Slowly but surely, I am becoming aware of yet another essential ingredient of withdrawal from civilization: martial arts. Although I have written a few words about it a couple of years ago, the subject has remained rather vague in my mind (e.g., “On Zen and Martial Arts,” February 26, 2012). The growing unrest in many parts of the world makes this omission ever less palatable, though. My recipe for subversion will need to be updated sooner or later (“A Recipe for Foolproof Subversion,” May 14, 2013). Survival and self-defense are inseparable, indeed. Martial arts go all the way back for this very reason. And their roots cover the entire planet. Every continent has had its own variety of martial arts appropriate to the time and place. In part, the revival of self-defense will go hand-in-hand with the revival of ancient hunting techniques. As civilization disintegrates, all this will need to be relearned again. Enough said for the time being, but the subject is vast. As well as fascinating in its own right.