Karate and your 1st mind. The Google algorithm started my day by kicking up a video to view and I diligently followed the lead provided by our overload’s recommendation. The title of the video is, “The Soft White Underbelly.”

The Soft White Underbelly

The Soft White Underbelly is a video project started by photographer Mark Laita. I love documentaries and these are small videos. The videos rarely exceeding an hour, usually less.  But they are powerful. Drug addicts, drug users, prostitutes, sex offenders, pimps, gang members, all are getting their moment in front of Laita’s lens.

Laita is not only a great photographer, but he is also a great interviewer, never crossing the line, never playing, “Got cha’” and being respectful of the humanity that is in front of his camera.

The 1st Mind

The 1st Mind was a point of interest concerning the people being interviewed. Their words may not have been eloquent, the sentence structure imperfect but the message did not lack clarity or emotional punch. They spoke from the heart and from experience no human being should have to earn.

So, when these folks speak, I listen and the 1st Mind jumped out at me. Wisdom from a prostitute. When asked, how do you know when to get in the car (to turn a trick) and when not to get in the car. The young woman listed off a few triggers she looks for but defaulted to, “I use my 1st mind.”

This seems like a stretch but is a very short bridge to build from prostitution on Figueroa Street. Figueroa Street is a major north-south street running about 25 miles in Los Angeles. The street is well known for all forms of illegal activity. The two most prominent illegal activities being prostitution and drug dealing.

The 1st Mind is Telling You

The use of the clarity of the 1st Mind needs heeding. The words of a prostitute are as real as real gets. Her accidents, oversights, or poor choices can result in death. Our accidents happening during our karate practice do not carry the same impact or risk. We have a do-over, she gets none. Head her words and here idea that we should use our 1st mind are significant. By using the 1st mind, we find ourselves inflow, and isn’t that what we seek? The talk of flow is everyplace, work, sports, life in general.

And here is another point. When it comes to your karate, it is unlikely you were taught incorrectly. Your first is likely the good choice. Go with your nature, go with your 1st Mind. The risks are not as disastrous as those that a prostitute from Figueroa St. faces. So what is the risk you face in the dojo other than to do what you were taught? Make an error, do it again. But getting in flow and using your karate 1st mind is increasing your success.

Here is more information you may enjoy.

Simple 1st PrincipalMind ClutterRory Miller – Violence Dynamics

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KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Footba...

Karate Examinations and what to expect. The testing, what is going to happen? I can’t tell you what is going to happen at your school. But there are some constants in the testing of a student. I asked that question too. At 11 years old I was ready for my first test and I was a loose procession of a skull full of mush.

Have little recollection of the test, I do recall preparing. My efforts need classifying as simple and rather dumb. I would go so far calling some of the preparation nonsensical.

Preparation v. Flexibility in Testing

Preparation v. Flexibility is about trajectory in my way of thinking and not much the specifics. Yes, details are important but only when they support the larger picture.

In the past I was horrendous at testing, or examinations. My idea of Karate Examinations and what to expect was distorted. That changed when my attitude took on a morphing into an acceptance of what was going to happen.

I putting effort into the nuts and bolt of every possibility was all consuming. This nuts-and-bolts take was an incorrect view of what was going to happen at the examination.

A Couple of Broad Strokes about Karate Examinations and What to Expect

During an examination I am looking for, heart, mental capabilities, and physical competencies. These are the elements of an examination. I suspect you may want to add to this, but I would submit whatever additions suggested fall into one of these three categories.

The Immature Mind and the Sixth-grade Test

This example need not be brought forward into reality for martial arts examinations. This reasoning is it is not the goal of the examination. I am calling out the game of, “Gotcha!”

The idea of finding a student’s weak point and drilling down on it for God and country to see is a power play. It has a place and a purpose, but is a rarely used tool. If it is the go-to move from the examination board your life just changed. You will snap to grid and keep your place in perpetuity or you will begin your exit.

Click on the Picture to Get Your FREE 30 Pages.

As an instructor and during an examination the interesting is what you know not what you don’t know. The doesn’t mean I am blind to what may be lacking, but the focus is on the positive and not the game of “Gotcha!” I want to see the best, the greatness the items you feel good about.

Good results from the demonstration are the point. Hearing about how difficult your examination was is not a mark of pride, yet it always is. You can be your best in difficult situations and that is part of Karate examinations and what to expect. But I hope you get an opportunity to show your best, that smooth technique you have nailed.

A Karate Examination and What to Expect with a U.S. Marine

A Karate Examination with a U.S. Marine, the classic rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and the song Free bird. (No, the band was not present for the examination.)

If the student has a gap in their skill set, it’s on you as the teacher. Karate Examinations and what to expect. It is not a linear picture anymore.

Here are a few other links to some podcasts you may find of interest.

You Think Karate Loves YouKarate Can Be The Worst Ac...

The Art of War Free Audio. A Chinese general, Sun Tzu was also a military strategist, writer, and philosopher. Sun Tzu is said to have lived who lived in the Zhou period of ancient China.

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Sun Tzu is credited as the author of The Art of War. The Art of War is an influential work of military strategy. The manuscript is still impacting Asian and Western military thinking and philosophy.

The Art of War Has Many Ways To Win

The Art of War focuses on alternatives to battle. Such as strategy, delay, the use of spies, and alternatives to war itself. The work also emphasizes’ the making and keeping of alliances. The use of deceit gets an underscoring.

Sun Tzu’s historicity is uncertain. Several Chinese historians place Sun Tzu as a minister to King Helü of Wu. This is dating his lifetime to 544–496 BC. Regardless the work stands the test of time.

The Chapters of, The Art of War are:

* Laying Plans* Waging War* Attacking by Stratgem* Tactical Dispositions* Use of Energy* Weak Points and Strong* Maneuvering an Army* Variations of Tactics* The Army on the March* Classification of Terrain* The Nine Situations* Attack by Fire* Use of Spies

The applications of this classic are wide and broad when it comes to life, not just warfare.

In this version of The Art of War, Sun Tzu Said the classic manuscript is a contemporary view of the classic and timeless work. Not a simple translation, of which there are many, Sun Tzu Said, is unique in this version reaches into the past using historical examples from diverse lanes of life.

Dorsey Jackson

Narrated by Dorsey Jackson, who you may have heard in movie trailers and commercials, make for a topflight experience as you gain the edge from this classic and timeless manuscript.

When Buddhists Attack Iron PalmInstant Calm

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KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.

Karate can be the worst actor. Karate is likely the worst actor. Which of course brings up martial artist Steven Seagal, and his best movie Above the Law. After that, it is a downhill slide in the quality of his movies.

Karate has developed a habit of being big in its movements because it is what we want to see and what we want to show. The other night in the dojo in asking to explain a technique and in demonstrating it I received a little ego feed. The movement was bigger than it was needing to be.

The reception for the application demonstration was well received. I found myself in the luxurious bath of the ego feed. That is a formula that asks for more, you know a positive feedback loop? I cam frightfully close to letting my karate become the worst actor.

The Karate Value of Big, Not the Worst Acting

Going big in the technique is not wrong, it can be useful. Think of the power stance of negotiation. Taking up space, the means of controlling the room. Those are the acts of a large technique with purpose.

The police approach is different as situations change. Many types of domination or control exerted by police can be overt or subtle. Babies getting unwrapped in the mornings go from being small to big. By-the-way, having a bad day.

Go to YouTube and watch babies getting un-swaddled. No more bad day may be had because it is smiling babies!

Karate can be the worst actor. And in other parts of existence acting is important Animal fur, Peacocks, are a natural thing. It is what we want to do gets big, it has a purpose from top to bottom in our world.

Movies of Michael Bay, are the kinetic trashing of my senses. Yet they have a method that works, it is all metallic animal fur and Peacocks. And the worst movies are the ones that tell and not show, so in that sense, Michael Bay is a champion.

Show Me, Don’t Tell Me

The nature of karate is to show, not explain. That can make karate the worst actor. Don’t tell me show me! The discussion of displaced phenomena makes for a bad podcast, or television show.

The educating of the masses is seen in an old photo taking place in front of the Shuri Castle. This is not a case of karate being the worst actor. In this situation the largeness is necessary.

Does the question arise of the intensity and lack of movement? The balancing of minimal movement necessary to get the moment to work. That leads us to the movie: Heat.

The scene between Pacino and De Niro is a cinematic masterclass. A master class on the impact of the minimal amount of movement needed.

The subtlety of the movie scene and the projection needed for theater are different. These two actors show that difference.

Karate Theater or Karate Movies

Our karate is about theater and not a movie, and is that the correct order of it? Are we a Jazz band or a Marching Band? The music and the behaviors are different.

The gross movement is not necessary unless, of course it is.

You can call it less is more. The comedian Steve Martin, and Let’s Get Small, maybe that is the path.

Strong karate teacher. If you are a teacher hang in here, if you are a student this is not for you. You needn’t go any further. Unless of course, you intend to be an instructor in the future.

The, “I might be a teacher in the future,” is not a place, an attitude from which to launch an instructorship. So equivocation is not a good commitment, it lacks clarity. It is not a weak position, just not strong.   

Everybody Sees The Weak

Everybody sees the weak, the crushed, and destroyed. The natural state of weakness is not escapable.

The disaster of, “Homelessness,” and the brutality the world can dish out can be unfortunate. Some of this homelessness is not planned. It may have begun with a cascade of events that took a beginning with one poor choice, that is a different issue.

The drug-addled mind of the junkie and the zombies that rule our society. These people are a different issue. The way of life, through their pain and weakness, has slipped into the world of what is. It is a tragedy of weakness. A weakness not brought on by themselves. Other times yes, they are 100% responsible.

Above The Norm

The above the norm. Sharing the benefits, the enlightenment, the ineffable. It happens on many paths. The path of the mind, the physicality, and the fist. The media says, “We’re all in this together.” “We’ve got this,” and more.  Yet as instructors, we see this in a different light. We make all efforts to appear the strong karate teacher.

The days are the challenge. The classes, and the knowledge that our students deserve better. We know this and it cannot be circumnavigated.

When you are a teacher and you are weak and that weakness is not seen, not acknowledged, that is difficult. We all need those moments to help bolster our sense of self, and achievement.

The two aspects of acknowledgment of weakness deserve pointing out. to. And how you can address the weakness. These two methods are not seen. These are not seen in the same way that focus becomes myopic.

Three Examples of Dealing

Eisenhower smoked, Churchill, drank, Ulysses S. Grant drank and smoked. Every leader has a method of dealing with the stress of leadership. A way to manage the weakness.

U.S. Grant

An argument about cookie-cutter advice on how to manage the weakness is not coming from me. Nope, that is not happening. But it gets addressing in a manner not resolving the weakness. But an assisting in turning the level of the moment down. Turning down the level to make it manageable.

Access to wisdom, the comments, and sayings, the icons of champions, that all is helpful and it makes a difference.

Action In The Correct Direction

We have chosen to be this person, not letting it happen but taking control of what we do.

The analogy of the pistol, bullet, and trigger. This three-item description basing itself on a description of serial murders. Yes, it is strange but oddly appropriate as we describe our lives and our strengths.

Some other podcasts you likely will enjoy

Larry Tatum & KenpoLes Bubka is MoreMarc “Animal” MacYoung – The Recognition

See how we can connect. Click on my picture.

Karate and your designed commitment. The lack of passive movements in karate is the natural, unnatural status of karate. The predisposition of the human body is not to move, it is to conserve energy. Karate is the opposite, it uses your body to activate muscles and move.

The private student from India doesn’t like the West Seattle Karate Academy in the morning, it’s cold. And that is the worst of the complaints. She is willing to get up early, drive to class and get into a cold – by her standards – dojo. Her body would rather not.

She is active and taking strides toward her goal, she is not lazy. Yet as instructors, we see lazy, or conservation all the time. We have all heard the phrases, “Get lower,” and “Bend your knee.” Simple observations of the human body wanting to do as little as possible.

It is our nature to do that to conserve energy and the other side of that slick nickel is we want easy calories. The conserving of energy across the history of human existence is essential to survival. At least the conserving of energy it used to be essential to humans survivng. The use of the sea and the use of the planes of America are similar. One of these arenas is wet the other dry, but the same when it comes to energy.

Karate is expensive in calories and money is a measure of your calories. I am not a historical scholar and I have no way of proving this statement but it aligns with this presentation. Karate was not about complicating self-defense.

Calories Count in Karate

We as humans are trying to conserve our calories. When we do old-style karate it appears to be consistent with the history. Karate was an assembling of a few easily taught moves. We like to call that in today’s world, Least-cost Solution Planning. Least-cost Solution Planning or Planning Methodology is a technique economists are using for making decisions regarding investments in urban infrastructure projects and transportation. A fancy name for conserving resources.

And that is what we are led to believe, karate was not complicated, it was direct and as inexpensive as possible.

The Vikings also have many examples of efficiencies. This is a different culture with no contact coming to similar conclusions. And it is like modern seagoing vessels of today, especially a submarine. Being able to do many things and fulfill many roles is necessary. It lowers the need for personnel and makes for more benefits with less expenditure.

Karate And Your Designed Commitment Are Not Integrated Into The World

The modern world doesn’t need karate. Karate is a small group of self-selected people making their way in life. Further, they self-select even more. The myths, the legends, the religions are not supporters of the martial arts as they may have once been. We have built, and continue to build our world to separate. To separate the ascendant integration of martial arts and our cultural norms. Karate not being a cultural norm and not understood is not supported.

It sounds like karate is expensive. Karate is expensive and we, as practitioners of karate, are willing to pay the price. But we never see it as paying a price. We see it as reaping the benefits. You are getting the benefits of karate and your designed commitment.

Some other information you may enjoy.

Catherine Kurosu – Stress, Health, and Medicines

You Think Karate Loves You. Let’s shape the conversation in a manner that will bring to light a few issues. This will help you to look at a few ideas may have not considered in our karate training. This, of course, includes other martial arts. For our purposes, we are going to engage in the anthropomorphizing of karate. Karate lets you think it loves you, but it doesn’t.

Athlete, Adventure, and More

Athlete, adventure, and more. The karate knows you love it – but karate doesn’t love you. Your karate provides benefits. The benefits are in three broad categories. Mental, Physical, and Spirit. And this part of why you think karate loves you.

The constant mental challenges of learning and reforming patterns are part of a healthy mental function. A sedentary body makes for a dull mind. Many studies and experience in watching people age serve as proof.

Physical activity helps keep the brain clean. The mechanism of the brain gets a cleaning of sorts.

Not Innate to Karate

In the meditative aspect of karate, the seated meditation is not innate to karate. But meditation can still be a valuable addition. Yes, I said meditation and these types of practices, are not inborn to the karate curriculum. They can be helpful but and their value should not cast aside. Meditation wasn’t in the primordial development of fighting.

Flexibility and essential mobility are powerful parts of the karate experience. The ability to move through the world and without hindrance. This is a gift karate training grants you. This is a wonderful attribute and it requires respecting and tending to. No karats-ka should ever have the occasion to say the line from the old commercial, “Help I have fallen and I can’t get up!”

The deadly couch potato. And the difficulty of coming back from the horrific sedentary lifestyle.

Bone density and how and why it is part of the practice. The classic endorphin rush and why we seek it. (Hint it feels good)

The Impending Injury

The impending injury. It’s coming. And you are responsible. Your karate doesn’t care. I am fortunate in my lack of pain. I am trusting you are having the same experience. Now the story of the Doctor who was way out of bounds. I had a Doctor after I dislocated some toes, declare I was going to walk with a limp for the rest of my life. He was wrong and should go pound sand.

A broken hand is not a good thing and not smart on my part as the list of injuries accumulates.

Your teacher is leaving you and it is going to be a cold shot of loss if you are not aware it is always coming. The natural response is often unsatisfactory, as you see them as lesser quality. Even if the quality and quantity are greater than what you once had.

It’s not what it once was, your karate left you.  Now what act, what actions, what are you going to do about it. The world of martial arts is before you and the choices are abundant.

David Kahn & Krav MagaMartial Arts & Life Clip ShowZach Zinn – Addicts & MA

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KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington.

10 Rules of Karate for You. Putting together the principals takes in a life experience.

The idea that there are only 10 Rules of Karate is a starting point. it could be 2 it could be 20.

Funakoshi had 20 principals. Thinking of hands and feet as swords is number 17 I think. The majority of the topics are about how to carry oneself. Funakoshi place great value on personal perfection.

The stoics and karate? Cross cultures coming to similar ideas yet never speaking leads to a sense of truth. Bruce Lee, and the Straight Blast. That makes sense considering Brule Lee’s martial arts origins in Wing Chun Gung-Fu.

Rules. The following of rules even to the point of absurdity. Catch-22 the classic novel and movie get a nod for absurdity. And we find ourselves throwing away stupid rules. The raising of a child is based on rules designed to create a good person, not a hideous creature that people abhor.

Chapter: Punches Come in Bunches

The Chapter: Punches Come in Bunches, and the sub-set, “Chunking is only for the training hall.” The world-famous Gantt Chart gets a going over. How it works in the training hall and how it is, let’s call it flexible. In the training hall, the serial environment lets you practice safely and repeatedly.

Children licking doorknobs and pulling cat tails get a different form of rules. These stronger rules are necessary and the softer rules, we use when talking to an adult mind.

Here is an old-line you have heard repeatedly, “The answer is in the kata.” Yes, the answer is in the kata and you should approach kata about principal and not draconian rules.

Entry points or restrictions the viewpoint you choose is a way you frame the world, the martial arts world.

About 10 Rules of Karate

From the bestselling authors of The Way of Kata, The Little Black Book of Violence, and Musashi’s Dokkodo…Your immutable path to victory!

All ten precepts in this concise book cut to the heart of ending physical confrontations as quickly as possible with empty-hand techniques. Our definition of “ending” is to make the attack stop.

Running after the now fleeing assailant to catch and strike him down. There is no lesson, no teaching, no therapy, no epiphany. There is only making that bad guy stop what he is doing instantly so that you and those you care about will be safe.

The strategy of karate is based on principle, what practitioners do to prepare for contact with an adversary, while tactics are what we do during the heat of battle.

Top Down, Not the Reverse

Practicing a martial art from tactics upward to principles creates a house of cards that will collapse from a gentle breeze, whereas working downward from principles into tactics builds a formidable foundation that can weather near any storm.

These ten principles are style agnostic, all about ending fights immediately. They define how to best apply your skills and training in the real world. Those who work with these principles will find swiftness, clarity, and victory in so doing.

/The Crippling Karate BluesFinal WeaponHidden Karate Making Life Better

Going to The Karate Wilderness can be great, good, or of little consequence. The absolutes of either or gets solved.

Absolutes of Fear

The absolutes of fear and seeking need addressing. Each orientation has its own quality and as a result, return experiences accordingly. You have a choice to retreat, running away. Or you can choose to walk toward something. Running is based on fear and few acts that taken in the throes of fear end well. You may choose to relocate, moving because, of safety issues, taxes, or better potential. These are only a few of the reasons we do what we do. Relocating because of yourself, well you take yourself with you.

The low emotional state of fear comes from the Lizard Brain. The Lizard, The Monkey, The Human Brain form a nice shorthand in seeing the mind. This shorthand is helpful. It aides us in establishing from where our emotions and resulting decision come. Running away is a fine resolution. Choosing to run away is used in nature at almost every level, from apes to rats.

Going to the karate wilderness can be undertaken by anybody at any level. How a person is using their angle and attacking that makes the difference.

Tropes in Our Lives

A literary tool a trope is used in media to convey an idea quickly in broad strokes. Tropes are being used so much they have become lampooned many times in many ways. My favorite Lampooning of this trope is Threat Level Midnight. Threat Level Midnight is an episode from The American version of the television show, The Office. It is a brilliant example of over-the-top mockery.

The ascendant leader is often lonely, as the fear-based leader can be. One is about anxiety and dreads the other, self-sacrifice.

Here are three stories to aid you in the dissection of your actions. Or seeing others’ actions in a new light.

Fr Lazarus Jump to 26:00

Br. Lazarus is a man who in heading for the mountains setting out to assemble himself. He has not returned but others have visited and recorded his thoughts.

The woods are always different because of your orientation. As the old saying goes, “Your mileage may vary.” Yet the metaphorical woods, the karate wilderness still exist.

The Dragon in the Karate Wilderness

The downside of a fear-based wilderness journey. The Dragon! Oh, the dragon is always present, the question is how will you meet it? You have three examples in this episode. The choice is, of course, to select one of them or, construct your own as you are going to the karate wilderness. An more importantly how you return.

Challenges MetCrippling Karate BluesHidden Karate Making Life Better

See how we can connect. Click on my picture.

KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.

Karate Skills and The Imposter. The imposter syndrome is something that can take you off the path. The path of continual improvement. We are likely familiar with the syndrome. Seen it, experiencing it or have in in the rearview mirror of life.  But for clarity, it is a case of a person doubting their accomplishments, or skills. As martial artists, we are not immune to this experience. Welcome to karate skills and the imposter.

Seattle to Boston and The Cure

A personal example of how this can show-up in life. How a culture from home and family can be the beginning of a healthy orientation in the world. And also, how when applied too much, by one’s own choice, can be a poor direction. The result so this over-rotation can set a person on a tangent. That tangent can be a not so good path.  Then a guy from Boston shuts down the Imposter Syndrome at a break moment and the rest is left in the dust.  

We are never 100% prepared for our promotion. A martial arts promotion for a new belt, or a promotion at work. The Idea is about potential, not about the present skills. Of course, competency is essential, but the potential is the driver of the day. The imposter is not going to shape your karate or your work.

The Movie, Shane

The 1953 movie Shane is an example of how a person, even if not a fictional gunfighter has a message for us all. We take a dive into the relationship between the protagonist, Shane, and the young boy, Joey. This is an exchange is an example of owning what you have earned. And owning it in a healthy manner. It is only seven words uttered my Shane that demonstrates this owning.

The movie is about how one might start thinking about facing the imposter syndrome. This position, or posture and how it bleeds into karate skills and the imposter.

Here is a link to a clip from the movie Shane. If you enjoy Westerns, this movie is for you. If you enjoy stories about doing the right thing even when it cost you, then this is a movie for you.

Putting a Bow on Karate Skills and The Imposter

Not only is it a good story, the cinematography striking. You are going to say “Whoa,” as you channel your best Joe Rogan response to the film. And while you are laughing at your response keep in mind Karate Skills and The Imposter, they are not at odds.

A few other posts you may enjoy

Killing DragonsWalking the PathLosing the Path

Let’s Connect

KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.