Although I have been interested in the martial arts ever since I was a
teenager, it wasn’t until I was in my late
50's that I began to pursue that interest.
Having
practiced as a psychologist for more than 30 years
I had, by that time, developed a significant interest
in the way that people learned to make sense out
of their experiences in life; and most specifically
in how their ‘knowing’ often interfered
with their learning, as well as with their ability
to be at ease.
What
drew me so powerfully to the martial arts, and to
Combat Hapkido in particular, was that I quickly
recognized how gently and effectively it forced
me to get my mind out of the way. What I mean by
that is that if I found myself trying to ‘think
through’ what I needed to do, I couldn’t
do it as quickly or as effectively as I could when
I was simply ‘there’ and aware. I also
learned that being invested in thoughts like: “I
should know how to do this”; “there is
a ‘right’ way to do this”; or that
“I need to be able to do this by...”,
were all powerful deterrents to my ability to relax,
to enjoy, and to be fully present in the moment.
If
what initially drew me to the martial arts was the
recognition that they provided me with an ideal
way to ‘lose my mind’ (perhaps not the
best thing for a psychologist to say), it was finding
myself in a group of like-minded people who laugh
easily, who enjoy both teaching and learning, and
who genuinely like to be with one-another which
keeps me there.
So
as you can see, for me Combat Hapkido has become
more than a program of self-defense, an athletic
pursuit, an opportunity to learn new things, a chance
to socialize, or a hobby; it has also become a way
of life.
Certifications:
- Deputy Black Belt, International Combat Hapkido
Federation
- Certified Assistant Instructor, ICHF
