Don’t get me wrong—black belts are great. We live in a hierarchal world, after all. However, for all true martial artists out there, meritocracy is the only real measure; and I guess you just have to ask yourself one thing: am I a martial artist, or am I someone who just practices martial arts?
Read MoreIf we’re talking instead about Martial Arts Philosophy, then that is a totally different story, with only one true winner standing out against the rest: The Tao of Jeet Kune Do.
Read MoreAs someone who has also spent a lot of time pursuing more esoteric disciplines (Martial Arts, Yoga, Meditation, Shamanism, Zen), these fields are less focused on Semantic Learning (though there is still some degree of that) and are more driven by Motor Learning.
Read MoreIf I asked you to conjure up an image in your mind of the most spiritual person you can think of, you’ll probably think up a silent Zen Monk sitting under a tree; or perhaps you’ll imagine Buddha; or see an image of Christ. All universally accepted examples of highly spiritual individuals, but I contest that each of these spiritual individuals pales in comparison to a true Martial Artist.
Read MoreMy thought, much like Jigoro Kano’s thought (he used swim-rankings as inspiration for why he introduced ranks into his system), is that students at different levels need similar training partners and groups in order to focus their attention properly.
Read MoreIt is a civil evolution, allowing you to rise above the pettiness of mundane day-to-day problems and see the world more objectively in relation to a plateau that is set much higher, and with greater stakes, to what the general public is willing to endure.
Read MoreIn the eyes of the Zen practitioner, just like in the eyes of the child, there is no truth. What truth can there be when you’re having fun?
Read MoreMartial Arts, when practiced correctly (not merely used as a means for make money; diluting the art in order to turn an Academy into a belt-factory), is a practice of truth.
Read MoreNow, let go and learn to master the breath, to master the body, to master the mind (the conductor of your experience).
Read MoreMartial Arts is controlled chaos, which allows you to rewire and reinforce your neural pathways for perseverance, problem solving, and self discipline; while simultaneously affording you a better look into “who you are” as a person.
Read MoreSo, put aside your expectations of who you "should" be and simply be who you are. Practice your craft until your craft has become you. In this way, we will all have become masters; the second we stop thinking and the moment we start being.
Read MoreWhat truly matters is who you are, what you believe, and how good you are at your craft. Because, you see, when you take your belt off at the end of the day, we’re all just White Belts anyways…
Read MoreSo, forget the infinite spectrum — the spectrum will come through your own self expression — just learn to master the basics and you will come to realize that what you thought was complicated, is actually quite simple when fully understood.
Read MoreIn order to further dissect the subtle difference between these two distinct ideologies, mathematics will be applied as an allegorical representation to facilitate understanding.
Read MoreThough the style has flourished within the educational system of today's contemporary Philippines, many practitioners of the original art of Arnis have derived their own expressions of the style — from Balintawak, to Tapi Tapi, to Doce Pares — though made most-popular, combatively, by the Cañete family in Cebu.
Read MoreThe great thing about being a black belt is that, though there may be degrees you could work towards afterward, you are pretty much there in class because you want to be. Thus, testing your will, in large part, is the name of the game. Can you push past thinking brain into reptilian brain?
Read MoreStilling the body, in turn stilling the mind, is the quintessential method for finding both inner peace and inner strength.
Read MoreThe mind, like any other tool, needs guidance. Turn on a power saw and leave it there. It will begin to chaotically saw away at anything around it. Now, take hold of that same saw and guide it to help cut away at what's needed.
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