Martial Arts

I had an invigorating conversation with one of my students last week concerning the term ‘martial artist’. While I know I am not alone in my opinion on this subject, I suspect those who feel as strongly as I do are in the minority.

I don’t like how the UFC throws around the term martial artist so easily. There is no doubt that those incredible athletes who compete in the UFC are training in the martial arts, but I suspect very few of them are applying themselves in such a way as can be accurately described as artists.

Yes, I know I’m talking about semantics here and in most cases the term ‘martial arts’ is only meant as a generic definition of someone who trains in the martial arts. As I told my student - the more we allow the UFC and others to claim that term, we lose more of the meat behind what the martial arts are really about.

The Lloyd Irvine controversy should be a call to action for all of us who train in the martial arts. There is a difference between an athlete and an artist. Our training is no more than an exercise in athletic narcissism if its only relevance is in the ring.

“As you think, so shall you become.” - Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)

Share the Responsibility

Lance Armstrong’s long overdue confession should encourage everyone to step back and take stock of our society and what we value. I don’t think there are many of us who are so naive to believe that he is the exception in his sport nor that his sport itself is the exception.

Athletes are under tremendous pressure to win and winning comes with mind-bogglingly massive financial rewards. Is it reasonable for anyone to not be tempted to cheat when the stakes are so high?

Now that Armstrong has finally started to tell the truth he is probably going to be on his own from this point on. Nike and his other endorsers had no problem turning a blind eye to what has been obvious for so long as long as there was money to be made from his success - ill gotten or not. While Armstrong is most likely going to pay dearly for his misdeeds, Nike has already recouped their investment in him. Now that the Armstrong well has run dry, Nike will move on to the next celebrity athlete who can make them a buck

As long as corporations continue to turn a blind eye to unethical and illegal situations as long as it serves their financial interests, athletes will always be pressured to cheat. If we continue to hold the athletes 100% responsible for maintaing the ethical standards of their sport without holding the corporations behind the money accountable for ensuring their athletes are not cheating, money will continue to trump ethics.

Shame on Lance Armstrong for not doing what is right, shame on Nike and their like for making it almost impossible for an honest athlete to be competitive, and shame on all of us for not accepting our culpability in supporting this practice.

“Don’t tell me where your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.” - James W. Frick

Where Am I?

This week I am reminded of the importance of periodically taking stock of exactly where I am. It is easy to become so immersed with my immediate goals that I sometimes allow mediocrity to slowly creep in on some of my core habits.

I’ve been noticing some extra aches and pains the past few months and I have been negligent in addressing them. That’s usually a warning sign that I am not balancing my training and by not addressing the aches, I have a strong indicator that I haven’t been pushing myself hard enough.

The new knee brace I’ve been fitted for may address some of the chronic issues that have been plaguing me for a while. In a few weeks after assessing its efficacy, I should be able to get a better idea of what adjustments I can make to get things returned to a solid balance.

"Right discipline consists, not in external compulsion, but in the habits of mind which lead spontaneously to desirable rather than undesirable activities." - Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

Touching the Earth

This weekend I devoted a significant amount of time to mindful mediation. I practiced ‘Touching the Earth’, also known as bowing deeply or postulating. I use the practice to ground myself and remember that I am not alone but connected to the sum of my blood and spiritual ancestors. As  always, it is a very humbling, inspiring experience.

There are many teachers, past and present, who have been responsible for my spiritual growth and who have had a hand in defining who I am. So many people I owe so much to and many of them I have barely met and some not at all. My gratitude is infinite.

“Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)