Lessons from martial arts that apply to life

Interacting with and helping other people

• Some encounters are not worth the experience. If you spar with Mike Tyson, you will get hurt and have a headache afterwards.
• Your vulnerabilities get exposed when you do certain things. It is ok to be vulnerable while you are doing what you believe is the right thing. Do remember to always guard your vital points, however.
• Do not assume you have understood someone fully based on their past actions. Don’t wish for surprises, but be prepared for them.
• Bow to the other person with sincere respect, but watch them and be on your guard even as you do that.
• Be good, not evil. Analyze and improve your character with every experience. Be good and wise, not good and foolish.
• Pick the right fundamentals and stick by them. Change your interface to suit the situation, but don’t let anything change your core self.
• No matter how good you are, there will be times when the other person wins. Don’t allow a loss to crush you, and you will not be defeated. Look at the positive side. You put in a sincere effort and learnt things. Don’t have bitter feelings afterwards.
• The most important lesson isn’t learning how to fall. It is learning to be able to get up.
• True victory is when you win others, rather than defeat them.
• Use logic to override emotion. Your brain is your most important shield and weapon. Use it to its fullest, but only for good.
• Do not give up easily, even when things don’t seem to be working right. Have faith. Put in a sincere, hardworking, and good effort without thinking of results. Do the right things and the right results will follow. If they don’t, you are still a better person.
• Some games are best not continued, even when the match appears exciting. When you find that, end the game. However, don’t suddenly turn your back without first telling what you are doing.