May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Research shows that one in five people in the United States is living with some kind of mental health condition, and statistics are similar in other countries. Our collective experience with the 2020 pandemic and other events has shown that everyone needs to pay as much attention to their mental health needs as well as their physical health needs.
Les Bubka, who is originally from Poland and now lives in the United Kingdom with his family, has taken the plight for mental wellness for all to the dojo. Les is a writer, karate practitioner, and founder of the organization Karate for Mental Health.
Our interview shares Les’s personal experience with martial arts and his contribution to the wider martial arts community.
Martial Journal: Describe your background in martial arts.
Les: I started training in Oyama Karate in 1992, and after about a year I got injured and gave up Karate. I returned to training in September 1997 in different branch of Kyokushin Karate called Shin Ai Do. In 2002 we lost our dojo, and by coincidence we found new one at the wrestling club. I joined and never looked back. Wrestling became a big part of my Karate practice. I had short romance with Boxing and Brazilian Ju Jitsu, but my heart always was with Karate.
MJ: How has karate played a positive role in your life?
Les: Karate helped me to overcome anxiety and helped me to change from a fearful young boy to a confident adult. The hardship of training and exposure to different events helped to build self-worth and self-esteem.
MJ: You’ve published a few books about karate and mental health. What inspired you to write about this topic?
Les: When we decided to have children and I was thinking what to do to make sure I won’t make same mistakes as my father did and started taking notes. My friends encouraged me to put those notes into a book. Transferring those thoughts on paper helped me to realize how much karate helped me. After publishing my first book Anxious Black Belt, I had so many emails from people saying this book helped or resonated with them, and I decided to promote those benefits to others. Books are one of my favorite means of transferring information, so it was obvious choice for me.
MJ: What is Karate for Mental Health? Why did you start it, and what is its mission?
Les: Karate for Mental Health (KFMH) was born as an event in support of mental health charities, and with time we’ve grown to become a movement to raise money for our own students. In my club, we promote inclusion and karate benefits for mental health; unfortunately, those people cannot always afford the fees. We raise funds to pay for their training, buy them equipment, cover traveling costs, etc.
We are in the process of registering KFMH to support disadvantaged students across the United Kingdom via a network of associated clubs. We hope to be able to help people to discover the benefits of Karate for their health, both physical and mental.
MJ: You are an instructor as well as a student. What benefits have you seen for neurodiverse people to practice a martial art?
Les: I’m foremost a student; I always learn from everyone who enters my life. As I have a few students with different neurodiverse needs, I see array of benefits: improved focus, confidence, coordination, etc. One of my students, Danny, was not able to train without someone from his family supporting him. He had poor coordination and feared contact. His attitude was “I don’t like that.” Fast forward seven years, and now his attitude is, “I take this challenge and try.” He is doing complicated pad work drills, kata, life sparring, and recently joined an international seminar.
Everyone is different, and I’ve also had people who couldn’t cope with karate. We have to accept that it is not for everyone. It’s important to make karate accessible to all, and then they can make the conscious decision if it’s for them or not.
MJ: Have you seen martial arts have a negative effect on mental health? What should someone do if they are in that situation?
Les: Yes. In my latest book The Dark Side of Karate I explore that topic. Money and power in karate can corrupt or amplify negative traits. People can abuse power. If you found yourself in the club where instructor likes to belittle students and there is no support, your mental health can deteriorate. My advice is to change clubs; there are plenty of other clubs that will be supportive.
MJ: What are your future plans for promoting the mental health benefits of karate?
Les: I’ve nearly finished my new book Karate for Mental Health, in which I interviewed students and instructors who had mental health issues and described the way karate helped them. I’m working on videos to help instructors run clubs with inclusion and mental health in mind. We have few seminars that will raise funds for clubs. I’ve also been invited to teach in few clubs across Europe. I do whatever I can to promote Karate for Mental Health. It’s worth the effort.
MJ: What advice do you have for people who are looking for a martial art to practice?
Les: Make sure you find an inclusive and supportive club. Don’t worry if one is not for you; there are others.
MJ: Where can people find out more about you?
Les: The easiest way to find me is to use my website www.lesbubka.co.uk where you can get access to free books, shop, etc. I’m also on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube all under Les Bubka Karate Jutsu.
We also have a page and Facebook group Karate for Mental Health. My books are also available on Amazon.
Melanie has worked in the healthcare industry since 2004 and lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
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Such an important topic, great to see it being brought to light!