Black Belt Negotiating: Become a Master Negotiator Using Powerful Lessons from the Martial Arts

2. Overcoming Fear of the Blow

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.

ANCIENT JAPANESE PROVERB

Before martial arts students can begin their physical training, they must first learn the mental part of the game. One of the fundamental issues they must face is fear. Martial artists, who cannot be afraid when they step into the ring or it will ruin their career, deal with fear by acquiring knowledge. So can you. One way fighters acquire knowledge is to practice basic kicks and punches, then move up to sparring, and finally progress to tournaments. In other words, they move in stages.

For anyone studying the martial arts, probably the biggest fear is of getting hurt, especially in a full-contact contest where you are actually allowed to hit your ...