Paths of Transformation

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…

In this second of a two part series on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), I will focus on the Oriental Medical (OM) model for this syndrome. continue reading…

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), or the achy pain that you feel for the days following training, is something with which we martial artists are constantly working. As a syndrome, DOMS typically appears 24-72 hours after a workout–particularly after training that is new in focus and intensity. DOMS describes stiff, sore and sometimes swollen muscles and is often accompanied by a temporary loss in strength and/or endurance. The pain experienced with DOMS is different from the sharp, sudden-onset pain that is more indicative of an injury.

This posting is the first in a two-part series on DOMS and will focus on the Western perspective. continue reading…

Many martial arts programs specialize in either the martial or the artistic.  The former concentrates primarily on function, eschewing techniques and training methods that don’t create quick and effective prowess in a fight.  The latter focuses more on style, placing a premium on the beauty and athleticism of form.  Pyon Moo Do firmly places a foot into both of these perspectives, teaching an appreciation for both form and function.  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…

Nutrition is a very large subject. I will offer postings from time to time that address specific issues, but for now, we will look at some very general ideas. continue reading…

The purpose of training is to tighten the slack, toughen the body and polish the spirit. –Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido

When I walked into a Dojang for the first time to watch a class, it was 1991 and I was in terrible shape.  I never exercised and led a fairly self-destructive lifestyle.  I started training in June of that year in a school that had no air conditioning.  It had a training floor not much bigger than ours, with adult classes often larger than thirty students.  The weather, combined with the collective body heat and heavy Doboks, made for grueling, sweat-drenched classes.  The back door would be opened for airflow, but we were next door to a Vietnamese restaurant that kept its dumpster next to our open back door.  That dumpster was often filled with some of the most spectacularly odoriferous garbage.  If the hard training didn’t make you feel nauseous, that dumpster did.

I loved it! continue reading…

At Traditional Martial Arts Academy we study Pyon Moo Do, The Warrior Path of Transformation. The name implies that we are transforming ourselves into warriors. Doesn’t this stand in contradiction to my teaching students to practice peace, harmony and unconditional love? Isn’t warriorship rooted in violence and conflict, things to be avoided? continue reading…

One of my teachers once told me the following:

When you are depressed, train—it will energize you.
When you are angry, train—it will burn off your rage.
When you are happy, train—it will celebrate life.
In other words…just train!

It must have been sixteen or seventeen years ago when I heard these words. continue reading…