November 2002 Newsletter
BUDO
The Way of Stopping Conflict
Many
people translate Budo as "the way of war,” but "to stop
conflict" is probably a better definition. From a soldier’s point
of view it may be easier to see, but how does the modern martial artist
use this principle in the everyday life?
The modern warrior seeks peace and is a master of resolving
conflict. He strives for peace while not allowing himself to
become a victim. He has learned the ways of the world by observing
nature, and adopting the successful strategies and principles of others.
Knowing that he can't do any good for his family or his community if
abused, he defends his place in the universe. There are several ways of
defending against threats, and the first is simply don't be there. This
is the art of awareness. The
art of avoiding dangerous situations and always taking positions of
relative safety. When we find ourselves
in a crisis, then avoidance is a solution. Using the way of the crane,
angling and stepping off the line of attack as a common tactic. This
strategy demands the psychological attribute or ability to give up or
yield a position, and the physical traits of balance and agility. The
modern warrior also uses the tactics of the leopard, yielding to
aggression until the time is right for a defense. The civilian on the
other hand, stands strong and hardens his position, many time suffering
the same fate as the mighty oak tree during a wind storm.
The
warrior looks for the win-win situation in every encounter, while the
civilian sees this tactic as weak and ineffective. A key principle in
looking for the win‑win, is to truly know oneself and one’s
opponent. In combat, attacks are usually obvious. However, most attacks to our well being are subtle and almost
undetected. Sometimes, simply hanging around people with negative
attitudes can be a tremendous threat.
Negative comments and attitudes, do threaten success in life. These actions need to be neutralized with positive thinking,
clearly defined goals, and pro active strategies. Having a positive attitude, setting goals and being pro
active won't allow us to do everything, but it will allow us to do
everything better than negative thinking and tactics will.
The
pro active way of defeating the enemy at the lowest level is perceiving
a fight in the future. Instead of waiting till this happens, the warrior
takes the initiative. This is why we train. Preemption is an extremely
economical strategy for dealing with conflict.
At first emotion does not consume the attacker and is not fixated
on a particular outcome. At this point the warrior's resolution is easy,
small touches can nudge a situation back into alignment. This will
eventually cause a tremendous amount of time and energy to be used to
resolve the situation. Following this logic of preemptive action, the
warrior understands that there is no limit to how early he can act. He
learns that benevolence; respect and positive thinking are the elements
of a pro active warrior.
In training we strive to learn and promote
Respect for self
Respect for others
Responsibility for all your actions
UPCOMING
TOURNAMENTS:
Congratulations
to: Nick Copen, Gordon Corter, Brandon Folkes, Jessica Marelli, Brian
Mulligan, Jason Reinbold, & Teddy Rosania for participating in October
20th tournament to support the Mount Arlington PBA.
Success
and Victory come from the efforts put forth preparing for and during
competition Hours are spent
preparing to do a ONE minute kata or the seconds it often takes to win or
lose a sparring match. Not
many people can stand alone in front of judges or another competitor and
put themselves on the line to succeed on their own merit and abilities.
We often say more through how we conduct ourselves at these events
- - rather than whether we win or not.
Going and participating is winning . . .
The trophy or medal is the icing on the cake.
Congratulations
to the students who earned recent promotions:
-
Yellow
Belt - Nick Copen, Bruce Leal, Stefan Lean, Sean Meehan, Brian
Mulligan, Jessica Marelli
-
Green
Belt - Jason Reinbold
-
Purple
Belt # 2 - Stephanie Kingsbury
Exercise & Eat for Health - www.5 Pillars.com - October 21, 2002
A well-rounded fitness program includes three basic components;
nutrition, weight training, and cardio-respiratory (aerobic) exercise. If
you have resolved to start an exercise and nutrition program, don't set
yourself up for failure by making common mistakes. Recognizing the
connection between nutrition and exercise and how much better you look and
feel gives you the edge. Keeping your attitude positive also helps you
make permanent lifestyle changes instead of temporary ones.
To stay positive throughout the year:
>Decide once and for all to exercise and eat for improved health,
not for weight loss! This simple, positive approach makes all the
difference in the world when it comes to reaching your goals. The real
enemy in the battle against unwanted pounds and inches is not the lack of
exercise and food itself, but how we have conditioned ourselves to accept
less than what is best for our minds and bodies.
Choosing what to eat based primarily on what tastes good at the moment,
or choosing the most convenient way to get a job done instead of using
your own two hands is depriving yourself of many wonderful health
benefits. You get only one body, and the decision to take care of it every
day is totally up to you. It is a shame that so many wait until they begin
suffering from the consequences of poor diet and inactivity to begin
making lifestyle changes.
In the last 10 years, the number of overweight Americans has increased
dramatically, and continues to rise. Some 60 percent of adults and nearly
13 percent of children are overweight or obese. Lack of exercise and/or
poor eating habits are major risk factors for a host of conditions that
plague our society, including diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, high
blood pressure, stroke, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and many
other illnesses. Medical problems related to our own neglect or
indifference costs our nation billions of dollars each year. Our search
for taste and convenience is robbing not only our generation, but the
next. If we as adults do not care about our own bodies, we certainly
cannot expect our children to.
>Stop dieting! For many individuals, eating is used to counteract
negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger. What we normally do
when we decide to "diet" is to focus on what we can't have
instead of all the great foods we can. Long term avoidance of food puts
the emphasis on the very thing you are trying to avoid, namely, the food
itself. When we diet we also focus on our appearance in a negative way
rather than focusing positively on reaping major health benefits. Giving
yourself short term goals, where you gradually begin to replace unhealthy
foods with healthy ones allows you to experience the tremendous effect
that your new way of eating is having on your energy levels, your
workouts, and of course, your waistline.
Your weight will no longer be your focal point, your desire to keep
feeling great will. This payoff is your key to continued success. People
are often surprised to learn that once adjusted to a "clean" way
of eating, their bodies react negatively to the foods they used to
consume, keeping them on track mentally as well as physically. Digestive
problems, headaches, sleep problems and moods swings are often linked to
diets high in fat and sugar.
>Stop focusing on scale weight! The scale is typically used as a way
to determine success or failure when reaching fitness goals. True enough,
it may be useful if you are simply curious about what your body weighs on
a particular day, but beyond this, it tells you nothing. Your body
composition (the ratio of muscle to fat), bone density and
cardio-respiratory fitness are by far more reliable indicators of health
than a number on a scale. Regular weight training exercise, for example
increases lean muscle mass as well as bone density, which is reflected by
a higher number when you step on the scale. This type of
"weight" is exactly what keeps your metabolism speedy,
ultimately reducing body fat, and keeps you healthy and strong. On the
other hand, crash dieting without weight training gives you a lower number
on the scale, as you waste away precious muscle and bone. Instead of
focusing on what you weigh, focus on what really matters, your health.
Successful people are positive thinkers. To help keep yourself
motivated, remember the many rewards you receive from a healthy diet and
exercise program. A few examples are: Increased metabolism, a healthier
heart, increased lung capacity, body fat reduction, lowered cholesterol,
greater strength and stamina, stress relief, increased bone density,
decreased risk of injury, improved self-confidence and a greater sense of
well-being. Having a healthy, fit body is well worth the few hours a week
you will spend exercising. Remember, if you have preexisting medical
conditions, food allergies or sensitivities, and/or have been inactive, be
sure to consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program or
adjusting your diet.
"Obstacles
are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the
goal."
Henry Ford - 1863?1947, Founder of Ford Motor Company |
