Authentic Arts

There are a five stages of development we pass through on our Martial Journey. Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Role Model and finally Perfection. The key is to aim for the next step up the ladder, ie if you are a beginner aim to be intermediate, if intermediate aim to be advanced, advanced strive to be a role model. If through your efforts you find yourself becoming a role model then the next progression would be perfection. Perfection, however, is only something that you can hope and aspire to without actually achieving. It's more that perfection arises from the act of striving. In this way of thinking, it means you can be a perfect beginner, intermediate or advanced practitioner. You still with me?

It also implies that you can be a perfect role model, despite our human frailties and fallibility. No human is perfect, so how do we circumvent this painful truth? Well I have put my mind to it and the closest thing that we can be to perfect, is to be authentic. Authentic with our hopes, our hearts, our aspirations and the way in which we express them. When it comes to authenticity within martial arts it is quite clear to note the ones that are, and the ones that are not. The word "Martial" stems from the God of War so infers anything warlike. Therefore I put it to you plainly that if you do not get bruised, battered or break a few minor bones then you are not participating authentically. Every measure is taken to provide safe practise by most legitimate teachers and instructors but bumps and bruises are inevitable. Like the fight club analogy how much can you truly know about yourself (and by extension your art) if you don't have scars?

And in life too we carry our scars, sometimes unseen but still there. They do not show weakness, they in fact show the strength of experience. Experience comes from long term practise, and long term practise implies you have passed through at least two stages of development perhaps more, beginner, intermediate and advanced.

You can be more, much more than any of these. Perfection is the thread that runs through them all and perfection, in my mind at least, equates to authenticity. Don't fool yourself or worse fool others around you. Express your short comings truthfully, honestly there is nothing more perfect. To be authentic, is to be a role model for all humanity. There is no other way.

"Life requires movement"

"Life requires movement" was stated by Aristotle. Humans have used it as a method of expression for a long long time. We gesticulate when we tell stories, our excitement and effusiveness seemingly unable to be contained within the physical body. We move mostly for joy, we dance, our body racks with laughter, we reach out and we touch our friends, family and loved ones like an affirmation of our physical existence in relation to their presence. We need them, as they need us and it is our body that belies the separation from them. It's beautiful! I was very lucky to have such a week as last week which saw me take on two (on the surface) vastly different seminars. Both were very expansive and brought me great joy.

On Tuesday, Edinburgh held the honour of hosting Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei. Master Chen is a 19th generation member of the "royal family" of Taijiquan and 11th generation direct successor and keeper of Chen Style Tai Chi. The gravity of the situation is difficult to comprehend, but the truth of the matter is that it was a fairly important moment in the history of Tai Chi in the UK. GM Chen has visited the UK previously but has never been as far north as the Scottish Capital. His arrival in town is demonstrative of the hard work people such as Li Ho (my friend and colleague)  and others have put into the development of Chen in Scotland. GM Chen arrived along with Master Kuang.  I've had the opportunity to train with Master Kuang in China, he is a Northern region push hand champion in China and a student of my Master Liming Yue. He has gone on to become a Master in his own right and that gives me hope albeit a bit wishful thinking :)

Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei is almost 70 years old, but he moves with the grace, poise and power of someone much less advanced in years. His life has been devoted to movement and the spiritual acquisition that implies. His energy release, which is a very important factor in Chen style Tai Chi is tantamount to the sonic boom Guile delivers in the Street Fighter video games. Perhaps this short video doesn't give justice but GM Chen Zhengei's presence is quite something to behold up close.

Chen Zhenglei in Edinburgh

He spoke favourably about Edinburgh, he said he was in awe of its beauty. He went on to speak about the importance of Tai Chi. Specifically the three main reasons it is important to learn. A study had taken place at the Ivy league Universities in the US to establish just what it is that is required in a sport to facilitate well-being. It seems on this academic level all other Olympic sports had fallen short. GM Chen identified three factors:

1. It must be a movement that can be practised in Leisure time
2. The movement must consider the natural oxygen process
3. The movement must consider longevity of practise

Simple guidance and wisdom only an aged Master can highlight!

Later in the week I attended a workshop called Strength and Mobility for the Combat Athlete. I wholeheartedly accept that I am no longer an athlete, but my years of pain and sacrifice justified my presence on the workshop. It too was enlightening and expansive, teaching me that strength is a skill that can be improved upon given time and correct technique. I learned many drills around mobility, strength and dexterity each of which will help me develop. Understanding your baselines as a human, ie what you can and can't do, stands you in great stead for you realising just what it is you are capable of.

It's not mystical, it is about self reflection. Identifying what you can do to improve, even listening to people who have done it for you is key. There is a wealth of knowledge out there and it is not just for a privileged few. It's for anyone and everyone. I can only invite you to come and train but you have to RSVP. There are no short cuts, life requires movement.

Books on the Coffee Table

Greetings all, I met a friend of mine the other day for a coffee and a chat about spirituality and all that! (it's something I do). I used an analogy to best express my thoughts and my view on it all. I kinda lost her, which is understandable, as the deeper the chats go the harder it can be to express yourself properly. Sometimes we censor ourselves deliberately, other times we just get lost down one of the rabbit holes we stumble upon. I spoke about the books on a coffee table, I think I actually said the books on a shelf but you understand the image I'm trying to conjure. Imagine, if you will the book is called "Your Divine Nature". The question that arises is "what is it doing on yer coffee table?"
Is it there because you dip into it on occasion when you're relaxing? Did you put it there to signal to your friends that you're into that sort of thing? Or is it there because you happen to be reading it right now?

Some people like to rub things in your face, be it their physicality, their sexuality and yes, even their spirituality. The things that belong to others, can be important, but not necessarily to you.  YOUR physicality, YOUR sexuality, YOUR spirituality is all that really matters. It is after all, only you that can practise them. A closed book on a coffee table isn't being read at that moment, therefore it is of no use. What I'm trying to say, (yes I appreciate I fell into one of them aforementioned rabbit holes) is you don't need a book about your divine nature, ever. I believe that humanity and spirituality are linked. Like Yin and Yang, intrinsic and giving rise to one another. I am no more spiritual when I climb up a mountain and chant (also something I do BTW) than I am when I go down the CO-OP for my fucking almond milk. My very humanity is the foundation for my spirituality, and that is the only thing that I should rub in someone else's face. YOUR humanity is the only thing that could only ever be important to someone else, all the time, every time.

I explore my humanity and therefore my spirituality through movement and the use of my body. I am fascinated by such things, maybe I have a freaky fetish but I get right into it? Mechanics, movement, grace, power, motion and emotion. I like to watch male gymnasts on the rings, those dudes don't even have six packs they have ten-packs! The strength and poise of a female dancer, the wonderfully triangular and symmetrical back muscles that ultimately you just want to touch, so you can feel that it's real. It is creepy in a way I know :) but the potentiality of the human body and by extension the potentiality of human spirit is one enormous puzzle I want to solve.

I mentioned sexuality earlier, you're probably wondering what that's all about? Same goes for me, sex is a wonderful exploration of our human nature through our bodies and when done right gives great insight into our divine nature. To me the throes of passion are not so different from the throws of Sanda! Each requires a commitment that leaves you vulnerable, a tangle of body and limbs, a courageous moment between you and another, and ultimately someone being on their back :)

 Joking aside, I do mean it, it is only in our most private moments that the majority of us reflect most deeply. It is there we find our most divine nature, but it has always been with us. Sad to think that many never experience themselves beyond looking in a mirror. We are humans and we are better than that.

Find your own practise, it may not be the same as anyone else's, but who cares? It's only for you and it is only you that will find it.

Journeys

I have recently returned from the beautiful and historic lands common to the major monotheistic religions, the lands of Samaria and Judea. In truth I am still reflecting on an amazing trip. It is said that great journeys begin first with a single step. I would contest that even before that, we envisage the final step. We think of the possibilities and the endless variations which our journey may lead us to. This inturn motivates us to take the step in the first place. Journeys don't necessarily need to be just geographical. They can be emotional, spiritual, physical or of any other countless reason. Ultimately, just like Combat Arts they promote growth and expansion. Some plan and plot every detail of the journey linking the steps in the most efficient way, others are happy to toss a stick in the air at a fork in the road, and walk whatever path fate may deem.

Expansion and growth are very important motivators; I travel both internally and externally to seek out humanity in its best form. I have never been disappointed yet with the things I have seen, discovered, revisited or met for the first time. There are many reasons people move from point to point or place to place but we mostly do it because it feels right. The act of seeking out humanity elsewhere, creates humanity in the very effort of doing so. Generally humans delight and thrive in change. Some prefer more gentle or subtle forms of change, others are happy to just go for it.

If you have been too tired of late to try something new or  maybe take on a new challenge, then maybe your energy has stagnated? Maybe you've been standing still too long? I recommend you move, move your body, move your outlook, move your base of learning. Not only will you see something different you will also feel something different. You have access to new energy always.

The best thing about movement in a concentric world is that you can only travel so far before you start coming home again! Destinations and goals are excellent of course but the space between is often where you find the real value.

Wherever you want to go in life or in body or in spirit, I wish you safe travels.

Relax Harder, strive with ease.

We are very complex creatures with all sorts of stuff going on in our heads and in our hearts at any given time. We are living beings that reflect, engage and often ignore the living world around us. Our bodies are made of elements found in distant galaxies but our consciousness stems from deep within. While half the globe sleeps in a wintry embrace in the dead of night, the other half goes about its day in glorious summer heat. Some people are dog people, some people are cat people. We are all different but not all separate. We all breathe the same air but many of us have forgotten just how important and life-affirming that can be. When we are in the city we breathe superficially, normally just enough to not die, yet when we visit a forest we take big deep gulps of air to draw in all the serenity. That is an energy transaction. The difference is it's free to us. When we have a lover in our arms, we squeeze them all the tighter and inhale their scent. That is another energy transaction. It happens when we take what is outside and bring it inside so that we can relish it. It reassures us of our very existence and in our confirmation of life we find tranquillity. Oxygen has a profound impact on our bodies and on our minds. The autonomic nervous system lies deep within, generally doing its job of keeping us alive without our conscious input, but receives its signals from the environment around us. It is made up of two branches: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. Like the Yin and the Yang or in this case, the yang and the yin, the two branches work in tandem to keep the balance. The sympathetic nervous system triggers our fight or flight responses vital in times of crisis, the parasympathetic system deals with all the other processes, sleeping, eating and healing. Whilst one inhibits the other excites. A small dose of stress is good for the internal system, but any sustained period of stress allows the sympathetic nervous system to rule. This has a detrimental effect on your health as it includes the suppression of your digestive system, your immune system and (god forbid) your libido. Obviously our bodies need to be oxygenated to live and thrive, but we also need to cultivate a tranquil atmosphere in which to thrive in. It is easy done, take the time to breathe and make the effort to consciously do nothing more. See where your mind goes. It doesn't matter where your body goes but it would be wise to take it outside to the forest, where life is unimposing yet everywhere. It's a bit like what's going on inside you right now. Magic still exists, you just need to look in the right place.

Martial Arts and Alternative Facts

We are now in a recognised era of "alternative facts". Truth is the Martial Arts have been in that era for a much longer time. This is a very touchy and controversial subject but it would be remiss of me to shy away from it. To be honest  however, I have never actually cowered from it before, and have made my views fairly public about the misnomer that is "Self defence". At the foot of the page I will link a video for you to look at. I want you to appreciate that this is not an attack on any individual and by no means an attack on someone's level of skill. Infact the video I have chosen to highlight, does the opposite, it shows this particular practitioner to be very skilled indeed. In a previous blog post I have written about how it is important to distinguish between Martial Artists and Fighters. To be clear, I advocate any type of training regime over any type of non-training regime, but we must appreciate that people have a vast spectrum of motivations for engaging in Combat Sports. At one end of the spectrum we have self perfection at the other we have self protection. The vast majority of people seek to find a sweet equilibrium between the two. They are however very different,  although not mutually exclusive by any means. What you can watch at the foot of the page needs to be called out for what it is for fear of misleading. It's a very slick marketing device with fairly decent production values (it does feature interlacing artefacts, but I only spotted that because as a cinema technician that is my day-job). It is not reflective of self defence and should not be associated as such. Again I stress this is not an attack on a clearly skilled individual but be aware that it is a very skilled practitioner in "demo-mode" it is not reality. There is very clear compliance from the training partner allowing for the showcase of individual talent. There is also an element of rehearsal, which I'm not against that either, I've done enough demos over the years to appreciate the need to polish a performance for lesser educated eyes. Using the reference of Bruce Lee in the URL is a fairly callous method of affecting people into that weird submissive type of psychology that we all hold about ourselves ie Bruce Lee was a figure that illustrated physical potential that most of us aren't living up to. So we have this guy as a substitute and by extension a martial system that can make us that way. All fine and well until you understand that the silky fancy moves he executes are well practised and polished and affected as a scenario on a compliant almost docile partner. This for me in a nutshell is the problem with Martial Arts and the ranking system. You are supposed to perform various previously agreed upon scenarios to show how good you are, even though it may not only be contrived but actually detrimental to your health ie taking a gun from someone. It ultimately leads to a false sense of accomplishment and people putting stock in utter bullshit. Watch the video further, into the sparring portion. Again I feel I must state that him doing 1 min rounds against 65 people is admirable and certainly a challenge which illustrates his skill further but look at the the array of technique on display now in comparison to the mad shit he was doing before. It is not forthcoming, he has sought safety in the good old whacking and smacking. He has done this because it is the safer and more efficient method. Not only that but it is the default setting of real people! Through experience we  all learn that risk management, then threat management then (god forbid it be required) crisis management is the real challenge.  This is a much better three step process to safety that we should aim to understand moreover than performing highly adroit fine motor skills under stress. The latter doesn't fuckin' work. If you want to learn how to defend yourself, then learn how to fight. Spar and compete. Hand to hand, toe to toe, tooth and nail. Learn how to punch, learn where and when to punch and above all be prepared to develop the c*nt inside you! It is the vital resource which can tip you to victory. A huge list of techniques will amount to fuck all in terms of self protection. Find a few that work, drill them. Understand the concepts of genuine combative flow and it will serve you much better. Understanding concepts in turn will allow you more freedom of technique. By all means train as many techniques as you want, learn your martial alphabet and create new words but be aware that sometimes a simple "Fuck you" gets the point across perfectly well. Stay safe and don't get stupid!

The Bruce Lee of Krav Maga

A Sermon on Spirituality

Following on from last exciting instalment, I thought that tonight I would write about spirituality. Have you ever been on a night out with friends or a loved one when suddenly the thought occurs "I am actually at the end of my personality for today?" You are perhaps an introverted extrovert, or an extroverted introvert or maybe your soul is just looking for something else? That something else is what I call, your spirituality. I am not a fan of nomenclature as I may have written previously, and even less of a fan when it comes to labelling spirituality:  "I am a psychic medium soul retrieving Shaman, with level 10 skills in Rainbow sorcery"
Good for you. Keep up the good work, whatever that work entails. I am a very spiritual person and offer my respects to anyone who openly speaks of their spirituality but I suffer from internalised scepticism and statement like the one above, I usually find very hard to swallow. That is the problem with spirituality, it is easy to rubbish. That is why it shouldn't be thought about as a separate thing. In my experience and understanding, often the ones that talk so much about it; who easily define it, are either lacking a true understanding of it, or who are outright phoney (#notallmediums #notallshamans.)

I have followed spiritual teachings all my life, brought up by Christian parents I moved on to devour books about Buddhism, eastern philosophy, paganism then more modern philosophies, biocentrism for eg. I even battered around with Atheism for a while, but it didn't suit my desire for answers. I finally settled where I am now, which is not easy to define (see what I did there?) I have my practise which is both a moving meditation, in the form of Tai Chi and Boxing, and I have my still practise which involves surrendering my human sensorium to our more profound celestial nature. Fuck me, you might want to read that sentence again! Anyway, joking aside I use my spirituality to try to relate to not only others but to myself and my place here in our big glorious confusing as fuck planet. I do this because I see it as a catalyst for improving life and because I believe it to be absolutely inherent to our existence. I use my spirituality to also explore my masculinity. The idea of my spirit and the idea of my maleness for me go hand in hand. I have recently been reading Grayson Perry's "The Descent of Man" which allegedly tackles the operations of masculinity. I was told by a good friend that Grayson Perry is a very insightful artist/film maker so the book would be worth a read. It's not! It comes from the same repugnant idea that men are incapable morons that stumble from one disaster to the next, psychologically scarring people in our wake out of nothing more than insensitivity. There is no insight, only recycled misunderstandings of the things that drive a man. As a man I find safety and comfort in results. My exploration of spirituality and of combat sports has provided me with results. These results have made me feel comfortable in my masculinity and driven me on to explore more. Yes no doubt my maleness has pissed people off along the way, and of course I don't necessarily get it right all the time but I have aimed to do it with virtuous intention, both for myself and for others. It is natural for a man to want to fight, not toxic. It only becomes toxic when we fight for the wrong reason. Understanding spirituality gives you a better chance of having the right reason. Until next time, peace and love and have a look at this woman doing yoga at sunset! It has something to do with spirituality.........