pocket watch

“Never seem wiser, nor more learned, than the people you are with. Wear your learning, like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not merely pull it out and strike it; merely to show that you have one.” ~Lord Chesterfield

This is a quote most martial artists live by.  All to often when folk learn about your martial art training they ask how dangerous you are?  They want you to whip out your watch and swing it around for the "Oooh!" factor.

There are lesser martial artists that like this kind of attention.  Always quick to whip out their gold watch and dazzle people with the flash. But consider this, the more you wave that gold watch around, the more unwanted attention you may garner.

There is no shortage of videos on the internet of someone focused on talking over their cellphone, walking through a door and getting sucker-punched.  Then a beat down of three more accomplices ensues.

As a martial artist trains, they develop a self awareness as well as a proximity awareness.  Nothing worse than trying to fight back after being on the receiving end of a blindside.  Imagine being aware enough, that you sense the attack and move without seeing it.  And then planting an elbow into the attacker's ribs.  Not only has this person appeared super fast, but has also decreased the odds against them.

Martial arts training will develop health and give the student slightly more strength and speed than their couch potato counterparts.  But the awareness it develops helps us stave off illness, avoid injury and most of all, allow us to keep our time when folk want to steal our pocketwatches.

Don't stop sweating (no one will see the tears),

DarkArashi