GrandMaster Art Mason's Martial Musing

Here are the six tenets that we teach our students in our school.

• Integrity
• Courtesy
• Self Control
• Commitment
• Perseverance
• Indomitable Spirit

Our students must know these, live by these and show them in all aspects of life.  So why is it then that so many martial artists and instructor are such egotists? The answer is simply, they practice what they preach. That’s right, they practice what they preach!

OK, now I know you are confused! Aren’t you supposed to Practice What You Preach? Well, if you practice what you preach you practing because this is what you are preaching. Thus the HUGE egos in the martial arts world! What should you be doing? Preaching what you are practicing in your life!

Think about it….

What is Zen? To explain Zen means to lose the meaning of Zen. Most people will look at Zen as a form of Buddhism, which is true, but Zen is so much more that this. The practice of martial arts and Zen go hand in hand. Here is a quote from the article “Zen is the Only Living Truth”

“Zen is not effort. Effort is tension, effort is work, effort is to achieve something. Zen is not something to achieve. You are already that. Just relax, relax so deeply that you become a revelation to yourself.” Osho

Zen is a state of mind where duality has been transcended. In martial arts there are many dualities, in fact there are nothing but dualities. Why? Because our world is a world of opposites. Zen means to go beyond these opposites.  For the beginner this is a difficult task. In the first few months of martial art training there are many physical movements that must be learned. We will teach you to block, punch, and kick your opponent is a preset pattern. There is an attack, and a defense. There is a hit and a block.

Some martial arts organizations will increase the duality with competition. In competition there is always a winner and loser.  Most people view winning and losing as a fact of life. This only a state of mind, not a reality.

Zen means to go beyond all duality. However to transcend duality you must first experience it.  All things can be transcended through meditation. If fact, meditation and martial arts go hand in hand. At one time meditation was taught in every martial art dojo. But today, with the vast diversification of beliefs in our population meditation and the art have parted company. Development of the mind has been abandoned for political correctness.

For the beginner Zen is experienced in brief glimpses. It can come at a belt testing when after performing your Kata you can’t recall doing it.  You are in the ZONE. Over time the brain can go on autopilot and perform Kata, but for the beginner this is rare.  The experience is most likely Zen related.

If you look for Zen you will never find it. Zen is effortless. Zen and martial arts is about movement. There is never an attacker or opponent. There is no self, only movement. Like a beautiful dance with no music. Expert for the music playing inside the student of the arts.

Can a beginner discover Zen? The answer lies with the beginner.  Zen is there for everyone, waiting to be found.

When you watch one of the great masters of old you can sense the calm in their every movement. It is a thing of beauty to behold. Has this calmness gone from today’s martial artist or is it just hidden beyond our line of site.

Training today in many martial arts has become more and more physical, and less and less spiritual. Today we train hard, stressing our bodies to unimagined levels of fitness. Yet we often neglect the mind and spirit. True martial arts is not only physical, it is also a conquest of the mind.  The body is first honed with training and repetition to develop skills that will respond within a seconds notice.  What we forget is we are using our mind to train the body, therefore we cannot neglect training the mind also.

When we train the mind, we are also honing our physical skills because they are all connected. We are not robots receiving pre programmed information. The mind must respond to the external circumstances and put our bodies in motion.  The best result will come from a centered and calm mind.

The training of the mind does not come from a focus target, nor does it come from hard physical practice.  The mind is trained by the Spirit that is who we really are.  Meditation is the only way to calm the mind, and truly prepare it to deal with the physical body and itself. The most important element that must be overcome for the martial artist is that of the ego. Overcome is really not the correct term either, transcend is much more accurate. When the ego is not in balance the martial artist depends on physical conditioning, age and speed. If the ego is in balance these factors do not matter. Technique becomes only movement with the outcome not being a consideration.

The next time you train try doing a 20 minute breathing meditation first. The difference in your abilities will be a pleasant surprise for you.

Today cross training has become an important element in the martial arts. I have done this myself with several arts. But now I want to offer a warning for those who are considering following this path.

First you need a solid, strong foundation in a root art. This is what I mean by Master of None. Often times as a teacher I will see someone come in and want to train for a few weeks to pickup something new to add to what they already have. Usually they have nothing because they spend too much time ‘art jumping’.

To evolve as a true martial artist you need roots. You can build by cross training once the foundation is set in stone. Otherwise you might know a lot of techniques, but application will not happen when it is needed.  Natural physical skills won’t help you either. Only understanding will. Martial Arts and Self Defense training are 90% mental and 10% physical.  Like meditation these skills take much time to develop.

My advice is to Master your root art, then look at expanding your knowledge with other things.  Especially when it comes to other styles that are very different in context. Some are complimentary which is fine, but others will actually cause you to regress.

Perseverance in your root art is a must.  It is all about the training.

Yes I really did leave the word ‘defense’ out on purpose from the title. The term ‘self defense’ always conjurers up an image of a fight or attack situation, where training in the martial arts goes much further.

I have news for you. You are attacked each and every day. This attack is done against you directly and it is done thought your 5 senses. With the bombardment of our senses it is little wonder we can function at all. We have become creatures of deleting information. The problem is we often delete the wrong things.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Have you felt that your life is not longer on track, or perhaps that something is missing? If you have you are certainly not alone. People feel this day in and day out until they discover something. “The Art of Self “

Now I can hear what some people will say, this being ‘selfish’. If you are thinking that very good because it is! We have nothing else but ourselves. Also, you cannot give what you do not have, so everyone needs to work on themselves FIRST.

Everyday I sit in quiet reflection at my dojo for 15-30 minutes. Some will call this mediation, others reflection, the title doesn’t matter. What matters is that I am alone with me. Here I get to understand me. But this is only the start because then I go out on the floor and teach several hours of classes each day. I also do this for me, and when I do the students are the ones that benefit, much more than I do. When this happens I am in the moment, not somewhere else.

Martial Arts training is a great tool for self discovery because it is all about YOU. You are on the floor training and no one can really help you. A good teacher can be a guide but that is all. You learn to conquor your body and your mind. Add this to some mediation or reflection time and you have the basis for a path to a happier life! Not bad for a few hours per week!

If you are a student of the arts, any art, get yourself back to regular training. You know you felt better when you did. If you are not a martial artists find something you love to do and do it!

Sing like no one is listening, dance like no one is watching. Connect with yourself and enjoy our physical reality!

Understanding the flow of the opponent is one of the most critical things in advanced martial arts training. Because an attacking opponent is committed to his movement, this movement can be redirected and controlled. This is the basis of our art Hon Sang Mu Sa Hapkido. At no time should the defender try to resist the movements of the attacker.

Often reality based martial arts and combat systems will talk about ‘fights’ When 2  or more people chose to fight, it is a conscious decision on both parties.  To win a battle such as this is far different than a ‘self defense’ situation. In a self defense situation only the attacker has agreed to do battle.  The defender is in a different mind frame.  A fight is Yang vs Yang, Self defense in Yang vs Yin.

The attacker will see only the target while in a state of tunnel vision. The defender trains to remain calm in these situations and to focus on the entire body of the attacker, not target areas.  The defender will move using the angles of the octagon, move to a 90 degree on each attack. Then when the time is right the defender will move at a 45 and deliver a blow or throw to the attacker depending on the situation.

How do you get to such a level of movement. While you are training in class begin by watching the feet of your master instructors. Don’t focus all the time on the hands, watch the feet and leg movements. This is were the foundation of the art lies.  As I said this is advanced movement and takes time to master.

“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles”

In my personal opinion one of the greatest benefits of martial arts training is that it is about conquering the ‘self‘.  Sometimes we however do lose site of this.

I always find it interesting to go out to a bar, or to a party, even a business event and see how people will work to position themselves to conquer or control others.  It is a non stop interaction of energy back and forth.  Children do this constantly with their parents, playing almost a game of wills. Children do it will each other, a prime example being the bully – victim scenario. Adults are pros at it!

Sadly all of this is wasted energy. What we really need to do is conquer the self.  A person who is in the process of conquering his or her self has a certain magnetic quality to them. They will often make fantastic leaders, excellent workers and generally speaking outstanding human beings. Why is this the case? Because they find peace within their own skins.

In a true martial art situation there should never be an opponent to conquer. The only person that needs conquering is the self. When you understand the inner self, controlling the body, the situation or anything else becomes easy. When there is turmoil within, there will always be conflict and the possibility of defeat.

Conquering the self requires a few steps to get started. The first step is understand, truly understanding and internalizing that nothing is permanent. No person, no situation and no event.  Everything is ALWAYS changing! With that in mind we can realize that life is to enjoy, not to become stressed about.  Learning to be happy is not something we want to happen on our death beds. It is something we need to pursue our entire lives.  Babies are happy by nature, the world teaches them to forget and to lose this quality.

Once we understand and internalize impermanence, we can then understand that we control our thoughts.  We chose what we think moment to moment, and no one else does this for us.  If your thoughts are out of control it is because you allowed them to be! It will take time to get them back on track, but then the goal is to conquer the self and the self is your thinking.  Therefore whenever a bad thought arises, look at it, don’t dwell on it, and allow it to pass. Replace it will an empowering thought instead.

The Buddha said “we are what we think”…..PERIOD.

Life is about expansion and happiness. The power of the mind, your mind is greater than any supposed physical reality. Learn and practice every moment of every day to control your thinking.  Those who are martial artists and students of the arts remember this the next time you are on the floor training, and then never let it slip past your attention again afterward.

Remember all paths lead to the same destination. Life is a journey, learn to love it!

A new white belt walks on the floor of the dojo. She feels very odd in her new, crisp uniform. The instructor calls the class to order. The new student is both excited and intimidated at the same time.  She wonders “what is expected of me?”,  ” Can I do this?”

These are all the normal emotions and thoughts of the beginner. However fear may get in the way of his or her training and progression.  “What happens if I can’t do this?”

Over the years I have seen so many people quit martial arts, not because they did not like it, but because the fear of failure is so overwhelming. Some will say this is a lack of self esteem, which is true but it is also not true at the same time. Thus a paradox.

When we think of someone with low self esteem we tend to see a shy person, alone in a corner not talking to anyone.  However self esteem cannot really be judged by such simple characteristics. A personal with low self esteem may often be very outgoing. Also self esteem can come in different forms and areas of life. The person in this example may have excellent self esteem in every other area, but martial arts.

Here the teacher is key to getting the new student to understand that a great martial art system is constructed in such a way as to assure success, if the student just comes to class. How is this possible? The school must have teachers on the floor, not just instructors. Will the student work hard? Certainly, but fear of failure will be lessened each time they walk on the mat.

Black Belt is considered to be one of the ultimate symbols of success. As teachers it is our job to show the student the way, and help them overcome fear. Fear of failure is a real fear, it is real because if it remains, failure is assured.

Remind your students and piers in the arts that we were all White Belts once. We all felt the same, and that with a little work it can be overcome. When someone leaves martial arts training for the wrong reason, we all suffer.

Why do we love to hang on the past? So often when I meet or talk to people the injury and hurt from their past will come up. Like a cut on the body that we just keep digging at until it opens and bleeds again. What is it about us that makes us want to do this again and again. Don’t you think it is time we all moved on?

Letting go of the attachments to the past is what is required. Then at a higher level we need to let go of all attachments. Why? Because none of these serve us.

The year 2012 is fast coming. We hear a lot of talk about December 21st 2012. Some people say it is the end of the world, which is cool since the world has not ended since 2000 (remember all the hype).  What do I think is happening in 2012? It has already begun, people are beginning to think better. Are you on this leading edge?

There is an old Buddhist tale about the Buddha being approached by a person in the streets. The man asks the Buddha, “are you the messiah?” The Buddha replies “no I am not”. The man then asks “are you a healer?”, the Buddha again replies “no I am not”.  The man asks this time “are you a teacher?”, the Buddha once again replies, “no I am not”. Finally out of frustration the man asks, “well then what are you?!?” The Buddha replies “I am awake.”

Are you waking up? Are you working towards being ‘happy’ and understanding the world you have created around you?

How do you get started? Let go……period. It is time to let go of the hurt of the past, the opinions of other people, your need for the unimportant. Just let go…..but how you ask?

First you must internalize the fact that everything in your life is a result of your thinking to this date. We are what we think about most. If you are not happy with this scenario then you need to think differently. Remember when you were a kid and would pretend to be someone else? Now I am not suggesting you imagine you are superman, but seeing yourself in a different light and focusing in on this, all the time will make the transformation happen if you put enough into it. If you want to be successful, act successful.  This will help reprogram the sun conscious mind.

Also part of letting go is to realize that nothing, including ourselves is permanent. Everything changes and evolves. With this said, why them do we insist on becoming attached to things that are not forever? There is nothing wrong with enjoyment, but attachment is terrible for your self esteem, and stress levels. I just makes you unhappy and jealous!

Now here are two true stories to show you what I mean by attachment.  Many years ago I had a friend with a beautiful white Camero. This was his pride, to the point of obsession. One day we were out driving, and he was following me to a house. This person lived on a dirt road. When driving my friend was keeping a little to close. A stone came off one of my back tires and chipped the front of the car. The chip was the size of maybe a small fingernail. He ended the friendship and sold the car. He was devastated! He also always wondered why his life seemed to be so stressful and going nowhere. He almost broke up with his girlfriend when see suggested he was overreaching.

Here is another example. I borrowed my Dad’s car to go to the mall one night. At the mall I was in a minor accident.  I was worried about how angry my father was going to be with me. He was only worried about me being injured. As he said, there is nothing that can happen to a car that cannot be fixed or replaced.

My dad even though he really loved his car also, was not attached to it.  Attachment and letting go, go hand in hand. Can you think of something you are attached to? Material or human, let go, and then you can find the joy in the object or person in reference. How? Remember that nothing is forever. Letting go allows you to fully enjoy the physical experiences life has to offer.

Calm your mind and see things as they really are.

Happy Halloween Everyone,

Each year at Halloween young students will come and ask me if it is OK for them to wear their Dobok (gi) out for Trick or Treating.  Even though it is really a breech of etiquette I always say yes.  Now Halloween is a time to dress up as something you are NOT, these children are all martial artists.

As I was thinking about this today, I realized that perhaps some people see martial arts training as role playing. This can be especially true for new members, but in reality they are not role playing, they have become martial artists.

This all gets down once again to the way we think, especially the belief system that will often tell a person they are not good enough. Many times new adult students will come and talk with me because they feel ackward in class, and feel they are not really good enough to martial artists.  The truth is every accomplished martial artist in the world was once a beginner, a white belt, but we saw what we wanted and went after it.  So should you!

This applies to everything in life. I only use the martial arts as an example, because that is what I am most familiar with.  But here is the important point.

“You are exactly what you want to be…….”

There are no exceptions to this rule. Everything you are is an extension of your thinking, good, bad and indifferent.  Your reality is a result of all your thoughts to date. If you are not happy with this, then your thoughts must change to become what you desire down the road. The first step however is seeing in your mind’s eye, yourself as the way you want to be.

This has been a hard lesson in my life, but only hard because I kept getting in my own way. My belief system needed a major overhaul. The only area I had no trouble in was martial arts. This is because that fire burned very bright and hot. From my first class I could see myself in that Black Belt.

Start right now and imagine the changes you want in your life as a reality. When they appear in your mind they have been created, keep seeing them and they will manifest in your personal reality.

Everything is created twice.