Martial arts and self defense are two words that are often associated together. There are many different ideas that the word self defense brings up. The core of self defense for us at EDH is education and community building.

Education because awareness and understanding is really the first step to action. Education starts with awareness and understanding in what dangers or threats exist. Once the threat is understood, specific steps can be taken to protect ourselves. For many of us education about diet and nutrition, exercise, mental health, stress and anxiety will be much more beneficial than any form of physical self defense.

Education takes away the “I didn’t even know that,” factor and gives us an opportunity to be proactive with our lifestyle rather than reactive. Being proactive gives us an opportunity to be offensive with our efforts in self defense. Proactive environmental self defense means we cut back on fossil fuels, we reduce our carbon foot print, and we look for measures to keep our waterways clean. On the other hand, reactive environmental self defense is important but doesn’t take effect until after the damage has happened. Maybe from lack of education, maybe from lack of regards. Reactive measures are important but it’s different to drink from a glass than a single use cup.

As education helps us understand the threats and needs that exist in self defense, community building is the strongest form of action that promotes self defense.

One example is a Japanese street crew cleaning crew. They took on cleaning one of the dirties few block of Shinjuku in Tokyo. While initially their efforts were unnoticed, after a few months the litter in the streets began to slowly lessen. Eventually the amount of litter in those few blocks became non existent. As a result of their cleaning efforts, the undesirable odors diminished, litter was almost gone, and crime (which was quite high) disappeared. Not only did the physical appearance of the few blocks change but so did the behavior of the people living in the area.

The community service activities at our dojo are set with the goal of meeting one or both of these in mind. When students organize and promote an event, it’s with their genuine interest and enthusiasm to educate their community about topics and things going on. In addition, it’s to give us an opportunity to do more than just jiujitsu. To get out of the dojo and involve our friends and family to action.

Eliot Kelly