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Everyone does a good job while training in the Dojo's, but that time is very small compared to the time outside.
Outside the Dojo should be just as important as inside.
I'm not talking about training at home, which is of course a very good idea...
...I'm talking about your daily routines at home, at play and at work.
A good habit to get into is to "think" about your martial arts at various times during the day...
...practice in your mind what you might do in a situation if you were attacked or grabbed by someone while at a restaurant or shopping mall... or if you had to help an innocent person who was being attacked by a vicious dog at a park...
...if you didn't have a walking stick to use like a jo, what else could you use as a weapon...These kinds of thoughts.
You can also practice your punches and kicks on objects throughout the day...
...and your children, pets and significant others aren't one of those objects...
...I should know, a play fight with my wife ended up with both of us having bruises and soreness for days...I had to put her in a wrist lock just to keep her from strangling me...
During work, if you find yourself alone in a big enough area, practice one of your Kata's or Kumite sparring...
...try to avoid the Karate yell though, tends to draw attention.
It's outside the Dojo that you may be called upon to use what you've been trained to do, so you must also train your mind to respond correctly.
Develop an awareness for your surroundings, escape routes and such...
...always a good idea anyway, just in case there is ever a fire or emergency in your work place or wherever you might be.
Another good mental exercise is to look at body types of people and determine how you would respond if they suddenly attacked you. Would you be able to maneuver yourself into an advantages position considering the obstacles in your surroundings?.
If you are mentally prepared for a situation and your body has been physically prepared from hours of hard work in the Dojo, then you'll be able to respond in the most efficient way to any circumstance...
RJF
