Falling Safely

Avoiding Accidents & Injuries

These real incidents show how relaxation and improved reflexes from martial arts training can save people from serious injuries. These principles apply even to car accidents we can face at any time.

I recall playing racquetball in Manhattan on my company team. We were all watching from the second floor, overlooking the court. There was a seating area with an opening to clearly see the action. I was just talking to my friend as one player served the ball. While I was distracted, the ball ricocheted off the other player's racket.

There was an eerie silence, as if the entire room suddenly stopped breathing. I looked down at the court and saw the ball hurtling towards my right eye at top speed. "Oh," I thought knowing it could take my right eye out of the socket, "I guess I should move my head." So I did, about an inch or two to the left.

The ball singed the top of my right ear, and bounced off several walls behind me. I turned to try to get the ball and give it back to the players, but someone else got there first. I leaned back over the opening so I could watch the next serve.

Everyone in the room just stared at me. I didn't understand. Then someone uttered under their breath, "I guess that's what happens when you are a black belt..."

Emergency & Difficult Problems

These real incidents show how relaxation and proper grounding from martial arts training provide calmness and clarity when facing major emergencies & difficult problems in life.

At age 26, I found myself as the primary caregiver for my father, who suffered from early onset Alzheimer's disease. My mother already passed away and responsibility fell on my shoulders. But I also found myself with a cancer diagnosis. So the question arose, who would die first, my father or me. And if it was me, how was I supposed to make sure his care was properly administered?

Having trained in martial arts for roughly 10 years, my first reaction to any crisis was to relax. Look around, see what is happening and make proper decisions. I did not know exactly how things would work out, but I was not dying right at that instant so I had opportunities to make improvements.

My first act was to prioritize my life rationally. In order to fulfill my objectives, the first thing I needed to do was live. I knew I would never feel right about myself if I didn't take proper care of my father, so that was my second priority. Third was to continue to work and earn a living.

Every day I work up, did everything I needed to give myself the best chance of survival. Then I made sure my father was properly cared for by myself or someone in my limited support network. After that, I dedicated any remaining effort to doing a good job. Go to sleep...wake up...repeat as necessary.

As the weeks and months wore on, I found myself surviving, and taking very good care of my father. I faced several threats of being fired as there were periods where my work was less than ideal. I simply explained my priorities and told management to do as they felt necessary. Strangely, my supervisor who threatened me, himself was fired. New management did not know quite what to do with my personal history, but they were very happy that my performance finally returned by then to among the best in my company. I have had the opportunity to pass these lessons on to others who have faced similar issues...