Greek Shaolin Cultural Organization
少林希腊文化組织

自衛的幻覺
The Illusion of Self-Defense

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I have been involved in martial arts for more than 45 years. Over that time, I have witnessed the evolution of self-defense systems, the rise and fall of countless trends, and the explosion of martial arts schools across the world. Yet, despite the abundance of teachers, courses, and instructional content, one question remains unanswered:

If so many self-defense systems exist, why are there still people who have no idea how to fight?

This question reveals something deeper about the nature of self-defense training, the role of the individual, and ultimately, who the real opponent is.

The Flood of Self-Defense Systems

In today’s world, self-defense is more accessible than ever. There are traditional martial arts, reality-based self-defense systems, military combat techniques, and even hybrid approaches that claim to be the ultimate solution. Every city has dojos, self-defense workshops, and online programs promising to turn people into fighters.

So why do so many people still freeze in real confrontations? Why do they lack the instinct to defend themselves?

The problem is not a lack of knowledge—it’s the illusion of knowledge.

The Problem of Theoretical Warriors

Many self-defense programs create theoretical warriors—people who know techniques in a controlled environment but fail to apply them under stress. Learning a sequence of moves in a gym does not translate to real-life combat if it isn’t reinforced with pressure, repetition, and experience.

Fear, adrenaline, and chaos are the true enemies of untested knowledge. Without real-world application, techniques are nothing more than rehearsed movements with no connection to actual survival.

The Responsibility of the Individual

Another issue is that many people simply do not take personal responsibility for their safety. They may assume that owning a gun, watching YouTube videos, or attending a weekend seminar is enough to make them prepared. The truth is, self-defense requires continuous training, not passive consumption of information.

Martial arts are not magic. A technique only works if the person using it has trained enough to instinctively apply it under duress. Without that, no amount of theoretical knowledge will save them.

Who is the Real Opponent?

In the end, the real opponent is not just an attacker in the street—it is the individual’s own fear, hesitation, and lack of preparation. The fight is against complacency, against the illusion that one lesson or one certification makes someone ready for violence.

The best martial artists understand that training is a lifelong process. It is not about learning a system—it is about becoming a fighter, inside and out. The true battle is against weakness, doubt, and the inability to act when it matters most.

Final Thoughts

If so many self-defense systems exist, but people still don’t know how to fight, then the issue is not the systems themselves—it’s how they are taught, how they are trained, and how they are internalized. The opponent is not just the attacker on the street; it is also the mindset of the individual.

True self-defense is not found in techniques alone. It is found in constant training, the right mindset, and the ability to act decisively. The question is not whether self-defense works. The question is whether the person training is truly prepared to fight.

So, in the end, who is the real opponent?

It might just be yourself.