In Kali, a lot of emphasis is placed on developing tuloy tuloy, or FLOW.
Differing from many other traditional martial arts, Filipino martial arts are about constant motion. We want the sticks, knives, hands, feet to be alive and moving all the time.
So, which flow is the best? Whose flow is the best? Whose flow should you watch?
The answer is simple - YOURS.
One of the most amazing aspects of Kali Majapahit is that it is a self-expressive system.
That means that once your building blocks and foundation are in place, you must grow to make the art your own, encompassing the specific needs of your body, your background, and your personality. Your flow must be your own.
The curriculum is designed to give you concepts, tools, and examples of flow in the beginner stages, so you develop the ways of expressing yourself correctly as a kalista.
The concepts must be learned and observed, since these are what make the style effective. However, these concepts are universal, and apply with any weapon or empty hand. So, too, they apply regardless of the specific techniques you use to express them. Ultimately, your kali becomes a synthesis and expression of who you are, and you begin to flow freely.
This freedom does not exist at all in many traditional schools, where if the technique is not done exactly as shown, it is considered wrong. In Kali, something is only wrong if the concepts are not followed or if it doesn't work. We continue to polish and improve our mastery of the concepts, but we are free to apply the concepts through whatever frame of expression we choose.
The "art" in Martial Art is that element which allows us to express ourselves creatively.
To lose this is to relegate oil painting to color by numbers, where we must blindly follow what we are given, and stay within the lines of childish simplicity, never given the chance to think for ourselves or be creative. NO. The goal of training must be self-expression and the freedom to show who and how we are.
Even Kung Fu 功夫, in its' English translation, means "skill achieve through hard work/practice" and has a strong inference that this is a personal achievement.
In my case, my background is heavy on Japanese traditional martial arts.
Thus, my flow has a lot more committed power moves than someone else's might, and I use plenty of locking and throwing (called "trankada" in FMA), and I usually refer to those techniques by their Japanese names when I explain them. One Guro has a long background in MMA/kickboxing, and his flow is heavy in panantukan (Filipino kickboxing). Another Guro has a long experience in silat, so much of his flow has that Indonesian flavor to it. Yet another was a semi-pro Western boxer, and thus his flow is heavy on boxing hand combinations.
Other instructors' flow looks different from mine, but we all observe the same concepts of fighting that FMA and especially Kali Majapahit so practical.
The most important thing for your training is to watch and learn from every source (classes, videos, internet, seminars, books, magazines) and identify flow you like. Make it your own. Watch yourself in the mirror until you like what you see. Keep training.
Even Guro Fred, who was amazing when I first met him, IS ACTUALLY GETTING BETTER. I watch his most recent video and I can see the difference in his flow over time. He was already among the best in the world when I first saw him in 2007. Now he is truly in a league of his own. He is faster, stronger, and more creative. This is as it should be. We are all learning, growing, evolving, changing, and our Kali has to grow with us. It gives me comfort to know that even at his high level, he can still progress.
file this under "if it looks too good to be true...it is."
Diet Sodas Don't Help with Dieting
Jun 28, 2011 10:43 AM ET
By MyHealthNewsDaily Staff
Is diet soda really a healthy choice?
Two new studies have linked drinking diet soda to poorer health compared with those who don't drink the beverage.
People who said they drank two or more diet sodas a day experienced waist size increases that were six times greater than those of people who didn't drink diet soda, according to researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
A second study that found the sweetener aspartame raised blood sugar levels in diabetes-prone mice.
"Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised," said study researcher Helen P. Hazuda, professor and at the university's school of medicine. "They may be free of calories, but not of consequences."
The human study was based on data from 474 participants in a larger, ongoing study called the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging. In that study, the participants were followed for nearly 10 years.
Diet soft drink drinkers, as a group, experienced 70 percent greater increases in waist circumference compared with those who don't drink diet soda. [Related: 5 Experts Answer: Is Diet Soda Bad for You?]
Abdominal fat is a major risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic conditions, the researchers said.
In the mouse study, researchers fed aspartame, a calorie-free sweetener used in some diet sodas, to diabetes-prone mice. One group of mice ate chow to which both aspartame and corn oil were added; another other group ate chow with only corn oil added.
After three months, the mice that ate aspartame showed elevated blood sugar levels.
"These results suggest that heavy aspartame exposure might potentially directly contribute to increased blood glucose levels, and thus contribute to the associations observed between diet soda consumption and the risk of diabetes in humans," said study researcher Gabriel Fernandes, professor of rheumatology and clinical immunology at the university.
The studies were presented Saturday (June 25) at the meeting of the American Diabetes Association. Pass it on: A new study links the consumption of diet soda to poorer health.
NB: The best beverages for you are pure mineral water and unsweetened tea. Be sure to drink at least 2-3 liters of mineral water daily to maintain proper hydration and health.
Of course, flavored waters such as sports drinks are bad for you, too. We cannot ignore the truth.
1. THE CALM :
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY :
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY :
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
4. THE GRACE :
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER :
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE :
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS :
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING :
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA :
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reporting.
10. THE CONSCIENCE :
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly. That's Japan.
It's been a tough few days. Both of the jobs I was trying to get somehow fell through. Everyone else seems to have a hiring freeze on, which could last through this year and into next year.
One piece of bad news after another...
After 9 months out of work, I am starting to worry about money, something I haven't had to think much about for the past 12 years or so. It's hard. Now I have a family, too. I have always been able to find a job...except now...
These are the situations when depression is likely to strike.
The telltale signs are:
1) Trouble Sleeping
2) Lack of Energy
3) Changes in eating patterns
4) Short temper or irritability (maybe I always have this)
5) Increased alcohol intake
6) Wild mood swings
7) Frequent headaches
Some days you just don't feel like getting out of bed in the morning. You want to escape from this situation; run away; click your heels together and say "there's no place like home". Well, you ARE home. Now what?
These problems are made worse by worrying about the family. Will the kids be able to keep going to good schools? Will the wife be able to continue to buy the things she needs/wants? What needs to be cut back? It is very hard for the family to suffer when we feel it is ourselves to blame.
The most important thing to do is to recognize the above warning signs, and do something about them before they creep up on you and destroy you. Here are my tips:
1) Establish and Keep Routines
Keep going to the gym. keep waking up on time. Patterns and routines establish stability. Stability is good especially when other aspects of life feel uncertain. Keeping busy is also an important way to avoid boredom and overthinking the issues at hand.
2) Watch Your Diet
there is a big tendency for emotion to express through food. Eating too much or too little, or switching from sensible foods to junk foods, or the like. Pay attention to your eating and drinking. Write every meal down if you must. Our emotions are also influenced by our diets, so it is important not to slip here. This can cause a downward spiral.
3) Communicate
Talk to your family and friends. They love you and want to be strong for you. let them. Even talk to your children. Trust me, they will understand. Don't try and keep the feelings bottled in.
4) Cry
It's OK, really. Let it out and cry if you feel you need to. It's OK to be alone for this, but also OK with someone you trust. We have all been there, and most of us will be there again. There is nothing at all to be ashamed of.
5) Sunshine
Get outside, even for a few minutes a day. Let the sunshine help heal you.
6) Exercize
Keep working out. if you can't afford the gym, walk in the park or do whatever you have to. Endorphins help calm nerves and generate positive energy.
7) Love
Don't shut out your partner. Let them be there for you. It will help deepen your relationship further and make them part of the solution when it comes.
Everyone goes through depression and negativity sometimes. Take solace in the fact that this is one of the cyclical aspects of our lives. Hang in there. DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID.
Had to post this. Think about it. Eating vegetarian is even cheaper! - John
Why Fast Food Isn't Cheaper Than Healthy Food - by Tim Harlan, M.D.
I get a lot of questions during lectures from people wanting to know how they can eat better when eating healthy is so expensive. They base their questions on claims that unhealthy choices are cheaper. For instance, I saw a recent news story where the reporter walked around Walmart and looked at the value of foods based on the measure of calories per dollar. This is really nothing more than a cute parlor game to say that one dollar will purchase close to 1,000 calories of candy bars but only a single large apple, because it doesn't tell us anything about what we get for our money. Calories are certainly an important part of our diet and weight control, but it is the quality of those calories that matters to our health.
The conclusion often from studies and news reports is that the subsidies on more calorie-dense foods are the culprit Because our government provides funding to farmers growing calorie-dense products like corn (which is processed into sugars) and beef, the typical fast food menu can be advertised as being "cheap, cheap, cheap," and candy bars can be sold for 33 cents each.
This is, however, one of the great myths about healthy eating -- ranking right up there with the fallacy that eating healthy doesn't taste good. I believe it's more economical to cook a fresh, healthy meal than to eat junk food.
The argument I hear most often is that it's cheaper to eat at McDonald's. After going to McDonald's recently and putting together a typical meal for four (mom, dad and two kids), I came up with a total of about $14.00 (I didn't actually buy anything, though). For that money, you get almost nothing of nutritive value, but bland white bread, greasy burgers and fries with a sugary soda.
That same $14.00 will purchase two pounds of lean ground beef, a pack of eight whole wheat buns, lettuce, tomato and enough potatoes to make oven-baked french fries and salad ingredients with money left over for some fresh fruit. The best part is that this is twice as much food as at McDonald's, so there's plenty for leftovers later. Better food at half the price: that's pretty simple. I'll allow that there's no soda included in the home cooked meal, but no one should drink soda anyway and a full pitcher of iced tea costs pennies to make.
At KFC, they sell $5.00 "complete" meals. I say "complete," but they really aren't since there's far too much refined carbohydrates and the only vegetables are deep fried potatoes.
These meals serve one person and generally include two pieces of chicken with fries and a biscuit (no veggies) and a soda. That comes to $20.00 for the same family of four, and for that you can purchase a whole chicken for roasting, four ears of corn on the cob, makings for a side vegetable or a salad and have money left over for fruit for dessert. Sure, the KFC meal is right at 1,000 calories, which makes it 200 calories per dollar, but there's also only 2 grams of fiber in the meal, more than a teaspoon of salt and 16 teaspoons of sugar. In the long run, those poor quality calories end up costing a lot.
The same home cooked meal with one roasted chicken breast, one roasted chicken thigh, a side salad, corn on the cob and an apple comes in at around 600 calories with about a quarter teaspoon salt. There's 11 grams of fiber and half the sugar, but the sugars are from natural sources and not table sugar or high fructose corn syrup. It's a healthy meal for less than KFC.
Sure, if you count this as calories per dollar you come out behind, but not all that much -- and the food is far, far better. The home cooked meal costs 120 calories per dollar, but these are great quality calories: low in sodium and added sugars, high in fiber, much more satisfying and, in my opinion, much tastier than KFC.
I spend a lot of time in grocery stores and it's amazing how much convenience food I see. Take the Healthy Choice penne in tomato sauce frozen meal. For the same family of four that it would take five of these (or maybe even more, considering the amount of calories that each member of the family might need).
At $2.80 per serving, that's a minimum of $14.00. That same 14 bucks will buy a box of whole wheat penne, onions, tomatoes and cheese with money left over for salad and fruit -- and it'll make six servings.
I do get people who want to argue that there's no time to cook, but this is also a myth. Putting a chicken in the oven to roast takes one minute to season and 5 seconds to put in the oven. Same with roasting the corn on the cob. Making a salad dressing and prepping the veggies takes all of about 10 minutes. That's less than 15 minutes work time to make a fantastic dinner. You might stand in line that long at the fast food joint.
There are so many recipes available online that are quick, easy and family friendly. They are inexpensive and delicious, but even those requiring more expensive ingredients are still cheaper than eating out -- and they're so much better for you. These are difficult economic times. One of the best ways to save money and get healthier (which also saves money) is to cook your own meals.
The myth that eating junk food is cheaper is just that: a myth.
Here's a little flow from some of our friends in Balintawak.
Kali Majapahit is not directly based on Balintawak, but we like them a lot and their fluid fighting style is of great interest.
Some things to note:
These girls have really nice flow - it's not about power, it's about FLOW
Kadua Guro Guillaume (one of my favorite guys!) notes from his black belt exam, "If I can share something that I wasn’t informed about when I had my exam, is that speed is not important, what is important is the level of control and technique" - well said as always, Guro!
In corto distance, misdirecting the opponent's hand can be the decisive factor
Notice how the girls' hands are always near their center and ready to penetrate for misdirection, disarm, hit, whatever.
The drill looks a lot like Hubud (because it is) - stick/knife/empty hand are all the basically the same
Balintawak uses less punio (butt end) than we do, but there is enough there to hit with
Their hips are basically square to each other all the time so both arms can easily be used
As soon as an opening is found, the fight is over - as you can see from the flourish by both players when they win (at 00:09-13 and 00:26-30)
The disarm at 00:26 is the outside vine disarm, just like we do!
On the subject of the outside vine disarm, as you can see, it happens very fast. These are not big movements, but small and precise.
Just before Golden Week holdiays began, I swam my first ever 1km non-stop. That is 40 lengths of the 25m pool where I swim. I regularly run 10km for that portion of my workout, and here are some differences I noticed between swimming 1km and running 1km.
It feels longer than it is. When swimming, those lengths of the pool feel pretty long. I am sure for some pro or semi-pro swimmers 1km is no big deal, but for the rest of us it feels very long. It was hard to keep the rhythm throughout. By contrast, while I am sure 1km run feels tough for some, it is not nearly the workout that swimming it is.
Lots of turns. Doing 40 lengths of the pool involved a lot of turning. Very quickly, you cover the distance, and have to turn and kickoff from the poolside. I think this will be better if done in open water, which approximates the way triathletes do it. I'd need to find cleaner water than we have anywhere nearby in Yokohama, though.
Over quickly. I also found the swim to take less time overall than I expected. Running 1km usually takes me around 6minutes (assuming 10km/hour pace). Swimming it took me about 20 minutes, which is actually less than I expected. I am sure distance swimmers go much faster, as I am sure distance runners do as well (making a top mark marathon these days means hitting almost 20km/hour average speeds). For the workout I got, it was over quicker than I thought it would be. This makes it a perfect lunchtime activity, since you could hit the gym, change, swim 1km, and be out in under an hour.
Great calorie burn. I usually burn about 700 calories for a 10km run, which means about 70 calories per km. Swimming 1km seems to burn much much more. I think the best guess is somewhere between 200 - 230 calories. That makes swimming on average about 3 times as efficient a form of exercise as running.
I started swimming frankly because I suck at it. Because I suck at it, I didn't really do it, and thus continued to suck at it. The 1km goal was a good one for me, and was something I could not have achieved 6 months ago. I want to keep swimming as a regular part of my workouts, and next attempt will be a 2km swim. Stay tuned.
My neighbor just came back from a week-long trip up North to help with the recovery efforts. She is very brave, and a specialist in art therapy for children. I think it was a tough, effective week for her and those children who met her will never forget her kindness. We are all glad to have her safely back in Yokohama. She came by today for an emotional update on the week in Tohoku.
Here are my thoughts on what she told us:
1) This will not be over soon
With the widespread devastation, the rebuilding effort has yet to even begin in many of the most hard-hit areas. The clean-up alone will be monumental, let alone the amount of work needed to repair infrastructure and basic living conditions. I am guessing a total recovery may be 10 years away.
2) There are two kinds of volunteers
I suppose you need two kinds of volunteers: one kind that are practical and tough, and able to endure the harsh reality of what has happened without losing focus on what must practically be done as part of the recovery effort. There is clean-up, there is hazardous waste removal, garbage disposal, waste handling, and a million other low-level, emotionally difficult jobs that need doing. they are not glamorous, but they are the heart and soul of recovery. The other kind are those who can provide a human element to the survivors. In particular, medical professionals and therapists. Nearly everyone, even relief workers, suffers from stress trauma and emotional dysfunction right now. It will be a long road to recovery for those that must go on with their lives having lost so much. My neighbor is one of those bright, talented people who can help make a difference. This is not just about the logistics of getting supplies from point A to point B. It has a lot more to do with keeping the survivors surviving - helping them cope and find a new direction for their lives. They need to learn how to live, laugh, love again. How to sing and dance and draw and play again. They need to face their fears, their shame, and their guilt and overcome it. The people are strong, but they need to get their dignity back. This is the human recovery and it, too, will take time.
3) The Disaster Isn't Really Over Yet
For many, their lives are in free-fall. Since March 11, so many bad things have happened and they just keep coming. We all have the strength to pick ourselves up and get back on track again, but how do you know when the storm is over? The Earth is still shaking, the radiation is still silently washing over everything, and we still have no idea what will happen tomorrow. It's like being bombed - you could come out of the shelter and pick up the pieces if you knew the bombing was over. Nobody knows, and that is the scary part. Libya soon eclisped Japan as the news headline, much in the way that Tohoku eclipsed similar disaster in New Zealand in February. Viewers have short attention spans - survivors don't. I hope those involved in the relief effort have the fortitude to see this through to the end; until Tohoku is back on its feet again and the people can smile. It will break my heart if this disaster ends up like a TV show (30 minutes including commercial breaks) after which everyone shrugs and goes back to business as usual like it never happened. Even more, I wish the survivors, especially the children, could change the channel to something better, but they can't. If the world really loves and supports Japan and the Japanese people as I believe they do, I hope they do not forget.
4) An Ocean Of Tears Just Makes Everything Wet
Everyone cries. I cry, too. There is only so much crying that can be done, until the time comes to ACT. There will be time for more crying, for many years to come. For now, it is most important to begin to retake control. To give people routines and tasks, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, to help them restore order to their personal chaos. Many have lost everything. Everyone has lost something. Step by step people must exert control over their surroundings and their lives in order to regain their sanity and overcome the incredible sense of helplessness and overwhelming loss they feel. The children need to play again, to dance, to draw and sing and to listen to music. They need to touch anything that was normal before, just to remind themselves it was not a dream. People need to take baths, to prove to themselves their social fabric is not torn beyond repair. These little rituals are important parts of mental well-being and will help people cope with the tragedy. They must cling to the hope that their way of life was not washed away along with their cars and houses and business and schools. My heart truly goes out to those affected. We all have a social resposibility to hold them close to us for as long as it takes, whatever it takes. We must cry together so that one day we can laugh together. We need to give more than money. We need to give our humanity to those who have had theirs taken away. 頑張ろう日本！！
After spending just over two weeks in Singapore for the kids' spring break, here are my observations...
1) Kali Majapahit Continues To GROW
Wow...it seems like classes are getting even bigger than before. The school seems to be growing every time I visit. It's great to see so many new faces experiencing Kali Majapahit.
2) Some People Got GOOD!
It's been a while since I saw some of the students, and they have gotten much, much better. In particular, Indra, Scott, William, and Stephanie. All of them really impressed me by how natural their flow is, and how their skills have improved since I saw them last time. GREAT JOB!! I hope I looked better too!
3) Missed a Few
I was hoping to see Joni, Yee Han, Arlyn, Shaiful, and a few others. I was also hoping to get more time to train with Guro Vince, Guro Ben, Neal, Robin, Sylvia, Frederic, and my other old friends from Yan Kit days. KEEP TRAINING!!
4) Kali Majapahit Keeps On EVOLVING!
Guro Fred really has a passion for it. He spends hours and hours thinking about how to make the curriculum the best it can be, and how to make it more accessible to everyone. That makes us all very very lucky! The new stuff coming in May is very cool and will represent the next important step forward for Kali Majapahit. Stay Tuned!!
5) Alvin's Panantukan Class KICKS ASS!!
WOW! Alvin can really bring it. He drives the class hard, and shows a lot of great techniques for the drills. He has really matured as a teacher, and the class is fun, energetic, and practical. A GREAT workout from a great guy. Not to be missed!! If you haven't been to his Saturday class - GET IN THERE!! Every time I return from Singapore I find myself even more motivated to train harder and get better. I love the life there, and the Kali lifestyle I found when I lived in Singapore. It really did change my life and it can change yours, too. I plan to take our Friday study group to the next level too. I want Guro to be impressed by how good we get training here on our own. See you on the mats!
Following the Great Tohoku Earthquake on March 11, it has been in a downward spiral involving aftershocks, tsunamis, radiation leakages, shortages, and other ill effects from the disaster.
Even more disturbing, the lackluster leadership by both the government and private sector firms involved have made a bad situation far worse, and fueled the fire of panic to a higher level that it would have been otherwise.
No doubt about it, the country is in crisis.
The last time Japan faced a crisis like this it was not a natural disaster. It was a political one. The country had lost a war and suffered devastation from bombings, starvation, misery, and hopelessness not unlike what people are feeling right now. What happened next?
I am sure there were many people willing to write the country off and call it finished. The old Japan and old ways that had led it to militarism and nationalism had been proven wrong, and the Japanese people suffered greatly for it. Following that, through force of will, the Post-war generation did what Japanese people do best - GANBARU - and transformed the shattered country into an economic powerhouse. It is time to do it again.
Just like in the post-war period, it is obvious the old ways will not work anymore. A new order needs to emerge if Japan is to ever recover and survive. The problems of the past 20 years need to be laid to rest decisively.
Government and the HR Factor In the post-war period, working for the government in service to the country was considered a noble thing to do. Many of the best and brightest went to work in the ministries and did a fantastic job of developing the export economy that drove Japan to greatness through the 1980s. Now the government is a mockery, reduced to indecisive dead fish who could not survive in the private sector, or wealthy children with nothing to offer but their own inflated sense of entitlement.
For the country to endure, new leadership is needed. Government needs to be seen as a worthwhile place for bright young graduates. If Naoto Kan is the best we can do, sadly we are doomed.
The Trust Factor Trust in government and business has been eroded even further than before by this crisis. The lies, doublespeak, and obfuscation of ministry officials and TEPCO management has put a great many people at risk who did not need to be - and a gomen nasai press conference will not absolve this recklessness. They would be wise to remember that this is a country of strong will, and that in addition to GANBARU, this is a country that can GAMAN - a country that has, and can, endure even the unendurable for the sake of its own survival.
This country can and must handle the truth of what has happened in Fukushima if it is to overcome and persevere. We need the advice of other countries, but our own leadership, to overcome this crisis.
Why I am Hopeful for Japan's Future Now is not the time for the Japanese salaryman - those days are over. Now is the time for women and children.
Women are often called the untapped resource of Japan. Many are highly educated, highly motivated, and even more increasingly looking for challenging careers like their male peers have done. They are the heart and soul of Japan and it is time to let them take an even greater role in rebuilding the country. Continuing to exclude women from authority will destroy any real chance for Japan to revitalize itself.
Children are also better educated than ever before. They are increasingly exposed to the outside world at younger ages, and more and more of them live overseas and become fluent in English. This is vital in order to reconnect Japan with the rest of the world and to bring back the kinds of important ideas that will help change the country for the better. Japan will not survive in isolation. The current generation lack effective role models, but this will also change.
Asia - China and Japan One of the most important steps in the rebuilding of Europe was the single currency Euro. I do not suggest that a single currency is politically viable in Asia yet, but Europe experienced post-war success and growth through inter-connected trade. ASEAN is still a long way off, and diplomatic relationships, especially between Japan and China, must reach a new level of harmony for Japan to become successful again. Whatever happened between Japan and China during the war must be let go, completely let go, for a new relationship to blossom that will benefit both. Recall that only a few years after the war in Europe ended, the SECOND world war, NATO was being formed and prior enemies were involved in positive dialog again. This needs to happen in Asia once and for all.
In Conclusion Japan always has in it the power to amaze. If anything positive is to come from this tragedy, it will be a wake-up call for the country. This crisis will be the catalyst that shocks the Japanese people into making the hard changes that are necessary for the country to survive and ultimately to prosper again - if not for this generation, for the next one.
hardship is what causes ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
well, it's been a long weekend.
As everyone knows, Northern Japan got hit with the largest earthquake in Japanese history on Friday, and aftershocks, tsunami, nuclear power reactor explosions, food/gas/electrical shortages have ensued.
I was at home with the dog when all this started. In short order our family was together, and we spent the rest of the weekend watching the news as word of the devastation continued to spread, and the chain of events continues to play itself out in front of our eyes. Here are my takeaways as of Monday morning:
1) Quakes It's Japan. There are earthquakes. I have been through many quakes since I got here in 1991, but this was truly the biggest and scariest of all. Panic doesn't help much. All you can do is try to get somewhere safer (under a table, etc.) and wait it out. and Hope.
I don't believe there is any completely safe place on Earth anymore, so to me leaving Japan doesn't help much. My colors don't run. Never have, never will.
2) Dying I know I will die. It is up to me to choose how I live until then. As long as I can be with my family, I will go when it is my time. We have been together throughout, which is all I can ask for. If this is the end, lay me to rest in Yokohama. This is my home.
I am happier here than any other place I have ever been.
I am happier now than at any other time in my life so far.
I WILL NOT GIVE IN TO FEAR.
At 44, I have beaten the odds many times already, and have been in a lot of hard places that I managed to get out of. I am determined and resourceful. I usually find a way, if a way can be found. I am confident in my ability to lead my family and survive/endure whatever comes our way.
I give my friends and family all the love I have, and if it is my time to die, I will face it with open eyes, open mind, and an open heart. I am grateful for my life, for all I have seen and done, for my family and the support of my friends.
3) Some Hardships, how hard are they really? Now we enter a time of power rationing, gas rationing, food shortages, and other inconveniences. This could go on for a long time. How hard? I am not bothered.
There are so many dead, so many more who have lost their families, their homes, cars, livelihoods - everything. I have no right to complain about sharing the burden with them. We can endure whatever must be endured to support them. Our hearts go out to them and are filled with sadness at their loss.
What has happened to us so far is a minor inconvenience compared to REAL HARDSHIP which is a daily aspect of life in much of the world. It is time to show how tough we can be. So far this is not so bad.
Everyone needs to develop a proper sense of perspective and let go of the illusion of entitlement. Realize how lucky we are.
In much of the world there is poor sanitation, no electrical infrastructure, no medical care system, no clean water, no public transport or education, no opportunity. Now is our turn to endure just a tiny taste of what most of those people have to face EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES. Buckle up and stand strong. Don't be a p*ssy. It could be so much worse.
Even in our parents and grandparents' generations they faced hardships like this constantly and overcame them through focus, determination, and courage. How can we be expected to do any less?
4) Power Down Bring it on. I need electricity a lot less than I would have thought. I can cook without electricity. I don't really watch television anyway. I have plenty of books to read. I like my PC (and posting to my blog) but it is a luxury I can easily forego. My family is here with me. Not too worried.
5) No gas, no trains Sucks if you have to try to commute to work. I don't right now. I can stay here in Yokohama happily for as long as is necessary. I can walk anywhere I need to go. Not too worried.
6) Japan This is an amazing country filled with amazing people. Since I was 14 I have never lost my lifetime love affair with Japan and with the Japanese people. They possess an indomitable spirit and community that cannot be broken by nature and will not be broken by this. This country will endure. These people will continue. My family and I will not leave.
Courage is the unbreakable will of the ordinary person under extreme circumstances. Under fire, we all do what we must. More courageous still is the slow, methodical rebuilding of the country in wake of devastation. Japan has already experienced this in the post-war period. A whole generation sacrificed to rebuild. We will do the same as needed to make this country whole again. This is an opportunity to show what our generation can really accomplish. This is our time.
The government has done a good job in a hard time. Now we must all do our part, too. No panic, no fear. One step at a time until we are stronger than before. That is real courage. We have it. It is time to show it. Together.
7) Martial Arts Our training gives us the mental strength and determination to overcome any hardship and endure any suffering. We learn to overcome fear and find "right action in the moment without hesitation." We are taught to respect and preserve all life. We are taught to accept our place as part of the natural world and order - no better or worse than anyone or anything else. For me, this is my religion. Make your beliefs guide your actions and do not compromise. This is what we were trained for. These tests are the fires that forge the steel of our souls.
In Closing This morning, the sun is shining and it is warm on my face. My wife and children are with me. We are alive and healthy. I don't need much more than that.
Health is a constant process of re-evaluation and improvement. For many, making the change to vegetarian (or vegan, even better) lifestyles can be a huge shock, which can make it unsustainable despite best intentions.
Here are some tips on getting started:
1) One a Day start by making one meal a day vegetarian or vegan. I think breakfast is a good starting place since there are many breakfast foods that are easily available and that already fit the bill. Go for oatmeal, bran flakes (not frosted flakes), granola/muesli with soy milk, whole wheat toast with natural jam and fresh fruits. Make yourself a healthy smoothie or fruit shake, or some fresh-squeezed juice to wash it down. Since this is the first meal of the day, you can have your carbs now.
When you can do this for a month or more easily, you can move on to two meals a day.
2) Red = dead In the transition phase, if you must continue to eat some meat, keep to "clean meats" such as chicken or fish/seafood. Avoid fatty meats and red meats, whose proteins are the worst for you. Watch your protion sizes and remember that most of this craving is mental and can be overcome. Keep your ultimate goal in mind and don't be too hard on yourself. Stay the course.
3) Substitution There are many things you can put into foods to replace meat. One of my favorites is shiitake mushrooms, which I slice up to replace slices of beef, or finely chop to replace ground beef. With some tomato paste, mushrooms are a big hit of umami, and their savory flavor can give your body the same satisfaction without ill benefits. Tofu isanother mainstay. For those who cannot do without, TVP (textured vegetable protein), TSP (textured soy protein), and Seitan are all good vegan substitutes. There are vegan versions of many popular meaty dishes/condiments such as mayonnaise, butter, shortening, chili, bouillion, burgers (some of these are FANTASTIC!), lasagna, burritos, chicken nuggets, etcetera.
4) Snack Time A lot of vegetarians/vegans blow it here. Plan ahead, and surround yourself with healthy options such as nuts/dried fruits, veggie sticks w/dips, healthy chips (minimal salt, baked not fried), healthy energy bars (some fantastic ones are available!). Humans like the convenience of grazing, and so we grab what is nearby. Think about what is in reach during snack time. High sodium notwithstanding, I am a big man of instant miso soup for snacktime, and of miso in general.
5) Water Bottle I keep a one-liter water bottle on my desk and have a full one in the morning and a full one in the afternoon. I also drink water with most meals, so that gets me to between 3-4 liters daily, which is what I want. Stay away from the coke machine. I also kept a variety of good healthy herbal teas in my desk for when I wanted something else.
6) Turning Japanese Japanese food is some of the healthiest on earth (and Japanese live very long lives because of it). I am usually happy and satisfied after a bowl of rice w/nori topping, miso soup, and some tofu. There are healthy rice balls, and a variety of Japanese side dishes that are completely vegan and taste AMAZING! These are also usually very easy to prepare, so a Japanese diet is a great way to get healthy. My Japanese wife constantly amazes me by the traditional Japanese vegan foods she serves me.
Even if you picked only one of the points above, it would be a good start. Try it for a montha dn see how you feel. Notice that you sleep better, have more energy, and feel better about yourself. This stuff can change your life.
Last weekend I was fortunate to get an invite from Shin Kali to attend a workshop on contradas (countering) led by Agalon Kit Acenas from PTK Manila. It was a great seminar and Agalon Kit is extremely talented.
PTK is the family system of the Tortal family, now headed by Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje. PTK has a lot of overlap with what we do in Kali Majapahit, and a lot of the movements looked familiar to me and were easy to pick up. They do some things that we don't, however, and the emphasis is a bit different.
The seminar included a lot of work on solo baston, daga/doble daga (pakal/saksak), knife tapping, espada y daga, and some empty hand applications of the contradas principles. The curriculum was well thought-out and showcased the contradas theme continually. In addition to Agalon Kit, Shihan Eain, Sensei Satoshi, Sensei RahD, and several of the Japanese instructors (Funaba-san, Kitagawa-san, Kitamori-san) were there to work with everyone and make sure we understood correctly.
PTK's main bladed weapon is the ginunting, a type of single-edged downward-curved sword originating in the Visayas region which is carried by the Philippine Marines. The size and shape of this weapon make a close overlap to the solo baston work, similar to the way we would use the barong for slashing and stabbing attacks either single-handed or reinforced.
It was interesting to see the overlap for commonly used triangle footwork, guntings, sinawali, punio sombrada, elbow strikes, and the like. Some of their movements differ, for example the "arm shuffle", but all are easily and quickly integrated if one's FMA foundation is solid.
PTK includes kata, which is uncommon is many FMA systems. In particular, they use the 64 attacks form to develop basic movements which appear later in subsequent drills and applications. To this are added various "inserts" which expand the fighting vocabulary and highlight options for additional techniques inside the basic flow.
In summary, PTK has some outstanding instructors and is worth a look if you can find it near you. Better still to go and see them next time you are in Manila.
The shinkali group are extremely friendly and open, and have been organizing visits to Japan from some very high-level instructors. They are a great group of people to know!
It is great that so many people are investigating vegetarian and vegan lifestyles these days. Books like "The China Study" are helping, people like Guro Fred are helping, and I think overall a new age of vegetarianism is becoming widely accepted as more of an intelligent, compassionate choice than a hippie/beatnik/pacifist overreaction.
But before we all go and pat ourselves on the backs with broccoli florets, we need to be very honest about what we are doing. There are loopholes in any doctrine and always a way of justifying something bad if we really, REALLY want to do it (just ask either of my boys).
Here are a few of my favorites slips:
1) Snack Foods (especially potato chips and chocolate) potato chips, pretzels, corn chips, donuts, pies, cakes, and a host of other sugary/salty goodies may not contain any animal products per se, but despite the fact that they are "technically" vegetarian hardly makes them good for you. Come on, be honest with yourself. If you are hip enough to be a vegetarian, you are smart enough to know this stuff, right?
What is the point of being vegetarian and then getting cancer/heart disease/diabetes anyway??
2) Deep-Fried Foods (especially French Fries) Anything that is deep-fried is bad for you, but french fries are by far the most popular culprit in this category. Many vegetarian friends of mine LOVE french fries (and rationalize it by saying it is vegetarian). That's not the point. Just because it is made from potatoes does not make it healthy. McDonald's and all other fast food places are off the list.
IT IS CALLED "FAST FOOD" BECAUSE IT SPEEDS YOU TO THE GRAVE
3) Coca Cola Maybe Coke does not have animal products in it. That does not mean it is not "cancer in a can". Mineral water or tea, please.
4) Coffee The Starbomb usually includes shockers like whipped cream, milk, sugar, etc. If the price alone does not kill you, the drink surely will.
5) Vitamin Water and Other Sports Drinks Maybe technically vegetarian, but very bad for your health and packed with sugar and calories. Mineral water or tea, please.
6) Alcohol "But beer is vegetarian"...yah, I know. So is marijuana...oh, and heroin. Don't get me started.
7) Cigarettes Just shoot yourself.
I am sure I am missing some other big ones. The basic idea that top vegetarian nutritionists are getting at is that a whole-foods, plant-based diet is best. That said, raw whenever possible is the best rule of all. Spending every day making deep fried salad dripping with salt and sugar will not get you where you want to be. Living your life mostly vegan means you can occassionally break the rules if needed (your well-tuned healthy body will make you suffer for it, though). Sadly, I know many self-professed vegetarians/vegans for whom the above list is pretty common fare. Despite being vegetarian/vegan, they are overweight and unhealthy.
If you are not vegetarian or vegan, that's OK. (Actually, it isn't...but it is everyone's personal choice). If you are vegetarian or vegan, please do the right thing and don't make true vegetarians/vegans look like fools by overeating foods you know are unhealthy and justifying them by saying "they don't contain animal products". You will feel better (and better about yourself) when you follow the plan correctly.
If you find these temptations impossible to resist, talk to someone you can trust. You probably have some unresolved things you need to let go of before you can truly make the commitment to be vegetarian or vegan.
I think veganism is a lifestyle choice that can be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually rewarding. But you got to do it right.
I mean, I truly suck. Not being overly negative here (except maybe "negatively buoyant"), I can get from here to there in the pool, but man, it's hard work.
That's what led me to start swim lessons today.
Why? Why not just focus on emphasizing your strengths?
1) We all Suck at Something (some of us suck at many things) Nobody's perfect. Or, as Marco is fond of saying "God does not give everything to anyone"... I was never able to prove him wrong, either. We all have our crosses to bear, and our issues to work on. Be honest with yourself. It starts with honesty.
2) Why do we suck (and continue to suck)? There is a negative spiral around sucking. Maybe I could call it the "Suck Cycle" or something clever like that. The fact is, you suck at something because you are not naturally good at it. You are not good at it, thus it is not fun to do it. It's more fun to do what you are good at. You don't do the things you suck at, thus you never improve at them. Consequently, welcome to a lifetime of sucking....(unless you actively do something about it).
3) Next Steps We all love to show off how good we are (especially in front of the opposite sex). However, balance also means spending extra time on the things we are not good at. It means identifying honestly our own weak points and specifically taking steps to improve them to be better all-around. It may mean just longer practices specifically on those weak skills. It may mean specialized coaching, weight training, rehabilitation, or even spending time watching videos or researching on the web. It may mean asking for help/advice from others who are good at your weak areas. It may mean taking classes or getting a personal trainer or other professional.
DON'T LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE when it is about your training. Relentlessly seek to improve yourself.
Not only does this mean getting better at the skills you have competitive advantage in, it means raising up the skills you are weak at until you are confident in them. Of course, this applies in all areas of life, not just martial arts training.
"A true master reveals himself in every action no matter how small" - samurai maxim
This is the champion's way. See you at the finish line.
In case you don't already know him, he was the only guy to do 20 (count em, TWENTY) Ironman Triathlons in a single year. That just wasn't enough for this Belgian dude.
That's right - 26.2 miles/42.195 km a day - EVERY DAY FOR A YEAR.
This is from a guy who had asthma as a child and was told he could never do exercize. To add insult to injury, he is 49 years old (older than many of us).
CNN quoted him as saying "...It is more like a regular job. I am running just as Joe Average goes to work on Monday morning, whether or not he feels like it."
It reminds me of something my teacher told me long ago.
"some days I love to train. Some days I hate to train. Every day I have to train."
NOW, WHAT WAS YOUR EXCUSE FOR NOT TRAINING TODAY???
My wife Sanae has been a bit under the weather lately - lack of energy and gets tired/dizzy easily. Maybe it's a flu bug...
That means I have had to step it up and manage kids/dog solo for most of the time these days.
Man, running the household is HARD WORK!
I knew it was a pretty tough job, but I figured my life as an investment banker was just as tough. No way.
Dealing with getting dinner ready/washing/drying/putting away dishes, getting homework done, wash/dry/fold/put away laundry, picking up toys, clean up dog mess, bath time, tomorrow's prep, and the list goes on and on. It just never ends.
I have new respect for how hard this job really is. There is never a moment's peace, and it is constant motion 24/7. I am the first one up and the last one in bed at the end of the day, and I feel mentally, physically, and emotionally drained at the end of every day.
It is a great experience, and for their part, kids/dog have tried to be cooperative. Still, it's a pretty tough job.
Please take time out and thank your mom for all she does for you. If you live away from home, tell your mom how grateful you are for her sacrifice in raising you. EVERY DAY should be Mother's Day.
My time away from work has had many lessons, and this has been one of the most important ones - count your blessings. being a parent is a hard job, but the most important and rewarding job you can ever have.
Yesterday I went to check out this film. I saw the first one when I was living in Singapore and it was an excellent movie.
This is a contiuation of where the first film leaves off, with Ip Man moving to Hong Kong and trying to promote Wing Chun there, encountering various obstacles along the way.
Overall, I felt this was a good effort, although not as good as the first movie. The cinematics were good and really gave you a good sense of what it must have been like in post-war Hong Kong, with many displaced people from the mainland flooding in trying to find work and set up businesses.
In the first movie the main antagonist is the Japanese occupation army, and in this film it is the British colonial rule, embodied by a corrupt British Hong Kong police official and, to a lesser degree, an arrogant British boxing champion.
The fight choreography by Sammo Hung was brilliant, and preserved the essence of the various kung fu styles (as far as I can tell). Sammo's character, Sifu Hong, was also very well played, with a balance of hardline adversary and patriot. His death leads Ip Man to challenge the Britsh boxer to a duel in the ring. Donnie Yen seems very convincing in his movements, and combines a true fighting prowess with Ip Man's humility and classical Confucian education. I am sure the real Ip Man must have been quite an amazing person.
That fight is an interesting example of what might happen between a skilled wing chun master and a good, strong western boxer. I am sure it is based on a true event, since Ip Man is known to have beaten many kinds of fighters in Hong Kong challenge matches. I can't find any real historical precedent online, so if you know the story, kindly tell me what really happened. Darren Shahlavi as Twister is an intimidating anti-hero and he is really ripped and ferocious. He would not be fun in a real fight.
I recommend watching this film for its cultural and historial value, and to see wing chun portrayed correctly as an extremely effective fighting system. I personally know some wing chun masters who are among the best fighters I have ever met, so Ip Man defeating a larger stronger western boxer does not in any way seem unreal to me. It is also always nice to see martial arts portayed as a vehicle for personal development, rather than just a way of beating people up. Ip Man's closing speech that "...despite our differences, I hope people can all learn to respect each other..." is the same message about martial arts I would expect any real master to give.
Did you also see this film? What did you think? Let me know.
This week we lost Jack Lalanne, fitness guru and strongman, at age 96. He was such a remarkable man that his life deserves some reflection by all of us.
Maybe he is known to our generation best for his Jack lalanne Power Juicer and its late-nite TV infomercials, but Jack did so much to promote health and fitness that he should be remembered forever as one of the people who cared about us most.
Some of the important lessons we can learn from Jack:
1) Diet is the Most Important Aspect of Health Jack changed his life following attendance of a lecture on diet by Paul Bragg. You can, too.
Whether it is his advocacy of juicing or his eschewing sugar and meat long before other people advocated it, Jack knew and practiced that diet and health were one and the same.
2) Exercize in some way EVERY DAY Jack continued to exercize almost 2 hours daily into his 80s. After a lifetime of fitness he was still able to perform amazing feats long after most people are dead or infirm. He did not make time for exercize - everything else made time for exercize. Health needs to become a priority in our lives for us to achieve longevity.
3) LONGEVITY Jack defined it. He lived a very long life, indeed, but more importantly he lived a FUNCTIONAL LONG LIFE. We all want to live to be at least 96 as Jack did, but none of us want to spend most of it as an invalid due to some debilitating illness that could easily have been avoided with a careful diet (whole foods, plant based) and regular daily exercize. The key to happiness is longevity, and that means keeping your mobility and ability as long as possible.
4) Swimming is Good For You Jack swam every day, and many of his famous feats of strength and endurance were based on swimming, such as swimming from Alcatraz to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf towing a boat- while handcuffed and shackled!! Swimming is a great workout that does not damage joints, and swimmers are some of the fittest of all athletes.
5) Happy Wife, Happy Life Married to the same woman for 52 years
6) The Hell with what Anybody says In his day, Jack was beseiged by naysayers who advocated "meat and potatoes" and dismissed him as a health nut. Jack went on to dance over all of their graves. He was fitter and stronger at 80 than any of them had ever been in their entire lives.
7) Create and Innovate Jack developed lots of training devices and methods because, quite frankly, they didn't exist when he needed them. Research and study, then never be afraid to develop your own tools and techniques if needed. Do not let society or technology's limitations become your own.
8) Keep Your Sense of Humor Jack was said to always have a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. Choosing to be happy is an important way to live a longer, healthier life.
This is my most recent read. It was compelling and I went through it quickly. In short, I highly recommend this book, and even more highly recommend the soul-searching you should do after reading it.
YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.
1) What You Should Already Know
T. Colin Campbell, the author, is a Cornell-based PhD nutritionist and scientist.
He is one of the most respected and published scientists in this field, and has literally hundreds of articles posted in the top scientific journals. He has spent significant time studying the effects of nutirition on cancer, and the implications are very important. In a nutshell, as a scientist and doctor, he recommends a "whole foods, plant based diet" for optimum health, and proves through rigorous scientific studies that this minimizes risk of the most deadly ailments of our time: cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The establishment has vested financial interest in keeping us confused, and by promoting the cycle of meat and animal based diets which cause diseases that require expensive treatments and surgeries to intervene. Patients do not actually get well from these treatments. Once diagnoses, the downward spiral is usually fatal anyway, but these treatments cause undue pain, suffering and financial burden that could have been avoided or reversed through a whole foods, plant-based diet.
2) Holistic Health
The relationship between nutirtion and health is a complex one, and dealing with nutrients in isolation is not a successful method of improving health according to Dr. Campbell. In fact, supplements usually do the reverse, casuring more harm than good for our bodies. The best is to move toward a diet which offers holistic benefits and gives us the synergy that nature intended. Western medicine often focuses on the disease rather than the patient, and on the treatment rather than the cure. Nutrition is no different, and dieases are best addressed at their source - which Dr. Campbell contends is usually due to poor nutrition.
3) Supplements and other "magic bullets"
Dr. Campbell has done numerous labratory studies on health and vitamin supplements and concludes, as you might expect, that these do not offer the benefits they are ascribed. In fact, not only is it impossible to prove that supplements provide health benefits in isolation, they are shown to have damaging effects by actually increasing the likelihood of cancer and other sickness. The very things you take to save your life are probably killing you.
4) Conflicts of Interest
Food and drug companies sponsor most nutrition research and very carefully control what goes into the media. They also promote their self-serving agenda through elementary schools and even medical schools. The health care system rewards doctors for treating illness rather than avoiding illness, and hospital "top earners" are those doctors which perform the most surgeries, not those doctors which save the most lives. For the well-meaning healthcare professional, this is disturbing. For the industry at large, it is criminal.
There is far too much at stake for big business to promote real optimal health through better diet and nutrition.
5) Never Too Late
Most encouraging in his research is the result that cancer, diabetes, and heart disease are not only prevented by a whole foods, plant based diet, but that they are actually REVERSED by it. In his studies, Dr. Campbell showed that cancer promotion (when cancer cells multiply and spread) could be reversed in mice based on how much animal protein they were fed. This means that for humans, cancer patients could actually reverse cancer and put it into remission by adopting a vegetarian diet and avoiding animal products. This is a much better option that the suffering of chemotherapy and surgery.
6) Lifestyle Choices
I dislike Christianity primarily because of its focus on negative reinforcement.
In the same way, rather than threaten us with cancer if we don't become vegetarians, it is better to provide unbiased information and let each person choose his or her own lifestyle. We know smoking is unhealthy, even if the direct link to cancer is hard to prove. We also know vegetables and fruits are good for us, without having to be beaten over the head with carrot sticks.
At the end of it all, wouldn't you rather choose life?
7) How to Proceed
Get it; read it; think about it.
Most of us have been brainwashed into bacon and eggs and steak and potatoes meal choices. We know what is good for us, but often feel helpless or powerless to act. SHAKE OFF THE LETHARGY AND DO SOMETHING HEALTHY TODAY. Think about people you have loved and lost from cancer. Think about everyone you know who suffers by being obese. Think about everyone you have known who has died from heart disease that DIDN'T HAVE TO.
How are YOU going to live?
Let me know your thoughts. Let's do this together. Choose life.
Big decision... maybe one of the biggest you'll ever make. There is a massive difference between those teachers who go on to have successful careers running their own schools, and those that are back working for "The Man" 9 to 5 within a year (or less). What's up with that?
1) Why Open a Martial Arts School? To be great, not just good, but GREAT at martial arts requires a sacrifice of time, energy, and discipline very few people can achieve. Becoming a great teacher goes even beyond the requirements of being a great martial artist. If you are someone who has invested (yes, "invested") that much of your life into mastering those skills, the only lifestyle choice that can truly satisfy you is to do that every day for the rest of your life. Since most of us are not independently wealthy already, it means we must work for a living.
Since you know from previous blogs that I equate a martial arts lifestyle with a religious/spiritual lifestyle, I would say making a decision not to teach your art is like spending your whole life studying religion, and then never actually using that knowledge for the common good by becoming a priest. To go even a step further, a master has a moral obligation to the art itself (and his or her own masters) to transmit the body of knowledge to the next generations, or risk losing it forever when he or she inevitably dies. Sadly, this has happened to many, many martial arts throughout human history.
I believe that a good master develops those students who will one day become teachers, and helps them grow into being ready, including sharing with them the practical aspects of running a school to encourage them to pursue this dream and become successful entrepreneurs themselves one day.
Even though many martial arts students and instructors daydream about opening a school, few will actually do it. This is a trend that can and should be reversed. The world needs more martial arts schools and more qualified, dedicated teachers.
2) It's Not Just About Martial Arts Like all small businesses/start ups, running a business requires much more than just knowing the subject matter of the product. Owning and operating a hair salon means not just knowing about hair, but also about real estate, employment contracts, banking, marketing and sales, technology, insurance, and a host of other sub-skills. These skills are shared by every entrepreneur, and operating one successful business usually means switching from one to another is pretty easy. As a martial arts school owner, get ready to learn everything about everything else (except martial arts).
3) Dollars and (common) Sense You have to be profitable. You deserve to be. Profitability equates to sustainability, and we all want to be associated with success. Students do not like to see their teachers on the dole, and we want to believe our teachers are professionals, preferably full-time professionals. This is what makes a school (full-time operation) different from a club (part-time operation). To do this, you have to have at least some basic numerical skills, be well organized, and fair.
A balance has to be struck between making the classes accessible and giving fair value for the knowledge received. The value of the knowledge itself cannot accurately be measured, since to the teachers it is priceless (based on the lifetime of investment they have put in it). It is also true that cost and value have a psychological connection. More expensive things are perceived to have higher value. I do not advocate being unethical by charging students exorbitant fees for voodoo. However, I do believe the classes should not be for free, and should fairly compensate the teacher for the investment of his/her time, energy, and knowledge, as well as provide a foundation to make the school sustainable.
4) Customer Service As a teacher, you have to have skills. These skills have to be good enough to attract students and show them what they can achieve through dedicated training over time. However, what will matter most to the students is not how good you are, but HOW GOOD THEY BECOME. Successful teachers appeal to the psychology of the individual and the group, and must always focus on helping each student become the best that he or she can be. This means providing individualized guidance as much as possible, developing a personal relationship with each student, creating a supportive student community, and working hard to make the body of knowledge as accessible to the students as it can be.
IT IS NOT TO CREATE A PLATFORM FOR SELF-DEIFICATION.
While many misguided teachers do this, ultimately they are the ones that will lose their students and have nothing. Teacher/student relationships are like every other business relationship (doctor/lawyer/priest/accountant). They are based on TRUST. The moment that trust is undermined or results in harm to the customer, the relationship becomes irrevocably damaged. Good teachers focus on the students and their improvement EXCLUSIVELY and SELFLESSLY.
In practical terms this means that students must understand that they will progress and improve, feel firsthand the goal setting and achievement, be encouraged and supported by the teachers and other students, and correctly identify the improvement as being consistent with what they want for themselves. A feedback loop (formal or informal) is helpful for keeping dialog with each student about their training.
There can be a great temptation to be involved with students as close personal friends (or more). Good teachers bear in mind that it is a PROFESSIONAL relationship, and keep it so. Teachers can be professionally close to their students (just as a good doctor or lawyer is often considered a family friend and trusted adviser over many years), but professional protocols should always be observed. Since the school involves a trust relationship, it should be bound by the same behavioral guidelines as any typical workplace or university as regards teacher/student conduct. Many a school (and teacher) have been ruined by failing to observe these important rules.
Um.....no. Not an appropriate student/teacher relationship.
5) Products and Innovation There is a lot to be said for tradition, especially in martial arts. However, if we compare martial arts to religion, then we must acknowledge that religion's great failing has been to hang on to tradition at the expense of adapting to the needs of modern practitioners, which has resulted in confusion and disassociation among worshipers.
One of the things I like most about FMA, and specifically Kali Majapahit, is that a lot of time and energy is spent on perfecting the curriculum to make it as easy as possible for the students to absorb. The classes are very well organized, and bodies of knowledge for each sub-system are set up in a logical fashion to promote understanding. The drills and exercises are very carefully constructed to develop students' skills in the shortest possible time. Good businesspeople care about their products, and in making those products compelling and competitive. It is a common mistake for the teacher to think he or she is "the product". THE PRODUCT IS THE KNOWLEDGE, NOT THE TEACHER. The knowledge must have portability or it dies when the teacher dies. Students must be developing knowledge that they will take with them on their own martial arts journey.
Many teachers fail because they want to train "the old way", which may not be consistent with the demands of the market (the students) for how they need the material presented. Such hard training methods are usually best left to the advanced students and other instructors with a deeper understanding and commitment, and who are not prone to misinterpret that training as cruelty.
It is reasonable to expect the students to make some investment in the equipment needed to train properly. However, it is unreasonable to make the school into a sales platform where heavily marked up merchandise is flogged on them at every opportunity. This undermines the trust relationship and leads to an empty school. The goal must always be on developing the students' skills first and foremost, using every innovative tool and technique (ancient or modern) which can be integrated into the curriculum. Often times the cheapest equipment is the most effective.
cost? One chicken...
6) Keeping It Real Good martial arts teaching is much more than just being a good doctor or a good lawyer. Some of the benefits of the training are not immediately visible and take time to manifest in each student. Because good martial arts is a lifestyle choice, it stands to reason that all the positive aspects of this choice do not appear on Day one. I do not believe in "watering down" the arts, since I do not believe in watering down the benefits either. However, at the same time, I look with disdain on those schools which teach some psychobabble and delude the students into thinking they are gaining some real practical martial arts/self defense benefits. In short, keep it honest. Martial arts means exactly that. Students should develop martial skill and artistic expression (and I consider "art" to include lifestyle) in accordance with the school's mission and the student's unique balance. I personally can accept a wide range of "martial" and "art" combinations as long as they are not misrepresented to the students, and both teacher and student are clear on the goals and objectives of the training.
If you are a great teacher, please open a school. The world needs you. If you are studying with a great teacher, plan to open a school yourself one day. Live the dream.
I found a pleasant surprise over the past few weeks - I have downsized.
After returning from Singapore, I tried on a few pairs of pants in my closet that I bought off the web. 3 months ago, none of them fit. In fact, I could not even button them or zip them up. Now all are snug, but they fit.
Pretty happy, and know that this is a direct result of losing almost 7kg in the past 2 months since I left JPM.
It is hard to stay the path of exercising regularly and paying attention to food. It is especially hard when immediate results do not show. However, if you can be patient, they come. It feels great when they do.
I don't think I have gone down a size since high school. This is good - very good.
As my wife correctly points out, it is not about weight, it is about body makeup and strength. For me, though, it just feels good to wear clothes I was too big for before.
"I am the ALL-POWERFUL OZ!... Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain..." (The Wizard of Oz)
Out to dinner the other night with friends and the topic of Jin-Shin Jutsu (JSJ), came up. They asked me what I thought.
I am no specialist in JSJ, and hold nothing against it per se. What I can say is that there are a lot (an awful lot) of people on the fringe of homeopathy and alternative healing fleecing the unsuspecting. Many of them prey on our emotional weaknesses, naivete, gullibility, and insecurity, and cause innocent people to pay exorbitant amounts to get nothing in return (except poverty).
I am a big believer in spirituality, and accept the importance of faith in daily life. Still, these charlatans anger me. The next time some scammer hits you up, please consider the following:
1) What's the Science? If it is a legitimate healing methodology, what is the science that backs it up? If this cannot be easily and simply explained, hold onto your wallet tightly. Acupuncture is a great example. Although there are some unbelievers, the healing effects of acupuncture and TCM for a variety of ailments are extremely well documented and backed up by modern medical science as well. The body's hydroelectric system can indeed be tuned using the needles, and there can be little doubt as to acupuncture's effectiveness by a skilled practitioner.
2) Touch I am sorry, but it is very hard for me to accept healing arts that do not even touch the patient. I guess I watched too much Star Wars as a kid. If they claim to heal you without touching you, head for the door.
3) The Thin Line between Healing and Psychotherapy (and cultism) Of course the patient's mental state has a lot to do with healing. That said, I do not personally believe meditation or the like on its own can heal bodily injury. Therapies which rely solely on this cause me to want to meditate on how to get my money back. When the line is further blurred by adding some supernatural being (God) into it, I need to exit immediately.
4) Magic Words I lump chanting and other magic healing words with 3) above. My magic healing word would be "refund".
5) Happy Endings In my view, any treatment plan for an injury (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) has a beginning and an end, as well as constant feedback along the way. If I broke my arm, for example, I expect the doctor to diagnose (X-RAY or CAT scan), treat (cast and/or sling), assess using periodic visits, and complete (rehab to regain mobility). If my doctor told me to keep coming back once a week for the rest of my life, I would be highly suspect (and might break his arm in return). By this rationale, I find it unacceptable when alternative therapies are presented as open-ended, where you keep going (and paying) forever. If my specialist wants to see me every week for an indefinite period, great, but I am going to stop paying after a fair and reasonable time frame.
Remember, in China, doctors were paid to maintain health, not to treat sickness. We should err on the side of preventative medicine, and be skeptical of long-term therapies. Of course, religions and lifestyles are long-term approaches, but they should be presented as such, NOT as therapies or treatments. There needs to be honesty and transparency between caregiver and patient in order for trust to develop.
My apologies to all the legitimate alternative healers out there. Your reputations are being wrecked by pseudo-babble from those who would seek to exploit the unknowing. Please join the cause to educate people about what the real benefits of real treatment from real therapists can be. Alternative medicines, and pseudo-medicines, should be licensed and regulated. Practitioners should be able to show clear credentials to patients. Treatments should have a logical basis in scientific fact, and have start and end goals.
The charlatans are better left in Oz, where they belong.
Just back from a training week in Singapore. It's been a while since I was there, and since I had mileage I could use for the airplane ticket and Rob let me crash at his place, I could go on the cheap. Here's what happened:
1) Testing Guro told me after Monday's class that he wanted to test me on Wednesday. Shaiful was also testing, and was going for his kasama (red shirt) rank. Test went smoothly, and it was great to see some other old friends who are now kasama (Robin, Neal, Frederic, Sylvia) come out as well. This was my first time playing with my new kris, and I like it a lot. Guro graded me to Phase 5, and said my flow and boxing had improved. Cool.
2) Classes and Structure Many new faces and Ben told me the school is now up to about 170 students. Wow! I went to Tuesday 12:30pm class and it was packed with 15 or so. I remember when that class was only 4-5. Guro still uses the phased approach, and this cycle was shortened due to Christmas break. This one was all about FLOW, and especially overlap between sticks, hands, and karambit. Very cool and a lot to use here in the Tokyo Study Group.
3) Video Friday I helped Guro, Ben, and Herve work on shooting for the Kali Majapahit Online program. It was a good day and we got further than I expected. It was interesting to see how the material is catalogued, and how Guro wants to present it. Some very, very cool stuff in there. Kali Majapahit is great because there are so many options for movement and solution. It could be confusing if it was not so well organized (but it is!). Every series included kadena de mano, karambit, stick, panantukan, and flowing applications. I think it is very high quality material.
4) Gear Shopping Brought back some new stuff for me (training karambit, everlast gloves, bag, kris) and some stuff for other students, bags, etc.) . Thanks to Ben's packing, everything arrived safely.
5) Knees for some reason, the jumping squats played hell on my knees and I had knee trouble all week; now gone. Why?
6) Panantukan Great classes and professional boxing drills we can use in Tokyo. Sparred with Clement which was fun. he has very long arms and solid boxing skills. I'd hate to have to fight him for real.
In short, a great week with lots of drills and training. It makes me wish I could live in Singapore again, but Yokohama is where it is at for now.
