To function at our best, we need mind, body and spirit to be in balance, and with the 2016 Olympic Games for able-bodied athletes behind us and the Paralympics to commence in September, it’s a good moment to ponder on how sports/physical activity (in our case, martial arts) contributes to this. Our spirituality, intellectual [...]
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. – Miguel Ruiz Most of us find out at a young age the untruth of the old adage that “sticks and [...]
Many of the forms we use with training in martial arts follow a concept of the elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind or Void. This month, our focus is on Water ('Sui'). When doing the 'water' forms, we are meant to be mindful of this element, of its flowing and continual movement, its power and ability [...]
Footwork is always a key part of our training, with some of our classes having a particular focus on it. The fundamentals of footwork are simple: – Balance: keep feet under, weight on both feet – Distance: keep opponent at a range at which they are unfamiliar or uncomfortable – Angling: maintain safe position – [...]
Solid, stable, confident, with qualities of patience, thoughtfulness, practicality, hard work and stability, our earth element theme for this month is also nurturing and seeks to bring harmony. We think of Earth as the element of stability, foundations, wisdom, knowledge, strength, growth and prosperity. It is seen as practical, structured, productive, grounded (pardon the pun), [...]
The concept of Safety is paramount in self-defence. Plain common sense is essential for personal safety: being aware of surroundings, knowing who to call or where to go if feeling threatened (especially for younger people), and how to defend if necessary. One of the most important skills is situational awareness – knowing what's going on [...]
With the help of repetitive training, we are always, if unwittingly, working on our Speed. If an opponent is allowed to get within striking range, the defender loses the advantage of controlling the distance and must rely more on speed and reaction time. To some degree, strength and endurance training will help to increase speed, [...]
It is a wonderful thing to be able to have physical strength, but it does not happen without some effort. Happily, the development of physical strength is measurable, but to enjoy the long-term benefits, it takes strength of mind to achieve an even greater result. We all face different challenges every day, many of which [...]
It turns out that exerting self-control can mean being happier both in the long run and in the moment. Research has shown that self-control is more about managing conflicting goals than going without, and that it positively contributes to happiness through avoiding and dealing with motivational conflict. Researchers found a strong connection between higher levels [...]
“Taijutsu's very free with its movement. Nothing's set. There is no strong and weak. The most important thing is to survive.” – Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, Bujinkan Studying self-defence is done for varied circumstances. Using the principles of natural movement allows for a free and intuitive response, techniques are ‘allowed’ to happen, free from concern about [...]