Martial Art

It is not a matter of destroying your enemy, or being able to "be the tough guy", or to break boards and show off. Guns and knives have equalized practical forms of fighting, especially where life and death is involved.

The ultimate goal is not to conquer your opponent, but to redirect the blows -- the punches and kicks -- inwardly towards ones own self. To conquer your own ego. To destroy that inside your that cultivates fear and distrust of your own spirit. An outside observer would call it "confidence" or "discipline" -- but to the practitioner, it extends not just to your chosen art, but to all manner and aspect of your soul.