“The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” Michel de Montaigne
Self-awareness is the first step to self-mastery. It is the ability to see oneself as one sees others; to be objective about oneself and know what one does well and what one needs to work on. The concept of self-awareness is not a new one. It is one of the most fundamental aspects of martial arts and what separates martial arts from other sports.
Self-awareness in martial arts has been around for centuries, but it was not until recently that the term was used to describe a person’s ability to understand oneself and identify their strengths and weaknesses. Self-awareness in martial arts can be applied to many areas of life, including spiritualism, business, relationships, education and even physical health. It can also be used as a way to measure one’s progress in any given area or life goal.
Self-awareness is a skill that can be improved through practice. Martial artists are encouraged to keep track of their progress and take time to reflect on what they have learned. This will allow them to grow as a person and become more skilled in their art form.
The benefits of self-awareness are immense in martial arts and can help one understand when they are going too far, when they need to change something or when they need to stop altogether. Martial art is an activity that can be tailored for anyone who wants to take part in it and there are many different benefits that come with participating in this sport:
- increase confidence and self-esteem
- develop coordination and focus
- learn to set and meet goals
- reinforce discipline and respect for authority
- expand effective communication skills
- appreciate physical fitness
- strengthen problem solving
- prevent bullying
- build patience
Martial arts are not just a physical activity but an emotional one as well, so self-awareness is necessary for the practitioner to find balance in themselves and be able to express themselves through their movements and techniques.
“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.” Bruce Lee