Hibernation

With all this talking, what has been said? The subtle truth can he pointed at with words, but it can't be contained by them. Take time to listen to what is said without words, to obey the law too subtle to be written, to worship the unnameable and to embrace the unformed. Love your life. Trust the Tao. Make love with the invisible subtle origin of the universe, and you will give yourself everything you need. You won't have to hide away forever in spiritual retreats. You can be a gentle, contemplative hermit right here in the middle of everything, utterly unaffected, thoroughly sustained and rewarded by your integral practices. Encouraging others, giving freely to all, awakening and purifying the world with each movement and action, you'll ascend to the divine realm in broad daylight. The breath of the Tao speaks, and those who are in harmony with it hear quite clearly. -- Chapter 81 of the Hua Hu Ching, trans. Brian Walker

I haven't been blogging as regularly as I used to. As of late, I've been offline, taking care of what's truly important to me. And all the while, I've been dormant, hibernating, perhaps gestating — engaging in reflection, mediation, personal study, and introspection that's got me undergoing what feels to me some kind of "inner transformation".

I've been observing nature, watching my kids learn and play, trying to be a better listener, and doing my best to let go of my over-inflated sense of importance and the need to be in control. I've been reading and re-reading the Tao Te Ching, the Hua Hu Ching, and several books on meditation. I've been enjoying my training at the dojo, mostly for for what it is and releasing my expectations for what I've always wanted it to become. And I've been working out harder than I have in a long time.

Admittedly, I don't have any particular insights to share at this point in my journey, other than to say that I think it's time for me to sundown this blog: After some five years of writing, all these words do not appear to have increased my wisdom or my happiness.

But I'm sure it hasn't been a total waste of time or effort, either.

I've already written a little bit more about this on my UBBT blog. I'm sure I'll emerge from my cocoon at some point, to resume my regular writing with something interesting to say, but it probably won't be here. Thank you for being a part of this journey. My learning and growing continues — I hope yours does, too.

On Orchids and Bonsai

One of my goals for 2012 has been to reconnect with nature, primarily by spending more time outdoors. That's been a tough one so far — I work a corporate nine-to-five, and I teach my classes at the dojo indoors. I've come to realize that I just don't get out all that much! I'm working on that by trying to add in little five-minute nature walks throughout the work week, but honestly, the office park parking lot just isn't all that exciting. I'm going to start biking to work when the warmer weather gets here. Not too long now.

Inside my office, my primary connection to nature has been a little bonsai tree that I have sitting on the windowsill. I've managed to keep the same tree alive for a few years now, which is a pretty good accomplishment in light of my many bonsai failures. I've kept up with the watering and pruning. I've trained the tree with wire. I fertilize it. And every year at about this time, I begin looking closely to detect the first sign of new buds as the tree emerges from its winter dormancy. Bonsai need to be kept wet: I water mine thoroughly up to three times a week, and I'm told it's basically impossible to over water them. The tree's looking pretty good!

This week, I added to my "indoor nature preserve:" I picked up a small and delicate-looking orchid. Now, I've killed an orchid or two in my day, but I'm willing to try again! In sharp contrast to bonsai trees, which are impossible to drown, I've learned that the main cause of death for orchids is overwatering. So rather than placing the orchid in a dunk tank, as I do with the bonsai, I've been instructed to simply place an ice cube in the orchid's pot once a week, and let it melt slowly so that the roots can absorb the dripping water. And I need to make sure I drain the pot adequately so that standing water doesn't kill the roots.

So now I've got two plants in the office, each beautiful in its own way, each requiring an entirely different approach to keep it healthy.

Back at home, I've got a spider plant. Now that thing takes some serious abuse! I've had it for years — I've totally ignored it, I've forgotten about it on more than one occasion, and I've even left it for dead several times only to see it somehow stubbornly come back to life after receiving the least amount of care. Perhaps I should bring the spider plant into the office, too. I could stand to learn more about it. It deserves just as much attention as the two plants in my office. The spider plant, I'm sure, also wants to be vibrant and alive and appreciated for what it is.

I'm coming to see how people are like plants. Each person is beautiful and uniquely different. Each person wants to grow and express their individuality. And each person needs a different kind of attention. All people need "water and sunshine" to grow and thrive, but beyond the basics, what will injure, stunt, or kill one will nourish another and make it bloom.

And so with the people in my life, as with the plants in my life, I must pay close attention.

Some Random Thoughts on a Rainy Wednesday

Alignment. Authenticity. Transparency. Vitality. Today these qualities seek their full expression through me. May I find the way.

I desire to live a well-lived life in which my thoughts, words, and actions are all in accord, and in line with my highest personal values and my true, ever-wise, "best self."

I endeavor to live a life of profound integrity — a life that is free of any pretense or artifice, in which there is no need to hide or shelter or differentiate my "private self" from my "public self." What I appear to be, I am. And if I cannot be totally "ego-free," then let me strive to at least become less "ego-centric."

Above all, I seek a certain something. A vibrancy. An "aliveness" to help me to learn, to love, to grow, to share — always.

I want to live and savor my life to the fullest, and to continually express myself vigorously, creatively, and passionately — with grace, dignity, and perhaps a bit of style.

I know for sure that I have all the tools that I need for this journey. I need only to apply them.

Still a Beginner: Thougths on "Shu-Ha-Ri" and needing a Guru

I wrote an earlier, draft version of this post as a response to Grace Gravelle's insightful blog entry, "One Guru." Grace is a talented instructor, and she currently leads yoga classes at my dojo on Tuesday and Sunday evenings. You can check out lots of her writing on her website, Front Porch Yoga.

Many martial artists dedicate themselves to one teacher, or sensei. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. In my case, there are many fine instructors out there whom I would call "sensei" out of respect for their knowledge and expertise, but there are only two people, Sensei Dennis Mann and Sensei Brian Ricci whom I would call "my Sensei."

Sensei Mann and Sensei Ricci are great martial artists. I've spent DECADES learning from each of them. The style of karate that I've learned from them has a particular name, a specific lineage. That's important to me, and I do my best to "keep the faith" when I teach. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to pass on the art just as it was given to me. But there's a big martial arts world out there, full of many, many things that I do not know. There's so much I'd still like to learn. I am, to be sure, a beginner — a mere babe in the woods.

And for me, no post on the subject of the people whom I consider to be my teachers, sensei, or gurus would be complete without mentioning Coach Tom Callos, creator of the Ultimate Black Belt Test. Now I've known Coach Tom for years now. He's part guru, part life coach, and a very dedicated martial artist of no small skill or reputation. Tom is my teacher, "my other sensei," but he's never corrected my posture, taught me a kata, or told me to blade my foot more when I throw my side kick. In the interest of full disclosure I must state here that I've never even met him in person. But we have a vibrant virtual relationship through phone calls, emails, Skype conversations, and blog posts. He's helped me bring meaning and clarity to how I practice and teach the martial arts in ways that no one else has.

I know that cannot learn "everything" (related to the martial arts and otherwise) from either of my sensei. Or my "other" sensei. They are great role models in a number of ways, father figures even. But they're not enlightened spiritual beings. (At least I don't think they are.) They are people. With flaws, just like me.

So in a way, I guess I consider everyone to be my teacher. Everyone has something to teach me. Especially those folks outside of the world of the martial arts who we might call our "Living Heroes". In the martial arts and out, I am an Artist of Life.

In the martial arts, I believe that a student should follow a teacher only as long as it serves that person's growth and development. I try to be a good sensei and role model for all of my students, but it's not my place to guide and advise them in the non-martial areas of their lives. Inside the dojo, in the world of blocks and kicks and punches, in the world of conflict, tactics and strategy — well, I tend to know a whole lot more than my students do. That's to be expected — after all, I've been at this game a long time. And I expect my students to do their utmost to absorb and precisely replicate the things that I have to teach them on the mat.

But spiritually and morally? Well, I've got room for improvement, too. The best I can do is try to lead by example; my students can/will choose to follow the path that I walk only if they find value there. And if they don't? Well, that's okay, too. I don't want to change anyone. I simply want to help people become a more genuine, authentic, present, confident version of themselves. And hey, I stumble a lot on my path. Aren't we all walking in the dark?

In the Japanese martial traditions, there's a concept called shu-ha-ri that tries to explain the phases of learning: First, the student tries to copy and emulate exactly what they're being taught. Then they try to master it, to make the teachings theirs. And finally, they must transcend the teaching and forge their own path. They must actively create, but this cannot happen without a solid foundation somewhere. So while I still call Sensei Mann and Sensei Ricci "my Sensei," there's not too much more at this point that I'm actually going to learn from them other than external forms... Have I learned my lessons well? Perhaps. There's still a lot that they've taught me that I've yet to master. And by now, they don't really need to correct me anymore. (Honestly, they're probably tired of repeating themselves when I continue to make mistakes.)

I know exactly what I need to work on to improve and grow. From here on out, I'm more or less on my own. (But I'm not "alone." My Sensei are still my wise councilors and advisors.) The work ahead is mine to do. Part of that journey, I suppose, will be to find another sensei (or two, or three) — people who can guide me along the trails I've yet to walk on. But I must also turn within, and find more lessons there:

More and more these days, I surprise myself on the mat while I'm teaching. I find "cool stuff" in what I already know that I never knew was there, stuff that no sensei has shown me, but has always been there, awaiting discovery. There are variations, subtleties, and small shifts that produce different (and sometimes surprising) results. My "fighting" is becoming creative play. (It must drive my students crazy when I digress...)

But I'm still a beginner, to be sure.

The World Needs More Warriors

I wrote this essay today as a submission for "This I Believe."

Humankind's history is replete with warfare and violence not because (as some would say) engaging in warfare is part of our genetic hard wiring, but because going to war is easier than maintaining or creating peace. Hitting, hurting, raping, and killing is far easier, I believe, than developing compassionate understanding and true self-knowledge.

Our education systems have failed us in that they have taught us to value peace, but they have not really taught us how to be peaceful. Peace is hard work! Therefore, we need to study nonviolent communication and anger management. We need to develop our capacity for empathy and our ability — and our willingness! — to resolve conflicts through respectful dialogue and intelligent negotiation.

We are as much a part of nature as the trees, the sky, and the ocean. We are one with the unfathomable and miraculous matrix of life. We should consciously reconnect ourselves to sunrises and sunsets, to the stars in the sky, to the animals in our oceans and forests, and to the plants that spring from the soil.

As Dr. Wayne Dyer says, "we are not organisms in an environment; we are 'environorganisms.'" It is imperative that we become active stewards of the environment who are cognizant of how our actions affect the whole. For if we do not take care of Mother Nature, she will surely "take care" of us.

So long as I'm alive, I'll have to do my living in the body I was born with. So, if I'm going to enjoy the ride we call LIFE, it's my duty to take care of the vehicle. That means a healthy diet, plenty of physical exercise, daily meditation and contemplation, continuous learning, and constant cultivation of positive relationships and attitudes.

We are here to maximize our potential, and as our potential grows, we must put our talents to use to benefit others through community service and acts of kindness. We belong to one another. I envision the day when everyone looks beyond their own family, ethnicity, neighborhood, and nationality to see that we are all fundamentally and inseparably connected.

We do not need more warfare, but we do need more warriors. Cultures around the world and throughout history hold warriors — those who will stand up and fight for what's right, precious, and worthwhile — in the highest esteem. Warriors are responsible leaders who embody compassion, integrity, discipline, courage, and honor. Warriors are predisposed to take difficult action, to sacrifice, to serve.

But there really are no enemies "out there." This means we can all benefit from cultivating and living a warrior's life beyond all fighting, beyond all warfare. Confidence, character, and a passionate devotion to others are the best and highest forms of "self-defense."

My path to self-mastery involves engaging in peace education, environmentalism, healthy living, and community activism. I'm pursuing the most worthy and authentic kind of "warriorship" I know so that my life may someday become an inspiration for others to go beyond all self-perceived and externally imposed limitations.


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This blog is part of the Ultimate Black Belt Test Program, which is an undertaking of The 100., and a part of Emerald Necklace Martial Arts in Boston, MA.

Self-Defense Lessons at the Intersection of Mindfulness and Salad

A brief word of warning: The content of this blog entry represents a special kind of realization for me. For just the other night, the actual culmination of my decades of martial arts training came down to a few simple moments in the kitchen with my daughter — when a number of "radical" approaches to "self-defense" suddenly united in harmony.

You see, for a few years now, I've been writing about how self-defense is more than physical — more than blocking and punching and repeating forms on the training deck. Now, all of that is important, of course. I still do a lot of punching and kicking every week. But I've said a number of times and in a thousand different ways now, that the aspects of meaningful self defense also necessarily include the quality of our diet and our relationships, our level of mindfulness, and our ability to create spontaneously and joyfully in response to our environment.

So what happened in the kitchen? Well, the other night, my warrior's response to the age old question "What's for dinner?" Came down to this: Make salad. Consciously. With whatever materials are at hand. Do it with maximum creativity and fun, and use it as an opportunity to TEACH.

So with no real plans for what I would be making for a meal, I rummaged through the fridge and pulled out everything I could find that was edible, live, and colorful. I spread the materials (a yellow pepper, blueberries, strawberries, an apple, grapes, and salad greens) — along with some almonds and some cold leftover rotisserie chicken — out on the counter, and I asked my daughter Ava to help me prepare a meal. Not really knowing what to expect or what exactly was about to happen, I grabbed my camera:



In about ten wonderful minutes, I taught my daughter a quick lesson on healthy eating. I also taught her — she's not quite five years old, mind you — how to safely handle a 10-inch kitchen knife. (This, required a lot of patience, and a great deal of trust!)

We playfully chatted about the different colors and textures and origins of all the foods on the counter, sampling and savoring each individual ingredient before tastefully arranging it on the plate. In the end, we ate good, healthy food. We spent quality time together, working as a team. We both learned a few things. We had fun. We created ART.

Which one of us was the student that night? Who was the teacher? Somehow our usual roles got reversed. My opportunity to teach turned out to be an opportunity to LEARN. In the end, I think I learned more in 10 minutes about life, love, and being in the moment than I have in a long, long time. And now, I'm looking forward to my next lesson. And the one after that. (And the one after that...)

And someday, maybe I'll teach Ava how to punch and kick!

Sensei Jason Gould
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts
http://www.karateinboston.com/

Everything Counts!

"How you do anything is how you'll do everything." I heard or read this phrase in the last 24 hours or so, and it has really stuck with me. (Perhaps all the reading on mindfulness is sinking in!) I wish I could remember the source of this quote, so I could give proper credit and attribution where it's due. Ah, well. My sincere apologies to the originator, whoever and wherever you are.

This phrase teaches me an important lesson: that whatever level of attention, energy, presence, and mindfulness I bring to one activity will tend to be reflected in the other aspects of my life. Watch how I brush my teeth, tie my shoes, or perform a kata, and you're likely to see similarities in how I sign my name on a check, drive my car, or talk with and listen to my wife and kids.

Everything counts. If my life is my dojo, then I'm always in training. Therefore, virtually everything I do is practice. All I need to do is add awareness. So instead of driving my car mindlessly during my commute, perhaps I should attempt to practice driving. Instead of shaving as part of my morning routine, perhaps I could practice shaving as an extension of my life's ART.

The path toward mastery and greater awareness is always right now, and right here, beneath our feet.

Sensei Jason Gould
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts
http://www.karateinboston.com/

Attrition, Retention, and All the While, the World Goes Round and Round

The above photo was taken at my dojo about two years ago, following a special "all-ranks" workout. Not all dojo members were present for the event, of course, but those who were there represented a pretty good cross-section of our diverse dojo's adult membership: men, women, younger, older, black, white, and everywhere in between. I'm lucky and proud to have such a wonderful rainbow of people on the dojo floor.

Twenty-four people were present for training that day, including me. Nearly two years later, only eleven of those pictured are still actively training and fully participating dojo members. Many who were not pictured above were dojo members back when the photo was taken, and they are still training at the dojo today. Others are training today who were not members of the dojo back when the the photo was taken. And still there is another set of people: those who joined the dojo and stopped their training in the two years between when the photo was taken and today.

People start training in the martial arts for a thousand different reasons. Folks enter a dojo because they want confidence, increased fitness, self-defense skills, a sense of community, something new and fun and interesting to do — the list goes on and on. Many people stop training, I suppose, for just as many reasons: they get bored, they change or lose a job, they fall in love, they move, they get pregnant, priorities and interests change.

The bottom line is that at a dojo, people (many, many, many people, in fact) will come and go. This has been a hard lesson for me to learn and to accept, as I hope (sometimes I expect) that anyone who joins the dojo will be here for the long haul. It's an unrealistic, expectation, I know.

I look out across the dojo floor on any given training night, and I know that the chances are that some of the people there that night will, for one reason or another, eventually go their own way. I feel like a parent who dreads the looming day when their beloved child will move out and move on.

This is the way of our people.

I look back through photos like these from time to time, and there are many names that I'll never forget. Sadly, there are also names that I'll never remember. But every time a new student walks in the door and steps onto the floor for his or her first class — looking awkward in their bright and shiny gi fresh from the package — the cycle starts anew, and I am renewed and refreshed and blessed by the opportunity to do what I love to do.

An Update on Japan from My Man on the Ground (With Info on How YOU Can Help)

Hello Friends. My good friend and karate student, Greg Mudarri, is currently living, working, and training in Japan. This entry is a repost of Greg's latest email update, from Tokyo, in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. Lots of great information here — and local perspective, too...

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Dearest friends, family, and others who I have come to know (but may not have met directly);

Greg Mudarri in Japan here (yes, still in Japan-- patience: we'll get to that).
Most of you probably already knew I was in Japan, and amongst those people a good number of you may have been concerned about me after the recent massive earthquake here. Others perhaps not, and in that case I commend you. You shouldn't be concerned about me. Not in the slightest. You should be concerned about the people who were involved directly in the disaster who are missing homes, loved ones, or are still missing themselves.

Sorry for the mass e-mail, but it's absolutely necessary at this point so I don't have repeat myself countless times. This e-mail will serve as an update of sorts on the situation in Japan, but most of all I hope it is something you will find informative. And that's really the purpose of this-- no need to reply at all!

I will try to break this down into a few sections: My Experience, My Decision not to flee, and My Hopes of how we can all help in this tragedy. (You may be selective about your reading if you're pressed for time or have limited interest)

My Experience
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If you haven't figured it out already I am safe. I am in the Tokyo area. Obviously this situation was a first for me coming from earthquake-less Boston, but as it turns out it was also a first for almost all people here in this country often stricken by quakes as well. I'm talking about the magnitude-- this was the largest earthquake in recorded Japanese history, and the 5th largest quake in recorded history in general. Yes, that is pretty serious. What are the chances I would be here when this happened?? Well, apparently they were pretty good because for the past few years I've heard just about all Japanese telling they were due for a massive one anytime now, as it seems to happen about every 100 years, and they were "overdue" for one as the last one had been more than 100 years ago. The Kobe quake of 1995 was also massive, but still doesn't compare to this one. And it seems they may not be over yet, because when a lot of people talk about "the big one" they actually mean for the Tokyo area. So you could argue that I knew what I was getting into coming at this time... but there are always risks no matter what you do. I could be hit by a bus tomorrow, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to cross the street ever again. Japan is probably the safest country that exists in terms of people. There is virtually no crime here outside the Yakuza, and the only drugs that exist here are brought by the ugly foreign population (it's sad but true). But this massive disaster, the likes of which no one could have ever fully predicted or imagined, serves as a reminder to us all that no place is really safe, as we humans are small and fragile, and this earth can swallow us up whole like insignificant crumbs.

I was in my fourth floor office in Tokyo when the 9 magnitude earthquake struck. One of 5 people in the office, I actually left the room to go to the bathroom t the time. As I stood at the sink, I noticed the sliding door next me started shaking ever so gently... "Is someone there?" ... "Just a moment..." .... for a moment I thought perhaps someone was playing a joke on me or something. This very slight shaking continued for at least 30 seconds or so before all of the sudden things started shaking abruptly and violently-- I opened the door and crouched under its frame, holding on, wondering when what I now realized was the biggest earthquake I had ever felt would end-- it seemed to last for minutes... I could hear my other coworkers in the other room shouting as things started falling off shelves all around them. In the bathroom the soap fell into the sink and that was it, but when I went into the room after it had ended I saw a scene of utter disaster. But every structure of our new building was intact, and though faces were wide eyed, everyone was safe. Immediately they all remarked that it was the biggest earthquake they had have ever felt in their lives (and all of my coworkers are Japanese, by the way)... we decided to contact everyone ASAP-- we knew it would be huge news so I prematurely sent emails to my immediate family and an e-mail list my friends are on.

But we didn't realize the worst was yet to come-- the tsunami, which took most of the lives in this tragedy, over 9,000 confirmed at the time of this writing with about 13,000 still missing, and the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, which has us in Japan outside the disaster areas as well as the rest of world significantly worried. Before running away like most foreigners did, I have been keeping my eyes on that situation, which I will present below...

And of course there are the aftershocks. Somehow I've gotten quite used to them. There was just a 5.9 in Ibaraki as I was writing this. The severity of the other issues has continued to such a degree none of these large aftershocks-- hundreds-- have been had much attention paid to them. Here is a website showing all the earthquakes we've had in just the last week: http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/quake_local_index.html

Here is a more interesting perspective of that as well: a map showing all the quakes up until now since the big one and 3 leading up to it (683 at the time of this writing).
http://www.japanquakemap.com/

Notice when the big one hits at 14:46 on the 11th it's area covers the whole screen-- showing all who felt it. After that one hits you can just see the absolute barrage we've been getting-- it just doesn't let up. You can also speed up the timing on the right-- at the current speed it takes about 10 minutes to see all the earthquakes. Anyway, if the circle overlaps Tokyo, that means I probably felt that one.

The aftershocks have calmed down to an extent to being one or two noticeable ones a day rather than one or two noticeable ones an hour, as it had been the last week. Also food was pretty scarce for a while and cars are still lining up down the street for gas, not too mention the scheduled blackouts everyday for a few hours to save power. I'm not going to elaborate on these issues because they are just minor inconveniences knowing what people are going through up north. I'd willingly give up food and electricity for a week if would help those people in any way. Really not a big deal.


My Decision not to flee AKA the only radiation to worry about (outside Fukushima) is in the minds of the media
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If you haven't figured it out already I am not leaving Japan. Like I said lack of food and electricity here from time to time is a non-issue at a time like this. So the only real concern is radiation, but in Tokyo the difference in radiation levels is negligible. Before joining the exodus of foreigners, I decided to learn about radiation and how the situation at Fukushima could affect us here in greater Tokyo. I am pleased to offer you the news that even in the worst case scenario (meltdown, etc.) we would be virtually unaffected in regards to our health. So stop listening to the chaos your media sources prefer to focus on for ratings and rejoice: you can finally look at the bright side! Isn't that what we should be doing after this disaster? Is panicking daily and feeling sick our stomachs from sadness going to help us prevail, as we must ultimately do?

So without further ado I will present you with countless links and facts about the radiation in the Tokyo area, so you can stop worrying and let us get on with rebuilding this nation. If all the foreigners did a little research before running home to their mommies they might actually be able to help. My mommie wanted me to come too but it just seems like taking the easy way out (sorry Mom). Each plane ticket home costs about a grand-- now imagine the millions of dollars that was just spent on airfare going to help the crisis of northern Japan-- That's almost the saddest part of all this. Before I spend a single yen on a plane ticket to leave this slightly inconvenienced area, I would first contribute that same amount to aid for this disaster. The plane ride home will expose one to more radiation than staying in Tokyo would. Some people just need to get real. OK, sorry-- I don't mean to downplay this whole thing, it IS scary, but let's get the facts first.

Now I'm not scientist, but this guy is: http://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=566914282
Summary: UK Chief Scientifc Advisor John Beddington speaks to the British Embassy in Tokyo, letting us all know that the radiation effects will not be harmful to Tokyo, even in the worst case scenario.

Still if you want hear more people smarter than you talk about the situation at Fukushima, you can listen to an hour plus conference and Q & A about it held at MIT involving some top nuclear researchers and professors here: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/nuclear-panel-japan-0136.html (scroll down to find the video)
They mostly address what exactly.supposedly happened at Fukushima and diagnose the situation and it's severity. Of course, it is on the scientific side. One contributor is a woman participating by way of phone who is a specialist on the health effects of radiation. About a little before half way through she mentions that though some levels of radiation have risen in Tokyo even, they are still not harmful by any means. She gives some statistic that even if the levels raise 40 times their regular state, one would have to be exposed to it for days on end to even equal a simple chest x-ray. So there is virtually no worry. Sorry, I don't know exactly when this sort of thing is mentioned, I just watched the whole thing, as it is quite interesting.

Or, you can read what these MIT smarties are writing about nearly daily here: http://mitnse.com/
For example, on March 20th you can read some updates on the situation at Fukushima, showing what are mostly positive signs for the resolution of this disaster. It will still take time but things are getting better, not worse.

It the radiation still worries you, the Metropolis (Japan's No1 English Magazine... yada yada) is providing daily levels in the Tokyo area:
http://metropolis.co.jp/quake/quake-2011-03/tokyo-atmospheric-radiation-levels/
(At the bottom it explains the units and what levels are deadly etc.)

You can see the fellow taking the readings and explaining how safe it is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rp2nqBt04A&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y9IYQzsyC4&feature=related

And finally for links to all sorts of English updates and information on the situation in Japan, go the Metropolis home page here: http://metropolis.co.jp/

Probably the best source for continuing coverage on this situation is Japan's news source, NHK, in English: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/22_02.html
Here they just tell it like it is-- none of the hype you're all getting fed over seas. Yes high levels of radiation have been found in the water at Fukushima. Yes it is 3 times the safety limit. Yes they found traces of radiation in milk and spinach there. No it is not necessarily harmful, but yes they recommend it not be consumed, especially for children. Yes the radiation could be harmful to anyone in the 30km radius, but no it is still not in Tokyo. Yes rain may have even put iodine in Tokyo water, but no, the levels are still not harmful. Like I said, they tell it like it is. Thanks NHK!

More research can be done here from more other smart people at UC Santa Barbara: http://online.itp.ucsb.edu/online/plecture/bmonreal11/
and more valuable and genuine updates are here: http://www.who.int/hac/crises/jpn/en/index.html (thanks to Daigo for these)

Again I'm not a scientist or nuclear specialist by any means, but after the research I have done I think I'm probably more qualified to deliver the news than the western media has been as of late. I actually heard that there were even some accounts of the Daibutsu (great Buddha statue) of Kamakura glowing from radiation. How preposterous!! Here is an article by a fellow in Japan after hearing about this fabrication, you might want to read here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-im-not-fleeing-japan/2011/03/16/ABQsdhk_story.html

Another foreigner in Japan is also writing about the scene in Tokyo daily here: http://www.gally.net/updates/index.html
(You can also click on the "Radiation" link on the left for more info on that stuff if you're not sick of the reassurance already)

OK, heard (read) enough? Good, because I'm pretty sick of typing. But the most important part is next-- how you can help!! So put your eyeballs back in your sockets for a few more moments.

My Hopes of how we can all help in this tragedy
========
If you haven't figured it out already, we're talking donation here. What did you expect?? Now open your wallets! It's a lot easier than digging through mass amounts of debris and devastation.

People have been asking me for names of charities and such to donate to and I hate to say it, but this information seems to not have been the top priority as of late. But because it's SO important I looked into all my sources and I'm ready to throw more links at you. Let your heart do the rest.

The first obvious source is the Japanese Red Cross. Donation info: http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html

After that, I'd like to mention some sources from my home of Boston.
The Japan Society of Boston provides a great list (not necessarily Boston exclusive) of how help here: http://www.japansocietyboston.org/donatejapan
It includes a few options to easily donate $10 via text message, so I encourage everyone to do this who is capable.

Another MIT source is here: http://phi-delts.mit.edu/japan-relief.html#Disaster
You can donate here by Paypal-- the funds raised also go to the Japanese Red Cross.

If you are actually in the Boston area, you can attend an event "One Heart" at Showa Boston on Sunday March 27, 2-4pm, which will be in 2 parts: Supporting the Victims (appropriate for all ages) and Remembering the Victims (more appropriate for adults). Here you can donate money in person to the Japan Disaster Relief fund. If you are in the Boston area and interested, please e-mail me directly and I can forward you the details.

Outside of Boston, the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Norther California has established and easy way to click and donate to the Japan Disaster Relief fund, which can be found on their website: http://www.jcccnc.org/

Now for more international charities: your donation is just a click away!

Relief International: https://www.ri.org/donate/donate.php (click the red "donate now" button)

Google's simple donation system: http://www.google.co.jp/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html (choose the one you'd like to donate, enter an amount in yen and click the blue "Donate" button)

Unfortunately I am not familiar with all the charities listed, but you can research them here: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1221 (Charity Navigator - Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: How To Help)

So what exactly am I hoping? Well, as Japan changed my life and made me who I am, I am hoping to give back. I am hoping for my loved ones to help. I am hoping Japan will be rejuvenated in the coming spring. I am positively looking for Japan to rise up stronger out these ashes like a phoenix, or more eloquently put, perhaps, I am anxiously awaiting for the land of the rising sun to rise up higher and brighter along with its cherry blossoms are encouragingly blooming cherry blossoms. Let's all do our part to help this happen.

I guess that's it for me, for now. I hope whatever you chose to read was at least somewhat informative.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone that would be interested or I should have sent this to but didn't. In that case I hope those individuals accept my heartfelt apologies.

Good night! Tomorrow is a new day!

With hands clasped and chin high,

Greg Mudarri
Saitama, Japan 2011.Mar.23

Older and Wiser

I take the Mass Turnpike to work almost every morning. Today, as I zipped along at about 70 mph in the 55 mph zone, another gentleman, in true "Masshole" fashion, decided to "urge" me to drive faster by pulling up close behind me and waving his arms excitedly. From my rearview, I could see the expression on his face (yeah, he was that close), so I could tell that he wasn't having a genuine emergency. He was angry, red in the face, and shouting some really obscene words. (No, I couldn't hear him, but I sure could read his lips!) I thought I was trucking along nicely, but hey, everyone's entitled to their opinion.

There was a bit of traffic, so it wasn't safe for me to immediately move over, but I knew that horn blowing and light flashing were only moments away. When the way was clear, I signalled and moved over to allow the other driver to pass. He pulled up alongside me and then slowed down long enough to drive his point home by screaming some more (I still couldn't hear him. I was listening to the radio). He finally punctuated his vitriol by flipping me the bird, and then he sped off.

My response? Well, I just smiled at him, waved hello, and sent him a silent blessing. Sir, I hope you get to wherever it is that you're going to safely. I surprised myself, actually, because I really meant it. I even felt a bit of compassion for him: Seriously. Who wants to get to work that badly?

I know that a mere decade ago, my response would have been radically different. (Ask me some time about the day that I intentionally rammed another car while going 75 mph on the very same road, fully prepared to die or kill in defense of being "right.") But today it seems that I've grown older and a little bit wiser. Those two kid's seats in the back — even empty ones — are a nice reminder to be civil and to focus on the important things in life.

Take it easy out there. Life moves fast enough.

Some (More) Thougths on Healthy Eating as Self-Defense

As parents and educators, when we discuss children’s safety, health, and well-being in the context of ”self-defense,” we spend a lot of time emphasizing how children can use skills like environmental awareness, conscious body language and posture, and a strong voice. We teach kids how to be assertive, how to ask for help, and how to respond with appropriate action when their intuition alerts them to something that seems unusual, uncomfortable, or just plain out of place. Ultimately, we teach and empower children to take control by using physical resistance techniques whenever they are in immediate, physical danger.

 

We tend to worry about the stranger in the dark alley, the bully on the playground, and everything in between. The threats to children’s safety are real, and our fears for their well being are justified. But one of the most dangerous things a child may face every day is what shows up on their plate at every meal.

 

We’ve all heard that obesity among children is at an all-time high in our country, and we know that a lifetime of poor eating habits can have significant negative consequences in terms of a child’s long-term health. Increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, heart attack, stroke, and other maladies can all be linked to poor eating habits, and recent statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services indicate that one out of three children who are born today will develop Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime. Because of these immediate threats, and our ability to intervene before damage is done, I believe that it’s time for children’s safety and self-defense educators to add “dietary self-defense” to their safety and wellness curriculum.

 

But what is dietary self-defense? Like physical self-defense, dietary self-defense is all about awareness and choice. Most people — children and adults — do not eat in a way that promotes optimal health and well being, and many people may think their diet is healthy while they consume foods that are devoid of nutrition.

 

I suggest that we self-defense instructors take the necessary steps to educate ourselves so that we, in turn, can provide children with information about what they are eating and how it affects them. A logical step in this process, of course, is to model the behaviors that we would like children to adopt by becoming healthy eaters ourselves. We can provide better, more nutritious options at the breakfast/lunch/dinner table, and we can teach children how to make better decisions about their food choices when they are out on their own.

 

Ultimately self defense instructors could become nutrition education resources who are capable of answering “self defense” questions such as: What are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and antioxidants, and what role to they play in the body? How much sugar is too much? What are whole grain foods and why should I eat them? How do I read a food label? What is Type 2 diabetes? How do you get it? What are the risk factors and warning signs, and how can I prevent it?

 

Avoiding Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder that impacts how the body uses insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. People with diabetes may suffer a number of maladies, including blindness, hearing loss, and kidney disease, and they are at an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes. There is no cure for Type 2 diabetes, but it is in many ways a “lifestyle disease” that is preventable in almost all cases. The best defenses against Type 2 diabetes are an active lifestyle and a healthy diet.

 

Simple Ways to Develop a Healthy-Eating Lifestyle:

• Encourage children to create a “rainbow on their plate” by selecting foods of various colors.
• Avoid fast food restaurants when dining out.
• Avoid heavily processed foods at the grocery store. They’re usually found in the middle of the store, so so stick to the outside isles when shopping!
• Teach kids to read labels: Avoid foods loaded with unsaturated fat, sugar, or high fructose corn syrup.
• Reduce consumption of soda and sugary drinks. Drink more plain water and natural fruit juices.
• Control the size of meal portions. Don’t eat more than you can hold in your cupped hands.
• Slow down: Take the time to chew, taste, and ENJOY your food!
• Don’t eat meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) anywhere but at a table. Don’t eat in the car, in front of T.V., etc.
• Cook your own meals or help cook with your family
• Reach for herbs and spices before reaching for salt and butter

The Christian Science Monitor and Its Relevance to the Subject of "Self-Defense"

A Funny Thing Happend On My Way to Work Today

A funny thing happened to me on the way to work this morning. On my usual driving route is a small coffee shop, where every now and then I stop for juice and a bagel before I hit the highway. This morning, I discovered that my usual parking space was gone. Well, it wasn't really gone, but it was overgrown: a fresh patch of green grass was in the spot that usually belongs to my Toyota!

A local group of community activists were celebrating "Parking Day." They had reclaimed my parking space and turned it into a public park by planting grass (and inviting people to sunbathe on it!), and making music in their new community space. This was no small accomplishment, and it was all legit. They had a permit and everything!



Now, these folks were not martial artists, but they certainly showed their warrior spirit and a penchant for taking action, their environmental awareness and compassion, and a willingness to engage the community about important issues.

And they were having FUN.

Now these people are Artists of Life!

An Open Letter to the Pitiable Soul Who Broke Into My Car Over the Weekend -- and Found Little to Nothing of "Value" to Steal

Dear Sir or Madam,

I came outside early on Saturday morning to discover that overnight, you had let yourself into my vehicle, which I mistakenly left unlocked with the alarm off. I'd like thank you for trying the door instead of smashing the window.

Once inside my car, you dumped the contents of my glove compartment, center console, and ashtray all over my passenger side front seat and floor, leaving me quite a mess to clean up. I understand that you were probably in a rush, but the next time you care visit, please clean up after yourself. Oh, and also, be sure to CLOSE the door so as not to drain my battery!

I can only assume that you were looking for something of value — perhaps a Blackberry, an i-phone, a wallet, or a GPS. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I do not leave valuables in my car for strangers, such as yourself, to take from me. (I noticed, though, that you left the dollar or two in change sitting by the gear shift — is there a dollar amount that you would have taken?) As for the small $10 pocket knife that you did take — well, please consider that as a parting gift. (Never liked it anyway.)

As for the car itself — well, I suppose that a much-used and somewhat banged up 2002 Toyota Rav-4 probably wouldn't fetch much these days, so I understand why you didn't try to hotwire it and drive it away. I must say, however, that I was dumbfounded and quite sorry to see that you did not help yourself to the remarkable warehouse of treasures that were sitting in plain sight.

Allow me to explain.

You see, while driving my car back and forth to work, I regularly attend "Mobile University," and I listen to motivational and inspirational audio CDs for my own personal growth and development. Among my collection — which you carelessly tossed aside — are the following:

• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone
• Change Your Mind, Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer
• The Power Of Intention by Wayne Dyer
• Spiritual Activation by Julia Butterfly Hill
• Power Networking by Brian Tracy
• The Way to Wealth in America by Brian Tracy
• The Millionaire Mindset by Lee Milteer
• The Dale Carnegie Leadership Mastery Course
• The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Constantly feeding myself with this kind of information inspires me and keeps me in a positive frame of mind. I absorb new ideas and new information on a daily basis. Heck, I even have a CD to learn and practice my Spanish. So I imagine that, if you had taken the resources listed above — that is, if you had actually taken them, listened to them, and applied just a small percentage of the lessons contained within them — well, I imagine that your life could have been forever changed for the better. And I'm confident that if you had taken and used these items, you would have also RETURNED them to me with an apology and a note of thanks.

But you didn't take them.

Your loss.

Perhaps someday you'll have another opportunity to access a GOLD MINE like the one you overlooked on Friday night.

Thanks again for the reminder to lock my door and set my car alarm.

Warm regards,
Jason

Sensei Jason Gould
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, Boston

Some Thoughts on the New Karate Kid: A Rose By Any Other Name? You Decide.

Yesterday, I was pointed to a fairly scathing editorial about the new Karate Kid movie, written by Grandmaster Taejoon Lee.

Master Lee is clearly upset about the title of the film because it does not respect and honor the traditions and history of the art that is actually depicted in the film, namely, kung-fu. "There’s no excuse for us today to call something that’s Japanese as Chinese or vice-versa," Master Lee writes.

I think I understand Master Lee's outrage. As an American of African descent (and a few other things mixed in along the way, to be sure), I'd probably be a little offended at being lumped in with Haitians or Jamaicans or Sudanese simply because I am black. I'm an American, dammit!

And as a martial arts instructor, I believe I have a serious responsibility to make sure that my students understand and appreciate the cultural background and underpinnings of my chosen art, karate.

If I were of the hair-splitting type (hey, sometimes I am), I would be quick to point out that karate is NOT a Japanese art in the first place. Karate is an indigenous Okinawan art, one that was heavily influenced by Chinese martial systems, and an art that was eventually embraced and further refined and developed by the Japanese.

The makers of the new Karate Kid make it pretty clear that young Dre is learning kung-fu, and NOT karate. In one scene in which Dre is watching an instructional video on TV, they took some real steps to make the cultural distinction between karate (Okinawan) and kung fu (Chinese) — but whether those steps were enough is a matter of opinion. It's also pretty obvious that the name, "Karate Kid" was kept for reasons of marketing, branding, and nostalgia.



Still, some people are clearly offended. So, is the new Karate Kid just a rose by any other name? Does the name matter? I guess it all depends on your point of view. I'm not offended enough to boycott the movie, but after reading Master Lee's article, I'm a little more sensitive to the surrounding issues of culture and race that the movie brings up.

Ever Wonder If Karate Was Right for YOU?

People get involved in the martial arts for a number of reasons. Some people may want to get stronger, or they may be interested in self-defense. Sometimes people join a dojo because they're sick of the gym, or because they're simply looking to try something new and different.

Karate training will improve your fitness. Just get started, and you'll become stronger, more grounded, and more flexible — and you'll notice the difference in a very short time. You'll learn a variety of different things, and of course, you'll learn to protect yourself from harm, too. But taking karate classes is more than an opportunity to learn blocks and strikes. Karate is a way of being!

The dojo is a special place where you can concentrate on self improvement, self discipline, and self expression. It's the perfect environment for you to shift your awareness away from everyday concerns and distractions so that you can work on YOU.

In addition to building physical skills, a traditional dojo focuses on promoting the classical "warrior virtues" of respect, patience, integrity, and discipline. One of the primary goals of your study is to help you develop a polished character — one that is imbued with humility, compassion, and a desire to make the world a better place.

Through serious training, you'll develop powerful focus and an unshakable confidence in your ability to accomplish any goal. The attitude, presence, and poise that you develop as part of your training will carry over into every area of your life.

When you join a dojo, you become part of a diverse group of friends like no other. If you're lucky enough to find a dojo like Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, you'll be surrounded by fun-loving people who are willing to help one another, get their hands dirty, and serve the communities in which they live, work, and play.

And no one you meet will be interested in punching or kicking anyone.

Rubber Meets Road: The Intersection of Martial Arts Philosophy and Real Life

Back in 2001, as part of my Nidan (second degree black belt) examination, I was asked to write an essay in response to the question, "How have the philosophies of the martial arts influenced your life?"

This is what I came up with:

I took my first karate class at age 6 — there were no other boys my age in our neighborhood for me to play with, and my mother thought karate classes would be a good way for me to make some friends. I actually still remember that first lesson with clarity. More than anything, I remember that I wasn't very impressed with the class, but karate was something to do, and there were other boys there. So, I agreed to sign up. Now, as I turn 30 and look back to the start of my karate training, I can see that the martial arts have affected me on every level of my life: physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Indeed, the martial philosophies I have learned over the years color the way I interpret the world, and I know that I will continue training for the rest of my life.

I've always enjoyed hard physical training, and I strongly believe that the confidence and discipline I learned from pushing myself in the dojo has contributed to my successes in the military and in the corporate world. My physical study of the martial arts has stimulated my mind: I've amassed a library of more than 200 books, not only about the martial arts, but also about eastern culture, history, and philosophy. Through my own readings and through the teachings of my instructors, I feel that I have become a more spiritual person. For all of its violent, combative applications, karate has contributed to my emotional stability, and I feel that as a result of my training I have developed a more peaceful, balanced disposition.

Ethics and Morality

Sensei Kim is fond of repeating the following saying:

Watch your thoughts; they become your words.
Watch your words; they become your actions.
Watch your actions; they become your habits.
Watch your habits; they become your character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Through their own example, my instructors have taught me that karate is more than physical, and that our core values — respect, compassion, honor, integrity, and gratitude — are more than a list of words to be memorized. Indeed, our core values are a list of principles to be internalized — they become part of our personalities over time. The more we meditate on our core values and discuss them with each other, the more we will recognize them in our actions and in the actions of those around us. I am happy to report that the values I have learned in the dojo compliment and overlap the leadership traits and principles that I learned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

By observing the actions of my instructors and the senior students in the dojo, I have also discovered the martial arts values of generosity and humility. All of my peers are eager and willing to share their karate knowledge and insights, but the giving does not stop there. Everyone in the dojo is also quick to lend a hand or a dollar to a classmate, without any hesitation or expectation of reciprocation. It is beautiful and touching to observe. The most talented individuals in the dojo are paradoxically also the most self-effacing and humble. Their egos fully in check, they are admirable role models to follow.

As we absorb the intangible teachings of the dojo, our martial arts practice becomes a constant lesson in morality. Our Dojo Kun is a set of moral instructions that we can apply equally both inside of the dojo and in our daily lives:

Seek perfection of character
Be faithful
Endeavor
Respect others
Refrain from all violent action

Over the years, the meaning behind my karate training has been changing for me. I'm constantly striving for physical improvement in the dojo — I've got lots of room for it — and the focus of my karate training is still the perfection of my basics and kata. However, I know that practically anyone can learn to kick and punch in a fairly short amount of time, and I have learned by degrees that another goal of my karate training is the perfection of my character.

Beyond physical training, the dojo brings me face-to-face with my own ego, insecurities, and fears. When I see that someone on the dojo floor is more skilled than I am, I'm ashamed to admit that my ego makes a quick comparison, and I push myself just a little harder. Perhaps this is healthy, but nevertheless, I constantly remind myself to tend to my own garden. When I see someone who is not as skilled as I, I resist the urge to feel accomplished, and I look for a way to help that person improve. When my sensei or a senior student points out a flaw in my form or mistake that I have made, my ego attempts to resist the truth. Ultimately, I cannot hide from myself, and I know when I'm not doing my best on the dojo floor. Because these experiences carry over to other aspects of my life, I also know when I'm not doing my best at work, and in my personal relationships. In all three areas, I try to correct my flaws and shortcomings when I become aware of them.

Learning the Art of War

My practice of the martial arts has made me a more strategic thinker. As a Marine, I was required to learn both classical and modern combat tactics and battlefield strategy: the employment of troops, limitations of weapons systems, the effects of terrain and weather, logistics, intelligence, and more. Even today, Sun Tzu's The Art of War is on the reading list for Marine lieutenants. Because of my martial arts training, I have also read the strategic writings of Miyamoto Musashi, Yagyu Munenori, and others. The scaleable teachings of all of these men can be equally applied to combat between individuals, armies, or nations.

The principles of sen, go no sen, and sen no sen that I have learned from my teachers in the dojo has also made a great impression on me, and I've learned to apply these strategic principles in less martial settings. At work, I've discovered how to best take advantage of the relationships between different departments, and how personalities can play a role in corporate politics. I know whom to ally myself with, when to push my agenda, and when to be quiet. At home, I've learned how to choose my battles more carefully, be more flexible, and determine what is really important in life. Most importantly, at work and at home, I constantly strive to "win without fighting", and I try to avoid conflict altogether.

The Dojo is My Family

My karate training is high on my personal list of priorities, second only to my wife and family. In fact, the dojo members have become so much a part of my family, and the sense of community in our dojo has become so strong, that the two aspects of my life have become virtually indistinguishable from one another. My dojo mates and their families have grown together into a tightly knit support structure. As a pack, we work out together in the dojo, and socialize together on the weekends. We celebrate together at weddings, and cry together at funerals. Always, we celebrate each other's achievements and comfort each other in hard times. I am honored and blessed to have such unique and loving people in my life.

For these reasons, while I tremendously enjoy the work I do for a living, at a basic level, my work is what I do between karate lessons. The samurai value of loyalty is strong in our dojo, and the commitment to the dojo by its members is unquestionable. Sensei Ricci has always taught us, "Don't give up the night." He has said that every time you miss a class, it makes it easier for you to miss the next one. I've slipped into a slump from time to time, teetering on the edge of what we call "the black hole." However, we all know that if either student or teacher fails to make it to class, there is no dojo. We have a responsibility to each other to make it to class. All of us willingly make a small sacrifice every night we train: we understand that every hour we spend in the class is an hour away from family, career, other hobbies, laundry, the lawn, personal time, and more. Out of love, respect, and commitment to my extended martial arts family, I have resolved to make the dojo my "appointed place of duty" on karate nights, scheduling almost every other activity around my training. Week after week, we come to train. Sick or injured, we come to train. In summer's brutal heat and in winter's bitter cold, we come to train. This is what we do.

The Dancer and the Dance

I have always appreciated the simple beauty that is inherent in the martial arts. Setting combat practicality aside, I find the movements the Asian martial arts — particularly the movements of karate, tai chi, aikido, and iaido - to be unspeakably beautiful. There is nothing more pleasurable for me than to watch the performance of someone who is well advanced in the martial arts: it is indeed art! At the highest levels, there is no distinction between the performer and the performance. I see in others' effortless effort a shadowy hint of what is possible for me to express by means of my own body. I discovered the best expression of this concept in the following excerpt from Among Schoolchildren by W. B. Yeats:

Labour is blossoming or dancing where
The body is not bruised to pleasure soul.
Nor beauty born out of its own despair,
Nor blear-eyed wisdom out of midnight oil.
O chestnut-tree, great-rooted blossomer,
Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bole?
O body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?

Practically speaking, karate training is "worthless." You can't see it, hear it, taste it, smell it, or feel it when you're not doing it - it doesn't exist without the actor. You can't hold a kata in your hand; after it's performed, it's gone. You can't spend it or trade it in for something. A painter creates something that exists long after he paints. The work of a martial artist is fleeting — most katas only last about sixty seconds or so - but it still communicates something pure!

Some years ago, I came across Peak Performance, a book about peak performance in sports activities. The author of the book wrote about the relationship between the body and the mind, and about the power of visualization and meditation. It was in this book that I first heard the term "flow state" used to define the fleeting feeling of effortlessness, confidence, unity, and freedom that one feels when totally absorbed in an activity. The book spoke volumes to me, for every now and again, when I'm at my best, in the midst of a kata, my mind becomes the peaceful eye of my physical hurricane, and I'm nearly overcome by a wonderful sense of peaceful detachment. My personal experiences on the dojo floor, the lectures of Sensei Kim, and my own readings have led me to believe that karate can serve as a powerful link to something beyond our everyday existence. A few years ago, I sketched out my own personal mission statement about my martial arts training:

Budo is the vehicle through which I practice the principles of warriorship. It is an inner calling. Training mind, body and sprit gives me a sense of purpose and the feeling that I am in control. Budo serves as a catalyst for constant self-improvement, honest introspection, character development, and overall well being - it is a gateway to other holistic disciplines. Through Budo I discover myself and my relationship to the universe; it has given me a sense of spirituality. During my journey I create my own reality and seek the company of others who share my vision.

My readings in Zen philosophy have taught me that only the present moment is important. Although it is difficult, multi-layered reading, Takuan Soho's The Unfettered Mind is one of my favorite books. I strive to be present in all I do, although I fail far more often than I succeed. Zen Buddhism was attractive to the feudal samurai because its teaching cultivated a free, unattached, spontaneous mind. Sitting meditation allowed the samurai to focus on the present moment, and doing day-to-day activities in the spirit of Zen was an opportunity to practice "mindfulness." Clearly, the ability to focus on the task at hand was valuable to the samurai: hesitation or attachment to life on the battlefield could mean certain death.

Modern karate training is often called a kind of moving meditation. When a person is totally focused on performing a movement, the mind grows increasingly quiet. There is no past, no future, and no ego: only total absorption in the current technique. Moreover, when the moves of a kata are so thoroughly and totally ingrained in an individual — to point that no thought is required to execute them - performance becomes pure expression of the soul. This stage — the "flow state" - is the goal of our training, and once we achieve it we'll do anything to feel it again, and lengthen the experience. Karate training has shown me that when the mind is quiet, wonderful things can happen: It's the silence between the notes that makes the music.

The Principles of Warrrorship

From my training in the martial arts, I have developed a fascination with eastern culture, concepts, and attitudes. As a United States Marine — a modern-day warrior — I began to idealistically compare my life and values with the lives and values of the feudal samurai of ancient Japan. It is very easy to draw a few simple parallels across time: the values of loyalty, bearing, tact, and physical courage are just as prominent in the lives of Marines today as they were in the lives of the samurai.

As I expanded my comparison, I discovered that throughout all of history, many warrior classes around the world have also held these values dear. I examined the knights of medieval Europe, the legionnaires of ancient Rome, the plains Indians of North America, and others, as I sought to learn more about the warrior's function in society. Without realizing it at the time, on my own, I had discovered the primary attributes of the classical warrior archetype.

Reading the works of anthropologists and sociologists gave me more insights into the nature of the archetypal warrior. My definition of a warrior grew beyond the realm of combat to include individuals who live an authentic life. I came to understand that along with loyalty, bearing, tact, and physical courage, a true warrior should also display presence, discipline, compassion, integrity, and moral courage. Certainly, Sun Tzu, Miyamoto Musashi, and Yagyu Munenori were warriors, but, in a broader sense, so were contemporary figures Dr. Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Ghandi.

A warrior is someone who, through committed action, transforms knowledge into power. Warriors seek to overcome their fears and maximize their abilities. A warrior seeks self-mastery instead of power over others. A warrior is someone who promotes peace and love. I believe that as marital artists, this type of warriorship should be our ultimate aim. It is our destiny as martial artists to become examples of outstanding moral character for the rest of our society to emulate.

The Journey toward Mastery

Many karate students have entered our dojo with the goal of earning a black belt. I have witnessed some students invest only the minimum amount of work they need to do in order to achieve their black belt, while others pursue the goal with vigor and enthusiasm. However, one thing remains constant: those who only set their eyes on a limited goal often disappear from the dojo shortly after obtaining it. It is unfortunate that so many never realize that achieving their black belt is a sign that one's training is truly just beginning. I have observed that the students that are "in it for the long haul" are focused on the process of training itself, not on the trappings of status and rank.

I have learned that there is no finish line in the martial arts. More importantly, I've realized that there isn't even a race to begin. Everyone in the dojo learns at his or her own pace and we should never judge our progress by our rank, or by how many katas we have memorized. The road to what outsiders call "mastery" is a lifelong journey without end — in every aspect of our training, there is always room for improvement, always more we can give of ourselves. As process-oriented students, we know that sincere effort and perseverance are more important than talent or results.

Sensei Kim has labored to teach patience to all of us. There are people in the dojo who will never be "good" (i.e., aesthetically pleasing to watch), but they still come every week, they still try to improve, and the dan ranks never tire of trying to help them. The martial arts journey is different for everyone. Whether you are practicing a martial art for self-defense or self-discovery is unimportant. I have learned that the only important thing is to patiently continue.

Better, Better, Better

Sensei Kim's mantra, "Every day in every way, I'm getting better, better and better," has had a profound effect on my life. His lectures on meditation, visualization, prayer, positive thoughts and energy have led me to do further reading on the power of the mind. Sensei Kim has taught us to tap the unconscious mind and give it a goal. Over the past few years, I have meditated, visualized, and consciously directed my mind in positive directions. I have also actively surrounded myself with positive, loving people. I believe that as a result, many of my dreams and desires have manifested in my life, including a beautiful and loving wife, a close-knit family, a challenging and rewarding job, excellent health, and dear friends. I am truly blessed and forever grateful.

_____________________________

I once heard the saying, "It is better to never begin; once begun, it is better to finish." I like to apply this maxim to my approach to martial arts. In my own study of the martial arts, I have continually gone deeper and deeper. I have yet to find the bottom - and I have yet to find any evidence that there even is one. Karate is a lifetime endeavor. As I've stated earlier, I will spend the rest of my days training.

It has been many years since karate ceased being "what I do" and began to be the art by which I define myself. From my martial arts training, I have learned about the duality of yin and yang, soft and hard, good and evil. I am more aware of the constant changes around me, and I have become more attuned to the changing of the seasons and the cyclical nature of life. Through karate, I have also become more aware of my own impermanence. As I progress in my own martial arts journey and watch my teachers age, I realize that I too, only have so much time for physical improvement. Technical proficiency is a worthwhile goal, but I know that the body is limited and time is against us all. Thus, we must bravely move beyond the physical aspect of our training to focus on strategy and — ultimately — spiritual growth.

I Dare You (What Insipres YOU?)

When I was a little boy, maybe eight years old, my mother gave me a curious little book titled, I Dare You by William H. Danforth. It's a tiny little book, and I still pull it down from the shelf every now and again whenever I need a bit of inspiration. When my mother gave the book to me some 30 years ago, it was already worn out — It even smelled like an old book, so I think she'd had it in her possession for a number of years before passing it on to me. I was an avid reader back then (I still am!), and I read through I Dare You over and over. I never got sick of it. I didn't realize at the time the effect that little book would have on my life.

I was pleased to find today that the book is still in print. Find it here.

Today, I'm a martial arts instructor. But in my martial arts training, I'm playing all-out to get outside of the practice of punching and kicking by studying things like meditation, anger management, and nutrition, and by engaging in community service projects to make the world around me a better place. I'm trying LIKE HELL to transcend the physical aspects of the martial arts — even while I'm teaching all the little specific details that make shorinji-ryu karate so unique. And though I'm pretty sure that I'm not motivated by trophies or new ranks, I'm training for my next belt test like a man possessed. I want to see what I have inside of me.

I'm a writer, too: In the last two weeks, I've written two UBBT Journal entries, I've updated my dojo's Self Defense Resources blog, and I've authored three short articles for Examiner.com.

I guess I'm what you'd call "an expert in my field." This is what I do. I lead by example. I don't expect anyone to keep up with me, and I'm not in competition with anyone. But sometimes I feel like I'm not pushing hard enough, because I don't feel like I've inspired anyone to change their own habits and then help other people to improve their lives.

So today, to my students at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts (and in honor of my Mom, who inspires me), I offer this Dare:

I know that whatever you may be doing at the moment, you can do more. I know that whatever challenge you may be facing in your life, you can overcome it. You are so much more than what you're currently demonstrating.

So show me what you're really capable of! Show me that your interest and commitment to your training goes beyond what you get out of coming to the dojo two or three times a week. Show me — and the rest of the world — that you really do take your training home with you when you step off the mat and take off your gi.

I DARE YOU to feel what giving and contributing can do to your experience of being a genuine martial arts student/leader.

I DARE YOU to stand tall, think tall, smile tall, and live tall.

I DARE YOU to be an Artist of Life.

I Wish I Could Do More

I've done a lot of amazing things in my life, and still, I wish I could do more.

• I'd like to learn a sword art.
  
  
• I'd like to be more at ease with my yoga and meditation practice.
  
  
• I'd like to be more conversant in another language.
  
  
• I'd like to read more books. (Shoot, I'd like to write more books!)
  
  
• There are UBBT events that I'd like to attend, but I can't get to them.
  
  
• There's a tournament coming up this fall in Sacramento. And as much as I'd like to be there to support the event, I won't be there.
  
  
• I wish I could cure my daughter's diabetes. I never went to medical school, so I'm depending on a lot of good people to get that one crossed off my list.
  
  
• I'd like to go on a month-long backpacking expedition in Peru or Nepal — or both. (And I want to afford college and a comfortable retirement)

I could go on and on. There's so much more I want to learn and experience, but I'm constrained by the realities of time, energy, finances, age, physical limitations, personal choices, and of course, my lovingly upheld obligations to family. Damn!

But then again, so is everyone else.

Every day, we all get the same 24 hours. So no, I'm not making excuses for all the things I've failed to do or accomplish. I'm not feeling sorry for myself, either. Rather, today I'm just facing — perhaps really for the first time — the stark reality that while I know for sure that I can accomplish ANYTHING that I want to do in my life, I can't possibly accomplish EVERYTHING that I want to do.

So some tough choices need to be made.

It's time for me to re-organize and re-prioritize my "big to-do list" based on what I REALLY want. I can do anything I want to do, but I won't get to it all. Because the clock is ticking on my life.

I'm in need of some serious focus. So today I ask myself this: When I'm lying on my death bed (hopefully many, many, many years from now, resting comfortably and content in the company of loved ones who adore me), what will I regret having not done?

Revisiting The Black Belt Traits

In our dojo, we frequently focus on a list of virtues that I have come to call the "Black Belt Traits." The list is designed to help answer the question, "What qualities and personality characteristics should students from our dojo exemplify in their lives and daily actions?"

A few years back, I assembled the list of Black Belt Traits (respect, compassion, gratitude, patience, integrity, discipline, responsibility) from my own experiences and introspection, plus a number of martial sources, including the samurai code of Bushido, the European feudal knight's code of chivalry, and the leadership principles and core values of the United States Marine Corps. It's not a bad list, but is it a complete one?

I recently participated in an interesting conversation about the classical and modern martial virtues, in which a number of other values and character traits were mentioned. "Honor," "courage," and "right action" were discussed. (There was even an interesting digression about the virtues of "revenge" and "ritual suicide," but the conversation eventually got back on track.)

Opinions were all over the board. But it all got me thinking: There's certainly lots of value in our classical and modern martial virtues, but as modern-day martial artists (i.e., individuals not engaged as professional warriors, living lives in which, generally, the likelihood of facing mortal combat or deadly physical assault is fairly low), might we also add some positive, but decidedly non-martial qualities to our list of the values that we seek to embody?

Today, I'm thinking about "Generosity" and "Kindness."