Self-Defense is More Than Just Fighting, It’s Keeping Yourself Safe From All Harm

Self-defense isn’t just fighting!

I teach the martial art Hapkido as well as self-defense and safety programs. And things I have taught people have helped them in real life situations, both physical and otherwise. However, the statistics show us that way more people are going to be harmed by poor health than attacked by muggers.

Self-defense involves keeping yourself from harm. (Not the legal definition of self-defense that I cover elsewhere, but a general notion of self-preservation.) Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. So shouldn’t we practice healthy habits to prevent heart disease just as hard as we practice our martial arts and combatives?

Living with the Warrior’s Edge means you live life to the fullest. You practice safe habits to keep yourself and loved ones safe. You train in martial arts or self-defense systems so you can defend yourself if necessary. You live with honor and integrity. And you keep yourself fit and practice healthy habits to live more healthy. You don’t have to be a fanatic about it, but you need to take care of yourself and be healthy.

I just finished a very good book on just that: The Doctor Is In: A 7-Step Prescription for Optimal Wellness by Travis Stork, M.D. With William Doyle. It is one of many good books out there to help you stay fit and healthy. Here’s my review of this book:

On the cover of The Doctor Is In: A 7-Step Prescription for Optimal Wellness by Travis Stork, M.D. With William Doyle, the book claims “The host of TV’s ‘The Doctors’ shows you how to improve your health, feel stronger and more energetic, live longer!”  I think the book does just that and a lot more. In this easy to read and understand book, Dr. Stork shows how to transform your own health in seven simple steps with his straight forward honest advice.

I’ve seen “The Doctors” a few times and I liked Travis Stork. After reading this book, I like him even more. He gives practical advice on health that anyone can use to live a more healthy life. His seven steps include: 1. Be your own health guru. 2. Eat to savor life. 3. Give your body a daily vacation. 4. Nail your health stats. 5. Master the medical process. 6. Open your mind to alternatives. 7. Make the mind-body connection. I’ll explain these a little, but I really encourage you to read the book and hear it from the Doc, and then incorporate these ideas and strategies into your daily living.

Being your own health guru only makes sense. It is your body. So take charge of it. Learn how to be health and do it. The book contains some good resources to help you take charge of your own health. Eating to savor life is what Stork calls his moderate eating plan that consists of lots of fruits and vegetables, but doesn’t say you can’t enjoy a burger or pizza once in a while. Very practical and sensible eating strategy for healthy living. The daily vacation Dr. Stork wants you to give your body is exercise. Nothing drastic here, just reasons and encouragement to use your body to move. If you want an “exercise” book, you will have to get another, but this book tells you why you should be exercising.

Next, Dr. Stork wants you to know your health stats such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure and so on. He provides reasons to know these, and what to do if your levels do not fall where they should. It’s another part of taking charge of your own health. (By the way, another great book on taking charge of your own health is Take Charge: Fitness at the Edge of Science by Clarence Bass.)

The chapter on mastering the medical process provides some great advice and tips for when you visit your doctor. First, there are some tips to help you stay out of the doctor’s office, and then ways to maximize the small amount of time you get to spend with your medical professionals.

Stork then provides guidance on alternative approaches to wellness, some of which he like and thinks may be beneficial, and others that he doesn’t think are worth the time and money spent on them until he sees more evidence that they really work. However, through it all he says to look at alternatives with an open mind.

The final chapter discusses the mind-body connection in regards to health. He discusses the benefits of practices such as yoga, meditation, and tai chi, as well as high quality sleep and their effects on living more healthily.

This is an easy read with a lot of great practical advice on healthy living. I encourage everyone to become their own health guru and take charge of their health. Reading this book, and others, and then incorporating the advice and strategies into daily living will not only allow you to live longer, but live better, and that’s what it’s all about.

Check out The Doctor Is In by Travis Stork on amazon: