Morihei Ueshiba — Art of Aikido | EP Martial Arts
“Iron is full of impurities that weaken it, through forging, it becomes steel and is transformed into a razor-sharp sword. Human beings develop in the same fashion.” — Morihei Ueshiba
This quote inspires me because I know that getting through difficult challenges has made me a better, stronger person. Challenges make you better because you have to grow to achieve your goal.
Being challenged means you can’t easily accomplish something. You have to apply yourself with all your ability, brains and energy. Without a challenge there is no growth. You are on cruise control, you don’t get better, you stay the same.
Some people avoid difficult challenges and others are attracted to them. It seems to be human nature to avoid discomfort but it’s also true that to grow you must be challenged.
Marathons, triathlons, spartan races, climbing mountains, joining the military, going back to school, these are all examples of challenges we take on to make ourselves the best we can be. When we overcome difficult challenges we increase our confidence, we know we can adapt and overcome.
Many people seek out challenges because the feeling of accomplishment is a powerful motivation. Being challenged and overcoming the obstacles in our way is a powerful lesson in perseverance.
It makes us stronger when we know we can achieve our goals even if they are difficult or if we fail we know eventually we will succeed.
Krav Maga training emphasizes tough training as a way to toughen your body and your mind. To get away safe from an attack you need mental and physical toughness. You need to be able to take damage and keep fighting no matter what happens to you.
If you are attacked you are going to be hurt and very very tired while fighting for your life. You have to keep fighting long after you have nothing left. That is Krav Maga. You don’t know how tired the attacker is, you can knock him out or choke him out or knock him down or if those things don’t happen you just keep fighting until he gets too tired and can’t keep attacking anymore and you can get away.
Morihei Ueshiba struggled greatly in his life. Born in 1883 he was a sickly child who gradually overcame a weak body and became very strong. He was an infantryman in the Russo Japanese war. When he returned he was much stronger and totally focused on developing his martial skills.
Ueshiba created the system we know today as Aikido “The Art of Peace”, from its roots in traditional Jiu Jitsu. His art reflected a lifelong desire for world peace. He realized in a vision that victory could be attained without harming your opponents. He instructed his students to share their art with the world. OSensei (Great Teacher), died in 1969 at age 85.
__
Bart Axelrod is a Krav Maga instructor at EP Martial Arts in East Providence RI and a paramedic in the Boston area.
EP Martial Arts on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube