DO WELL - DON'T DWELL!

Most of us find ourselves very attracted to ‘grace under pressure’. In combat, we experience and see this phenomenon all the time – it is a thing of real beauty. One of the things that underpins it is the idea of ‘being in the moment’ – as mentioned in my last post. People who do very, very well, are usually in the moment most of the time. They are 100% actively and fully engaged in what is happening ‘right now’ as opposed to dwelling, for even a micro-second, on what just happened.
I like to say “DO WELL – DON’T DWELL!”
Top athletes regularly exhibit tremendous grace under tremendous pressure; in fact, I think it is one of the main characteristics that sets the truly remarkable apart from the rest. Such people hold a ‘moving mindset’ – one that is highly flexible and adaptable, even though ‘pointed’ at a certain goal. This ‘flexible focus’ is something that I feel we all should aspire to – both on and off the mat. The ‘flexible focus’ mindset is a high level concept that has been spoken about before. ‘Rat’s head-Ox’s neck’ is how Miyamoto Musashi (author of the classic ‘The Book of Five Rings) put it. The ‘rat’s head’ being a metaphor for ‘flexible thinking’ and the ‘ox’s neck’ being about ‘intent’ or ‘focus’.
The perfect idea is that we embody both types of thinking simultaneously. If we are all about ‘intent’, we tend to overlook other, even better possibilities; on the other hand, of we are all about ‘jumping’ from one thing to another, we tend to lack focus and not get anything done. The idea is that we have both sets of software running in our heads at the same time; I call this ‘flexible focus’. Go after your goal but be prepared to capitalize on other possibilities along the way. Maintain a ‘forward moving mindset’ – you’ll do well, of you don’t dwell!
Train hard – train smart,
JBW

Micro-evolution

I have always been interested in those things that lift the truly exceptional above the ranks of the merely great. Seriously, the truly exceptional are very often simply doing things that the rest of us are not doing - and by definition, those things they are doing are not at all obvious to the average observer (if they were, everyone would be doing them).
One of the things that the truly exceptional seem to do with little or no effort, is adapt to changing conditions very, very quickly. They are 'in the moment'. They do not dwell.
This, in many ways, is central to the whole concept of evolution; ie: those organisms who are more readily to able to adapt to their environment, tend to survive where those that have difficulty in doing so, eventually die out. This of course, happens over relatively long periods of time - and in the martial arts landscape, it is no different; we become aware of new trends and ideas, and some of us take them up whilst others resist for one reason or another. That is the large view. However, in the chaotic landscape of 'action' (during combat/sparring) this evolutionary process is also in play. Those who are able to adapt and change with the circumstances more quickly, are usually rewarded with an advantage. This is micro-evolution in action.
Be ready to adapt - be ready to survive.
best regards,
JBW

The Philosophy of Fighting- Strategy - Warfare

Fighting - what is it all about? From where does our fascination for it arise? These are interesting questions, and ones that martial artists and warriors have asked themselves throughout the millenia. In my view, there is an obvious corellation between large scale warfare and individual martial struggle.
In Carl von Clauswitz's view for instance, clashes of interests between two countries (states/villages/individuals) are usually resolved by the imposition of the will of one over that of the other; at first by political means, and if necessary by war. War, he claimed, is a natural phase in the relations between countries (states/villages/individuals). War is a form of dialogue. (on a topically relevant and interesting note: this is where terrorism departs form the warrior ethos - there is NO dialogue; not outcomes in sight - just indiscriminate killing)
Individual fighting arts also reflect this style of thinking, though on a smaller scale. it is essentially about dialogue; about one trying to impose his or her will on another. I see nobility in dialogue, in all forms of it - and in doing so, see nobility in the underlying warrior ethos. The warrior mindset is one that embraces the mechanisms of combat as something noble, even essential to the human condition. Most people that practice the martial arts, robably do so at some level or other - they they may not have thought deeply about it.
For those inclined toward an understanding of strategy and it's place in warfare, I highly recommend the following books:
- The Book of Five Rings - by Musashi
- The Art of War - Sun Tzu
- On War - Clauswitz
- The Prince - by Machiavelli

I am now taking the rest of my Sunday off. So best wishes to you all ...
regards,
JBW

Shore leave

After a half a week working up in Canberra (Australia's capital) I have been home for three days. This 72 hour 'shore leave' has allowed me to teach a few private classes, visit with my family, clear out a few dozen e-mails, teach this evenings classes at my school and watch my wife re-pack my bags once again. Tomorrow morning, before sunrise, I am on the first flight back up to Canberra for more work with the Aussie military. The Australian MSD (Military Self Defence) program is now a superb program; having evolved way beyond anything previously enjoyed by our forces. The tremendous work of the driving force behind it (Major Travis Faure) is really paying huge dividends. I consider it a tremendous privilege and an honor to be engaged by the Australian Military for this role; through an ongoing collaborative process we have designed basic and advanced courses that are second to none.
Tomorrow morning, I am working with a large group of officer cadets from the Royal Military College. Using the advanced MSD training as a delivery system to instill and reinforce the culture of excellence which is paramount to the mindset of the modern soldier will make for an exciting and energy-charged day; one that has no room for mediocrity or the 'good enough to get by' mindset. I have always been about 'full and total engagement' - I try to embody that mindset whenever I instruct and I expect no less from my students. The 'excellent' live apart from the masses - they are 'different' in the ways that really count - they never 'settle', nor do they 'accept the common standard'. My training and life as a martial arts and defensive tactics instructor is founded upon a constant drive toward 'best possible practice' - I love my work, I am passionate about it, and I am energized by those who share the same feelings. Surround yourself with people who live with passion and desire, and you will be incapable of accepting 'the ordinary'. Life's too short - I say, live every day as if it really counts - BECAUSE IT DOES!
JBW

A State of Excellence.

A state of excellence is within the reach of all of us. The opportunity for excellence is there in every waking moment; the way we greet someone, the way we walk into a room, step onto the training area, prepare ourselves for the day ahead. To immerse ourselves in a culture of excellence is to take a stand against ‘mediocrity’.
For me, the culture of excellence begins with really ‘being there’. Attending to whatever we are doing with a mindset bent toward full-engagement is the way to start. Perhaps it is the fact that we are almost certainly experiencing the state of full-engagement when we are sparring or fighting that makes the struggle so attractive to us. Being there; being fully there, totally focussed and ‘on task’ is an affirmation that we are alive.
Living in a state of excellence is not easy; by definition it simply cannot be so. It requires that we expose ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually; it is about the pursuit of truth and the acceptance of it, in spite of all the consequences.
Be prepared though, that in denying mediocrity you will set yourself apart from the masses; and all in all, the masses will not love you for your choice because it highlights the fact that they have ‘settled’.
Most people ‘settle’. The power of motivation loses it’s potency once ‘acceptable’ goals or standards have been achieved. Those who live by the standard of ‘ordinary’ are those who have ‘settled’ at the first convenient opportunity. This is not the way of the ‘excellent’. The excellent do not settle; goals achieved are barely given a second thought. Forward is the way.
At the very foundation of the modern warriors motivation lies the desire for excellence. Though they may not know it, this is true. The modern warrior takes up training in an effort to lift themselves both physically and emotionally. The desire for betterment marks the first step in the way forward for those wishing to live in a state of excellence. The way is forward and the time is now. Banish mediocrity at every turn. Seek out the chance for excellence.
JBW

Questions for Teachers

Who are we teaching?

Martial arts training attracts people for a very broad demographic. Kids, teenagers,
young adults, mature adults and the elderly are all taking up the practice of martial arts. The training martial arts population comes from a variety of socio-economic classes; the wealthy are training, the poor are training; and everyone in between. The people with the financial resources, tend to attend the more professional and up-market schools, while those who are struggling financially tend to train at small clubs running out of YMCA clubs and church halls. There are some great instructors teaching out of church halls, although more and more, the true professionals are teaching from full-time locations, offering a different kind of product.

What are we teaching?

The variety of martial arts styles and systems is huge, and ever on the increase. Over the last three or four decades, different styles have had their boom and bust periods. Initially, Judo and several root Karate styles held sway, then came the Kung Fu boom, followed by the Taekwondo upsurge after it was included as an official Olympic sport. The last fifteen years have seen a major trend toward more reality-based and practical systems such as boxing, kickboxing and more recently, mixed martial arts. The mixed martial arts phenomenon, in it’s various forms, holds place at the top of the food chain when it comes to effective one-on-one inter-personal combat. But it doesn’t end there. There are many important niche-fillers such as model-mugging, adrenal stress based training and weapons-defence systems that play their part. The mosaic is rich, diverse and ever-expanding.

Why are we teaching?

This is an important question that can only be answered by each individual instructor. The over-riding reason for many is simple – for financial reasons. Many martial artists are finding ways to monetise their passion. Often, the teaching of martial arts evolves from a small, part-time affair to a full-time occupation. Other instructors are driven by different forms of motivation; some for social reasons, some out of a genuine desire to help and empower others, some as a way of getting their own fitness fix, etc. More often than not, it is a unique mix of each of those reasons (and others) that provides the motivation for martial arts instructors to do what they do.

How are we teaching?

This is another very interesting question. Teaching methods at the grass-roots (amateur) level, don’t actually vary that much. This is the area in which the true professionals are shining. The truly professional martial arts instructor heads overseas regularly and becomes exposed to the way other professional instructors do their thing. There are emerging instructors who are specialising in delivering to very specific audiences and such people are beginning to really think about how they are doing their job. Communication technologies are always being developed; most martial artists are completely oblivious to the trends, which are mostly being taken up by professional speakers, motivators and sales-people. This aspect of martial arts instruction is a newly emerging technology that may filter down from a handful of professionals to the mainstream population of instructors, over time.

Where are we teaching?

We are teaching in full-time schools, out of church and school halls, in back-yard dojos or even in the local park (can millions of chinese be wrong?). Although the location from which we teach shouldn’t necessarily effect the quality of instruction, in reality, it often does. If we have a place to store gear and safety equipment, with a matted floor (that allows for groundwork/grappling, etc) and a place where people can get changed, buy a drink, etc – then we will more likely be able to offer a better level of service than those people teaching out in the park. However, there is a time and place for everything; some people enjoy the low-cost and ‘natural’ alternative of being in open-spaces. It’s a case of ‘horses for courses’.

When are we teaching?

Martial arts is being taught at lunchtime for office and factory workers; in the mornings for mums who have dropped their kids off at school and in the evenings for the larger portion of the working population. It is being taught as a part of the working day in the form of specialised training for law-enforcement, security and military personnel. It is being offered as part of the school day as part of the extra-curricula activities that many schools are now beginning to provide. It is being taught in seminar format on weekends. I even know of a couple of groups who have the ritual of training on Christmas day.


So what does all this mean?

This all goes to demonstrate how rich and diverse the practice of martial arts has become in modern society. There are a hundred ways to each martial arts and make a living. I know people who make a great living from teaching nothing but one-on-one private classes; I know others who have built themselves an empire of professional schools; I myself, make a living from taking a very diverse approach consisting of private classes, running my school, teaching professional law enforcement and military personnel, authoring books and DVD’s and maintaining my regular seminar circuit. I take a fully professional approach to what I do; continually investing in my own education and bettering my ability to deliver to a variety of clients, each having different skills sets, different needs and training in different locations. So I am constantly aware of the who, what, why, how, where and when of my chosen profession. All things considered … there’s a lot to think about.
Think well.
JBW

Collaboration provides solutions!

The week comes to an end - and I'm finishing off with a trip to Melbourne late this afternoon to coach Frank Monea's Instructor team at his Challenge center in Oakleigh. Frank is a very interesting (and extremely successful) person, one of Australia's leaders in Martial Arts business practice. I like him a lot - he is passionate about his training, always trying to re-invent himself as both a person and a martial artist - and absolutely committed to doing whatever it takes to give his team and his students the best possible training experience.
I always find it gratifying to see well established instructors who are still willing to bring in 'outside help' in an effort to expose their students to 'cutting edge best practice'. The majority of instructors are just not confident enough to allow someone else to come into their space and 'run the show' - it takes maturity to take this step - and more than that, it takes someone who has their students best interests at heart.
So when I am invited into someone else's school (as is the case with much of the work I do) - I take the responsibility very seriously. I take it seriously, because I recognize the trust that is being placed in me. My number one rule when being 'consulted' is TOTAL HONESTY - if I can't deliver what they are looking for - I TELL THEM SO - and if possible, I will recommend someone else who I think will do the better job.
The same goes for my work outside the martial arts industry - when I am teaching defensive tactics solutions to assorted operatives and organizations - and I am being asked for a solution to a problem that is new to me - I inform the client that I need to research and develop a solution - I DO NOT try to bluff my way through 'on the fly'. People respect and respond to the honest approach - and very often, beautiful and profound solutions are discovered through the collaborative process - and that's the way I like it.
Collaboration is something that more martial artists should take note of ... collaboration is a far cry from competition. The collaborative process is refreshing, fun, inclusive and builds relationships that last. Collaboration gives rise to the elegant solution ...

Train well - train together ..
JBW

Ignoring the monkey ...

I received quite a few e-mails after posting my last two blogs - it seems that martial artists the world over have a lot in common. In several of those e-mails, people expressed their love for the work they do and re-iterated that the old model of 'retirement' didn't apply to them - in fact, they couldn't imagine not doing the work they do. I absolutely agree with this. it was, at heart, the point of those last two blog posts. For me, 'true retirement' would mean that if I was injured, I would not train until that injury was pretty much healed - and right now, that is not the case. I am carrying a couple of injuries, but still I need to hit the mat for five classes today (for example).
Doing 'the work' despite the fact that we have some 'evil monkey' gnawing at our knee or elbow, is par for the course - it comes with the territory in which the professional martial artist does his/her thing - in all truth, it would be smarter to let those injuries properly heal before getting back into it - but that's why we sometimes call it 'work'. We press on regardless.
Thanks for all the positive e-mails - I appreciate the feedback. A couple of people also posted comments on the site (an option for those who want to) and I am always happy to post those up - whether they be positive or negative. So feel free ..
Best regards all -- I need to anaesthetize that 'evil monkey' and get onto the mat ...
JBW

The springtime Squirrel!

The old ‘financial planning’ model is based on the premise that you dislike your work and one day you will ‘retire’, put your feet up, and live your life by drawing a pension from the nest-egg that you have spent forty odd years building up.
I can tell you one thing for certain – it is far more important to find a way of making a living that you really enjoy than it is to grit your teeth and keep doing something you dislike just so you can ‘live large’ when you turn 60. That, to me, is the height of insanity. In fact, I’d prefer insanity!
If you hate your job, and you somehow make it to retirement age (55-65), and you have (by some miracle) accumulated enough funds to live well for the next twenty or so years – you will most likely celebrate, sit down, put your feet up and relax for a month or so. Then you will start to get itchy feet, you will get bored – and then you will start to wonder if the ‘plan’ was really all that good as it had looked on that shiny whiteboard after all. Then you start to ponder on whether the overweight, overworked and decidedly stressed-looking financial advisor really knew what he was talking about. You decide that it’s not really that bad – your not dead yet – and you might take that holiday you’ve been planning for 40 years. So round the world you go – take lots of pics – come back and celebrate with your retired friends. Another month or two goes by – and once again, you get itchy feet but this time, there’s not enough in the budget to take another holiday, which is exactly what you feel you need. You need to wait another 18 months – and cut down on a few things – and then you’ll be bale to afford a two-week trip to Bali. And time goes by – slowly ….
Here’s an alternative: Do what you love doing – and find a creative way to monetize that passion. If you are successful in doing this – you will no longer need that million dollars in your super fund at retirement – now you will only need half a million or so; because you have found a way to keep an income stream flowing in to top up the shortfall that the financial advisor had used to scare the crap out of you at that first meeting way back when.
We all need money to live the way we want and do the things we want – no doubt about that. But don’t give up the ‘now’ so that you can ‘live the life’ when you turn sixty. Live it all the way – be passionate about what you do – invest in super, be smart, read good books, talk to successful people – but LIVE NOW! Love the whole journey – and never stop. If you are thirty five years old, it’s time to start thinking seriously about putting away ten percent of everything you earn. But it’s also time to start thinking of creative and fun ways to make a living from the things you love in life. That way there will be no retirement date – if all goes well, you will still be making money when you die. Your kids will appreciate it – but more importantly, you will have lived life to the fullest. Forget the squirrel philosophy – don’t make your entire spring about preparing for survival in winter. Spring is for living life to the fullest. The winter may be coming but if you’ve been smart about the choices you have made you may be able to get out and find nuts in the snow after all.

Survival Skills ...

The basic purpose of having martial arts skills is to provide us with a better chance of survival – to provide us with a means of defence if we are attacked. We can though, be attacked on many fronts – emotional, relationship-wise, financial, etc. It is my view that we should take balanced approach to how we live and interact in this world – and get the ‘whole thing right’, not just the fighting part. Inter-personal combat is a metaphor for ‘struggle’ and ‘survival’ – to not learn the larger lessons from our study and practice of ‘struggle’, is to rob ourselves of the true value of deep learning.

A lot of martial artists struggle with the financial aspects of their lives – easy to do when you become over-specialised and unable to see the big picture. If you go and see a financial advisor – you will pay hundreds of dollars to be told the following:
1. Get rid of credit card debt – no investment will give you a greater return than money you will save by cutting out the interest you pay on those things.
2. Start paying into a superannuation fund – at least ten percent of everything you earn. The compounding effect on interest will really start to build after a while.
3. Buy a house, stop paying rent. Get into the game. Property tends to go up – and after a few years, you may even have enough equity in your home to be able to put a deposit down on another. Then you have someone else helping you pay off that one. Repeat.
4. Invest in yourself. Your ability to produce income is an important aspect of financial success that many people ignore.

So that’s pretty much what any good financial advisor will tell you. Be a squirrell – spend all of your spring in preparation for winter. The winter will be bleak so you better prepare well. Sometimes they will change the order of these things around a little bit – sometimes they will spend a lot of time rationalising these various aspects (especially the Superannuation part) with the use of large white-boards and colourful graphs. And it’s all good. But it’s an old model – one that I don’t fully subscribe to.

Next Blog – I’ll explain why ….

JBW