Checkmate

Through this cycle I have started introducing the concept of checking hands.  Checking is when your non-weapon hand taps or "checks" your opponent`s hands during your technique.  This is often inserted between weapon hits or strikes.

So in effect, one hand hits, the other checks, then hit/check/hit/check/hit/check until the opponent is disabled.
Checks are generally done to the opponent:`s arm while the subsequent hits can be anywhere.

Because in Kali the non-weapon hand is kept centered, it can easily be used to check or control the opponent`s weapon or non-weapon hands.  There are two main purposes of this checking principle:

1) Control the Opponent`s Arm
By using a checking hand, we continually pin the arm against the opponent`s center mass.  We keep in contact and can read any developing motion immediately.  While we are doing the checking with our secondary hand, our principal hand is delivering the strikes/hits.  This checking also disrupts the nervous system and prevents the opponent from moving the checked arm, since as we are hitting, we are also sending stimilus to that limb through the checking action.

2) Control the Centerline
Just like in chess, the key to most matches is to control the center of the board.  In fighting this means denying the opponent the ability to use the centerline and making sure we always have right of way on it.  Checking is an excellent way to do this since it places our non-weapon hand into the center, where in addition to checking one of the opponent`s arms, it can also quickly take control and misdirect the other arm if it moves, by virtue of the fact by checking we are already controlling the centerline. The opponent`s secondary arm must go either inside or outside of our checking hand, and either path yields a variety of easy solutions for controlling that arm and finishing the fight.  Checking is an important tool for monitoring and controlling the opponent`s non-weapon hand.

As beginners, we spend a lot of time focused on being able to effectively use our weapon hand.  However, we need also to be able to use our non-weapon hand simultaneously, and checking is one of the primary activities we perform with the non-weapon hand.  In our flow, the goal should be to have both arms able to contact and control the opponent at all times.  When we practice the various entries and follow-ups with stick, empty hand and blade, we should be mindful of the effectiveness of our checking hand and practice it dilligently.

Check it out!  In this video, you can see Guro Jon Ward and Guro Steve Klement are showing with Suro Mike Inay (RIP).  Suro Mike was one of Guro Fred`s teachers in Inayan escrima and renowed for being among the very best in the world.  Watch their hands carefully for good examples of checking.

About Silat



Robert McCay of Pencak Silat Mande Muda

 Interesting question the other day in class about silat.  basically I was asked to define the differences between Kali and Silat.

Hmmm...let's see:


1. Geographical/Cultural Differences
Silat is found mainly in Indonesia/Malaysia/Brunei while Kali (including Escrima and Arnis) are from the Philippines.

That said, there is some overlap between them as there was plenty of trade between them.  Just as Indonesia/Malaysia/Brunei have Muslim roots, those same roots are also found in the Southern Philippines.

Culturally Silat is so ingrained that silat dances are performed at weddings and other special occassions.  The ceremonial dress and wearing of the kris are symbols of the warrior caste and considered formal wear, much as a Scottish kilt and dirk.

2. Sarong
The sarong is more common to Silat than it is to Kali, although one can still find Sarong in use all across Southeast Asia including the Philippines and India.  As from the photo above, in Silat the sarong tends to be worn doubled over rather than full lenth, to allow better mobility.  Use of the sarong as a fighting weapon is well-documented in Silat and the techniques easily transfer to other flexible weapons such as belts, towels, chains, ropes, and the like.

3. Weapons
The characteristic weapons of silat include the Karambit and the Kris.  Both of these are also found in the Philippines, particlarly in muslim-influenced areas, but can be slightly different in design.  The silat kris is often found to have a slender blade which is principally meant for stabbing, while in the Philippines the kris can be as long as a barong, and can even have a more rounded tip, being designed as much for slashing or cutting.  In Silat, the kris is often coated in poison, so even a minor wound is lethal.

4. Movemement
Of course with so many islands across Indonesia/Malaysia/Brunei, silat styles differ greatly, with some being close in appearance to Chinese Kenpo or Sanda, while others are far more exotic.  We expect silat to be more circular than Kali, and to attack the low line in greater intensity with sweeps, takedowns, and leg attacks.  On the ground, we expect silat to entangle the arms and legs with locks and chokes, with the intent to submit the opponent.  Silat elbows are short and quick, looking less like Thai elbows than we see in Kali.  The style is fast and fluid, preferring misdirection to hard contact.
To some, the flow of silat is reminiscient of Brazillian Capoeira.

5. Technique
Silat uses jurus, or forms, to teach beginners how to use basic techniques.  Very often these include giving the opponent an opening in order to draw in an attack that can be countered.  Thus this stances in silat may look vulnerable, but this is deceptive.  The silat artists uses these openings as traps.  Finishes often include a final position, as a way of showing that the silat practioner is ready for the next attack. Kicking techniques tend to be low line, and can be delivered in groundfighting as well.  Silat is generally a close-range style, including many elbows, knees and headbutts as well as backfists, eye gouges, and claw strikes.  This can seem very alien to those familiar mainly with western or Japanese fighting arts, and silat often has a big element of surprise.  Silat can be especially effective for smaller users, since it is often low to the ground and up close, which helps negate the reach advantages of taller opponents.

I don't purport myself to be a silat expert, and the above is based on what I have studied and observed, with the dislaimer that there is a vast diversity of silat styles, just as there are variations of Kali/Arnis/Escrima in the Philippines.

Silat is a fantastic cultural study, and the techniques can be formidable.  Silat is one of the main influences of Kali Majapahit.   

Two Ends Of The Same Stick

 The stick, or baston, is probably the item most often associated with Filipino martial arts.  So much so, in fact, that many beginners and laymen think FMA is really just "stickfighting" and fail to grasp the comprehensive depth of the what FMA systems encompass.  Still others fail to realize the dual purpose the baston occupies in FMA training.

Very often we are told that FMA are blade-based arts.  This is truly the case since when we study the daga we know that our flow is the same as our empty hands/kadena de mano.  In fact, it must be said that kadena de mano derives from the blade, and not vice versa.  Thus, good traditional flow in kadena de mano visualizes a blade in the hand of the practitioner.  As an example, the gunting we deliver in kadena de mano mirror almost exactly the gunting we deliver with the daga in daga y daga training.  The daga came first and was adapted to the empty hand application.  It is important to bear this in mind.

With the baston, we go one step further.  We must train the baston in two distinct ways:

1) Baston as Blade Proxy

Here we use the baston as a proxy for any medium-length blade such as a barong, kris, ginunting, or the like.  The movements of the baston are flowing, and energy is generated mainly by the turn of the hips.  We rely on smooth motion and flowing mechanics, since very little impact power is needed for the blade edge to cut.  Similarly, we are concerned with the location of the "imaginary edge" on the baston, since we are using it as a proxy for the blade.  For beginners this is often done by extending the thumb along the body of the stick (something you would not do in live combat) in order to remember where the edge would be if it were a blade.  In the Japanese sword arts, students often use wooden (bokken) or bamboo (shinai) swords as proxy for the live katana, with various training benefits associated with each.

2) Baston as Baston

Here we appeciate the baston's utility as an impact weapon.  We see many uses of the baston for locking and choking (which arguably can also be done to horrific effect with edged weapons such as the barong, but that is not the point here).  The power generation for these techniques includes not only the hip rotation, but also the strength of the wrists, especially for staccato movements like abanico.  In this style, we want to have a snapping feeling in the stick, and concentrate striking power on the ends of the stick, rather than along the body, as we would with a blade.  The wrist power "flicking" motion is of far less value using a blade, and is a movement exclusively associated with impact weapons.  With the blade, this "hacking" movement would be considered poor application and beginners are frequently corrected on it. 

In training, the baston (and foam sticks) allow for different levels of contact with the partner, and can greatly improve focus and timing.  These help avoid injury during the training, especially for beginners, and are an important tool for developing spatial awareness with the blade.  So, too, the steel blades are important at some point to develop the reality of the techniques, but sharp steel training should wait until the students has high comfort with all other forms (foam, wood, unsharpened metal). 

Make no mistake, in a fight the baston as an impact weapon is every bit as deadly as the edged counterpart - it is just that the application has different mechanics than the blade.

These must be trained accordingly.  When training, it is important to practice both styles - visualization of the baston as an edged weapon, and use of the baston as an impact weapon.  They are different, and you should operate them differently to make the most of your practice.

See you in class.

Express Yourself

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.

Express Yourself!

Diet Sodas Don't Help with Dieting

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.

10 Things The World Can Learn From Japan

-taken from Business in Japan Group, Linked In

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.

When the Going Gets Tough...

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.

Why Fast Food Isn't Cheaper Than Healthy Food

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.

A Little Flow From Our Friends

  

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.

Something to aspire to!

See you on the mats.

The Bladed Hand

 Stay Tuned for this documentary, which looks like it's going to be very cool.  I may be the first one in line for the DVD when it comes out...:-)

One Click

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.

Aquaman out.

View From The Top of the Country

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！！

Some Observations from Singapore

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!

Ganbare Nippon

The country is in crisis.

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.

I love Japan - always have, always will.

Shaking The Trees

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.

See you soon. hang in there.

Baby Steps

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.

I PROMISE.

21 foot rule

PTK

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!

Vegging Out

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.

CHOOSE LIFE!

Learning to Crawl

Let me be honest - I suck at swimming.

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.