In martial arts we talk about using our training to help us achieve our “true potential”. That certainly sounds good but what does it mean?

Well first off, I think we have to get in touch with our own beliefs and priorities. For me this this started out with identifying what things in my life had real value and meaning versus what thought and activities served no real purpose. Then tossing out most of those non essential activities and replacing them with ones that served me better.

Perhaps some of those things we do, are just to please others. Generally, speaking I think little good ever comes from doing something strictly to please someone else. Eventually don’t we learn to resent or dislike it? Maybe even ultimately rebel against it? Best to find some common ground - some give and take rather than completely setting ourselves aside just to make someone else happy. 

Having said that, once one has a firm grasp of what truly makes them happy (and unhappy) they can start to evaluate what things they are doing that is congruent with their own goals and beliefs. Just as an example, over the past 6 months to a year I have gotten back in touch with the fact that I enjoy writing. Yet, because it is not my profession, it never really ocurred to me I had anything of value to share or that I had the talent to do it. But recently, I have started to think differently about that. Perhaps I do. Perhaps we all do. I recalled how much I enjoyed telling and writing stories. People seemed to enjoy those stories and my mom always used to say I should do something with “that”. Whatever “that” is.

You see, I don’t think if not for the time I have spent meditating, practicing and taking the time to sit and enjoy nature if I would have found that piece of me again. But I am glad I rediscovered it and recently I have decided to pursue something that I have always wanted to try my hand at which is writing a book.  Why not? What have I got to lose? I even strongly suspect, that this is part of the journey I am suppose to taking. That this decision and the act of doing it is part of my “reaching my true potential.”  I guess over the next months or years I will find this out.

Some may automatically assume I will measure my success or failure in this writing venture based on whether or not I get the book published. Then if I do, the next “test” will be how many copies it sells. But I already know that this is not where I will get the value from the process.

Just one step toward reaching that “true potential”. But then again, that is all we can do. Take one step at a time and enjoy the ride along the way. Never forgetting that it is “the enjoyment of the ride”, with all of its ups and downs, that is the whole point.

Spring is finally here with everything just getting ready to change and blossom.  Always a great reminder to take stock on how the personal growth is coming along. Have I grown in the past few months? Have you?

Something that has been pointed out to me along the lines of where I have some room for personal growth is that I tend to hide a bit.  I have some trouble being in a room and being singled out (even for something positive).  So, when I am told I have room for growth in this area, I have to recognize the truth in this statement. This is something that my martial arts practice, and my teacher, helps me to do; recognize and acknowledge where change Is needed.

But recognizing the need for improvement is not enough is it? We can’t just own it and then do nothing.

We need to be grateful to the people who point flaws out to us, even when they can sometimes be hard to hear.  It often takes a little pain for real growth to take place though and knowing this can sometimes help us accept that.

And so, with a heightended self awareness and some discomfort I begin to let others get a glimpse of my true self.

The physical side of the martial arts is something I love but it is the mental aspects, the philosophy behind the martial arts that lights me up and sustains me when the physical aspects prove so challenging.

When I am practicing in class and it gets so tiring, so difficult, so frustrating I sometimes think - this is just too hard. But then another voice comes to my rescue. Reminding me that the self defense aspect and the physical exercise I get from my martial arts is only one half of the equation. I am getting out of the practice so much more than that. I am learning lessons that help me in all areas of my life.  The education I am receiving is invaluable.

I am continually grateful for my teacher and his commitment and ability to communicate the martial arts philosophy behind our practice because it has enriched my life and broadened my perspective on so many things.  He takes every opportunity to enourage our personal growth. He constantly reminds us to sit down and meditate to help achieve a greater sense of inner peace and calm. Things so needed in the world today. Yet he is quick to point out that it is the body and mind together that helps give us the internal fortitude and resources needed to find our own way.  But you don’t need to hear it from me. It is far better to learn it directly from my teacher and I am happy to say now you can. His weekly meditation talks given to his students have been captured on video and now featured on BodyMindAwakening.com.  I am genuinely pleased that more people will get a chance to listen and learn from this man who has dedicated his entire life to the practice of martial arts and to helping others deal with with their own challenges. On the site there are other things as well such as meditation tips, recommended reading and a philosophy section.  Why not go check it out?

Happy New Year!

I recently read an article about how a Grandmaster of the Israeli martial art, Krav Maga, came to give advanced training to some students in NJ, where he seemed to focus more on which of the 4 main organizations of Krav Maga is the true successor of Imi Lichtenfeld than he did on the students he was there to teach. Lots of infighting and arguing seemed to be going on,  “They all say they are the originals,” Gidon fumed, through a translator. “But if you say you are the originals, show us your proof!”

Certainly lineage is an important part of any martial art but this attitude of being adversaries with one another, of needing to “prove” something, is really the antithesis of my own understanding of what true martial arts is about. The philosophy behind the martial arts, as it is has been taught to me, is about trying to take the higher ground, to lift others up; not tear them down.

Martial arts philosophy places emphasis on qualities such as self-control, respect for others, a calm and peaceful disposition. Authentic martial arts training teaches the concept of oneness, and therefore we want good things for others. It is said that when one becomes a true martial artist, they have no need to fight others to prove anything. Through years of meditative practice and physical training, the practictioner becomes physically, mentally and emotionally strong enough to have no need for fighting. When there is no ego, there is nothing left to defend in the spiritual sense at least. That alone eliminates so many instances where one might find themselves tempted to engage in a verbal or physical fight. So when the only thing left is the genuine need to defend your physical self, you are well equipped to do so when there is no other alternative. 

In addition to my own Shifu’s teachings, he shares with us a program called “Lessons in Mindfulness” by Sifu Robert Brown. I have found this to be very helpful in facilitiating my understanding of the philosophy behind the martial arts. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him once and he was filled with positive energy and generosity of spirit in wanting to share his outlook on the philosophy of martial arts. I’m sure he has helped many a student with this aspect of their practice.

Happy Holidays to you!

Another year has nearly come to an end. Like many of you, I can’t help but look back and do a little reflecting. Was it a good year? A bad one? I try not to put things into neat little categories so much anymore.  Nothing is really ever that black and white anyway is it?

I look back at the year gone by and see growth. All sorts of seeds have been sown by all of us. Some of those seeds are going to sprout weeds and some of them beautiful flowers.  It think we probably need some weeds so we can appreciate the flowers.

I also see patterns repeating. Maybe some details have changed but in essence unless we truly have changed something inside of ourselves we seem to have recurring themes in our lives. Have you ever noticed that? My teacher would say we keep having an experience until we no longer need to be having it.

There is little point to reflecting on the year gone by unless it is to take stock to help give us direction going forward. Goal setting is good. But only if we stay true to the course.  We won’t necessarily achieve every one of our goals because life inevitably will throw us a few curve balls along the way but developing the self discipline to try to follow through as best we are able is part of what our martial arts training is all about - as is being able to “be like water” and adapt to change as needed.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and a quick shout out to Lucy Wiggins. I hope all goes well in your new endeavor into kung fu.

Sometimes when I saw people younger than myself in class, particularly someone who I know started taking martial arts as a child, I would think how lucky they were to have begun training their bodies at such a young age. I would reflect on the fact that if I were younger, I too would be a little faster, stronger and more flexible. 

Yet, recently I am realizing there is a flip side to all of that. I think because I did start at an older age (in my thirties), that I did have something working in my favor. I had the maturity to appreciate the practice at a level that I might not if I had joined at a much younger age. I can listen the philosophy behind the martial arts and I am easily able to see it can help me in my everyday life partially because I can draw upon my own pool of experiences. I have had the great fortune to have enough mistakes under my belt that I can step back and see what areas I need to work on in my life.  Those years reveal patterns in my thinking and actions making it easy to clearly what behavior has served me well and what has not.

I have some people at my place of dojang who are many years senior to me in age and let me tell you, every one of them is an inspiration and an example to the rest of us.  I don’t think there is an age where you are too old for martial arts.  I just think the experience you will have will just be different.  No doubt, due to their more advanced age, there are some unique frustrations and bodily limitations, but just think of the wealth of life experience those people can bring into their practice!

If I am ever in need of some martial arts inspiration, I only need to look to those people at my dojang who are practicing in their fifties, sixties and even seventies. I am both humbled and grateful to be practicing with them.