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Why Train in Martial Arts?

Writer's picture: Vincent KasabaVincent Kasaba

Ask 100 people why they practice martial arts, and you’ll likely get 100 different answers. The reasons are as unique as the individuals themselves, shaped by personal experiences and aspirations. But broadly speaking, those motivations usually fall into two main categories: Self-Protection and Self-Growth.


For those who don’t train, martial arts are often reduced to a purely combative image — thanks to movies, viral YouTube videos, and the flashy world of MMA. But that’s just one narrow slice of the picture. While martial arts certainly offer tools for self-defense, our modern world — with its ever-watchful cameras, legal complications, and societal expectations — makes hand-to-hand combat a rare and often legally risky necessity, even when it’s needed.


This brings us to the second, and often overlooked, side of martial arts: Self-Growth. This is where disciplines like Systema truly shine. Go back in time, and you’ll find that ancient masters taught their students to heal before they taught them to fight. Today, modern-day masters like Vladimir continue to carry forward that age-old tradition, showing us that martial arts are just as much about inner development as they are about physical prowess.


We may never find ourselves facing a full-force punch to the stomach or chest in real life, yet for those of us who train, it happens regularly — sometimes weekly. Why? Because those controlled experiences teach us courage. And courage, in turn, strengthens our inner energy — a core part of who we are. While we might never face a real-life punch on the street, there’s rarely a day that goes by when we don’t need courage in our personal or professional lives.


The same principle applies to other key qualities like compassion, discipline, and the ability to deal with frustration. Systema, like many martial arts, becomes a classroom for life — a place to practice these qualities and develop them in a meaningful way. The lessons learned through physical training often translate into profound insights about our relationships, our work, and our overall life. In the process of training, we are continually confronted with who we are — our strengths, our weaknesses, and everything in between.


Taking a punch, in essence, is like staring into a mirror. The truth surfaces — whether we like it or not. And how we respond to that truth? Well, that’s up to us.


In a recent Q&A session, Vladimir shared a quote from Mikhail that perfectly encapsulates this philosophy: “If you find tension in yourself, you will find it in your partner.” The same can be said for many other things. Whether it’s fear, frustration, or insecurity, the energy we carry within us reflects outward — in our interactions, our relationships, and in every aspect of our lives.


So, whether you’re looking for physical skills, mental discipline, or personal growth, martial arts offers the tools for all of it. The question is no longer Why train? but How far are you willing to go?


Dr. David Orman, Central Florida Systema

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