Learn How To Fight In Four Weeks

Kung-Fu Camp here on the East Coast of Canada came to a close.  Four brave souls braved four weeks of lessons in movement (and laughter).

Each session started with burpees and ended with burpees.  You can’t fight if you’re gonna gas.

First week was about circling.  Circling the head, hands, torso, knees and entire body.

The second week was about pushing and pulling.  Pushing on an opponent’s centre of mass, pulling on the head or limbs to control and off-balance.

The third week was about hitting.  Hitting from a distance, up close, sitting, when laying on top and when on the bottom.  A lesson in power generation.

Week four was about footwork.  Evade.

As His Dark Side puts it, “Hit hard.  Or evade.  Or both.  Everything else is a waste.”

So in four hourly sessions, I figure I taught them everything they need to know about fighting.  It’s up to them to put in the work.  That’s how I roll.  Most folks just don’t.  But I hope that I instilled some

–>inspiration<–

CTK

100 Pull-up Challenge

46 years old.  Stolen from Ross Boxing blog.  What’s your excuse?

The Addictive Type; Noah Levine

Prayer and meditation quickly became a more integral part of my life.  They were helping me make sense of everything.  I was beginning to find some sense of purpose in my life.

Being an addictive type, when I find something that makes me feel good I want to do it all the time, so I did, I turned my life toward recovery and spiritual practice.

I had tried everything else.  Drugs hadn’t worked, material accumulation hadn’t worked, violence certainly hadn’t worked, and the negative attention ego trip of graffiti, gangs, and lawlessness had just almost gotten me locked up again.

I knew this spiritual practice shit was the last hope for me.

- Dharma Punx by Noah Levine, Pg. 84

I Like Playing With Myself

You read that right.

I mean, you probably read that with your mind in the wrong place, but you read it right.

I play with myself all the time.  I play with my mind – constantly changing my world view.  I play with my body – stretching, playing with my posture, pull-ups at the playground.  I play with my soul – allowing the Great Spirit to enter my being and take life’s burdens away.

Better get playing with yourself, no?

CTK

His Dark Side Speaks; Nonsense

90% of the stuff we were taught re health is bullshit myth. Saturated fat nonsense, calories in and out, hydrating during workouts, correct form in weight training, 10 reps, heavy weight slows you down, 8 glasses water, coffee dehydrates, workout after carb loading, don’t eat butter etc etc.

F*cking nonsense.

Structure in wc, correct shapes, yjkym being training stance, Biu tze deadliness, lsjc, don’t build muscle, elbow has to be centered, elbow force, don’t connect at wrist.

Nonsense.

Burn Bridges; Bomb Tunnels

Never burn bridges.

Stay loyal to the right people.

Make good decisions.

Because a year later the phone might ring.  And it’s the guy who you stood behind on the other end.  And now he’s asking for your help.  And it might pay well.

So never burn bridges.  And never bomb tunnels.  Unless, of course, you have a can of spray paint in your hands.

CTK

Dance To The Classics

Big up to KH for the find.

Play Fighting

This morning I played Siu Nim Tao.

Then I played the other two empty hand forms.

I played the Jong.

I played Chi Sau.

The next time I’m in the gym and get in the ring, I’ll play fighting.

CTK

Like Family

Showed up at the ‘new’ gym.  My coach left training the local pro and went to train at Warrior ABC.  My friend Ken invited me down.  For Ken, the gym is like family.  It’s seen him through his first fight, a divorce and helped him stay on the wagon for the most part.  He calls our coach almost every night to chat.  He’s brought all his friends and business contacts to the new gym and I joked that he was our coach’s booking agent.

The gym is like family.  Upon my return, I heard pro fighter Steve say in the dressing room, “Man!  Everyone’s here now.”

It’s good to be  ’everyone.’  It’s good to be back, in a good facility and surrounded by good people, whilst being punched in the face.

Martial artist Tony Blauer once updated his Facebook status to the tune of (paraphrasing), “I can go into any Crossfit gym across the country, join right in and everybody welcomes me.”

I responded, “It’s just like how we wanted the world of martial arts to be.”

The gym.  Like family.

CTK

Girls Rule

The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled

Aim; Go

In the long run men hit only what they aim at.  Therefore, though they should fail immediately, they had better aim at something high.

-Walden, pg.24

How far are you willing to go? I’ll see you there.

—Jesse Glover (1935-2012)

Me & You

(Your Momma and your Cousin, too.)

 

Having The Right Tool For The Right Job

This is a guest post by none-other-than Mr. Cultfit himself.

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What drunken night out is complete without engaging in a testosterone-fueled encounter with another fine young gentleman? Our signature “WTF, Dude” V.I.P section is specifically tailored for weak, unmotivated chumps.  See that dude across the room?  The one looking at you funny?  Just say the secret password and we’ll make it happen, dude!

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So feel free to stop by The Tool Box sometime and wave your tool flag proudly!

Filipino Martial Arts: Visayan Style Demo Aug 12/12

Flow.  In martial arts and in life.

Nine Dollar Bottle of Juice

“You do not need a motherf*cking nine dollar bottle of juice. People in Thailand kick banana trees. You should be ashamed of yourself.

The niceness of someone’s gym outfit is directly inversely proportional to their hardcoreness. Do not get caught out there like a sucker in your too-white new shoes and too-bright spandex and too-sweet performance energy glucose glucosamine patented workout mixturade. Take your cues from the tiger: Solitary. Dirty. Naked. And f*cking up anybody who comes by acting all ostentatious, especially monkeys—which are a lot stronger than they look, so you do the math.”

http://gawker.com/5931205/you-dont-need-that-fancy-shit

A Gift

I’ve seen it happen before with his Gung-Fu training.  Said he was done.

Said he wouldn’t partake in it anymore – and here I am again.

I know there is a method to his madness, yet I still don’t like it.  I’m selfish that way because I learn so much when he’s around.

And so I will go it alone – until he returns or forever; whichever comes first.  And I will follow the trail he left.

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.” -Matsuo Basho.

CTK

Farewell; Charlotte Bronte

Then you and I should bid good-bye for a little while?

I suppose so, sir.

And how do people perform that ceremony of parting, Jane? Teach me; I’m not quite up to it.

They say, Farewell, or any other form they prefer.

Then say it.

Farewell, Mr. Rochester, for the present.

What must I say?

The same, if you like, sir.

Farewell, Miss Eyre, for the present; is that all?

Yes.

It seems stingy, to my notions, and dry, and unfriendly. I should like something else: a little addition to the rite. If one shook hands for instance; but no–that would not content me either. So you’ll do nothing more than say Farewell, Jane?

It is enough, sir; as much good-will may be conveyed in one hearty word as in many.

Very likely; but it is blank and cool–’Farewell.

My Journey

I am characterized by the way I was taught. Unfamiliar with the idea of comfort. I have a firm grasp on the psychological dynamic required to be a successful fighter. That violence is about cruelty.

The insular, private training sessions have led me on a journey where I now avoid involvement in Gung Fu fraternities or affiliations, preferring to view my Gung Fu journey as a personal odyssey.

The time I did entertain myself in Gung Fu circles I learnt that stories of sifu’s tend to be embellished. Often false memories created for self serving biases, and recollections altered as a result of current beliefs, or the passage of time. Students hung on the every word of their sifu’s preferring to live in the shadows of their sifu’s rather than empowering themselves. Do they not want to control their own development? However, sometimes it behooves a person to be a bit more honest.

This journey is mine and mine alone. And I’m always ready to begin again. Always prepared to thank those who have shown little to no support.

I wish you well and look forward to the day our paths cross.

Dark