I don’t know if you know anything about the nature of martial arts but I can tell you what I know and what I think. To begin with, if we go back to when the Indian monk Bodhidharma lived in Northern China in a Shaolin Temple we can read about the creation of Gung Fu.  The purpose of the creation of Gung Fu by Bodhidharma was to help the monks stay awake during meditation and as a means of the monks being better able to protect themselves. The monks started to earnestly study Gung Fu, as it was called back then. In time, with very little to do except meditate during their waking hours the monks became extremely proficient at sparring with each other. When they walked on their journeys to the monasteries, the inevitable encounter would happen and robbers would try to overcome whatever the monks threw at them. Of course, not only was their no contest between them, but also the highwaymen had no idea in the world about what was being done to them. One reason was because the monks had a huge advantage over the highwaymen because the entire world did not even know that Gung Fu existed, let alone that these monks were highly skilled practioners of the arts. So to say that the highwaymen did not stand a snowball’s chance in hell in their attempt at highway robbery against the monks is a massive understatement.

And I want to make clear that the monk’s had nothing to gain by putting on public displays or tournaments or demonstrations of any types. The more of a secret that their methods were, the better for the brothers back at the monastery. This meant of course, that keeping this a secret was the rule of the day, and they told no one, because it was a matter of life and death. The rule back then was the highwaymen intended to take from the monks what ever they had on them and kill them if need be.  If there was a coin or two to be grabbed, those highwaymen could go and “set em’ up” at the local pub.

So secrecy is what I am advising for all of my students who study these techniques. Under no possible conditions do I want you to divulge what you learn from me to any man. If you do, I know what will happen. For years, I have had women who have told me they told their husbands or boyfriends. What happened was not pretty, either. That is why I say, it is not to be discussed with any man anywhere no matter how well you know him. This information is designed for you to tell other females all you want, but first be sure she agrees to keep this secret from other men. If they won’t make that pact with you just don’t tell them anything.

I don’t want you to even tell a man that you can protect yourself, because his question will be how do you do that? You just don’t bring it up under any conditions. Its your life saving power and should not be given to someone who could use it against you.

Now, let’s talk a little more about the original nature of martial arts. Back during the time of Bodhidharma in the 5^th and 6^th century, there was no such thing as tournaments or radio interviews or telephones are anything remotely like spreading the “word”. No one made a penny off of teaching anyone how to fight. This thing called Gung Fu had only one teacher, one originator and that man was not interested in doing anything but teaching people how to be safe out on the highways, roads and trails.

The original nature of this system of self-defense was intended and focused on one thing, it was kill or be killed. Nothing more and nothing less. What this means is that like the monks in those days, there were no fancy tournaments to go to and no shiny trophy’s to take back to the monastery. No, this was fighting in the trails, roads and forests: it was a  a pitched battle for survival.  

Why do I recommend and take this position about not telling any male about this work that we do? It is because in this world today, women are continually disrespected more and more by men who are afraid of the power that women are taking for themselves. These kinds of men will stop at nothing to take advantage of the kindness of women in general and the women don’t deserve this kind of treatment, but there are men out there who will do what ever they can to put a woman down, “put her in her place” for no other reason than they are females. So to say the least, I am not teaching women and girls self-defense so they can hit a man a couple of times and then run away like the coward of the county. What the world needs now is women who are physically able to take care of their attacker’s themselves and not “think-two-thoughts” about it. I see a new world where men who attempt to rape women or girls wind up on the ground, really destroyed by women who are defending themselves. I envision a world where men respect women because they fear what the woman will do to them if they try to take advantage of their good nature.

The problem now, is that women are raised to be nice and good and no self-respecting woman or girl is going to learn something that boys and men do. If my students read Jessica Amanda Salmonson’s book The Encyclopedia of Amazons as I did 25 years ago, they would be seriously thinking that women’s studies classes in high schools and college need to require Ms. Salmonson’s book as required course material so that today’s young women and girls could find out for themselves just how much they never knew about women as warriors, warrior chieftains and commanders in chief of armadas. Remember, the legendary Joan of Arc was just a 16-year-old French girl and look what she accomplished!

I do hope you purchase and read thoroughly her book, The Encyclopedia of Amazons on the internet. I promise you that you will be laughing and crying when you read her book, I guarantee it! It is the most powerful book I have ever read. I also hope that when you have finished reading it that you pass it on to other women or girls so that they to, can be educated and inspired. I intend to start a revolution in the thinking of women and girls  everywhere and I hope you want to join me in first learning how to do martial arts and all of the self-defense techniques that I am offering on Protecttheroses.com our website. And then finding girls of any age and start to teach them what you know as if their and your life depends on it, because it certainly does!

Think about the original nature of martial arts as being pulled up to a future that you need to know more about and integrate into your life. Think about it as one of your stars that you rely on for guidance like the ancient mariners so long ago. In these times that we live in today, you really need something you can count on, and this is most definitely it.