Internal Retreat – Meditation in Martial Arts
In a few weeks we will be having our first Internal Retreat here in California. My teacher Sifu Brown, who first taught me the value of meditation in martial arts, has had many such events in Michigan, and we are
Rank in Martial Arts (updated)
About two years ago I wrote an article about rank in martial arts after Chris earned his red sash. We’ve had many tests recently, so I’ve decided to revisit it with some changes and additions. Enjoy! How do you get a
Relationships: We are not Statues
The question of the week in the dojo is about your relationships, “What is the most enjoyable thing your family has done together in the last three years?” For many of the students who have brought their family to the
Acceptance and Surrender
A few days ago I got a great question from a student. She asked about the difference between acceptance and surrender. Here are my thoughts. In general, we fight a lot. Struggle is important because it helps us grow. Moving your
Forgiveness and Martial Arts
Last week’s challenge was to forgive someone. We got a lot of great responses from it, so I’d like to talk a bit about forgiveness in general and how it relates to our martial arts and meditation practice. First, who is
Martial Arts and Meditation are like Cats
Martial Arts and Meditation are like Cats My brother is out of town this week so I’m taking care of his cat, Blue. He is a typical cat insofar as he wants attention when you’re busy, and when you want to
Martial Arts Wisdom
Martial arts wisdom is gained through experience and can be applied in many everyday situations.
The Power of Breathing
This week at the dojo we are focusing on breathing. It seems like a silly thing to think about if you haven’t done it before in martial arts, Tai Chi, meditation or other internal work. You may think, I have plenty to
The Second Thought
Train of Thought Much of our life is experienced as a series of thoughts. Something happens, we have a thought about it, that thought leads to more thoughts and emotions. We act or react, this creates another event for us to
Get Everything Possible out of the New Year
Find out what’s important This can be the most inspiring and motivating time of year. I personally love setting aside a few days to check in on my progress in the most important areas of life, but even a few minutes with the right
