I am more than happy to share this story and feel grateful that you found it uplifting! I think martial arts is beneficial for a number of reasons. First, it is designed to teach a person how to defend themselves against an attacker. For me, I was empowered with what I was learning (and still learning). I think this is what segways into the second point of the beauty of martial arts as there are many different styles out there.

Martial arts is more about self control, breathing, balance, flexability, muscle memory, and remaining calm in any situation. This builds inner confidence in countless numbers. We teach that you do whatever you can NOT to fight, however, if you have the ability if you have to. You go at your own pace. The community of people is another thing, I am fourtunate to belong to a studio (dojo) where we are much like a family. We care about each other, we want to see others succeed. During my recovery the moms, students, fellow warrior women cardio kickboxers, and my Sensei (teacher) reached out to me in texts and phone calls. As we all can atest to, these things are incredibly important in the recovery stage...

In returning to classes, my Sensei adjusts things to fit what I need at the time and I am able to ease into it slowly. I think other breast cancer patients can benefit from the martial arts for all of the reasons above and more. They also have to know that martial arts is about respect, honor, and discipline, if they go to a dojo that doesn't have this thought process look elsewhere.