|
|
February 15th, 2012
Everything we do in life requires some form of training. We learn things by doing, and by doing, we improve ourselves without consciously being aware of it. Think about your own experiences going through school, educating yourself with, not only Science and Math, but on how to interact with peers, manage your time, join school functions, and dealing with issues growing up. In a lot of ways, ‘life is mostly training’ because we are constantly learning as we go, learning from past mistakes, and taking on ever-evolving challenges. Any individual interested in acquiring a set of new skills, such as taking up a new sport, hobby, or job, must invest sufficient time in order to adapt and gain proficiency. Let’s take Muay Thai training as a specialized skill. A newbie is introduced to the basics, then advanced movements would soon follow. In the process, the student learns how to move his or her body as it relates to striking, blocking, and countering. It’s like learning how to dance with numerous routines to master. Initially, one has to do the curriculum in strict fashion, not to deviate from the standards in place. After proficiency is attained, one becomes self-aware and self-reliant, adapting to the immediate environment, gaining discipline, following appropriate behaviors, and no longer seeing Muay Thai as a tool, but as a lifestyle.
Training, in essence, is a non-stop exercise of both mind and body. And to understand Muay Thai in a spiritual sense, one’s actions and thought processes must be guided, regulated, and encouraged by responsible and knowledgeable teachers in order to transcend the physical and mental barriers of practiced skills. Nonetheless, it’s an endless process of absorbing the good, discarding the bad, and contributing to those in need. Whereas the Muay Thai we see on TV can be described as its most powerful and potent form, the unseen characteristics of it are what defines a great fighter, a mere enthusiast, and/or a responsible Martial Artist.
Tags: devotion, discipline, training
Posted in concepts, martial arts, muay thai, wellbeing | No Comments »
January 6th, 2012
2012 at last — The beginning of a very exciting and unpredictable year. Is this the end, or simply the beginning? Whatever it maybe, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to start the year with a plan, and perhaps a blessing of sorts. A resolution, by itself, is only as powerful as we make it. If, for instance, we wish to live a healthy life, then we should create a blueprint which includes proper exercise and diet. Those who want to improve their martial skills can do so by writing down tangible goals and making them happen within the year. Training the mind leads to adequate training of the body. By changing the way we see things and developing our inner being, we can expect not to expect and, therefore, gain the patience and discipline to learn and grow as we should. This is particularly crucial in a society like ours, where we have become accustomed to a faster pace, information overload, and staying plugged into our high tech gadgetries. So, the question remains, how do we carry out a resolution in an ever-evolving environment? The answer varies from person to person, but the most basic of methods is clear: In order to change anything in our lives, we ought to alter our perception of things, create steps to reach said goals, and deal with obstacles without wavering. As far as our bigger and more ideal goals are concerned, let our small victories lead to higher and more ambitious ones. For moments when we feel overwhelmed by it all, guidance from an unlikely spiritual force can help boost our way through the rough and challenging times.
Tags: guidance, new year, resolution
Posted in concepts, wellbeing | 3 Comments »
December 23rd, 2011
So it’s that time of the year again, where images of Santa and the snowman take over. Where every other neighbor decides to light up their home. And, where last minute shoppers flood the malls and angry drivers take over the highways. For all the celebration and gift-giving, one of the best reasons to look forward to Christmas is the actual holidays itself. But for people in Southeast Asia, there’s really no such holiday and it’s business as usual. Even this very moment, people here seem detached from this concept of season’s greetings: no Christmas carols on the radio; no Christmas trees to decorate; virtually no lighted up houses or condos; only a handful of super commercial shopping areas displaying Santa with a sled in hopes of increasing sales. It’s certainly one-sided to say that all of Southeast Asia has no Christmas, since there are groups of Christians, as well as, westernized communities all over the globe. What seems obvious, however, is the dominance of Buddhism in SE Asia, which encompasses its own set of holidays and derivative interpretations of it. For countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, Christmas is predominantly a foreign affair. Hence, there is no Santa bringing down gifts from the chimney, chestnuts on an open fire, or snow-covered sleds pulled by raindeers. But Santa, snow, and ornaments don’t truly define Christmas as a whole. And if the spirit of Christmas is to celebrate with families and friends while taking a break from it all, then these are things that SE Asians can relate with, minus all the Christmas themes and symbols we’ve gone accustomed to in the West.
Tags: celebrate, christmas, holiday
Posted in concepts | 9 Comments »
December 16th, 2011
If you spent enough time training in any form of Martial Art, sport, or discipline, you probably had the opportunity to engage in some form of verbal, physical, or mental sparring with others. Sparring, unlike fighting, is a means of expressing ourselves in a somewhat controlled environment, be it through words or actions. In a school setting, sparring can occur in any given moment, such as when one deals with a bully or gets into a heated discussion with pears. Sparring, in this sense, has more to do with negotiating and reasoning. In a Martial Arts setting, however, training dictates how sparring ought to be conducted. At the least, training objectives and goals set the sparring pace. Each school or gym operates with a different set of beliefs. A so-called fighter’s gym may favor hardcore sparring, while another may focus more on light contact. Whatever the approach may be, sparring is an integral part of understanding and expressing who we in relation to our surroundings. For instance, in a professional setting, sparring occurs in a more subtle manner and those caught in the mix either attack or defend themselves based on how they think and what they stand for. Have you ever had to defend your ideas against a friend, relative, or coworker while having a conversation? Verbal and mental sparring has many forms and can happen at any given moment. In a hardcore environment, it’s either ’sink or swim’. This is why some people who lack integrity resort to ‘backstabbing’ or ’surprise attacks’, while others become the very people they hate. A strong individual can weather this by staying true to who they are until the storm dissipates. Nonetheless, in a culture of respect, sparring is used in a communal way, to enhance everybody’s performance. Thus, sparring is exercised in a positive way, where arguments are meant to stimulate thought and improve upon current standards in place, as opposed to alienating others through force or using harsh words to discourage positive growth. There’s a difference between being strict to bring out the best in someone and being oppressive. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: control, mind, spar
Posted in concepts, kickboxing, martial arts, muay thai | 2 Comments »
October 13th, 2011
Over a year ago, I wrote a blog that related to the subject of awareness. It’s a topic that can never be overemphasized. Just to illustrate my point. Last week, a new student got off work late one night and encountered a man who repeatedly knocked on her car window. Luckily, she did the right thing and drove off. Someone else may be too naive and would roll down the window to talk to a stranger even if nobody else is around. Or someone else may freeze up and not know how to react, giving the stranger an opportunity to break in. Awareness, coupled with safety in mind, allows an individual to take the initiative and do what’s necessary to stay out of trouble. For others, however, leaving a place when trouble starts may not be possible, especially when it happens within closed doors. Take for instance, the disturbing news today about repeated gunfire inside a hair saloon on Seal Beach. Six people died and three others where injured in this usually trouble-free neighborhood. Ruthless acts such as this one are hard to predict, not just because of where it occurred, but the manner in which it transpired. I mean, it’s not normal for people to walk in any public setting and go postal on strangers. So what can unsuspecting individuals do in times like this? As I’ve mentioned before, it’s always good to scope out your surroundings and keep an eye out for unusual activities. There’s certainly a fine line between being aware, as opposed to, stereotyping individuals as possible criminals, since there is no specific characteristic that fits this mold. Being aware means many things to many people. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: awareness, safety, surroundings
Posted in concepts, wellbeing | 6 Comments »
|
|