Alan Ellis, Founder of Martial Arts for LifeHaving taught literally hundreds of students over a period of some 30 years, I began to search for a method by which my students could take the skills learnt in the Dojo(training hall) and utilise them in their daily lives.
Click here for Alan Ellis Profile The skills learnt in Martial Arts classes, can be divided into physical skills such as those employed in learning to kick and punch and intellectual and cerebral skills such as focus, respect( for one's self and others), learning to cooperate with fellow students and developing camaraderie and a team ethos. These skills culminate in a well rounded Martial Artist. Even after a relatively short period of training, students can become quite competent. So, most eager students will turn up once or twice weekly to train and display these skills. Now, in martial arts, there are very broadly speaking two main reasons why students initially come to class. Self Defense( increased confidence, self-esteem, dealing with bullying) or sport(competition, fitness, fun activity). Once these goals are attained( to a certain degree), I have found that many students reach a plateau of learning with few attaining higher levels. |
I wondered why this was. Even the attainment of a new belt level was not enough to retain some students. It seemed to me a terrible pity that the work and effort and the skills learnt by these students seemed to have be wasted or at least not fully utilised.
How then could I keep student's interest? How could those very valuable life skills be best used? After all, the self defence element, would I hope, never be employed. If I did my job correctly, my student could de-escalate any volatile situation using verbal dissuasion tactics. The tournament element was great for some, not all students warmed to this, however. Tournaments are sporadic and a competition career can be short lived. I realised that Martial Arts contained real gold. That it's practice instilled in students a great unyielding spirit. Perhaps this spirit lives in us all, somewhat by the vicissitudes of life. The Martial Arts could find that spirit within us. Not only that, but it could temper and polish this spirit. I was waiting for my "a-ha" moment. I was to receive it as a result of unexpected life saving surgery. As I recovered, I was struck by the fragility of life, but I knew that the spirit was so much stronger. Feeling compelled to be of service to my fellow man, my spiritual antenna was ready to receive a signal. This came in the form of an idea put forth by Tom Callos. Tom has a prolific record of activism in the Martial Arts community. He has championed the idea of social awareness, environmental defense and community service. It is upon this bedrock that the foundations of Martial Arts for Life are laid. |
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