We let things effect us that shouldn't ...

We live in our own minds – or perhaps more accurately, in a world of our mind’s creation. Things happen, in the physical world that exists outside our own heads – but it is largely our perception of those happenings that ‘effects’ us and not the happenings themselves.

The share-market drops – our investments plummet in value – but how does this effect us. Physically, we havn’t changed – our food tastes the same, our relationships are as they were – but many of us are still effected – because we ALLOW ourselves to be effected! Someone says something about us that we do not like – and we are effected – and we are so because we ALLOW it to be so. The world we live in throws information at us at an ever-increasing rate – it is easy to be pulled from a state of inner/peace/joy/happiness. But remember this – each of us exists in our own minds – whatever happens in the world, happens largely ‘out there’ and rarely, directly effects us – unless we allow it to. JBW 

Eminently teachable ...

This weekend I am heading to Australia’s Capital, Canberra – to run a Coaching Clinic for a group of professional instructors (Mil, LEO & others). Although I will be delivering a number of Defensive Tactics classes throughout the day – a large part of the focus will be on my didactic approach to teaching. The didactic teaching method is a scientific/logical approach to instruction that engages the students mind on a number of levels. The focus of the day will be on the methods I use, as a professional instructor, to engage the students and impart the information. But there is another side to the coin …

As a student myself (always the student – of martial arts and of life) I understand this deep truth: If I can train myself to be eminently teachable – I have a skill that I can use in every aspect of my life; a skill that I can take with me everywhere; a skill that allows me to learn from all kinds of people and situations without the need for a great teacher.

Being eminently teachable is one of the real secrets to success in life. Think about it – really great teachers are hard to find – they certainly aren't lining up at our door. But if we are eminently teachable we are always primed to learn – irrespective of whether we have access to a great teacher or not.

Become eminently teachable …

JBW

Purple-ising the Blue …

So .. you are a BJJ Blue Belt and you want to know what it takes make the jump to purple? It’s a worthy goal … but as I have long said ‘you never really ‘get’ a new rank – you ‘become it’. Nevertheless, the question still stands … how do we make our way from Blue toward Purple; or from any rank, to any other rank, for that matter?

I like this idea: as a Blue Belt, I think the better idea is to purple-ise the blue belt that you’re already wearing. Learn better variations of all the things you already know. Develop a more technical understanding of those things you already know. Learn how to make the things you know, more work-able, more dependable, more effective. Instead of being content with the Elbow Escape (when opponent mounts you) – learn the Top Knee Elbow Escape; you know the Back-sweep – then learn the closed Guard back-sweep; you know how to apply your weight well; then learn how to take even more of it off the floor and focus it and do so, on the right parts of your opponent’s body; you have a favorite sweep or two – then learn how to capitalize on your opponent’s natural and learned reactions to these sweeps, etc.

I think it’s way easier to focus on (and achieve) a purple-ising of your current blue belt than to look too far down the track and try to figure out what a purple is made of. I general, we get way more bang for our buck when we improve and modify things we are already okay at – than we do by learning completely new and novel things.

So instead of trying to reach a completely new place – just improve the place you already occupy. On and off the mat …

JBW

Zero Tolerance for Bullies

I was asked what I thought about bullies several times on my recent UK visit.

Now - I have to admit that some small part of me wants to try to 'save' them; change them; fix them. And perhaps, I have (unwittingly) fixed a few over the years. The odd bully finds his way into martial arts training - but I have found very few (if any) that have survived in the BJJ scene; they usually get trounced pretty quickly before they make a hasty retreat, never to be seen again. I sometime wonder, where they go? Do they head to other martial arts schools - do they end up terrorising people there - do some of them even end up running their own martial arts schools?

I hate bullies - in fact, I think I have a pathological hatred for them.
I have been on the nasty end of bullying behaviour when I was a child - and as an adult, I find myself completely lacking in tolerance for them.

When someone says 'You aren't man enough ...' that's a bully talking.
When someone pokes a finger in your chest ... that's a bully poking.
When someone says ' Do it or else ...' thats a bully threatening.

I probably took up martial arts training as a way of trying to cope with bullies. So naturally, I find it quite ironic to find the martial arts landscape populated with the odd bully. I have seen them, in their various guises, all over the world. They operate on the belief that no-one will call them out - they operate by picking their targets carefully - they operate on the fragile and easily fooled.

Bullies are dealt with in the same way as the boogie man ... you simply shine a light on them. The bully expects you to turn the other cheek - to walk away - to bend to his will - but when we don't, when we stand firm, irrespective of consequence, it's usually the bully who folds to make a better bet another day. It doesn't usually fix the problem though - because usually, the bully will just run off and find an easier target. But irregardless; I am a firm believer in zero-tolerance for bullies. I will always shine a light on them. JBW

Repetition breeds familiarity - and muscle memory - we all understand this.
But it is also well worth pondering how this also works with thinking. When we point our mind a certain way, or think about something (and perhaps draw a conclusion) enough times - we change our minds and begin to feel differently. When we practise thinking about something in a new way - we change the way we feel This is a very important skill to develop. Think about it ... JBW

We need help ... not just data

We have moved from the age of the hunter-gatherer to the agricultural age – then on through the industrial age to the age of information. We have so much data at our disposal that I think in many ways, some of us are worse off …

In my experience, people don’t just need more data … more information … what they need is HELP and DIRECTION.

Information is great – I am probably an information addict myself (in many ways) but information by itself is only a small part of the answer to many of our challenges.

On the mat, I see people with lots of info (techniques/new moves, etc) but very often little understanding of how these techniques fit properly into the overall scheme of things (ie: their game). Usually, results can be achieved by giving people exactly what they need, rather than a whole lot of what they think they need.

We need information certainly – but we need copious amounts of UNDERSTANDING and PERSPECTIVE to make good use of that information in the context of our training – or our lives in general.

The world throws more information our way nowadays, than ever before in history. But are we better off? Are we happier? No sooner do we begin to assimilate or digest a piece of information the world has thrown our way, when we become distracted by yet another info-packet hurled our way … etc.

Fighters jumping randomly from technique to technique, diet to diet, training regime to training regime – rarely stay focused long enough to get the value of out anything. Information is a powerful thing – but it can also distract us from being focused and making real and measurable gains … JBW