Calm is the C-word used in this list of martial arts principles by a tai chi master.
Calm- free from excitement or passion; tranquil: a calm face; a calm manner.
If you haven’t noticed, the very best fighters in the world maintain constant poise and control. Their faces always appear calm and relaxed even though they’re facing the second best fighter in their weight class. In battle, the best combatants are always calm and collected because they’ve been there before. They aren’t scared of what might happen. They know that when you concentrate on what you don’t want to happen, it’s actually more likely to happen. Instead, concentrate on what you should be doing, not what might be done to you.
If you’re tense and fighting with high intensity, you’re wasting energy: mental and physical. Emotions are a waste of energy and don’t belong in fighting. Fear of failure paired with excitement is a bad combination for winning fights.
In life, keeping calm will be what keeps you from getting into a fight in the first place. Next time you’re in an argument or altercation, keep cool and you’ll win the verbal war. Like the old saying goes, “Cooler heads prevail”.