Invictus Martial Arts offers a comprehensive approach to personal development, focusing on self-defense, family fitness, and the cultivation of an indomitable spirit. It's not just about physical techniques; it's about building character, confidence, and resilience in individuals and families.
The Importance of Martial Arts for Girls
While martial arts is still largely a male-dominated industry, it’s important to recognize that martial arts isn’t just for boys. From an increasingly young age, through media and bullying, girls are taught to feel self-conscious about their bodies, fear for their safety, and even view themselves differently from their male peers.
Building Self-Esteem
Unfortunately, most young girls will struggle with low self-esteem before the age of 12. This is in-part due to negative messages delivered by others whether through social media and the recent increase in cyber-bullying, or “mean girls” lashing out due to their own lack of self-confidence. Regardless of the source, young girls are constantly bombarded with negative cultural messages about everything they should be critical of about themselves. Fortunately, martial arts delivers an important opposing message helping her realize everything that is amazing about her: she is worthy of respect, she is strong, and she can achieve amazing things through hard work and commitment. Training in the martial arts will also improve her body image. Rather than seeing her body in terms of what it looks like, while training in the martial arts, she will get to experience what her body can do. Whether it’s kicking through a board or holding her own in a sparring match, she’ll realize that her body is strong and capable of doing incredible things, regardless of how it looks.
Self-Defense and Self-Protection
The unfortunate reality of the world is that girls and women face a significantly higher risk of assault. On average, 1 in 6 women will experience sexual assault in her lifetime. While most martial arts instructors teach techniques that can be used for self-defense, simply learning self-defense isn’t enough. At Invictus Martial Arts, we educate all of our members on the importance of understanding the distinction between self-defense and self-protection. When it comes to self-protection, the best self-defense techniques are simple, easy to use, and effective.
Developing Self-Confidence
There are so many opportunities for developing self-confidence through martial arts training. Imagine her experience the first time she breaks a board, or scores her first point in a sparring match, or wins her first medal at a tournament, or earns her first new belt rank.
Read also: Individual Martial Arts Instruction
Coed Training Environment
While most youth sports are not coed, martial arts training provides a unique opportunity for girls and boys to train together and even compete with each other. In fact, girls who train in the martial arts benefit from interacting and partnering with boys in an environment where mutual respect is expected and enforced. These coed interactions reinforce the idea that she is no different than her male peers when it comes to her ability to perform and achieve.
Family Fitness Through Martial Arts
Experts agree that family-based fitness has a greater likelihood of becoming lifelong fitness. According to SHAPE America it is recommended that children get 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Learning to be physically active is a habit that must be developed. Children learn best through observation, and establishing strong fitness habits during early childhood can yield positive results for years to come.
Many times, the family is a child’s first example of what a team can look like. Training in the martial arts as a family is a great team-building activity where parents and children can work together towards the common goal of becoming black belts. Experts agree that families who train in the martial arts develop improved confidence and self-esteem. Moreover, martial arts training can also lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression by raising serotonin levels. Finally, by training together, families also learn important problem-solving skills, including conflict resolution. Developing these skills creates an all around stronger and happier family.
Starting Martial Arts Early
My son started training in martial arts when he was only three years old. It began as a fun outlet for his exuberant energy but the value he received from starting his training at such an early age was so much more. As a result of his martial arts training, he learned how to focus on a task and follow directions. He discovered the importance of setting goals and working hard to achieve them. He learned to respect his instructors, his peers, and himself. Additionally, he developed self-confidence and learned about the responsibility that comes with being recognized as a leader. He gained an understanding of how to protect himself and others through various examples of self-defense. And he experienced the value of community and friendship.
So, when is the best age to start martial arts? Unfortunately, most martial arts schools will not train children under 6 years old. As co-owner of Invictus Martial Arts, it became my passion to develop and facilitate a martial arts program specifically tailored to the unique learning style, pace, and energy of 3-5 year olds. Our Tiny Titans program uses age-appropriate martial arts lessons that target physical, mental, emotional, and social development.
Read also: The Jade Fortress Martial Arts System
Safety Strategies for Kids
It may not be every day that we think about the security of our children but it’s always helpful to have simple-to-employ strategies to help keep our kids safe wherever they go. Having a family password or code word empowers your kids to feel more confident when someone other than you is picking them up and helps your peace of mind. To put it simply, a “stranger” is anyone mom and/or dad don’t know. A tricky person can be anyone. Yes, it could be the stranger we just discussed but it could also be Aunt Pat or Uncle Jeff. It could be our child’s best friend or anyone else they know.
Actually yelling the word, “Help!” is about as useful as a car alarm these days. Most people are immune to the stimulus. Any adult or peer that ask your child to keep a secret for them is a safety red flag. Of course, there are good secrets to keep like for birthdays and holidays but that distinction needs to be talked about. The bottom line is that good, clear, open communication with your child will help keep them safer. Maintain a genuine interest in your child’s life and give them the proper guidelines to make safe decisions.
Indomitable Spirit: The Core of Martial Arts
In the world of martial arts there is frequent mention of the spirit/mind/body triangle; lots of talk but precious little clarity. If pressed, most of us could come up with adequate definitions for the mind and body portions of the equation, but I believe we’d be hard pressed to define the role of ‘spirit’ - particularly ‘indomitable spirit’ - in our arts.
The obvious question to ask here is "Why?" Why bother to delve beyond the sport or self-defense applications of our arts? Why go deeper than technique takes us? I believe the study of martial arts ultimately brings us face to face with ourselves and our place in the universe. This thesis is an attempt to begin the discussion of how we might define indomitable spirit. It is merely a jumping off point, not a destination. Each martial artist must examine and weigh how the definition of indomitable spirit might affect them.
Some have interpreted indomitable spirit - fudo shin in Japanese - as a property that allows us to accurately see what must be done and gives us the persistence to see the task through no matter what. Fudo shin is seen as the key that unlocks our unlimited potential. This is the point at which I think the interpretation hangs a left and veers off course. From here indomitable spirit becomes the rough equivalent of invincible warrior and I am not convinced they are the same thing.
Read also: Deep Dive into Court Martial Films
While context gives us some idea as to what indomitable means, it is instructive to see what the dictionary says " Incapable of being overcome, subdued, or vanquished; unconquerable."
Many have interpreted this definition to mean that one who possesses indomitable spirit is unconquerable. Does having indomitable spirit really mean one is incapable of being defeated? Probably not. As I mentioned before, having an indomitable spirit isn’t the same thing as being an invincible warrior.
The key to clearing up our thinking is in the term itself; Indomitable Spirit; there is no mention of invincible warrior. I believe superimposing invincible warrior over indomitable spirit does a great disservice. As an aside, it is important to remember victory and success can be defined in a number of different ways. There are such things as small victories, moral victories and ethical victories which may be revealed in inverse proportion to winning or losing in a contest be it school, sport or business. For instance, one student cheats to come out ahead in a contest while another refuses to cheat and loses. Who really won? The person who uses fraudulent means to ensure external victory may gain another “W” for their win column, prizes, accolades and/or money, but by sacrificing virtue for an external victory the cheater has diminished their spirit. In essence, the act of taking a short cut to victory has rendered the cheat less capable of negotiating life at large. Many personal and societal ills could be traced to taking a short cut instead of following the true path. By not seeking the true good, the entire person is diminished.Also, the relative values of internal and external victories change as the circumstances of the contests change. In a self-defense situation, where someone is applying unlawful force to another, the external victory for the defender is paramount.
So, what are the attributes of this internal indomitable spirit? It seems to me the indomitable spirit never gives up on itself; it knows there is always more to learn and better ways to apply knowledge. Another way to say it might be ‘Unquenchable Spirit’. This is the spirit that always strives for virtue - no matter the won/loss record.
The obvious next question is how can we acquire indomitable spirit? One way is via " the ecstasy of sweating in the dojo" as Shoshin Nagamine, the great Shorin Ryu sensei, puts it; by committing ourselves to excellence, self-discipline and thoughtful consideration of all aspects of martial arts training. This requires us to go beyond simple technical training. We must dig deeper to consider the mindsets of attacker and defender. We must commit ourselves to researching techniques that will function in the real world and not give up until we have. Moreover, we must consider the telltale signs that warn us of trouble and take action that will prevent a violent encounter.
The indomitable spirit may not result in an invincible warrior. But it can be a catalyst for positive change in us. It can help us see what needs doing and give us the fortitude to finish what we start. The indomitable spirit; the unquenchable spirit expects the best, works for the best and never give in to hopelessness.
In fact if you ask me the unbreakable spirit is in every one of us.
There will always be someone stronger,faster,smarter,quicker,and so on. The Indomitable spirit will lead to your own success and for you only. It is in our own minds and can never be taken away? Invincible only in our own thoughts...that we never give up..never stop striving to be better than before. Use it wisely,..the indomitable spirit..for the soul.
"Indomitable Spirit" means and undefeatable "spirit" not an unbeatable person. An "invincible warrior" might be the result of having an indomitable spirit, but it is not a guarantee. For me, Perseverance is the "decision" to not give up; "Indomitable Spirit" is the "motivation" that keeps you going. It is the will power, or spiritual energy, that fuels the body to accomplish the decision to not quit.
Indomitable Spirit is the warrior who is knocked down seven times and gets up eight. You can lose many battles without ever being defeated...
Self-Defense Tips to Save Your Life
Everyone knows that today more than ever you need self-defense tips to save your life. Because we don’t know when or how it will happen. Every attack has an angle to it. Regardless of which direction the attack comes from, your first priority is to get out of the direct line of attack. It’s never about the weapon or means of attack but always about the source of the attack.
A person needs to apply reasonable force to a threat to bring the situation back into homeostasis. Much like Control, neutralizing the threat can take many forms ranging from range management to non-violent submissions to reasonable but decisive force. All things being equal, it is always better to get away from a person with violent intent rather than try to disarm them. There are too many variables in the chaos of protection that can make even the most trained person become a victim of increased violence. That said, not every attack has a weapon to consider but every attacker has the potential to use a weapon. If you decide to attempt to disarm a person with violent intent who is also using a weapon, be prepared to be harmed by the weapon. These self-defense tips to save your life can quickly become your first line of protection.
All self-defense begins with a mindset: you MUST have the will to win and survive at all costs. One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old? A person is 5x more likely to be stabbed by a knife or sharp object than shot by a rifle of any kind? Of the persons who were victims of violent crime, there is almost no distinction between who is attacked among men and women (only differing by .05%)? Here’s why this data matters… someone with violent intent can be anyone at any time, anywhere.
Bully-Proofing Through Martial Arts
Experts have long agreed that enrolling a child in martial arts can dramatically decrease how frequently a child is bullied. As parents, it can be challenging to help our kids work through an encounter with a bully, especially if we don’t know about it. Kids will often feel embarrassed to admit they are being bullied, which is why establishing an open line of communication is so important. When kids feel it’s ok to talk to you about their experience with a bully, they are more likely to talk to other authority figures as well such as a school counselor. Martial arts teaches kids to confidently advocate for themselves. In fact, the best martial arts programs stress the importance of using a strong voice to stop a run-in with a bully before it can escalate.
Put simply, bullies tend to target individuals who they believe won’t fight back. They look for body language such as crossed arms, rounded shoulders, and lack of eye contact to identify insecure individuals who can be easily controlled or victimized. Building confidence through the martial arts is a great way to keep bullies at bay. Every martial arts class your kid attends is an opportunity to prove to themselves that they are strong and capable of greatness. Sparring drills encourage focusing and performing under pressure which is another great way to develop unshakable confidence.It’s well known that bullies tend to seek out kids who lack community or are isolated. This is because it’s much easier to take advantage of and control a single kid rather than a group of kids. When it comes to standing up to bullies, there’s always strength in numbers. If your kid is struggling to make new friends at school, enrolling them in a martial arts program is a great way to introduce them to new friends with similar mindsets.
When it comes to kids who are being bullied, verbal assertiveness should always be the first course of action. If this approach proves to be unsuccessful at deescalating the situation, non-violent self-defense techniques are the next best thing. This is because, typically, punching and kicking the bully back will do more harm than good.
Self-Protection vs. Self-Defense
“Stay safe” has become one of the most popular sentiments recently offered to friends and family alike. Everyone wants to experience the comfort of knowing that they are doing everything they can to protect themselves and the ones they love. But how can we take action to ensure that is true? An obvious answer would be to take a self-defense class to learn some basic techniques. Most people would consider this is a great solution. Surprised? Self-defense is used in response to an unprovoked attack. This means that, by definition, self-defense is reactionary. Unfortunately, reacting appropriately to an attack isn’t as easy as the movies may portray. When a person feels threatened, fine motor skills are compromised and critical thinking is challenged due to a spike in adrenaline. It is extremely rare that a person will “rise to the occasion” and successfully ward off an attack with ease. What’s more likely, in fact, is that a person will default to the level of their training, especially under the influence of adrenaline stress. Often, the best self-defense moves are simple, fast, and easy to recall. Comprehensive training is critical to being prepared to save a life.
A common misconception is that once you’ve successfully defended yourself and escaped the violent encounter, it’s over. However, it’s important to consider the legal, ethical, and moral implications of using self-defense. At Invictus Martial Arts, we educate our members on the importance of understanding the distinction between self-defense and self-protection. Unlike self-defense, an attack does not have to occur in order to practice self-protection, making it proactive. For example, we’ve all applied protective sunscreen before hitting the beach, right? Of course! It all starts with informed awareness. Becoming more situationally aware is a great first step.
Most of us have heard well-intending people advise us not to leave our drink unattended at a party or to always travel in (at least) pairs. We wholeheartedly agree! However, a person with violent intent isn’t limited to a stranger in a bar. Acts of violence can happen anytime, anywhere, and in any location. In fact, victims of violence are often attacked in a familiar place by someone they know. Yes, you read that correctly! Most victims KNOW their attacker. Ultimately, staying safe starts with developing an undefeated mindset.
Realistically, if you ever found yourself in a life-threatening situation with your loved one, making the decision to lay down your own life will not protect them. We’ve likely all heard our flight attendants remind us, “in the event that the cabin loses air pressure, place the oxygen mask on yourself before helping the person next to you”.
Invictus Martial Arts Facility
Invictus Martial Arts has a state-of-the-art facility located at the SW corner of N. Lake Creek Pkwy. and Lakeline Mall Dr. “If you’re a person between the ages of 3 and 93, you’re invited to experience the power of belonging! We’re a passionate community of life-long learners committed to training and developing a martial arts way of life persevering through obstacles and always giving our best.
“At Invictus Martial Arts, everything is by design. Our students will be training on the industry’s highest quality Dollamur Swain Hybrid tatami mats under anti-fatigue LED lighting while spectators can enjoy high-speed WiFi and complimentary coffee in our hospitality suite. And because we’re committed to sustainability and health, all our guests can benefit from our filtered water bottle refilling station,” said co-owner and program director, Mrs.
Parents continually share how the Invictus instructors impact their kids. Billy Slater of Cedar Park recently shared, “Our son has achieved so much, not only in his martial arts studies but in all aspects of his life. It has been the difference-maker in his successes at school, at home, and everywhere he goes.