Goal #13: Learn Martial Arts

April 28, 2010 @ 10:45 am

Much like boxing, martial arts is a total body experience. It's also a total-mind experience, requiring concentration, mastery of thought and peace of the soul. To really do the fun stuff, you have to be fit and strong.

I've long marveled at the things guys can do with their bodies, from the sharp, svelte movements you can almost barely see, to flying through the air, spinning, kicking, punching, almost hovering over the mats they work out on. I'm mesmerized and long to be able to reach that level of fitness, to be that in tune with my body and my mind and to lose myself in what must be a euphoric intersection of peace and will.

Like I've mentioned before, I've never been a fighter and I don't particularly want to be. But I do want to build the self-confidence and self-reliance that comes from being able to floor an opponent in the blink of an eye. Losing weight is not enough for me. I don't merely want to be thin, I don't want to build muscle and live fit just for the sake of looking good. I want to use my body as a tool, I want to celebrate what it can do, and I want to force open and walk through the doors that I've only ever stayed away from out of fear.

Conquering that fear of humiliation and finding a new source of internal strength and peace of mind will not be borne only of losing weight. I won't wake up thin and suddenly feel like I can do anything I please. I have a long road of mental reinforcement and healing that will take place over the next year. It won't solve everything, or even anything, but losing this weight and getting fit will set my stage for taking hold of goals like this. And someday my body will work for me rather than the other way round.