Zen-jitsu: How Standing on the Front Porch can deepen your Martial Arts Training.
I was speaking with Tom Callos the other day and the topic of a purpose driven martial arts practice came up, Tom is an excellent teacher of martial arts, a business mentor, a teacher of teachers and one who embodies the quest to live a purpose driven practice. He reminded me that what we pursue with intention we imbue with meaning and often we don’t know how to proceed in the best or “right” way. That’s why it’s a practice. Jump in and fail. Increase your awareness. Use the lessons of Martial Arts to sharpen the sword of your awareness and cut through the chaos of worry and guilt. Use the skills of a warrior to live in and radiate peace. How does one accomplish such lofty goals? You practice. So often I hear my students say they wish to be more awake, calm, and aware but that with the job the, kids, and all the requirements and obligations of daily living, I just don’t have the time. My response is simple. Time is of the essence, now is the only time you have and all those obstacles you mentioned are the backbone of your training. You just outlined your spiritual obstacle course. Stress, the pressure of time, relationships, that is your spiritual practice, one that your Martial Arts training is perfectly aligned.
Mr. Callos mentioned a simple practical technique for bridging martial arts and training for daily life. He was speaking of Benny “the Jet” Urquidez accepting a new adult student (one who is already a teacher of martial arts) under the condition that he accomplish 30 tasks. One of which is for one week simply stand on the front porch for 5 minutes before entering his home. Leave all the stress, negativity, and emotional vomit outside. Remember the struggle of earning a living is FOR our family. This practice is truly a gift for all those you come in contact with and is an example of how improving yourself can improve the lives of those around you. Extending this moment in awareness you deepen your practice further. Think of 5 minutes of awareness. What sounds to you hear? What activities are happening in your surroundings?
I like to think of this process as a scan that spirals from the external world, to the internal. On a self-defense level you can extend your awareness by scanning the immediate environment. Where could you be ambushed? If you were to break into your own home, how would you do it? How quickly could someone approach you from the street, parking lot or driveway? What opportunities are there for someone to hide? After this external scan, shift to an internal scan. How am I feeling right now? Am I relaxed, pre-occupied, frustrated? These questions lead to increased awareness of your emotions and your environment. After guiding your awareness from external to internal, take a moment to just be. Stand there or sit in your car and consciously breath. Slow, quiet breath to nurture a calm, quiet mind. Let the day go and become open to receive the gift that is your home environment.
Alongside many of my students, I’m on a quest to learn how the lessons of Martial Arts can help in everyday life. It’s a journey from questioning and translating ancient knowledge to focusing contemporary experience into useable techniques for helping my students, the community and myself. The mission is to take what we learn on the mat out into the world. The starting point for this search is the realization that spiritual development is personal development. Not an easy task. This mission requires patience, perseverance, and a dedication to walk the path through the challenges and ascend the mountain of knowledge and wisdom. The beauty of this is that the practice is with you every moment you take to simply exist within your own being and let the chatter of the monkey mind fade into the background. Standing on the front porch reminds us to use our awareness practice to reset our calm to avoid contaminating our most sacred environment, our home with the pollution of negative, stress filled thought. It's a service to your family and to yourself. Practice well, often and enjoy the moment!
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