*On April 14-16, 2023, 5 FILKENJUTSU Students tested for their Black Belts! While they were preparing for their test, the candidates were asked to write a thesis paper. This is Eli Fox’s paper. Eli is 18, and has been training at PMA for 10 years!

"Be Water, my Friend. Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend." -Brue Lee.

This is one of my favorite martial arts quotes. It embodies the mindset and skills that every martial artist should have. I have been training at a small martial arts school called Progressive Martial Arts (PMA) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for over half my life. It has taught me how to fight and defend myself and others and many life skills, including mental endurance, leadership, and self-discipline. My martial arts training has helped me live a healthy, active lifestyle and see the value in exercise, discipline, friendships, and a strong community.

Eli (far right) and his siblings after their first belt test in December of 2012

I have trained Kenpo-Karate for ten years and Jiu-jitsu for seven. Kenpo-Karate has taught me how to throw punches and kicks and when to use them. My training emphasizes that someone should never fight out of anger but only when themselves or another is in danger. Skills like self-control, patience, and clear thinking are required to do this. These are some of the core values at PMA. Jiu-jitsu is the art of grappling or fighting on the ground. I trained on the competition team, where we competed and used Jiu-jitsu in a sport setting. I have also been a part of the leadership team for eight years. My Martial arts training has shaped me into who I am; through it, I have gained many valuable life skills, including perseverance, self-discipline, and leadership proficiency.

One of the first and most impactful talents I learned through my training was perseverance. Perseverance is the mental strength to push oneself beyond their physical limits. The ability to keep your composure and focus through extreme psychological and physical pressure. My martial arts training has moved me well beyond these points more times than I can count, but it has also taught me how to handle these extremes.

Eli (top) on the third day of his Black Belt Test.

This can be connected to Bruce Lee's statement about water, one of my favorite martial arts quotes. When something gets physically or mentally difficult, adapting and flowing with the situation is often more effective than fighting strength with strength. "Be formless, shapeless like water," Lee claims that being ready to change and adapt is a critical skill for any martial artist. Now, this does not mean being submissive or never taking a stand.

"Water can flow, or it can crash." Sometimes it becomes necessary to crash and attack the difficult thing head-on. Perseverance is vital in both situations. To be able to flow and adapt, one must be able to stay calm and think clearly in any case, no matter the pressure. This clear thinking must be remembered when it is time to crash or mistakes are bound to happen. This idea of being able to keep a clear head and keep control of my stress has been of unfathomable use not only in my training but in day-to-day life as well.

Eli (black gi) competing in a Jiu Jitsu Tournament in April of 2023

Another skill I have developed from my training is self-discipline. Self-discipline is the ability to hold yourself accountable for your own actions, as well as the ability to continue a difficult task even when no one else is watching. This tool is valuable in a work environment, learning, and exercise. Self-discipline is essential to the idea of being like water. "Water can flow, or it can crash." Being able to apply this idea requires not only perseverance but self-discipline.

Martial artists should be able to stay calm under pressure and control themselves. Self-discipline is being aware of the consequences of your choices and actions. Before someone decides to flow or crash, they should know the outcomes of both acts. Both perseverance and self-discipline are mental muscles developed and improved by practice. My training has provided a healthy environment to learn about and improve these practices.

Since the beginning, much of my training has been devoted to learning how to lead. In 2014 I was invited to join my dojo's leadership team. This class taught me much about how to lead others and what a good leader looks like. I have learned that giving respect is as vital as commanding it and that patience and trust are just a few of the critical qualities of a good leader.

In March of 2022, I began instructor training to learn how to teach martial arts classes. Although I am learning to lead a martial arts class, most, if not all, teaching techniques can be applied to everyday activities. The skills I have learned in a leadership class and my instructor training can be used in other life aspects. While the ability to lead is not mentioned explicitly in Bruce Lee's quote, it is a priceless skill that can be used and improve every corner of life. An efficient and respected leader can help grow perseverance, self-control, and discipline. One of the best ways to improve at anything is by teaching. This is one of my favorite skills I have learned during my training. It has given me the confidence and skills to combat whatever life throws me.

My life has been drastically changed and improved through my martial arts training. I would not be the person I am today without it. Not only did I find a supportive, loving community but also a place where I could grow in strength and wisdom and build essential character traits. I gained many life skills through my years of training, including perseverance, self-discipline, and leadership abilities. These skills and the community in which I have learned them are some of the most valuable things in my life. I will never be fully able to explain the effect or value of my training.