Talk of the Week – Strong Yet Gentle

In martial arts, you learn many concepts which, on the face of it, may appear to be contrasting. You must be strong, yet gentle. You must be hard and direct in some approaches, yet gentle and yielding in other situations. It may seem confusing at first. However, a more evolved martial artist learns that the further they take the training, the better equipped they will be to respond with clarity and the right needs for that situation.

It is why we have a yin / yang symbol on our logo. The yin / yang is two halves that, together, complete wholeness. If a person is whole, this means they are complete, so there is no need for change. But how many of us are complete in life? I do not think I am being controversial if I say “nobody”. Therefore, yin and yang is the starting point of change, which is an important part of your martial arts journey. By learning about yourself…physically, mentally and spiritually…via martial arts, this starts the two halves of yin and yang chasing each other to seek a new balance with each other. This helps you become the person you want to be, both inside and outside of the dojo.

While nobody will ever have the balance right, you can start this week by practicing to be both strong and gentle. With different situations you encounter, consciously think about what the right solution would be. When you pause for a second, you can then act or react with calmness and awareness. This can help you choose the right response. Happy responding for this week!