*On April 14-16, 2023, 5 FILKENJUTSU students tested for their Black Belts! While they were preparing for their test, the candidates were asked to write a thesis paper. This is Austin Fox’s paper. Austin is 18, and has been training at PMA for 10 years!

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times” Bruce Lee.

I have trained in martial arts for almost ten years of my life, and while for some people, this is just a hobby or a form of exercise, for me, it is a way of life. I have trained since I was eight years old, and I am who I am today because of my training. I have gained skills in self-defense, combat sports, and other aspects of life, like how I carry myself and treat others. The actual karate skills I have gained are very valuable, but the relationships and mental state I have built are also essential parts of me. Over the last ten years, I have gained confidence, perseverance, and leadership skills from my training. All these things are valuable skills that have shaped me.

Austin (left) and his siblings after their first Belt Test in December of 2012.

The confidence I now have comes from my training. In many ways, martial arts showed me who I am and showed me a way to live my life. Mainly because I am sure I can protect myself and those around me from any physical threat, and I am not constantly scared or worried. Additionally, because of my training, I have had many conversations and discussions about why people get into physical altercations. One of the most significant factors that lead to fights, especially in male teenagers and adults, is ego or a sense of pride. Because I know who I am and what I am capable of due to my training, I do not feel like I have to prove myself in a fight. Whether the conflict is over honor, insults, or physical capability, all these things learned through martial arts have built me and my confidence.

Perseverance is a skill that relates back to the confidence that I have also gained through my training. Through martial arts, I have learned perseverance physically and in other places, from pushups to running to instructing a class full of loud children. All these experiences have shown me my ability to push through difficult things and reach my goals even when they seem impossible. I have been able to overcome these things, and I can apply this for the rest of my life. This gives me confidence in my ability to take on or learn new things, even if they seem difficult. This perseverance can be applied to relationships or academic things like classes or projects throughout my life. However, without my martial arts training, I would never have gained the skill of persevering.

Austin on the third day of his Black Belt test, April 16 2023.

Over the last ten years, much of my training has been devoted to learning how to lead. In 2014 I joined our dojo’s leadership team. Since then, I have acquired much knowledge on how to lead others and what a good leader looks like. Things like commanding the respect of those following me and being fair. In March, I began instructor training to learn how to teach martial arts classes. While I am specifically learning to teach martial arts, all the teaching techniques and methods can be applied to any topic. The skills I have learned in a leadership class and in my instructor training can be applied to other aspects of life, from self-defense to academic classes.

A common theme through all these things lies in their application. I mentioned briefly how all these skills are helpful for combat, self-defense, and everyday life. The benefits of confidence in everyday life stretch from school to family matters. In a situation where you must display yourself or some of your work, confidence is key from applying to college to presenting a project. In any situation like this, confidence in one's self or one's abilities could be a deciding factor.

Next is perseverance. From physical exercise to getting your dream job, perseverance can set you apart from others. If a person is able to keep going and push through, they can be the one who stands out or the one who archives their goal.

Finally, the skills of a leader. Leadership skills can be valuable personally and professionally. In any sense, the ability to take charge of a situation, guide others, or even bring people together comes from learning to be a skilled leader. Martial arts, when applied effectively, is not just an extracurricular activity but a way to live that will be infinitely useful.

Austin at one of his belt tests in July, 2014.

Since I was eight years old, I have spent many hours a week learning a variety of skills through my martial arts training. I am who I am today because of my training. I have gained self-confidence, which helps me know who I am. My ability to persevere and push through mentally and physically difficult things is because of the many years I have spent in martial arts. Finally, I have learned how to lead and teach through my training. Over the last ten years, I have learned all these skills through martial arts, and while the combat skills are valuable, I have also learned other indispensable talents.