Martial arts can be risky. After all, you're practicing moves specifically designed to harm another human being. However, over the centuries, practitioners of the fighting arts have developed rules and techniques to keep students and teachers safe. Following these rules will increase your chances of finishing a class unharmed.
Wear Your Uniform
Different martial arts require different uniforms. And each uniform is required for a reason. Your karate gi, groin cup, fencing mask or tae kwon do pads protect your body from harm and protect you from harming your training partners. If your martial arts style has a set uniform, wear it.
Relax
Tense muscles are more prone to injury, tense martial artists throw less-accurate strikes and tense atmospheres make it harder to train safely and respectfully. Relaxation may be hard to do when trained martial artists are punching you, but it's a skill. The more you practice relaxing in class, the more success you will have.
Control Your Emotions
Anger and fear can make you hit harder than intended, or even hit with the intention to injure an opponent or partner. Like relaxation, some aspects of martial arts training can make keeping your emotions in check a challenge. If you need to, take a break for a moment to get yourself back under control. Your teacher will understand.
Practice
Practice your technique. The more you practice a particular move, the more accurately you will be able to apply it. This will protect your training partners from accidents when you use that move. Practice is also one of the best ways to develop your ability to relax and control your emotions.
Eliminate Ego
Your ego is the part of you that cares whether you're right, whether you win or whether you look good in your karate uniform. Ego can help motivate you to practice martial arts with intensity and focus. However, it can also lead you to push too hard, get too competitive or even ignore the instructions and advice of your instructor. The more you can leave your ego at the dojo door, the safer your training sessions will be.
References
- "Zen in the Martial Arts"; Joe Hyams; 1987
- "The Tao of Jeet Kun Do"; Bruce Lee; 1975
- "Bushido Martial Arts Brown Belt Book"; Volumes 1 through 3; Jason Brick; 2006
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