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Obvious and Not-So-Obvious Benefits of Taking Martial Arts Lessons

Obvious and Not-So-Obvious Benefits of Taking Martial Arts Lessons

There are some obvious benefits that young and old alike garner from studying the martial arts. The first one is in the exercise involved. Exercise, if it’s tailored for the age and ability of the participant, is good for the body, the mind, and, yes, often good for the spirit too.

A not-so-obvious benefit of studying the martial arts is the often unspoken requirement to “be present” in the practice. “When you’re dealing with kicks, punches, and arm-bars,” says veteran martial arts teacher Tom Callos of Hilo, Hawaii, “you simply have to stay ‘in the moment’ to keep from getting socked in the nose. Awareness of what I call, ‘The here and now,” is something you can instantly take off of the mat and put to work in your everyday life.”

With exercise and mindfulness comes a third component that is not a benefit you’ll find in every martial arts school, but it’s something we are deeply involved with. It’s about food and its connection to fitness and health. The Diet Chronicles is a project where a group of martial arts teachers are starting to document, on video, what they eat and how it’s prepared –in an effort to eat more mindfully.

Some of the video journals are being posted to an on-line community based around the book Savor (www.SavorTheBook.com). Savor is co-written by Harvard nutritionist Dr. Lilian Cheung and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

To see one of the Diet Chronicle videos, click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3gANPh_RvY

“What we consume is as important and relevant to self-defense in today’s world,” says Callos, “as any kind of martial arts technique.”

For more information on using the martial arts to improve the body, mind, and diet, contact William Perkins, Olathe ki aikido, at contact@olathekiaikido.com or 913-738-4484.

Three Types of Laziness

The first type of laziness is comfort based, we are so accustom to a/c the moment we are hot we crank the air on or the first sign of cold we turn up the heat. If some one takes too long in the line at the store we become upset, or like the homeless man who yelled at me to hurry up in the cross walk. I asked him where exactly was he in a hurry to go.
We are so used to instant gratification that we lose touch with how things feel, smell touch etc... we eat but don't taste. This type of laziness also leads to aggression, we feel out raged at the slightest inconvenience.

The second type of laziness is self pity , poor me I am so poor tired, sick etc.. how can I possibly help any one else... This self pity is a loss of will, we forget how to help ourselves which precludes insight to helping others.

THE THIRD TYPE OF LAZINESS IS APATHY, the world and everybody in it is so jacked up why should I help. This is defiant and aggressive, this is passive aggressive revenge on the planet and everyone in it who never bothered to help us along the way. This type of laziness can lead to depression and severe dysfunction.

These are all opportunities to practice mindfulness and compassion,next time when eating out, extend to every one you meet, the cashier, the busboy the waiter. Be greatfull for their time and the service they provide, slowly taste your food, be thankful and mindful of all the people and things it took working in concert to bring you this meal.

Shinshin Toitsu no Yondai Gensoku ( FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES )

FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES in Ki Aikido

1. Keep One Point
2. Relax Completely
3. Keep Weight Underside
4. Extend Ki
 I found in my notes a more literal translation from a seminar, I attended some years ago.
This may help us understand a little better the underling principle of each of the four basic principles.

1.    Keep One Point - Principle of the mind
Seika no iten ni kokoro o shizumei toitsu suru.
Calmly realize (your) mind at the one point in (your) lower abdomen.

2.    Relax Completely - Principle of the body
Zenshin no chikara o kanzenni nuku.
Completely release (i.e. throw away) all tension from the entirebody/mind and emotion.

3.    Keep Weight Underside - Principle of the body
Karada no subete no bubun no omome o sono saikabu nioku.
Let the weight of every part of the body settle at its lowest point.

4.    Extend Ki - Principle of the mind
Ki o dasu. 
Ki Extends

Ki-Aikido is more than the sum of its parts

Aikido  and engaged training , In other words making every day life, your monastery/Dojo.
 We are all connected, and the cause of suffering is ego, we live in an illusion of separateness.

 This is craving, covententness and dogmatic desire, the opposite or being empty of separate self is selflessness and this enables connection.

We need to adopt multiple viewing places--give up attachment to one view places. selflessness is the ability to to adopt others point of view and position.
If I don't see you as separate I see you as me, to Judge, criticize, and blame come from separate self. Ego is a mental construct due to the craving for permanence. Once you realize that we are all connected, and that karmic disposition is created now!!! You are responsible for you actions, both conscious and unconscious thoughts, and the role you play in every interaction and relationship. There is no other to blame, if I harm you I am truly harming myself. This is the nature of my study and the reason for making a deeper connection to my self and others.
 I can not throw another person with out first seeing things from their viewpoint, then once there i can lead them to where I need for them to go.

Going to Chicago

I am heading to Chicago next week to visit an old friend  at Genki-kai Aikido at the University of Chicago.
I have been working on a new curriculum  since my return from Michigan last Month. I spent three days training
with knifes, double knifes and singe stick and knife. I have renewed commitment to weapons work and retention. The skills and drills I picked up are very complimentary to Aikido and directly applicable to the Self Defense and DT stuff I love to teach.
More to follow…..