On the bus on the way to work this morning, along a narrow street, a man in a parked vehicle suddenly swung his door (the driver’s door) open and started stepping out onto the street. The bus driver had to make an emergency braking manoeuvre and also pull to the right—running into the branches of trees planted along the median strip—to avoid hitting the man and his vehicle’s door.
We all have moments of inattention or carelessness, or simply misjudge the environment around us, but that man truly has God to thank for sparing his life. It would have been all too easy for the bus, despite the bus driver’s best efforts, to have struck and killed the man.
When many people consider martial arts and self-defence, they often seem to think of explicit fighting skills, and to disregard or devalue simple safety principles. I have always taught my students that a good traditional martial art should not just teach you physical skills, but also principles and wisdom for living a wise and safe life. These are basic things such as: always locking doors and checking that they are locked, when leaving your home; always paying attention to what is happening around you when moving about; and keeping your family or others (as appropriate) informed about your movements and when you are expecting to be home. Safety principles can extend even further; consider who you associate with, who you give your trust to, and so on. Make wise choices, not foolish ones, wherever possible.
Of course, this is all easy to say, and can be hard to do, but it is important to start somewhere—and to at least try. If you are serious about keeping yourself and your family alive and well, think about safe habits and safe lifestyles, make your choices (as you have the freedom to), and take what comes accordingly.