BODYBUILDING NUTRITION BASICS

The four main practices used to achieve enlightenment are the way of the fakir, the way of the monk, the way of the yogi, and the way of the martial artist. In this bit of scribbling we shall go over what is special about the way of the warrior. After all, enlightenment is probably a pretty nifty thing to reach, and it would be a good idea to speed up any individuals progress on the way to enlightenment.

It is said, of the four paths to enlightenment, that the way of the warrior is the fastest. This is an interesting look at things enlightenment, for one would think that a path dedicated to things war would be the slowest. After all, learning how to maim and kill would seem antithetical to pursuing enlightenment.

First, the warrior deals with the things of the world. He does not turn his attention inward to seek enlightenment, but does his seeking in a much more overt manner, seeking out conflict and learning to deal with it. This entails, ultimately, giving up the desire for conflict, none of the other disciplines seek out conflict in this manner.

Second, the warrior deals with the real world. We could argue about what is real, but in lieu of that mental exercise let’s just say that the universe is constructed of objects in motion. The warrior is the only traveler of the four that deals directly with a universe filled with objects in motion.

Third, the warrior is much more adamant in sticking to his discipline of choice. I say this because the discipline of studying the martial arts requires an active mindset. Simply, the warrior has something to do on his way to enlightenment, the other disciplines are more concerned with doing nothing.

Fourth, there is a built in guiding factor in the way of the martial artist. Simply, if a technique does not function, the result will be noted as a punch in the face. This ‘feedback’ device tends to make the artist more demanding in his seeking of perfection and enlightenment.

To conclude, let me say that every path has its strengths and weaknesses. Heck, you knew that. So the point of this article is not to speak ill of other disciplines, merely to point out how glorious the one you are immersed in is.

You are the one; you are the karateka and the shaolinist and the aikidoist and…the Tai Chi-ist. You follow a path, and you are in a hurry, no matter how slow you think you move, to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Godspeed.

Al Case has studied gung fu for 40 years. If you want to see How Far the Martial Arts Can Go, pick up a free book at Monster Martial Arts.

Al Case Fitness aikido, baqua, Fitness, gung fu, karate, kenpo, kung fu, pa kua chang, self defense, shaolin, tae kwon do, tai chi chuan, taijiquan

There is one thing, and one thing only, that will always stop a martial artist from reaching the True Martial Art. That one thing is called simply…distraction. To the degree that one is not distracted, to that degree he will realize his goals, and to that degree he achieves the True Art.

When one learns the martial arts one learns these strange patterns called forms. On the surface, the form is nothing but an encyclopedia of technique, of having a curriculum which will teach him higher and higher ranges of art, and lead him to deeper and deeper depths. It is under the surface, however, through the refusal of distractions that one must seek the True Martial Art.

When one can refuse to have his attention wander in the middle of form one is cultivating his discipline. When one focuses only on the moves within the form, and does not allow himself to be sidetracked, then he is building concentration. The end result of these endeavors is to be able to keep awareness in the universe of the form, and not in the universe of trees and bushes and rocks and twigs and such.

The bits and pieces of the form, the technical applications, are the middle ground of refusing distraction. This area, applying technique to a willing opponent, bridges from perfect thought inherent in the form to the perfect idea even in the middle of chaos. When one holds to the physics of combat, holds to his mental concentration, holds to the truths he has learned about his fellow man even in combat, then one is approaching a distraction free existence.

It is in the fact of kumite, however, that one must determine his most adamant refusal of the distractions of the real universe. One must focus on the other fighter, refuse the intrusions of a random world, and build the truth of his own awareness. When one lives as if in a tunnel when fighting his opponent, and can hold to the construction of that tunnel no matter the occurrence, then one has found the True Martial Art.

These three arenas, forms, technique and freestyle, are the arena of the true art. To the extent that one refuses distraction, that one becomes pure and able to hold to concentration and awareness, to this extent one enters the True Martial Art. The real key, to all this, however, lies in the realization of one important factor.

The universe goes backward. It is not the debris of the universe that offer distraction, it is the knowledge that one must not go towards a distraction free existence with effort, but, rather, but relax so that no distractions can find purchase in the soul. It is the emptiness of the universe, perceived by the individual free of internal strife, that makes up the Path of the True Art.

Al Case has more than 4O+ years training in the martial arts. you can pick up a good and free ebook on how to become distraction free at his site, Monster Martial Arts.

Al Case Fitness aikido, Fitness, gung fu, karate, kenpo, kung fu, kwon bop, nijitsu, pa kua chang, self defense, shaolin, tae kwon do, tai chi

The martial arts have long been held up as a way to enlightenment. Indeed, this is the goal at the end of the road of The True Martial Art. This article is about why this is so, and to enable the reader to walk to the end of that road all the sooner.

Enlightenment is when light shines forth from the individual. With that light the enlightened being views the world differently. His perceptions are heightened, and he has a superior viewpoint.

If enlightenment happened because of motion, then the fact of motion would result in enlightenment. Gymnastics, ballet, football, all would result in an enlightened individual, but they don’t, so one must ask oneself, what is it about the Martial Arts that they result in enlightenment?

What is different is that there is fighting, and when one understands what fighting truly is, one becomes enlightened. What is the essence of this thing called fighting? One could sum up the subject by saying that when one finally understands that when he is fighting he is only fighting himself, he becomes enlightened, and a study of the martial arts does result in this realization.

The universe, you see, is a playing field rich with moving objects. Every object in the universe has a direction to its mass. It is only in the martial arts that one actually engages in the study of the trajectory of flying objects as the one who creates the direction of those flying objects.

A fist flies through space at you, and you go through a range of emotions. Eventually, you give up emotions so that you can better analyze the flight of the fist. Thus, you rise above base reaction and become cause over the motion of the universe.

A person threatens you, he holds a knife and approaches you, and you must divine the direction before it manifests. You must look at the world the way it exists, and not through some fantasy, and thus you look at the world you created. Thus, you rise above being the flotsam and jetsam of a universe awash with random motion, and thus you take control of the motions of the universe.

There is no motion in this universe, you see, that you have not created. That star shines for you, because of you, if it wasn’t for you, there would be no purpose for that star to shine. And through the tempering of form, the steeling of will, the martial artist engages in combat, to give up combat and become what he truly is, an enlightened being free to enjoy the universe.

Al Case has practiced martial arts for 4O++ years. A writer for the magazines, he had his own column in Inside Karate. He is the originator of the church of the martial arts, and you can find out about the path to enlightenment by ordering his free ebook at Monster Martial Arts.

Al Case Fitness aikido, Fitness, karate, kenpo, kung fu, martial enlightenment, self defense, shaolin, tae kwon do, zen, zen flesh, zen karate, zen martial arts

One of my favorite books is Zen and the Art of Archery, by Eugene Herrigel. In this book, Mr, Herrigel goes to Japan in search of zen enlightenment. He is guided into the practice of archery in this seeking.

The reason he is guided into archery is because, according to the people who teach zen, zen is too difficult for a westerner. Not being of the Japanese culture, it would be to difficult for him to understand the concepts. Through the practice of archery, however, he might be able to make some headway with zen concepts.

Mr. Herrigel practices archery diligently. He stands with a tall bow, calms himself, and experiences nothing but frustration. Heck, he can’t even hit the target, let alone find his own soul.

The sensei, understanding his frustration, takes pity, and invites him over to his house for some personal instruction. The teacher is a font of wisdom and zen, but Mr. Herrigel, is still ensconced in his frustration. The sensei, realizing drastic measures are called for, takes Mr. Herrigel out to his personal archery range.

They stand on a range that is about a hundred feet, and the teacher instructs Mr. Herrigel to light a candle between the firing line and the target. The candle lit, Mr. Herrigel is instructed to turn off the lights. In the deep darkness, with only a single candle glowing fifty feet away, the teacher fires an arrow and puts out the candle.

Mr. Herrigel, standing in darkness, is astonished. Never has he seen such a magnificent display of archery, to put out a candle at fifty feet! Good Lord!

The teacher merely says to turn on the lights, and then has Mr. Herrigel retrieve his arrow. Mr. Herrigel runs down to the end of the range to look for the arrow. He finds it…in the center of the target.

To put out a candle and hit a target, using only the light of the candle. To master a martial art and plumb the depths of soul. To find the brilliance of yourself on a darkened night, this is zen, and this is what is at the heart of the Martial Arts.

Al Case Fitness aikido, Fitness, goju ryu, ishin ryu, karate, kenpo, kung fu, ninja, self defense, shito ryu, shotokai, shotokan, uechi ryu, wado ryu