Martial Views

Keep Going

2008-05-23T13:00:00.012-05:00

Once, a friend of mine asked me what I would do after I earned my shodan. "What is there after black belt - do you keep going?"

When you think you've reached the summit, you're not even halfway there!

Do not believe that
This is all there is.
More and more
Wonderful teachings exist -
The sword is unfathomable.

- Yamaoka Tesshu

Wanna Fight?

2008-05-17T21:19:00.021-05:00

Most people get into the martial arts simply to learn how to defend themselves. Indeed, self-defense is a common euphemism for traditional martial arts (as opposed to the competitive variety or MMA). Sports such as wrestling or boxing will draw a camp that have natural inclinations to do battle. The peculiarity of the martial arts is that its adherents are taught to walk away from trouble. But we all have met those who actually enjoy a good fight. As an ethnic group, the Irish are likened to having a propensity to fight. Donnybrook, Ireland was the site of a fair held for centuries until it was discontinued in 1855 due to massive brawling. Hence, a donnybrook came to be known as any group-like melee. The Irish-Americans that I know relish their fighting heritage, so I can't be accused of stereotyping. That's not my intention anyway.

Students that enjoy kumite (sparring) tend to progress well with this activity, irrespective of any athletic deficiencies. They like to fight, ergo they experiment and research various methods, perhaps more than the next trainee. Technical ability is great, but it still takes guts (hara) to fight. A fine instructor once told me that fighting was 20 percent technique, 80 percent nerve. For some, getting up nerve is a major problem. For others it's a veritable party.

If fighting really appeals to you, doesn't this make you a potential troublemaker? Isn't this antithetical to the spirit of budo? A bushi is a warrior, which implies that combat has some higher, loftier purpose than just someone who engages in contests. Choki Motobu would routinely field-test his fighting skills in his pursuit of Okinawan karate. Clearly this man liked to fight, but his reputation denied his admission to nearly every dojo on the island. As youths, Ed Parker and Bruce Lee actively sought out street matches to gauge their progress. Certainly, their contributions are undeniable.

In John Stevens' Invincible Warrior there are a series of old photos in the back of the book that depict Morihei Ueshiba performing something called "Smiling Technique Variations". Sure enough, we see the master beaming as he throws one of his poor disciples clear across the room. The author didn't elaborate, but it reminds me of something Winston Churchill once said: "I like a man who grins when he fights."

The American Way

2008-05-10T19:22:00.008-05:00

I used to have a gi with the American flag sewn on the sleeve. The caption read Martial Arts - USA as if this were some new paradigm. Maybe it is. Somewhere along the line the martial arts became a bona fide American institution, like baseball, apple pie and labor unions. But do American budoka measure up to their Asian originators? Has the US or anywhere in the West produced the likes of a Kano, Funakoshi or Shimabuku? Donn Draeger, who studied for many years under Japanese sensei, felt that for a classical martial system to be preserved justly, it must include the manners, customs and beliefs indigenous to that style's nation of origin.

So then what aspects of American culture influence our interpretation of the martial arts? Are we doing them any justice? Draeger had doubts about this, defining The American Way as ultimately "lazily convenient." We like to think we all train hard. And we're accustomed to the formal etiquette practiced in nearly all dojos, especially the all-important aspect of rei (respect). Respect is apparently lacking in our culture, certainly more now than in the past. One only has to witness the disrespect that is present in the workplace and public schools.

Gichin Funakoshi felt that a karateka should at all costs be a decent citizen and a role model for society. To that end most schools adhere to a special code of conduct called a dojo kun which outlines a list of goals and behavior a good practitioner should strive for. Here's two precepts from Chuck Norris' code taken from his chun kuk do system:

I will maintain respect for those in authority and demonstrate this respect at all times.
I will always remain loyal to God, my country, family and my friends.

Notice how religion and nationalism come into play in the second one. Should these icons be included within the context of martial arts training? When Okinawan karate first arrived in Japan around 1920 it became infused with Japanese ideologies, which included militarism, Zen, and yamato damashii - the "Japanese spirit". Some Okinawans were unhappy with these changes, but karate's move to mainland Japan was but a prelude to its worldwide acceptance and popularity. Equally, when the martial arts arrived here in the US they became Americanized to a degree. Did this necessarily devalue them? I don't believe so. If you're a sincere, committed student in the right school then coming to terms with these cultural infusions can be transcended, if they matter at all.

Cheap Shot

2008-05-01T01:30:00.001-05:00

This has got to be one of the most disgraceful moments in sport karate. Keep an eye on the referee, Isao Nakamura Fushiki, 7th dan. If this doesn't make your blood boil, nothing will.

Maturity

2008-04-25T21:27:00.012-05:00

I remember reading somewhere that the measure of one's character could be determined in the execution of a punch or kick. That sounds like a bit of a stretch, although early Chinese thought implies a correlation between chi and morality. At any rate, a certain amount of wisdom is expected to be developed alongside of one's advancement in their art. Dan denotes a black belt rank, but another definition suggests a coming of age, not only chronologically, but in maturation. Children hold black belts, but they are not yudansha nor should they be regarded as such. Most schools will actually retest young black belts for shodan when they arrive at a certain age, usually 16.

In his book Nature and the Human Soul, Bill Plotkin describes a social ill that he calls patho-adolescence: adults - especially those in a position of authority and power - who possess the mental and emotional evolvement of teenagers. Think of certain political figures that have headlined the news recently. Are there any sensei or black belts that you've come across that could be labeled as immature? The consummate martial artist should have a developed sense of responsibilty and self-control. One instructor I knew told me that he doesn't spar with his students out of fear of killing someone. I suggested a career in Special Forces. He didn't get it.

When I speak of maturity in the martial arts, it's not stoical indifference to joy or grief - believe me, there's plenty of both to be found in the dojo - but rather integrating wholeness within the range of human emotions. Some high ranking instructors that I've met mix a good deal of humor into their lessons. "Sometimes you have to entertain your students" a colleague of mine once said. It's good to lighten up once in a while. Being childlike is not the same as being childish.

McDojo Classic

2008-04-19T14:30:00.016-05:00

This is the trailer for The Foot Fist Way, a comedy that's slated to be released in theaters May 30th. It's the tale of a tae kwon do instructor who would serve his community better if he were doing something other than teaching the martial arts. Watch, if you dare:

Getting Better

2008-04-13T17:35:00.007-05:00

Recently a student with about a year of training asked me if I thought he was making any real progress in karate. It's a fair question given that it's difficult to be truly objective about ourselves. Self-assessment always runs the risk of being filtered through certain biased tendencies, such as doubt, ego and denial. So then it's to be expected to look outside of ourselves for some genuine feedback. But even when approval from a qualified source is received there's occasionally some lingering doubts. Are we in a position to judge ourselves? Has anyone ever received a belt they feel they didn't deserve?

It can be a daunting task to examine yourself while you're actually performing that what's being observed. The following are some guidelines that I feel can help:

Videotape yourself. I can't recommend this enough. Whether you're interested in improving your sparring or rolling skills, a taped rendition of your performance on the mat will give you a fresh perspective. Prepare yourself to cringe at mistakes you had no idea you were making, while at the same time express surprise at how well you do certain things.
Keep a written log. When I started training I was given a manual with most of the techniques needed to advance through the ranks. Make it a point to note which ones need work and detail a routine to fix these deficiencies. If you're training primarily for fitness and health benefits, record the number of basics, pushups, and crunches you're able to do over a period of time.
Slow down. When I see somebody flying through kata at warp speed I suspect they're trying to conceal something, albeit unconsciously. The next time you work your form, slow it down as if you were performing tai chi movements. At some point actually stop midstream and look at what you're doing. Is your back straight? Are you bending your knees to their proper depth? Are your toes pointing in the same direction as the target of your hand strikes? It's the details that count.

While it's true that there are "advanced" techniques in any martial-art style, the real litmus test of expertise is to be found in how well a student performs the most basic exercise taught at the white belt level. Don't be so interested in learning something new - that will come in its own time. Rather perfect the techniques that you're covering right now, no matter how mundane or ordinary they may seem. Remember, the authentic expert is a master of the basics.

Take It Outside

2008-04-06T09:57:00.003-05:00

Today I took my Okinawan kobudo weapons outdoors and went to town. I know that's a bit of an oxymoron, but I'm just trying to make a point. There's just not too many schools that will structurally accommodate the swinging of a six foot bo. In my day I've come too close to breaking the overhead florescent bulbs (also six feet in length, ironically) wielding my weapon with reckless abandon. I like to feel free when I train.

Does your school ever conduct training outdoors? One summer day we took a class down to the beach for a two mile run followed by some basic drills done in the surf while drawing some spectators. Kicking in knee-high water provides a tough workout. Peter Urban, the legendary goju karate pioneer in the States, would occasionally have his uniform clad students run down the streets of New York outside his famous Chinatown dojo. I admit, Canal Street bears no semblance to a nature trail, but I'm sure a group of karate trainees jogging across busy Manhattan intersections was cheap advertising for Urban's school.

Most of the twentieth century founders favored rigorous outdoor training at some point. As a youth Gichin Funakoshi would practice kata during the midst of a raging typhoon to forge his spirit. Mas Oyama spent extended periods in the wilderness performing karate and Zen meditation under frigid waterfalls as part of his shugyo (austere training) regimen.

Fitness guru Jack LaLanne used to run these TV ads during the 70s for his health clubs with the promise of escaping the winter chill ("Baby it's cold outside!"). The classical dojo was not designed as a total haven from the elements - a departure from the insulated, air conditioned modern facilities. As historian Donn Draeger noted, the traditional training hall is "hot during summer, cold during winter; it has approximately the temperature of the environment beyond its walls." I really don't recommend training during extremely hot or cold conditions unless certain precautions are taken. Keeping yourself hydrated is a must during any strenuous activity, especially in the heat. Stretching and warming up the muscles and connective tissues is imperative prior to training, particularly when it's cold.

For me, martial arts training outdoors is ideal. There's nothing like it: fresh air, freedom, sunshine (when available) and if you live in the 'burbs like me you benefit from the surrounding oxygen-exuding plant life. Such is the symbiosis of living on our planet, for now, as long as we don't continue to ravage her natural resources.

Fighting Gear

2008-03-31T00:15:00.013-05:00

My earliest sparring sessions in karate were without the mandatory protective gear you see today. The only requirement was the groin protector; a mouthpiece was optional. By the 80s, foam head gear and hand guards had become compulsory for most schools per insurance purposes.

Probably the biggest argument against the use of protective gear is that it conditions the student to a kind of safety net that isn't always available. And yet despite this added precaution, the potential to get seriously hurt during a match still exists. In truth, the protective gear users may be instilled with a false sense of security and in turn feel that they have carte blanche to commit mayhem on one another. One article refers to this as risk compensation, which basically means we adjust our danger levels in accordance to so-called security measures.

The issue of protective fighting gear presents an interesting dichotomy. On one hand we have the time-honored body hardening techniques that are purported to forge our bodies into steel. I have my doubts, but you'd be hard pressed to find a Thai boxer who's heard of shin guards. Traditional karateka pound the makiwara (striking post) bare knuckled, yet Western boxers wrap their hands with gauze before lacing up a pair of 12 oz. gloves.

On Okinawa, karate fighters occassionally wear bogu, which is the protective armor used in kendo (sword-art). Bogu includes a chest protector and a full-face shield. Again, the idea is that players can go full tilt in matches without killing one another, try as they may.

Obviously, padded protection is an absolute must for children involved in any sportive striking-style martial art. Dojo Rat just wrote a piece on a Missouri school that teaches MMA to kids as young as six. Hopefully, safety will be stressed when showing these little tykes submission moves.

The next time you train, try sparring without your fighting gear. It will feel strange and uncomfortable, and you'll probably feel reticent about loading up on shots. At the very least, it'll provide you with an interesting reality check.

Christian Ninja

2008-03-25T17:03:00.007-05:00

While browsing the internet I came across this interesting fellow, Choson Ninja. He's posted hundreds of martial arts videos featured on YouTube that covers everything from self defense drills to morals and ethics. Some of his philosophical discourses are worthwhile and appropriately related to combative training, but he also delves into areas that fall way outside of the martial arts, including advice on relationships and how to figure out what women think. Now that could come in handy. As if that wasn't enough our ninja subject is a devout Christian who cites scripture and has stated that Jesus could have in fact been a qigong master. Really.

Here's one of his lectures on discipline:

Victim Mentality

2008-03-17T00:58:00.010-05:00

I chanced upon this image on Post Secret, a site that features anonymous renderings depicted on postcards. Aside from the cartoon's graphic nature, the caption conveys a thought many practitioners may be carrying around but have been reluctant to admit. After years of dedicated martial arts training, there are those who feel they still haven't "got it".

Holding a certain rank does not necessarily translate into having real confidence. But if we do feel confident - for whatever reason - then it tends to show, in and out of the dojo. It's been long known that robbers and especially bullies find their victims through analysis. Non-verbal cues can affect perceptions about vulnerability and ease of exploitation by criminals and the like. Unsynchronized walking strides, poor posture and the inability to make eye contact are dead giveaways to the potential attacker.

So if you think you're fodder for an attack, your body language will likely communicate that notion. Conversely if you authentically feel good about yourself and your abilities, then that may be all that's needed to divert someone's intention to do you harm.

In the meantime, keep training!

Martial Law: Believe It Or Not

2008-03-13T11:09:00.004-05:00

Here's part of an amusing list of prohibited martial art activities reminiscent of the puritanical blue laws that are still on the books in various US states. If you have any of your own that you feel should be passed, let me know and I'll make some phone calls. Enjoy!

Peshtigo, Wisconsin: Citizens are not allowed to practice karate on any city sidewalk.

Cotton, Minnesota: Pants with hip pockets may not be worn when working out in any of the martial arts. (A hip pocket is considered to be the perfect place to hide a pint of liquor.)

Corry, Pennsylvania: No female wearing a nightgown is allowed to practice martial arts. A woman of any age must always get fully dressed before she can legally work out.

Austin, Oregon: Men may not teach karate or any other martial art while on a boat on the Sabbath.

Wedgworth, Alabama: No single, widowed or divorced woman may participate in any of the martial arts on Sunday. Also, any unattached female who takes part in such outlandish activities can be arrested and given a jail term.

Wheeler, Mississippi: Citizens are allowed to practice martial arts but may not strike a friend in jest - unless you first tell him you are just kidding around.

Pattonsburg, Missouri: Citizens may not make silly and/or insulting faces at a man while he is practicing martial arts.

Acme, Louisiana: Citizens (children or adults) may not laugh out loud at a martial arts student going through their moves.

Boone, North Carolina: Martial artists may not practice on Sunday during the half-hour period before a church service.

Sutherland, Iowa: Playfully using a martial arts strike in a effort to remove a hat from the head of another is strictly prohibited.

Greenville, Delaware: No martial artists may place his arm around a woman without a good and lawful reason.

Bluff, Utah: Martial arts practitioners are banned from chewing tobacco while practicing.

Visions of Violence

2008-03-08T17:04:00.015-05:00

To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness. - Confucius

Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba is credited as the author of aphorisms taken from lectures and poems that would eventually be compiled into The Art of Peace. Ueshiba's message herein is that non-violence and compassion are the utimate hallmarks of the warrior. It's ironic that the O'Sensei took this stand, given his own teacher was a ruthless butcherer who would cut down anyone who crossed his path. Fortunately, he had the wisdom to not emulate his master and cultivated a different way.

Is it really conceivable to transcend violence when our culture is so immersed in it? Everyday we're bombarded with news reports of civil unrest, terrorism and otherwise ordinary people gone berserk. Nathan Teodoro posted an account of a young couple who were responsible for the massacre of a family. What's so unsettling is that these sort of grisly events have become the norm in the news. Sad was a word Nathan used in his summation to describe this horrible story. What's really sad is how we as a society have become so desensitized to these things. Violence, bloodshed and mayhem exist not only in newscasts, but perversely in our entertainment outlets: graphic martial-art video games, rap music that espouses gang violence, and movies that depict torture scenes just to name a few.

Like Ueshiba, are we capable of seeing the folly to all of this, or do these gruesome images take their toll on us in some way? Research has shown that extended exposure to violence leads to brain activity patterns that may be characteristic for aggressive thoughts. Monkey see, monkey do so to speak. Not that we're incapable of separating fact from fiction or putting a horrific news report into its proper perspective on a conscious level, but rather that we are affected subliminally.

It seems nearly impossible to have any faith in concepts such as non-violence and compassion when we're force-fed a nonstop barrage of man's inhumanity to humanity. Should the media take more of an active role in not sensationalizing bad events? We too have the choice to not partake in a pop culture that glorifies violence and even murder. I'm not suggesting that we cut ourselves off from reality or view life through rose colored glasses, but we need to realize that the constant depiction of violence in our daily lives can have profound ramifications on us, and especially our children.

Dress Code

2008-03-01T23:10:00.007-05:00

Years ago I entered an "open" tournament. All the quasi karate styles were represented there: kung fu, kenpo, tae kwon do, you name it. I saw uniforms of every imaginable design on these competitors. Some wore hakama (garb originally worn by samurai) and a few were donning something similar to a Roman toga! Still another entrant wore just a T-shirt with his school logo embossed on it. I actually felt out of place with my plain white karate uniform.

The unadorned white gi (uniform) is generally regarded as part of martial arts tradition. Really, defining tradition here is an iffy undertaking given the fact that many systems of empty-handed combat were devised barely more than a century ago. And since the martial arts seem to be in a state of constant flux, what practitioners wear for training apparel has also been subjected to change. It was Judo's Jigoro Kano who introduced the white gi in 1907, but the idea didn't catch on with other styles until some time later. So the wearing of the gi is a relatively modern development in the martial arts. When Gichin Funakoshi demonstrated karate in Japan for the first time around 1920 he wore a judo gi and adopted judo's colored belt system in an effort to encourage Japanese participation.

Kano's original belt grades were just white and black. Later, brown was added to denote an intermediate level. The first school I trained in had white, yellow, green, brown and black belt levels, and for many years that's all there was. Eventually more were added, including orange, blue and purple. Now we also have camouflage belts, and before you know it we'll probably have mauve and chartreuse belts walking around.

Then there are the patches. Most schools require that you wear an organizational patch or one that symbolizes your style. I see nothing wrong with that, but as a rule of thumb less patches are better. Some of these new players, especially in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wear more emblems on their uniforms than you would find on most NASCAR stock cars. Longtime karateka Charles Goodin recently wrote a brief article on uniform patches whereas he feels that all of them are tawdry and unnecessary. Some of his points are well taken, but I feel that one or two on your gi is fine.

I usually have three of four karate gis at my disposal, if for no other reason just so I have a clean one to wear to every class. Always arrive wearing a washed and unwrinkled uniform if you want to remain in good standing at your school. I actually saw an adult student get sent home once because his gi was absolutely filthy (and he stunk to high heaven). When you buy a new uniform, make sure you hem the pants length before you come to class so you don't trip over the excess material while you're working out. Your uniform is an expression of you, so take good care of it and wear it proudly!

Martial Rx

2008-02-25T11:51:00.008-05:00

Injuries are part of the martial journey. Does your instructor know what to do when someone gets hurt or knocked out in your school? Most dojos that I've been in didn't even have a first aid kit handy.

At one time martial arts training was taught in conjunction with various versions of osteopathy and holistic medicine. Most of the traditional healing skills were given short shrift when the martial arts made their transition from East to West. That may be too bad, especially in light of the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical monstrosity known as the American drug industry. Where else can you find TV commercials imploring the public to "ask your doctor about such-and-such a pill"? It seems the healthcare bureaucrats want everybody to be on something.

Acupuncture, herbal remedies, bone setting (sekkotsu) and resuscitation skills (kappo) were areas of knowledge held by the old-time masters of combat. Through the investigation of physiology, martial artists not only had a better understanding of healing, but also how to disrupt certain areas through atemi (vital strikes). But skeptics question the authenticity of Eastern holistic ways, in particular Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Indeed, the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) claims that of the 46 medical journals published by the Chinese Medical Association, not one is devoted to acupuncture or other TCM practices.

Still, while hurting people is relatively easy, it's healing that requires perhaps a higher calling, whether its through conventional medicine, alternative methods, or a combined approach as proposed by Andrew Weil who has authored several books on his "integrative medicine" theories. But it was Ben Franklin who probably had the best advice of all: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The Tao of Lee

2008-02-21T11:16:00.003-05:00

For those of you who have ever been inspired by the legendary Bruce Lee here's a place where some interesting discourse is taking place. Put in your two cents!

Slow Motion Brick Chopper

2008-02-18T20:00:00.003-05:00

This is why I don't advocate breaking stuff. Check it out:

The Pros and Cons of Competing

2008-02-17T00:33:00.008-05:00

What's the first thing you see when you walk into almost any martial arts school? Trophies, of course. And usually lots of them. Is your dojo adorned with trophies? Do you feel that this image runs counter to what the martial arts are really about?

If your answer to this is yes, allow me to pose a question to you: Have you ever competed in a martial arts event?

Very few people get involved in the martial arts with tournaments in mind. Self defense, health and well being are the goals of most trainees. But I always encourage students to enter a tournament - even if it's just one - to see what it's like. Whether you place or not isn't really the issue. "You're already a winner just for showing up" an instructor of mine once said. It takes guts to bow into that tournament ring, believe me. Getting ready for this event will mean you'll have to kick your training up a notch or two. Preparing for a tournament is a great excuse to bring your skills and precision up to unprecedented levels.

Even if fighting isn't your game you could enter a kata (forms) division. Some of the most breathtaking and inspiring renditions of kata that I've seen have been on a tournament deck.

Right about now I can see the purists rolling their eyes. "The martial arts are not about sports!" they're yelling. I have to admit, I'm hard pressed to disagree with that statement. Sports are founded on rules. If there's one underlying rule to the martial arts, it's - there are no rules. So not only are martial contests not "real" martial arts, but in a certain respect the opposite of them because of the rules/no-rules dichotomy. To state the obvious, winning a point-match has absolutely nothing to do with how you'll prevail in a real altercation.

In spite of this schism I'm in favor of the sportive side of the martial arts. Every time you go out to compete you improve automatically. Not only through self-examination, but by checking out the other players. You're bound to see some new or different techniques that you may want to try out yourself.

Competing is a little scary because you're doing something the ego hates so much: facing the unknown. This is in contrast to the camp that insists that sportive martial arts is an ego-driven endeavor. For many it is, and winning can take its toll. Win or lose, you'll still be getting experience that really can't be acquired in the comfort of your school. In the end, you have only yourself to compete against.

Choosing The Right School

2008-02-10T14:01:00.002-05:00

"Which style is best?"

Recently someone interested in the martial arts asked me this now-timeworn question via email. He made mention of a catalogue of styles, almost implying that he should pursue more than one. I defined some very broad categories of martial arts: grappling, striking, competitive and so on. But the main idea I wanted to drive home was that he was asking the wrong question. How should I know what style is best suited for this young man? Really, a "style" is a theoretical construct. It's the school that should be the main focus of his query.

First and foremost the would-be aspirant has to do some investigating. Go out and visit some schools to get a feel for what it is you're looking for. Many people end up training at a particular venue because it's the closest one to home. The commute typically gets the highest priority. There's more to it than just that, and there are a confluence of other factors that need to be considered:

1. The reputation of the school.

Word-of-mouth is not only the best advertising, but fairly reliable. It's a good place to start. If you seek instruction for your child, talk to the parents from your community. Even if it's for yourself it behooves you to visit the school in question and watch a class in progress.

2. The instructor.

While you're observing a class, what kind of person do you see in charge? A style is only as good as the instructor who's presenting it. Not only someone who is technically proficient, but one who exudes the characteristics you would expect from a competent teacher: leadership, patience and empathy. A good teacher should be a source of motivation and inspiration. A sensei is one who has gone before on this journey, so (s)he should know what you're in for.

In the US, anyone can open a martial arts club, no questions asked. Realize that not everyone is qualified (or should be allowed) to teach.

3. The students.

A good school and its attendants should be like a surrogate family. How do these people behave? Would you want them as neighbors? How do the students interact with each other? Personality and even occupation play a factor in how you'll fit in at a particular school.

I've noticed that certain styles tend to attract specific classes of people. Intellectual, white-collar and artistic types seem drawn to internal styles such as tai chi and aikido. The young guys love MMA. The blue collar working class gravitate towards karate and kempo styles. Of course these are sweeping generalizations based on my observations.

4. Method of payment.

Avoid schools that offer contracts. You never know how things will work out, and once you put your signature on something it can be very binding and difficult to get out of. Look for a place that charges by the month. I used to train at a school that had a pay-as-you-go policy (I was paying $4 a class, although that was many years ago). These days corporate schools charge up to $150 per month and expect you to sign for 6 months to a year's worth of lessons. Payments are then automatically withdrawn from your checking account. Welcome to the wonderful world of McDojos.

This list is by no means exhaustive. My point is that your school, its attendants and especially your instructor(s) are far more important than whatever style you train in. Visit some schools you may be interested in, and listen to your intuition. Choose wisely.

Martial Arts Madness

2008-02-07T14:17:00.001-05:00

There are few books on the martial arts that could be considered classics. Most range from fairly competent to dry and dull. I've come across one that could be described as completely off the wall.

Martial Arts Madness has got to be the weirdest and most irreverent book of its genre; a primer that's filled with unusual martial arts subject matter (East and West) and covers topics such as strategy, psychopathology and intuition.

The author, Glenn Morris, has trained in a variety of styles, including togakure ryu ninpo, a school of Japanese ninjutsu established in the 12th century. Morris has also served as a consultant to companies and has taught at major universities. Part lunatic and part scholar, Dr. Morris explores the egoic pitfalls of the martial arts, cosmic revelations that he's endured and how to live one's life true to the spirit of budo.

Chapters that include "The Jean-Claude-Killing-Machine Syndrome" and "Martial Master as Sex Stud" are both informative and amusing. The book also offers guided meditations and some interesting dojo games to enhance realism in training.

Martial Arts Madness - strange, provocative, but always highly entertaining. Morris' unique and avant-garde writing style truly sets him apart from his contemporaries. A recommended read for the martial arts adventurer, but definitely not suitable for everyone.

Lean Karate Cuisine

2008-02-04T00:59:00.003-05:00

Right after my promotion to shodan years ago I realized somebody slipped up in the ordering department when I tied my new black belt around my waist. I've always taken a size 5. Maybe my instructor thought I would grow into the size 9 that was now dangling halfway down my shins. Fortunately he had a 5 on hand. "I hope it fits like a bow tie" he remarked. Funny guy. It didn't, and I'm happy to say it still fits just fine. I'm wondering how many masters have had to pick up longer belts through the years to accommodate an increase in midsection girth. It's a bit disheartening to see a 6th dan walking around with a build like Chris Farley.

Obesity has become the new disease for the modern age. At no other time in history have so many people been so overweight. Much of this begins during childhood, and legislation has already been passed to remove vending machines filled with "bad" snacks from public schools. Healthy treats such as low glycemic fruit juices and other fat free items are available. But overindulging in anything, even if it's touted to be good for you, defeats its original purpose.

I remember seeing an ad for a local martial arts school chain that displays the now trite before-and-after images of flab to firm washboard abs, courtesy of karate training. Almost every exercise gizmo on the infomercial market targets the stomach. You can do crunches and leg raises until you're blue in the face, but if you're taking in more calories than you can burn the excess gets stored as body fat. Nevertheless, working the midsection is imperative as it is the seat of the hara. Having strong abdominals also offsets the possibility of wrenching the lower back, another ailment of the masses.

In addition to the all-important diet, I strongly advocate some kind of progressive resistance training. Some myths regarding weight training don't die easily. One martial artist wrote online that he felt bodybuilding was detrimental because eventually the hard earned muscle could turn to fat! This isn't even remotely possible.

There's so much information available on proper diet that I won't bother getting into that here. I will say that certain faddish diets do more harm than good. Low carb or crash diets may cause a rapid decrease in weight, so much in fact that lean body weight (i.e. muscle) is sacrificed, thereby slowing one's metabolism. As such I don't believe in any type of radical dieting.

These height and weight charts that I've seen are speculative. If you're eating properly, training consistently and getting adequate rest you're doing good. Still, I like to cheat now and then. And who doesn't? Recently I indulged myself with something called a Frappuccino. Unbelievably good. Lots of caffeine, sugar and cream. Look, if you're going to be bad do it right!

Just One Of Those Days

2008-01-27T14:16:00.003-05:00

No matter how well balanced you think you are there will always be moments when you just want to break something. Hearing tired aphorisms such as "Smile, and the world smiles with you" only causes you more aggravation on days like this. Everyone gets pissed. Strictly speaking of course we all process our own problems. The real issue isn't whether your conflicts are due to internal or external events, it's how we display ourselves to those who come into contact with us. So if you come off like a bellicose tyrant, the other guy takes it personally and this sets off a domino effect of sullenness.

You don't want to express lousy behavior in the dojo. It's antithetical to the respect and etiquette (rei) that's inherent in the martial arts. Has anyone witnessed the lack of respect and decency in American sports in recent years? When baseball hall of famer Yogi Berra traveled to Japan in the 50s he was astonished at the level of good sportsmanship that existed there. In one instance when a Japanese pitcher hit a batter with a wild pitch he ran off the mound to apologize to the player. Could you imagine that happening here? Bench clearing brawls, vehement arguments with referees and drunken spectators attacking players have become expected happenstances in sports. A hockey fight is considered as much a part of the game as scoring a goal. I'm still waiting for a hockey game to break out during a karate match.

So you're having a bad day? Glad to hear it; misery enjoys company. I'm having a bad day too, but instead of showcasing my indignation on the deck I intend to train hard to transmute these feelings of ill will that seem so justified. In psychology, sublimation is the term used to describe how we can take a despicable quality or predicament - in this case having a bad day - and transform it into something appreciable and worthwhile. Regardless of how irritable I've felt at the beginning of a class, I've always found that my spirits have lifted significantly by its end. Martial arts training as a therapeutic tool does work. It beats conventional therapy and is certainly a lot cheaper.

Finding Balance

2008-01-18T15:00:00.003-05:00

There was a movie a while back called Gung Ho that comically depicts the high standards of the Japanese workforce. In reality, this intense work ethos may be what's responsible for the high suicide rate in Japan. A recent US survey reveals that the life expectancy for the average CEO after retirement is about thirty months. So even if your job doesn't kill you, not showing up for work doesn't fare so well either. Finding oneself without purpose after a lifetime of work and achievement must be akin to having the rug pulled out from under you.

I used to train with a woman with four young kids. Even after she earned her black belt she continued to train five times a week, teach on the same days and hold down another part time job. It was a bit much and her hectic lifestyle was palpable. Commitment is essential in the martial arts, but not when it morphs into fanaticism.

Do you consider yourself a devotee of the martial arts? What do you enjoy doing when you're not in the dojo? Do you have any hobbies besides your training? (My apologies to the devout budoka who may be offended by the notion that the martial arts are a "hobby".) When the medieval kenshi Miyamoto Musashi said "learn the ways of other men" he wasn't referring to different styles of combat. Judo founder Jigoro Kano and karate's Gichin Funakoshi were skilled in the art of calligraphy and poetry. Musashi made beautiful paintings, wood sculptures and hand guards for swords. These men set aside time for creative outlets as a way to counterbalance their considerable efforts invested in the martial arts. Training to the exclusion of all else leads to stagnation and craziness (kichigai). "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" said Jack Nicholson's character in The Shining. And we all know how Jack ends up.

The Ultimate Self-Defense Move?

2008-01-13T13:40:00.002-05:00

Image courtesy of USA Weekend

While browsing through my Sunday paper I chanced upon this interesting item. The attacker in theses series of photos is one Bas Rutten, a retired MMA competitor. At 6'2, 210 pounds, Rutten makes for a formidable adversary against the diminutive defender who checks in at 5'2 and 110 pounds. I've never seen this particular escape from a rear choke, but it seems to be heavily reliant upon a rather compliant uke. What do you think?

All In Good Time

2008-01-11T21:44:00.002-05:00

Recently an adult student at our school announced at the end of his very first class he wouldn't quit until he received a black belt. Immediately, the chief instructor removed his tattered obi and handed it to him. "Here you go, it was nice knowing you", he chided. I think the new guy got the point.

I was always leery of bringing up my specific goals in my first dojo. For example, you just don't ask when you're going to test. It's really bad etiquette, to say nothing of a possible reprisal in the form of some austere training session (shugyo) that might come your way. Supposedly in Japan they use premature rank promotions as a way to deflate those who are bent on flaunting their laurels. The idea behind this is to cause the aspirant to realize the folly to all this and to just get on with the business of training. As the Japanese have a decidedly different worldview than Westerners, such a practice would not have the desired effect on this side of the pond. As it is the art of self promotion among American sensei is not uncommon. Patience is a virtue. One of my instructors waited twelve years for his next dan (black belt grade). I was ikkyu (brown belt) nineteen months before I tested for my black belt. These days, McDojos dole out black belts to beginners in less time than that, and this only hurts the credibility of the school as well as the development of the student.

In truth, some students move up quickly for good reason. Joe Lewis, the kickboxing great from the 70s earned his black belt on Okinawa after only seven months of training in shobayashi-ryu karate. Don Nagle, the first karateka to teach Isshinryu in the US, left Okinawa after a fourteen month stay with a yondan (4th degree black belt) certificate hand written by his teacher Tatsuo Shimabuku. Shimabuku knew it would be years before he saw his charge again, and he wanted him to have credentials upon his return to the States. Nagle and Lewis were extraordinary karatemen in their day, but they still had to pay their dues with relentless training regimens, although in a short time to accommodate their brief military hitches.

There's an old story about a martial arts apprentice who desires mastery. "How long does it take to become an expert?" he asks. "Ten years", replies the master. "What if I train extra hard everyday, then how long?"

"Twenty years!"

Even at the age of eighty, Chosin Chibana, a shorin-ryu grandmaster, felt that he still had a "long way to go" in his perfection of karate. As the 17th century poet John Dryden once wrote, "Beware the fury of a patient man."