Hubert Schaub

Again I hear politicians and other ‘experts’ address the issue of radicalisation, as they have been doing for many years in the wake of every foiled or accomplished terrorist attack. Their narrative suggests that radicalisation derives from external factors, through no fault of the individual who has ‘chosen’ to join a terrorist gang, like the criminal who uses the traditional excuse: “I didn’t mean to hold up that bank and kill that guy, I just got mixed up with the wrong crowd”.

No-one had a perfect childhood or lives a perfect life and we all share the same world. Many of us are subject to the same pressures, influences and belief systems.  Often we share social, political or theological discontent, yet only a very few become ‘radicalised’.

Back in Germany in the 1970’s we were rebellious, made ourselves noticed and heard in protest marches, but only a minority became radicalised and joined a terrorist organisation such as the Red Army Faction. Most of us chose a peaceful path that promoted a spiritual-social revolution, mostly through non-organised agitation, promoting ‘guerrilla goodness’ and we created a reformed, liberated social mindset, a new world order, without firing a single bullet. We all lived under the same political and social conditions, therefore those who chose terrorism could only have radicalised themselves. The same phenomena has repeatedly confirmed itself to me in many parts of the world, where common criminals tried to justify their acts of cowardly cruelty with a self-fabricated, illusionary cause.

Radicalisation is a choice made by the individual. We cannot create a perfect society in order to appease a potential terrorist from becoming radicalised, but we, both parents and educators, can condition our children by teaching them moral values, such as tolerance, respect for life and freedom, self-respect and most of all, ‘right and wrong’, coupled with confidence building activities this will equip them to make the right decision, should they ever be tempted by radicalisation. Such conditioning doesn’t come flat packed or as an on-line crash course. It requires a ‘practise as you preach’ approach.

Another year has begun and you may have reflected on last year’s achievements, and, rightfully you can be proud of yourself. However, time never stands still, and in order to prevent stagnation we must move on and build on our previous successes. Remember, success, and martial arts itself is a never ending journey that flows like water flows down a river, around all rocks and obstacles, not stopping anywhere, and eventually it flows into the vastness of the eternal sea.
Imagine the water symbolises your skills and knowledge. It starts as a trickle in a mountain stream, then, as more streams flow into it (you acquire more knowledge and experience), it grows in size and volume, turns into a river, then a raging current (your skill level is high but your mind still unsettled). Finally, when it flows into the sea (the higher stages of the martial arts), you will find peace, contentment and wisdom this leads to enlightenment. Should, for some reason the river get blocked, it will halt its flow, burst its banks and cause damage until the blockage is cleared. The same happens to you when you fail to attend a training session, blocking and doing damage to your progress on your road of success. Hence, for your own good, make a commitment to yourself, not to make excuses (they are worthless), to put taekwondo first on your list of priorities, to come for training continuously, and ‘flow like water’.
Let the ‘flowing water mindset’ accompany us in all our studies and endeavours.