"Mastering others is strength; mastering oneself is true power."
- Lao Tzu
"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."
- Leo Tolstoy
“The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things.”
- Musashi Miyamoto
Old Dojo Sayings - ALWAYS vs NEVER
Always accept the random nature of self-defense situations and don’t assume you know what will happen or when.
Always train in a martial art that you are confident will supply the proper tools to survive a self-defense incident.
Always seek to have the proper mental attitude regarding self-defense. Seek a calm mind, and an even temper, and avoid situations that put you at risk.
Always train with the assumption that life is not like a movie. While self-defense techniques may work great in the school, when applied in real life, they are messy, and some may not work. May not work? Yes, and so you have to train your mind to move on from plan A to plan B, C, D, etc.
Never put faith in a weapon. Weapons can be taken from you, or for some reason be unavailable (can’t get to it) or even fail (doesn’t work on the attacker as intended). A weapon shouldn’t be the only tool you have. Train yourself. Depend on you.
Never underestimate your opponent. This one is timeless and yet bears repeating.
Never assume there is just one attacker.
Never forget that survival means surviving. That could mean getting away as much as vanquishing your assailant. If you can get away, do that.
Never stop training your mind and body. Learning a few techniques from a one-day or even a weekend course is no substitute for a deeper level of training over time. The acquired skills and intangible benefits gained from training for a long period exist beyond self-defense and are great for personal development and peace of mind.