Life lessons come to us from all avenues of the human spectrum. The movie Heartbreak Ridge starring Clint Eastwood offers a poignant lesson for all of us, a lesson which, if applied, can certainly enable us to live a better, more productive and substantive life. In the movie, Eastwood plays the role of Thomas Highway, an aging Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, tasked with straightening out a Recon (Reconnaissance) Platoon in the Second Marine Division, a platoon comprised of a bunch of out-of-control, defiant and arrogant losers, which is hardly the case of any real Marine unit of any size but, nonetheless, it makes for a good movie, however unrealistic the plot.

One would think that after thousands of years of human civilization, man would get the idea that appeasement is not a self-defense strategy. How many times has appeasement been tried and failed, not only in the social collective of world history but in peoples’ personal lives as well? The answer is that appeasement never works. Bullies who force themselves on others are never appeased. To them, appeasement is a sign of weakness and a green light to attack and destroy and then keep on attacking and destroying.

The year 2020 has been interesting, to say the least. We have seen a pandemic, a recession, and social tensions—long simmering under the surface—rise to the forefront of the world’s psyche. Many have lost their livelihood. Too many have lost their lives. All of us have had our lives altered in ways we did not foresee only a few short months ago. Still, I consider myself exceptionally fortunate. While all of this has happened, I have kept my job, have been able to provide for my family, and I do not know anyone who has been sick.

When you were born, do you remember anyone ever telling you that you would need courage to survive and manage the challenges, hardships, calamities and exigencies of your life? No? Me either. As we live through the upheavals of the coronavirus pandemic; the oft changing and bizarre dictatorial edicts of power-obsessed mayors and governors; the frustrating and ceaseless reversals of scientific assessments and, in the United States, the senseless, wanton, hate-driven destruction of life and property during the riots across America, how does one cope with such needless and lunatical madness without going mad?

As we all clearly know, “social distancing” has ingrained itself into the global community in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and ensure personal safety. Too, as all Kiado-Ryu students know, “Distance” is the #1 Security Principle in self-defense. This is continually driven into every KIA student’s mindset. However, distance is usually regarded as physical and defined as “external.” Yet, there is another type of distance which is, perhaps, even more critical in self-defense situations … “internal” distance.

Every one of the sixty-four Black Belts of the Karate Institute of America knows it. Every person who has become successful in any line of endeavor knows it, and those individuals who want to survive the coronavirus pandemic, as well as its aftermath, need to know it if they don’t already. Do you know what “it” is? Luck? Good luck with that. Hope? A nice thought but hope is just a belief, not a characteristic.

First, a thanks to Brian Doll for sharing this sad but powerful image of vehicles lined up at SDCCU (San Diego County Credit Union) Stadium, vehicles whose occupants are waiting in search of food provided graciously and generously by the local food bank “Feeding San Diego.” This image is not uncommon. Across the nation other communities are experiencing the same problem, vehicles, often lined up for miles, patiently waiting for sustenance.

COVID-19 is a virus, but it’s also an enemy, an invisible and lethal enemy. As the whole world knows, COVID-19 is humanity’s #1 enemy at this moment in human history. Truly, we are at war. COVID-19 struck quickly and powerfully in a blitzkrieg that has, like 9/11, changed the world. It will be defeated but not until it has done more damage. In its aftermath, we would be wise to reassess why so many countries around the world, if not every country, was caught off-guard.

During this global pandemic of COVID-19 with its attendant turmoil and concern, it is vital for all humanity—individuality and collectively—to remain “balanced” and not allow the virus, or any other calamitous situation for that matter, to dictate our disposition. When we lose our balance, we put ourselves in a perilous situation. Uncomfortable? Of course, but Imperative to manage and control. This is why “Balance is Primary” is a fundamental life principle, not simply a martial arts precept.