The Enemy Without, The Enemy Within

It is said that "knowledge is power", that

the more one knows, the more one is able to control events
source.

The more we know about the world around us, about the contextualisation of the battles that we face in our everyday lives, about our own abilities and preparedness, and the abilities and preparedness of our adversaries in life, the greater our opportunity to control the narrative as opposed to handing the competitive edge to our opponents.

In karate, it is only through the systematic approach of block and counter during a bout of Kumite that we can identify the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents and thereby devise a way to beat them at their own game.

If we break the fight down into its components, it is simply a combination of single steps all joined together to provide sequencing. But each step, each position relies on the one before it to succeed, and each step is an adjustment based on our antagonist's reactions.

They say that the best form of defense is 'attack', but we should be mindful that our attacking reply should always be measured and responsive, and not rash and reactive. If we temper our reactionary desires, we buy ourselves perhaps the most precious commodity of all...time.

"If an enemy insists on war, then you take away their ability to wage it." Chozen Toguchi, Cobra Kai

Fire needs fuel to burn. It requires kindling and oxygen. In the same way, argument, war, or fighting requires fuel to sustain it... but what if we withhold the fuel? What if we choose instead to stifle the oxygen, not fan the flames of acrimony, quit chopping the kindling, then what? This is not an advocation that we roll over on all forms of encroachments on our liberties, quite the contrary, we do not 'do nothing'. We do something... but... we use our heads. We exercise patience. We do not allow the enemy to gain the upper hand and control the narrative. We do not give them the ability to win the fight. We don't hand them the resources (knowledge) to beat us. For if they get us on the back foot, as with a game of chess, then our only response can be reactionary and they gain a huge advantage in determining how the end result plays out.

So we slow down because no good can come out of haste. We think. We avoid the trappings of frustration to champion forbearance. We endure provocation and allow sense to prevail.

We dance.

And this is what Kata is... a dance. A sequence of choreographed fighting moves, best showcased when we deploy them successfully in Kumite.

In Ippon Kumite (Point fighting), there are always two possible outcomes:

1. You win
2. Your opponent wins

There is no option to draw.

In life, the outcomes are often more variable and complex. Sometimes winning also means losing, and vice versa. Sacrificing one's soul to take the crown, does not make for an honourable podium finish.

Hajime! Begin! This command sets in play the actions of Kumite.

When we face up to our antagonists in life, it is akin to stepping into the fighting arena. With any conflict, there is always a beginning, a Hajime moment. The moment when the sparks start to fly and we are forced to size up our opponent(s). We have to protect our weak spots and play to our strengths... but here's the thing, our opponent is doing exactly the same thing!

So, how do we ensure that we have the best chance to emerge victoriously?

We exercise patience, a true virtue, one evidenced by showing restraint, self-discipline. We maintain a poker face. We don't show our hands. We dance. We play the game as our opponent expects us to play it; we don't put a foot wrong. We lure them into a false sense of security, all the while watching, learning, gaining insights about their behaviours, and their habits. Each time adjusting our position, our retort, our timing, and space, until the moment presents itself, the guard is let down, the soft spot revealed, and we can go and take the point from under their nose, in a legitimate and equitable manner.

In doing so, patience tempers impulse in the arena, and in life, patience tempers wrath, and we move one step closer to overcoming the enemy without.

If we can overcome the enemy without, then what of the war within ourselves? What of the enemy within?