A further virtue.

The biological machinery of fear is active in all of us, minute by minute, day after day,

and has so persisted for years passed and future.

Elaborately constructed systems of chemical messengers and speedy neural circuits form

the basis for our ability to recognize a threat and react quickly if required.

Such coordination is essential to our success as a species thus far, and to our continued survival as a group.

This is so because without these mechanisms we would for example be caught by a predator,

or fail to learn and recall that fire burns when touched.

Fear then is an essential component of being human and serves a greater evolutionary purpose,

despite the uncomfortable sensations it generates.

But, when left unchecked and unregulated, fear disassembles the efficiency of the

same machine it is designed to protect.An interesting paradox thus ensues.

Too little fear and the danger of annihilation by a legitimate threat increases dramatically.

Too much fear and the organism becomes paralyzed in the environment and cannot respond to save itself.

What then regulates the efficiency and quantity of the biological response demonstrated by

the person caught in the grips of fear?

The virtue of Courage is such a regulating device. Courage is a middle English word,

derived from the Latin root “cor”,which translates as “heart”.

The French derivative “corage” translates as “with heart”,

and suggests that because the heart was the seat of emotion, an action performed

“with heart” was of great value and substance.

In modern usage, the virtue of courage suggests bravery and persistence of action

despite threat, and the self mastery of fear.

What then constitutes courage? Examples are plentiful, but definition difficult.

Philosophically, courage appears to be a collection of mental sets,

behaviors and practices that keep the organism tuned

towards achieving a goal, despite alarm and emotional disequilibrium.

It has been said that a person is simply an integrated,organized collection

of behaviors that persists over time. Mechanistically stated then, we are defined by the things that we do.

Courage however functions like the ghost in the machine,

and keeps us connected to our goals and potential despite fearful emotions.

It is the virtue whose presence helps remind us of our original purpose

when adversity challenges our best laid plans.

Karate training serves as a potent organizing principle to develop and shape courage,

and permits the student to maintain goal orientation despite threat.

Rigorous exercise prepares the organism for the physical

demands of stress by virtue of conditioning. Further, the repetitive physical training developed

during basic exercises, or Kihon, creates a set of crisp, fluid and automatic

defensive behaviors which occur outside of thought,

almost as if by instinct.

Sparring, sometimes referred to as Kumite or Randori, trains the student to recognize true threat

when present and to differentiate legitimate danger from simple feints and aggressive posturing.

Self confidence and mental clarity accompany such preparedness, as the student becomes

accustomed to behaving calmly and correctly despite fear and adversity.

Kata, the ritualized formal movements taught and practiced by the karate student,

transmits the essential wisdom of the art in subtle, ever-increasing ways.

During the course of practice the student learns to master inner distractions and threats,

such as wandering attention, boredom, and impatience. A form of moving meditation ensues,

and the sense of spiritual engagement felt by many students further

enhances the self mastery inherent in the traditional martial arts

Thus the virtue of courage is one of the principle regulators of fear,

and serves to modulate the strong biology of emotion.

Courage is a virtue whose potential is inherent in all persons,

and is developed naturally by training in traditional karate.

Reese Nicolini

Marjeh, Afghanistan