You know the movie 'The Matrix', when Neo is given a choice. Morpheus offers Neo one of two pills. One pill was red and the other was blue. If Neo chose the blue pill, he would return to the world he had always known, nothing would change, his life would be as it had always been.
If Neo chose the red pill, he would be drawn into a world that was beyond imagination. Surreal, beyond plausible and one that Neo would have to adjust to in a rather quick and bizarre way from the get go.
If he chose the red pill, he would not be able to 'un-choose'
How many times in our lives do we wish we could 'un-choose'? Not even a 'do-over' just a plain ol' 'un-choose'... an option to not have ever made that choice to begin with? Many, many years ago, I was siting around a campfire with Kelly. It was our last campout and we talked about a lot of things. One of the questions she asked was what would I have done different? The conversation took place 11 years ago on July 2.
My answer at that time was 'nothing'. I would not have changed anything about my life and the choices made, because it all had brought me to the point I was at then. I liked who I was. I still do. My answer today would be the same. I often re-visit that specific conversation I had with Kelly. More often as a gage as to where I am at with myself. And if she would be proud.
So, what has this to do with the red pill? Stepping onto the floor of a martial arts school is easy, in the fact that it is a physical commitment. Week in and week out, working your body, and learning new stuff, moving in ways that may be challenging, and unfamiliar. Just following commands and becoming stronger. I enjoyed my time in the traditional martial arts tremendously. There are many , many things that I experienced with it, that I cannot believe I did.
But when I chose to walk away from the traditional martial arts and dive into the Self Defense aspect of it all, I was unaware of the 'Red Pill' world I was entering. Maybe it's that way for every person who has had an experience with assault or violence. If they've trained in a 'fighting' art, the experience disturbs the ideology of their learned 'skills'. I don't know.
My first experience with learning about teaching self defense to women was with Phil Messina of Modern Warrior©. Phil is a retired NY PD who has had over 1,000 felony arrests. He volunteered for the one of the first decoy units NY had many years ago. He knows violence, he has had his share of experience with it. He was a great person to begin my Self Defense journey with. I still go and train with him whenever I can, and it is always an honor.
As I honed my skills at presenting personal defense information, I continued to learn as much as I could. Then after reading "Meditations On Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training and Real World Violence" I found another person to train with, Rory Miller. Rory added more information to add to what I already had, and he also presented a shit load more. When I go train with him, I am introduced to more personal defense people, opening more opportunities to gain more knowledge. Sometimes, as I drive the long hours home, I wonder..
Trying to educate the area about self defense, and all its aspects, is challenging. One of the obstacles I feel I face is that so many people sincerely feel that karate, martial arts, the fighting arts IS self defense. Or that some think it can be fully comprehend self defense in a short workshop or seminar. A good workshop or seminar can certainly open recognition and provide some perception.
The further I pursue learning about personal defense stuff: self defense law, threat assessment,violence dynamics, environmental awareness, criminal methodology, the more I wonder about that red pill. I know that the traditional martial art I trained in failed to educate me about the whole spectrum of self defense. Important details that would have armed me well enough, prepared me well enough to have stopped the assault before it got physical.
The main focus of almost all karate/martial arts classes cover in their 'self defense' segments is the physical. The physical fight, as if it is a fight, a competition, rather than the true ambush of terror it is. Self defenses is about keeping safe, not being present if the shit hits the fan by figuring out how to escape and evade, or deter the violence. Recognizing predatory cues, and the kind of predator presenting them, and what it is, how it is, exactly to be 'aware' of. And most importantly what you, the individual is capable of doing in her own defense.
Denial is not a very good strategy of personal defense. Being prepared helps one live a little less paranoid, giving options and information give one a bit of freedom. Depend on yourself to defend yourself, because only you will be the one in the eye of the storm, preparation will help better the chances to get you through.
More people should opt for the red pill when it comes to their personal safety. Be Neo. Choose knowledge. Although once taken in, the knowledge cannot be un-learned.
The further I pursue learning about personal defense stuff: self defense law, threat assessment,violence dynamics, environmental awareness, criminal methodology, the more I wonder about that red pill. I know that the traditional martial art I trained in failed to educate me about the whole spectrum of self defense. Important details that would have armed me well enough, prepared me well enough to have stopped the assault before it got physical.
The main focus of almost all karate/martial arts classes cover in their 'self defense' segments is the physical. The physical fight, as if it is a fight, a competition, rather than the true ambush of terror it is. Self defenses is about keeping safe, not being present if the shit hits the fan by figuring out how to escape and evade, or deter the violence. Recognizing predatory cues, and the kind of predator presenting them, and what it is, how it is, exactly to be 'aware' of. And most importantly what you, the individual is capable of doing in her own defense.
Denial is not a very good strategy of personal defense. Being prepared helps one live a little less paranoid, giving options and information give one a bit of freedom. Depend on yourself to defend yourself, because only you will be the one in the eye of the storm, preparation will help better the chances to get you through.
More people should opt for the red pill when it comes to their personal safety. Be Neo. Choose knowledge. Although once taken in, the knowledge cannot be un-learned.
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