The diamond is sacred ground. A place where nostalgic poetry for the “National Pastime” is sparked and the ol’ ballgame reimagined in every utterance. While much has been said about this simple game, from its communal upstart to open fields all around the world, none can precisely express the individual experience that’s had when the sound of the rotating sprinkler sprays water over freshly cut grass.
The therapeutic intervals of silence and small talk had between teammates while listening to the ball flying through the air landing into the web of a well oiled mitt. The crack of the bat sending a ball screaming into the outfield as a fielder shuffles to get under it. Imagining ourselves in all of the greats that have stepped to the plate for a chance to get on the ballot for an entry into Cooperstown. Replaying what we would do as our cleats stepped into the batter’s box with 2 outs bottom of the 9th, calling the shot, and pointing intently to the wall in the outfield.
Not only does it spark the imagination, it inspires hope to the players that play it as well as to the fans that watch it. It takes us back to simpler times of stickball games, or some other creative variation, in city streets, in backyards, in parks and abandoned lots, on suburban and rural roads. It’s an even more beautiful game when played and enjoyed by a collective of races, genders and ethnicities around the world. Baseball warms the soul like apple pie, nourishes the appetite like sushi, and comforts like fried plantains.
The game that tests fan loyalty while igniting debate over a floating invisible strike zone that can dictate an individual’s mood from pitch to pitch. In baseball, nothings happens until it happens. One moment the sound of crickets and bird songs can be heard, the next a roaring crowd as a melodically orchestrated double play unfolds at 2nd base. Nervous tension looms while awaiting the next pitch hoping the ball gets a one-way ticket to the bleachers and beyond.
Springtime gives us many things. Blooming trees. The elusive knuckleball. The grand “salami”. The shift… Most of all, it gives us fresh start to root for the home team. I love this time of year.
With the pandemic slowing down our lives for better or worse, there’s no doubt that the impact of a pause like this has had a rippling effect for everybody both mentally and physically. Businesses of course, especially small business, have been hit hard across a multitude of industries.
One such industry that has taken a tough hit is sports, in particularly traditional martial arts. I’ve been a martial arts practitioner, enthusiast, owner and instructor roughly most of my adult life and in that time I’ve never witnessed anything like a scenario we face today. Schools for traditional martial arts and local shops where martial arts equipment are sold have completely shut down. I’ve even seen bigger schools that focus on mixed martial arts close their doors and take down their signage.
Just as things are looking brighter with the introduction of a vaccine, slowly businesses can begin to recover. Even with the availability of PPP (Payroll Protection Program in the U.S.), there are even more regulations that govern how small businesses can operate in regards to employees and independent contractors, which pose more challenges for small businesses as they move to reopen.
That being said, where does the traditional martial arts studio and related businesses go from here? Unless they have found a way to go completely digital, or transition some part online, the answer to this question is uncertain. As of March 15th, a lot of States in the U.S. have some type of tiered reopening plan which allows for some percentage of patronage including the continuation of recreational contact sports. The unique thing about a martial arts studios is that it is both a small business and a close contact sport. However, instruction of some traditional martial arts isn’t close contact at all and minimal if any.
Something that I have taken away from my practice is the ability to be adaptable. Combined with a beginner’s mindset, I want to propose a few questions that could provide food for thought as traditional martial arts studio owners and instructors seek to reopen and practitioners and students look to return or start training.
First of all we must embrace the inevitable which is traditional martial arts studios are too traditional. Gone are the days of students being introduced to a new art form by walking into a studio to simply sign up for a free class. Let’s respect the fact that consumers are more sophisticated and educated these days with tools like YouTube, Twitter, Yelp, Instagram at their disposal for information. Albeit there’s nothing like the real experience, in today’s society people are learning in all types of ways, including virtually.
Is the old model of a belt system necessary or better yet is it relevant? The belt system was originally introduced to the States as a way to display ranking, eventually turning into the business model utilized by a lot of “black belt mills” today. This essentially keeps the doors open. But is it effective in teaching and retaining the deeper meaning and universal applications that traditional arts contain? Some would argue that a belt system is irrelevant because it merely acts as an outward reward. Others would contend that people need a reward to further boost confidence and self-esteem. What do you think?
Regardless of a belt system or not, how does it correlate with a studio’s revival coming out of a pandemic? I feel that this is an important question to ask yourself as an owner. It’s also important for a student to ask themselves how they feel about a belt system. Given that a lot of time has passed since we could go out and be in public without a care, it has given practitioners and potential students an opportunity to reflect on what is truly important to them and what they want from their training. Do belt systems create community or division amongst the student body? Is it used for profit or is it setting a student up for enlightenment? I suppose that is a question of culture, about the art itself as well as the studio teaching the art.
For me, I’ve trained at studios that live and die by the belt system for profit and some that literally maintain their lights with that as their business model. Conversely, my best experiences have been training in systems that don’t believe in a belt system. The classic saying, “belts are used to hold up your pants”, comes to mind. To hold up pants not hold up an entire school.
Something else to consider as studio owners and instructors begin the financial recovery process. Does the studio or owner have a strategy for growth? Growth in diversifying their student base as well as their avenues to generate income. Thinking back on the idea of incorporating a belt system, something it can potentially do is hinder an owner/instructor’s ability to grow out of their comfort zone and allow for settling on old ways. This is dangerous. Honestly, a business owner should never become stagnate. I believe this is where the word “traditional” becomes a crutch. The studio becomes stale as well as the art.
Why is this important to think about? Experience and innovation. This is key to introducing traditional martial arts to seasoned practitioners and new students alike. This is how studios can stand out. Students remember, more than anything what they’ve learned and what they experience. If they truly feel the art is fresh and innovative in ways that relates to modern times, speaks to them, their experience is rewarding in itself. 98% of the schools I’ve visited or trained at are boring and out-of-date. Quite honestly, forgettable. Tradition can still be taught through the philosophy and history of the martial art. Studio owners and instructors have to be willing to make this a part of the foundational curriculum. And not a simple blurb on a students first day about how the art was created or where it comes from and who to bow to. There is meaning behind each movement, lessons on how to be present or in-the-moment, and applicable concepts that go beyond martial arts that extend into our daily lives and rituals.
It should go without saying that most studios, by now, have implemented the use of social media to communicate to their followers. And if so, was it easy to introduce new ways to communicate about the studio and about the art? It should be part of the belief of the studio, the ethos if you will, to introduce new ways to experience training to gain and retain students as well.
I talked about the curriculum earlier. That should be reviewed twice a year, if not annually at the very least. I talked about the belt system and the weight that it carries or doesn’t carry. That is something that should be reconsidered. Perhaps moving to tiered or leveled curriculum may be a better approach. All things considered, it’s time to not only recover but also a time to revive and reinvent oneself, one’s art form, practice tradition in similar but innovative ways, and reinvigorate the traditional martial arts studio.
It’s time to avoid the homogenized drudgery that is the “traditional” martial arts studio. Students should be aware that if they settle for the status quo that’s exactly what they will experience.
To further assist in jumpstarting the revival process and to keep the conversation going, I have created a Revival Survey, which can be downloaded and completed at your convenience. Once completed, please let me know what you have discovered and what you think your first step should be. Thank you!
I don’t know which I enjoy more, the process of making matcha green tea or the tea itself. Just as that dilemma crossed my mind, an epiphany of the journey and the destination sprung into light immediately after. How can something so simple as a handmade clay cup and a bamboo whisk inspire profound contemplation?
There is something innately gratifying about a ritual. Tending to something with multiple, easy to memorize, steps brings a calm sense of purpose and affirmation to the soul. Done again and again where it becomes an effortless process allowing the mind to meditate, or at least reach a relaxed state. And like that, the moment passes. However, in that brief moment I enjoy the state of being present with the ritual itself, not thinking about the outcome or final product, just the shared instance with tools to create. Tools which have been created and shared with many people and ceremonies before me.
As the journey comes to a close, it opens the door to experience the destination. A cup of docile matcha green tea. Movement causes reverberation on the surface of the tea which tells the story of those who developed the ritual. While the ascending steam shares the magnificent smell, gifting the surrounding senses.
I may never settle the debate of whether I enjoy the journey or the destination more. Maybe I don’t want to. I enjoy what it is now.
A teacher can lead you to water, but cant make you drink.
If you seek accolades or to jumpstart a school of your own, maybe it’s not guidance you seek.
When you are ready for a particular art, you will know and you will seek out a proper teacher. At least you will be discerning of character.
A student chooses their teacher, not the other way around.
Never cheat the exercise or training. You ultimately cheat yourself.
A good teacher will teach you self defense. A better teacher will teach you self preservation.
Traditional martial arts will lead you to a better version of you through physical, mental, and spiritual challenges.
Question everything. Empower yourself to find the right answer for you.
Empty your tea cup. Open your mind.
Be one with all that you practice. Be one with patience. If you embrace the pain from training, it’s a good reminder that you are getting stronger or more enduring. If you are tired, rest.
Flexibility is the fountain of youth. Both physically and mentally.
For as much practice or training you do, balance it with other hobbies, reading & writing, and mindfulness.
The purpose of training in traditional martial arts should be to find guidance and equip you with the tools to find inner peace, truth within, and at some point, enlightenment.
Considering joining a school to start/continue training? Please contact me directly if you have any questions – souljournalist@gmail.com
Invisible adversary.
At a stand still, a flat uphill.
Held in place, evil spirited zephyr.
On two wheels, furious.
Yet, motionless.
Invisible adversary.
Invisible ally.
Swiftly about the sea, wandering at will.
Fly freely, deity of breath for feathers.
Bloated canvases, curious.
Set, ocean crest.
Invisible ally.
Wind enemy. Wind friend.
Seed of immobility. Motion fulfill.
Incoherent movement. Stagnation untethered.
Frustration is hideous.
Yet, to know is blessed.
Wind friend. Wind enemy.
The I-Ching is full of mysteries. Much has been written and discussed regarding its meanings. This will be brief, hopefully enlightening.
Hexagram 61 (中孚 Zhōng Fú) represents Inner Truth and is figuratively displayed by wind over water.
It’s said that the wind blows and causes ripples atop the regularly peaceful surface of the water, in turn influencing the direction of the ripples.
Similarly, our minds are also swayed and influenced by outside forces, sometimes invisible, like wind. With so many opinions and so much information provided by social media and news outlets, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and impressed.
It’s in these moments the I-Ching unravels it’s mystery and becomes an applicable skill. Inner Truth is asking that we return to our authentic selves after being open to embrace ideas, concepts and thoughts, not our own.
Thus offering a full range of information to analyze and then impart our own thoughts.
The mind returns to peace like water returns to a still surface.
Often times we don’t give ourselves the agency to be our authentic selves. We accept, deal with, or are just led to believe something that doesn’t sit well with our soul. Whether it’s to gain someone’s favor, seeking acceptance, fear of rejection, or simply don’t want to rock the boat. Being authentic or true-to-self, doesn’t necessarily mean disagreeing, being rude, or disrespectful. In fact, quite the opposite. Truth within promotes peace within.
One thing and one thing only do I teach; suffering and how to end suffering.
Buddha
In this day and age it’s easy to shift with the winds and get distracted by digital and social environments. We’re all inundated by layers on layers of ideas, opinions, and unnecessary fodder that often rack the mind and do very little to provide calmness or peace.
The art of Bonsai is a great example of simplifying. Its sole focus is pruning away unnecessary limbs of a tree.
Recognize.
Feeling overwhelmed is the new normal. Readily accepting anxiety and stress is considered part of the game. As a survival response mechanism, our bodies are hard-wired to manage a certain amount of stress, anxiety, and fear. But for how long can the human body endure constant exposure or numerous triggers day-to-day, week-to-week, etc.?
An article published in 2011 by Harvard Health, Understanding the stress response, it stated that, “Over time, repeated activation of the stress response takes a toll on the body. Research suggests that chronic stress contributes to high blood pressure, promotes the formation of artery-clogging deposits, and causes brain changes that may contribute to anxiety, depression, and addiction.. More preliminary research suggests that chronic stress may also contribute to obesity, both through direct mechanisms (causing people to eat more) or indirectly (decreasing sleep and exercise).”
Peel Away The Layers.
Whether work related or otherwise, the source of our stresses can be peeled away like layers of an onion. How? When I look back at traditional martial arts training, something that comes to mind that can help eliminate stressors is repetition. Repetition in exercise, in thought, and pattern. A body in motion is a mind focused.
When exercising, try to focus on thoughts of why the body needs exercise then the goal of the exercise. Additionally, once the body is in complete muscle memory, start eliminating those thoughts one at a time until there is no thought, just motion. It’s a beautiful thing once achieved. I’m talking about moving meditation and it can be applied to everyday mundane tasks like making coffee, taking a walk around the block, or riding a bike. Start slow… 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes. Practice this and finding the “zone” becomes easier and easier over time.
The Countdown.
Now taking it step further. While exercise and motion are a good start, the best way to eliminate thoughts is by stillness.
Thoughts flood the mind at break-neck speeds. As a result our minds are forced to take shortcuts to process information in order to make decisions even faster. The side-effects of this are distractions, bias thinking, shorter attention spans… just to name a few.
To clear the mind, begin by sitting in a comfortable place and position. It’s not necessary to sit like a Buddha in a park. Just be comfortable and turn off technology. Now sit and allow for free flow of oxygen into the lungs. Inhale deeply into the gut. Exhale slowly and naturally.
How I’ve been trained is not to fight away thoughts but rather acknowledge and assign. I assign my favorite color to my breathing first. Then I narrow down my thoughts to 5. Narrow them down to 4 after a minute or so, then 3, then 2, then 1… Finally all I am focused on is my breathing and the color of the air entering and exiting my body.
Sit with your thoughts. It’s not as bad as it sounds.
Being in the present is the ultimate goal. Finding ourselves in the here and now can offer so many amazing benefits. The sounds and smells of what’s happening around us. The rhythm of being one with the objects around us. The body’s Qi is also cultivated. It’s humbling and allows for a greater appreciation of the self, for all things.
That Is… The bigger question, are you exhausted from trying to be the perfect person for everyone that you come into contact with; at work, at home, at social events, on social media even?
It’s exhausting. Perfectionism, if shouldered too long will break you down. Trying to be everywhere, trying to be everything that people expect of us, trying to be the perfect employee, trying to be the perfect partner, the perfect parent, perfect at everything – it’s draining. Perfection will eat you up and spit you out. And not when you decide, when your body decides. We are human beings not robots. If not recognized or shared with someone, the side effects are negative and the people around you will be impacted by it.
The English Poet, Alexander Pope coined the phrase, “to err is human, to forgive, divine”. In short, we all make mistakes and we should be forgiving ourselves. Forgiving yourself can have a profound positive effect on your physical and mental wellness. As I have discovered.
A Harvard Health article, among several articles in the psychology world, has confirmed that perfectionism causes anxiety. This stems from a lot of things; insecurity, fear of loss, fear of making a mistake, being overly self critical, and fear of not meeting people’s expectations.
How can we recognize and stop this obsession and fear based motivation? The Buddhist approach is to recognize those thoughts; of self doubt, imperfection, and comparing oneself to another, then release those thoughts immediately as to not get entangled into the web of negativity. The premise being, we are not our thoughts. This is a practice so give yourself a chance. Allow yourself to release the negative thoughts that give perfectionism its power.
I found a great blog with more suggestions on how to overcome perfectionism. Again, recognizing that it is a practice.
Some final thoughts to consider. Whether you are trying to make ends meet, job hunting, changing a bad habit, raising children, improving your work ethic; always remind yourself that you don’t have to be perfect. Try to embrace the process of your growth at your pace and at your level of expectation.
In Buddhism, it’s said that compassion begins with the self and resonates to others. I have to admit that I haven’t been perfect with this concept, but I intend to practice. I encourage you to do further research and empower yourself to trust that you are worth the self compassion that you deserve… we all deserve.
Originally posted on 2.11.2020. Revised on 1.26.2021.
By now you have probably heard of, or are vaguely familiar with, Bruce Lee. If not, stop reading right now and do yourself a tremendous solid. Visit: https://brucelee.com/bruce-lee
Anyways… Back in 1978, Bruce Lee dropped the ‘Game of Death’. That’s when, in my opinion, the martial arts shoe game officially began. Bruce introduced to the world the now iconic custom pair of unforgettable yellow Asics fencing shoes that were as effective as they were ostentatious. His opposite in the film, Ji Han Jae – Hapkido Master, was sporting a white pair with red and blue stripes. Quentin Tarantino would go on to pay homage to Bruce Lee’s iconic yellow jumpsuit and shoes with Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) in Kill Bill 1.
Why did Bruce Lee choose this shoe to best represent portray the fighting in film as well as off screen? Perhaps taking a look at the past can lead to some solid theories to why.
For the most part, kung fu practitioners had limited options at the time. “China Flats” were widely the most available and iconic themselves with an, “as seen on TV” appeal. As someone who has tried to train in the different variations of them, they are completely unstable. With cotton or hard plastic soles, any type of aggressive movement and they were off your feet. Good for tai-chi though.
Today’s traditional and contemporary practitioners are more agile, more mobile, and versatile than ever before. Thus the need for proper foot support is essential in training. I can’t speak for Bruce Lee but what I gather while reading the Tao of Jeet Kune Do, is that he had this in mind in developing a new philosophy for the modern artist. Having picked up different techniques from fencing, western boxing, judo, jiu jitsu, and savate, it became evident that a new shoe would be needed to perform the techniques outlined in his teachings, particularly mobility. Fencing being the most influential in his footwork, the Asics fencing shoe was well suited for it.
Having practiced the footwork in Jeet Kune Do, the Asics Mexico 66’s are light and airy while providing the grip needed for the swift and nimble front-to-back, and side-to-side bouncy movement JKD requires for efficiency.
While it’s up for the debate whether or not Bruce Lee wore an exact pair or early prototype for the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66, he did where Asics both on and off screen as did his cohorts. The Japanese brand made a home designing soccer and various olympic sport shoes. The Onitsuka Tiger brand, Asics predecessor, has its own unique beginnings promoting youth health and to this day still makes a solid martial arts shoe.
Another very popular shoe for martial arts, particularly wushu and kung fu, is by a Chinese brand based out of Shanghai – Feiyue. In my opinion, Feiyue is the supreme option for practicing kung fu. It’s durable canvas body can handle the demands of countless training sessions. The flexible rubber sole moves in unison with the foot and most importantly they’re extremely light weight. (The French counterparts are noticeably heavier and not designed for training).
I’ve trained in Feiyue shoes for over 15 years and still recommend for most traditional martial arts practitioners. They’re durable, light, breathable, and competitively priced for people of all levels of experience.
Nike had a rare release kung fu shoe called, Shaolinquan (which is the name for Shaolin Kung Fu better known as Shaolin Fist). They were released for the 2008 Beijing Olympics for Wushu competitors. As quickly as the Olympics died down, so did the Nike Shaolinquan sneakers.
By the looks of it, the Shaolinquan has a specific practitioner in mind, the wushu artist for an olympic floor performance. The rounded sole makes for an easy drop and rise up from a seated or grounded position but with an all leather upper might make them unbreathable and can suffocate your feet, especially during training and long forms. A show or testing shoe at best. Nike may own the highest quality in regards to technology and material used, but if you do a search you can find numerous options inspired by the look and style of the Shaolinquan from other brands. Google #wushu.
The list of martial arts shoes is endless these days. In selecting a shoe for training, one must be aware of their particular style and training methods that will be encountered learning the particular martial art. Like all sports, quality of material and functionality are key and must meet what the martial art style demands. Stick with the basics: durability, breathability, and flexibility just as what I feel Bruce Lee had in mind. Flexing a little on the looks of the shoe is where one’s personality is expressed, but should be an afterthought for serious practitioners.
Originally posted June 29, 2017. Revised Jan. 25, 2021.
Poets Bridge 