GrandMaster Art Mason's Martial Musing

Many of the essay’s I write on this blog are inspired by questions or comments of my students. This essay is no exception.  This Black Belt wrote – ” A black belt is something you become not something you receive. It is also something you can lose..” It is wonderful to see someone having this realization!

Black Belt is an achievement, no doubt about that. This achievement cannot be taken away or diminished from. However, what being a Black Belt really means goes far beyond the mere physical success.  A true Black Belt is something you are, some you become, an awakening, not merely an achievement. With this understanding, yes you can lose it.

Black Belt is a state of mind, it is an awareness, it is true self discovery.  There are many people wearing Black Belts who have realized none of this. Depending on their age and rank this is normal. Self discover and realization goes far beyond that. A true Black Belt knows and understands that it is not about the opponent or the attacker, it is only about themselves. When it is about the attacker it is ego based. It is a win/lose scenario. When it is about self discovery it is about movement only. It becomes about defense, yielding, an ego less victory.

Whenever I talk with Black Belts or advanced students I find it interesting how they focus on the first attack of the opponent. They will fixate on the attack, the punch, the grab, the knife or what have you and the technique they wish to use. The true Black Belt will understand that it is about movement and natural laws, laws that prevent the follow up attack, the second punch, the sweep etc. There is never a choice of technique.

The understanding a Black Belt needs is what the direction of focus is. The focus should come inward, self understanding and self knowledge. The focus is on body movement. When this is understood self defense become simple, uncomplicated and free of technique.  In it’s highest form there is no body contact.

Don’t strive to acheive a Black Belt, be a Black Belt.

True Martial Art study is a melding of mind, body and spirit.  Ancient martial arts texts will often refer to the ’spiritual warrior.’  But has this part of martial arts training been lost in the last few decades, diluted by competition and the drive for higher and higher ranks?

When I began my martial arts training many years ago one of the first things my instructor dealt with in me was my ‘ego’.  He said that ego had no place in martial arts training. Being since I wanted to become a Black Belt someday I knew I had to follow his instruction to the letter. I let go of my ego, became quiet and started to learn. Our school at that time was very competitive in nature. He was an international tournament champion, one of the best of the times. My first competition was 5 months into training. I lost, a very close fight, but I lost. Afterward he asked me know I thought I had done in the fight. I grumbled and said I believed some of my kicks were close enough and should have been points. He laughed and said, “winners never complain.”

As time went by I discover that the less I was concerned about winning, the more I won. I went into the ring to have a good time and see how many points I could score. The competition became against myself rather than the other guy.  I was beginning to understand the function of my ego.

My passion in the arts was not found in competition. To me it really showed nothing of the true artist, only how good his physical conditioning was at that time. The better shape I was in the better I did in the ring.  My passion was self defense.  As my fighting days came to a close, my passion for finding truth in self defense began to flower.

Often times self defense in a Dojo is practiced in perfect conditions. Your partner of Uki will cooperate as to allow learning of the required techniques.  Sometimes you would have Uki’s that required tremendous force to control, others were very easy and then sometimes your techniques simply fail.  Every person is different, what was the universal thread to put these techniques together?

Soon came the rediscovery of ‘ego.‘ Once again when the ego is silenced the techniques work on anyone.  The wisdom of martial arts training and study is not found in the style that you teach or learn. It is found in the understanding that all movement is universal and that the true advanced study of martial arts is only about movement. The EGO stands still! Ego fights for position. The EGO resists and holds it ground.  In ego there must be a winner and loser, a right and wrong. No mind (no ego) means only to move, move from moment to moment following the Uki’s attempts at control.

Martial Arts and Wisdom are not found in a ring or in a rank. They are found in the understanding of flow and movement. The mind of no mind.

When I first started my training in the martial arts I was in the Dojo 6 days per week and hour per night. I continued this pace until I reached my Green Belt.  After than time I had the great joy of increasing my time to 2 hours per night. I would train with the advanced class and then stay and train will the beginners class.  Sunday was the only day of rest.

Today as a school we understand better the dynamics of training. Our adult classes are 75 minutes in length and encourage people to only train 2 times per week.  This has proven to be best for student retention and longevity. The benefits of training in the martial arts come with time.

In this day and age even twice per week can be challenging for people. It is not because they don’t want to train. It is because their priorities get mixed up and training is put off. People will give me a million excuses for not being in class. “Sir, I had to do this, or that.” All fine, but essentially all excuses. Sometimes there are good reasons, but this is in the 10% bracket.

Now if you join a gym or health club they really don’t want you to come. They want you to pay. Martial Art training is instruction and the teacher wants you there.  You are missed when not in class. But how important is this training? Think back to how you feel at the end of a class. The high you encounter from the endorphins flowing in your body. You have spent time exercising the muscles, heart, lungs and your MIND. You feel great, the best you have felt all day!

Instead often times students can be found on Facebook playing a game, watching TV or some other mindless event. Yet they wonder why they feel so lousy.

The benefits of training in the martial arts come with time.

Martial Arts connects the mind and the body. Most people live only in the mind and have forgotten their body. The only time they feel it is when something has gone wrong. Your health and state of mind are far to important to be ignored.

Get to class twice per week.

One of the greatest challenges in teaching self defense is making the students understand that the body needs to be in constant motion. Often times you will see students struggling with a technique because they are standing still and trying to muscle the Uki to get the desired result. I call this constipated motion.

As I travel and visit other schools and clubs I will often see this in their self defense. Strength is used to make techniques work, rather then angle and direction. Martial Arts when taught properly can be a size equalizer despite what some instructors may feel. My first instructor was a big and powerful man. He could make just about any techniques you can think of work. However most of us could not. We lacked the physical size and prowess to muscle our way with a larger, stronger opponent.

The word ‘foundation‘ is often used to refer to basic techniques of the arts. But students will often think that the instructor is referring to a block or punch, when the truth is foundation means what is going on below the waist. How are the legs and hips moving.

Do you want to improve your martial arts skills? Study the movement of the Master below the waist. You will be amazed at what you will learn!

Bruce Lee almost single handedly revolutionized the martial arts around the world and brought it to the forefront in North America. I can remember as a kid going to see Fists of Fury (The Big Boss) at a local theater. I was mesmerized! This movie was quickly followed by The Chinese Connection (Fist of Fury). Finally Enter The Dragon found it’s way to North America, but it was too late. Bruce Lee was gone.

Bruce Lee was an amazing man. He only formally studied the martial arts in Hong Kong for 5 years. He studies Wing Chun under the legendary Yip Man. He stopped to move to the USA to claim his citizenship.

Much legend and folklore surround the life of Lee. The movie Dragon was a good example. The movie was interesting, but not at all factual. Bruce Lee was not well liked when he came to the USA, especially by the martial art community. He was chastised for teaching whites and blacks, giving away ancient secrets to non Chinese. Bruce did not care. Bruce Lee is still a force in the martial arts 38 years after his death.

I think one of the greatest contributions Bruce made to the arts itself in his short life was the idea that tradition need to be changed. In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s competition between schools for students was fierce. Bruce believed in working with other martial artists, studying their art and incorporating what worked and eliminating what did not. Today the barriers are falling and local schools are working together toward a greater good.

I often wonder what he would be like today at age 70. But that question will never be answered. I thank his wife Linda and daughter Shannon for keeping the memories alive. If you have never seen his movies definitely check them out. Below is a link to one of the only English interview done with him by CBC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=somo_-oW3N0

Long, long ago there was a master swordsman who had trained his three sons in the art of the sword.  He decided that the time had come to retire.  The master balanced a wooden pillow over his curtained doorway in such a way that the smallest movement of the drape would send the pillow falling onto the head of whom ever passed beneath it.  The master then sent word to his sons that this was the day he would choose his successor.

The eldest son was called first. He walked up to his father’s room.  Stopped.  Stood silently for a moment.  Then ever so slowly took down the pillow.  He stepped into the room and then carefully replaced the pillow where he had found it.

Next, the second son was called.  He walked up to the room.  He gently parted the curtain.  The pillow fell. He automatically caught it, and put it back over the door.

Finally the youngest and most skillful son was called.  He had the best techniques of all the brothers and was sure that he would be proclaimed his father’s successor. The proud young swordsman thrust the curtain aside and strode confidently into his father’s room.  The hard pillow smacked him on his head.  He lashed out in anger and sliced the pillow cleanly in two.  He re sheathed his sword before the two halves of the pillow hit the floor.  The youngest son was pleased with his speed and he faced his father with a smile of self-satisfied anticipation.

The old master, however, was not at all pleased with this flashy display,  “You are a disgrace to the art of swordsmanship.  You are a disgrace to this family.  You have neglected all that is important for the sake of technique.  Leave this house and do not return until you realize that intuition is more important than mere technique.”

To his second son he said,  “You must train harder.  You must train more.  Each time you train it must be as if it is your last chance to train.  Do not waste a moment.  You must train as if death was waiting for you around the corner and that the last act you will perform is your training.”

To his eldest son he said:  “I have found my successor.  I can now retire with an easy heart.  You understand what the martial arts is truly about.  Here is my sword.”

A great story to show the tradition and power of the Martial Arts.   I hope it has inspired some deep thoughts.

Recently there were some postings on a message board on LinkedIn about whether a Black Belt moving to another Dojo and style should have to start at White Belt again. The debate on this forum has raged on since last spring. I never participated, only read about it.

If someone comes from another art to learn my root art of Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido I do require that they put on a white belt to start training.  The odd person is unwilling to do this and so we agree to part friends. If they are taking a Kyusho Jitsu Certification Course they are more then welcome to wear their rank in the classes. The question is why and am I doing it?

Back when I first opened my school 10 years ago I would make judgments based on a case by case basis. Some people I required to wear a white belt, others I let keep their rank. There was only one case were I allowed rank to remain that I didn’t regret it. This was a father and son and both are currently 2nd Dan Black Belts in my school.

When someone joins my school and is a Black Belt in another art I let everyone know that they are and what art they have studied. A great example is a 2nd Dan under my organization who is also a 2nd Dan in Aikido.  When someone insists on wearing a Black Belt from another art when they are learning a new art it is only to stroke the EGO. And with the ego in full swing real learning is not possible. Our Black Belt Creed states, Learning Through Humility, by Example. Ego has no place in learning, and to truly learn the ego must be in check. You cannot add more to a full cup.

As always I welcome you comment on this post.

I was in London the other day shooting some video footage with my Kyusho Jitsu teacher Grand Master Steve Stewart. GM Stewart has been a full time school owner operator for almost 20 years (Fulltime). After the shooting we went out to grab something to eat and ended up talking about MMA.

What is MMA really? Well we do have the fighters who are the ones who coined the phrase MMA. But what is it really?

I get a phone call per week from people looking for MMA sport fighting. I don’t do it so I will send them to my good friend Hanshi Mady. But it is interesting that so many of us, even if we don’t train fighters are teaching a Mixed Martial Art.

I have Black Belts in 4 different arts, my son Curt also in 4 and my son Scott in 3.  Curt is currently looking at the study of American Kenpo under GM Stewart to increase his hand speed. But lets face it what he learns will become integrated into his teaching.  The art of Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido is an eclectic art composed of about 5 other arts. So really it is a Mixed Martial Art.

Martial Arts is about growth, personal growth not just combat. Yes they were once combat systems, but most fights or conflicts on any scale involve some nasty weapons. It is far wiser to avoid these situation.

Have an fantastic and properous New Year.

With 2010 right on our doorstep it is time once again to look at the New Year with new hopes and dreams. Have you thought about what you want to achieve in 2010?  This year I have several adult members eligible for their 2nd Dan, plus 2 for 3rd Dan, and I am hoping they are thinking about this as we head into the New Year.

Personally this year is looking like a time for promotion in Kyusho Jitsu with a test for 5th Dan. As well as my promotion in Hapkido to 8th Dan.

Why set goals? I have known so many people over the years of my life who do not believe in setting any kind of goal. They also never get anywhere in life. The subconscious mind needs information given to it to do it’s job. Written goals are a way to supply this to it. Thinking about it consciously does not work. We must commit it to writing and reviewing these goals periodically to achieve them. When I revisit my old goals, those set in writing at the end of the year. Most have been reached or at least started.

For martial artists goal setting is of utmost importance. With set goals comes motivation to train and achieve. Overcoming inertia and getting to class is not only good for your physical health but your mental health as well.

Human’s were not meant to be sedentary, which is the way much of our societies have become. With movement come peace of mind and happiness. Along with some of the things mentioned about my New Years Resolution is to continue to be HAPPY.

In class adult students will often here me refer to “Natural Laws” and their use in self defense and martial art training. What are natural laws? Natural Laws are ways in the body of the attacker will respond or react in a given situation. The reaction or response must be for all people and in each given situation to be considered a Natural Law.

I have seen instructors who will teach various reactions to strikes and kicks. As an example they will state that a punch to this location will cause this to happen. Most times these are simply only a prediction and not Natural Laws. An example a strike to the solar plexus does not always cause the attacker to bend forward. (Someone on PCPs will not have this reaction)

The pressure point study of Kyusho Jitsu is very close to being Natural Law as it works with body energy and flow however the results will vary from person to person.  The effect rate is well over 80% but to be considered Natural Law we need to reach 100%.

All the applications I teach about Natural Laws are based in Octagon movement, with added application of Kyusho Jitsu Techniques.  What is an example of a Natural Law? Well one that does not require video to support the teaching is that all attackers will attack center line as long they are true attackers. (Attacking out of anger or fear). Understanding Natural Laws also means we must step up the job of the Uki. It is much more difficult to be a good Uki in Natural Law study than at any other time.

Natural Law is truly advanced martial art study. For those who are not students of mine take a look at your training and see how much could be classified as Natural Law or adjusted to be so.