Martial arts is much more than a fight between two opponents. Rather than showcasing one’s strength and fighting skills, it can be a vehicle to achieve self-development. No wonder, a DOJO, the arena where we practise martial arts, means a place for learning,or meditation or a place of enlightenment.
When I first came to the Dojo one morning in Nov 2017, I wasn’t ready for a big surprise on the first day itself. I was warmly welcomed and introduced to Hanshi. After some exchange of greetings, I was told to start practising. I had some background in other martial arts from school days and was following what I had learned years ago. During the break, Hanshi Dev Anand, who observed my mistakes and shortcomings, came to me and said I needed to unlearn many things first to do the things the right way. To start with, he showed me how to stand firm with complete control of your body…