Powerful and insightful! Great piece. I am a Muay Thai practitioner. I don't compete I just do it for the fun of it, for the skills and fitness you get out of it. Mike Tyson once said: 'Everybody has go a plan until they get punched in the face". That is so true! Until you have been punched in the face you have no idea what it is like. We spar at the end of our training sessions, I have been punched in the face a few times and I know what it is like. What this has taught me is: always keep up my guards and counter attack straight away. Anyway, I love the way you explained in your article how you can apply those martial arts lessons in your day to day life. I wrote an article inspired by my martial art practice - Feel free to check it out - https://medium.com/the-innovation/girls-want-to-feel-empowered-learn-the-art-of-self-defence-aef282b2ea8a