The Bitterness of Doing Well

“You must eat bitter” is a popular Chinese saying in martial arts training. This quite literally means to rough it, train hard and don’t complain. For those that follow us on Facebook, you will see my Friday posts regarding my morning training. Please know, this is not a soapbox for me to gloat and be a show off. Rather, as a Sensei or teacher, it is my desire to elevate the role I occupy for my community.  I am showing my intentional desire to train hard so that I can then ask others to do the same along with me.  I make it my practice to never ask a student to do something I have never done.  This can be thought of as walking the walk rather than simply talking the talk.  We have plans this year at the dojo that include the Mud Run in Milton on 29, April 2012. I will ask all who join us on behalf of the dojo to wear a pink martial arts belt (yes, they make em’!!!) to show our support for breast cancer awareness and treatment.  While we get tired and sore from training, it pales in comparison to the pains of a hungry child or anyone who has ever been a victim of any crime.

Eating bitter also means being willing to sacrifice in order to gain.  So many people want this or that but do not always put in the work or take away the habits that keep them from getting to where they want to go. They prefer things be sweet and simple rather than break a sweat and struggle.  This is where doing well can sometimes have a bitter flavor.  Muscles may hurt, you may want that slice of cake, third beer, extra helping of fries.  Eat bitter, pass those up and push ahead.  Sour turns to sweet and you will be grateful for the taste.

Train hard.

Sensei

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The “Hidden” Masters

Yo Yo Ma is a cellist, artist, humanist and activist toward many causes.  Of the many projects he has his hands on, I admire his work with youth. Bringing music and culture to enrich their lives, Ma’s work has touched thousands of at risk youth.  For this and so many reasons, Yo Yo Ma is a master of bringing his art to the world in the name of service.  When my phone rings and someone is asking about classes, I sometimes struggle with what to say in regards to “selling” our program. Selling does not seem to fit what we are trying to do. I rather feel that I am offering something rather than pedaling a simple thing that will one day break down.  Imagine living a life that others will write about in reverence? Imagine living so powerfully that each life you touch is moved in such a way that the next action they take is one of wisdom and skill thanks to your compassion, devotion and skill with listening. Listening; really engaging the people you are with rather than simply nodding your head. We love to say someone is “not all there” when they seem aloof or oblivious to their surroundings. Now imagine being totally there, completely and without hesitation or distraction.  Do you know people like this? Chances are you do, they just may seem hidden from time to time. Once you open your eyes you will find that your mind and heart MUST follow. This is a way to truly live each moment totally now and not later or before. NOW. Three letters, easy to say yet hard to practice. Engage the NOW and discover those hidden masters around you. You never know, with enough effort and devotion one day you too may be the master that so many seek.  The mark of the master is not his or her title. The mark of the master is how they live, speak and breathe their lives each day. These are the people who are humble and eager to give, willing to receive and thirst to share. Do not be confused by frilly things that eat up space and consume energy. There is a better way.  Strength exists in humility. Be bold, live powerfully. NOW.

Train hard.

Sensei

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To be continued………

Perfect practice makes perfect. I look deeply at my life every day. I have always been a thinker and found myself very often pondering this or that. As we grow our dojo, refine our program and struggle right along with everyone else during these tough times, I find myself thinking on and on about building something that will last. The martial arts have been around since the dawn of humankind. Martial arts schools come and go and as I have seen those doors open and close first hand, I have always known that I wanted to build a local academy for people of any age and life station to come and train. Training lets you face yourself when one more push up feels impossible. Training lets you sit still in a world where we eat, drink and spend family time while on the go, go, go. Training allows you to toughen your body, polish your spirit and focus your mind.  It is my hope that among our students there is one or two who will one day take our art and school even further.

Watching the Squires watch “I have a dream” has been awesome. Their faces twist and grin in contemplation. I see them shift in their seats on the mat as Martin Luther King Jr’s voice rises and falls. I see them looking around at one another to assess if everyone is getting the message.  Dr. King wanted to build something ever lasting, a new life for his children and grandchildren. What do you want to build? What would you like to see continue long after you are gone? Are you caught up in the routine’s that life can bring or do you forge a chain linked with opportunity for your family and friends?

Don’t run from the work, put in the time and allow it to continue. You get to choose your own adventure.

How cool is that?

Train hard.

Master C.

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1 Inch

“victory and defeat are often decided in the space of a single inch” samurai Maxim

We know that the Japanese of the fifteenth century were not using standard measurement. This is a rough translation of the famous saying among swordsmen. We understand an inch to be pretty small, pretty tight and dangerous when viewed from our position as it relates to the position of our opponent.  Yet, in the philosophical sense, the space of an inch can be described as the very stuff that spell success. My life, your life can be captured and transformed inch by inch. We must be willing to fight for each inch. One step to soon and we may fall. One step too soon and we may miss an opportunity. One inch. Just one. Living small must not be confused with living powerfully. You only need an inch to get started. You only need a small space to stand in which to conquer the world and shape it as you see fit. If you fall, fall with skill. When you rise, do so as a champion. Learned, humbled, determined and focused enough to pour all your energies into that which you seek. Pour carefully, inch by inch. You will be amazed at how much ground you cover…………….

Train hard.

Master C.

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Wood and Stone

A boy had returned to his village after being gone for days on a hunt. Upon his return, he was not able to locate his parents and siblings. Nobody in the village would tell him what happened. At last, a village elder informed the boy who a great tiger had been hunting the village and had killed several members of the tribe, including the boy’s family. No one dared leave the confines of the village border for fear of the great cat. The boy was not hindered by this fear and struck off to the wilderness with his boy, arrows and knife. He hunted for days, studying the cat and it’s movements, habits and patterns. At last, early one morning the boy spotted the unmistakable black and orange hump off in the tall grass. Wanting the animal to suffer for its acts, the boy drew his knife and cut off the steel tip of his arrow leaving only a spiked, broken shaft which he carved to a fine point. Taking careful aim, he loosed his arrow and sent it plunging into his prey, center mass with pinpoint accuracy. Removing his knife from its sheath, the boy set out to skin the tiger and take back the hide as proof of a now safe village. However, upon retrieving his trophy he was shocked to find that it was not a tiger he had killed. His humble wooden arrow and penetrated a great black and orange stone.

From this old tale we are taught about the power of intention and determination. This story was a large part of the fabric of Japanese life in many schools for many years. From this story a popular Japanese adage said  ” determined to have wood penetrate stone” when discussing matters of great importance.

A wonderful story indeed. How determined are you in life? Are you ready to accomplish what you once thought impossible? Lets take a lesson from our young hunter and take aim. When your ready, let go of the string. Release, release, release……..

Master C.

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Blue Folders

When I got home last night from the dojo, I decided to watch Office Space. A funny film about the corporate culture of the 90′s that really has not left us at all. The film details the mundane existence of memo’s and greedy managers that often grace the cubicle maze. I got shivers thinking back to a real experience I had with a former employer of mine.  I got an urgent email to clear my schedule and drive to Smyrna for a very important meeting. Donning a shirt and tie and jacket, I made my way north and met up with fellow members of my company. The whole company was present and my fellow team members and I discussed having to cancel appointments with our students. We “helped” at risk youth get back into school and go on to employment.  As we sat at the long conference table, we watched as our department director unloaded a large milk crate full of folders and files. She held up a folder after greeting us following yet another mindless address from our company president.   I think it had something to do with how much she appreciated our dedication to the company mission. This was lost on me since she patted my shoulder and said “good morning Mark, nice to see you.” I was “Mark” for two years.  The director held up a file and said “we need to come up with a name for these blue folders. That is why we called you here.” The room fell silent. The company paid our gas mileage and we had staff as far as Wilmington and Delmar in attendance.  Long story short, I was DONE.

I always wanted to run a dojo and a gym, be a trainer and truly impact people. Fear of being on my own for employment led me into several jobs that had no promise of career but presented only the guarantee of daily grind and no achievement.  I meet people who are stuck in that cycle and then I meet others who have struck out on their own determined to find something more.  Scary? Indeed. Worth it? Oh yeah! The best part is, I get to name my own blue folders.

I call them, blue folders. Period. No field trips to Smyrna required.

Train hard,

Master C.

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New Year’s Now

Happy New Year!!!!! Can you count how many times you have said and heard this phrase in recent days? No doubt, many of us are polishing up a list of things to do and accomplish this year. Have you ever been able to keep a resolution? Have you seen others accomplish their’s or fail? Have you ever failed a resolution? I think it fair to say we have all been on the fence when it comes to not meeting a goal with each passing year.

Rather than make a year-long resolution; I prefer to think of New Year’s Now.  Each day we wake we are presented with something profound. A new day! A new chance, fresh to start over with each breath and movement we make throughout the day. We have a chance to make better choices, wiser investments of our time and active decisions that will shape our tomorrow. Rather than linger with a thought, you have a chance to put it to work NOW. Every day. No questions, no doubt. What we are today is the result of what were yesterday. What we shall be tomorrow is based on the choices we make today. Why settle for only a year’s worth of resolutions? We have every day for the rest of our lives. 

Choose wisely. Train hard.

Master C.

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