Energetic karate: why fighting energy doesn’t work

As a sensitive person or empath, have you ever felt like you’re doing energetic karate?

You know the feeling—constantly trying to block out other people’s energy, deflect the negative vibes, protect yourself from draining people or psychic overload. It’s like your nervous system is permanently in battle mode, kicking and swinging, just to stay sane.

I’ve been there. And let me tell you—it’s exhausting.

Spiritual ninja on high alert 

At one point, trying to protect my energy became just as stressful as absorbing it. I’d leave a session or social event and feel wired, depleted, or scattered—not because of what happened, but because I’d been on high alert the whole time, guarding myself like a spiritual ninja.

Here’s what I’ve learned since: you don’t need to fight energy. You just need to understand it.

My Early Reiki Days: Love, Light… and a Whole Lotta Chaos

When I first began practicing Reiki, I was blown away by how powerful it was. I loved the idea that Reiki is a channel of unconditional love and light. And it truly is. Reiki, as originally taught by its founder Mikao Usui, is simple, accessible, and profoundly healing. I still believe it’s one of the most beautiful tools for self-care and spiritual connection.

But something unexpected happened.

Learning the hard way

Alongside this beautiful energy, I started to notice… other things. I wasn’t just picking up on love and light. I was feeling drained after certain clients, anxious around some people, and getting psychic attacks. Energies would stick to me, bounce off others, and sometimes linger for days.

I didn’t know how to cut cords. I didn’t know how to clear my field properly. And I definitely wasn’t taught anything about entities, energetic debris, attachments, or contracts. All of this came later…the hard way.

As an empath with a naturally expansive energy field, I was wide open. Which made me incredibly intuitive… but also incredibly susceptible to energy that wasn’t mine.

The Trap of Energetic Karate

So what did I do? I started fighting. Any time I felt something dark or heavy, I would energetically “kick butt.” I’d get scared, go into defense mode, and try to force the energy out. I didn’t know what else to do.

But here’s the thing… fear attracts more of the same.

When you go into battle mode, you lower your vibration…and like attracts like. It wasn’t until much later that I realized: I was actually feeding the fear-based energies by fighting them. My energetic karate wasn’t protecting me. It was keeping me stuck in survival mode.

Understanding Your Energy is More Powerful Than Fighting It

It took time (and a lot of trial and error) to understand how energy really works—and how to work with it rather than against it. Here’s what I’ve learned:

• You don’t need to shrink yourself to stay safe.
• You don’t need to fight everything that feels dark.
• You don’t need to hyper-fixate on what’s “out there.”

Instead, you drop into your heart. You expand your light. You connect to the infinite power within you.

The more I focused on clearing my field gently, and strengthening my energetic boundaries, the less I absorbed. I stopped fighting and started standing in my power. That changed everything.

Why So Many Reiki Practitioners Struggle

This part is important: most Reiki courses don’t teach energy discernment. They teach you how to channel Reiki, but not how to protect yourself energetically, cut cords, deal with entities, or manage energetic fallout after a big healing session.

It’s not because Reiki is flawed. Reiki is pure light. But the truth is—we live in a dualistic world. Where there is light, there is also shadow. And being open to energy means being open to all of it. Not just the pretty bits.

That’s why in my Reiki trainings, I talk about this stuff openly. Not to scare people, but to empower them. Because when you understand how to work with your energy, you’re no longer afraid. You’re prepared, steady, and in control.

You Are the Light

This is what I want every empath and energy worker to know: you are not powerless. Nor are you fragile. You are not at the mercy of whatever energy is floating around.

Your power comes from your connection to the light within you. When you tune into that, even in the face of dark energy, you are safe. You are sovereign. You are strong.

There is no need to be in energetic karate mode anymore. You just need the right tools, knowledge, and practices to feel strong, clear, and confident in your own energy.

Ready to Step Into Your Power?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, drained, or unsure how to manage your energy, I invite you to book a Reiki Healing or Reiki + Coaching session here. These sessions are designed to help you deeply cleanse, reset, and reconnect with your own power and light.

Reiki Courses – go deeper and empower yourself

My next Reiki Level 1 course is happening on 4th and 5th October. In this training, we don’t shy away from the real stuff. You’ll learn how to protect your energy, trust your intuition, and work with Reiki in a grounded and empowered way.

You can also check out my self-paced online course on energy protection here, available immediately. This is perfect if you’re ready to start clearing and protecting your energy today. It’s simple, practical, and powerful. 

You don’t have to fight energy anymore. You are more powerful than you realise.