Karate in nature !

Wow... how are things exemplified in nature? We are told karate should be totally natural at its best, but we often do not get the chance to truly "see" the natural... because we are always so busy being distracted by the things we are involved in. This is true not only in our martial arts study but also in our Christian walk through life.

Watch this and think...

What do we see... ?
1. someone so into the task at hand that they aren't aware of their surroundings or what is about to happen.
2. an attack that not only is a surprise and totally natural, but one where the whole body and momentum are used in the course of attack.
3. the dazed moment when one is "not sure what happened".
4. the unbelief and inability of a friend to change the event once it is realized.
5. other going by not even aware of what happened... or even caring.
6. the frustration  with realization that you just got suckered.
7. the realization that even if all care and awareness had occurred, it may have still been unavoidable.

So many lessons for us not only in martial arts but a Christian walk. How many times are we caught totally off guard by the enemy when we are doing everything right.

Also, what an example in perspectives... lessons from the cyclist perspective... his friend... the antelope... and the onlooker........ In all situations there is always 3-5 perspectives.
1. The attacker
2. the defender
3. the onlooker (be it friend or passer by.. which can be totally different interpretations)
I'm sure the next cyclist along may have thought .."how did he end up crashing out here... he can't even ride on a flat plain?"... but even if he did see it, notice he continued in the race.
--and if you look at the 5 views--
4. God's view or heavens view (the positives or good)
5. Satan's view or earth view (the negatives or bad)

All situations of self defense and life will have at least 3 to 5 different views of each situation. In this particular video view 4 and 5 are not as clear other than the effect on the cyclist... but in life or self defense these two views are very valuable because they determine if we are doing something for a positive or a negative motive.

Self defense is not wrong in the case of self protection or the protection of another... but once the opponent has been downed or dropped, there is no need to continue an attack. To do so changes one from being a protector to being an attacker or a bully.

We are constantly reminded to be defensive in our art. Sometimes this may be perceived as the need for a "pre-emptive strike"  to stop a situation... but this is only as a means of self defense. We must always be on the caution to remain committed to the cause of defense and protection only, that way our hearts and minds remain true.