Thoughts

The ken-po goku-i as well as many other sources has me re-evaluating my practice and more important the view I have of the FA/MA for myself and how I view it out there in the world. All bottles are good and they all do serve a purpose but the most important aspect of this is the story we tell ourselves.

In order for this to be true, bottles and service, we must be brutally honest with out selves and view what we do and even more important what we teach by our example as something raw and exposed for what it really is and not something we do to entice the uninitiated into signing over their lives to practice and learn something that does not have the true value advertised.

Lets get to brass tacks here, the practice of karate is flat our boring if done right from the view of those outside the dojo doors, the uninitiated, and the misinformed.

I have had to take a look of late at what I have practiced and what I am trying to achieve in my practice now. The past is not a pretty site as I too was enthralled with the glitz and buzz of the day. My practice for the future is closing in on what I perceive, with a bit of salt of course and an open mind I hope so I can continue to change for the better, as true practice.

It is a shame that we all could not see the purpose at an earlier age but then again maybe that is the true way so that hopefully some day we can see past the glossy curtains hiding the truth and discover for ourselves what true purpose and practice is at least for us.

I have said this before and will continue to say it till I get it right that we have to seek the truth within and open ourselves to the pain and the pleasure of it regardless. We can not achieve true sight if we keep looking to others for validation. Yes, the group is a survival instinct we have to deal with but we must not allow ourselves to be blinded by the group dynamics but become that instrument of truth, justice, and the way (yes, superman, I borrowed it) or we spend our lives living the story instead of creating the story.

I hope my mindless meanderings provide thought provocation and I hope the comments and connections I have and will have allow me to see beyond the mere story and into the truth.

I would like to express my sincerest appreciations to those who have influenced this kind of thought, my wife as marriage will teach you far more than you could possible envision or imagine if you allow it to get past all the male ego generated bullshit, my friend and mentor Warner Dean Henry who by his example and actions taught me a lot of which the first lesson was a painful one and I do not mean in the dojo, and several blogs and Yahoo groups that have provided information that although may not be exactly what you would want still created thoughts that allowed change, i.e. Isshinkai, No Nonsense Self Defense, and Chiron, to name but a few and finally the various efforts of those who produced "good" video's and DVD's that provide assistance in learning. [Note: there have been so many positive influences that I could not possibly name them all here ergo why you only see a few.]

Keep an open mind, allow for differences in thought, and let the truth reveal itself...