Liberation Martial Arts Approach Manifesto (Patreon)

• If you’re new to LMA, start with our table of contents

In the Liberation Martial Arts (LMA) approach, movement is 10% skill, 90% comfort, and 100% executive control.

Self-direction, self-determination, and autonomy are all expressions of executive control—and executive control emerges from comfort.

When you can determine your own movements, skills emerge naturally.

Comfort itself is a skill and can be nurtured. Once you’re supported, you can be challenged. Once challenged, you can grow.

LMA is front-loaded. The critical work lies not in memorizing an encyclopedia of “techniques,” but in nurturing spirit. Spirit—fighting spirit—is the courage to step forward, the will to persevere, and staying immersed in the moment when things get hard.

From spirit grows composure—the steadiness to face pressure without losing yourself. Composure is spirit under fire.

Specific movements—what some might call “techniques”—are refinements. They are details, not the mountain to climb. The mountain is establishing comfort and restoring spirit after oppression. As you climb the mountain, skills unfold naturally.

The journey begins with comfort, but it is the spirit that carries you through the winding and challenging path of consistency.

– Sam