I've dusted off the Ten Tigers Program and I've jumped right in. . . too quickly.
In the first few days I remembered how good it felt to do all that physical stuff, then remembered how bad it felt to do Too Much Too Soon.
So, the plan is thus:
1. Rest and Recover (thus letting my numbers get behind)
2. Start up again with lower numbers (thus letting my numbers get further behind)
3. Gradually ramp my numbers up to the point that I can start getting caught up.
If I never get caught up, I am not going to let that beat me up. This program was designed to be my servant, not my master.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Martial Arts Did Not Change My Life: Part 2
I am a very good candidate for someone who could argue that martial arts saved/changed their life.
When I was young, I did not fit in. I did not understand these other creatures I was walled up with for seven hours a day, five days a week. When I tried to be myself, I was invisible, when I tried putting on a mask and fitting in, I stood out like a sore thumb. I was laughed at, pushed around, picked on, knocked down, and belittled by other students. I was blamed for the trouble by teachers and the principal. I was told by my father (bless him, he thought he was being helpful) I needed to "not wear my feelings on the cuff of my sleeve," which felt in my mind like, "it is your fault you are being picked on."
My parents signed me up for karate lessons at the Paducah Parks and Recreation Department with Sensei William Darnell. Sensei Darnell taught Tae Kwon Do, Isshunryu, Zen Kenpo, and Flowing Circles. He also taught me all sorts of other things. When I struggled with a self defense technique, (I remember this 28 years later), and I said, "I can't do it." He said, "Yes you can, and don't you ever use that four letter word in here again." Then he stuck with me until I got it right.
My mother supported me, took me to classes, asked to see what I had learned. My father finally found an avenue through which he could connect with me. When things took a turn for the worse for me in school, my lessons learned in martial arts classes were there like a light at the end of a dark tunnel. What I learned from my Sensei, the knowledge that my mother was there quietly supporting me (she always was, I just didn't see it before) and finally having that connection to my father were a guiding light in my dark times.
It would be easy (and marketable) for me to look back and say "Martial Arts changed my life, and probably saved my life," but if I did,
That would be an insult to my first instructor, and every one I've had since.
That would be an insult to my father.
That would be an insult to my mother whom I miss terribly.
The lessons taught to me by William Darnell using a tool known as martial arts, the knowledge of my parents' support, seen thanks to the lens of martial arts, the confidence I gained through my hard work and dedication facilitated by the tool of martial arts, are the things that saved my life.
When I was young, I did not fit in. I did not understand these other creatures I was walled up with for seven hours a day, five days a week. When I tried to be myself, I was invisible, when I tried putting on a mask and fitting in, I stood out like a sore thumb. I was laughed at, pushed around, picked on, knocked down, and belittled by other students. I was blamed for the trouble by teachers and the principal. I was told by my father (bless him, he thought he was being helpful) I needed to "not wear my feelings on the cuff of my sleeve," which felt in my mind like, "it is your fault you are being picked on."
My parents signed me up for karate lessons at the Paducah Parks and Recreation Department with Sensei William Darnell. Sensei Darnell taught Tae Kwon Do, Isshunryu, Zen Kenpo, and Flowing Circles. He also taught me all sorts of other things. When I struggled with a self defense technique, (I remember this 28 years later), and I said, "I can't do it." He said, "Yes you can, and don't you ever use that four letter word in here again." Then he stuck with me until I got it right.
My mother supported me, took me to classes, asked to see what I had learned. My father finally found an avenue through which he could connect with me. When things took a turn for the worse for me in school, my lessons learned in martial arts classes were there like a light at the end of a dark tunnel. What I learned from my Sensei, the knowledge that my mother was there quietly supporting me (she always was, I just didn't see it before) and finally having that connection to my father were a guiding light in my dark times.
It would be easy (and marketable) for me to look back and say "Martial Arts changed my life, and probably saved my life," but if I did,
That would be an insult to my first instructor, and every one I've had since.
That would be an insult to my father.
That would be an insult to my mother whom I miss terribly.
The lessons taught to me by William Darnell using a tool known as martial arts, the knowledge of my parents' support, seen thanks to the lens of martial arts, the confidence I gained through my hard work and dedication facilitated by the tool of martial arts, are the things that saved my life.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Confusing the Tool With the Work
In martial arts training, one should be careful to know what one's goals are, and what are the tools used to achieve those goals. Many people mix these up.
When the two are confused, it becomes important to pass a belt test, it becomes important to be a 3rd degree black belt, it becomes important to have the title "Master".
An example from one of my other pursuits is my goal of running a 5K race in under 20 minutes. That goal is a fake goal. It doesn't really matter how fast I can run a 5K. What is really important to me is that I get outside and get myself into great physical health. While out there doing the work to get my body in shape, I get time to be by myself with my thoughts. I get time to test the limits of my physical speed, and the limits of my endurance. I get to face the enemy that is ME. In doing all that I am keeping my mind and spirit healthy.
So, the 20 minute 5K pales in importance next to all this, it does, however have importance. It has a job. The purpose of that 20 minute 5K is to motivate me to get up in the morning, get going, and push myself. I hope that I never forget the real goal behind the fake goal.
I have seen countless people confuse the FAKE goals of martial arts with the real ones. Martial arts training can be a tool you can use to achieve real goals. The fake goals are those silly belts we were, the silly titles we attach such meaning to, the ranks and prestige and all that fluff. Those are FAKE goals. The real goals of martial arts for me include strengthening the body, facing adversity, having fun, building coordination and discipline, and the list goes on.
The litmus test is this:
If you would train diligently regardless of the promise of a belt. If you would train as hard whether or not there was a test coming, if you would pursue mastery knowing that no one would ever call you "master", then those things are your fake goals.
Fake goals are good to have. The danger is believing they are the real goals.
Kung Fu Did NOT Change My Life.
Kung Fu did not change my life, or change me, or save my life.
It won't do it for you either.
Thinking it will is like thinking a bicycle will make you lose weight. The bicycle will do no such thing. The exercise you get from pedaling the bicycle can help you out quite a bit though.
Like any tool, it is all in how you use it. Kung Fu can be the tool you use to change your life.
It won't do it for you either.
Thinking it will is like thinking a bicycle will make you lose weight. The bicycle will do no such thing. The exercise you get from pedaling the bicycle can help you out quite a bit though.
Like any tool, it is all in how you use it. Kung Fu can be the tool you use to change your life.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Now
The time has come to approach my mental/emotional well being with the same vigor and dedication I have approached my physical well being.
I watch what foods I allow in my body, I will watch what thoughts I allow in my head.
I watch what activities I participate in, I will be just as choosy about what thinking I participate in.
When my body has done all it can, I give it rest, I will do the same thing for my brain and my heart.
I work to make my body stronger and more efficient, I will work to do the same with my thinking.
I watch what foods I allow in my body, I will watch what thoughts I allow in my head.
I watch what activities I participate in, I will be just as choosy about what thinking I participate in.
When my body has done all it can, I give it rest, I will do the same thing for my brain and my heart.
I work to make my body stronger and more efficient, I will work to do the same with my thinking.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Facing Setbacks
I seem to be facing setbacks in multiple areas of life. It is easy to allow myself to be overwhelmed by this. I must remember to take a step back, reasess the situation, make a new plan, and start at that new beginning I have set.
One step at a time.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
First Things First In Self Defense
In self defense, or personal protection, I believe it is important to prioritize one's actions. For example, I have had people ask me, as a martial artist, if I could teach them what to do if they get jumped by three guys in an alley. My answer is always to not go in the alley in the first place.
I have also come to believe in a little "preemptive self defense". Now, I don't mean to jump the guys in the alley first, this is much more effective, and much more difficult and it is something I need to work on.
If one is worried about oneself or others being jumped in an alley in a bad part of town (first, as I said before, stay out of the alley), the next step is to start improving the conditions of the environment so that people will not feel they need to resort to jumping others in the alley.
And I thought stancework was hard.
As a small step in that direction, I had my students, at their last belt test, perform random acts of kindness. Just a small step to improving the environment around them.
More to come.
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