PERSISTENCE
“To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity.
The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all
special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of
expression there is.”
– Master Bruce Lee, Founder, Jeet Kune Do
When prospective students make enquiries about my lessons I often get asked about my certification in Krav Maga, and what Krav Maga, specifically IKI Krav Maga has to offer. From my constant contact with Moshe Katz, head of the IKI, I can say that our “think tank” is constantly reviewing and assessing anecdotal attack and threat situations to come up with better and easier solutions. This is why we are a constantly evolving organization which is not stuck in the rut of teaching hand to hand techniques of the Second World War.
My school’s philosophy comes from the coupling of willpower and desire to create the indomitable spirit. There can be no substitute for persistence in the face of discouragement. The nations of Israel and the United States are the results of persistence in the face of insurmountable odds. My school is called Indomitable Mind Body Combat Academy because my philosophy does not accept defeat as anything more than temporary. The Israeli spirit which is exemplified in the practice of Krav Maga comes from fighting from a compromised position, from a situation where one is a victim. In Krav Maga we go from being a victim to an aggressor in a blink of an eye.
My inspiration does not only come from the nation of Israel. One of the biggest influences for me as a martial artist has been Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee arrived in the United States as a kung fu teacher whose real goal was to become a Hollywood actor. He got several minor roles in films and TV programs but felt his break came when a television series called “Kung Fu” required actors skilled in the martial arts. He successfully tested for the role, but to his dismay the role was given to David Carradine.
Disillusioned he was ready to give up acting and go back to teaching martial arts when members of the Asian community deluged him with support asking him not to give up. His revolutionary teaching and training methods spread to movie and martial arts fans of all races and Lee made up his mind to continue seeking new movie roles. He never gave up and his reputation as an actor and martial artist made him a household name and an influence to countless people throughout the world. The martial arts that we practice today would not be same if it was not for the influence of Bruce Lee. We could use his stupendous willpower and persistence as a example in driving us to attain our own personal objectives.
