Body-Mind Conundrum

It takes the physical to draw one into martial arts. It takes the mind to achieve mastery of the martial arts. It takes the mind to achieve anything of note. The body must rely on the mind to reach beyond its perceived limitations. When the body is at the end of the road it takes the "mind" to gather intestinal fortitude and will to drive past the self-imposed physical limitations and go beyond the stars and into infinity.

Western martial artists usually begin the path because of the physical. The fitness and the spectacular physical manifestations of the particular system, style or art. The often unseen trait is the mental ability of the practitioner whose demonstration of the art incites another to take up the sword. The thought is that achieving the physical simply takes physical effort. The achievement of greater physical ability comes from and is attributed solely to the mind.

Sometimes it takes a physical challenge to achieve the proper mind-set that takes the body beyond perceive limitations to set new goals that are meant to be exceeded. This is what was taught in the Marines, this is what should be taught in martial arts.

It is our duty to lead a karate-ka to "see," "hear," and "feel" the mental techniques, to allow them to enhance and build those techniques. Does your training address the primary trait of mental techniques? Another way to consider this, is it the body or mind that breaks the "freeze" in a conflict?