One of the aspects of martial arts, as I have mentioned several times before, has to do with connecting the mental, the physical, and the spiritual.  Visitors to our dojo are likely intrigued when we open and close every class with a period of seiza, in which we sit quietly in a kneeling position (those over 18 get to sit cross legged).  This time is either a period in which one can prepare the mind to train, or reflect on what has been learned.  Either way, this is perhaps a uniqueness that sets martial arts apart from many other sports activities.

During seiza, which is generally as short or as long as the instructor wishes, we sit with our eyes closed (mukuso) and often, the instructor asks someone to recite the dojo kun, or dojo principles.  These consist of the following:

• Uphold the principles of propriety and courtesy.
• Cultivate the spirit of effort
• Perfect the mind of patience.
• Live the way of truth.
• Do not lose self control or act in a violent manner. 

While our purpose is to train physically, the additional emphasis on living our life by means of the dojo principles, hopefully ensures that the individuals we train are developing ideals that persist long past the sweat and effort put forth trying to attain a belt color.

Over the next few posts, I hope to give my own perspective on each of these principles.  I will try to do them justice!

Ok, so you have considered taking martial arts classes and being one who prefers to research something before jumping in with both feet, you start clicking away with your mouse and searching on the Internet for information about martial arts and, maybe even more specifically, about martial arts and women.  In the process, you see LOTS of sites pertaining to women in karate, jiujitsu, MMA, whatever.  You click on pictures and, if you are like me, you think, "Those women don't look anything like me!  I'm too (short, tall, overweight, skinny, stiff, awkward, etc.) to ever do THAT!"  Not only that, but when you look at some of the pictures, especially the "posed" ones, you may notice that the women are all doing really, really high kicks...I mean, way high, often over their own heads.  Or gymnastic type splits.  Naturally, you also think, "well, I could never do martial arts because I could never kick that high or do that split, or crouch down that low!"

So, first of all, while I do respect most of those women we see on the Internet and yes, they have all worked very hard to get where they are, head high kicks are not necessary in martial arts.  Most of these women have trained for years and have developed the agility and ability to kick high and that's super.  Keep in mind that this is mostly the "Hollywood" version of martial arts.  Myself?  Well, I quit kicking head high long ago.  Although some styles, tae kwon do, for example, emphasize beautiful, high kicks, that for me, are just not realistic.  Also, common sense tells me that if I am defending myself, if I get my leg THAT high, that just makes it all the easier for an attacker to grab my leg or sweep my supporting leg and plant me on my behind!  The first rule of self defense is that you never kick above the waist.  A well placed kick to the knee can disable an attacker and you, being wise, perform "kata number one," also known as "RUN."  

Now, as far as the "weight" issue...well, I look at it this way... I would much rather be the weight I am (not that I couldn't lose some poundage!) and participate in martial arts, rather than be extremely skinny and try to do the same things I do.  One of the techniques to avoid getting knocked down is to get lower than your attacker.  That takes muscle in the legs to support your weight.  To be perfectly honest, I'm built (relatively speaking) more like a brick wall than a split rail fence.  And that's perfectly okay!  You work with what you have.  Not only that, but martial arts (or any full body sports activity) can help you lose weight in a healthy way or even gain (with added muscle you can develop) weight. Muscle weighs more than fat and you will never look like the Incredible Hulk unless you began taking steroids.  Muscle weighs more, but makes you look smaller and helps you burn more calories.  Don't misunderstand! For individuals who are slender, martial arts is an excellent sport!  One thing you learn regardless of weight is how to distribute your weight or balance to your benefit.  

If you want to see women doing martial arts check out this video of a woman performing a kata at the ISKF Nationals here.  This lady is average height and weight, but she performs with power, precision, and grace.  Here is yet another woman at a Shotokan Tournament performing a kata known as Passai or Bassai.  I really like this!  And finally, this kata, a different version of Bassai, is performed by a woman who is not at all like me in body type, but wow!  Her speed and precision is something I aspire to.  Also note by how worn her black belt is...it's nearly white which indicates that she has studied for a very long time.  So much so, that she has nearly come full circle back to white belt!  (As an aside, she would be in MY division if I were to ever compete in that particular tournament!)

The final point is that, whatever your activity (running, biking, martial arts, fencing...) use that wonderful tool known as the Internet if you must, but find individuals who do what you are interested in and emulate them!  If it doesn't inspire you, then it's not worthwhile! 

Martial Arts and "Arts"

One thing that I have noticed, and this was incidentally pointed out to me not long ago, is that people I know who study martial arts, a) tend to be involved in another facet of "art," be it music, dance, or art, and b) also tend to be accomplished in other areas.  For instance, Hanshi Doug Perry from Hendersonville, NC is the first non-Okinawan promoted to ninth degree black belt in shorin-ryu karate.  For those who know how long the journey to receive a shodan (1st degree) rank in martial arts is, to have attained a ninth degree belt is incredible! Unsurprisingly, he was distinguished in the military as well. What few people know, however,  is that Hanshi (or Sensei, as most still refer to him) Perry is also national champion in the art of shagging!  Having met Sensei Perry several times over many years, he is also one of the most humble individuals I have had the pleasure to know. 

In my own small dojo, we have six individuals at nidan (2nd degree) rank.  Of those six people, two are accomplished artists in painting and one is an experienced flute player.  I have some musical aspirations, as well, in that I play bass guitar, bass steel drums, and baritone horn (hmm...notice a theme here?).  While this is small evidence to "prove" my theory, the reality is that martial arts can enhance other endeavors, particularly those involving creativity and diligence.  I know for a fact that musicians spend HOURS practicing their instruments, not unlike the HOURS we spend practicing kata and technique.  Actually, kata, as a series of set movements or patterns, can equate to songs or performance pieces, and basic techniques in karate can be compared to scales, music theory, or rhythm.  I would imagine that there are similar comparisons to the mediums of painting, sculpting, or drawing as well.  Kata, in fact, actually were "dances" meant to disguise the fighting arts in ways that the conquerors of Okinawa (for example) could not understand.  Thus, the linkage between karate and the arts are perhaps irretrievably linked. 

As far as how studying the martial arts (no matter what your age!) can help one achieve in other areas of life...well, first and foremost, karate requires discipline, dedication, determination, diligence, and any other "D" words I may have forgotten.  Any goal requires the same.  Having recently signed up to do a triathlon, I have several times stopped myself and thought, "what the heck am I doing?  I'm not good at swimming, biking, or running!"  But, I am pretty good at karate, or at least what it takes to get better at karate.  So, while I won't "wow" anyone with my times, set any PRs, or finish the race looking as if I just went for a stroll in the woods, I do intend to finish.   I also am very aware that it will take...guess what?  HOURS of training! 

The bottom line for anyone is not that if you want to be a better musician, artist, or dancer that you HAVE to study martial arts.  However, the awareness of one's body and mind (zanshin) and the dedication and determination to do a thing and do it to the best of your ability can certainly enhance your art!  

Zanshin

How To Get Over Yourself...or How To Get Moving Again

I have been in a bit of a workout slump lately.  I've been working out, but not as intensively or as mindfully as in previous weeks.  Honestly, I'm not very motivated at the moment.  Normally, I would resolve this by setting a goal.  Well, I actually have a training goal in the form of a triathlon in August (super-sprint).  Since I've not ever done a triathlon, I have been very enthusiastic about my new goal and have been trying to build up an aerobic and strength base  in order to begin training more specifically in the coming months.  But lately, I just haven't been real into much of anything, not even martial arts. 

In order to solve my little dilemma, I decided to search for inspiration and as a woman of the 21st century,  I began surfing the Internet for some type of help.  Needless to say, I didn't get very far initially.  Most of the websites or self-help advice I encountered was more along the lines of how to get motivation to exercise for weight loss.  That wasn't really the help I was looking for...I haven't stopped working out.  I have just felt flat.  Finally, after sifting through a great deal of information and trying different keywords, I finally came across a very minimalist looking blog called Zenhabits (Breathe). 

The author of the website, Leo Babauta, had some good advice for me and for anyone else who has been feeling a bit blah in their workouts lately.  For one thing, the very first point he makes is that if you have lost motivation, maybe it's because you have too much going on in your life.  Maybe you have too many goals.  Maybe you have unavoidable responsibilities that must be attended to first before you can commit wholeheartedly to your workout goals.  Or, as is frequently my case, you have not yet learned to say "no" and have gotten over-committed.  Obviously, we cannot be responsibility-free.  For me, it seems that my best bet is to "compartmentalize" a little more.  It's difficult to focus on my workouts when I am still in "work mode" and worrying about all I have to do.  As I mentioned in a previous post, before we enter the dojo to train, we stop at the door, bow, and say "Osu".  This symbolically allows me to "let go" of the outside world for a bit.  When I am in the dojo, I am there to train, to teach, and to be a karateka or a sensei.  Sometimes, we have to be a little selfish in order to do this.  Once you train, you bow at the door again and say "Osu," then you can symbolically pick up those outside responsibilities and, very likely, do so in a much better frame of mind.  So while I can't necessarily lose my responsibilities and commitments, I can use my workouts to drop the anxious, work-mode world and be a much happier human.

Another point that the Zenhabits blog makes is that there is an "ebb and flow."  As with anything else, there are ups and downs and motivation will not always be a constant.  I'm willing to bet that even David Beckham or Michael Phelps suffer from a "low motivation" day.  The ebb and flow could be related to outside sources.  If you have a really big project at work, more of your energy will likely be absorbed by that out of necessity and not because you don't have interest in working out.   Everyone has an off period and the advice here is just keep moving and, eventually, it will pass.  For me, I am trying to keep in mind that daylight's savings isn't far away, nor is spring.  Both of these events tend to make me look forward to my workouts, particularly those outdoor activities.  As I will be training for a triathlon, my running and biking training will take me outdoors more and I am seriously excited about that.

Yet another point, especially for those of us Internet-addicted folks, is to read about your sport or activity.  I've been reading several triathlon training websites, as well as some martial arts-related sites.  I also saw a copy of Runner's World at my doctor's office and began reading about running.  That helped give me a bit more enthusiasm for the running training I will be doing in a few short weeks (the first week of March is the beginning of my triathlon training, so yet another thing to look forward to!)

Ultimately, just like anything else that you truly care about, exercise, working out or training for a specific sport takes mental energy just as it takes physical energy.  While I am not happy to be in the midst of a slump, I am gradually crawling out of it and am beginning to be excited about my new training goals.  I also highly recommend checking out the Zenhabits website!

Cinnamon Chicken

I don't like coconut, but since coconut milk pops up in Thai food (which I love!), I thought I'd try making Cinnamon Chicken that I got originally from this excellent clean eating website . I made a few changes to suit my tastes.

I don't really measure stuff exactly so the following measurements are fairly close. The original measurements can be found on the above website if you like being more precise.

1-2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (the original recipe uses carrots)
4-5 boneless chicken breasts
1- 15 oz can of light coconut milk
1- 15 oz can of tomato sauce, no salt added
1 tsp of cinnamon
1/4-1/2 tsp of allspice
1/4 - 1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1/4 - 1/2 tsp of cloves

Put everything in the crockpot and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-9.
Once the chicken is cooked and the potatoes are tender, shred the chicken with two forks and mix it all up in the sauce. Add cooked brown rice (about 1 1/2 cups) and a bag of microwaved frozen broccoli. Mix it all up and heat through and then EAT!

It really tastes even better the second day for leftovers!

The Physical, the Mental, and the Spritual of Martial Arts

I was speaking to a female friend the other day and was speaking (of course) excitedly about karate and attempting to encourage her to come out to my karate school. She responded that she really doesn't care for "that MMA stuff." Now, MMA (aka, Mixed Martial Arts), is neither "mixed" nor an "art." It is mixed in the sense that a competitor has to be well versed in wrestling, ju-jitsu, striking, kicking and take downs. And granted, one must be good at all of these things. For me, however, a mixed art would have the kicks of tae kwon do, the angled counters of wado ryu karate, the gracefulness of kung fu, and the power and evasion skills of aikido. This is not an exhaustive list of my personal criteria, but I think the name of the current hottest sport is misleading. As difficult as it was for me to keep my sometimes opinionated mouth shut, I did not try to convince my friend that MMA is NOT what we teach at my school. I had once again encountered the "iron curtain" of gender assumptions in the martial arts.

One of the most difficult things I deal with seemingly daily (aside from my tendency to talk a lot about things I am passionate about!) is the attitude of many women about martial arts. Women, understandably, picture brutish, bloody contests in which people purposefully attempt to harm one another and will consider taking martial arts, or self defense classes, only for protection. While this is an admirable goal, the martial arts is a lifelong, multi-layered activity encompassing the physical, the mental, and even the spiritual. As for why I believe women should take up the martial arts, I have yammered on about that subject in a previous post.

The physical part of martial arts is self evident, particularly in an activity that works the entire body. Honestly, I can't count the number of times I have worked on a new technique or refined an old one and come home later and realized that I had one of those aches in muscles I forgot I had.

The mental aspect of martial arts is embodied most often in the opening and closing of formal classes in which the instructor leads the class in mukuso in which everyone sits in seiza (kneeling position) and prepares the mind for training or afterward, reflects on what has been learned. In addition, the dojo kun (or dojo principles) are recited and thought on. The instructor will often ask students what they feel a particular principle means or how they can apply those principles outside the dojo. The closing portion involves humbly and respectfully bowing to one another and paying homage to those instructors who have come before.

Finally, the spiritual aspect is important, but is not, as is sometimes assumed, a religious activity. Instead, it is a continuation of the mental exercise combined with the physical. For example, hearing stories of people who get a "runner's high" in which everything seems to be going great, the body is doing what it is supposed to be doing and the runner feels as if that workout is the most perfect one in which everything just...gels, is often how I think of the spiritual aspect of the martial arts. This is often where a practitioner begins to understand that violence is actually NOT a part of karate, that the practice of karate itself is all encompassing and means much more than just getting in a good workout. Unfortunately, there are many who practice martial arts who never really understand this and while this may be an extreme example, think of the Cobra Kai in the Karate Kid movie (the FIRST one!). This attitude is the "win at all costs no matter who you hurt" mentality. Those who think this way are missing an integral part of the martial arts. One of our school's training mottos is "Not to conquer others, but to conquer the weakness within oneself."

So, if I (or another martial arts practitioner) invites you to a karate class, don't think UFC mixed martial arts mayhem. Think about how you can participate in something that will impact three distinct areas of your life and maybe, just maybe, consider taking the plunge!