The Three Rules
Tracing the Circle – The Three Rules
“Three Rules”
In 1975, Jim Keenan worked with the group W.A.R.: Women Against Rape (in Santa Cruz, CA), and developed for them a special self-defense course that equally emphasized psychological and physical preparedness for personal protection. During course development, Jim crystallized three rules that describe the minimal psychological position one must adopt in order to be successful:
I am a human being, with all the rights, duties, responsibilities and privileges that this implies
I am not now – nor will I ever allow myself consciously to become – a victim, in any way, shape or form.
If I am ever required to take action in defense of myself or others, I will do so firmly and decisively, and will not stop until action is no longer required.
The first point has to do with recognizing ourselves; the second, with how we allow ourselves to be treated, by ourselves and others; the third, with personal assertiveness.
Jim spent a great deal of time discussing these points with course participants, and found that raising their consciousness in these three areas was an important step for them, not only in a self-defense context, but further in their general life.
Naturally, these three rules are culture–bound; what might be perceived as victimization in one culture may be an honor in another. However, for the Dotokushinkai community these rules collectively serve as the defining paradigm from which we approach the practice of martial art.