Why Kung Fu

With the year coming to a close, many will be planning to start 2016 with a list of resolutions. Some of these resolutions will have people seeking out a martial arts school to begin training. Everyone has their own reasons that pull them toward the martial arts lifestyle but, for most, the reasons for sticking with the training tend to be different than the reasons for beginning the training.

I, like most, began my training because of an inspiration. Yes, Bruce Lee has always been a hero of mine but the incentive driving me to my first class was not visions of the Little Dragon but rather a phone call from my best friend telling me he had just enrolled in a kung fu class. Before kung fu I was not a ‘join the club’ sort of guy, I did not have much follow through, and I definitely was not a person who easily ventured outside my comfort zone.

I began my training for purely egotistical reasons. Being athletic I have pretty much excelled in any physical activity I have pursued and kung fu was no different. It did not take long before I noticed the physical benefits of the training but I could also sense something more. Something my young self could not quite put a finger on. Something just a little out of focus and only in my peripheral vision. It was not quite tangible but it was there nevertheless. Thirty-two years later it is now in the direct focus of my older self. Time, and the clarity that comes with experience, have given me appreciation and understanding for the more valuable abstract aspects of kung fu.

I am who I am today because of kung fu. I have met amazing people, witnessed miracles, and I have experienced an awakening. I no longer avoid the unknown, I embrace it. I no longer accept mediocrity, I pursue mastery. I have replaced insecurity and anger with compassion. I reject conspicuous consumption and I live simply. I have eliminated my regrets of the past and I no longer worry about the future. I understand the miracle found in every moment of every day and I know that the only guarantee in life is change. It is in my nature to grow old, it is in my nature to become sick, and it is in my nature to die.

Kung fu is so much more than kicking and punching. It has given me the clarity to understand what it means to be free.

“The challenge isn’t to be a great martial artist, the hardest work is to be a connected, compassionate, engaged, forgiving, participative human being. You learn the martial arts so that you may take what you practice so diligently on the mats –and then apply it to things that genuinely matter in the world.” - Tom Callos (b. 1959)

To My I Ho Chuan Team

2015 has been one of the most tumultuous years I have ever experienced. Personally and professionally, there hasn’t quite been a year like the present one that is coming to an end. While it has been interesting, I am looking forward to having all that drama and stress behind me and turning over a new page.

Despite everything that has happened, my training and personal growth have both experienced a stellar year. Beyond my chronic tailbone issues, I’ve enjoyed a year with minimal injury downtime. In the past I have equated my lack of pain or injury with lack of intensity. If I am not hurt, I haven’t been pushing myself. This year is different. If I did not have the focus and intensity , I would not have accomplished as much as I did this year. I’ve met most of my personal goals, I’ve been way outside my comfort zone, and I am at mental peace. My journey to mastery progresses, and continues.

I owe a lot to my I Ho Chuan team. The Year of the Sheep Team will forever be the team that showed what happens when you have a bunch of like-minded individuals pulling together on a quest for something better. Obstacles and setbacks were aplenty yet everyone pushed forward together and positively. Guys, it has been a privilege to share this year with you. Thank you for the inspiration.

“You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.” - Joyce Meyer (b. 1943)

My Canada

Watching our Prime Minister welcome Syrian refugees to Canada this week felt like I was returning home after a long trip to a foreign land. It has been so long since I have felt proud to be a Canadian. I hope government xenophobic rhetoric and autocratic leadership are forever behind us, never to return. Governing through fear and intimidation should never be acceptable in a free, democratic country. 

It is time to heal the wounds we have caused.

“later that night i held an atlas in my lap, ran my fingers across the whole world and whispered - where does it hurt?
It answered - everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.”
- Warsaw Shire (b. 1988)

Perspective

The longer I pursue mastery the more I realize how much power perspective wields in determining my successes and failures. In fact, in the final analysis, sometimes the same outcome could be considered a success or a failure depending upon how I look at it. Perspective determines if the glass is half empty or half full.

Perspective can make me an optimist or a pessimist. Perspective is the difference between pointing a finger and accepting responsibility. Perspective can give me control or make me a victim. Perspective can make me grateful or it can make me jealous Perspective has the ability to crush or empower. So many factors affect perspective but my perspective is ultimately my choice.

A small turn of the mental wheel is often all that is required to talk me down from a path best not travelled. Controlling my thoughts and staying in the moment give me the clarity I need to make positive choices that serve me and my goals. My perspective can control me but I can control my perspective. The choice is mine.

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” - Marcus Aurelius (121-180)

Seventy Five

The older we get the more aware we become of time passing. I think that awareness becomes even more acute the second a person realizes they have lived more days than they have remaining. I feel I have lived a full life but I am acutely aware that there is not enough time in a single lifetime to accomplish everything that I want to accomplish. There is always more work to be done. That awareness is a major motivator for me. I waste time, everybody wastes time, but it can be difficult to maintain the proper perspective so that I understand that time is being wasted.

I typically divide my time between productive time and down time. It has taken me most of my life but I now realize that 99% of my wasted time resides in the productive time category. Working extra hours to make a few extra dollars to acquire a non-necessity is probably the biggest time waster in my life. I’ve been conditioned to think that more is better when it comes to money. In reality, enough is better than not enough. Once ‘more’ enters the equation, priorities become clouded and the time wasting begins. I’ve been working on reducing my possessions to one hundred. Progression on that goal is aided by regular re-grounding of my perspective on wasted time.

Whenever I visit my grandmother’s grave, I try to make time to visit the infant section of the graveyard. There are several children buried there that were born on the same day as I was born. All my worry about money, the car I drive, the health of my lawn, the clothes I wear — gets exposed for the narcism it is when I consider those in the graves before me. Time is precious. At the end of my life I will value what I accomplished more than what I owned.

Probably the biggest clarity boost to my perspective came on Friday this week. Bruce Lee was born on November 27, 1940. He would have been 75 on Friday. I do not think there is another person in history who has inspired more martial artists than Bruce Lee. His skill was unmatched and his accomplishments were many. Growing up he was my hero. To this day he still is. Bruce Lee inspires me to push myself harder, to care deeper, and to make darn sure that I am a different person when I go to bed at night than I was when I woke up in the morning. This man inspired me and millions of others to believe in the power of discipline, to go further, and to do more. Bruce Lee died at the age of 32.

“If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” - Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)

Another Year

Another year is almost behind me. Taking stock of things, I haven’t had many years quite like this last one for significant life events. While change is never without stress, sometimes a person inflicts even more stress upon themselves by holding on to a familiar stressful situation out of fear of the unknown. The devil you know …

It is true that change is inevitable. There was no lack of change for me this year. I didn’t avoid it, in fact I embraced it. I’ve faced the unknown and I’m excited about the possibilities. I’ve experienced significant personal and professional growth because I have pushed myself beyond my comfort zone. My goal everyday is to recognize that at the end of every day, I am not the same person I was when I woke up that morning. Since change is inevitable, it is important that I am mindful of the person I am becoming.

“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of her of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Paris

So many died in Beirut and Paris last week and many more in Syria and Iraq. Let’s all keep a clear head. Now is not the time to let fear and hate dictate actions. It is important that any action taken to ‘fight terrorism’ does not become the foundation upon which future attacks are based. Hate begets hate. Violence begets violence. So many have died for inherited hatred. How long should someone have to pay for the sins of their father? So many have died, more death is not the answer.

The people caught in the current refugee crisis have gone from secure comfort to running for their lives in a very short period of time. I can’t help but think about what it must feel like to have to flee your own country because you are caught in the middle of an ideological war, only to be rejected and persecuted by the very countries whose bombs destroyed your home and who you have turned to in your time of need. Extremism is not a new phenomena, nor is it unique to a specific ideology. We all have the capability of extreme acts if the right buttons are pushed and alternatively, we have the capability of extraordinary compassion. Let’s stop the cycle of hate.

“For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Savour

I have been a vegetarian for most of my adult life. It has not always been easy. The cravings for meat are not something that someone who grew up as a carnivore can easily manage. It shouldn’t be too difficult for anyone to empathize with how much discipline it takes to stay the course when confronted with the aromas of BBQ season. It was not until I had applied mindful eating that the effort required to stay a vegetarian become effortless.

Mindful eating is a practice that changes the way you look at food and it changes the way you approach life. When I eat an apple I can feel the sun that nurtured it, the rain the nourished it, the farmer who harvested it, the trucker who transported it, and the grocer who sold it to me. It is not always easy to consume my food with that level of mindfulness, especially when the stress of the day is weighing upon me, but that is why it is called a practice. I cultivate my mindfulness with every meal I consume. Some days I am more successful, some days not so much.

With mindfulness my food’s taste reflects how it came to be upon my plate. For that reason I have become sensitive to the mood of the person who prepared my food. I find it more difficult to consume processed food. I can taste the difference between most organic and non-organic food. Knowing a sentient, living being has to unnecessarily die for my meal has made meat inedible in most circumstances. In mindful eating I value quality over convenience while my taste is more attuned to pureness and not chemical trickery.

I have travelled all over Canada, the US, and some of Europe. While there was good food everywhere I have been, I couldn’t say the food anywhere was better than I am used to at home. Then I went to California. The produce in California is like nothing I have tasted before. The vibrancy of the flavour of Californian produce surpasses anything I have experienced or even imagined possible. There is a lot to be said for locally grown and consumed food. I can’t imagine anyone’s food value system not changing after experiencing fresh, quality produce.

“At its most essential, the apple you hold is a manifestation of the wonderful presence of life. It is interconnected with all that is. It contains the whole universe; it is an ambassador of the cosmos coming to nourish our existence. It feeds our body, and if we eat it mindfully, it also feeds our soul and recharges our spirit.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Oh The Places You Will Go

I write this from California, watching hummingbirds feed and Teddy the Corgi frolic in the yard. It has been a productive weekend consisting of a Zen retreat followed by networking with some of my martial arts mentors and heroes.

 I can't begin to describe the immense gratitude I have for the people that kung fu has brought into my life. The paths we choose . . .

 "I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents; we're all teachers - if we're willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door." - Marla Gibbs (b. 1931)

Tiger Challenge

To a martial arts student a tournament can be an important, even career-changing, experience. But it is not the competition itself where all the benefit is found. The real value resides in the preparation. Having a goal with a deadline is often just what a training regime requires for focus and a sense of purpose.

Our annual Tiger Challenge Tournament is once again behind us. We’ve had bigger tournaments but I don’t think we’ve had one better. For an event that no matter how well prepared we are going in, last minute registrations and dropouts always throw in an unhealthy dose of stress the day of. Yet despite all the uncertainty, all the events went almost exactly at their estimated start times and the tournament finished exactly when predicted. That is a tribute to Sifu Csillag, the I Ho Chuan Team, and all the SRKF Black Belts who volunteered their time and expertise to make the tournament a success.

Thank you to everyone who made our Tiger Challenge a success this year. All the tournament proceeds will be donated to charity.

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” - Alexander Graham Bell (1847 - 1922)

Making Self Defence Relevant

I just watched one of the most eye opening, gut wrenching documentaries I could imagine. ‘I’ll Be Me’ chronicles Glen Campbell’s final tour after disclosing he had been diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. I cannot imagine facing such a fate, but being able to put that level of vulnerability out there for the whole world to see is something beyond comprehension for me.

In 2012, the US was spending $140 billion to treat Alzheimer’s patients. As the baby boomers age, that number is expected to rise to $600 billion which was the entire US defence budget. As US Congressman Edward Markey has said, where is the money better spent to protect the American people? Better healthcare or more bombers?

What is self defence? It literally is the defence of one’s person or interests but typically we associate it with defence against the use of physical force. Narrowing our definition of self defence in that way downplays where the real risk to our person and interests lay. Our health, our narrow-mindedness, our diets, our finances, our anger, our acceptance of mediocrity — all have a better chance of harming us than an actual physical assault.

“Often times I have hated self defence; if I were stronger I would not have used such a weapon.” - Kahlil Gibran (1883 - 1931)

Thanksgiving

I try to make gratitude a part of every day. Life and circumstance come with all that stress and anxiety that encourage lamenting of the past and worry about the future. Gratitude is what keeps me grounded in the present moment.

Thanksgiving is a special time of year. Crass commercialization of almost every traditional event and holiday in this part of the world has pretty much destroyed the spirit of most holidays for me by turning them into yet another stressor in my already hectic life. For me, thanksgiving stands alone as the last bastion of holiday sanity.

I have so much to give thanks for. I am blessed with good health and I am surrounded by people I love and appreciate. Once a person has that, what else really matters?

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” - William Arthur Ward

The Path Taken

When I began studying kung over thirty years ago, I had no idea what I was getting into. Everyone has their reasons for beginning but those reasons rarely apply to why we continue. I’ve been training a lifetime and it may be cliche to say, but kung fu has changed my life.

I could fill a page with the list of benefits I have received from training in kung fu. In fact, that list grows on a daily basis. The lifestyle I enjoy is due to my health and my perspective — both of which I owe to my study of the art.

The greatest gift kung fu has given me is in the form of opportunity. I have met some of the most amazing people currently walking the planet because of the art I study. How many can say they ever met their personal hero, let alone go on to become friends with them? I’ll be starting November by travelling to spend time with a couple of my mentors. The trip is sure to recharge my batteries and stoke the fire.

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” - Plutarch (45 AD - 120 AD)

I Ho Chuan

There may be almost five months left in the Year of the Sheep but it is time to start your planning if you are considering committing a year to the upcoming I Ho Chuan Year of the Monkey Team.

So what exactly is the I Ho Chuan? Silent River Kung Fu's I Ho Chuan is a year long mentorship/mastery program that is based upon my friend Tom Callos' Ultimate Black Belt Test. The program is premised upon the principle of incremental progression, and the logical certainty that many small accomplishments can add up to something big, something life-changing, something truly great.

The I Ho Chuan will challenge you to do better, be kinder, dig deeper, think wider, eat wisely, live simply, consume less, engage more, and get in the best shape of your life. The I Ho Chuan is for anyone who wants to facilitate positive change in their life.

The I Ho Chuan only has one rule - NO QUITTING. You are allowed to fail but you are not allowed to quit. When you think about it, failure is only absolute if a person stops trying. The difference between a master and a student is the master has failed more times than the student has even tried.

“A black belt should have an attitude equal in its brilliance to his or her physical skills.” - Tom Callos (b. 1959)

Easy Way

I’ve heard it said that success is a choice, it is not a coin flip. I think about that when I consider the odds of anyone starting kung fu and going on to earn a black belt. The statistical odds of achieving black belt rank are very low. The actual number varies depending upon the sample group and survey parameters but the range typically comes in at between 0.5% and 2%. While these odds may bolster the ego of those who achieve the rank, they are pretty discouraging for those just starting out.

I see a couple of problems with those statistics. First, in my opinion, the statistical analysis should not be comparing the numbers of those who begin training to those who achieve black belt but rather the number of those who begin training to those who do not quit. Every school and every style have their own grading parameters and the different standards are reflected by the range in the various study results. Since black belt is not the end but rather another beginning, the results would be more meaningful and applicable across all schools and styles if they reflected the ratio of those starting to those still training. That would definitely bring the percentage even lower and be more reflective of a common problem within the martial arts: most people do not understand what a black belt means. If everyone did you would see the success ratio rise substantially and you would see fewer non-training black belts.

The second problem with the results of the published statistics is that they imply that success is based upon more than a personal choice. It isn’t. Black belt rank is a 50/50 probability. Either you choose to achieve it or you choose not to. Either you are going to make it priority and invest the time and effort required or you will choose not to. It is always a choice. If you don’t believe me, compare the number of 8 year olds who quit school to the number of 16 year olds who quit school. Failure rate goes up with the freedom to make a personal choice.

Choosing the easy way is, well, easy. A person can convince themselves a hundred different ways into a decision, especially when one prioritizes wants over needs. I know of no one who did not realize a benefit when they applied themselves to their kung fu. You would think that type of guaranteed return on investment would pretty much ensure that everyone who began training would end up achieving a black belt. Unfortunately it is easier to choose to quit than it is to keep on going.

Many may disagree with my assessment but I hope a few are inspired by the logic it contains. Success is a matter of personal choice.

“If there is anything in your life that is not the way you want it to be, you and only you are responsible for changing it. You must believe that it is up to you to create solutions to the challenges of life. Whether they are big or small, you’re still responsible. Each time you give an excuse, you diminish your respect, your credibility, and your integrity. Each time you make an excuse, you reinforce your propensity to make even more excuses in the future, and excuse making becomes a habit.” - Tommy Newberry

Rotary Run For Life

My team spent the morning at Stony Plain’s Rotary Run For Life welcoming the finishing runners to the pavilion with a lion dance. I am blessed to have students who are so willing and able to volunteer so much time for worthy causes.

Proceeds from the Rotary Run For Life went to support Stony Plain’s Coordinated Suicide Prevention Program. Mental health, and the stigma surrounding it, are issues that should be brought to the forefront of society. The majority of Canadians will be touched by mental health issues, directly and indirectly, in their lifetime. Yet many, if not most, will suffer alone. Such is the nature of this issue. Until getting help for depression and anxiety is as easy as getting treated for a broken bone, this problem will persist.

I have been personally touched by suicide. I am grateful for the efforts of organizations like Rotary who step up to help address mental health issues by creating awareness and understanding. We have a long way to go but events like the Run For Life are a step in the right direction.

“I didn’t want to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that’s really sad. It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare you’re so relieved. I woke up into a nightmare.” - Ned Vizzini (1981 - 2013)

Panda

Panda was not originally my dog, she moved in with me when she was four years old. Panda died yesterday around six months shy of her seventeenth year. There are so many emotions that come with losing a friend and family member. There was plenty of time to prepare but the reality of the loss is not something one is ever ready for. My daughter and I will miss Panda intensely.

It is times such as this that I reflect with gratitude for the life I have and for those I have been blessed to share it with. Panda did not start her life with me but she shared the majority of the time she had with me and for that I will always be grateful.

"How can I find the shining word, the glowing phrase that tells all that your love has meant to me, all that your friendship spells? There is no word, no phrase for you on whom I so depend. All I can say to you is this, God bless you precious friend." - Gerald Good

Meditations

It has been a long time coming but I have finally got around to reading Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius was the last of what Machiavelli coined “The Five Good Emperors”.  Marcus Aurelius never meant for his writings to be published or read by any other. His writings were private journals meant for his eyes only. I have always been fascinated with the miracle that his writings have survived this long. They were written on ancient papyrus, and here I am today, reading them on my iPad. I wonder what the Roman Emperor would think of that?

He may have ruled ancient Rome two thousand years ago but I find the problems we face today are virtually identical to the problems and moral dilemmas that Marcus Aurelius faced so long ago. Environmental issues, social injustice, conspicuous consumption — two millennia later and we seem to have made little progress on issues that continue to plague mankind.

Meditations is a humbling and inspiring read. A two thousand year old message of simplicity, compassion, accountability, and mindful living. An important message indeed.

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." 

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”

“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”

“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” 

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” 

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” 

“The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.” 

“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.” 

 - Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180)

Absorb What Is Useful

Bruce Lee’s advocation of absorbing what is useful while breaking free of the limitations of form and style are probably the most misused precepts of his philosophical approach to kung fu. It is easy to exclude the context behind the written word, especially if it serves a personal agenda.

Bruce Lee pioneered branching out and not restricting your potential by limiting your approach to the specifics of a given style. Everyone is built differently, with unique strengths and weaknesses, and every style is built upon a dogmatic foundation prescribed by its creator. It becomes a disservice to the martial arts when the inexperienced and uneducated latch onto specific statements by famous martial artists without understanding the context of the quoter’s intent and the historical, practical, intellectual, and spiritual significance of the principles of a complete martial art style.

Bruce Lee had a complete traditional style upon which his philosophical approach to kung fu was based. This is the context behind his statement. Having a complete style as your foundation and then building upon it by expanding your knowledge within areas that suit you and interest you is vastly different than starting from scratch and studying a hodge podge of techniques to make yourself a better fighter.

It is time to reclaim what it means to be a martial artist and not let the term become a generic label to denote people who train to fight. Kung fu is over two thousand years old. It would be a tragedy if we allowed its definition to become reduced to something associated with ego, testosterone, and violence during our watch.

“Art calls for complete mastery of techniques, developed by reflection within the soul.” - Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)

Silent River Kung Fu

Excerpt from our news article:

With the popularity of the UFC and competitive fighting, the public’s understanding of the martial arts is becoming more distorted and limited. The last thing the martial arts is about is fighting.

Training at Silent River Kung Fu is more than kicking and punching. When you consider the fact that we all have a better chance of having our butts kicked by our finances, our diet, our attitude, and our acceptance of mediocrity than a physical assault; there is a better use of the idea of self defence beyond the physical protection of the body. Is not self defence found in the values we pass on to the young? In the examples we set for them in how we demonstrate, through our own practice, what is wonderful, meaningful, and valuable in the world? What if the idea of self defence was applied to the mind, to the family, to the community, to the environment, to the food we eat, to the way we deal with conflict, stress, and anger?

At Silent River Kung Fu you have an opportunity to practice with people who can talk about and show examples of what the martial arts does for a person, for their family, and their community. Silent River’s intelligent curriculum teaches discipline and respect, and how to take what is learned on the mats and put it to work in the world. While many walk through huge sections of their lives like the living dead, oblivious to the beauty, the mystery, and the wonder around them, there are also many people who are awake and engaged.

"Yes, a black belt should be able to execute precise, effective, beautiful, and technically proficient martial arts techniques, whatever the style. But just as importantly, a black belt should be able to execute precise and beautiful ideas, equal to or better than their physical techniques. A black belt should have an attitude equal in its brilliance to his or her physical skills." - Tom Callos (b. 1959)

One Step Forward . . .

In any and every endeavour there are ups and downs. Moving forward may be the goal but any journey worth making will always be rife with challenges and setbacks. Three steps forward, one step back. Setbacks are frustrating and demoralizing. Years of progress and achievement can be wiped out with a single mindless act. That is why it is important to remember that the path to success is not linear. Things never go as planned. Weakness can overcome discipline. Stress can derail structure. It is comforting to be reminded that every major success is defined by how one has responded to hardships and setbacks. Failure is only absolute when we stop trying.

 “Failure? I never encountered it. All I ever met were temporary setbacks.” - Dottie Walters (b.1925)

Power of Engagement

It has been a good week. I was able to spend some quality time with a few students who constantly remind me of the power the art wields in helping someone change their life. I also had the opportunity to spend some personal time with my instructor this week. Master Macdonald has been my friend and mentor for over twenty years now and his ability to inspire me has not waned one bit.

Yesterday provided the perfect finish to a spectacular week. I shared the day with a group of incredibly engaged individuals. I have been training hard for most of my life and I have not found anything that can emulate the clarity and inspiration that comes from being around people dedicated to mastery.

The parade in Alberta Beach was an absolute blast. The crowd was loud and incredibly positive. Their engagement mirrored our own. Our demo after the parade was a whole lot of fun. In my early years as an instructor, my demos were always about entertaining the public and promoting the school. Now that I am older (and hopefully wiser) I see so much more value in demonstrations. My first and foremost focus is using the event as a tool to help engage my students. My emphasis is now on entertaining ourselves and just experiencing the moment. Sure I care what everyone else thinks but that is never on my mind during an event. It’s just about being mindfully present and staying aware of who I am with and what we are doing.

Finishing yesterday with a BBQ was perfect. Our performance was done and any anxiety surrounding it was also done. I have come to treasure these personal moments that we share as a family. Kung fu is the catalyst that brought us together but that sense of family is keeping us together.

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” - Lou Holtz (b. 1937)

A Journey Worth Taking

Mastery can be a difficult concept to wrap a mind around. It is easy to confuse intent with action, action with progress, and excuses for reasons.

Making your intentions public adds accountability that goes a long way in keeping motivation strong and in focus, but that is only the first step. This is where most people lose sight of the issues. Intention is only the motivation not the action. It is the action you take that brings you closer to mastery.

Effort does not always bring results. Mastery is result dependant so it is imperative that the master continually evaluates where he is at and knows where he is going. This is part of the eye for detail that eludes so many people. We do not equate engine speed (rpm) with road speed and so we should not equate effort with results. As the cliche goes — work smarter, not harder.

When a student lists off excuses as to why their attendance or efforts have been lacking, I remind them that those excuses are the same reasons I will give them when they ask me why they did not earn a black belt from me. We all care about the turmoil and carnage a personal and professional life can bring to the best of plans and intention, however mastery does not. Mastery is either a yes or no proposition. Mastery does not recognize effort, only results.

All these points are common sense. Everybody knows them to be fundamentally sound yet it is those very points where most people fail on their journey to mastery. It is very easy to spend more time selling yourself through your words of intent to get the recognition that comes from earning a black belt than to consistently complete the most basic of tasks that define what it means to BE a black belt. Once you understand that mastery is about the quality of the journey, the way is clear.

“The journey is the reward.” - Chinese Proverb

Sifu Eva Dennis

I cannot say with all certainty when Eva Dennis became a student of mine. I believe the year was around 1989 or so. Maybe earlier, maybe later. Regardless, it was many years ago. Most would describe her start in the kung fu lifestyle as coming late in life. Almost thirty years later, she is still hard at it.

In the martial arts community she is known as Sifu Dennis - the tai chi teacher extraordinaire under whose caring, watchful eye all Silent River students forge their tai chi prowess. In the Silent River Kwoon, she is known as Sifu Dennis - the strong, compassionate leader who sets an example of perseverance and dedication that has inspired every student that has been lucky enough to cross her path. To me she is Eva, my friend and confidante whose advice and support has helped make Silent River Kung fu the school it is today.

To practitioners of kung fu, our lineage defines us. What we are taught is coloured by those who teach us. Silent River Kung Fu is very privileged to have a martial artist as skilled and dedicated as Sifu Eva Dennis defining our lineage.

“I saw behind me those who had gone, and before me, those who are to come. I looked back and saw my father, and his father, and all our fathers, and in front, to see my son, and his son, and the sons upon sons beyond. And their eyes were my eyes.” - Richard Llewellyn (1906 - 1983),  How Green Was My Valley

Mastery and Mediocrity

I’ve had a few discussions this past week about the intense responsibility that some people feel when they commit themselves to mastery. If you allow it, the commitment can consume you to the point that you lose sight of what personal mastery is really about.

If I only look at mastery as being about perfecting myself through the discipline of my effort, it can become overwhelming. There is always room for improvement, especially if you are a perfectionist. To make that level of commitment requires relentless effort.

My approach to mastery is very simple — I do not accept mediocrity in my life. To me, mastery is simply defining my values and identifying where my decisions and actions are not reflecting those values. No plan, no commitment, just awareness. If I do not accept mediocrity, I perpetually make unconscious choices to address mediocrity. This approach requires effortless effort on my part. Simple yes, easy no.

“Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.” - Fulton J. Sheen (1895 - 1979)

My Unwelcome Companion

Ah mediocrity, my old nemesis. I would like to say I have missed you but you haven’t really been away, have you? I don’t always recognize you at the time but retrospectively I can see your work and influence. You tend to hang around in the background but your leverage over my choices and what I am willing to accept is always front and centre — if I make the effort to notice. That is the key, isn’t it? Taking the time to notice.

Mediocrity, the bad choices you have helped me make are many and the cost of your companionship is beyond measure. How many relationships will I allow to fester in your grip until there is nothing left to salvage? How much time and opportunities will I lose during our unwelcome embrace? You are a deceptive and treacherous siren.

Mediocrity, no matter how much I fight to eradicate you, you continue to try and creep into my life. Mastery will be a struggle only as long as I accept you. You, mediocrity, continue to battle me but I am winning the war. As I become more mindful of your ways and guises, there are fewer shadows for you to hide in. As I continue to reap in the rewards from my commitment to mastery, your lies and deceit become more obvious and less believable.

I am wise enough to recognize that mediocrity is not something that can be completely eradicated. Mediocrity is the Yin, mastery the Yang. Like pursuing mastery, eradicating mediocrity is a journey, not a destination. My journey is continuously evolving, and the specifics of the mediocrity in my life will be defined by my priorities and my values.

“I react very badly when mediocrity throws a tantrum of entitlement.” - Lee Siegel (b. 1957)

Boot Camp 2015

One of my favourite days of the year is behind me. Silent River Kung Fu’s Annual Boot Camp was held this past Saturday and despite the intense heat, the day was a great success. The expertise on hand to teach was incredible and the attitude and efforts of the participants was inspiring.

I am constantly humbled with gratitude for the people I am privileged to share this journey with. There we were, in Keephills, sharing and learning a two thousand year old foreign art that only fifty years ago was not even accessible to those of our ethnicity. When you consider the odds of us even being born at such a time that our lives even intersect, Saturday was an absolute miracle.

“There are two ways to live: you can live as it nothing is a miracle, or you can live as if everything is a miracle.” - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Dad Again

It’s Fathers Day so it is difficult to write anything other than what I am thinking about today – my dad. I won’t be seeing my dad today but he will be on my mind all day. I haven’t had a lot of opportunity to see my dad as much as I would like in the past but these past couple of years I have been able to visit him a lot more.

My dad has taught me the value of effort and his example continues to influence the person I am evolving into, and the father I have become.

“I inherited that calm from my father, who was a farmer. You sow, you wait for good or bad weather, you harvest, but working is something you always need to do.” - Miguel Indurain (b. 1964)

Moment in Time

It has been said that a Zen Master such as Thich Nhat Hanh comes around once every six hundred years. Now approaching his 89th year and in failing health, his time with us is coming to an end. The miracle that our lives intersected for even a brief time is not lost on me.

There is much that I take for granted but time is one thing that I am very appreciative of. Time is not just about quantity, it is also about quality. The quality of any moment is defined by the shared experience of that moment. A person, a pet, a ray of sun - anything can define a moment and change the course of a life.

No one knows how much time they have left. What we do know is that our time with another is only a brief intersection of two paths. We have no idea how long that intersection will last. May I appreciate every moment and seize every opportunity.

 “Lost - yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.” - Horace Mann (1796 - 1859)

A Good Day

Often a day comes along that is defined by the company you share it with. Yesterday was such a day and it was good. New friends, old friends, missing friends, and friends departed - I am grateful that I have you in my life. Thank you.

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered.“Yes, Piglet?”“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”- A.A. Milne (1882 - 1956)

The Power of Experience

Even though some of are more affected by global calamity than others, we all share the same destiny. We are all stuck on the same planet so none of us are immune to what is happening outside our borders - we all share the same fate and one day our turn will come. Our planet’s plight is exasperated by the circumstance that the people inflicting the majority of the damage are the same people who are least, or rather last, affected by economically motivated exploitation.

This video was shot a week after the four participants returned from the Ultimate Black Belt Test project in Greensboro, Alabama. The video is the project of one of my students and it illustrates the value of experiential learning. War, poverty, starvation, and global disasters remain an abstraction for many of us. You can sit through a lecture or watch a documentary but neither will have the impact of experiencing something first hand.

“He knows the water best who has waded through it.” - Danish Proverb

Pandamonium Aftermath

I want to thank everyone who participated and supported the Pandamonium this year. It can be difficult to get people to recognize the value in community engagement so I appreciate the extraordinary effort many of you put into this project.

The reality of the outcome of our efforts is disappointing as we did not make it to even half of our $20,000 goal. It is my failing as the head of this organization in not being able to adequately convey the value of empathy training. I am disappointed but not discouraged. I know none of you wish to create a world where we all look out for number one. I know we all realize that Kung fu is more than just kicking and punching. We recognize that the value of the art lies in the quality of the journey, not the destination.

I was greatly encouraged by those of you who aspired for the Pandamonium to be something other than the ordinary this weekend. Mr. Helm, your dunk tank idea proved to be the biggest draw of the day. Your initiative accounted for $2000. Thank you for bringing a fresh approach to our event, it really paid off. Mr. Bjorkquist, thank you for your bottle drive efforts. I believe that after the dunk tank, it was the biggest contributor to the Foundation and its ability to continue to financially support our charities. Mr. Sand, thank you for going above and beyond to allow us to send extra money to Rahul in Nepal. He is at ground zero trying to help people rebuild their lives after the devastating quakes that have devastated the country. Thank you to everyone, there are too many to name individually, who carry so many of us along through your efforts and inspiration. Spending the day with you was a spectacular experience.

As always, the efficacy of the Pandamonium Project is not measured by the funds we were able to raise but rather the awareness we have been able achieve. Parents don’t want their kids to learn how to fight, they want them to learn how to defend themselves. There is a big difference between those two ideals and that difference is defined by those less tangible skills and attributes that kung fu helps us develop. Empathy, compassion, discipline, respect, humility, leadership. These are only buzzwords if we do not have the curriculum and the gumption to back them up. The Pandamonium is a big part of that curriculum and I thank those of you who got it and put your ideals into action this weekend. 

“Yes, in many ways, sticking to the practice IS (I think) what one learns from the practice of the martial arts ---not so much something you can hold, but something you revisit, constantly, as a practice ----and that's where the benefits are derived ---primarily anyway.  Likewise, practicing one's mission-based language IS the school's marketing, in part, not the statement finally declared. (me thinks)” - Tom Callos (b. 1959)

Gratitude

This weekend has been extraordinary. I have so much to be grateful for. I had the privilege to start my weekend by connecting with a friend whom I have been missing for a long time. I spent Saturday with a group of extraordinary people who are family to me, and I witnessed the next generation of community leaders step up and be counted. My weekend ended with quality time spent with my parents and my daughters.

It can be easy to lose your way when you are pursuing goals. It is always good to take the time to take stock of what you have. I have everything I will ever need.

“The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.” - Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900)

Something Old, Something New

The tailbone issues that have been preventing me from participating in any type of rolling or anything resembling a sit-up for the past few months has given me the opportunity to revisit some old lessons with a new perspective fostered from added experience. 

A lesson learned as a teenager has many more layers that are only brought to the surface through experience. For decades I have been unaware of the treasure trove of knowledge that has been within me yet hidden and inaccessible.

I now understand how frustrating it must have been for my instructors to watch me mishandle the information they put in front of me. We always lament that if we knew as a teenager what we know now, but It turns out that I actually did know it as a teenager. I just didn’t know I knew it. Such is the value of experience.

The depths of a single lesson can be infinite. One just needs to open their mind and pay attention so that when experience makes the lesson more pertinent, the information is accessible.

“Experience is the teacher of all things.” - Julius Caesar (100 BC - 44 BC)

Mom

All I am is because of you.

"God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers." - Ruyard Kipling (1865 - 1936)

Curt Brackenbury

I grew up watching the Edmonton Oilers during their glory years in the eighties. The team was loaded with a level of talent that I suspect will never be brought together on a single team again. Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Ken Linesman, Grant Fuhr, Andy Moog, Paul Coffey, Kevin Lowe, Glenn Anderson, and Esa Tikkanen - all on the same team. We were spoiled to have a team like that to follow for so many years. The speed and the talent on that team were second to none in history.

Despite all that talent, I can still remember the buzz that would erupt every time Curt Brackenbury stepped on the ice for one of the few shifts he would get in a game. He did not score many goals but boy could he stir things up. You knew someone was going to get hit and the thing with Brackenbury was that you could never be sure that the guy he hit wasn’t going to be from his own squad. He did not have a lot of speed, he did not have a lot of talent, but there was no one who worked harder with more enthusiasm than Curt Brackenbury. He never stopped moving. When you talk about the cliche of giving 110%, Curt Brackenbury epitomized the ideal.

Curt Brackenbury is the definition of intensity. He gives everything he has to every endeavour he tackles. Decades after his retirement, he continues to inspire me and set the standard of effort to which I aspire to achieve.

“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.” - Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

Garry Kasparov

I was listening to CBC Radio One this week and had the opportunity to hear Garry Kasparov debate how the west should deal with Putin's Russia. Isolation or engagement?

I have always been a proponent of dialogue to solve problems but I found myself to be drawn to Kasparov's argument that “It's not about isolating Russia. It's about isolating Putin's regime, which is a dangerous virus. You don't engage the virus. It needs to be contained.”

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Garry Kasparov. He has always been a man I admire because of his prowess behind the chessboard, but it is his work as an outspoken activist for human rights where he really earns my respect as one of my living heroes.

Garry Kasparov obviously has a deep love and passion for his Russian homeland. Despite the personal danger a man like him faces for standing up to a man like Putin, Kasparov continues to actively campaign against the Putin regime.

Agree with him or not, it is impossible not be be inspired by a man like Garry Kasparov.

“More and more people in my country recognise the dangers of having their governors appointed by Putin and having no influence in parliament because Parliament today is also following instructions from Kremlin and no longer represents its people.” - Gary Kasparov (b. 1963)

Dad

Changes in my life have allowed me the opportunity to spend more time with my parents this past year. I have been very independent of my parents for my entire adult life but this past year has reinforced for me just how much I owe them. I wouldn’t be even close to the person I am today if it were not for my parents’ influence.

My dad’s wisdom has always resonated with me. He is a man of few words but when he does speak, those few words speak volumes. My dad turned me on to Charlie Chaplin, Gordie Howe, and taking risks. He showed me that a simple life is a good life. My dad taught me to appreciate what I have and to cherish it because life is short. I wish I had spent more time talking with my dad.

“Come again when you can’t stay so long.” - Dad (b. 1931)

The Road We Travel

How different my life would be today if I had never studied kung fu. The benefits have been infinite and I shudder to think about how different I would be without the art in my life.

I had the opportunity today to connect with Keshia Thomas. I remember the first time I saw the photo that made her famous and being completely humbled by her actions. I could not help but imagine what a better world we would have if we all had the courage of Keshia. She has been an inspiration to me for as long as I can remember and because of kung fu, she is now in my life’s sphere.

Keshia Thomas, Rahul Bharti, Dave McNeill, Margie Hilbig, Stan Lee, Mark Chan, Brian Macdonald, Julia Butterfly Hill, Tom Callos, Joe Lewis, Ron Van Clief, the list goes on. How blessed I am to have had the opportunity to meet such amazing people.

“A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality.” - Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

Are You Not Entertained?

There is a reason why kung fu took so long to be shared with westerners. Patience and quiet reflection are not common attributes in this part of the world. We want our information delivered quickly and we want it to arrive in small sound bites. We do not have the discipline or patience to absorb the minute details, we just want the highlights so we can move on to something else that has grabbed our attention. This cultural attitude is conducive to learning techniques but not to mastering a system. It takes an extraordinary person to earn a black belt. Unfortunately anyone can get a black belt but there is no greater accomplishment than earning one.

I think we all start on the path to black belt for similar, altruistic reasons: we want more discipline, more control, more peace, etc. At the beginning everything is new and the changes one experiences are palpable. Every lesson spawns a new enlightenment and endless stimulation. Over time we start to take our newfound skill and character for granted, and motivation becomes more difficult. While finding excuses to quit are never difficult, remembering the benefits of continuing becomes a laborious task.

There are no shortcuts to black belt. I know this first hand as I have tried them all. Yes, learning new techniques is infinitely more entertaining and motivating than mastering old ones. It only takes a moment to be reminded of why we started on the path to mastery in the first place. Taking that moment is often the difference between extraordinary and ordinary.

“Don’t just read the easy stuff. You may be entertained by it, but you will never grow from it.” - Jim Rohn (1930 - 2009)

Abstraction

I thought I understood poverty but it wasn’t until my first trip to Greensboro, Alabama that I really got a feel for what true poverty really is. Ironically I had to travel to what many consider to be the richest country on the planet to experience it. I have never seen poverty of that intensity in Canada.

It was also in Greensboro where the abstraction of racism was removed for me. There most definitely is racism in Canada but I had never seen the in your face segregating, “your kind can’t be here”, that is found in Alabama.

First hand experience removes the veil of abstraction that keeps many of us from serious active engagement. Do you think we would continue to allow the economy to take precedence over the environment if the entire planet was shrouded in the the same toxic smog that envelops China? Would as many of us be as quick to support military action, an eye for an eye, over dialogue if we were experiencing the horrors of war first hand?

I am very proud that four of my students will be taking part in the Ultimate Black Belt Test’s Alabama Project in a couple of weeks. They will be spending four days with some amazing people, experientially learning about poverty, racism, and the value of community activism. The power to change the world resides within each of us. We just need to be willing to exercise it.

“What is important is using one’s talent, intellect, and energy in order to gain an appreciation and affection for people and place.” - Samuel Mockbee (1944 - 2001)

Wu Wei

Earning a black belt is not complicated, but just because it is not complicated does not mean it is easy. The curricular requirements are all tools to support the structure that is required to acquire the skill, experience, knowledge, and understanding that are the foundation of a legitimate black belt. This structure takes time to develop and consistent application before it begins to produce results. Developing the structure is the easy part, consistently applying the structure is where most people fail.

Life is complicated and chaotic. It will always interfere with the best laid plans. Consistent application of structured training is more about getting back on track than it is about staying on track. It is not the bad things that happen to us that determine success or failure but rather the way we respond to the bad things that happen.

As always it is the journey, not the destination that holds value.

“In baseball, my theory is to strive for consistency, not to worry about the numbers. If you dwell on statistics you get shortsighted, if you aim for consistency, the numbers will be there at the end.” - Tom Seaver (b. 1944)

The Power of Engagement

Engagement is the one precept of mastery whose importance is most overlooked. This is so often the case, the most simple and obvious become the neglected. We usually take the basics for granted and it is that tendency that makes mastery so elusive.

My success has always been tied to my level of engagement. Staying engaged is a conscientious effort. Through consistent engagement I have learned many things and have realized many opportunities.

My constant commitment to mastery reminds me that everyone is a teacher. My first UBBT mentors were not even black belts. Chris Thorp and Debby Young were the first non black belt participants in the Ultimate Black Belt Test, and it was their inspiration that motivated me to take the test myself. It was not their accomplishments or results that inspired me, it was their engaged journey.

UBBT 6 was a huge success for me. Massive knee issues threatened to sabotage my best intentions but my consistent engagement and commitment to the process made it one of my most successful years ever. A big part of my success was because of fellow UBBT alumni Chris Feldt. Chris and I kept each other engaged throughout our UBBT 6 tenure by staying in constant contact. Despite the large team, there were times when it felt like it was just Chris and I because it was the two of us who consistently journalled and publicly supported each other throughout the year. The two of us live in different countries on opposite ends of the continent but Chris became like a brother to me. Such was our level of engagement.

Without a strong engagement I would have missed out on the opportunities that the UBBT opened up for me. Without the UBBT I would not have the relationship I enjoy with Tom Callos. He has been a massive influence in my life and I consider him a dear, valued friend. Because of the UBBT I have met some amazing martial artists and human beings, none more important to me than Master Dave McNeil. His example of engaged compassion continues to be an inspiring example that guides me everyday. I want to be just like him when I grow up.

There are many outside factors that affect my motivation that I have little control over. However no matter what is going on in my life, I always have complete control over my choice to stay engaged.

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” - Woody Allen (b. 1935)

Looking in the Mirror

This past week social media has been abuzz over Jim Prentice’s comment that Albertans should look into the mirror if they want to understand the current fiscal mess the province finds itself in. I understand the rage people are feeling that someone leading the political party that has governed the province for the past forty years could suggest the problem does not rest solely with the government. Yet Prentice’s words have the ring of truth.

I don’t know if our society has always been this way but it certainly has been the way it is for my entire adult life. We are not accustomed to accepting responsibility, blame is always to be found elsewhere. We’re much more comfortable in the role of victims than being accountable for our situation. Jim Prentice did not seize power, he and his predecessors have been in power for forty years because we have chosen to give them that power. Stephen Harper, Jim Prentice, all our political leaders have influence only because of us. If we’re going to allow fear to rule our decisions, we need to accept the responsibility for those decisions. We need to look into the mirror.

Ownership is empowering. My black belts are taught to be control freaks, to take ownership for every aspect of their lives. Influence is a conscientious choice. Keeping that fact front and centre ensures the decisions I make reflect my values, not my fears.

“I call on people to be 'obsessed citizens,' forever questioning and asking for accountability. That's the only chance we have today of a healthy and happy life.” - Ai Weiwei (b. 1957)

Pink Shirt Day

It was great seeing a bunch of my students and instructors wearing a pink shirt on Wednesday to take a stand against bullying. As martial artists, we like to think we make a big difference in the fight to eradicate bullying. There is no doubt that we are in a unique position to have a big impact but more often than not, we’re all about the talk, not the walk.

Bullying is an obvious problem and despite all the attention it gets, the problem is only getting worse. Back in the day if you were getting bullied at school, home and vacation were welcome havens of respite. Now with social media, bullying can literally be a 24/7 proposition for the victim.

Children’s behaviour is a mirror of their experience. If we want to break the cycle of bullying, it has to stop with us, the adults. With skewed, agenda-driven newscasts and politicians using fear and negativity to undermine their opponents, is there any doubt as to where children are learning to be so selfish and ruthless?

We can’t control how a newscast is delivered or how politicians choose to campaign, but we can set an example of compassion and kindness to serve as positive role models for our children. Bullying is a problem and promises to always be a problem until each of us begins to recognize when and where we are part of the problem.

“Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.” - Theodore Roosevelt (1958 - 1919)

Reflection

Last night we welcomed two new black belts into the rank. A lot goes into preparing for such a night and in the quest for perfection one can easily fall out of the moment and lose perspective. Despite being off my game last night, having the SRKF family all together made the evening magical.

Last night also marked the end of my I Ho Chuan Horse team’s tenure. The Horse Team was the best I Ho Chuan team to date. The team supported each other and pulled together to accomplish the extraordinary. Guys, thank you for making the year so much fun.

“What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life — to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories.” - George Eliot (1819 - 1880)

Year of the Sheep

Opportunity exists in every moment yet more opportunity gets missed than is taken. Most of us wait for the perfect time to accept the challenge of change. Is there any such thing as the perfect time? That perception is entirely dependent upon motivation, and motivation can be fickle.

Every moment is a new beginning, an opportunity to sculpt a different path from the one you are on. Beginning anew, while not always easy, is not nearly as difficult it is to consistently continue in the new direction you have set for yourself. Paths themselves create inertia. Often our paths are well-trodden by years of habit and familiarity. It is no easy task to leave what we know to initiate a change.

The initial step is the hardest but as Lau Tzu has said: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” We tend to associate significant dates as being an auspicious time to initiate change. No significant date holds more opportunity than Chinese New Year. The lunar new year is so significant that it is not just a matter of rolling over the year, each year has its own name that only comes around once every twelve years. It does not get much more timely than that.

“There are two mistakes one can make on the road to truth …not going all the way, and not starting.” - Buddha (563 - 483 BC)

Humility to Learn

Western culture, on a whole, continues to struggle when it comes to understanding and committing to mastery of an art. Our cultural tendency toward narcissistic excess makes certain knowledge dangerous. It wasn’t that long ago when it was almost impossible for a guy my size of european heritage to find a Chinese master willing to teach him kung fu. I am riding on the coattails of fifty years of diligence and humility demonstrated by the non-Chinese kung fu black belts who opened the doors before me. It is my job to ensure those doors stay open for those who are to come after me.

Our search for instant gratification makes it hard to learn a system. Everyone wants to learn a new technique or test a new skill but it takes a true martial artist to look beyond the surface and seek the essence of the style. Everyone has something to teach but not everyone has the ability to learn. Humility gives us that ability.

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” - Rick Warren (b. 1954)

Compassionate Leadership

As an instructor, it is my experience that the most common antagonist to confront a student is themself. Their insecurity, their ego, and their limiting beliefs - all conspire to take away a student’s control and limit their potential.

Control is essential for success. It is impossible to remain committed to a strategy or to stay the course over the long term if outside influences have too much control over the outcome. Accepting complete responsibility for the influences that affect you is the only way to retain control of your situation. You may not have control of what others say or do but you have absolute control over how you choose to react to what they say or do. The best way to get a student out of the way of themself is to empower them by helping them adjust their perspective.

The easiest attitudinal adjustment a person can make is through changing their perspective from that of an impotent bystander to one of a compassionate leader. There are problems and stressors in this world that can overwhelm one’s resolve. It is not difficult to let your mind slip into a negative cycle and apply blame and fail to take proper initiative to change a situation for the better. It is a lot more empowering to go beyond just recognizing another’s shortcomings and compassionately inspire them to amend their ways.

It may be far simpler to impose will through threats and consequential punishment but we will only reap what we sow. Imagine a world run by people who inspire kindness and tolerance through their compassionate leadership. That vision can only be realized through the efforts of each of us.

“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” - Lau Tzu