Joe Lewis

Grand Master Joe Lewis has influenced me and my kung fu more than I realized. He came from the blood and guts era that included many legendary martial artists like Chuck Norris, Jim Harrison, Skipper Mullins, David Moon, Fred Wren, and JT Will. Now all these guys were ferocious fighters but for me Joe Lewis was always the meanest. I don’t mean “mean” in the cruel sense, I mean “mean” as in he did everything for keeps. I remember seeing a clip of him breaking David Moon’s and Fred Wren’s ribs in a “light contact” competition. I have always valued meanness as a black belt attribute because of Joe Lewis.

I can’t imagine anyone ever more confident than Joe Lewis, even now with him well into his 60’s. I swear he defeated many opponents before he even threw his first technique because of the sheer intimidation that was such a huge part of his arsenal. His two biggest competitive techniques were the back fist and the side kick. Everyone knew they were coming but seemed helpless to do anything about it.

It really shook me up when I learned of Grand Master Lewis’ diagnosis of brain cancer a couple of weeks ago. I can’t imagine him losing any fight, let alone this one. It’s unfortunate that it sometimes takes a crisis like this to mindfully recognize the influence someone has had on you. Thank you Grand Master Joe Lewis. I may not have become a martial artist, most definitely not the martial artist I am today, if it were not for you.

"I have always believed that one of the last strongholds of maintaining a non-violent society lies with the martial arts industry. Do I have a concluding point? Violence in any form implies a loss of self-control. It is of great importance that martial arts’ instructors reinforce those behavior codes that are about acquiring an attitude of self-control." - Joe Lewis (b. 1944)

Shop Class As Soulcraft

This week I began reading ‘Shop Class As Soulcraft’ by Matthew Crawford. The book speaks volumes about the value of mastery and how its pursuit fosters certain ethical virtues including individual responsibility.

Crawford’s book explores the merit found in working with one’s hands and removing our dependance upon, and blind acceptance of, present consumer culture. The empowerment that comes from self reliance is a major step toward acceptance of personal responsibility and more importantly - accountability.

I feel the real solution to many of the world’s communal problems are in the hands of each of us and our willingness to take action. Change, or inspiration for change, can come from a single act.

“People think responsibility is hard to bear. It’s not. I think that sometimes it is the absence of responsibility this harder to bear. You have a great feeling of impotence.” - Henry Kissinger (b. 1923)

Interbeing

The longer I train in kung fu, the greater I see the connection between mindfulness and mastery. When I really think about it, I see mindfulness as the key to solving almost any problem.

With mindfulness I tend to hear what people are saying rather than interpret what they are saying. I learn so much more when I don’t impose my paradigms upon the empirical data I accumulate.

With mindfulness my eye for detail is more refined. I see things for how they are without allowing my ego to distort the reality. Applying an egoless eye for detail to my training allows me to accept my present limitations and begin the process of eliminating them or adjusting my expectations.

With mindfulness the reflection in the mirror is an accurate and honest reflection of myself, not just physically but mentally and spiritually as well. This honest insight gives me the opportunity to embrace what I like about myself and the insight I need to eventually eliminate every skeleton from my closet. Stress disappears when I accept who I am rather than spend energy trying to hide it. If there is something I feel the need to hide, I bring it out into the light so that I am motivated to eliminate it.

With mindfulness I am totally aware of the consequences of my actions as well as my inactions. This awareness empowers me by reminding me of the capacity I possess to initiate change. The world around me is a product of my creation.

With mindfulness I am reminded of the miracle of life and the interconnectedness of everything. Awareness of interbeing makes me happy by giving my life consequence.

“You are me, and I am you. Isn’t it obvious that we “inter-are”? You cultivate the flower within yourself, so that I will be beautiful. I transform the garbage within myself, so that you will not have to suffer. I support you, you support me. I am in this world to offer you peace, you are in this world to bring me joy.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Relevance

This is what I woke up to today. Milo making himself completely relevant. Relevance is a term I have come to value because of, well its relevance. It’s not because the word is cool like ‘kiosk’ or ‘smock’, it is because relevance determines influence. For anyone who wishes to initiate and inspire change, influence is everything. Words and actions hold no influence over others unless those words and actions are relevant in others’ eyes.

Everyone has different perspectives on the same issues so what is relevant for one person is not necessarily relevant for the next. At times it seems that the only common relevancy in everyone’s lives is money. Political and social issues become more relevant if money is a factor and less so if it is not a factor.

I guess the challenge of all activists is to help people realize that wealth does not equal happiness and inspire them to believe that the power to initiate change resides in every moment. What we choose to do matters as much as what we choose to ignore. Nothing is without consequence.

"The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” - Plato (428 BC - 348 BC)

Perspective

Stress has a way of skewing perspective to the point where things that should be alleviating stress are actually compounding it. It isn’t difficult to regain a clear outlook but one has to recognize a distorted perspective first before the issue can be addressed.

I often have to remind my students that kung fu is there to serve them, not the other way around. When we’re not training and improving as we should, guilt tends to set in. With guilt comes a multitude of negative emotions that induce a negative mindset that shifts perspective so that where kung fu used to be an opportunity and tool for mastery, it becomes a responsibility with its own associated stress.

I begin and end everyday by reminding myself that I am who I am because of kung fu. Most of the defining moments of my life can be traced to that seminal first kung fu lesson almost thirty years ago. Any guilt I feel about the state of my training, or of my life in general, is only a reflection of my own ego. Kung fu will always serve me and any limits to its capacity to help me are set by my own efforts.

“Guilt is anger directed at ourselves.” - Peter McWilliams (1949 - 2000)