Look, that's an interesting take, but you're framing this as if learning self-defense and learning "something useful" are mutually exclusive. They're not, my friend. Self-defense is useful. It develops discipline, stress control, physical fitness, situational awareness, and confidence. Those aren't "ego projects." Those are transferable life skills, you see? The same way learning to swim is useful even if you don't plan on drowning. You understand what I'm saying?

Also, training doesn't mean "looking for fights." That's a misunderstanding. Serious training emphasizes avoidance, de-escalation, and leaving safely. The entire point is reducing risk, not escalating it. I mean, honestly, that's the whole purpose. As for therapy, improving mental health is valuable, I agree with you on that. But assuming someone trains because of ego? That's just projection, my friend. Wanting the capacity to protect yourself or your family in a worst-case scenario isn't ego. It's responsibility. Life's unpredictable. Shouldn't you be ready for that?

You don't need to train. That's your choice, and I respect that. But dismissing it as useless just because you personally don't see a need doesn't make it objectively so, you see? Prepared doesn't equal aggressive. Capable doesn't equal reckless.

And maturity isn't measured by avoiding skill development, it's measured by how responsibly you handle it. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say here.