I am sometimes asked “Can you beat up Bruce Lee?” or “Could you take on Johnny Lawrence from Cobra Kai?”. Or, when someone finds out that I’m a 6th Degree Black Belt, they say, “Man, I bet you could really beat someone up.” The truth is…I’m not interested in that. I’m going to share with you the Truth about Self-Defense and the Martial Arts and what I think it’s all about.
(Of course, feel free to check out Part 1 in the series.)
There are some people who get into the martial arts because they want to be the best fighter. And that’s okay. For at least 99% of people in the martial arts, though, being a top-level fighter is not why they train. Very few expect to be the next Anderson Silva, Rickson Gracie, or Ronda Rousey.
So, why train?
Because there are so many more reasons and facets to training.
One of the most valuable rewards one receives from training in the martial arts is the ability learn self-protection skills.
In fact, most of our adults train for self-defense and fitness. For kids, it’s mainly about character development and self-defense.
But self-defense is not about being the best fighter ever. It’s about being able to survive against an untrained attacker. It’s about giving the advantage to the trained martial artists, or at least leveling the playing field in an altercation. Not so they can beat every challenger – but so they can survive and go home to their family.
Being the best fighter means you always have to keep fighting. As you get older, your body does not hold up to such treatment. Training for self-defense means training for the long-haul.
Training for self-defense allows anyone, of any age and body type, to develop a necessary, life-saving skill.
Training for self-defense means the smaller individual is no longer at the mercy of brute strength.
Training for self-defense means learning the valuable lesson that you are worth defending.
Ready to give it a try?
Get started today with our Kids Martial Arts Introductory Program, our adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Introductory Program for classes in Winder, GA. Or give us a call at 678-469-6320.
Matt Pattillo is the owner of Master Pattillo Martial Arts in Winder, GA and Jiu-Jitsu Winder. A 6th Degree Black Belt in Karate, and head instructor since 2001, Master Pattillo has taught thousands of kids and adults in Barrow County, GA.