Inner Peace Through Self-Preservation Training: A Radical Anti-Status-Quo Proposition

In an era marked by escalating global tensions, the urgency to cultivate and promote peace, both within and outside our personal spheres, is more critical than ever. Going against the grain, a radical proposition beckons our consideration: what if we could employ a discipline like self-preservation training that is often seen as a ‘justified use of violence’ as a conduit for self-awareness, personal growth, and, ultimately, for reducing violence??

Is it possible that a practice that is rooted in martial prowess can teach us to become less violent to ourselves, and by extension, to the world around us?

The premise is bold and disruptive, yet I believe it merits exploration.

Martial Arts: A Misunderstood Tradition?

Martial arts in the general public eye are often associated with violence and aggression due to their depiction in popular media and general misconceptions. However, a closer look reveals a more profound narrative. Developing self-preservation skills, at its core, is about discipline, control, and self-knowledge. The 'fight' is less against an external adversary and more about confronting and overcoming one's fears, limitations, and negative tendencies.

First Steps: Becoming Less Violent to Ourselves

Before we can offer non-violence to the world, we need to learn to be non-violent with ourselves, both physically and psychologically. And this is precisely where self-preservation training can be instrumental.

Self-preservation training inherently teaches the practitioner to respect their physical form to understand its potential and limitations. Every punch, kick, and defence is a lesson in controlled strength, teaching us not to abuse our bodies through neglect or over-exertion.

The psychological aspect is equally crucial. Self-preservation, when approached correctly, instils patience, discipline, and resilience, helping us navigate stress, failure, and self-doubt, curbing the internal violence of negative self-talk and self-sabotaging behaviours. In essence, it teaches us self-compassion (at least that is central to my teaching), an often overlooked virtue in today's fast-paced society.

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The Ripple Effect: Projecting Non-Violence Outwards

Non-violence to oneself is a step toward non-violence towards others. When we become more patient, tolerant, and understanding of ourselves, we naturally extend these attitudes towards others. Ironically this very action means you are also less likely to become a target of a violent interpersonal act.

The mat in training promotes community, camaraderie, and mutual respect, fostering an environment where each individual acknowledges the value and worth of their peers. It isn't just about mastering self-defense techniques; it's about cultivating a mindset of respect and non-aggression, understanding that true strength lies in restraint rather than in conflict.

This new wave of thought I believe can challenge us to reconsider the role of self-preservation skill development in our society. Can this perceived justified violent practice transform into a tool for inner peace and non-violence? The answer lies not in the techniques of self-preservation itself but in our interpretation and application of its principles.

This is why in the School of Crazy Monkey, we have a philosophy of working towards becoming calm, focused, present and resilient. Without it, what should then be a practice of personal mastery, simply becomes the very thing it shouldn’t be about: violence. One only has to look at how many present ‘reality-based self-defense’ on social media to see that what is being taught isn’t self-protection but rather ego-defense. This is also why there is so many weak, underdeveloped male egos in the world of reality-based self-defense instruction, because the aim isn’t to transcend one’s violence inside but rather to justify its expression.?

As we navigate the complex landscape of the 21st century, let's strive to reinterpret and reinvent practices such as self-preservation training for the betterment of ourselves and society. Let us envision a world where self-preservation training is not seen as a means to promote violence to defend one's weak, underdeveloped ego - but as a profound tool to inspire a new paradigm of self-preservation, where violence is only an option, when all other options have been exhausted (for example, in my experience most disagreements can be resolved with verbal jiu-jitsu not fists).

If we can change how we show up to ourselves, we can change how we show up to the world, especially as we learn to take on the martial arts of everyday life more skillfully.

PS. IF THIS ARTICLE RESONATES WITH YOU, AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN COME TO TRAIN WITH ME ON MY BEAUTIFUL ISLAND, THE ISLE OF MAN, CLICK HERE