Use the Martial Arts to Kick the Blahs...If you only knew, you'd be here, now!

photo by Marco Bellucci/flicker

If you knew what we do and how we do it you would be here training with us now!

There is a tribe of you out there. Your life has slipped into a routine and you are living a more sedentary life than you'd like. You aren't feeling as healthy or as strong, or perhaps as young and flexible as you once did but you are searching for a way to exercise that won't bore you to tears or tear you to shreds.

What we are doing is such a positive synthesis of mental and physical training that it has kept some of our students focused and motivated for over a decade!  In the last month I've heard from 4 adult students who have lost more than 25 pounds, one of them more than 80! Several of these students are off of blood pressure meds or other meds due to their improved state of health.  You begin to have a new found confidence and you look forward to a place that will challenge you in a positive and interesting way.

If you could feel the benefits of what we are doing and the fun and engaging way we practice martial arts, you would be with us already!

There are millions of us out there, adults, practicing martial arts, becoming more fit, stronger, calmer and healthier.  We are proud of our sore muscles and increased skills. We get a thrill from those moments when our increased coordination shows up to help us avoid an accident or injury.  We become more engaged in life through our Martial Arts practice because it challenges us to become life long learners. Students of movement, motion and emotion. What a strange and wonderful symmetry of subjects. Many of us want to be like Helio Gracie, practicing martial arts in a meaningful way into our 90's!

I'm so glad for the physical and mental benefits of martial arts but what I value the most are the relationships and friends I've found. This is a practice that you can share for decades.  If you are someone looking for a positive change in your life I highly recommend that you try martial arts.  There are many types of arts, teachers and ways of training, one of them may be the key to unlocking a treasure chest of living victories.  I see it in our school everyday; the student who reports that they've touched their toes for the first time in years (after a few weeks of classes) or the student who now takes the stairs 8 times a day instead of the elevator, or the youth student who tried out for the talent show because of her confidence found through leading the warm ups at the beginning of class, or the student who found himself doing a forward shoulder roll when his dog tripped him up on their morning jog. (he rolled and popped up injury free rather than face planting in front of an oncoming car).  All these daily living victories add up to something that's worthy of your time, interest and dedication. Give martial arts practice a chance to surprise you and you might find that it's the change you want and the challenge you need! 

The secret to 6 pack abs is...

The practice of Martial Arts as a Way of Life

           The discipline of Martial arts have persisted for over a thousand years.   Through the discipline of regular practice, week after week, year after year our training is built on a culture and a tradition that has embedded a process of self-discovery. Martial Arts practice is used to produce a more fit and healthy body;  increase muscle tone, fat reduction, improve endurance,  increase flexibility, coordination, and agility.   
     The discipline of years of practice is an investment in your future.  It's not an easy path, but it's one worth taking. The discipline of self-defense; whether by the use of realistic fighting tools, learning to handle verbal assault, or coping with the adrenal stress response can help you in an emergency but it can also help you learn to cope with the stresses of everyday life.    
     For most however, it becomes a training tool that brings out the best in us by providing us with a multitude of benefits that can only be fully attained in such a discipline. If you want to change your body, get fit and have 6 pack abs, it's going to take self-control, consistent practice, nutritional education and heaping spoonfuls of discipline.

 
The warrior/scholar philosophy challenges us to be more disciplined with our practice, mentally and physically while facing  our most negative emotions, e.g. fear and anger.  We not only learn how to combat stress but to keep a positive attitude in our daily lives.  In addition we learn to be self-disciplined and to concentrate on tasks that are worthy of great efforts.  Often times it is not the physical techniques we practice that provide us with the greatest personal growth, but the focus that we put into the practice. It boils down to the simple act of showing up to class and putting forth the effort on a day, or even during a season that we don't feel like it week after week, year after year. 

Where do you go when you're at the end of your rope?

The last 3 years have been a huge challenge for me. I have had some intense business challenges, and personal challenges, we've changed locations twice and we've been weathering the storm of a recessed economy.  In dealing with this, more than once I've felt like I'm at the end of my rope.
It's a very discouraging and frustrating place to be. I was depressed, unhealthy and dis-engaged. After some soul searching and hard work I'm strangely optimistic, working on new goals, and feel healthier and happier than I have in a long time. The story, of course is in the struggle to get from there to here.


I once read a story about a cancer survivor who was reticent to speak of her experience until she spoke with a friend who said that by not talking about it she was being selfish.  Taken aback she asked for clarification. Her friend explained that by experiencing all that fear, pain and discomfort, surviving it and then ignoring it she was doing a great disservice to all the people she could help by sharing her story. From that moment on that particular cancer survivor decided to own her experience and instead of stuffing it down she embraced it and decided to use it to help others who might benefit from hearing her story.  

So by way of celebrating the challenges of the last 3 years in my life I offer the frustrations of my journey as a gift. Something to share and to encourage students of the martial arts and potential students to use their practice of martial arts, health, and mind to not give up. To look at being at the end of your rope as a starting point rather than a place to let go. 

More than once I've faced personal and business challenges that seemed insurmountable.  People close to me, family and friends have died.  I've faced overwhelming financial pressure, business stress, health issues, stress and worry, a feeling that I could never get ahead and stress, also some stress.  There were times when negative thoughts would creep into my mind and set up camp like a virus, replicating and draining my energy. There were times I just wanted to pull up the stakes, pack the tent up and head for the hills.  It took some time but I realized that those feelings collectively represented a type of burnout. Burnout is sometimes hard for a self-starting, business owning, entrepreneurial person to recognize.  For me it was difficult because my life and my business are entwined through financial, social, and spiritual levels. If there was a problem with my business there was a problem with me and my life.  That's not something fun to admit.  In that moment of  initial awareness  the process of healing began. 

There was a time I felt like I was at the end of my rope. I began a spiritual dialog, asking questions, searching. I talked with family and friends. I began reading books. I didn't realize it then but I was beginning to turn a corner by transforming frustration into fascination.  I became interested in my own dis-ease. This admission of weakness  challenged me and my ego because as a coach, teacher, trainer, educator, business owner, father, and husband I felt it was my duty to lead, to have all the answers, to help others and to be the one to offer encouragement, advice and healing energy. But what happens when the healer needs healing? 

I had to come full circle and needed to return to the roots of who I wanted to be and what I wanted for my life.  I discovered that my personal martial arts training offered me a way out of the pit and back up the rope.  Martial Arts  encourages us to face the facts, to take an honest assessment of ourselves and our efforts and then to embrace hard work and direct that effort to long term goals.  Once you realize that you are always starting over, that life is a practice and not a perfect and that your teachers are there to offer you encouragement to continue that practice! "You will get better. So, get moving!" I had stopped climbing the rope. I was in a rut and sinking. What's the difference between a rut and the grave? The depth of the hole.  When you stop climbing you start sliding. I began to see that my martial arts training offers me a unique way to connect to life. My practice has to extend to the mundane in order to reach the sublime.  The tough times are what test us, and temper us.  

So, I wanted to write a note of encouragement to those of you out there that might be feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, or otherwise at the end of your rope.  That rope is there to help you start over. It's never too late!  I've come to look at it as a spiritual workout. Facing the daily, weekly and monthly problems as challenges, as resistance that helps me build strength. At our school we emphasize training, practice, and taking the steps necessary to solve problems, set goals and look for new opportunities.  We work to apply that work ethic on the mat and off the mat in the world. At some point you may realize that you're  looking at the wrong end of the rope. Look up! Climb and when you get higher up the mountain, reach down and help someone else make the climb. Share your story of struggle, be a role model . 


By staying humble and hungry I never want to be afraid to tie on another white belt. In other words when I'm faced with a problem or a challenge and I find a new system of knowledge that can help me learn something new or experience a new way of practicing, learning, training or living I want to embrace being a beginner again.  I want to open myself to new knowledge and experiences and and accept that process as part of my journey into self-discovery and self-improvement so that I may be a good role model for my family and friends, for my students and peers.  

I want to share a kind of year end report and some of the steps I've taken because of my re-dedication to my practice.  Nothing here is revolutionary and next to some of the amazing things done by members of the health providing community it's just a beginning but what's more important than new beginnings?  From when and where I was in my health and attitude these things are groundbreaking. To use that metaphor, I have broken ground in order plant new seeds, new life and new hope into my business and into my life. 

First I feel like I've faced burnout head on. I've read Fried Why You Burn Out and How to Revive. I've begun mentoring assistants again and I've taken strategies to monitor and avoid burning out in the future. I've shifted my attitude in big ways shifting from complaining and explaining to goal setting and solving. It's the attitude and the 

message of the path to Black Belt that drives me to consistent and never ending enthusiasm. A new attitude that has helped me look at the end of my rope as a rescue rope, an obstacle course, a spiritual workout, as the thing I need to reach up and grab to pull me from turbulent waters rather than let go.  Now I look around me and I can see that in our school and community we are helping other people climb their ropes. 

Here's a list of a few things that we've begun working on. 

Back to basics: We are reviewing our curriculum, schedule, belt system and classes to provide a better experience for our students, teachers and families.  

Community leadership: I have started Bully Blockers a local program that is gaining momentum and even though in it's emergent stage I am learning a lot, meeting great kids and educators and am proud of what I'm doing. We have been asked to put on assemblies and to do after school programs as well as speak publicly at local schools, churches and libraries.  The mission of our school is expanding and as we are helping more people the energy in our school is growing! 

We have reviewed and relaunched adult self-defense programs and women's self-defense classes and donated part of the proceeds to local women's shelters.  

We have pledged to work with the MDA and St. Jude's as our children's charities for 2012. 

We are defining our school, our mission and our philosophy through social media, blogs and the website with new confidence and vigor. 

We are working on an independent film about bullying. 

This year I shifted from stubbing my toe on a stumbling block and turned it into a stepping stone. I personally taught over 1000 classes of martial arts this year and continued to be a student myself.  I earned my Green Belt in Counterpoint Tactical Systems, have learned the Red Belt Material (to a level I can practice it) and 75% of the 3rd class Brown Belt.  I studied for and received my Personal Training Certificate and created X-Kick (A cross training High intensity interval circuit combined with kickboxing)  and taught over 150 fitness classes. In addition I've had the wonderful opportunity to present Bully Blockers to over a 100 children since it's inception in October, 2011.  It's been a great year of learning, training, teaching and sharing. What about next year? 

Project based leadership is in the works for next year and also thanks to Mike Miller,  Zach Whitson, Gary Engles  and Tom Callos I have outlined my goals for my next 2 years of training for my next black belt test as well as built a foundation for our school's ubbt.   (blogs about that coming soon)

So much more to do but at this time, rather than feeling overwhelmed by it, I'm excited.  I'm not sure where this journey with Dynamic Edge will lead but I'm very grateful to be on the path. It's a phenomenal experience to hike into difficult terrain and see the creative ways some of my peers and mentors have navigated it, not to mention the ever present hands reaching down willing to help you take that next step up and over. As long as you've got your pack on, can stand up and are ready to put your best foot forward there will be someone there to help you up the mountain.  

In addition to these new goals it was great to finish the year seeing some of my students reach some of their long term goals.  Just last weekend we graduated 2 new Jr. Black Belts who demonstrated great skill, confidence, physical fitness and respect during a grueling 2 hour plus testing process.  Congratulations to Ben and Grant Rockefeller!  Also, after years of practice, training and preparation Sam Balding has earned his 2nd degree Black in Dynamic Edge American Kenpo. Congratulations Mr. Balding!
I mention these accomplishments to remind myself of the climb and as a few small examples of what can happen when you stop just hanging on and start pulling yourself up one grip at a time. 

I'm very excited about next year and look forward to learning, growing, and exploring the martial arts in a more intense and enjoyable way than ever. I look forward to sharing the journey. 

To the students, family and friends of Dynamic Edge a very respectful thank you!

May your new year be very happy and full of adventure, hope, and light!

Respectfully,
Theron Sturgess and the Dynamic Edge Team

20 Reasons Why Adults Train at Dynamic Edge

20 Reasons Why Adults Train at Dynamic Edge Martial Arts

1.       Total body fitness via  variety of movement that integrates balance, flexibility, cardio, strength  

2.       Self-protection: from verbal tactics to assault prevention,  impact & edged weapons training

3.       Stress relief and emotional awareness

4.       Flexibility, Increased range of motion, Coordination, Balance

5.       Confidence through achievement of physical skills

6.       Positive, professional feedback

7.       Inspirational environment with the training for a lifetime philosophy

8.       An interesting, sophisticated and complex system of skills that continually challenge

9.       Adrenaline Stress Training- Understanding the affects of Fight or Flight

10.   Verbal Tactics for aggressive, threatening, domineering people

11.   Situational Awareness, scenario drills and role plays that bring skills from theory to reality

12.   Open social atmosphere

13.   Improved Cardio pulmonary endurance and improved heart health

14.   Increased strength and improved muscle tone

15.   Variety of tactics from avoidance and evasion to control positions, joint locks, takedowns, trapping, striking, ground grappling, weapons training.

16.   It feels good to move with balance, grace and power

17.   Real time self-defense drills are engaging and fun to learn

18.   Practical emergency self-defense training rather than high kicks and jumping and spinning

19.   Supportive classes for beginners; safe, educational, designed for step by step improvement

20.   Participation in the ongoing evolution of Martial Arts over 2 millenniums of history

What are some of the reasons you train?

Dynamic Edge Martial Arts: How standing on the Front Porch can deepen your Martial Arts Training

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!

Becoming a Super-Human

Last Saturday we had a test and graduation for students at our martial arts school. Children as young as 4 all the way to adults displayed their physical fitness, coordination and all the hard work they've put into their training over the last 3 to 4 months.  During the test we had a discussion of leadership and role models. 

When asked who was a good role model or hero several of the younger children became excited and exclaimed; "Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman, Spiderman, Ben Ten," etc. So we talked about what makes those characters heroes. After a bit of a discussion we started to realize that it wasn't their super powered kicks and punches, or laser blasts from their eyes that made them heroes. What it came down to was that these characters all choose to use their super powers to help other people. They faced villains and enemies even though they were afraid.   What we started to learn was that these superheros faced their problems head on and helped people in the process.  They were role models teaching us that we can live the same way.  Although we can't have the amazing superpowers of leaping tall buildings or lifting 10 tons we can be Super-humans.  I could see a since of excitement and empowerment growing.  "You mean little 7 year old me could become a Super-human? I could be in the same league as my favorite characters?"


Super-humans are real life people living their lives for others and facing invisible enemies like boredom, laziness, apathy, jealousy, arrogance, and anger with the same determination found in our larger than life comic book heroes.   We spoke of real life people like Mother Teressa, Doctors without borders, and people that raise money for those in need.  I could see that the kids were excited by the prospect of being a Super-human, of living one's life to it's fullest potential by breaking free of unhealthy life style choices and choosing to help others rather than just seeking constant distraction through personal entertainment.  "We will become Ninjas of Kindness," we declared.  Through random acts of kindness we will strike from the shadows to help those in need all around us. 

Starting with our families we will leap into action and help with the clean up and maintenance of our homes,  rescue our friends from sadness with kind words and encouragement and face the enemies of slackatiude, sloth, and apathy.  We are on a mission to become warriors of peace and will commit ourselves to performing 1,000 acts of random kindness this year. We will record these in a journal to chart our progress toward becoming Super-humans!  In so doing we will reach out to others in our community, in our schools and neighborhoods. 

We want to foster an awareness in these super-kids that even though you don't always realize it, there are people out there watching you, being inspired by you, and being influenced by your choices, actions, and words.  There is great power in this awareness. 

Our martial arts practice lends itself to personal discovery, new challenges and a sense of self-worth far beyond passing level 10 on the latest video game. Students training in martial arts will become stronger, faster, more coordinated, they will have improved mental abilities including focus, and concentration, they will be able to kick, punch, cartwheel, and roll, they will learn to defend themselves against bullies as well as defeat, discouragement, and feelings of inadequacy.  They will become more powerful but as we've learned from one of my favorite comic book heroes, Spiderman, "With great power comes great responsibility."

My Life as a Dojo...

“My life is my dojo.”

“Dojo” means “school” in Japanese — literally, “the place where you find the Way.” And while every country has its own name for school (it’s a different word in Korean, Chinese, etc.), the important part of this statement is that your life is your school — your LIFE is the place where you find the Way.

Should you ever decide to take martial arts lessons, of any kind, I hope that you would be lucky enough to find a teacher who understands and practices the idea of my life is my dojo.

When a student is on the mat, executing punches or kicks, rolls or break-falls, leg locks or arm bars, and/or blocks and parries, all sorts of things are learned, such as the patience required to polish the maneuvers, the control you have to exercise to do it right, the teamwork it takes to participate with a your partner and classmates, and the understanding of the return one gets on effort and consistency. What a shame it would be if we failed to take those lessons “out of the dojo and into the world.”

The real lessons in our school, the valuable ones, are the ones we practice on the mat, but fully understand that we’re practicing for the purpose of making something in our life work better, smoother, and with more mastery. We practice in our school, what we wish to see in our lives. That’s what we know to be the most valuable aspect of what we do in our school.

By the way, if you’re not a student, but you’d like to see what it’s like to be one, just mention this post, and we will give you a pass to come in and try classes. Every great journey begins with some small movement in a new direction, yes?

And here’s a secret: I think, “My students are my dojo.” I learn what I need to learn by helping others to do, well...all of the above.



Theron Sturgess
Dynamic Edge Martial Arts