You have a very good point sir. I personally feel that the individual practitioner must know themselves well enough to make the accurate call in possible violent confrontations. I would not expect the yellow theu purple belts to have enough knowledge of self to understand this type of enlightenment. Yet, from blue belt thru the dan ranks, it would be expected of the practitioner to experience some type of progressive awakening of the spirit which will enable the stylist to understand the basic intent of others in communicative interaction. For is not the highest degree of martial skill that of non combative interaction? This is what we all as martial practitioners of the Way should strive to attain in our interactive communication with others! The style of kenpo that i practice is strictly defensive and we study the mind of the attacker in order to become his/her mindset at the particular point of noncommunicative and communicative interaction. From the simple walk by body language to the actual walk-up confrontation; as well as the actual physical attack itself! This gives us as practitioners the ability to yield in our communication and yet not be controlled by our possible attacker's intent. Usually, the would be assailant see's our stern firm physical determination and senses our intent of not to physically harm or control them, and go on to another victim. Though this is good for us because the attacker see's a part of him/herself within us; the poor guy/gal somewhere down the line will have to experience this guy's/gal's violent controlling intent and possibly be left for dead as an end result! So, this understanding tends to be a double edged sword with one surviving one edge and another falling prey to the other edge of the blade. Thus, we as kenpo practitioners must always strive to teach and practice the enlightenment of self. For a true Master is the Master Of Him/Herself! Sincerely, In Humility; Chiduce!
The streets and their respective sides of town or sections of the city are very similar to separate sections of a mental ward. With each ward having it's respective level of psycosis. The east side being multiple personality; west side being chlostraphobic; north side being drug addicted; and south side functioning combinations of all and phyiscally handicapped! Each intercommunicative confrontation is different and dis- respecting an individual from each side has it's different consequences. A wave and smile on the west side will do; the strictly business approach may do for the day or even half a day on the east side; the give up a dollar for a snack will do on the north side; and acknowledging the voice of pro-choice will do on the south side! Entering into a ward with the wrong tools to window shop can be very very dangerous. Don't become the dummy in the window! Sincerely, In Humility; Chiduce!
I understand your point here! I would be skeptical myself if i had heard those assumptions with no further iterations! I stressed those assumptions from my own previous physical experience in life's street environments. My experiences of being shot at; attacked by over 5 individuals at one time; being held hostage (mind you, this sir is not military experience) but street ( even though i'am a vet); robbed, and almost killed as well as myself inflicting potentially fatal damage upon different attacking mind sets of individuals leads me to these final conclusions of the attacker's mind! I commend you on working with those whom need that extra helping hand; for at one point in my life i too was one of those whom you now help. I presently work with and sponsor recovering alcoholics and those afflicted by addiction to drugs! Getting a chance to experience those who are learning to read, write, eat, sleep, regain broken family relationships, see a single mother who's children were wards of the state be returned to her; and live productively again gives me solace and serenity! They too, represent and were at one time the attacker's, the inflicters of serious damage among whom ever they could prey upon. It is good to know that there is always hope through change, forgiveness through faith and perserverance, and a new life through spiritual growth! Sabba passa akaranam, or Avoid all evil! Sincerely, In Humility; Chiduce!
