Ninjas EXPOSED!

Ok, enough is enough.
I have seen so much BS about Ninjas and Ninjutsu that I decided it was time to put my two cents in.  Actually, I think I have a great deal more than two cents to add, given the fact that I studied Ninjutsu intensively for 7 years (tested 2nd dan), have read most of the commercially available materials from the major authors in this field in the martial arts community, and have spent the last 25 years living in Japan, the birthplace of ninja culture.

At the risk of controversy from martial artists who may believe whatever they want to in the face of actual evidence, here's my take on a few of the common discussion topics. These views are my own and I take sole responsibility for them.

Who were Ninja?
We all want to believe the fantasies about black-clad assassins jumping from rooftop to rooftop using their superhuman skills to achieve the impossible.  Perhaps the most impossible thing they achieved was an over-inflated sense of grandeur about the whole thing.  While it is difficult to dispute the historical evidence that mercenary groups existed who fulfilled some aspects of the roles ascribed to ninjas (assassin, spy, informant, bodyguard) there is not much evidence to suspect that this was an orderly, controlled affair.  The historical documents of "Yamabushi' or mountain warriors blended with Shinto mysticism and martial arts are very likely to be highly exaggerated and a majority of so-called "ninja" were nothing more than villains/thugs for hire to the highest bidder, without the counterculture anti-samurai bushido that is accorded to them in movies.

Yet another strong possibility is that Ninja were forerunners of organized crime groups (yakuza), who were used to help keep social order during times of unrest, as Tokugawa Ieyasu used them during his reign.  It was useful to have groups from outside the capital who would not be subject to the influence of the politics surrounding the shogun, but who could blend in when needed and provide valuable intelligence on the ground.

Socially, such groups helped to maintain the social fabric in Japan (and still do), allowing justice to be done and/or grievances settled when the legal system is unable to do so properly or to the satisfaction of those involved.  While gambling and other gray acts were the hallmark of Japanese organized crime syndicates, there is nothing to say that these groups were not "ninjas", or worked in collaboration with other mercenary groups who might be called "ninjas".

To confuse matters more, some traditional "samurai arts" such as Yagyu Shinkage Ryu include "ninjutsu" as a sub-system in their study of "heiho" (strategy), much in the same way that clandestine operations and subterfuge are part of our modern military hierarchy.

The 1980's vision of "black ninja versus white ninja" and all the various Sho Kosugi/Franco Nero/Lee Van Cleef entertainment stemming from it added popularity and mystique to the world of the Ninja - my first experience being in Chuck Norris' "Octagon" (1980) which to be fair was actually better than a lot of other movies which came later.

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi and the Bujinkan
At least as of this writing, Dr. Hatsumi still lives in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture, and continues to have his bone-setter practice in addition to teaching Togakure-Ryu Ninjutsu as Head of The Bujinkan, his global organization.  There is no evidence to suggest he is anything other than authentic, and he continues to appear on Japanese TV from time to time demonstrating Ninjutsu for various information programs.  The boom seems to have come during the 1980s when Stephen K. Hayes, an American karate practitioner from Ohio went to Japan and asked to be his live-in disciple.  Hayes became the foremost Western authority on Ninjutsu and went on to publish many books on Ninjutsu during the 1990s, which I read extensively when I was still training with my teacher.  He also served as Dr. Hatsumi's translator and I believe he was a fundamental part of the globalization of the Bujinkan. Later he would go on to study Tibetan Buddhism as well as advise for TV and movie programs and various government agencies.

There were a number of other Bujinkan luminaries (Shoto Tanemura, Doron Navon, Jack Hoban, etc.) who came and went from Noda City, and later founded Bujinkan chapters around the world. These seemed to be especially popular in the US, Germany, Israel and Australia.

Although the most famous lineage, Bujinkan was not the only school or system promoted in the 1990s during the Ninja Boom.  Ron Duncan popularized Koga Ryu Ninjutsu in the 1970s and 1980s and his work seems at least as credible as Dr. Hatsumi's, since it has proven difficult to verify the claims of any of the schools to a lengthy lineage beyond the current generation.

Ashida Kim was also well-known by researchers (although his work seems a bit more fantasy than reality) and published a number of books on Citadel Press.

In summary, esoteric and exotic sells.  Ninja have been made out to be everything from secretly trained mercenary assassins to deeply spiritual warrior monks.  There seem to be many versions of the truth, depending on who is telling the story.

Ninjutsu Fighting Methods
Fighting techniques covered in Ninjutsu include both traditional Japanese empty hand and weapon arts.  The empty hand arts might most closely resemble Japanese Kempo, including fluid striking/kicking and locking/throwing systems.  Weapon arts include traditional Japanese weapons such as jo and sword (although the katana is uncommon), and some schools teach spear (yari) and halberd (naginata) as well. Kobudo weapons such as bo, kama, sai and nunchaku also appear, although these are of Okinawan rather than Japanese origin.  Despite the dominance of Japanese archery (Kyudo) in samurai culture, there doesn't seem to be a precedent for such training in Ninjutsu.

The Ninja Star or throwing star (shuriken) is probably the most symbolic of all ninjutsu weapons and ironically probably the least practical of any of them.  Use of a straight throwing spike has a traditional precedent in old sword schools where the kozuka was sometimes thrown as a distraction when combatants entered fighting range.  Many traditional Ninjutsu schools still teach throwing this straight spike rather than the commonly assumed flat, spiked disk.

Another favorite in the media was the Kumade or bear claw, which is a set of claws attached to the hands or fingers and used to scale walls (supposedly) as well as for hand-to-hand combat.  Aside from sales of such items to teenage fanboys, it is unlikely that such tools were a major component of the Ninjutsu practitioner's arsenal and I dare anyone to go free climbing in them.  I have seen and heard speculation of a wide variety of exotic "Ninja" weapons, from blowguns to crossbows and everything in between.  I don't personally consider them more than curiosities.  

In swordsmanship, since this was not the primary art of Ninjutsu practitioners but one of many other training disciplines, face-to-face combat with trained swordsman was generally avoided in favor of angled attacks to the wrists/arms/legs of opponents and group attacks on single opponents were certainly preferred where possible.  Some schools would mount short swords with two-handed katana handles to deliver more cutting power at close ranges.  Ninjutsu sword techniques also include stabbing attacks far more than traditional sword styles, which emphasize cutting.

While movies portray Ninja as masters of disguise and deception, with skills like invisibility, water-walking, poison, and the like, the reality is that this was highly unlikely.  Furthermore, there is little evidence to suggest the black suits and back-mounted scabbards have any basis in historical fact either.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that tabi, the black goat-footed shoes that ninja wear in movies, are worn by most construction workers and handymen and sold at the DIY store in the mall (so are kama, by the way, look in the gardening aisle near the shovels).

Conclusion
While there is plenty of controversy as to whether or not Ninjas actually existed, if they did they are unlikely to have self-identified themselves as such.  Moreover, there would have been many different interpretations of what constituted Ninjutsu practice.  I am extremely skeptical of the media portrayal of Ninjutsu, which bore little resemblance to what my teacher taught me.

Perhaps it is all best left in the shadows after all.        

Human Doings Versus Human Beings

https://www.facebook.com/HuffingtonPost/videos/10153725769876130/

You need to watch this.  Jay raises some very important points about life and being happy.
He also gets into the very powerful awareness of being versus doing.  It is a common trap to confuse the two, especially by assuming that they are interchangeable.  They aren't.

I especially like his idea of a "to-Be" list rather than a "to-Do" list.  Being busy rarely equates to being successful or even to being truly productive.  In fact, just looking at the phrase "being successful" gives us a valuable clue (hint: the phrase is not "doing successful").  Doing something has a finite implication. When you do something, it's done and you can forget it and move on to the next thing - the next possession, the next person, the next job, the next goal, and so on and so on.  Being suggests permanence.  When we choose to BE we can make lasting changes in our personal state; lasting improvements in ourselves that we can continue to experience every moment of every day if we choose to.

Trying to do so much, we lose the chance to be so much more.  In the end, the doing becomes the past and disappears, leaving us being no better than when we started - just exhausted like a hamster on a wheel.

On the job, we are obsessed with skills, titles, roles and KPIs when we should be seeking to change the fundamental quality of who we are - rather than just what we do.  Companies tend to hire people for specific job skills rather than taking the time to uncover who the people actually are - and more importantly who they will become as part of the firm's success journey.  When we start to do this, we start to hire not just for culture and fit; we start to hire for potential rather than just past performance.  We start to see the career as a journey in being more, rather than just a collection of things someone has done.  We create the opportunity to evolve and grow.  

Jay calls out the difference between making a living and making a life but it's not enough.  Words have meaning.  Asking someone what they do is not the same as asking them how they are (or, even better, learning WHO they are).  Our engagement with each other need not be activity-based.  It can be experience-based.  We can teach ourselves to care more about how and who people are than just about what people do.

Think about the people who inspire you.  What attributes do they have that you want to have for yourself?  It's not just about what they have done, since the doing is a result of the being. You will find that many great accomplishments started with being rather than doing.  The change in mindset empowers the person to achieve what they set out to do.  Before doing something differently you must be differently.  To do more, first you must BE more.

Tony Robbins suggests how to increase your BEING power:
1) feed your mind- read every day, especially about those people that inspire you
2) accept the challenges - recognize that great people become great by dealing with adversity
3) move your body - change the way your mind works by getting your blood flowing
4) think bigger - a plan worth doing is a plan worth doing BIG
5) fail - learn not to be afraid of what could go wrong. It's not the end of the world
6) let yourself be grateful - feel the gratitude attitude

Define your own success. Choose your own version of happiness.  Own your outcome.

BE MORE.

The Coin

Last night was the end of a big chapter of my life.
After 4 years, I left my job to start something completely new.

To thank everyone for their friendship and support, I hosted a party, my way, with pizza and drinks at one of my favorite places. So many colleagues were there, chatting, eating, drinking, sharing.  It was perfect - a great way to close this part of my journey.

They asked me why I was leaving - maybe it was the scotch talking, but I arrived at the metaphor of a coin, which seemed a good way to explain some of the basics of my philosophy.

It goes like this...

The decisions I make are based around two facets, which are related so much that they could be called two sides of the same coin - each integral to the whole but each with a different aspect.

The Journey
One side is about The Journey.
Each and every one of us has a Journey.  Whether we know it or not; whether we acknowledge it or not; whether we accept it or not.  The Journey is our birthright as a human being and is part of being self-aware.  Animals do not have a Journey, they are able to just BE.  Humans, every single one, have a Journey.  Moreover, the Journey is unique to everyone and everyone is responsible for his or her own Journey.  This is very important.

Like every Journey, it travels forward, not backward.  It may pause but it does not stop.  It has goals, steps, way points, hills and valleys along the way.  It has rain and shine, vistas and panoramas.  It is the beautiful, glorious human adventure.

My Journey belongs to ME.  It is not the journey of my father, my wife, my children, my boss, my co-workers or my friends, even though sometimes it may seem like it is.  Recognizing that the Journey is unique helps us with the second key aspect of this understanding - we are all, each one of us, fully responsible for our own Journey (and ours alone).  This is true empowerment, since I can only ever seek to control myself, my decisions and actions; my responses and reactions.  Only I can determine my own happiness and success, and only I can affect the outcome.  In short, only I can be accountable, and must be fully accountable, for me.  Sometimes I step off the path, sometimes painfully.  However, the Journey remains and I can always find my way back to it if I try.  It is never too late.

The Journey of my soul is a Journey of Happiness.  When my actions are in accord with my personal journey, I experience happiness.  Not a giddy, delirious laughter.  Rather, a deep sense of contentment born of purpose and accomplishment, knowing unconsciously in my core that I am doing the "right things".  My soul tells me so if I can learn to listen.  In the end, it will not matter what clothes we wore, what car we drove or what size house we lived in.  What will matter is if we found happiness.  I believe this is found by following the Journey purposefully.

I believe we human children are born of The Light, born from the centers of stars when the universe was young.  Our Journeys are toward the Light.  This means that our happiness can never be meant to come at the cost of someone else's.  We must have a vested interest in the happiness of others, just as they must have a stake in our own.  We are far more alike than we are different.  Human beings come from the same source, with the same roots.  Our skin color matters as little as the color of our eyes or hair.  Our religion matters even less.  We are all one, each perfect soul with our own Journey.  I try as hard as I can to see past the physical self to what is inside - the soul and its Journey.  I try to see all people as beautiful.

Thus, knowing that I have a unique personal Journey in this life, self-discovery is of critical importance.  I focus on understanding myself, my drivers and motivators, my likes and dislikes so that I can better identify my Journey and prepare myself with the tools I will need to travel it well.  The Journey cannot be denied, but we can travel it smoothly or roughly at our own discretion.  My teacher often says that we are passengers on a train.  We do not control the route to the final destination, but we can choose where to sit.  Personally, I like a window seat.

The decisions I make, the big decisions, I try to make in accordance with my own personal Journey.  I know and accept that I need to own the outcome of my life - no one else can.

Very importantly, my parents, my wife and my children do not own my Journey - I do.  They can share my joy in accomplishment but cannot be blamed for the choice I make, good or bad.  My Journey is mine, and I do not have the responsibility to achieve what my parents did not or could not.  Likewise, my children's Journey will not be to finish what I start - only I can do that.  As a parent, husband and friend all I can do is offer support and encouragement to the Journeys of those I meet and facilitate their Journey.  I can share my happiness and comfort their sadness, but I cannot own their Journey for them.  As a parent, I try to prepare my children with the tools to seek their own answers about their own lives, and encourage them to discover their own Journey, their mission, whatever and wherever it may be.  I try to teach them to prepare themselves by trying many different things to see what resonates in them.  There are no wrong answers, and I know the destination with be worth the effort.  They must learn to do things not because it makes me happy, but because it makes them happy.  It is their Journey which matters. I have my own.

The Gratitude Attitude
The second side of the coin is the Gratitude Attitude.  This is an ever-present feeling of thankfulness for the gift of our lives and the gift of our Journey.  As Pierre Teilhard de Chardin writes "we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience".  We are each privileged to have the chance for this great human adventure and to be given a chance to live fully, with purpose and meaning.  We have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and positively influence those around us.  We can be part of the Journey of others and increase each other's happiness.

I am deliberate in finding things to be grateful for, every day.  This is an important part of changing my perspective from negative to positive and has helped me to see the bright side of things as much as I can.  I feel very fortunate to have been given so many chances to do so many different things.  In my life and my career I have learned so much.  Now, turning 50 this year, I am given a chance to go in a brand new direction.  I couldn't be more excited.  I am truly grateful.  I own my own outcome, and I am grateful to be in control of my life.

All my friends, family, co-workers have given me so much support.  Thank you all for believing in me and for being such an important part of my Journey.  I promise you the story will be a good one.

The Monkey Trap

Ah yes, the good old monkey trap.
My parents used to tell me this story a lot when I was young.  The monkeys were too agile and clever to get caught by hand or with the typical traps hunters used.  So they devised something that would work every time - the monkey trap.

By putting a banana in a heavy glass vase, with the opening big enough so the monkey could reach in but not big enough for the monkey to pull its fist out.  The monkey grabs the banana...and is stuck.  The hunters walk up with a net...

If only the monkey could just let go of the banana, it could be free...

Sound familiar??

All of us are victims of the Monkey Trap from time to time.  Like the monkey, we become fixated on something, tangible or intangible, that we want.  We just won't let go - can't let go - and the thing we want ends up causing us harm.  We are too blind to see past our own wants and desires and accept the fact that some of the things we want (or think we want, anyway) just aren't good for us.  Some of the most common things we can't let go of were recently reminded online, and I share the list below:

1. Limiting Beliefs - anything you believe that is holding you back.
2. Dwelling on the Past - Life is to be lived IN THE NOW.
3. Worrying about the Future - Everything is going to be Fine. Trust me.
4. Negative Self-Talk - If you don't believe in yourself, who will?
5. The Need to Impress Others - Let them love you for who you already are.
6. Complaining - It's better to just get on with things.
7. The Need to always be Right - Accept that you are human too.
8. Resistance to Change - Learn to go with the Flow.
9. Blaming Others - It probably isn't their fault either.
10. The Need for other people's approval - The most important respect is Self-Respect.

I am guilty of holding on to all of these from time to time - some far more often than others.
Maybe you are, too.  By not letting go, we prevent ourselves from the happiness we say we really want.  An important step in personal growth is acknowledging this - and then working to improve on it.  Happiness is a journey, and we must keep moving to keep making progress.

What's YOUR banana?
How can you learn to let it go?

A Fighter's Life

I was watching the 2015 movie "Creed" again recently and there's a part in the dialog that I keep thinking about.

Rocky: Why would you want to pick a fighter's life when you don't have to?
Adonis Creed: I been fighting my whole life.  I ain't got a choice.

Rocky goes on to tell him that it's always a choice.  However, I am not so sure I agree.

I've been involved in martial arts now for more than 35 years.  It's been my life's journey as a student, now a teacher, across a variety of martial arts styles.  At the right times in my life, the right teachers have appeared to guide me to the next stage of my development.  Even the times I thought I would stop training or focus my energies on something else - I just couldn't.  It's in my DNA.  I feel like I've been fighting my whole life.

The journey started with me wanted to protect myself from the frequent beatings I got at school.
I was small, with a disproportionately big mouth (which I still have).  I was an outcast, unpopular and poor at sports.  Picked last when I was picked at all.  I got beaten so much that the school would let me out 15 minutes early in the afternoon so I could get most of the way home before the other kids got out and chased me down.  It usually worked.

Martial arts gave me the confidence to stand up, even when I got knocked down.  It gave me the confidence to set and achieve my life's goals.  Martial arts ultimately brought me to Japan (where I still am and expect to remain).  It gave me a place to belong.  It taught me to have pride in myself and not to be ashamed of my past as a foster child.

Now, martial arts is a way to help my students have the confidence and drive to accomplish their own goals and achieve their own success.  It is about paving the way for the next generation of teachers who will go out and share what we do with their own students.  It's about changing the world - one black belt at a time.  It's about giving back, for all that martial arts has done for me.

I am going to be 50 years old this year.  I'm still fighting.  I think I always will be.  I just don't know any other way to be.  I'll be fighting against bullies.  I'll be fighting against myself.  I'll be fighting against my past and my demons.  I'll be fighting for recognition, for self-respect, for my pride.  I'll be fighting to make a difference.  If you are reading this, I expect you will be too.

What are you fighting for?
What are you fighting against?

The Buddy System

It's great to have a buddy.  Many of us fondly remember school outings where we were paired with someone and expected to take care of our buddy, just like our buddy took care of us.  This kept everyone from getting lost and (hopefully) helped us make a few new friends along the way.  PADI also uses the buddy system for divers, to ensure safety and help make scuba diving as enjoyable as it can be.

I am also a big advocate of the buddy program in martial arts.
It takes a lot of courage to walk through the door of a new dojo for the first time.  Even for those of us who have done it most of our lives, there is always just a little nervousness.

Buddies are different than mentors (I am a fan of mentoring as well). Mentoring implies partnering with someone senior to you, while buddy implies someone you already know who is at the same level as you are.

Bringing a buddy with you to check out a class is a great thing to do.

Moral Support at the very minimum, having a buddy with you can often be the spark that gets you to finally try a class, even if you have been wanting to do so for some time.  Your buddy gives you moral support so you don't have to feel as uneasy during the trial lesson, and they are there with you for the journey once you start.

Sense of Perspective some schools can be very focused on new student recruitment, and couple their trials with a heavy-handed sales pitch or a long-term signup commitment.  It is nice to have a buddy with you who knows you to make sure you make the right decision.  Martial arts classes have the power to help you transform your life, but you need to choose wisely.  A good buddy can offer you sensible advice.

You are Both At The Same Level at the beginning, it can be a bit intimidating, especially if you have no prior martial arts background.  Learning the basic movements, even tying the belt, can be frustrating.  Often times you feel like everyone is watching you...  With a buddy, you are both at the same stage of the training, and this can be very comforting.  Years later, you can reflect on how far you've come together - one of the most wonderful feelings of all.

Inherent Sense of Trust Martial arts involves trust, since we don't want to get hurt during the training.  Going with a buddy helps make this easier since you know each other and can depend on not going all out or having a "Rambo moment".  Over time, of course, you will develop this trust with your other brothers and sisters in the school, but at the beginning it helps to know you can work with someone who won't hurt you.

Deepening Friendship Martial arts training is not like going to play tennis at a tennis school or playing baseball in the park.  Because we practice fighting skills, the training is always a bit edgy and intimidating.  In FMA, our arts are based on the blade, so we frequently train with weapons and in close-quarters.  I have found that having a buddy deepens our friendship significantly -as though we have gone to boot camp or basic training together, prepared for war.  My brothers and sisters in martial arts are much closer to me than my friends from other social circles could ever be.  Bringing a buddy can help deepen your friendship to one that will last throughout your lifetimes.

Martial arts is a journey, and journeys are always best undertaken with a buddy.

"We start together we finish together"

Entitlement

(thanks for the inspiration Jason A.)

A very important list.  So important it is worth checking a second time.
After seeing this I promised myself I would make it into a workshop talk, using the empty pad as a prop.  It's just too powerful to ignore.

Very often we fall into the trap of believing the world owes us something or that we are entitled to something.  Sometimes this is due to a misguided idea of "fairness" (the world is many things but fair is not one of them) or that other people should do things for us because we are "special" (yes we are, but so is everyone else).

As a kid from a broken home, sent to an orphanage and placed into foster care before I was even a year old, this lesson was not a difficult one for me to learn.  The things other children had by default came very rarely for me, and some things never came at all.  For many years I wanted to be like them and have the things they had. Ultimately, I learned to want the things that I needed most, and the things that would be best for me, not them.

While for much of my life it has felt like a struggle, painful inch after painful inch, I am proud of how far I have come.  Knowing the lesson of entitlement (actually lack of entitlement) has always sobered me to the reality that success often comes to those who want it most, and that wanting something often means accepting the tremendous sacrifices it takes to get what you want in life.
I learned that success can only be defined by you, and that you alone can judge your value.

The good news is that I am completely convinced anyone can have anything he/she wants, provided they can sustain the effort needed, have the patience required and accept the sacrifices involved. The bad news is that there are always opportunity costs to wanting something, and so you'd better always be very sure that what you want is indeed what you really and truly want. There is very rarely a chance in life for a do-over.  The things we did not choose disappear, often never to return.  If you can't learn to let the past go, you carry a heavy burden of regret.

Martial arts training has been fundamental for me.  It changed me from a terrified, angry little boy (yes, fear and anger are twins) to a driven, focused, confident man.  My training taught me how to set and achieve goals inside and outside the dojo, and showed me that we are all equal - the training does not come easy for anyone, and yet gives the same benefit to everyone (although not always in the same way).  Martial arts is the Great Empowerment, the discipline to take responsibility for yourself and your circumstances and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.  Martial arts is the Highway of Change.

Confidence is born of experience, and of an unshakable belief in one's ability to set and achieve goals.  Too many people have a false confidence drawn from their social status, their world view, or their fantasies.  Many people wish on a star hoping that will be enough to get them where they want to be.  Still others sit waiting for someone to do things for them (hint: the one who can do things for you is always right there, in the mirror). TV and movie stories give us unrealistic expectations of how our lives should be, and take away the simple majesty of what each of our lives can be if we choose to set and achieve our own goals, whatever they may be.  Charting the courses of our lives makes them even more beautiful.

In the end, the world owes us nothing, and we are entitled to nothing.
Focused, we can earn anything we truly desire.  There can be no greater inspiration, no greater freedom than this.

That is all.    

The New Rules of the Game

My foster Dad, may he rest in peace, was a simple man.  He was born to a farming family in 1921 and grew up in the Midwest, where young men idolized John Wayne, who said little but did much.  I am grateful to him for many things, especially that from a young age he taught me to play blackjack.  It's a simple game, but difficult to master.  So is life.  Throughout my life, blackjack rules have been a useful metaphor for many situations.

1) Know the Numbers...
Dad's first lesson when I was 9 or 10 was to hand me Hoyle's book on Blackjack play and strategy and have me read it.  I asked him when I could get to hold the cards and play, and he told me calmly "when you can recite the stand/hit table without looking, you are ready to start learning by playing."   The stand/hit table shows the statistically best decisions to make depending on what's in your hand and what the dealer is showing as a top card.  Without knowing this, you are basically just guessing and relying on luck rather than leveraging the advantages of probability.  Dad was impressing on me the need to understand the basic rules of every game inherently and not to take any risk before feeling confident in them.  He knew it was important to understand the numbers that underpin the important decisions of the game.  This has helped throughout my life and career.

2)...But Trust your Instincts
The rules are very important as a starting point, of course, but they are not the whole story.  Every time you sit down to play, there are different people at the table, and you may not always sit in the same spot.  1:1 (1 player versus dealer) is a very different game from a full table, where the flavor of the hand can be influenced by the first and last players in the dealing rotation.  There are times when your instinct tells you to go against the rules, and you should trust your instincts.  My Dad was careful to emphasize that you should only trust your instincts when you fully understand the rules and the risks of what you are doing - not before.

3) The 12 that wins is better than the 20 that loses
A strong hand looks cool and is impressive to the rest of the table, especially when you make it the hard way by hitting a weak hand safely.  However, that strategy is rooted in ego and often dangerous and destructive.  Going Bust (hitting your hand and getting more than 21, in which case you lose immediately) is an ever-present risk in Blackjack.  Very often it is better to let someone else, especially the dealer, hit their hand and bust rather than risking it yourself.  A hand of 12 that wins still pays the same as a 20 hand that wins.  This is an important concept because it reinforces the understanding that risks don't always need to be taken (and not always by yourself).

4) The rules can vary by situation.  Check carefully before assuming anything
The original game of blackjack was played with a single deck.  Nowadays it is hard to find a table that plays using only 1 deck.  Most deal from a multi-deck shoe, and many shuffle automatically as well.  This prevents people from potentially counting cards.  In addition, many casinos have "house rules" such as different minimum/maximum bets, limiting double downs/splits, offering surrenders, or letting other players bet on your hand.  Since these can materially affect the outcome of the game, it is wise to check the rules of every table before playing. NEVER assume all rules are the same without verifying it yourself BEFORE you play.  In the business world this is also true.  Companies in the same industry are often very, very different in terms of corporate culture, objectives, and business strategy.  Check everything carefully BEFORE playing.

5) Know the High Percentage "Power Hands" and use them wisely
In blackjack there are a few "power hands" which allow a player to increase their bet after the initial hand is dealt.  Specifically, these include splits and double downs, especially when you are dealt two cards which equal 11 or when the dealer shows a light top card (6 or below).  Taking advantage of these opportunities can change the outcome of the session, and success is often determined primarily by how well a player does on the power hands.  In life, too, it is important to know the times when it is advantageous to take a bit more risk for a bit better payoff.

6) You Can Lose a Majority of the Hands and Still Win
This one threw me for a long time.  Statistically, you will always lose at blackjack, since the rules slightly favor the house over the player.  That said, my Dad was careful to point out that you can lose a majority of the hands and still make a lot of money.  How??  Simply, if you win on hands where you have a larger bet, then you can lose greater than 50% and still make money.  The key to success in blackjack is RISK MANAGEMENT.  Sound familiar?

7) Don't Become Complacent, Especially When You Are Losing
Many, many times I have seen a player endure an insufferably long bad run.  This is characterized by hand after hand of bad hits, the dealer making tough hands, and in general just losing many hands in a row.  A bad run like that can wipe a player out quickly, and I have even seen players increase their bets to try and "win themselves out of a losing position" (also a psychological phenomenon among pro traders).  In general, this is a poor strategy.  It is far, far better to learn to recognize a bad pattern early, and then do something about it, such as switching tables or taking a break.  In my case, when I lose more than 2-3 hands in a row, I cut back my bets to the table minimum and observe if the pattern continues.  If so, I am likely to quit the table and go somewhere else or do something else.

This is harder than it sounds, since many players "drop anchor" at a table and are unwilling to walk away, even when they are getting crushed by a lengthy bad run.  The wrong chair at a blackjack table can be a very expensive place to sit.

In life as well, it is very important to recognize bad patterns and do something about them early, which may include "changing tables" or "taking a break".

8) Winning Is Easy.  If it isn't you are at the wrong table
One of the most important things my Dad told me about blackjack was how easy it is when you are winning.  On a good streak, it feels like you are doing almost nothing at all and drawing those 20s and blackjacks, hitting split 8s and 9s and double downs every time.  The dealer is busting on every hand and the chips are literally flying in.  By contrast, during a bad streak it often feels like there is nothing you can do to win even a single hand.  Ride the winning streaks, folks.  If you can't see any for a while, it is possible you are at the wrong table (refer to 7 above).

9) Be Social.  It's just a Game after all
Since my Dad played every day, everyone knew him.  Everywhere we went, everybody from the doorman to the dealers to the pit boss to the guy sweeping the floor would say "Hi Charlie".  Dad would be sociable with everyone and looked at blackjack as more of a social endeavor than a get rich quick scheme.  He was never bitter or angry even when he lost money.  When he won, he always shared with the dealer and always tipped well, even when he lost.  From him I learned not to take things too seriously, and to work hard to develop rapport with the people I meet.  Life is a journey and it is better traveled together.  Try not to take things to seriously.  Take time to be part of the social fabric around you.  Try not to get angry and try not to let money be the primary objective of your life.  It is far better to focus on having good relationships.

10) HAVE FUN.  ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE.
My Dad loved playing blackjack.  He had a routine, a system, and I am so grateful he shared it with me.  By no measure am I the world's best blackjack player, and that's just fine with me.  In my life, I try to have as much fun as I can and to enjoy the experience.  I have played blackjack in the US, in Korea, Macau, Australia, Nepal and and other places, too.  I have met some wonderful people and had some great times. In my life I have traveled a lot, met incredible people, and had a fantastic adventure.  It's not over yet.

I hope you will do the same in blackjack and in life.  GO ALL IN!

Dead Center

(thanks for the inspiration Guro Rose)

The picture denotes the "Line of Pain", illustrating that many of the most common pressure points used in self-defense are located along the centerline of the body.  These are by no means exhaustive, but they highlight the importance of controlling the opponent's centerline (and protecting one's own).

Defining combat situations involves several three-dimensional zones.  Among them are the horizontal planes --- high line, medium line and low line (which equate to lines of the shoulders, waist/belt and groin or lower, such as knees and ankles/feet), distances (far, medium and close which generally equate to kicking, punching/striking and CQB/grappling), and longitudinal axes (inside/outside, which equate to passing in front of the chest or across the back, respectively).

The centerline is important for a number of reasons beyond just an understanding of pressure points.  The centerline represents the most direct way of accessing the opponent's balance via control of the head, neck and spine (which are of course all along the centerline).  It can be said that the simplest goal in a fight is to get access to and control the head, neck and spine since this is the mechanism for all human movement.  Power is generated along the spine and into the muscles and joints effectively only with proper posture, and posture is determined by the relative position of the head, neck and spine.  Once these are manipulated it is not possible for an opponent to have effective strength or balance.

In Kali Majapahit, we are often encouraged to "GET IN", meaning to move inside of the range of the opponent's punches or kicks, usually to control the centerline.  This is an important habit for beginner martial artists because the fear response usually makes us want to move away from any attack, and that leads to covering up and getting hammered.  Getting in gives us the best chance of putting aggression back on the attacker and breaking their focus and intent.

Influences of Hakka martial arts such as Wing Chun emphasize the study of the centerline and build their strategy around it.  Aikido and other Japanese martial arts consider it as well, and many of them seek a direct line to the opponent's torso for the definitive technique.

As we become better skilled, we should continue to consider that the ultimate goal should be to disrupt the structure and balance.  This can be done at any distance, across any horizontal plane, or through movement to either inside or outside axes (as well as the split entry).  Various systems prefer various combinations, but the outcome should always be one where the opponent's balance and structure are compromised.  This is an important lens which can be used to study any technique of any style.

Very much like a game of tennis, every hit is followed by a return to a central "ready position" (in tennis this is center court) from which it is easier to move to any new location in response to the opponent's next hit.  Strategically, good tennis players use the court (especially the sidelines) to work their opponents and prevent him/her from being able to be back to center.  Too far to the side, or too far front or back and an opening to finish the point is created and usually exploited.

Good chess players as well know how critical it is to own the middle of the board, and there are many famous texts on the implication of each position and move relative to the center of the chessboard.

Defensively, I often remind my students to "protect the box", referring to four corners at each shoulder and each hip point.  These four corners bound the center mass and we try to keep the opponent "outside the box" as a general rule.  We aim to be compact and centered, staying inside the opponent's box while defending our own.  Since Filipino martial arts are based on blades, it is not hard to see the benefit of protecting the box, since the majority of our vital organs are within the four corners.

Of many important concepts in martial arts, centerline is one of the cornerstones and worthy of significant study and consideration.



  

An Average Person's Black Belt

A great question, and something on my mind since I saw it and posted on Facebook a week or two ago.

First of all, let's be clear.  Black belt is a fairly recent invention in the martial arts world.  Dr. Jigoro Kano introduced a belt system for Judo in the early part of the 20th century, to help create fair competition.  Judo is an Olympic sport and includes weight classes in addition to belt ranks.

Traditional Japanese martial arts had a few key milestones in training including Menkyo Kaiden (免許開伝), which usually involved a revelation of the secret teachings of the school.  In many cases, a scroll of the school's techniques (essentially a Bible) was given so that the practitioner could go and open a new school somewhere else and keep a reference manual of the school's teachings.

In traditional schools, until a certain level (1st Dan black belt equivalent) a student was not even registered at the school. Technically they did not even exist before black belt.  These days we see 8 year olds get awarded black belts, and there seem to be dozens of black belts in every school.  For most, it seems like an every day thing or, even worse, the end of the journey and time to move on to another hobby.  Most people stop at 1st Dan, when in reality they have only finally learned enough to start their real training.

As a basic example, even among the black belt ranks, in a 10-grade Dankyu system like Judo, the breakdown of titles and skills/duties is usually something like this:

1st Dan --- shodan --- beginner, familiar with the basics, now equipped with the tools to start study
2nd/3rd Dan --- shiodin/shidoshi --- able to teach beginners, still perfecting/reinforcing their basics
4th Dan /5th Dan --- hanshi/renshi ---oversees daily practice and can manage the school
6th Dan -8th Dan --- shihan, deeply exploring the system including the philosophy and strategy
8th Dan and above --- soke/founder, usually an honorific title due to advanced age

In terms of actual experience, it can differ in some cases but I am generally skeptical of anyone at 5th dan or higher who is under 40 years old, since that title usually reflects no less than 30 years of diligent training.  Shihan and above are often in their late 50s/60s or older, but in many cases legendary figures in their respective schools, or those who then go on to found their own styles.

One things is common, however.  The black belts I have met - where those belts were earned - are never "average" people.  As in the picture, average people don't earn black belts.  They quit; give up; get distracted; get impatient.  For most of the black belts I know, that milestone represents no less than 5 years of hard work and commitment, daily training.  It involves tremendous personal sacrifice and an iron will.  Most of them attend camps and seminars several times per year in addition to the training.  Nearly everyone has a "day job" and many have families as well.  When I see that belt, I understand what effort has gone into it, and it commands my respect.

Every Kali Majapahit black belt has been through the same challenges I have.
Personal challenges that push us to the breaking point.  I am immediately deeply connected to everyone I see with one of those belts/shirts, because I know how they feel, and what attributes they must possess to pass the tests as all the rest of us did.  The kasama test (red belt) is usually the first taste of how these tests go, and mine nearly broke me physically and mentally.  They have gotten harder at each subsequent level.  Thankfully, so have I.

There are so many reasons to stop training and not go all the way to black belt (and beyond).  Work is busy/lots of overtime, I have a new boyfriend/girlfriend, I hurt my leg/arm/back etc.. The list goes on. That said, the ones who make it to black belt are the ones who don't quit.  They do not accept an average or ordinary life.  They do not let external events determine their internal state.  They know they are superheroes, waiting to be born.  They forge themselves in fire because it is the only way to become unbreakable.

Statistically, it is only a few percent of the students who start that will ever make it to black belt.  Of those, even less will go on to continue to study for higher levels.  They are anything but "average". We are so lucky to have so many kasamas and black belts in Kali Majapahit - so many who stay the course and believe in themselves and in us.  We are further lucky in KM Japan to have such a number of our brothers and sisters who are already well along the path, poised to become teachers in their own right very soon.  You make me very proud.

These are people who understand martial arts training for what it really is: a vehicle to master your own life.  To develop the discipline of setting and achieving goals inside and outside the dojo.  To choose a path and follow it deliberately, taking responsibility for yourself and your journey.  Bettering yourself so you can contribute to the lives of others and inspire them.  Pushing yourself to become the person you want to be, defining and achieving your own personal success.

Martial arts training is a means to an end.  An end based on success, achievement, fulfilment, happiness, compassion.

Are you "average"?  Or do you believe you can be more??
It's your choice ---- accept ordinary or BECOME EXTRAORDINARY.

Playing With Percentages

A very interesting read from the Huffington Post about the Baby Boomer Generation.

It suggests that a survey conducted by British Airways with 2,000 US "Baby Boomers" (born between 1946 and 1961) suggested their two biggest regrets were that they:

* Worked Too Much
* Didn't Travel Enough

I am sure this is not just limited to Baby Boomers, but to Generation X, Generation Y, and will include Millennials when they enter the workforce.  Sadly, this seems to be indicative of everyone.
The study further revealed that 63% of the women and 48% of the men had never even owned a passport.  Additionally,

• 22% said they didn't travel due to work commitments
• 17% of male respondents said that working too much was their biggest regret
• 22% of women said not traveling enough was their biggest regret
• 8% of women respondents said working too much was a regret (though not necessarily their biggest)
• 79% of all respondents said knowing about family heritage inspires them to travel to certain destinations
• 26% of respondents said they've visited a certain place because of the desire to know more about their heritage
• 26% of respondents said losing contact with friends was their biggest regret
• 17% of men said not spending enough time with their children was their biggest regret

It is not enough to be saddened by this data.  While BA was definitely skewing this to show how much travel enriches our lives, the truth is that we need to think carefully about how we spend our time if we want to avoid regret.

Regret is not just about feeling guilt for what we did. Far too often it is about sadness over what we didn't do - chances we didn't take in our lives, in our loves, in our careers and in our personal relationships.  Many of the respondents probably felt the major reason for not doing these things was lack of money.  However, I have found that this is rarely the case.  Lack of money makes it convenient to not push ourselves hard enough to understand what makes us happy; to understand what we really want; to stay focused on overcoming fear and achieving the things that drive our personal happiness.

Humans are social creatures.  We are MEANT to be together - to share our lives and our experience with each other.  We are designed to love and feel compassion.

Don't let the percentages define you.  Use your training to be brave enough to stand up for your life - the life you deserve - the happiness you have earned.  The success you have worked for, defined by YOU, not by your boss.  There is nothing wrong with work.  On the contrary, career success can and should be part of a healthy sense of self and respect from peers.  Work facilitates the other activities we do, and contributes to society's overall productivity.  However, it is NOT a substitute for important personal relationships nor for finding and pursuing our individual happiness.

Most importantly, take the time to live fully and share fully with your loved ones.
There is nothing more precious than this.    



 

Aikido: The Non-Fighting Fighting Art

(thanks for the inspiration PH)

One of my best friends recently started studying Aikido, a journey I myself began in 1987.  He is a former top-level collegiate athlete (Varsity Tennis for one of the top US universities).  A practical man, he is not easily mystified by rumors of levitating holy men or lightning shooting from fingertips.

Today we were talking and he asked me why I felt Aikido is not a fighting art, but why I also consider it an important foundation art for deep martial arts research.

Modern Aikido as arranged by Morihei Ueshiba (O-Sensei) is an art derived from many traditional combat disciplines including a strong connection to Daito-Ryu.  Many of the movements draw directly from equivalent motions in traditional swordsmanship as well.  However, it is important to bear in mind that O-Sensei was also an ordained Omote-Kyo priest, and over the course of his life he continued to move away from the original Daito-Ryu influence toward the more spiritual side.  Eventually, in his later years, O-Sensei would claim that his Aikido was a "manifestation of heavenly power given by God".

In line with his ethical and spiritual beliefs, O-Sensei's Aikido is a harmonious art.  The ultimate goal is non-violence, redirecting the aggressive intent harmlessly away.  That being said, some common questions are asked by beginners in Aikido (including my friend):

• Why are the attacks all so stylized?  People don't attack like that?
• Does it actually "work"?  It looks like they are cooperating?
• Why does Aikido have Ukemi?  Why give the enemy a way out of the technique?
• What if I get attacked with a weapon? Can Aikido deal with weapons?

Again, I personally do not consider modern Aikido to be a combat art.  This does not mean to say that there are not practitioners who can fight using the techniques of Modern Aikido as a base (so can I).  I suggest that Modern Aikido is taught from a different standpoint which de-emphasizes combat training in favor of other aspects.  As such, it can be a challenge to understand the usefulness of Modern Aikido in a violent self-defense situation such as a mugging or rape.  Some styles (Yoshinkan, Iwama, Tomiki) are "harder" than others (Ki Society, Shinshintoitsu) and tend to focus on the practical more than the philosophical/spiritual side.  This is not a bad thing, since damaging people can end us up with lawsuits or prison time.  Modern Aikido is generally considered non-aggressive and safe for use.  This does not, however, make it a fighting art as it is usually taught.

Once the spiritual trappings are set aside, Aikido can be deconstructed to an art of controlling the opponents' balance/structure (head/neck/spine) through touchpoints, usually wrist/elbow/shoulder.  The end result can be projection/throw (nagewaza) or pin/control (osaewaza).

All the various techniques in the Aikido curriculum are designed to demonstrate this through a variety of attacks and responses, but the goal is ultimately the same.  Certain responses work best versus certain attacks, but overall any response should be achievable from any attack.

A strong background in Aikido teaches the following Universal Martial Skills:

Establishing/Maintaining Contact --- the skills of connecting to the opponent and staying connected so we can control.
Generating Power from the Hips --- using the hip rotation to exert force on the opponents' structure.
Breathing --- Use of Proper Breath Control to Enhance Focus and Generate Power.
Extension --- Learning to extend the lines of the techniques to "blend" with the opponent so we can control.
Atemi/Striking --- Use of pre-emptive attack to disrupt concentration so we can control.
Irimi/Entering --- Skill of getting close to opponent so we can control their head/neck/spine.
Footwork --- Moving us to a Place of Advantage for Ourselves/Disadvantage for our Opponent.
Joint Manipulation/Joint Structure --- Use of Body Structure/Physique to Disrupt Balance Via Touch points
Ukemi/Breakfall --- Learning to Safely Contact the Ground During Training

I view all of the above skills as essential tools in any combat training martial arts arsenal, and I believe Aikido teaches these skills better than just about anything else I have seen.  A strong foundation in Aikido serves well as a framework for any other martial study, and I particularly recommend Aikido training for children, especially those with learning disabilities or weak concentration.  The training develops excellent discipline, focus, and spatial awareness, all via a harmonious attitude which the world desperately needs.

In training, it can be helpful to understand the unique learning objective of each technique.  Where is the atemi, the irimi, the connection, the disruption of balance/structure?  Does the technique end with a projection or a control?  Is it unique due to the spatial relationship (standing versus kneeling)?  Does it involve a weapon (ken, jo, tanto) or multiple attackers?  Each technique should illustrate the above principles from a different point of view, leading to a broad understanding of how to use the skills/tools and a richer set of potential responses.

My only caveat is that prospective students approach this training with eyes wide open, aware of both the benefits and limitations of Aikido, just as they would be with any martial art.  We must follow a path in accord with our own personal beliefs, and no two people are at the same point of the line between "martial" and "art".  Picking the wrong art for you results in disbelief and disappointment, which usually causes the student to quit.  That is a loss not just for Aikido but for the world overall.

See you in class.    

Martial Arts in the Workplace

(thanks for the inspiration PG, JA, KM and others)

Dammit...another Tuesday (or Friday) in the office late.  Kali bag next to the desk...unable to go to class.  Another Kali-less week.
In between meetings, emails, conference calls, business trips trying to remember the techniques of the cycle.

Best intentions and all that...but it's very frustrating, right?

Work can be extremely stressful.  These days we all work in very high pressure, results-driven environments.  Everyone is pushing hard for the KPIs and expecting that we are available 24/7 for conference calls and with nearly instant responses to email.

This loss of control over our schedules and lives leads many people into burnout, depression or worse.  Many people complain about anxiety, panic attacks and disruption to their sleeping, eating and exercising routines.  The pressure on relationships is intense, with partners feeling preoccupied, distracted and too tired to be involved.

I have always stressed that martial arts is not just about fighting.  We use the dojo as a laboratory for our lives - we explore and challenge, we set and achieve goals, we work together and improve ourselves and each other.  Drills not only push us to sharpen physically, but mentally as well.  We improve our focus and discipline, we prove to ourselves again and again that we are WINNERS who can achieve what we set out to do.  Training also gives us courage and patience to endure difficult situations.

Speaking from my own experience, the hardest times I had at work in recent memory involved several months of 14 hour days, plus 3 hours of commute in total back and forth.  I felt exhausted all the time and kept wondering how long I would keep it up before I gave out and ended up in the hospital.  All I did was sleep and work.  Breakfast was from 7-11, lunch was at my desk, and dinner was usually 7-11 as well.  My life was a blur.  The days, weeks, months just flew by without me being able to slow down or take a holiday.

In the end, I achieved the result, albeit with a heavy cost.  Not even a Thank You from the company for my sacrifice.  Soon after I was forced into another, lesser job.  To be honest, I didn't do it for them.  I am not sure I even did it for myself. I did it for the team members that went through it with me, those that depended on me to lead them and not fail.  I felt I couldn't let them down.  Maybe they felt the same - so night after night we struggled on together.

What kept me going was still my martial arts training.  Mentally, I was tough enough to keep going, day after day, night after night, call and mail after call and mail.  I knew that one day this too would end, and so I tried to keep focused on my team and the goals we had in front of us.  We planned our work and worked our plan, inch by inch until we made it.  It wasn't pretty and there was no big celebration at the end - no victory lap, no parade.

For my students who have been very busy lately - I get it.
You are in a fight, just like I was.
Stay in the moment.  Stay aware.  Use your training and your strength to keep going until you reach your goals.  Don't do it for anyone else.  DEFINITELY don't do it for your company (who most likely won't even care).  Do it because, like all warriors, when we are in a fight we do whatever it takes to be the one that walks away.  Do it because you know you cannot be broken.
Prove to yourself what you already know.  You. Are. Invincible.

Do it so you can get through it and come back to class.

See you soon.

The Long Run

(thanks for the inspiration NG, SB, and my other friends)

Last weekend some of my friends ran the Tokyo Marathon.  While I am certainly not a runner, at least not anymore due to my dodgy knees,  I am very impressed with those who do distance running, and they have my deepest respect.

There is a lot that we martial artists have in common with marathon runners, and our paths are closer than many would think.

The Journey of Self
As every competitive runner knows, even when you run with a group running is a journey of the self.  Running puts you in tune with the rhythm of your body and many consider it a type of "moving meditation".  Running is a way of exploring the self and challenging your own limitations. Martial arts is very much the same.  Although friendly competition is welcome in both, at the end of it all, success is dependent on the self.  That being said, the camaraderie among runners is no less passionate than that of martial artists.  Good runners know each other and share a common understanding and respect of each others' commitment and dedication.  We martial artists should do the same.  Everyone has a personal journey and deserves the support of those around him/her.  No one's challenges are greater or less than another's. We each have our personal goals to achieve.

Longer-Term Objectives
Differing from sprinters, distance runners have a very special mindset.  Completing a marathon requires unwavering focus on the longer-term objectives.  Even at the 5-mile mark, good runners never lose sight of the finish line.  It is important to avoid distraction and keep moving forward. As martial artists, we too have a vision for how and who we want to be, and each step brings us a little closer to that.  Just like distance runners, good martial artists stay the path and do not lose their way.

A Series of Smaller Goals
Good runners know that a long distance run is really a series of smaller goals in sequence.  To achieve a good time, it doesn't do to run slowly all along and then try to spring at the end.  Pace is critical, and each milestone is an important part of achieving the whole.  Martial artists also know that the whole is a sum of the parts, and each training session has specific goals that contribute to the end result - a better YOU.

Training, Training, Training
My distance runner friends have tremendous discipline in their training.  None of them achieve good times by simply rocking up and having a go.  They all train for months in advance, following a set regimen to prepare their body for the task.  Not only does this exact training regimen yield a better time, it is an important part of letting the body adjust so as not to suffer injury.  In every activity, recovery is absolutely critical, and that doesn't happen well unless the body and mind are trained,  In martial arts, too, the commitment to training shows in every movement.  Nobody is born a world-class martial artist, just like no one is born a performance runner (although our bodies are certainly designed to run).  It takes years of dedication to reach an elite level in either one.  Good athletes of all types can and should be just as proud of their training discipline as they are of the actual end result.

Just BREATHE
For all sustained effort, proper breathing is essential.  Good runners carefully monitor their VO2 and train to increase their lung capacity and set their breathing rhythm, since they know that this is a key part of achieving peak performance.  The relationship between proper breathing and martial arts is also well documented and has been proven for more than 5,000 years.  Without a specific emphasis on proper breathing techniques it is not possible to achieve good results in running or martial arts.

Dealing With Injury
Injury is inevitable.  At some point in training or practice, injury will occur, and dealing with injury is an important skill.  Both mentally and physically, we need to understand how to cope with injuries, and accept that proper recovery is necessary for our long term performance.  Injuries require proper medical care and enough rest to recover fully.  Pressing on through injury is a conscious choice that should be made with utmost care, since it can affect the future.  Mind over matter is all well and good, but the goal of running, just like martial arts, should always be personal development, health and longevity.

Determination and Willpower
No post on running (or martial arts) could be complete without mention the mental aspect.  Great runners, like great martial artists, have iron will and determination to achieve their goals.  Rain or shine, they train.  This is why distance runners, like martial artists and other elite athletes, are highly sought after in the professional world.

Diet
Good runners, like all good athletes, master their diet.  They know that what you eat determines how you perform.  They are careful in how they absorb calories, and carefully monitor their bodies.  Martial artists, too, should care about their diets, since diet affects every other aspect of our lives including mental/emotional state.

You Get Used to It
Starting out as a runner by trying to run 26 miles is a very bad idea.  As I mention above, conditioning the body to handle those kinds of distances without serious injury takes time.  During a distance run, various aches and pains come and go, but a good runner simply monitors them and lets them go, continuing on to the finish line.  Adjusting to the training regimen, and ultimately the pace of the performance, is a key part of running, just like it is a key part of martial arts.  Too much too soon leads to burnout.  It is far better to set up and maintain a sustainable routine, and slowly increase the workload over time.

Addictive
Many athletes talk about how addicted they get to running, especially to "runners' high", the feeling of elation at the sustained, high-performance level.  Once the body is conditioned to avoid injury, runners can run "in the zone" and find their body craving more.  I have friends who run frequent marathons, as well as trail runs, triathlons, and other elite endurance events throughout the year, and their lifestyle revolves around it.  I find that my life revolves around my martial arts, and I think about it constantly, even after 35 years of training.

In conclusion, MUCH RESPECT to all my friends for challenging such a worthy goal.
You taught me a lot.  Thank you for your inspiration.      

Victim? Or Victor?

(thanks for the inspiration JD and RM)

I recently posted about a brutal machete attack in the US, suggesting "don't be a victim- get trained". This led to some dialog on my post, which was important enough to explain here.

Two sides of this situation were presented - both valid.

One friend, a lifelong martial artist, suggested that while self-defense is a good by-product of dedicated training, we need to make our personal and spiritual development the primary objective.  I do not disagree.

At the same time, another friend, also a lifelong martial artist, suggested that practicality comes first, and that our training needs to provide protection for ourselves and our loved ones as a principal goal.  He does not discount personal or spiritual growth, but suggests it is secondary to self-defense.  Again, I do not disagree.

So --- which is more important, personal/spiritual development or self-defense?
This is a very difficult question, and one I suspect has a unique answer for everyone.

 I hope never to be in a violent confrontation again.  If so, then the need for practical self-defense would be secondary to my need for personal and spiritual growth.  However, if such a situation were to occur, platitudes and good intentions would likely get me (and maybe those I care about) hurt or killed.  That is a loss I could not bear.

Although the press would have us believe otherwise, I think the world is a far safer place than it has been at any other time in human history.  Generally, the rule of law abides everywhere, even if it is not always perfect (and sometimes way off the mark).  Most of us are at very little risk of violent attack in our daily lives, especially in Japan where I live.  So, why study martial arts, then?

For me, the answer lies in understanding what being a victim really means (and by extrapolation, what "self defense" really means).

In a violent encounter, a victim is someone who is the recipient of unsolicited aggression. He/she did nothing to warrant an attack, and was simply the target of violence.  Clearly, this is a case where self-defense is about protecting our physical self (and others) from harm by aggressors. However, good martial arts training does not just teach us to defend against attacks when they happen, it also teaches us to project a positive, confident demeanor, which often defuses potentially violent situations before they occur.  Does this work in all cases?  No.  Does it work much of the time?  Absolutely.  I have not had to use force on an aggressor in more than 20 years, and I believe much of this is due to the fact that I do not present myself as a victim.  I walk confidently, head up and shoulders high, watching my surroundings.  Of course, I tend to avoid very dangerous places and use common sense when I travel, too, which contributes to my safety.  That said, I still use my martial arts training EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Just not for fighting.

Not every attack is physical, and not every receiver of an attack needs to be a victim.

The victim mentality is one where we feel others are to blame for our situation, and we are thus helpless to effect any positive change.  In a mugging or rape, this may often be true.  However, there are many situations where we adopt a victim mentality because we do not take responsibility for our own outcomes.  Sometimes we are not cautious or careful in how we conduct ourselves or engage others.  We may project a weak or negative attitude, which is a signal to predators.  We may fail to be aware of our environment and thus be unable to prevent a bad situation from escalating.  Vigilance is import every day and is a cornerstone of our regular zen practice, which reminds us to "Be Here Now" remain mindful of everyday details.

I do not teach my students to be victims in any aspect of their lives.  This includes not being a victim our our own negativity, self- doubt, laziness, pride, anger, fear.  Rather, I expect my students and I to take responsibility for our own actions without blaming anyone else for any setbacks.  I expect all of us to do our best in every situation and not settle for less than the happiness and success we deserve.

I expect my students to be compassionate - peaceful when possible, decisive when not.
I would go so far as to say that without studying a combat art in a combat mindset, we do not fully reap the benefits of the training in learning how to cope with stress and pressure, remain calm, and deliver "right action in the right moment" - the essence of zen.

Hopefully, none of us will ever be involved in a violent encounter.  Then, I hope we will all continue to recognize the value of the training in our personal and professional lives.  It is our commitment to the Peaceful Warrior Way that gives us the confidence to be compassionate and not give in to our fears or negativity.

If we are in a conflict, I hope we are successful in walking away without injury.  I hope the situation is resolved without undue force and with minimal harm.  We all have the right to defend ourselves and our families, and we all have the responsibility to be trained to do so should such a need arise.

My friends are both absolutely right:  We must seek a higher purpose in what we do.  At the same time, what we do has to work if and when we need it.

See you at class.

Armor Plated

(thanks for the inspiration Master SK)

The picture is self-explanatory.  When you read it, you realize that some things you do cannot be undone with a simple apology.

This includes words and actions.

The hearts of those around us are beautiful, like this plate, but also fragile as well.  Some of the things we do can cause damage that never really heals.

In some cases, it is obvious.  The plate shatters, never to be repaired.  In others, the cracks are slight, harder to see, but there nonetheless.  They weaken the plate a little bit at a time, until finally, without warning, it snaps.

Of course, apologies are important.  A heartfelt apology shows remorse and regret, and these are important parts of healing to the hearer, and of growth and understanding for the giver.  Failing to apologize is a deep character flaw.

At the same time, an apology on its own is rarely enough. It is our actions that define us, and making amends is an important part of atonement. Words without deeds are empty and those around us deserve better.

Martial arts training does not just make us physically stronger, it makes us emotionally stronger too.
By working hard in the dojo, under positive stress and challenge, we forge our spirit together. This builds bonds between us and makes us part of a team with a common goal - improvement.  Our training makes us confident without being arrogant, far less likely to break under pressure.

Ultimately, the secret to being hard to break is not cold indifference to the words and actions of others. It is just the opposite. By focusing on our connectness; by using our compassionate heart we overcome other peoples' negativity and hurtful intentions.  This is the highest level of martial arts - where there is neither victory nor defeat - only connectedness.

Be careful of your words and deeds. Positive or negative they can last forever.
Make your spirit strong so it will not break easily.

Make your plate armor plated.

Questions and Answers

Everyone seems to be looking for answers.  We have the collection of human knowledge available at our fingertips anytime, anywhere via Wikipedia, something I consider one of mankind's greatest achievements.  In even the past 100 years, our understanding has grown exponentially. Still we look for answers.

Not only are we on a seemingly endless quest for answers, we are obsessed with having the RIGHT answers. We feel most comfortable with absolutes and dread uncertainty and the unknown.  We love nothing more than correcting each other for even the most minor inaccuracy.

However, there is another point of view - that of Zen Buddhism.
In Zen, the answer is rarely exact, rarely given and, ultimately, rarely important.

Rather, we are encouraged, actually forced, to ask questions.  To question EVERYTHING, especially our own understanding.  Zen is less concerned with the result than it is with the process of inquiry.

This process is what ignites our curiosity and attracts our interest.  Koans (Zen riddles) are used as a kind of "mental isometrics" to make us use our mind power to seek answers to puzzles which are, by design, impossible to answer.  Examples include:

• what is the sound of one hand clapping?
• what was your face before your mother and father were born?

Importantly, many koans are designed not only to lead to self-realization, but also to develop a dialog between teacher and student.  Thus, the answer is not relevant, except as an objective to yield awareness and deepen connection, both of which are materially important.

Furthermore, I would argue that this devotion to "answers" is wholly misguided.  An easy question yields an easy answer, which is of little value.  Once we think we know the answer, accepting it often makes our drive to question fade away. We feel satisfied without exploring deeper.  We give up and let go.  For hundreds of years people were content with the answer to "what does our world look like?" being that the Earth was flat and they had no great desire to seek another answer.

However, a perfect question yields a robust and meaningful answer, which naturally leads to other good questions.

It is the question, not the answer, that ultimately matters most.

For us, deliberately shifting our focus from seeking answers to asking the right questions empowers us in new and exciting ways.  The right questions allow us to reaffirm our beliefs and goals.  They allow us to increase our awareness and deepen our connections to others.  We need to question ourselves most of all.  Question our beliefs, our understanding, our motivation, our goals, our purpose, our value.  This is critical to developing a balanced sense of self, and identifying our own unique pathway to happiness.

In communication with others, we obsess over having the right answer to what the other person might say.  This is especially true in client meetings.  Rather, it is more important to be focused on asking good questions - questions which engage the other person, encourage them to share and be honest, and deepen our feelings of connectedness.  Asking the right question, not having the right answer, is the cornerstone of good communication and a foundation of good relationships.

Please ask good questions.
I can't promise you I have the answers, but that is not really important anyway.
If you ask the right questions, the right answers will always come in time.

"If my answers frighten you Vincent, then you should cease asking scary questions."
--- Julius Winfield, Pulp Fiction

The Empty Cup

(Thanks for the inspiration MA)

"Empty your cup" is an old Zen saying that occasionally pops up in the west.

A Zen scholar, who was full full of knowledge and opinions, came to see a Master and asked about Zen.

At one point the Master re-filled his guest's teacup, but did not stop pouring when the cup was full. Tea spilled out and ran over the table. "Stop! The cup is full!" he said.

"Exactly," said the Master. "You are like this cup; you are full of ideas. You come and ask for teaching, but your cup is full; I can't put anything in. Before I can teach you, you'll have to empty your cup."

This story is often used to remind us to enter into new situations without preconception, what is called "Beginner's Mind", and that Zen, like most things, can be learned by the mind but must be experienced by the spirit to be truly understood.

However, there is another empty cup interpretation (and lesson) that I want to share from the picture above.

These days, many people I meet are tired.  VERY TIRED,  Exhausted, in fact.  I know.  Sometimes lately I feel that way, too.  The stress of our modern, fast-paced life wears us down.  Our jobs and our other commitments demand so much of us.  Our "connected" lifestyle means we are online and, sadly, on email and conference calls, at all hours of the day and night.  We don't sleep enough and our sleep is not good quality when we do.  Many of us have anxiety or panic attacks. We worry that we will not have enough time to do all the things people expect of us.

In relationships we are taught to give and give and give - and then give still more.
We give until our cup is empty, but it is not a happy giving.  This giving is a demanded, expected giving that leaves us feeling like we have lost something; like part of us has been taken away.
This leads us to despair.

Let me be perfectly clear:  IT IS OK TO BE SELFISH SOMETIMES.

We do not owe others everything we have.  It is OK to keep some for ourselves.  Giving is not giving when it is demanded or expected.  Giving is positive when it is given freely, without any expectation of return and not to offset the inferred guilt of selfishness.

We all need time to recharge ourselves.  Take it.
There is no shame in it.
Be selfish.  Take care of yourself first.

In fact, this is the only way to sustain ourselves over the long term, without being slowly worn down to nothing.  This is true not only of work, but of personal relationships as well.  Life is a marathon, not a dash.  We should move forward, but pace is more important than speed.

We live in a society that makes us feel ashamed to ask for help, ashamed to ask for support, ashamed to need anything from anyone.  I CALL BULLSHIT ON THAT.  Needing others is a natural, healthy process of involving people in our lives and sharing what matters to us.  It is an intimacy we cannot and should not deny the people we care about.  Not only do they want to be part of our story, we need them to be part of it for the story to have real meaning.  As scary as it may seem, without letting others into our hearts and trusting them with our feelings we will always be lonely, even in a stadium full of people.  None of us deserve that.  We surely don't deserve to do that to ourselves.

Take care of others, yes.
But take of yourself first, so you are strong enough to do so.

Take time to fill your cup.

Then, and only then, be sure to share it.