Less is More

It has been four years since I set about reducing my number of possessions to 100. I have always known that achieving that goal is not possible and the value was going to be in the journey, not the destination. My garage still has two motorcycles and my house still has furniture. The motorcycles are not negotiable and my family feels the same way about the furniture, so the journey will continue with the mythical destination remaining beyond the horizon. Yet so much has changed.

These past four years I have run an acquisition deficit. I have donated most of my books and all my excess clothing to homeless shelters. I have eliminated most of my cds and dvds and rely upon streaming content when it is necessary, and I have the public library and digital downloads for my reading needs. Every purchase I make is prefaced with mindful analysis of the necessity of the situation. Most of the time I can get by with borrowing or adapting instead of acquiring.

My minimalistic journey has been exceptionally rewarding. I have not made an impulsive purchase over these past four years and most of my money has been invested in experiences, not things. My thinking is clearer as is my conscience. It is no coincidence that I am more content now than I have ever been.

“There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.” - Jackie French Koller (b. 1948)

Grading Time

It is getting close to that time of year when we will be conducting another black belt grading. This always gets me thinking about what it means to be a black belt and how I can better prepare my students for their own black belt grading.

The best advice I can give to someone wanting to grade for black belt is to focus on becoming a black belt, not achieving a black belt. Too many people spend too much time trying to negotiate a black belt promotion. I do not set the standard, I enforce the standard. The criteria for black belt is set, it cannot and should not be changed. Kung fu is a traditional martial art and so achieving a black belt has not been simplified to just application. A black belt in kung fu is not just a good fighter, a black belt in kung fu is an engaged, cognizant human being.

If you focus on becoming and not just achieving, you will be on the right path.

 "Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda

Family

I spent a great day with my Silent River Kung Fu family today. We spend so much time together training but we don't take enough opportunities to connect outside the kwoon. I would like to change that. Today was an awesome day spent with awesome people. Congratulations Mel and Dan.

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life." - Richard Bach (b. 1936)

The Green Stripe

I have been studying the martial arts for most of my life.  Thirty five years of training has taught me a lot about myself and the world.  Everything good in my life today is what it is because of my kung fu. My dedication to my art has never been a sacrifice but rather an investment that has generated massive returns. My life is blessed and I owe it all to kung fu.

There has not been a day in the past thirty-five years that I have not used my kung fu. I used it to build a body that is as healthy and strong as it was when I was a teenager. I have used it to  become mindful of the miracles that exist in every moment.   I have used my kung fu to become a more compassionate and cognizant human being.  Kung fu has made me who I am and my friends and family love me, warts and all.

Somewhere down the line, we in the martial arts industry have allowed the term ‘martial arts’ to become hijacked by people and sports who wish to reduce it to the lowest common denominator - fighting.  As long as you are wearing the fancy uniform and the coloured belt, you are a  marital artist. “Who needs to meditate when that stuff does not work on the street? Respect? Of course I know respect. I’ll teach respect to anyone foolish enough to step into the ring with me. “

Where is the value in martial arts? Is the only value garnered through weaponizing yourself so that you can handle yourself in a street fight? If so, I have to question your character and your lifestyle if your training is about addressing your fear of being beat in a street fight. Each of us is infinitely more likely to have our butts kicked by our diets, our limiting beliefs, and our acceptance of mediocrity than we are by a physical assault.

Thirty-five years of using my kung fu everyday and not a single street fight to show for it. Do I lead a charmed life and have somehow avoided being victimized, or could it be that kung fu has given me the emotional intelligence as well as the physical ability to live my life without fear?

Defeating an opponent has little to do with the martial arts. The only person I compete with is myself. I end every day different, hopefully better, than I started the day. Kung fu pushes me to understand myself, like myself, and push myself to improve.

“When people ask me about what I learned from martial arts, I don't talk about favorite punches or kicks, or about fights won or lost. I talk about learning self-discipline, about ethics and manners and benevolence and fairness.” - Jonathan Maberry (b. 1958)