Courage

Peter Urban, an American Karate Grandmaster wrote in his book, The Karate Dojo, "....(only real) martial artists have no fear." Compare this to a quote from the famous author, Mark Twain, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear". Fear is an innate part of our psyche; denying fear is like denying we're human. In the martial arts, a little bit of fear is actually a good thing- it keeps our focus razor sharp, while at the same time, overcoming it strengthens our resolve. This resolve that develops, results in the very powerful human trait we call courage.

Being courageous does not mean taking some foolish chance. It really means acting in both an appropriate and responsible manner, that can involve at times, great risk. A true act of courage is always a response that is perfect for that situation. It is never about trying to be a hero, or looking good, or even about winning. Finding courage is a highly personal endeavor - may we all possess it when we need it most.