Pukulan has a certain magic to it, but it didn’t magically turn my life around. It gave me the opportunity to do that myself. It gave me the space to learn and grow. Above all else, it gave me a community.

In martial arts, it is not unusual for a teacher to hold back certain techniques or standards from their students. Often this can be for safety or to create a sensible learning path. They’re not hidden but taught when students are ready to receive the knowledge.

Surrender anger, surrender sadness, surrender fear. They are not useless emotions, and they should not be erased, but when they cloud your mind, you can release them so that you can see clearly. Surrender anything not serving your highest health and well-being, work through them with a clear head.

So, I stopped comparing myself to others and instead compared myself to where I had started. I can get stronger and faster to feel better about myself, not to feel better than others.

I guess what I am trying to say is to not give up, keep fighting. There is always someone to help you keep going and there is always a reward at the end of the journey, even if it’s just a sip of water.