Necessary Violence

The line between necessary and unnecessary is very fine and it moves, a lot. It moves with each moment and each scenario. It is never the same and that is a huge defining line between violence and competition or sport. It is also a huge division between self-defense, fighting and combatives. It is that which most sane individuals hope they will never have to endure. The use of necessary violence has its baggage and that bag is not big enough. 

Regardless of all this there will be times when necessary violence will be required. The goal of any martial way is to find that line and then train and practice to keep the line within sight when necessary. It is about never crossing the line. You will want to get as close to that line as you can and that is tricky as hell but don’t cross it.

To learn this takes more than the mere physical of most martial systems. It is that hard to peg type of training that many just don’t know or get. It is where the fool remains foolish while the professional faces it with humility and fearlessness. 

Kokoro is about training the mind, heart and body through the rigors of martial arts to achieve a mind-state of mental toughness while maintaining a humility that keeps you from crossing that line. The line changes from one discipline to the next. Seeing the differences and maintaining the integrity of each is difficult but doable. 

Please note, this mental toughness training (Kokoro) is not complete. In order to be complete, this is where martial artists tend to drop the ball, it requires some means to train the mind to deal with violence, the adrenaline dump and its effects, and realism toward violence, etc. This is just one means by which a person can train to toughen the mind. Remember that sport is sport, self-defense is self-defense and combatives are combatives. 

Also remember that necessary violence is NOT because you think the guy needs a good ass whooping but rather the necessary violence required for your security, safety and health as it falls under the laws of society regarding self-defense, etc. You may think the violence you give is necessary but others may think otherwise and that “otherwise” can get you into trouble.