Paths of Transformation

If you are looking to get the most out of 2012, try committing to something new for thirty days!

One of the unique aspects of TMAA is how the philosophy we learn is integrated into our curriculum.  At every belt level, students commit acts of service in the community.  At every third belt level, they do special projects to deepen their understanding of a particular concept.  At Purple Belt, students do projects on the nature of Brotherhood.  Typically these projects involve spending time in someone else’s  shoes since empathetic connection and understanding is at the center of brotherhood.

Three of my adult students–Jeff, Kaia and Nate–wanted to explore homelessness.  So for their project, they spent 24 hours on the street, seeing what it would be like first hand.  I’m very proud of their inspiration and commitment for the project.  What follows is a description that they submitted for publishing on this blog.  I think you will find that it was an impressive idea that yielded some unexpected lessons. continue reading…

Centuries ago, it was discovered that rubbing metals on dark stones such as slate left visible streaks of color.  The color varied depending on the purity of the metals.  This led to an explosion of commerce because now people had the ability to standardize the value of metals and thus establish consistent methods for pricing goods.  These dark rocks became known as touchstones.

Today, the term is used to describe a reference point, a means of establishing value.  In my life, I have found my martial arts training to be a touchstone.  continue reading…

One of the things that I have always loved about training is the cathartic effect it has.  I can be in the worst mood, and all I need is a good hour of solid training to purge the strong emotions that are dragging me down.

At least, this was what I thought was going on. continue reading…

As a martial arts instructor, I have a unique perspective of my students’ lives. When I meet them, I am offered a snapshot of who they are. I don’t have a sense of what preceded them entering the Dojang, and I don’t know where we will end up. As I get to know students and their families over time, the depth of my knowledge of their pasts, and my understanding of the potential in their futures grows. I always find the unfolding of who my students are to be an interesting process and one that is often filled with surprises. Some surprises are small, some are stunning. I had one of the later while talking to a parent a couple of weeks ago. continue reading…

Since I first started martial arts, I’ve been intrigued by the concept of mastery. It seemed to me that the process of achieving mastery was a transcendent one, meaning that not only did you achieve a high level of skill in something (in this case, martial arts), but also that somehow you acquired special wisdom and insight into the human condition. This motivated me that much more to apply myself to my training. How cool that not only would I become an invincible martial artist, but also an impeccably wise guru as well. continue reading…

Long before I became a teacher, I used to imagine what it would mean to be a black belt instructor and to have my own school. I dreamed of technical mastery like that of my own teachers. I also hoped to become wise. Our school was full of “philosophy,” stories and words of wisdom, so I assumed that these concepts would be part of my training. This was not the case. We trained our martial arts techniques with vigor and dedication and my technical ability improved accordingly. But the stories and words of wisdom remained only that. By the time I earned my first black belt, I had absorbed many philosophical concepts with little practical understanding of how to integrate the ideas into how I lived my life. continue reading…

Many people are drawn to martial arts because of fear of physical confrontation and a desire to be able to defend themselves effectively if things get dangerous. Students at Traditional Martial Arts Academy learn self defense, as with many martial arts schools. But we also explore fear in general so that we can limit how it holds us back. Fear isn’t just a problem when someone attacks us. It is the single greatest limitation in our ability to fully live life to our potential. continue reading…

During rank tests, we have seen adults and children break boards. Board breaking can be very exciting to watch, especially when advanced techniques and combinations of techniques are being used. In a recent children’s test, we saw four kids breaking boards. Though they were using a relatively simple technique (sliding sidekick), the tension in the Dojang was almost overwhelming. They all tried several times before finally going through their boards. And, each successful break was greeted with an explosion of cheering from onlookers. Clearly there was something more than a simple display of technical expertise happening. continue reading…

For this posting, I conclude my series on the relationship between the Dojang Hun and the Three Relationships. continue reading…