Submissive-Assertive-Aggressive (Heaven-Man-Earth; balance)

I really do see the number three a lot of late. Heaven-Man-Earth, fundamentals-Kata-kumite, etc. so when I read or study something and this "three" rears up in my face I gotta pursue it a bit.

It seems to me that these three fit into the world of martial systems.

Some folks are a bit timid or submissive in attempt to avoid conflict. They sometimes reach a point in that life where they want to seek out the means to overcome and create a more assertive life - karate classes can be what springs into their imagination and they seek out instruction.

Some folks tend to lean toward a more aggressive life style only to discover just how dysfunctional that can be along with all the stress driven repercussions one can encounter as an aggressor. To temper such things they may walk by a dojo, see all the pajama clad folks shouting "kiai" and punching and kicking and grappling all of the floor. They say, hey I like to mix it up and this looks like fun. In many cases once they are immersed in the system they find it a bit calming and tend to temper, no pun intended, their heated lifestyle into a more assertive form with less-n-less need to be aggressive.

Some folks walk that middle road but can't seem to bring themselves out of an assertive style to accomplish some goals that need a bit less assertiveness and a little submissive mix or a little more aggressive mix to achieve some goals. You might think that always being of an assertive nature would be a balanced way but in reality one needs to be mostly an assertive style with a smidgeon of either submission or aggression to bring about a state conducive to a good life. They find that in their karate training then can branch out and get all three so they learn to mix and match accordingly.

Too much submissive or aggressive tends to be off kilter causing more problems then one might think that style would gain but remaining in the middle is a bit boring and unproductive in many cases. A good balanced martial system provides the tools to teach one to achieve a fluctuation, as need, between a bit of one or the other mixed with a bit of assertiveness to achieve an enlightened balanced state - healthy to physical-mental-spiritual balance, don't you think?