Category Archives: zen

karate, life, martial arts, philosophy, tradition, zen

Kagami Biraki-The Start of the New Year

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At the beginning of every year, many dojos celebrate a ceremony to start the year with a new spirit and intense energy. This is usually a ceremony to introduce the year with a spirit of camaraderie and unity. The class is usually very difficult and full of kiais ( shouts) with many basic techniques. In most traditional dojos preparation for the new year’s season begins as in most households. Toward the end of the year dojos are cleaned, repairs made, mirrors shined and everything made tidy. In Japan many dojos retain the tradition of a purification ceremony. Salt is thrown throughout the dojo, as salt is a traditional symbol of purity (goodness and virtue), and then brushed away with pine boughs.

For martial arts students today, however, the New Year’s celebration of Kigami Biraki does not carry religious significance. It does, however, continue the old samurai tradition of kicking off the new year. It is also a time when the participants join together and rededicate their spirit, effort and discipline toward goals, such as training.

Many of us start off the new year with a slew of resolutions, only to have forgotten them in a months time. Because of the nature of training, meaning that the journey is what is paramount not the destination, the significance of Kagami Biraki lies in the fact that we take each year as a another part of our personal journey towards perfection of self. For us as practitioners of a martial art it is a time to renovate, reflect, and recommit ourselves to the training we have dedicated ourselves to.

It is not just a physical act of intense training, but also one of profound contemplation. It is my heartfelt desire that this year all of my students surpass the goals they have set for themselves.

Wishing all a New Year full of possibility and adventure,

Sensei Orlando

strong spirit-strong mind-strong body

karate, martial arts, mind, philosophy, tradition, zen

Gratitude- The act of Gassho

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Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. … We must be the world we want to create.” – Mahatma Gandhi

I deliberately waited until after Thanksgiving to post this entry, because I feel that gratitude should be a daily expression. This time of year, most of us adopt a way of being that is more caring and giving. You will find people, usually strangers wishing each other a happy holiday. In general, we become more tolerant and understanding the closer we are to these holidays.

If we take stock of our lives we will find that we have much to be grateful for. Each day that you are in the wonderful adventure called Life is a day to be grateful for. As human beings we have a natural tendency to focus and highlight the negative in our lives. Consider for a moment, that if we merely switched our perspective instead from the negative to the positive, our daily outlook would shift as well.

Starting with the physical, I had injured my back a week ago and so moving or kicking or even sitting in some cases was very uncomfortable, to say the least. As a Karate instructor not being able to move, kick, or sit properly made teaching quite interesting! So I had a choice, I could focus on the negative, my lack of mobility and back pain, making each day a miserable one. Or I could focus on the positive, my lack of mobility and back pain, which caused me to slow down, listen to my body and get to the root of the pain and tightness in my back. It caused me to look at different methods of stretching and to engage in some yoga. This in turn allowed me to be centered and at peace while I was practicing. I was also able to engage in various strengthening exercises which diminished the pain and increased my range of mobility.

Granted this is a small, albeit mundane example of a perspective shift, but it was profoundly impacting on other areas of my life. If you take on an attitude of gratitude you will find that every area of your life will be impacted.

In the area of relationships we have all heard that life is too short to harbor grudges, this is true in my opinion. When you are grateful to have someone in your life, the arguments that can occur, the cold wars, and the silent treatments all become petty wastes of time if you truly shift your perspective. Be grateful that you have someone in your life to love, and that you are loved by someone in return.

When we train we do something that is called Gassho, which means being grateful for. At the beginning of each class we put our hands together over our heads and bring them downward to our center. In many cultures this is a symbol of humility and gratefulness. When we do it in class we are humbly thankful for another opportunity to train, we are thankful for all who have come before us who made it possible for us to train. It has even broader applications, when we perform Gassho we are thankful for all the people in our lives who made it possible for us to have one more opportunity to train, starting with our parents and ending with our teachers and fellow students.

Some words to remember:

To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.”
– Albert Schweitzer

strong spirit-strong mind-strong body

Sensei Orlando

business, goals, greatness, karate, martial arts, mind, pain, philosophy, power, thoughts, zen

The Power of Thought Part II

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Today I want to discuss procrastination. The death knell of many hopes and dreams can be described by this one word. I understand that this is human nature and that we have all put things off. What I want you to consider is that the future you are living into is taking place right this moment. One of the more grounded analogies that comes to mind is the author. He imagines a story and a written and published work. Unless he sits down to write, that book will remain just that, a thought. I have found that we do this in every aspect of our lives.

We put things off because they are difficult or we want to avoid confrontation, or simply because we just feel lazy that day or given moment. Whatever the reason, when you procrastinate you set in motion a way of being that has the potential to be ineffective, frustrated, unhappy, stressed and generally dissatisfied. We all know the adage about not putting things off for tomorrow that can be done today. How many of us actually practice it? If our thoughts have the ability and power to become manifest, what does it mean when we procrastinate? Thought must be coupled with action, it isn’t enough just to have great thoughts. The thoughts must be given wings, and yes, we must dream and desire.

The second part of the process requires taking the actions that will set those dreams in motion. It is not enough to dream of being a great author, if fail to write down any words, the dream will remain a dream. Use the power of thought but don’t get caught up only in the thinking phase, structure it so that the thoughts give you impetus to take action. Make the time you need to get what needs to get done, done.

Remember:

Procrastination is opportunity’s assassin. ~Victor Kiam

strong spirit strong mind strong body

Sensei Orlando

coaching, goals, greatness, ideas, karate, life, martial arts, mind, philosophy, thoughts, zen

Integrity- Why it is essential

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Do I really need to have integrity?

The definition of integrity according to Webster’s Dictionary is, ‘a rigid adherence to a code of behavior.’ There are though many ways to look at a persons integrity. A person with integrity possesses many qualities. Three of these qualities are honesty, the ability to follow a moral code, and loyalty to yourself and your beliefs.

I would add that to have integrity means being your word. Let me clarify. If a person possesses integrity, it means that they do what they say they will do and when they said it would be done. If ultimately, all we have as humans is our word, then our relation to keeping our word is of primordial importance. If I tell someone I will meet them on Monday at 3pm, then it is a matter of integrity that I keep that appointment. This is not to say that something may occur to hinder my making that appointment. Life does happen, and many times things we do not for see can make it difficult for us to keep our word. What do we do when this occurs? We stay in communication and restore our integrity, in this particular case, if I know I wont make my 3pm meet, I call the person in question and tell them I cant make the meeting and reschedule for a time that works for both of us.

I have come to discover that without integrity as the foundation, you cannot endeavor towards or aspire to great things. Integrity is the lynch pin upon which every great undertaking depends on.

The state of integrity runs across many different spheres and disciplines. You can find the mention of integrity in ethics, philosophy,law, science, and mathematics. While it may exist in all of these areas, if it is lacking in your life then you will be constrained to living a life in which your word has very little, if any value.

Strive to have integrity in everything you do, whether great or small.

strong spirit-strong mind-strong body

Sensei Orlando

coaching, karate, life, martial arts, mind, philosophy, power, self-defense, thoughts, tradition, zen

Courtesy in Martial Arts and Life

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When restraint and courtesy are added to strength, the latter becomes irresistible– Mohandas Gandhi

What is courtesy and why is it necessary?

The dictionary definition of courtesy is: excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior. Within the context of the martial arts courtesy plays an integral role in our journey through our respective paths. Courtesy dictates how we interact with each other, inside and out of the dojo. Intertwined with courtesy is respect, for ourselves and for others.

When we bow to each other, we are not being subservient, but rather we are extending courtesy to our fellow students. When we train, and train hard, we never forget that the rules of courtesy dictate that we place others before ourselves. This translates as being aware of your fellow students well being, state of mind, and overall energy in the class. It also means being concious of the rank of the seniors and extend them the courtesy their rank dictates, just as it will be shown to you when you achieve the same rank.

Real courtesy carries with it the implication of modesty and sincerity as well as mere politeness. It permits equals to show mutual respect while simultaneously accepting that each of us, in one way or another, is subject to a higher authority. Children should always be courteous to their parents and elders, students to teachers, employees to employers, etc., and those who hold positions of authority must demonstrate that they are deserving of respect by being courteous to those over whom they have authority.

Courtesy is demonstrated throughout the martial arts world when we greet each other through the sincere act of bowing. Yet, there are many other ways that courtesy is demonstrated in the martial arts and your life. Being polite and showing good manners, saying nice things to people you go to school with, meet during the day in the community or live with, are just a few ways you can show courtesy.

One of the most important ways to show courtesy in your life is through tact, which means not using , insults or ridicule to embarrass or hurt others. This may seem difficult when you may be hurt or embarrassed by the treatment of others, but it is important that you act with courtesy and tact regardless of how others behave towards you. By remaining above the negative behavior of others you will be building your self-esteem and others will value your integrity.

Show courtesy by being kind and considerate of others and expressing gratitude for the things people do for you, no matter how “insignificant” it may seem. Remember to say “thank you” when a person is kind to you. Remember that you create a better space in the world, by being generous and giving others credit for the kind things they do and letting them know you consider them valuable in your life.

strong spirit-strong mind-strong body

Sensei Orlando

greatness, karate, martial arts, mind, pain, philosophy, thoughts, zen

Train like its your last day

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There is a concept in martial arts called ren ma. Loosely translated it means: To cultivate and achieve perfection through tempered training. When going into more detail the definition exceeds the adage of “practice makes perfect”
The classic saying – “Practice makes perfect” may seem similar in meaning to what ren ma is about however, ren ma has a much deeper connotation, particularly to those who are serious about their training, development and achievement. ren ma reminds us that to achieve perfection in martial sciences or any biomechanical endeavor requires extremely diligent and never ending tempering, polishing, and refinement.
Kata embodies the idea of ren ma, or “always polishing” – with diligent practice, the moves of the kata become further refined and perfected. The attention to detail that is necessary to perfect a kata cultivates self discipline.
Why should we strive to continually polish?
To quote one of the founding fathers of karate: “The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the characters of its participants.” — Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate-Do.
Ren ma goes beyond practice and speaks to the attitude we must possess when training. Train like its your last day, means that in each training opportunity, in and out of the dojo, you give it your all, holding nothing back and keeping nothing in reserve. Every technique is real, every moment is life and death.
When you train like this, you cultivate the character and spirit to overcome any moment of adversity. This translates directly into every facet of life outside of the dojo. When you are constantly polishing, tempering your character, no matter what life may throw at you, you will be able to withstand it because you have done the work, and prepared yourself.
Sensei Orlando
strong spirit-strong mind-strong body
business, karate, life, martial arts, mind, pain, tradition, zen

The Discipline of Repetition

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Why do we practice? More importantly why do we practice so often? In an earlier post I discussed diligent practice(see http://www.nascentnovel.com/?p=147) Today I want to discuss why we have to do so many of the same techniques over and over and why this cultivates discipline. Webster defines discipline as: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character. When we execute techniques over and over we are forging a certain type of character in ourselves. We live in a society that gets easily bored and our attention spans have been shortened considerably. In a society where everything has to happen “yesterday”, the practice of martial arts forces you to take the slow track to excellence. You cannot earn a black belt overnight or even in a year. On average it takes 4-5 years for a first degree black belt depending on where you study. In order to achieve this you must have discipline. In order to pursue any endeavor with excellence, it requires discipline. I’m sure Tiger Woods still practices his swing even though he is a champion. If you look at any person who is in the elite of their respective fields, you will see one common theme- discipline.
Do we need discipline? Not really. We can all “get by” even when we aren’t disciplined. We can make ends meet, train every so often, and cruise through life. The question is do you want to excel? If your answer is yes, then you need discipline. If you want to achieve great things and impact others and the world, you need discipline. It means doing things over and over. It means not getting bored easily, but understanding that each time you do that same technique, practice that speech, have that conversation, you are getting better and moving closer to mastery.
On whatever path we choose to embark upon, mastery should be our goal. Take the first step today and discipline yourself each day to keep taking those steps.
strong spirit-strong mind-strong body
Sensei Orlando

karate, martial arts, philosophy, self-defense, zen

What is Zanshin?

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There is an old story about a young man who sought teaching from a great swordsman. After being accepted, the student endured several years of personal service — cooking, washing and cleaning for the teacher. Then his lessons began, but not practice with a sword. His teacher began to surprise him with incessant attacks with a practice sword — when the student was cooking, sleeping, anytime. Over time the student’s pains and bruises lessened as he gradually learned to avoid and dodge the attacks. Finally the student asked the teacher when actual sword training was to begin. The teacher then replied that he had been taught all that he needed to learn. This was zanshin, such total awareness that the student could sense and then avoid the attacks.
The story illustrates the awareness we all seek to attain. Zanshin loosely translated means the state of total awareness. It means being aware of one’s surroundings and enemies, and also being prepared to react. It is what I call developing radar and taking in not only the person that seems menacing or off, but your surroundings as well. The only way to cultivate this type of awareness is through practice and being immersed in the type of situations that would warrant using and needing this type of awareness. In many schools attacks are non linear or you face several opponents at once. In other schools, blindfolds are used to heighten the remaining senses and create a state of Zanshin.
Whatever your method we can all benefit from walking around more aware of our surroundings. Take stock of where you are and who is around you. Take in the surroundings. Are they dangerous? Do they have the potential to be dangerous?
There is an old samurai saying, “When the battle is over, tighten your chin strap.” This refers to constant awareness, preparedness for danger and readiness for action.
Even when it seems things are not dangerous, maintain a state of readiness. It is always better to be prepared and not need to take action than needing to take action and not being prepared.
strong spirit-strong mind-strong body

Sensei Orlando
karate, martial arts, philosophy, self-defense, zen

Is MMA the natural evolution of Martial Arts?

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Every time I hear that martial arts are going to disappear and MMA is going to take over I chuckle. I’m not denying that MMA is prevalent now (I even saw a very popular school change its name to include MMA). It’s not that I am a purist. I think anyone who studies a martial art should cross train in another art that complements the art they are studying. For example if you study a standing and striking art, then you should complement it with a ground, grappling style.

What many don’t seem to understand is that martial arts are meant to be encompassing.

No one style has everything you need. Before the splintering of schools, the sharing of knowledge was a common thing. Even now I interact with fellow students of different styles; jujitsu, aikido, muy thai, and karate that get together to share knowledge of techniques and what we can apply where. I think this is essential if martial arts are to move forward with the times. Many of the opponents to this kind of cross style interaction feel that something will get lost in the translation. Speaking from the history of Karate, I know that many of the old masters used to do just that. They would get together to share and find out what worked and discard what didn’t.

I think that today this is necessary, and that we as martial artists should embrace the diversity that exists under the umbrella of “Martial arts”. We need to share, learn from each other and support one another in our respective endeavors.

strong spirit-strong mind-strong body

Sensei Orlando
business, karate, martial arts, philosophy, self-defense, tradition, zen

Martial Arts – Business vs. Tradition

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More and more frequently, I come across young children who receive black belts. Adults and children both, have been attaining the rank of black belt after only a couple of years of training. So I took a moment and began to form the usual questions in my head (e.g. Did they have prior experience?) Then I stopped myself and thought “A 7-year old girl with a black belt?” What possible prior experience could she have?

Here is why I take issue with this situation. I am not saying that it’s impossible to attain a black belt in a few years. I’m sure many have done it especially if they had prior experience. What disturbs me about giving a young child a black belt, is that a black belt denotes a certain level or proficiency. In essence a shodan (first degree black belt) says that you are now ready to begin serious training. It also implies a certain level of maturity and the ability to impart, at least on a basic level, the techniques that you, as a black belt have learned. When you attain the rank of black belt you are also viewed as a senior in the class, in which the ranks before you look to you and at you for instruction and some guidance.

By awarding a black belt to such a young child, all of the above is pretty much null and void. As an adult studying a martial art I have a hard time grasping the concept of a 7 year old being effective as my senior. I question the ability of ayoung child to have enough of a grasp of language to instruct and teach others the techniques that exist in most martial arts. As far as maturity goes, while I have seen some very mature children, I have not seen any at that age to be mature enough to understand the responsibilities that go along with the rank of black belt.

The real question is why does this happen? I’m sure this is not some isolated incident. My opinion is that the black belt is now more of a marketing ploy than anything else. There is a prestige associated with being a black belt. The marketing ploy ensures that the child (and his parent) stay at the school. Schools have twenty or so ranks (belts). Let me elaborate. When I first started training as a teenager the school I first went to had three ranks: White, Brown, Black belts. I understand now that school was very outdated and that instructor was adhering to a very old way of ranking. I didn’t realize it wasn’t the norm until I took up training much later at another school.

Then I found out about the schools that use promotions as method to increase revenue. These are the schools that have four ranks for white belt (white belt , white belt one stripe, white belt two stripes etc.), and four or five ranks for each subsequent belt. When it gets to this level it becomes silly and pretty meaningless. Each promotion requires the parents’ monetary investment.

Are martial arts schools a business? Absolutely. The key is that they should be run with integrity and honesty.

I feel you can do both. Have a school that adheres to a fair ranking system while covering your overhead as a business. When the balance is tipped to either side (business vs. tradition) the students, instructor and the style can suffer.

strong spirit-strong mind-strong body

Sensei Orlando