The Fight Has Come To Us

Self Defense is about being ready for the fight, when the fight comes to you. The fight has come to us, and it’s hugely important that, if you weren’t ready for it, you take the necessary steps to ensuring your safety. When preparing for a threat, there are a few simple big steps, with a couple small steps within each. Let’s begin.

Step 1: Identify The Enemy.
Identifying the enemy is the first step, because you need to know who you’re fighting. So, in this case, we are fighting more than one enemy. To start, we are obviously fighting the Coronavirus. This is a simple enemy to understand. We know that it’s transferable in every way one can conceive: coughing, sneezing, and ingesting. It survives for a long period of time, on most surfaces, and once it’s been contracted, it has an incubation period of a possible two weeks.

The next enemy that we are facing is each other. Obviously, I don’t mean that we are fighting each other, but it should be obvious that I am referring to people being the carriers of the virus. Not being able to identify symptoms, especially during allergy season, in one another means that we need to be wary of contact and exposure.
The final enemy that we are facing is ourselves. Our immune system is built by much more than the medications we are on. Our diet is more than our food. Our habits drastically effect our immune system.

Sept 2: Plan and Prepare.
Enemy number one, being the virus, itself, is easy to prepare for. We need lots of clean water, fruits, vegetables, and sanitization supplies. Water is going to be your best friend. We need to all stay hydrated - most stay very under hydrated, normally. Aside from drinking plenty of water, you’ll want to be eating foods full of vitamins, to keep your immune system strong. Fruits and vegetables will go a long way, in this. I am no medical professional, so I won’t go into a lot of detail, here, but this seems to work for me during times like these. And obviously, you will want to make sure that you keep your environment, and yourself, clean. Along with this, be sure to wash your hands before touching your face, eating, or touching any open areas, like cuts and scratches.

To continue preparing for this enemy, set up a workout routine, to keep your body active. Consistent activity helps promote a healthy immune system. For my students, who train regularly, but are missing their training, due to social distancing, it’s important that you stay active, even if it means going through shadow boxing, ground drills, and stick work on your own. Stay tuned for some online training coming soon.

Now that we’ve established eating, hydrating, and exercising well, it’s important that we address the final piece to preparing for this first enemy - rest and calm. I know that the threat to our economy and our health is enough to cause anyone to lose sleep, it’s important that we all stay focused on the day-to-day. Losing sleep is horrible for your immune system. We need to allow our bodies plenty of time to recover and recharge from the day. If we don’t allow this, we are potentially compromising our immune system, and opening the door for a difficult time fighting infection.

Our other two enemies are simple to prepare for. Others...avoid physical contact, when possible, and if you can enjoy some alone time, do so. Remembering to wash your hands before touching any other part of your body, especially after having to interact with others, is a first-in-line defense against any sort of infection. Don’t be in a position where people will be coughing or sneezing in your face, and you should be good. Go out to do only what’s necessary. Going to the movies, or to the beach, is not necessary. Staying active, eating well, and getting some sleep - these are necessary.

So, not to circle around the same comments, I do just want to emphasize, staying calm and allowing ourselves to rest is a huge step in the direction of health and safety. Anxiety also kills our immune system, so while that statement could ironically cause anxiety, I hope that you understand there’s nothing to be worried about. Allow this to pass, and we will all be fine.

Step 3: Fight and Recover.
This step is simple, if the first two were handled well. So, we understand the enemies in this fight, and we’ve prepared. Preparing is most of the fight, if I’m honest, so in this case, we’re really only talking about one additional component to the fight that we hope never comes. What if we get injured, or in this case, infected (or we recognize symptoms similar to the virus, which are difficulty breathing, dry coughing, fever, and some less common others)?

The first thing to do is relax. Attempt to rule out other potential medical issues, and once you’ve arrived to the possible conclusion that it might be the big bad wolf, himself, then drive to the hospital. This is where “fighting others and ourselves” comes into play. Be prepared to be surrounded by many who are also sick, and sadly, panicking. It’s important to not worry too much, and more important to be aware of your environment. Remember that the hospital staff is under immense pressure and that you are no more important than the rest of the people there. Allow the staff to do their jobs, and rest calmly, knowing that they are aware of both you, and how to handle the situation. The more that you panic, the worse it is for everyone, including those who you are trusting to make you well again.

Working through the recovery may very well be one of the most difficult pieces to this. As life works, things are surely going to be different, as this passes. Once it does, it’s important to take life one day at a time, and stay focused on that day...the one you’re presently living in. No amount of worry will make anything better, so breathe and continue moving. Rest easy knowing that you made it, above all else.


We can’t predict what’s going to come; we can only promise ourselves a calm, level, and calculated response to what comes. It’s important, as anyone who trains in self defense, or martial arts, will know, to prepare ourselves for many possibilities. We hope that none of those possibilities ever come, but we prepare as if they are inevitable, so that when they do come, we aren’t the ones in the room standing and looking around, wondering what to do.
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I hope that this quick article served you well, and you got something out of it. I will be working on some videos, in the coming weeks, for those looking to train and keep their heads straight, during this time. Be on the lookout, on our facebook page, www.facebook.com/fearlessnationhq for updates.


Be well, y’all!,
Instructor Phil