Imagine trying to pay attention to your teacher while the school’s marching band is practicing in the hall, your friend on your right is playing his MP-3 player too loud and a flock of geese are crashing through your classroom windows. Chances are you will not hear a word of what your teacher is saying.

How Our Brains Function

At any moment, our brain is filled with multiple thoughts and feelings, each one trying to grab our attention. Many people understand the martial arts solely as a means of physical defense. However, the true essence of martial arts resides in its ability to teach one how to maintain a singular focus in the midst of other distractions – both internal and external. Using martial arts, we learn how to control our thoughts and remain focused on a single idea. Experiences of fear, pain and sickness are diminished and become subservient to our minds when we focus on positive ideas and thoughts of healing.

How Meditation Helps Heal

Meditation is a martial arts technique that helps us develop this focus. It teaches us to remove tension and pain by focusing on our inner messages of light and well-being. Meditation teaches us to focus on one thought, idea or word, while excluding all other thoughts. Meditation can transport us away from whatever makes us afraid and bring us to place of power and control. Many studies have shown that meditation has a very strong impact on our general health and assists us in fighting disease. It calms our system and allows the natural powers of healing that come from our inner soul to spark the body’s own immunological (disease-fighting) tools. It is a very important tool you can use to become an active partner with your doctors in becoming healthy and strong.

Try It!

Begin by finding a comfortable place. When you are seated or lying down, allow your entire body to feel that you are falling into that place. Feel your arms, legs and all of your muscles, continue to fall downwards as through a cloud until you can scan your body and feel looseness all over. Breathe very gently, but listen to the sound of each breath. Wait one or two moments until you begin to really hear each and every breath. As you begin to feel relaxed, pick a word that makes you feel safe and calm. In KKC, we use the word “light”. Every time you breathe out, say the word “light” or a word of your choice, very gently in your mind. When other words or thoughts pop up, gently put the competing thought down and go back to your word. Try to keep repeating this word in your mind for five to ten minutes each day, gradually increasing to 30 minutes. You will see that, after several weeks of practice, you will gain a tremendous ability to focus and control your experiences of pain and discomfort.