Two Sides of the Coin

 

There is much about the Filipino martial arts (FMA) that at first can seem difficult. In many cases, we feel that various concepts are at odds with each other or even directly in conflict. The movements are initially hard to master and don't feel natural, particularly if like me you are coming from a very different background. The ideas of FMA can feel very alien, at least for the first few years.

Lately, in my research while teaching expressions of 5 count sumbrada, I am thinking a lot about compactness. On one hand, the idea of being compact is an essential part of being a good fighter and a cornerstone of FMA movement. In general, we prefer to have the knees deeply bent and to move low to the ground. We often avoid jumping or large steps in favor of keeping the footwork more as a shuffle, using the coiling step to develop explosive striking power. As time goes on, my blocking positions (when I block at all) in stick/empty hand/knife become more and more compact.

I find that I prefer to be very close to my opponent, negating any reach advantage (I'm small) and allowing me easy access to any vital targets without a lot of excess stepping or reaching. From the stick and blade I have found that when I "go get" an attack I end up losing my guard and structure and it becomes easy to hit my hands, get a disarm or pass my guard and hit my body or head. When I reach for the incoming attack I am often vulnerable to fakes. I'm much faster when I stay compact and I feel more protected. I also find it easier to get traps and disarms the closer to my body I am. Conversely, as a fighter I like to cause my opponent to extend their blocks, “drawing” them away from their guard in order to open up opportunities and attacking lines, often through strikes like abanico/witik or vertical redondo. Since this a key aspect of my fighting strategy, I deliberately keep my guard close and tight to avoid someone using those strategies on me.

In contrast, instead of being compact I usually want to extend fully when I hit or cut something. I want to use the reach of the weapon fully, and in FMA most weapons operate via centrifugal force via the shoulder, which means the more extended my arm is the more impact energy is transferred to the striking tip. This is less necessary with a blade, but helps a lot when you hit with the rattan and want to have stopping power.

Extending my arm fully when I attack also prevents the opponent from easily stepping back out of range, which can happen if I shorten the arc of my swing. I want to make sure the opponent must address my attack with a block or intercept rather than just dodging out of the way. That means I want to get both a powerful strike and long weapon arc wherever possible.

What I found is that I try to be as compact as possible when I block and as extended as possible when I attack. this combination of opposing principles seems to give me the most effective movement and the best "look" to my flow. When I emphasize this with my students, they definitely look better in 5 count sumbrada and can operate the drill more smoothly and quickly.

For footwork as well, when defending I keep my steps as compact and minimal as possible, usually one step and bring the trailing foot, no more. When attacking, I try to use the 45 degree corners aggressively and go as far on them as I can, always pressuring forward and always threatening to flank my opponent. This seems to help by keeping them constantly adjusting rather than focusing on finding attacking lines into me.

Thus, my current approach is a combination of being very compact and being very extended, which I consider to be two sides of the same coin.

I'm still working through this topic with my students and thinking a lot about it every day. I'll write up more as I develop more hypotheses and test them in class.

Please share your own thoughts and observations.

Train hard.  

Four Corners

 

In this cycle, we are working on hubud lubud drill as a template to explore the Hakka 5 gates. This gives students a foundation in Hakka striking and trapping flows, including foot trapping and low line kicking, which are essential elements in the Hakka systems.

One of the key ideas to master when studying Hakka Kuntao is the idea of compactness. Of course this can be applied to all other systems as well, but the use of hubud lubud and the 5 gates provides a great visualization tool for understanding this idea.

I often explain compactness to my students using the idea of a box or "four corners". In Japan, I sometimes use a kanji to illustrate the corners and center line. The four corners represent the anchor points of the torso, namely the two shoulders and the two hips. By watching the two top corners I can easily see my opponent's movement start to develop, which makes their attacking intention easier to predict. Likewise, by watching their hips I can see any adjustment of their footwork, stance or the beginnings of a kicking motion. All four of these can be monitored by watching the center mass of the torso at the sternum, and Guro Fred deliberately put our logo in that spot on the training t-shirts as a focal point for this purpose.

In fighting, our goal should always be to protect our four corners. By doing so, we naturally keep attacks away from the main part of the torso including all the vital organs heart/lungs/plexus/liver/spleen. Throat and groin sit along the centerline but are generally protected if we protect the four corners. In Hakka, typically, the elbows connect to the hip corners and the hands connect to the shoulder corners. This means the hands will rarely go above shoulder height, and the elbows remain pointed downward in order to keep a strong structure.

Likewise, we are usually seeking to get past our opponent's  guard and access their torso by passing one or more of the corners. The strikes in Hakka are often aimed at the centerline and center mass, and traps usually lift the arms above the shoulder line or pin them to the low line at the corners of the hips.

Thus, the concept can be simplified to keeping the opponent outside the four corners of our box while getting access to their box ourselves. Other techniques like low kicks, locks, throws and the like serve only to create opportunities to penetrate the guard and gain access to the vital areas inside the box.

These concepts are universal. Combative knife fighting and shooting also emphasize targeting center mass (center of the box) as the highest percentage targets to render opponents ineffective. Recently, a former President survived an attempted assassination, possibly being lucky because the assassin chose a head shot instead of aiming for center mass.

In boxing as well, we sometimes move the opponent's guard in order to get access to the liver or spleen for body hits, or to either side of the jawline for head hits. If you examine the standard modern western boxing guard, it is designed to protect the four corners by using the elbows to protect the liver/spleen/floating ribs, the forearms to protect the plexus and the hands to protect the shoulder corners and head.

Going forward, when training, it may be useful to consider each technique for how it either protects our four corners or exposes them on our opponent. 

• Is it possible to be more compact and provide greater protection for our corners? What are the most efficient protections for our corners?
• Are there techniques and combinations that are effective for opening the corners of our opponent so we can get in? How can we best get past the opponent's guard?

Let me know what you think.

Train Hard.

Validation

 

Every human being has an innate need to be praised. Whether at work or at home or at the dojo, we all want those above us and around us to recognize our efforts and reassure us that we are doing the right things and doing well. We want to exceed expectations and overachieve our KPIs. We want to be promoted and make progress in our journeys, ascending to the next levels of our respective pyramids.

In our martial arts journeys, we grow as we rise through the ranks from belt to belt with our brothers and sisters, earning the respect of our peers as we (hopefully) pass each rank test and develop ourselves. We ultimately test for our red shirt (assistant instructor) and finally, our black shirt/black belt and join the heroes as a Guro (instructor). Hopefully this adds a new perspective as we share the responsibility for the subsequent generations of students we train.

For many of us, the need to move from milestone to milestone is a central aspect of our goal setting and goal achievement, not just in martial arts but in life. We seek quantifiable metrics to measure our success and expect to "keep doing more" at each subsequent stage as we build ourselves up in our careers and personal lives. Of course, advertising and media (social media) exploit this gamefication by appealing to the desperate need many of us have for MORE. We are enticed by more and bigger numbers for things like our job titles/number of staff in our orgs, bigger sales targets and achievements, more business travel miles, even annual overtime hours worked (sadly). 

We care about the numbers of our bank balance, the square footage of our house, the value of our investments, the grades of our children. We care about the hopefully decreasing score of our golf game or the hopefully increasing numbers of our kid's test scores... the numbers, and the validation associated with them, can be strong motivators for us. In the gym, we compare times on our runs or talk about how much weight we can lift or how many reps we can do. Crossfit is so popular partly because we can post about it on social media to make our audience see how good we are. We crave the validation and status that come from being considered "elite" or "platinum" or "diamond". Some people cannot resist putting capital letter abbreviations after their name on their business cards like MBA, CPA, CFA, etcetera. There is nothing wrong with celebrating our achievements, of course, unless we begin to obsess over them. I even know a few people who cannot resist posting photos from the first class lounge whenever they fly. They must really need to feel the envy of others.

Although we are aware of it, we seldom discuss the intangible or qualitative aspects of performance or improvement. The connection with a key client over a handshake, the development or recovery of an important business relationship, the trust of our colleagues and co-workers, the precious moments with our families, the video call to our parents, the taste of a home-cooked meal, the comfort of our own bed. Good sportsmanship is noticed and appreciated, but never to the same degree as the final scores themselves. In the dojo, we prepare for tests but rarely acknowledge the good progress we make from week to week, or reward ourselves for the diligence of our commitment. Attendance usually goes up just before selection and into the test review.

This year my teacher, Grandmaster Fred Evrard, died.

After several years of incredible bravery, he finally succumbed to cancer. He was a warrior, a Peaceful Warrior, in every sense of the word. There can never be a replacement for who he was or what he meant to me, since he and Kali Majapahit's co-founder, Guro Lila, are the main reasons why I ended up becoming a martial arts instructor. He personally tested me for all my teacher ranks, assistant instructor through 3rd degree black belt senior instructor, and I accept his judgement of my skills at each level.

Although in recent years, I didn't get to see him as much as before, I continued to learn so much from him through what he shared with me not just about martial arts but about philosophy and spirituality. His books were windows into the mind of someone who had dedicated every day of his life to The Path. They are treasures to me, and his life was a blessing. It's a devastating loss not just for me but for all of us. The world was far brighter with his light.

So what now?

Knowing he can never test me again means that I must of course accept the possibility that I will never again test for a higher black belt rank in Kali Majapahit. I'm OK with that.

For some people, taking away the goal (for me the next test would be 4th degree black belt) would weaken their motivation. They might seek another master or another system wherein they could be fed techniques and information and continue to be tested periodically. This validation would comfort them and help them stay focused on the next goal and the next after that. Some have already done that.

In my case, I don't feel a need to prove myself beyond what I have already done in Kali Majapahit. After 16 years, I feel I have achieved some limited understanding of what my teachers intended for me in this system, at least enough to continue my exploration without the need to be spoon-fed by anyone. I still love to learn and am grateful to be part of a community with so many advanced practitioners with whom to share and grow together. I am, and will continue to be, loyal to Kali Majapahit and our leadership for the trust they have placed in me to operate our group in Japan for the past 13 years and counting. The platform of Kali Majapahit is more than enough for me to continue my journey and keep giving back my research and findings to the group. I intend to continue teaching and carry on GM Fred's legacy as an honor to him for what this system has brought me. I think I would do so even if shipwrecked alone on a desert island.

The respect of my peers does indeed matter to me, and I think I have it. I don't feel any need to be called "Master" or have more stripes on my belt or anything like that. We have a wonderful global KM community at all levels, and I love seeing everyone and spending time training together now that COVID is over. I'm also grateful for the collaboration I have found with other schools and systems, sharing and learning together as part of our mutual journeys. Tested or not, I am learning and growing constantly, and that's what matters, right?

On the mats, as in life, I will continue to do my best - just as Guro Fred would have wanted.

   

Simple Maths

 

The Kali Majapahit curriculum is vast, incorporating empty hands (striking, kicking, locking, disarming, sweeping/throwing) as well as a wide variety of weapons (edged, pointed, impact, flexible, hybrid), not to mention the various subsystems which all move the body a bit differently. There's a lot to learn and a lot to remember. It would take years just to see it all, let alone become familiar with it or master it. After 16 years, I still have so much to explore and discover.

Sometimes students ask me to do a particular thing like knife disarming or karambit. Sometimes they want to do flexible weapons or single stick disarms. I smile to myself because in their minds these are all different sets of knowledge; discrete; separate; compartmentalized. Every technique to be understood one at a time. I no longer see them that way.

Let me explain.

These days I try to teach Kali Majapahit through a variety of templates. I have templates for the stickwork, the empty hands. There are foundation movements that are used across all FMA and these important sets are to be mastered since they have wide application and form the base of expression.

For example, Sinawali 6 is a basic template of six movements that is commonly used to train double stick manipulation. Learning it correctly builds coordination and timing, and the movements of sinawali 6 help us learn how to chain together various strikes and blocks using our sticks. However, as a template, sinawali 6 can be done with single stick, as espada y daga, using empty hands... Almost any technqiue in kadena de mano can be taught/learned/expressed using the sinawali 6 template. I can use it to teach flows in aikido, panantukan, silat, muay thai...Sinawali 6 concepts can be used to train the karambit, barong, sibat, bangkaw, sarong or any other tool.

How?? Just by using some simple maths.

The template is a baseline. A starting point from which things can be added or subtracted to change the experience. As per the example above, maybe as a variation I use two sticks of different lengths to do sinawali 6. Maybe I use espada y daga. Maybe I use a stick and a tomahawk. Or a karambit. Or even a screwdriver or dinner fork. It doesn't matter. It's all really the same.

In the example of sinawali 6, in addition to high/medium/low, we have various add-in movements to increase the difficulty of the pattern such as abanico, redondo (vertical or horizontal), dunga, doble doble, flips, twirls, fleuridas and so on. These additions extend the usability of the drill.

Maybe I use the hubud lubud template. Common as an empty hand drill, instead maybe I use it to practice knife versus knife. Maybe I explore it as empty hand versus knife. Or stick. Maybe I try hubud lubud as a double stick drill into a series of disarm flows. Hubud lubud is commonly trained from the angle 1 feed, however, there are variations for angle 2, angle 5, angle 6, and elbow striking, as well as low line interpretations. 

Maybe I use Cabca 1-8 or Sinawali 2-9 or Five Count Sumbrada or Punyo Sumbrada like that. Maybe I chain together different templates like five count sumbrada and punyo sumbrada to practice changing fighting distance from medio to corto and back. Maybe I use the sinawali 2-9 template and subtract the sticks so it is an empty hand drill instead. Maybe I take those concepts and apply them using the MMA gloves and mitts as part of panantukan. Maybe I am using sinawali 6 flows on my back against an opponent in the mount as part of my dumog or grappling training. The training opportunities are limitless.

As another variation, maybe I take a combination of strikes and kicks and I change the order of the sequences. If the kicks were last what if they were first? Could I make it work? If they were used in an offensive combination what if I used them as a defensive combination? What if I start to shuffle the order/placement of strikes and kicks? What happens then?

This simple math of adding or subtracting various elements allows me to use the same template in an almost unlimited set of ways. Having learned the basic movement of a template, I am then free to mix and match the concepts of it in any way I want, in order to get the deepest understanding and develop my muscle memory across a wide variety of scenarios.

To beginner students: consider each foundation drill as a template that teaches particular concepts. Do not be in a hurry to see the next technique. Spend enough time to fully understand the templates you are shown.

To intermediate students: Try adding/subtracting from the templates you already know. What changes? What stays the same? What awareness can each permutation bring? How can you solve for various scenarios of addition/subtraction in your templates?

To advanced students: Can you start to see the reusability of various templates and elements? Can you start to solve for changes to templates you already know? Or do you still need to be shown by the instructor? Are you using the templates for discovery and exploration? What are you learning?

To instructors: Variety is the spice of life. Changing the templates changes the context and perspective and can help students really get comfortable with the foundation movements of Kali Majapahit and how to use and combine them. This can add or reduce complexity according to students' abilities and progress.

Some key templates to be explored include:

• Cabca 1-8
• Sinawali 2-9
• Sinawali 6
• 6 count sumbrada
• 5 count sumbrada
• 4 count sumbrada
• 3 count sumbrada
• Punyo sumbrada
• Hubud Lubud
• Abecedario

What other templates do you know? Can you create some of your own?

Happy training!

The Deadly Shopping Bag

 

(thank you for the inspiration Guro Maul)

In our martial arts journey, there are sometimes "a-ha moments" - where a new insight is suddenly uncovered or an enlightenment reached. These are the best times and, hopefully, we never reach a level where this no longer happens. I've been in the martial arts for nearly 44 years, and this still happens for me regularly. I'm grateful.

Some weeks ago I was lucky to attend a weekend seminar by Cikgu Maul Mornie, one of the most famous proponents of Bruneian Silat, Silat Suffian Bella Diri (SSBD), during his visit to Tokyo. It was perhaps the 4th or 5th time I have been fortunate enough to train with him, and I learn so much in every seminar. Not only is he a world-class martial artist, he exemplifies what it means to be an authentic and genuine teacher, always open and willing to share his knowledge and answer questions. I consider him a great example of the caliber of person high-quality martial arts training is supposed to produce.

In addition to working on the basic movements of SSBD including footwork and blocks/strikes, on day 2 we spent time training flexible weapons (scarf). In Kali Majapahit we also train flexible weapons as part of our Silat subsystem, however I can safely say I am not a master of them yet. Guro Maul's method of teaching helped me tremendously. Thanks to him not only did I get a great chance to practice the techniques themselves, but I also was able to reorganize how I remember and present the techniques when I myself teach them. It made not only my skill, but my instruction much, much better.

However, one of the highlights of the weekend for me was when Guro Maul began demonstrating the scarf techniques with --- yes, you guessed it --- a plastic shopping bag! My jaw dropped. I did not expect that at all. It was fantastic.

In Kali, we consider our environment constantly in the context of improvised weapons or weapons of opportunity. In fact, it is a trademark of the Filipino Martial Arts (Bourne movies, anyone?). Back in 1986 or so, I had already had the opportunity to train with Kosho-Ryu Hanshi Bruce Juchnik in Westmont, IL for a seminar where he had us doing martial arts techniques with items from a standard Sears Craftsman household toolbox such as hammers, screwdrivers, saws and wrenches. This was a complete eye-opener and I have never forgotten the experience. It showed me that almost anything in our environment can be used as a self defense tool.

Within the category of flexible weapons, we often include items like belts, cords, cables, ropes, lengths of chain/bicycle locks or sports towels. However, using a plastic shopping bag simply had not occurred to me. I realized I need to recalibrate my awareness.

The plastic shopping bag is cheap, readily available, and extremely effective both for disarms and chokes/strangles. Genius! Now I always keep one of these in my pocket when I go out, knowing it may one day save my life or the life of someone else.

  

The Body - a Kali Majapahit user manual

 

Kali Majapahit is a very rich martial arts system. At its core it is Filipino but, as the name suggests, it is a comprehensive system that reflects a variety of Southeast Asian influences. These multiple subsystems were brought together by the founders, Punong Guro Fred Evrard and Guro Lila Evrard, to showcase and highlight their experiences of travelling the world for several years and training with a wide variety of masters from different styles. These included not only Filipino martial arts, but those of Southern China, Indonesia/Malaysia, Thailand and even Japan. In this regard, Kali Majapahit exemplifies the belief of Sigung Bruce Lee, founder of Jeet Kune Do, to "absorb what is useful".

Currently, Kali Majapahit includes among its subsystems Hakka Kuntao, Tai Chi, Indonesian/Malaysian Silat, Muay Thai/Muay Boran, JKD and even elements of Aikido and Jiu Jitsu. Many of the KM guros cross-train in other systems like BJJ as well. Over the course of the curriculum students would be exposed to western boxing/wrestling, kickboxing (Filipino, Western and Savate) and see a variety of weapon-based applications from all of these systems as well.

Not only does this make Kali Majapahit rich and diverse, it allows for a body of knowledge that can remain fresh and interesting for decades and present many opportunities for deep dives and extensive research. In my case, I've been studying intensely for 16 years and every year I feel like I have even more left to explore and discover.

The beauty of these many diverse subsystems lies not only in their cultural or historical value, but also in what we learn when we practice their techniques. Each subsystem moves in a very different way. Thus, to do the techniques of Hakka Kuntao correctly requires us to present the body in a very unique way - different to that of Muay Thai or Silat. This is by design. Each subsystem offers a different perspective and context on motion and how to maximize the use of the body to create the appropriate results. Even within seemingly similar domains, such as kicking, for example, we learn that a front kick in Muay Thai looks very different from the front kick of silat or Hakka Kuntao. In each technical category: strikes, kicks, locks/throws, weapons, every subsystem understands them uniquely and requires us to explore, discover and master a different way of using the body for the techniques to be correct.

A great example of this are the "animal styles" in Shaolin Kung Fu (also found in some silat systems). The practitioner is expected to move in a human approximation of the way each particular animal would move. At a high level of mastery, the master personifies the animal not just in their physical movements but also in their mental attitudes and strategy. This develops a deep awareness of how to use the body effectively under a wide variety of circumstances.   

Guro Fred used to explain that when doing any one of the subsystems, we should look like an expert in that art alone. Our entire attitude should change when we change subsystems. When boxing, we should move like a professional boxer; when doing Tai Chi we should flow like a tai chi master, etcetera. In our early days, we spend a lot of time focused on just trying to learn the mechanics of each technique in each subsystem, without necessarily recognizing and accepting that we must completely change the way we move our bodies in order to do those techniques properly. This then causes us to really understand elements like weight shifting, footwork, stance, posture, body mechanics and how to generate power. Each subsystem correctly solves for this equation in a different way, and that affords us a lot to investigate. 

For example, in Filipino Kali, we do not cross the feet when we move. However, in silat, this is extremely common footwork. In Muay Thai, we may fight with a long guard position of the hands, however in western boxing this is generally not used. There are many, many such apparent contradictions among the various subsystems, but this is by design. Not only does it form the foundation for discovering how to use the body in a variety of different ways effectively, it also insures that we do not subscribe to any "absolutes" in our training, and allow for the possibility of adaption to each unique situation we encounter. All that we ask is that when doing a technique from a particular subsystem, try to move the body according to how that subsystem dictates.

I'm very grateful to have such a rich tapestry of knowledge in Kali Majapahit. Guro Fred and Guro Lila have given us a very comprehensive framework that we can spend decades understanding. One of the keys is to examine carefully the way each subsystem carries the body and uses it. Make this part of the practice. As a result, you will look (and feel) more authentic in your movement and uncover even more knowledge about your amazing body and how to use it.

Pugay Po

    

Baking (and martial arts)

 

today's baguette

Many people started baking during COVID, as a consequence of being unable to go out or enjoy their usual preferred entertainment. I was a bit late to it, beginning my journey soon after the pandemic. I've been working on it for a couple of years now and it is a pastime that calms me and gives me a feeling of control, especially when my professional and personal life rarely offer me that.

I realized that my baking journey has a lot in common with my martial arts journey.

Practice Makes Perfect

I've been working on the humble baguette for more than a year. I'm sure I've made more than 100 loaves in that time; some good, some not. That journey has led me to the loaf above, which is just what I wanted. I knew it would take a lot of repetition to get consistently good results and I was prepared to put in the time and energy to develop my skill.

Process and Technique Matter

Breadmaking is a process that humans have been doing for probably 20,000 years or more. During that time, new tools  (like my KitchenAid stand-mixer) have been invented but the process is still basically the same. A great loaf of bread can still be made with no electrical tools at all. The technique would vary, but the basic process does not. I find this tradition comforting. Sometimes I knead by hand just because I enjoy it. I can never be too good at the fundamentals.

Enjoy the Trial and Error

I continue to research breadmaking constantly, seeking out and subscribing to skillful bakers who post explanatory videos on social media. I watch them all the time and adapt what I see to my own kitchen, oven size and goals. I have tried adjustments to every single step of the process so that I could understand what part each step plays in the overall success of the outcome. I've adjusted the hydration, the rising/resting times, the gluten development, the shaping, the scoring, the oven temperature, oven hydration, and more. Every test has taught me more about what works... and why. I've made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I know that's part of the learning process and I don't worry too much about it. I eat all the loaves anyway even if they're not perfect.

Good baking requires a good understanding of the science involved --- physics and chemistry. Leavened breads are a great way to understand how the ratios of ingredients, temperature and time work together to make something delicious. I really love learning why it works, rather than just repeating the steps from memory.

Every Time Is Different

I never get bored of baking because every time it's a little different. The recipes are guidelines rather than absolutes, and on any given day my kitchen is hotter or cooler (or more or less humid). Proofing times are never exact and great bread depends on the look and feel at the time. Like driving a car, baking requires micro adjustments each time to achieve what appear to be consistent results. There is as much art as science in baking.

Patience is Key

I am not a very patient person. However, in baking I have no choice. Rushing any of the steps ruins the end result. Each specific step is important and, while I can be organized and efficient, I cannot eliminate any of the steps (I tested!) nor can I reduce the times without affecting the end result. I must trust the process. 

Simple is Best/Authenticity Counts

There are some very complicated bread recipes, some that require a lot of time and effort and result in very complex artisan bread. Sourdough, brioche, babka, croissants - all delicious - require a lot of skill to bake and are impressive. I like baking baguettes because they are very, very simple. The only five ingredients are: flour, water, sugar, salt and yeast. To me, a great baguette is every bit as delicious as any complex artisan loaf and baguette baking requires its own particular skills. I love the authenticity of a simple, perfect baguette.

Buying In Like a Pro

At the beginning, I only spent money on the ingredients and I made do with whatever I had on hand. As time went on, my commitment to baking as a hobby grew and ultimately I decided to invest in some proper tools for improving the result of my product. I began to see myself as a baker rather than just a person trying to bake. I became more serious about my learning journey and more willing to embrace this as potentially a hobby I would continue indefinitely. I don't want to automate the whole thing (no bread machine for me) since the act of baking, and the learning associated with it, is more my focus than the bread itself. If it were just about the bread, I'd buy good loaves at any of the excellent bakeries nearby. I love the feel of accomplishment baking gives me.

Part of a Global Community

Before I started baking, I had no idea how passionate people are about bread. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people around the world who enjoy it as much as I do. Most are better than I am, which offers me a great opportunity to learn and grow. We send recipes and photos and encourage each other to improve. We discuss techniques and tools and engage in (sometimes heated debates) about the aspects of baking we think are important. Some are professionals; some, like me, are hobbyists. All are welcome to share our mutual enjoyment of baking. Sometimes our languages differ, but we find a way to connect and communicate. It's lovely.

Without being patronizing or heavy-handed, it's plain to see that baking and martial arts have a lot in common. I could just as easily been writing a post about martial arts practice instead of baking. Likewise I could be writing about photography or music or creative writing or rock climbing or surfing.

I hope you will consider the above for your own interests and hobbies and never be afraid to start new ones. You may surprise yourself with newfound energy and excitement. That's worth it, right?

See you on the mats (or by the oven) 

Compromising

 

When I was younger, I saw the world very starkly - black or white, right or wrong, good or evil. I conveniently put things into comfortable boxes, placing subjective judgments on everything and everyone, especially myself. As I got older, however, I began to see the world as a continuum, a series of curves with very few absolutes. In business, I began to learn advanced skills in selling and negotiating. My teachers began to coach me in how to see the perspectives of others and to apply active listening and seek solutions that were mutually beneficial. My martial arts studies explored the place of compassion and empathy in the Warrior Way.

For many things in life, the secret to happiness is compromise. Done is better than perfect. The 80% rule. Higher productivity equates to higher satisfaction. More is better.

However this is not always true. In our relationships, at home and at work, there are many times when we should reject compromise. We should seek absolute integrity from our leaders and partners, holding them to the highest ethical standards and always challenging them to be more about people than just profit. Our partners should genuinely care about our happiness and success.

In martial arts too, it is good to seek the best instructors with the highest commitment to quality and care for their students; teachers who are more committed to students learning than their own ego. Teachers who relentlessly grow and evolve with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge rather than staying anchored to the past. Preserving tradition and history is important, of course, but the focus should always be on helping students grow and improve faster/further.

I’ve been very fortunate to have been surrounded by the very best teachers, students, friends and partners throughout my life. It’s the cornerstone of my success.

Please never settle for less. Halfway might as well be no way. You deserve it all.

See you at class.