What it Takes

Today has found me busy with receiving phone calls. A great sign for a small business!!! The calls I got were in reference to classes for adults. The gentleman that called me all have had prior training in numerous arts at various schools. Sadly, all of these schools have now closed. Most of the time the instructor simply vanished and the doors to their studios were locked, never to open again until another tenant took their place. This is a HUGE problem in the martial arts world. I hear of instructors with boat loads of physical talent who are unable to truly teach and guide. I have heard of instructors who threw their last kick or punch twenty years ago and can barely can get through a light warm up let alone an evening of class. These schools often fail.

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you know I spend a great deal of time at Quest Fitness and Kayak. Want a great gym with awesome equipment and a stellar staff? Go to Quest. Period. I spend my time there to exercise, train and push my own limits. I do the same here in the dojo so that I may engage my students physically. When they sweat, I sweat. What it takes to run a martial arts school is far more than having knowledge of a given art. I believe it takes a constant, dedicated effort to always improve upon the last class, the last student, the last project. I believe it takes time to provide students with a chance to engage their community through various service based projects. By the way, care to join us with our Adopt a Highway clean up later in June? Let us know! I believe it takes the dedicated effort of staff to teach and provide guidance to every student of every age and level a chance to go deeper into themselves and command new information. It takes training to help others make more informed, enlightened decisions on their lives.   I think this serves the world in  a far greater capacity than a kick or punch ever will.  It takes making the lessons provided in the dojo applicable to life outside the dojo.  A martial arts school cannot be a place of sweat and grunting only. It must serve as the ultimate expression of self-expression through self exploration through the timeless traditions of the fighting arts.  It takes each training moment to forge the will to win both on and off the mats. At this point in my career, I believe that this is what it takes to keep our doors open. Costly contracts are not a guarantee to success. Giving one hundred percent at every class is a much more viable contract. I believe this to be much more authentic.

Train hard, stay open.

Master C.

The Wisdom of Balanced Play

It breaks my heart when a young student departs the dojo to take a break. Very often it is due to an overloaded schedule and feelings of being overwhelmed.  I once took the squire’s to the park and had them lay on their backs to look at cloud formations. The point was to still them, sit and lay them down to STOP the mad rush that can be their lives. I had several of the kids ask me “Sensei what do we do?” as they lay in the grass. Sigh………….

Doing nothing is doing something. The classes train in various concepts here at the dojo and a big part of that is our mat chat time. This time is used to build communication skills both listening and speaking. This time is used to learn to be still with focused energy. Martial arts training is not something you simply pick up and put down. It must be a focused endeavor rich with constant improvement.

I am a big fan of a “no screen week” in which no television or video games are consumed. Conversation, reading, creating and outdoor activities take the place of vanishing behind a video game or television program.  I am hoping to help the Squire’s as well as adults take up this mantle and enrich their lives with playful study and exercise. In all things there must be balance. Without balance, we topple over.

Keep your mind fertile and feet planted.

Master C.

The Dream Must Not Die

I have made the mistake of listening to our local talk radio station. Much like junk food that tastes sweet yet has harmful consequences, I am at times compelled to listen to the recent talk on the station. Perhaps it is research or a guilty pleasure, but I am very often stunned and amazed at the vicious hate and racism along with  elitism that pours out of the mouths of the dj’s and callers. Mostly with a political agenda, the topics leave me shaking my head and changing the station.

No matter your politics, today marks an important yet tragic event in our great nation’s history. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated on this date in 1968 at the Lorraine Hotel.  For many, the dream may have seem to have died with the man. Yet I believe in my heart that Dr. King stood for a purpose for all humankind. It was far more than a racial dream, it was a dream of humankind to come together as one. Will this happen? Tough to say. As Gandhi reminds us, “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

A young man went to see a martial arts teacher in hopes of acquiring great skill. When asked why he wished to train the boy replied that he wanted to be the best fighter in the world. The teacher reminded him that if he wished to subdue and harm others in order to be the best, than he would be nothing more than dirt for others to tread upon.

“Do you wish this?” asked the teacher.

“No sir, not at all” said the boy.

“then if you wish to be the greatest, you must first learn to heal others. Hurting someone is easy.”

As I work with people in a variety of settings and listen to conversations on the radio, articles online and in print; it would seem that so many have mastered the art of maiming with words and never take a moment to ponder the consequences of what they say.

Dr. King had a dream. That dream and the dreams of so many working toward a better world must not fade away.

Train hard.

Master C.

Aggression

We sometimes, or perhaps many times misuse words in our vocabulary. We think of aggression as being something negative and hurtful. Yet, when we look to the root of the words meaning, we find that it actually means to move forward. 

We are never at perfect stillness. Even when sitting “still” we are breathing, blood flowing and heart pumping. We must allow ourselves to move forward in life.  If you were to observe an Israeli martial arts  class, you would very often hear the word “kadema! Kadema!” being shouted as the students deployed techniques. Kadema means to move forward, onward etc.

How often do we catch ourselves saying “I am going to do this later.” ” I will get to that at another time.”? We are all guilty in some fashion when it comes to this thinking. I know I certainly am! We must allow ourselves to push forward, onward and upward. It may not be easy, but nothing worth having is.

Kadema!

Master C

What do I have? What can I do?

In martial arts training, we very often work on specific techniques with the goal of polishing a movement and concept. After awhile, the fun part takes shape where you no longer look for a specific method or technique, but look instead at what the enemy is giving you. Meaning, you take what is given by his or her body.

I look at life in the very same light. Having a v vision, a goal is all very important. Yet, if we pay careful attention to what is right in front of us, we may find the tools we need to accomplish our goals. We love to “seek” something on the outside of ourselves rather than look inward. For many, food, drink and buying “things” seems to satisfy this urge to learn something about themselves. If I eat and drink this it will taste good and I will be happy. Yet later on you will still be hungry and thirsty. If I buy this, it will make me happy. Yet there will always be something else shiny and bigger we just have to consume. The cycle goes on and on.

What do you have? What can you do?

Train earnestly.

Master C.

The Wisdom of Play

I had a great time teaching my afterschool program today at The Jefferson School. I got the kids outside and we enjoyed the warmer weather. My lesson today was to get away from video games and spoon fed entertainment. We went into the school’s hiking/running track and worked on using our imaginations. I taught the kids some elements of intonjutsu, or the science of camouflage. Using sticks, branches, dirt and leaves we made camo styled hideout’s and forts. I surprised them with my hand-made, hollowed out egg shells with metsubishi powder that Ninja used as a way to distract an enemy. In our case, we used baking flour!!!!! The kids had a great time and I smiled as they treasured their chosen little sticks and stones and took them home. A few of the kids placed these simple (to you and I ) sticks in their backpacks neatly before leaving for home. I remember being just like that. My poor father could never keep duct tape in the house. Wrapping paper tubes became swords and rocket launchers. Sticks became laser canons and stones became magic jewels. Getting out to play and imagine is so important.

I had fun sharing with the kids elements of old style martial arts training. The blinding powders, use of the natural environment were huge hits with each student. It was great to see kids at play FOR REAL rather than plugged into a box and pushing buttons.  This is a lesson we could all stand to learn as well. Anyone can sit on the couch, it takes an effort to get up and get going. Once you do, you will be amazed at how much better you feel.

Now go build a fort!!!!!!!

Master C.

A Need to Connect

Delaware has had 5 teachers arrested since January for sex crimes against children. Poly Tech High School near Camden has had three suicides this year.

 

While I am unsure of the nature and circumstance of the suicides, what is clear to me is the need for people to connect and really engage one another in education, relationships and meaningful moments. While this may sound flowery and simplistic, it is something that works quite well.

Each Friday, I meet one of my students who is almost ten years old at the gym. He comes directly after school and we work out on the punching bag, talk about school, family, friends, grades etc.  We work together one on one and leave feeling satisfied with what we both accomplished. His mother tells me that his attitude has gotten better, his energy has increased and his outlook on his young life has improved.  Thankfully, he is blessed with two parents who love him deeply, want to watch him do well and work with me and allow me to do what I can, however slight or small to be a part of his life and a positive influence. Sadly, this is not the case with many young people. There are parents who simply are unable to provide a good example. They prefer to blame the world for their circumstances and chalk up their position in life as being one of many upsets that life “just happens” to lob at them. Never mind their drug addiction, alcohol abuse etc. That’s not the problem at all. So these young people learn very early that it’s okay to be lazy, drop out of school and adopt a life of crime and repeat a cycle of abuse that they have absorbed by the example set before them.

This is the monumental task of teachers as they gaze out into the faces of their students. Each face, each body, mind and spirit is unique. Yet, the mantle that is teaching has suffered at the hands of the sick and twisted who have invaded so sacred a space as the classroom. What is needed are heroes who are able and willing to get up each morning, unlock their classroom doors and open the minds and hearts of each fertile mind they cultivate. We must never forget this important task.

In short, my anger boils over when I hear of a teacher who has abused their station.  I hate the fact that a young person would take their own life as a result of feeling like nobody will listen. We must engage each other, each heart and mind in a meaningful authentic way. As the old saying reminds us “Those who can, Do. Those who can do more, Teach”

May I offer my own thought? ” Those who can, MUST. Those who teach shall do so with MASTERY”

We must never lower the lance that shields our most precious gift, our children.

Keep your guards up,

Master C.