Get Out Of The Way

A lot of mediocrity has been expunged from my life this past year and I am reminded of how often I still get in my own way. Sometimes I give too much power to other people and wait for them to force a change that I should have made by own volition. My past year has been the most tumultuous of my recent life. That turmoil has forced a couple of long term sloppy situations to overcome their inertia and begin their transformation. Scary and exciting all at the same time.

I appreciate being responsible for my own circumstance and having the power to accept it or change it.  Making the correct decisions, tough or not, is always easier when I am surrounded by the most supportive and positive people around.

“Show me your friends and I'll show you your future.” - Maurice Clarett (b. 1983)

Daily

Sometimes someone says something that is so spot on that it is impossible to expand beyond what they have said.

“There's a fundamental difference between the things you do every day, every single day, and the things you do only when the spirit moves you.  One difference is that once you've committed to doing something daily, you find that the spirit moves you, daily. Rather than having a daily debate about today's agenda, you can decide once that you will do something, and then decide every single day how to do it.” - Seth Godin (b. 1960)

Yeah, what Seth said.

Things

There are things that become bigger things that eventually become insurmountable things. These things did not start as insurmountable, they became such over time. Each day procrastination and anxiety added a few more grains to our growing things and before we know it, our things have become what they are. Obviously it is easier to deal with big things before they become bigger or insurmountable. Consistently going beyond your arbitrary limits will take some mass out of big things.

My things are not your things so don't think you know my things. My things are my things and for those of you whose things are similar to my things - the intensity of your experience with your things cannot be compared to my things. My progress in tackling my things cannot be compared to you and your things. I can only measure my progress by comparing my things to what they were yesterday.

My things became my things over time. Therefore taming my things can, and will, happen over time.

“Obviously, because of my disability, I need assistance. But I have always tried to overcome the limitations of my condition and lead as full a life as possible. I have traveled the world, from the Antarctic to zero gravity.” - Stephen Hawking (b. 1942)

Taking Responsibility

Control freak. The term immediately evokes images of someone who needs to have everything done their way. I use the term in a different way when I remind my students that being a control freak is one of the most important attributes of a black belt.

I choose my diet. I choose my friends. I choose my conflicts. I choose my influences. Whatever affects me does so because I chose to let it. I cannot control what others say or do but I have absolute control over how I choose to interpret their words and their actions.

"In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility." - Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962)

 

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Quantum Leap

A true martial artist never ceases to be a student. There is so much knowledge out there that one can never truly master it all.  I have studied, more accurately dabbled, in many different arts but my life has been devoted to only one. The deeper I delve into my style I realize just how many layers there are to the style. One lifetime is not enough to master it all.

This past year I have been concentrating on passing on more advanced knowledge to my black belts. I am hoping to spark a quantum leap in the style’s development. What fascinates and frustrates me is that I have had the knowledge I possess right now for a lot longer than I had realized. I had the knowledge, I just did not understand it.  Maturity and experience were missing when I was at my physical peak. My ego was too busy being fed by my physical prowess that I did not pay attention to exactly what was going on. I lacked the insight to properly apply what my body knew. Five knee surgeries later and now the understanding arrives? I am beyond my physical prime and I feel I have lost an opportunity that was in front of me for over thirty years.

I realize that the opportunity is not completely lost. As an instructor with experience, if I can pass my understanding on to someone in their physical prime, a quantum leap can still be made. I suspect my instructors did their best to get me to see more when I was younger but I obviously did not have what it took to listen mindfully at that time. Bruce Lee and Morihei Ueshiba are two examples in the recent past who took their instructors’ knowledge and made quantum leaps that defined them as two of history’s greatest martial artists. One does not have to wait for maturity, one just needs to learn to listen with intent.

“Information is not knowledge.” - Albert Einstein (1970 - 1955)

Black Belt and Beyond

What is a black belt? Ask fifty people that question and you will get fifty different answers. Ask any experienced black belt that question and the answer range starts to narrow. One thing anyone who has earned that rank will tell you is that the belt itself is irrelevant. What is relevant is the sweat and blood that went into earning it. The value is in the journey, not the destination.

A black belt test, regardless of the level of black belt being tested for, is a very long process. How do you evaluate or quantify a black belt unless you quantify their journey? There is a minimum physical standard but that standard only defines the destination. Character, intensity, humility - all the intangible qualities that make up a black belt, are forged by the journey.

It takes a minimum of three years to earn a second degree black belt, four years to earn a third degree and so on. The higher the level of mastery, the longer the journey that is required to develop the skill and character to earn the rank. How do I quantify a black belt’s progress? One year in the I Ho Chuan.

“The only two ranks that matter are white belt and black belt.  White belt represents courage [the courage to risk failure] and black belt represents persistence and follow through. The world is full of great starters, but it is the ability to follow through to the end, that separates the best of us from the rest of us.” - John Graden

Thich Nhat Hanh

I have had the privilege of studying under some amazing teachers in my lifetime. None has contributed more to my moral fibre and value system than Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. They say a teacher such as he only comes by once every six hundred years. The sheer miracle that I have had the privilege and opportunity to share so much of my time on earth with someone such as he is not something I take for granted. It is difficult for me to imagine a world without him in it.

Thay, my wish is for your speedy and complete recovery. I understand that sickness and death are a certainty for each of us but the planet is in desperate need of more like you.

"Life has left her footprints on my forehead. But I have become a child again this morning. The smile, seen through leaves and flowers, is back to smooth away the wrinkles, as the rains wipe away footprints on the beach. Again a cycle of birth and death begins."- Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Lest We Forget

Afghanistan - 158 Canadian deaths.

Korea - 516 Canadian deaths.
WWII - 45,400 Canadian deaths.
WWI - 66,990 Canadian deaths.

The cost of war is unfathomable. Some might say that is the cost of freedom. I wonder how those who gave their lives for our freedom would feel about how quickly we are willing to give it up in the name of security.

Let us not forget the sacrifices that have been made to preserve our freedom.

In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If you break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields
By Major John McCrae – (1872 - 1918)

I Ho Chuan

Mastery is not for the thin skinned, nor is it for those who have disenfranchised themselves from their circumstances. It is much easier to find ways to remain blissfully unaware of how much mediocrity has permeated into our lives than it is to confront our laziness and fear. Mastery is about honesty, accountability, and compassionate acceptance.

It is impossible to improve on anything if I am not first, and foremost, fully aware of where I am. Most of us spend an inordinate amount of effort toward hiding our flaws and avoiding the truth about ourselves. Looking myself in the mirror and seeing myself for how I truly am, is an absolute necessity if I want to get on the path to mastery. I must see the problem before I can find a solution. Honesty is key.

Accepting responsibility for my own situation empowers me to control my circumstance. It is much easier to blame others than it is to accept my own flaws so a major key to mastery is accountability. I alone am responsible for the mediocrity in my life so I alone have the power to eradicate it.

Mastery is a process, it is not a finite program or destination. The process usually consists of taking three steps forwards and two steps backwards. My flaws and weaknesses are always taxing my resolve and impeding my progress. I have to remember that it is those flaws and weaknesses that I am trying to address through the process of mastery. By compassionately accepting my imperfections, I give my commitment to the process a sense of purpose.

If mastery is a process then that process is engagement. Plans and intentions are empty goals unless there is some sort of follow through and consistent action. Everyone understands the role motivation plays in achieving goals. With the proper motivation, almost anything is possible. The thing about motivation is that it can be drained by so many of life’s stressors, many of which are beyond my personal control. The one thing I have complete control over is my engagement in the process. Motivated or not, I do have the choice whether or not to crunch out some more pushups or to attend a class. The more motivated I am, the more engaged I am - and the more engaged I am, the more motivated I become. Mastery is all about engagement.

“The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.” - Martina Navratilova (b. 1956)

Tiger Challenge

Martial arts tournaments can be a mixed bag for an instructor. Competing in a tournament has the potential to break a student’s spirit or inspire them to new heights. The real value in the competition is found in the preparation. A pending tournament competition gives a student a sense of purpose in their training. Priorities shift to meet their goal and nothing narrows focus like a looming deadline. The possible downside to tournament competition is found in the event itself. All the preparation in the world cannot help you control the intangibles that come into play when you have different interpretations of the rules and standards while success or failure is based upon qualitative judgement as opposed to quantitative analysis.

SRKF’s intra-school Tiger Challenge tournament was a great success yesterday. Everyone had a great time and thanks to the efforts of my black belts, I believe it was a positive experience for everyone who competed. Sifus Playter, Rybak, and Vantuil were tireless leaders of their respective rings and they got all the competitors through their competitions quickly and safely. Sifu Csillag’s organizational skills made this year’s Tiger Challenge our best yet as he was prepared for everything and kept us on track. We all can also thank Sifu Langner and Mr. Repay for getting things started off the right foot with a strong lion dance - their first ever.

The big highlight for me this year was the strong sense of community that continues to prevail in our school. We all shared the day together as family and we raised almost $2000 for charity. It was a good day, a very good day.

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.” - Anthony J. D’Angelo

Mediocrity

I have always had very strong opinions about mediocrity. I can understand laziness, and even apathy to a large degree, but I cannot accept mediocrity. Mediocrity implies effort with indifference. I can’t think of a more disrespectful attitude or a bigger waste of time. If something was worth doing, then it was worth doing right. Period.

“The height of mediocrity is still low.” - Vanna Bonta (1958 - 2014)

Thanksgiving

A friend of mine who trains under Shihan Nishiuchi shared this anecdote. Shihan Nishiuchi asked - “Who are the most unhappy people?” The students did their best to answer until Shihan answered it himself - “The people who have no appreciation.” What a wonderful, simple observation.

My life is blessed. It is filled with positive, compassionate people who make me want to improve myself every day. I am grateful for the teachers in my life whose priceless lessons have brought me to where I am - here, now, happy.

“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” ―Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

Staying the Course

My I Ho Chuan team had great discussion yesterday about the difficulties one experiences in trying to stay on the path to mastery. We agreed that there is a lot of faith that goes into staying the course until you have at least one success under your belt. Until that first success, we need to recognize what tools we have in front of us to keep on the path. We already know the path, we just need to stay on it.

A lot has to happen before an abstract dream becomes a tangible goal. Inspiration sparks the dream into existence and continues to sustain it while it remains in the periphery, just out of focus. When motivation and, above all, courage are in sufficient quantity, a plan begins to emerge, bringing the dream into focus with a clarity of purpose. The abstract dream is now a tangible goal.

There is not much that can compare to the excitement that is generated by a goal’s clarity of purpose. The path to success is no longer obscured and there is a direct, clear line connecting where you are to where you want to be. Stay on the path and achieving the goal is a certainty.

Enter life. Plans and goals are irrelevant to life. Inevitable crisis will emerge and priorities will shift in response. It does not take much to knock you off your path, no matter how well you have planned. The longer you stay off the path, the more obscure the end goal becomes. Spend enough time off the path and your goal becomes impossible to envision and devolves into nothing more than an abstract dream. You are back to square one.

Staying the course is not easy. It is human nature to seek the path of least resistance but the easy path is rarely the right path.

• Define your goal. Clarity of purpose is everything. Your path becomes clear when your goal is clear.
• Where am I? What am I doing? It is impossible to stay on the path to mastery if you do not even realize you are off the path. Daily, even hourly assessments will ensure you know exactly where you are and empower you to adjust your path if needed.
• Don't just look where you are going but also remind yourself of where you have been. The path to mastery is long and arduous. Motivation becomes a challenge if you do not acknowledge your progress.
• Be adaptable. The value is in the goal and the path is your way of achieving your goal. Adjust the path to serve the goal.
• Do not lose sight of your goal. There is a reason why you challenged the goal in the first place. Recognize when you are sacrificing the goal to serve your path. The path serves the goal, not the other way around.

“I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacation with better care than they do their lives.Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.” - Jim Rohn (1930 - 2009)

Great Day

I shared a great day with some incredible people yesterday. Our annual forms seminar is something I look forward to every year. It is always inspiring to be surrounded by positive, like-minded people who are striving for mastery. I loved every minute of it.

There is something very intimate about performing your kung fu in front of a black belt panel. With thirty-four degrees of black belts watching, there is not much you can hide. You are totally exposed. Despite racing hearts and dumps of adrenalin, everyone felt safe. I am always humbled by the trust a person places in the hands of the black belts in a situation like this and I am equally proud of the level of compassion the black belts show in return.

I am blessed to live the life I live. It is said that we are a reflection of the company we keep and I could not be in better company.

"Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company." - George Washington (1732 - 1799)

UN Climate Summit

Today thousands marched worldwide to send a message to the politicians that the environment matters. Our elected leader has decided to forgo with perpetuating any illusion that he actually gives a damn about the environment, or what the people he supposedly represents want, and has chosen to skip the summit.

It seems like common sense but no one seems to care enough to listen. An economic model based upon perpetual growth on a planet with finite resources is not going to serve us as a viable species. It could be that the extreme right is correct, climate change is not going to kill us all, but if we are willing to destroy most of the planet to maintain our economic growth, does it not follow that we should be concerned whether or not that growth is sustainable within our current economic model? Whether or not you believe climate change to be a man-made phenomena, it cannot be denied that fossil fuels will not last forever. It is in the economy’s best interest if we diversify and shift our economic paradigm and embrace diversification.

Of course as long as the corporate establishment continues to make record profits for their shareholders, it is unlikely that they will be willing to shift to an economic model that requires them to give up a sure thing for anything else.

Change is coming whether we want it or not. It would be much better if we had a say in that change as opposed to having it thrust upon us by mother nature. It is time for us to stop allowing Harper to pit the environment against the economy.

“It’s really disappointing that none of the major parties has put climate change at the centre of their agenda and really developed economic policies that are based on credible science. You know, it seems that the price of admission for any politician who wants to be ‘taken seriously,’ quote un-quote, is to pick a pipeline and cheer for it.” - Naomi Klein (b. 1970)

Dabbling, Stressing, and Mastering

I just heard Tony Robbins’ thoughts regarding the path to success this week and he really struck a chord. He outlined the three personality traits of entrepreneurs but there is a definite correlation to students of the martial arts.

The first is the Dabbler. The Dabbler is one who enjoys variety. He is excited to learn new things and he revels in the ability to learn quickly. When learning something new, the Dabbler’s understanding of the basics happens very quickly and results in immediate improvement. The problem is that the Dabbler looses interest when the improvement is not so dramatic. We all know of people who have studied many martial arts but have mastered none of them. They definitely fit in the Dabbler category.

The second personality is the Stressor. The Stressor differs from the Dabbler in that he pushes through the plateaus of the learning process and finds ways to overcome obstacles. Failure is not an option. The problem is the Stressor will burn out, and rarely achieve success. In the martial arts, these are the students that lack wuji. Their training is always at the extremes and at those extremes, they end up serving their kung fu rather than having their kung fu serve them.

The third personality in Robbins’ view is the Master. The Master neither quits nor fights. The Master is content with the learning process in both successes and failures. And almost verbatim from Tony Robbins - By recognizing the small successes and learning from the failures, the Master gauges success on the previous day’s achievements - asking the question, “Am I better today, than I was yesterday?"

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” - Tony Robbins (b. 1960)

Anger Management

Managing anger is possibly the most overlooked component of self defence training. The keyword here is ‘management’. Anger is a normal emotion that exists to organize and mobilize our bodily systems to respond to our current environment. Emotions in the anger family are a survival mechanism in the brain that are hardwired to help protect us from danger.

Emotions, like anger, are regulated by the limbic system. Within the limbic system is the amygdala where emotional memories are stored. This is why we may experience anger that is actually caused by a mixture of what is happening now and the experiences in our pasts. Old anger is activated by the brain to protect us. Neuroscientists call this implicit memory, meaning we can experience the effects of a memory without even realizing it.

Anger expression is a behaviour that, like all behaviour, has a purpose. When we get angry we are usually trying to accomplish some goal. The problem is that anger is rarely effective in getting us what we want and most of the time it actually makes things worse.

Anger can be positive. We all know of people who have a perpetual positive facade, repeating “Have a great day!”as their credo, yet their facade breaks down at the most inappropriate times for insignificant transgressions. Maintaining a facade and not showing anger is not managing anger, only suppressing it. Anger is a healthy release. It takes an enormous amount of energy to hold anger inside. Releasing it appropriately helps reduce stress and build healthier relationships.

Simply put, we have an emotional area of the brain and a thinking area of the brain. It is up to our frontal lobes, the thinking area, to rationally deal with the anger that the limbic system has set in motion. As thinking, reasoning beings, we have the unique ability among the species to have options in how we choose to deal with our anger. It is all about properly managing our anger, not eliminating it. Anger is a normal, healthy response to a situation. Our chosen response to that anger is not always normal, nor is it always healthy. In fact, our response might actually be the difference between life and death. This is why anger management skills are such an important part of self defence.

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. “ - Buddha

Opportunity

The last day of August. Summer is almost over and everyone is gearing up for the return to the routine that most will adapt to over the coming months. For me, September is always an opportunity to begin anew.

One, two, three, here we go…

“It should be one's sole endeavor to see everything afresh and create it anew.” - Gustav Mahler - (1860 - 1911)

Form

Form training is where the art in kung fu resides. It is what defines our art and makes it unique. Done properly, a student’s style and lineage are apparent in the way they perform their forms.

I have always admired Master Macdonald’s form practice. His vocabulary of motion is beyond anything I have seen before. I have witnessed him learning a new form in a new style and I am dumfounded at how his body instantly adapts to the structural fundamentals of the new style. He does a hung gar form like a hung gar stylist. He does a kempo form like a kempo stylist. He does a choy lay fut form like a choy lay fut stylist. No matter what he is doing, he just is, nothing more. This is the quality of wu wei - non striving, effortless effort.

I have had the privilege of studying under Master Brian Macdonald for the past twenty years. He is the standard to which I measure myself. There is a reason why only a Master is qualified to promote someone to black belt and there is a reason why, despite holding that rank myself, all my black belts have been promoted by Master Macdonald. I am the first to point out - not all Masters are created equal. Master Macdonald is a step above.

When Master Macdonald performs a form, the intensity of his technique is intimidating. The intensity is not in how fast he moves or how hard his technique snaps. The intensity resides within his soul. There is some otherworldliness to his kung fu. You can see his mind focusing on an imaginary opponent. As he moves, his eyes follow his body, and his feet drive his centre forward as he delivers his technique. The energy he delivers is exactly right for the situation, every time.

It is easy to confuse teaching technique with applying technique. When Brian Macdonald teaches you a technique, he is the most approachable, empathetic, compassionate person you could imagine. However when you are on the receiving end of a Master Macdonald application, it is a very different experience. The intimidation factor can be overwhelming before he even delivers the blow. Such is the power of his intensity.

What is exciting for me as a martial artist is the infinite layers found in form training and how each of those layers colour technique and application. Whenever I am searching for focus in my training, I pull out one of my many videos of Master Macdonald performing a form. What I learn from watching him gives me years of material to apply to my current knowledge. So much to learn, so little time.

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” ~ Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)

Despair

There has been a lot of activity on the internet this week concerning mental health due to Robin William’s death. I am dismayed at the level of ignorance displayed by so many smart people when it comes to suicide and mental illness.

Suicide is not simple matter of choosing to live or choosing to die. There is no way to quantify the mental anguish a person is enduring behind their public facade, yet so many are quick to judge something they know little about. Expecting the mentally ill to reason their way out of their despair is the equivalent of expecting quadriplegics to walk themselves out of a forest fire. Empathizing with the physically disabled is easier than finding empathy for the mentally anguished yet the latter often only requires a moment of logical reflection.

Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time in their lives. One in five will personally experience a mental illness. If a physical disease had these types of statistics, money would flow like water to find a cure and smart people would spend less time judging and more time supporting.

“The so-called 'psychotically depressed' person who tries to kill herself doesn't do so out of quote 'hopelessness' or any abstract conviction that life's assets and debits do not square. And surely not because death seems suddenly appealing. The person in whom Its invisible agony reaches a certain unendurable level will kill herself the same way a trapped person will eventually jump from the window of a burning high-rise. Make no mistake about people who leap from burning windows. Their terror of falling from a great height is still just as great as it would be for you or me standing speculatively at the same window just checking out the view; i.e. the fear of falling remains a constant. The variable here is the other terror, the fire's flames: when the flames get close enough, falling to death becomes the slightly less terrible of two terrors. It's not desiring the fall; it's terror of the flames. And yet nobody down on the sidewalk, looking up and yelling 'Don't!' and 'Hang on!', can understand the jump. Not really. You'd have to have personally been trapped and felt flames to really understand a terror way beyond falling.” - David Foster Wallace (1962 - 2008)

The Power of Abstraction

The advanced concepts I have been presenting to my black belt students over the past few months have resulted in exponential growth for some of them, and a quantum leap forward in my own training. It is one thing to have a working, physical grasp of a concept but your understanding achieves a whole new level when you are challenged to pass on that knowledge — especially abstract knowledge.

I like abstractions. They are defined by ideals, not specifics. Abstract knowledge is acquired through experience, not lecture. A mentor can show you where to look but cannot tell you what to see. The personal, organic nature of abstract knowledge is why it is unique to each individual and it is what separates science from art and a master from a student. Scientific knowledge is limited by paradigms that are often only broken through the application of artistic, abstract creativity.

I challenge my students to ground their training upon a foundation of values. Without that foundation there is no focus for your training or your lessons. Do you want to be a fighter or do you want to be a martial artist? Do you want a black belt or do you want to be a black belt? Do you want to feed your ego or do you want to feed your soul? Answering these questions can completely change the application of a lesson, opening doors of understanding, or slamming a door of opportunity. The meat of a lesson is not found in the specifics but in the abstract ideal.

“The more abstract the truth you wish to teach, the more you must allure the senses to it.” - Friedrich Niezsche (1844 - 1900)

Black Belt

The black belt is one of the most misunderstood achievements a person can attain. The only people who have the ability to fully appreciate and understand the rank are those who have achieved it. Unfortunately even those who achieve the rank are not guaranteed to fully comprehend the soul of the black belt.

As an instructor I feel a great responsibility when it comes to upholding the ideals of the rank of black belt. I take every possible precaution to ensure people who earn a Silent River Kung Fu black belt are solid martial artists and, more importantly, are strong moral characters who understand the spirit of the rank and the responsibility that goes with it.

No instructor is perfect. You can do your best to weed out the candidates who are in it for their own ego but despite all the safeguards you put into place, people can, and do, mislead you. I don’t know of any instructor who has not had the embarrassment of having one of their unqualified first degree black belts decide that they have arrived and branch off on their own. Having thirty years of blood and sweat trivialized by someone who thinks the rank of black belt is the end rather than the beginning is only worsened by having that embarrassment instigated by one of your own.

The black belt has changed and it continues to change. Schools have stopped teaching styles and only teach techniques. Students are judged and ranked solely on what they do in the training hall. Honour, kindness, loyalty, humility - these attributes that form the foundation on which the martial arts are based, have little value in today’s schools. It is all about the next student and the latest craze. Want to learn tae kwon do? We have an instructor of that. BJJ? No problem, we have an instructor for that too. The great grandmasters like Morihei Ueshiba and Wong Fei Hung are being replaced by Greg Jackson and Billy Blanks. Our industry has lost its way.

I think the genesis of a solution lies in each of us who wish to attain the rank of black belt. This may be as simple as making your black belt mean something by keeping the following truths in front of us:

• Training is not a sacrifice, it is an investment. If your training is a sacrifice, you are only doing it to satisfy your or someone else’s ego. Remember, nothing is for free. If you want the benefits of training, you need to put in the time and make your training applicable to your life outside the training hall.

• The black belt is a journey, not a destination. Make your journey something to remember and you will never regret it.

• The black belt is earned, not given. Your journey is unique so what you do to earn the rank will be just as unique.

• Your black belt is defined by who you earn it from. Every black belt has a lineage attached to it. Some have meaning, others do not. Earn your rank from someone who understands what the rank means and whose lineage has not been severed by ego and ambition.

• Never forget that the black belt represents skill in a complete, all encompassing system. Getting a black belt for knowing a bunch of individual techniques that allows you to fight well is the equivalent of getting a degree in literature for memorizing the dictionary. 

With the popularity of the UFC and our society’s tendency to seek instant gratification, true martial arts are difficult for the public to identify and are becoming endangered. It is only the schools that stay loyal to the integrity of the art over the public’s demand for easier standards and the latest crazes that can ensure the future of the two thousand year old discipline.

“To all those whose progress remains hampered by ego-related distractions, let humility – the spiritual cornerstone upon which Karate rests – serve to remind one to place virtue before vice, values before vanity and principles before personalities.” – Sokon ‘Bushi’ Matsumura (l809 - 1901)

A Good Day

I left our annual boot camp yesterday inspired and proud. Sixteen hours of sweat, endurance, and comaraderie can be the life-altering experience that becomes the catalyst that ignites the spark that defines a life.

The boot camp is focused at challenging and inspiring. Pushing yourself beyond your arbitrary limits is the only way to eliminate mediocrity and make mastery a part of daily practice. Illness and injury are limits that are not arbitrary but how we respond to them often is. It all comes down to participation and engagement. Mastery is a relentless pursuit and anyone devoted to it understands that 99% of it is just a matter of showing up.

I was fortunate to be part of something extraordinary yesterday. It is an anchor experience that will colour my motivation and training forever.

“Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” - Orison Swett Marden (1850 - 1924)

Patience, Trust, & Progressing Wisely

Something I have thought about a lot over the years is why the rank of black belt is so difficult to attain. I don’t mean difficult as in physically difficult but difficult as in hardly anyone who sets out to achieve it actually does. I am convinced the issue is approach. The approach I am referring to is all or nothing. Our western culture is based upon consumption and instant gratification. We want what we want and we want it now.

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked what I thought of weight training when it comes to kung fu. My intended reply was that weight training to build strength is one thing but training to build bulk is another. Bulk interferes with natural motion and thus it interferes with kung fu. My student’s all or nothing response to my answer was a reminder of why westerners have so much difficulty with the martial arts.

An all or nothing, quick fix approach forces a person to choose between two incompatible activities. Kung fu or weight training for bulk. An approach with wuji (balanced, without extremes) allows the pursuit of both disciplines with the understanding that mastery in kung fu will take longer. Either approach has consequences but one is more sustainable than the other.

The benefits one experiences from a lifestyle change are only there as long as the changed lifestyle is maintained. For example, if you want to lose weight, and keep it off, whatever you do to lose that weight must be maintained for the rest of your life if you wish to keep the weight off. Kung fu is no different. Never sacrifice something over the short term if you are not willing to sacrifice it over the long term. Sustainable practice is the key. If you enjoy weight training for bulk, you do not need to eliminate it to master kung fu. You can have your cake and eat it too, it just takes longer.

You have the rest of your life to train and your practice can enhance your lifestyle without limiting it.

“He that can have Patience, can have what he will.” - Benjamin Franklin (1708 - 1790)

Sixteen Years

Time is relative. Obviously. Yet it may not be so obvious. I have been thinking about what time represents and more specifically what sixteen years represent.

Sixteen years is the required age for acquiring a driver’s licence. I know it was a lifetime for me to get to that age. I have vivid memories of daring deeds and experiences all accumulated before I was eligible to drive.

When my daughters were born, it was a lifetime before I had to worry about them dating or driving. Again, many vivid memories of their life milestones over their first sixteen years.

The squirrel chattering at me while I write this was not around sixteen years ago, nor will he be around sixteen years from now.

Sixteen years ago I mortgaged my house to get a permanent home for Silent River Kung Fu. I look at photos from those first few weeks while we worked to turn two empty bays into a unified training space, and cannot help but smile at our naivety. There’s Sifu Hayes and I grinning from ear to ear while we grouted the tile that we had carefully laid throughout the building only to have to jackhammer it all out a couple of days later. There’s the memory of crushing the main water line during those first renovations but somehow managing not to puncture it. We had no expertise but we all shared a vision.

While the memories of our initial construction exploits remain vivid, they seem to come from two lifetimes ago. So much has happened in the past sixteen years. The kwoon has expanded, along with the mortgage, and the spirit and love of a whole new generation of martial artists is embedded within its walls.

Sixteen years. Seems like a lifetime when you are a kid. Seems like a lifetime if you are paying off a mortgage. A lot can happen in a sixteen year time period, but most of us only have five of those in our lifetime.

“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.” - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Anchor Experiences

Life is hectic. The faster the pace of my surroundings, the more hectic my state of mind. It is a constant battle to adapt my environment to my rhythm and resist the pull to join the pace of the rat race. The vividness of the memory of many amazing moments have been lost because I have not been in the proper state of mind to mindfully experience the moment. Without proper reverence for the present, a memory’s grip is fragile, making it difficult to keep. Some days I am more successful than others but that is why it is called a practice. There is value in perpetual effort despite knowing that complete achievement is impossible.

My I Ho Chuan team had a great Canada Day this year. We spent most of the day with each other, performing, laughing, and sharing the experience. A spontaneous demo and experiencing the joy of new Canadians receiving their citizenships made the day one I will never forget. I consider that day seized.

“The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.”- Tyron Edwards (1809 - 1894)

Great Class

Had a phenomenal black belt class on Friday. The past few months have been the most productive classes I have taught for that rank. The consistent attendance by a core group of black belts has allowed the classes to progress logically for the first time for as long as I can remember. Even the vast range of experience levels has not hampered the flow of the class. We are accomplishing more than I thought possible and I am excited to see how the class progresses moving forward.

I am sure the new class time is helping the situation. Having my most advanced students for the first class of the day is allowing me to approach every class fresh, without the interfering rhythms generated by preceding classes. For the first time I am able to resolve a way to impart advanced theoretical and abstract knowledge in a way that benefits the new and experienced alike.

My goal was to document the advanced concepts that were covered on Friday’s class but when I tried to put the lesson into writing, it did not translate well enough to retain its clarity. Yet another reason why there is no substitute for first hand experience when it comes to mastering the art of kung fu.

“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.” - Oliver Wendall Holmes (1809 - 1894)

Right Speech

It has been five years since I spent a week in Colorado practicing the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. It seems impossible that five years have passed as the experience is still vividly etched in my consciousness. It was the first time that I have immersed myself so completely into the practice and I can’t argue with the effectiveness of the experience.

Zen, like any discipline, is a practice. The benefits of the practice are directly proportional to the effort put into the practice. I have been a practitioner for most of my adult life but that week in 2009 was the first time I have been completely immersed for so long. My daughter noticed a difference in me when I returned from my retreat — I moved slower and I talked slower. I remember how calm my mind was and how simple life was. It was no more than a couple of days of being reintegrated into the rat race before my state of mind began to slip back into a different, hectic rhythm. I could feel the unwanted change happening but resistance seemed futile. My mind was adopting the rhythm of my environment.

My practice continues to evolve everyday. As I simplify my life, I get closer to the ideal I experienced in 2009. I have been focusing on reducing my possessions and creating  space in my environment. I have been working hard to repair poor relationships and improve the good ones. Decluttering my mind in these ways allow me to slow down and stay in the moment.

This week I have narrowed my focus on practicing right speech. Words are the most powerful tools I have to create happiness in my life. A word takes but a moment to utter but its effect can resonate for a lifetime. I know my words reflect my mood but I also know that my mood is affected by my words. Staying mindful of what I say, and how I say it, creates  peace in my life.

“Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivation loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and month other people, ethnic and religous groups, and nations.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Intensity

An abstract concept like intensity in kung fu is one of those things that is difficult to define but is something I easily recognize when I see it. This can be frustrating for a student who is constantly being told to show more intensity in their techniques.

In a nutshell, intensity in the execution of a technique, is defined by the six harmonies. The three external harmonies are easily understood but the three internal harmonies, less so. Intensity falls in the realm of the internal harmonies — specifically intent.

What is intent as applied to kung fu? Intent is the sense of purpose behind an action. It is the spirit, the heart, the soul of a technique. Motion without purpose is just motion. Motion with intent is kung fu. A technique with intensity has intent behind it. With a sense of purpose behind my technique I bring mindfulness into play. That mindfulness triggers my eye for detail and attention to my skeletal authority, my centre of balance, and my force vectors.

It would be incorrect to assume that intensity is only applied in the execution of a technique. Intensity as defined above should be applied in every action and effort, no matter how mundane. Intensity is an attitude that must be religiously practiced before it can be consistently applied.

“The most distinguishing feature of winners is their intensity of purpose.” - Alymer Letterman

Maya Angelou

I wish I had taken the time to learn more about her when she was alive. Someone like Maya Angelou is impossible to replace.

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." - Maya Angelou (1928 - 2014)

Why?

It’s been over thirty years. Why am I still training? What value am I getting from pushing myself further and further? Am I just a sadist? Is there not something else I could be doing with all this time I am putting into my kung fu?

I have been lucky. Teaching kung fu for so long has given me access to many students and so I have been exposed to every motivational trap and self-defeating talk anyone can come up with. Helping others stay the path has helped me as much as it has helped them.

I continue to train because of the focus the training gives me. Learning how to set a plan for achieving a goal and disciplining yourself to follow through is not just a skill, it is also a practice. Discipline is not something that sticks with you. Like all skills, it must be exercised regularly or it will be lost. Kung fu has given me a good life by giving me the physical and mental discipline to achieve more in all facets of my life. I am not someone who takes what he has for granted. I know how different my life would be without kung fu. Yes, my achievements are my own but I would not have pulled off many of them without the skill set kung fu has given me.

I have the battle scars that come with pushing my body to its limits. Ibuprofen has become my supplement of choice and my piano has never forgiven me for all those bricks I broke with ego rather than technique. Has it been worth it? Physically, I am in better condition than I was in high school. Mentally, I am focused, confident, and calm. Kung fu has served me for my entire adult life because I apply it and stay engaged every day. Oh yes, it has been absolutely worth it.

“Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.” - Napoleon Hill (1883 - 1970)

Pandamonium Aftermath

Our 24 hour Pandamonium is finished for another year. I appreciate all the work and commitment shown by so many people to bring an event like this together. Not everyone understands what community activism and charity have to do with kung fu, but it is no coincidence that those who do understand are the most engaged and focused students of the art. This is not a chicken or egg scenario. If you want maximum benefit from an activity, you must have maximum engagement. Success begins with participation.

Our Pandamonium is a fundraising event. Silent River Kung Fu has raised over $100,000 for many causes over the years. That money has fed over 8000 homeless in Katmandu, it has supported our community’s suicide hotline, it has helped fund build projects in Alabama, it has provided education for eight girls in Malawi, it has saved abandoned animals’ lives, it has funded community scholarships, it has saved our community library, it has helped purchase a defibrillator for our fire department, It has purchased specialized equipment for disabled children, the list goes on. There can be no doubt as to the difference this money has made in the lives of others.

A more important goal of our Pandamonium is education. Money can help alleviate the symptoms of a problem but change, lasting change, is accomplished through raising awareness. Taking time to better understand the plight of those you wish to help is a lot more valuable than just throwing money in their direction. I am reminded of this every time we send money to Rhaul Bharti to help the homeless in Nepal and India. Rhaul is always so grateful for our support but he never accepts the money without encouraging me to come to Nepal and participate in the feeding. He wants us to experience first hand what an impact our engagement is having on these people’s lives. Rhaul understands that nothing can better educate a person than direct experience.

I was reminded of the value of experiential learning this weekend. When I was talking with Richard, the Children’s Ability Fund Stony Plain ambassador, I noted the size of his wheelchair. From that small interaction I realized with certain clarity that while our kwoon conforms to all building codes and is ‘wheelchair accessible’, those building codes do not come close to addressing the needs of the disabled. Our sidewalk has ramps to allow wheelchairs to climb the curb but the sidewalk itself is so narrow that it is almost impossible for a wheelchair to make the ninety degree turn into the doorway without falling off the curb. Not to mention that our flower planters next to our door have made the door itself impossible to access with a wheelchair. Change is needed. I am not sure if we can even legally address our wheelchair accessibility issue without contravening a parking lot space code but that does not mean we can’t make a difference on this issue. If we raise enough awareness, we can get building codes changed so future buildings are truly wheelchair accessible.

Change. It is the only thing that is inevitable. Nothing is permanent. We each have the power to influence the change we want and thanks to everyone who participated in our Pandamonium, the world is a little bit brighter this morning.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)

Pandamonium 2014

Next weekend is Silent River Kung Fu’s Pandamonium. It is our once a year opportunity to not only give something of ourselves to those less fortunate, but it also shows how much can be accomplished when a group of people all pull in the same direction at the same time.

From an individual perspective, kung fu is all about personal empowerment. Our school has a saying, “Through discipline and respect, one discovers the tranquility of courage, and the strength to shake the pillars of the world.” This epitomizes the value of personal excellence. The confidence that comes from the accomplishments generated by self-discipline further empowers a person to push themselves beyond their arbitrary limits to achieve more than they originally thought possible. Competence fuels confidence and confidence gives power.

From a group perspective, kung fu is all about community. Our school has another saying, “Out of the Kwoon and into the world.” While my students personally benefit from their training, if they do not apply their kung fu to their everyday lives, the value of their training is very limited. By making my life my kwoon, the benefits of my training spill over to all aspects of my life. Self defence is much more than kicking and punching. Applying mastery to my career, my finances, my diet or my relationships will have a much bigger impact on my overall well-being than my ability to throw a good roundhouse.

Of course all this empowerment must be tempered with strength of character. Power without empathy is power without control or compassion. Seeing the world through the eyes of another, especially another who is less fortunate than ourselves, helps develop the empathy that tempers the power of our training.

“Self-absorption in all its forms kills empathy, let alone compassion. When we focus on ourselves, our world contracts as our problems and preoccupations loom large. But when we focus on others, our world expands. Our own problems drift to the periphery of the mind and so seem smaller, and we increase our capacity for connection - or compassionate action.” - Daniel Goleman (b. 1946)

Engaged Leadersip

Engaged is one of my favourite words. No matter what I am talking about, qualifying my subject with the word engaged adds a level of clarity that is difficult to misinterpret.

Everyone, at one time or another, will find themselves going through the motions. My best work is never accomplished when I am in that state. Sure the work may get done but the results and benefit are less than stellar. I constantly remind my students to get engaged in their training if they want quality results. More often than not, success is just an attitude adjustment away.

When I talk about taking my kung fu out of the kwoon and into the world, I am talking about engaged kung fu. There is no doubt that my life has been defined by my kung fu and I have benefited from applying the art to all aspects of my life. Engaged kung fu is about applying what I have learned from my training to every experience and every situation. Engaged kung fu is all about the value of action and the power of example.

No one who has ever earned a black belt would ever deny the value kung fu has brought to their personal lives. That value is obvious. Defining the value of a black belt by personal accomplishments alone devalues the rank. If a black belt applies his knowledge and is an engaged leader, the value of their rank moves beyond their immediate personal benefit into the world around them. Never underestimate the value of the power of influence.

“Leadership is action, not position.” - Donald H. McGannon (1920 - 1984)

I Ho Chuan

Back in 2008, I completed my first Ultimate Black Belt Test. It was an experience that changed my approach to teaching, training, and living. On the surface I suspect my students sensed little change but at a fundamental level I felt a focus and understanding that has fuelled my motivation ever since. It is this value that I found on my personal quest for mastery that I wish to pass on to my students.

I created Silent River Kung Fu’s I Ho Chuan program with this in mind. Tom Callos’ Ultimate Black Belt Test is the most comprehensive character building, mediocrity eradicating, soul cleansing tool I have ever been exposed to. For that reason, my I Ho Chuan program is based upon Master Callos’ work.

Each year, twenty or so of my students enter SRKF’s I Ho Chuan and commit themselves to a higher ideal by dedicating a year to mastery. As in the original UBBT, this challenge is not for the faint-hearted. But then, nothing worth working for is ever easy. Mastery is not achieved in a specific time frame. It is a process that must be cultivated and practiced on a daily basis. It is a skill that develops over time and as such its value lies in the attempt, not the achievement.

Like the participants in the UBBT, the majority of my students in the I Ho Chuan will fail to achieve what they set out to achieve. I have to remind them that failure is a step closer to mastery. You cannot fail unless you actually make an attempt in the first place. Failure is valuable experience and success is only the culmination of numerous failures. The true mettle of a person can be measured by their response to failure.

Each team that I have taken through this process have had their struggles. Everyone jumps into the process enthusiastically, they are excited about the possibilities. It does not take long before doubt starts to erode their confidence and enthusiasm. I have to remind everyone that mastery is a journey, it is not a destination. Everyday is a new opportunity to make progress on their goals. Daily engagement guarantees daily progress and a structure for success. That structure, once established, makes effort effortless.

SRKF’s I Ho Chuan team are experiencing what it is like to live a life dedicated to mastery. They are setting an example of excellence that defines what it means to be a martial artist. Kung fu is not about mastering an opponent, it is about mastering yourself.

“Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.” - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

There Is No Try

I have learned a lot about mastery over the years and in the process I have learned a lot about myself. Or perhaps it is the other way around — learning about myself taught me a lot about mastery. Chicken or egg, it does not matter, mastery and self-realization are intimately intertwined.

As a martial artist I have dedicated myself to mastery. For me it was all about the discipline, the effort. No effort, no matter how small, is ever wasted. I worked hard, stayed in great shape, and pushed myself to my limits. Time plus effort would equal mastery.

Ironically it was not until I was given the title of ‘master’ in the marital arts that I realized how little i had mastered or even understood of mastery. I realized that I had been accepting mediocrity by equating effort to accomplishment. Intent is an important starting point but that is all it is — a starting point. In order for intent to become desired result, a lot has to happen in between. I wasted many years, not because of what I was doing in between, but what I was not doing.

How many nights did I justify taking off because of other commitments or priorities? They were countless but I hardly noticed because I was giving myself too much credit for trying. When it comes to working towards mastery, either you are or you are not. There is no ‘try’. While effort and intent are commendable, intent has done as much harm as good for me over the years. The good it brings is obvious. Everything worth working towards begins with intent. The harm it brings is less noticeable and thus quite sinister. How much time have I lost by confusing effort with intent? Planning on doing something is not the same as actually doing it.

I now understand that mastery is only achieved through relentless focus. This means not just working toward mastery but, more importantly, eradicating mediocrity. It is easy to dismiss the two approaches as being merely a matter of quibbling over the semantics of saying the same thing, but I have learned to never underestimate the power of words. The words I use influence my perspective and my perspective is usually the only thing that stands between me and success.

“Good intentions never change anything. They only become a deeper and deeper rut.” - Joyce Meyer (b. 1943)

Pebble Meditation - Space

“Breathing in I see myself as space, breathing out, I feel free. Space, free.”

The fourth of the four Pebble Meditations to cultivate happiness as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. I appreciate this meditation as it has taught me the value of keeping my physical space clear. In my case, a cluttered environment cultivates a cluttered mind.

This meditation is all about creating space in my mind. I am reminded to leave my problems and worries where they belong and immerse myself in the present moment — fresh, strong, and with absolute clarity. I visualize my mind as a room. If that room is full of clutter, it is difficult, if not impossible, to move around freely. Likewise when my thoughts are cluttered, it becomes difficult to accurately interpret events, stress begins to be less manageable, and staying in the moment almost impossible.

Creating space in my mind, creates freedom. Freedom from stress. Freedom from worry. The freedom that comes from being in absolute control.

“The most beautiful things can only be created by the most free minds!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan (b. 1965)

Pebble Meditation - Still Water

“Breathing in, I see myself as still water. Breathing out, I reflect things as they truly are.”

The third of the four Pebble Meditations to cultivate happiness as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. This my favourite meditation because it is so visually reinforcing.

The image of a calm mountain lake can’t help but provide a calm, relaxing foundation to my state of mind. Physically reconnecting with nature is so important for mental well-being but circumstances do not always allow such opportunity. This meditation goes a long way to help me cultivate a calm mindset.

The image of a calm mountain lake always includes the undistorted reflection of the lake’s surroundings. The lake only reflects reality. Everyday brings emotions and attitudes that can distort my interpretations of events. This meditation provides me with a constant reminder to be mindful to not distort my experiences with my ego and emotions. There are always alternative ways of interpreting events and the more mindful I am to listen and watch with an open mind, the better chance I have of seeing things for how they truly are.

“We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.” ― Anaïs Nin (1903 - 1977)

Pebble Meditation - Mountain

“Breathing in, I see myself as a mountain. Breathing out, I feel solid. Mountain, solid.”

The second of the four Pebble Meditations to cultivate happiness as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. Of these four meditations, I find this one to be the most difficult, and as such, maybe the most useful.

The idea is that when I feel strong, nothing can knock me over. When I feel stable, emotions do not overcome me. I may sway but I return to my centre, even in the midst of a storm. Alone, this meditation is a challenge. However, when practiced with the other of the four meditations, it is reflective and supportive of the other three.

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Pebble Meditation - Flower

“Breathing in, I see myself as a flower. Breathing out, I feel fresh. Flower, fresh.”

The first of the four Pebble Meditations to cultivate happiness as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. Flower, fresh. So descriptive that it takes little effort to establish the image in my mind. I like this meditation as I find it quickly establishes a base mindset from which I can guide myself to inner peace and calm.

When I am the flower, I feel connected to the earth. I feel the sun that nurtured me. I feel the soil that nourished me. I taste the rain that made me strong. This connection reminds me that we are all 'inter-are'. There is no independent self as the perception of me or mine is an illusion. I am made up 'non-I' elements of which I depend.

Awesome, reassuring concept that makes it impossible not be an environmentalist. We all know this to be true but contrived circumstances conspire to distract us until we forget to remember. Flower, fresh allows me to begin anew.

“If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow; and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not here, the sheet of paper cannot be here either. So we can say that the cloud and the paper inter-are. “Interbeing” is a word that is not in the dictionary yet, but if we combine the prefix “inter-“ with the verb “to be,” we have a new verb, inter-be.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)

Giving

The Alabama build-vention is less than a month away and I am hoping everyone is doing whatever they can to attend. I can’t stress enough the value of the experience and how it can literally change your business and your life.

Springtime brings two events that are very important to me. SRKF's Pandamonium and the Alabama build-vention. Both projects literally change lives and at the same time they redefine what it means to be a martial artist.

Silent River Kung Fu's Pandamonium is the best tool I have to teach my students the power of empathy and it helps us all remember the power of one. Twenty four hours of perpetual kung fu focusing on family and community while raising awareness. The money we raise on this day go to help the Children's Ability Fund, Malawi Girls on the Move, the Simon Poultney Foundation, Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) and Healing Hands. j

The two big things that I got out of my first experience on the Alabama Project were life changers for me. Coming from an affluent country I had not realized what degree poverty was only an abstraction for me. We all think we understand the concept but I don’t believe you can truly understand it until you are living it or, at a minimum, immersed in it. We all talk about the 1% but we rarely talk about the forgotten ones that have been left behind. Like riches, poverty is often inherited. Once you are trapped in it, it can be almost impossible to break out of it. My trips to Alabama have forever removed the abstraction from poverty for me. It is very, very real and tangible.

The second big thing I got out of my first experience in Alabama was meeting Master Dave McNeill. I have never met a more compassionate, engaged human being and he forever has set the standard for me for what it means to be a true master. I had never met him before that first trip in 2008 and have been thankful for the experience and his influence ever since.

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." - Nelson Henderson

What I Know About Success and Failure

I believe negativity is self-fulfilling. Making failure an option gives it a foothold in reality. No one is successful 100% of the time but how failures get perceived sets the framework for future mastery or mediocrity.

No effort, no matter the outcome, is ever without value. Success is built from the experience gathered from past failures so failure only becomes absolute when effort is abandoned.

The self-fulfilling nature of negativity is responsible for so much mediocrity. No one likes failure but one cannot avoid failure without avoiding participation. I can’t imagine how much of what I value in my character would not even be present if I had not taken a chance and stepped up to engage.

Mastery is something I will never succeed at attaining but in the wake of my attempts, something wonderful is happening.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas Edison (1847 - 1931)

Today's Gratitude

I was gifted a jar of raspberry jam last week. I have since consumed almost half the jar and can attest to the positive power of mindful eating. Each mouthful reminds me of everything that went into the jam. The sun, the rain, the nutrients of the earth, and most of all, the goodwill and love of the person who made it.

Today’s gratitude: gifted raspberry jam.

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b.1926)

Story of Solutions

A friend sent me this video yesterday. In light of what is going on in Canada with our democracy quickly being dismantled, the danger to our future seems that much more acute.

The problem seems so obvious with the solution so simple. Yet we have a government that is censoring its environmental scientists while denying climate change. The same government that is touting itself as fiscally conservative despite inheriting a budget surplus and going on to run up the biggest deficit in Canadian history.  Perhaps the Prime Minister should stop campaigning and begin governing for the people that elected him rather than catering to the corporations that funded him. Better yet, maybe we should speak up and do something about what is happening before it is too late for our children.

“In a sense, people are so enraged at the Liberal government, that they're giving Stephen Harper and his government a bye. They should take a look at what he proposes.” - Joe Clark (b. 1939)

Classical Vs Romantic

I had a conversation with one of my students this week concerning a romantic vs classical approach to training. The more I thought about things my understanding of wuji (without extremes) and its value grew. I realize that when I am applying wu wei (non-striving), my training delves back and forth between a romantic and classical approach. Wu wei keeps my training organically fresh while wuji ensures whatever approach I take, my training is sustainable over the long term.

A few years back, one of my black belts submitted an assignment to me that analyzed the force vectors behind a thrust punch. There were graphs and formulas that clearly defined the value behind technique. I remember the exact words that went through my head when I read this dissertation - “Jeff’s fist go ungh!” Clearly I was in a romantic phase while my student was in a classical phase. I remember at the time that I could not comprehend any value in extreme analysis. My body was working in perfect harmony to deliver its payload in the form of my fist to a face. Neither fist or face cared that force equals mass times acceleration. Both just cared about the result. Don’t think, just do.

This week I realized that I have come full circle. I am a staunch believer in the importance of zen in kung fu and the role it plays in mastery. Staying in the present moment helps one to move purely without interference from logical thought or emotion. Yet staying in the moment makes one keenly aware of specifics and intricacies. With this awareness a deeper understanding of a technique follows. Force vectors and balance points become defined as the purely romantic awareness is fortified by the classical understanding.

“The only Zen you find on tops of mountains is the Zen you bring there.” - Robert M. Pirsig (b. 1928)