I hold in high regard for his outstanding commitment and dedication to Jukido.  Sergio Pina had not been intimidated by working jiyu-kumite with Sensei Cohen, although most would have been.  He was not fazed by the fact that it maybe took him a couple tries before he got the hang of a technique that another had been practicing for years.  Simply put, he was not moved.  He was not moved in his focus.  Neither was he moved in his spirit and enthusiasm for what we were learning through both our achievements and errors.  Unknowingly (I think), he executed fudoshin. 

What does this have to do with why I train?  Everything.  If it is highly improbable that I will find myself in a fight, and yet I love to practice martial arts, it is largely because I take away principles—like fudoshin—that I can apply in a concrete and practical way in my everyday life.  When I get up to speak in front of a group of people, do I benefit from the confidence I have in a much deeper way because of my understanding of fudoshin?  Absolutely.  Do I know that I need not be offended by unkind remarks from others because of the immovable spirit I am learning to embrace within myself as a result of my jujitsu and karate training?  Most definitely.  I benefit in many ways from Kokondo.  One is the realistic and powerfully effective self-defense techniques I learn.  Another benefit, one that I take into my everyday life even when I am not in physical combat, are the principles, like fudoshin, which so easily lead themselves to living a fuller life.