Form and Function

I have had an introduction to the Kata - the Form.

My first impression of Palgwae 6 as BKJN Ray Niell performed it was “beautiful.” My first impressions of myself learning this form is something else. I realized quickly, “this is something different, this is really going to require some concentration and practice.” I think having precise form that functions is key to being a martial artist, so the choice is clear: lots of practice is inevitable.

The positions I am attempting to know and master are in my mind, catalogued in order, and I know because I have now awakened several days in a row- and while lying in bed I watch the performance of me attempting to perfect this form, over and over.

There is so much involved as I practice martial arts. I am only in my foundation stages –White, Orange, Yellow – and the focus is unparalleled, the precision that will come from a lot of practice is unique, and the balance/ the attempt to be balanced while turning, stepping, punching, kicking is so necessary.

It will take me forever and always to perfect my forms- I will continue to practice. I am thankful to my teachers Ray, Larry, and Robbie who are each beautiful displays of the way to be a Martial Artist. I appreciate each lesson, tweak, challenge, correction, bead of sweat, and word of encouragement. Without each of you,today would not function the way it does because you are participating in forever changing the form of my life. Thank you.

What is my greatest ambition?

I just finished reading Power vs. Force, by David R. Hawkins, M.D., PhD and Hawkins points out my college thesis, “all avenues of investigation eventually converge at a common meeting point, regardless of what branch of inquiry one starts from… philosophy, political theory, theology.” There is a Power-Nexa: A Converging of All Things, and this convergence “emanates from consciousness itself.” Meaning in our life comes from aligning our lives “with the principles from which power originates.”

The mind-bender of Hawkins’ study is a finding of Kinesiology that the “body responds even when the mind was naïve.” This fact leaves an impression on me because what this means to me is that if we could come to understand how to read what’s before us- beyond space and time - everything we need to know is readily available; literally at our fingertips. “The universe is man’s consciousness – it requires a comprehension beyond intellect.”

Power vs. Force is not a fancy and fun read, but is most definitely fascinating. Between the sciences there are wisdom and positive expressions, below are some of them:

• “Do what you like to do best, and do it to the very best of your ability.”
• “True success enlivens and supports the spirit; it has nothing to do with isolated achievements, but instead relates to being accomplished as a total person, and attaining a lifestyle that benefits not only the individual but everyone around them.”
• “It isn’t life’s events, but one’s reactions to them that activates symptoms of stress.”
• “Our capacity to understand, forgive, and accept is directly linked to our personal health.”
  

I am now carrying these lessons and words of wisdom with me.

There is another part of me that is also bubbling to the surface. I am remembering the days I learned that time is not linear and that we are merely spiritual beings having a human experience – I remember the days when everything opened up and synchronicity was at play. That was powerful! An experience I hope recycle again and again.

I have forgiven myself for slowly closing up, one fold at a time. I was scared and buckled to the pressure of maintaining a “status quo” existence of work, social engagement, and continuous intensity. Vision and passion over time became less fluid and more robotic and the art of it all was left behind; leaving only the science and application of a process of building organizations. The vision that I conformed to became myopic and was no longer in line with the principles I desired to live my life by. The movement died through the process. Luckily - somewhere in the back of my mind I remember the way I used to be. I held on to a little key, a little bit of knowing that “the key is will, a constantly repeated act of choice” that can change everything. Amen!

At the end of this read I realized one thing - that my ambitions are skewed and convoluted by things outside myself that really don't have much meaning. In a chapter near the end of Power vs. Force, Hawkins comments on a question that I must now ask myself ....“Enlightenment is said to be relatively rare, because it’s a condition of interest to very few, particularly in modern society. If we were to stop 1000 people in the street and ask them, ‘What’s your greatest ambition in life?’ How many would say, ‘To be enlightened.’”

The Battleground State of Being

This week there was a tug-of-war that shredded me at both ends. The war was between the physical and nom- physical; it pushed and pulled and created friction and sparks of frustration merely because one refused to bend to the will of the other, at first. I tried to just ignore the symptoms of sickness but then harder and harder it pulled, and I was down. I walked slowly, hardly moved, and coughed a lot. Needless to say I fell behind on my goals – but the year is long. I woke up today back to good, 75%. That is good enough to get moving again, back to class tonight, finish a set of 200 S&Ps, and rise-up tomorrow for an early hike. I love the challenge of this all and I like that I am working towards a comprehensive goal – though the physical fell short this week – determination, as a result, grew stronger.