Start winning today! Empower, Enlighten, Enjoy!

There is something like a training motto that says "Ninjustsu, art of winning!"....

A couple of weeks ago,in our dojo, I asked about bringing some problem to the training, so that we could find a proper solution to it.

Several people had uncertainties which troubled them. Ranging from kick-boxing kicks to fast flying jabs or knife attacks while carrying a heavy load as a delivery person...so many possibilities.

Most of the common threats are dealt with by learning proper body movement, techniques and by developing ideal mindfulness and active awareness of oncoming conflict.

Some situations do not have -one ideal technique- that will solve the problem. Training for that kind of situations goes way beyond mere physical development and require regular training and experience.

We have seen group fights and violent aggressions recently in our city with casualties and fatalities.

One of my students asked me how he could deal with "being knocked down, unconscious for a second or two or more, by a group of people who then start kicking and punching ..."

We usually say, "GET UP!"

We started discussing the situation, and agreed of course that if possible, we would try to prevent the first knock-out hit and escape.
Imagine being knocked out for a second, opening your eyes and being attacked by all sides.....
I have to admit that this is not what one could call an ideal situation.
Before answering his question, I told him, let's see how it looks like....
I staged myself on the ground, face down, and asked them to imitate the attackers....
They started to awkwardly kicking me, who can blame them....they are no cowardly killers.
After some encouragements, they started to act a bit more realistically, so I started to get the picture, grabbed one, kicked one, got up and away....

How lucky we are to have such a warm group of friends on whom we can trust to put ourselves in danger without risking our life and explore ways to prevent harm in a real life threatening situations.

So, what would make the difference in such a situation?

The reason why you would want to get up!

Physical strength alone will not be enough.
The perfect technique will not be what will make you get up.
Courage alone will only get you so far.
Anger will not help you there....

The only valid answer I had to give him was "Your Life!"
How valuable is your life?
Is your life worth being saved?
Is your life filled with loving people around you?
Do you have something valuable enough in your life that will give you the drive to get up?
Do you have people in your life counting on you, people you just cannot abandon?
Find a good reason to get up!
If you do not have a good reason, get one today!

Empower your body, enlighten your spirit, Enjoy your life!

Start winning Today!

l'égoïsme, l'outil pour un monde meilleur?!

Les personnes qui me fréquentent dans le dojo et qui me posent parfois des questions, commencent doucement à être habitués à ce genre de répliques de ma part.

Dans notre lignée martiale du ninja de Togakure, l'idée même de ne pas se contenter, de ce qui semble tellement évident, est depuis des siècles la garantie de survie pour nous et nos ancêtres.

Les ninjas sont réputés pour leur originalité et ingéniosité lorsqu'ils sont confrontés à un problème qui semble insurmontable. Comment vaincre une armée sans armée ? Comment vaincre un adversaire sans combat ? Comment sauver ma famille contre un tyran ? Comment avertir un ami en danger qui se trouve à mille lieues?

De nos jours, il y a toujours des problèmes "insurmontables". Ils ont parfois changé un peu de visage, mais le besoin de notre ingéniosité et originalité est toujours indispensable !
Nous sommes aujourd'hui face aux problèmes comme la violence, le manque de courtoisie, l'obésité, l'impolitesse, le stress, la pollution, le climat, l'économie....la crise.....et l'égoïsme.

En tant que ninja, il est intéressant d'explorer les façons de reconvertir les armes ou dangers rencontrés en solution au problème.
"Si vous ne savez pas vous servir d'un lance-flammes, ne vous en servez pas !"
"Si vous ne savez pas vous servir d'un bâton, mieux vaut confronter l'adversaire mains nues que de risquer qu'il l'utilise contre vous!"

"Ne soyez pas égoïste, on l'utilisera contre vous !!"

Regardons l'égoïsme sous un autre angle....

le problème :
1) Les autres sont des égoïstes
2) Nous sommes des égoïstes

la solution :
1) nous pouvons compter sur le fait que les autres sont égoïstes :-)
2) Utilisons notre égoïsme intelligemment :-)

Nous avons tous envie d'être heureux ! Même si la définition de "être heureux" peut varier d'une personne à l'autre. Soyons égoïste ! Devenons heureux ! Comment?

L'autre personne est égoïste, bien-sûr!
Il ne pourra refuser le coup de main qu'on lui offre.
Il prendra le compliment qu'on lui donne, il acceptera l'invitation d'aller au restaurant, il sera ravi de venir avec vous à cette soirée ! Il ne pourra refuser votre aide! Si la personne est ne fusse que un peu égoïste, il doit prendre tout ce que l'on lui offre comme aide, pour le propulser vers son état "heureux".

Nous sommes égoïste, bien-sûr!
Si nous voulons être heureux, nous allons avoir besoin de l'aide des gens autour de nous!
De préférence des gens qui nous emporterons vers le "haut".
Regardez autour de vous, combien de personnes vous tirent vers le haut, et combien de personnes vous drainent votre énergie?
Là, vous avez plusieurs options, soit vous cherchez plus de personnes qui vous soutiennent et qui vous aident à devenir heureux et/ou vous essayez de rendre les gens qui se sentent "triste" et "malheureux" autour de vous, à se sentir mieux.
Si je suis un égoïste intelligent, je comprend facilement que les gens heureux autour de moi, m'aideront plus facilement à devenir heureux a mon tour.

Donc,
1) J'aide les égoïstes à être heureux = mon bonheur
2) L'égoïste "heureux" m'aidera à trouver mon bonheur.
3) j'ai "converti" un simple égoïste en égoïste "sympa et intelligent"
4) Je deviens une personne qui tire les gens vers le "haut"
5) Je construis un nouveau cercle d'amis et un environnement heureux autour de moi!

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Vous pouvez ne pas être d'accord avec moi, faites moi signe :-)
Si vous êtes d'accord avec moi, faites comme moi :-)

SKHQuest To-Shin Do Euro-Festival 2010

SKHQuest To-Shin Do Euro-Festival 2010

An-shu Stephen K. Hayes comes to Belgium!
http://www.eurofestival.be

For the first time in the 21st century, Martial Arts legend Stephen K. Hayes from the United States teaches a full seminar in Belgium.

The European To-Shin Do Festival 2010 will take place in the historical city of Tournai from July 23th – 25th.
http://www.tournai.be/en/officiel/


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The Key to succes in 2010!

GET A GOOD START!


Years ago, I was lucky to be able to visit my teacher's barn dojo for some martial arts training during the end-of-the-year festivities. I arrived just after Christmas and stayed till the first days of january.

I was there for an obvious reason....martial arts training, but I did not expect to receive so much more than what I came there looking for. On December 31, training went on all day and after the evening break, we were all welcome to come back in the dojo for the late night session. We started out around 20h30 with some insights on tradional weapons like the kyoketsu shoge. The dojo was full of highly spirited people and the energy in the place was incredible.
At the end of the training, Stephen K. Hayes , invited us to sit down for a moment at one end of the dojo while he explained what was to come next....
We were in for a special treat, there would be an "unknown" artist perfoming some typical japanese shakuhachi flute music.....and then appeared.....An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes, what a wonderful surprise!
We were are all speechless in awe....and observed how the man we usually see with swords and sticks throwing human bodies around, produced such a delicate sound using only breath and fingertips.

After this amazing performance we witnessed An-Shu Rumiko animating tradional japanese string instruments with a group of Japanese friends while a caligraphic specialist painted "live" the phrases of the song.

What a wonderful way to end the year.

An-Shu explained how different the Japanese culture envisioned the "new year" celebration.
Far more than merely drinking and eating abundantly like we are used to do in the west, celebrating the new year in Japan also means paying special attention to the first time something is done in the new year.
Considering this, we all took place for a special mind exploring exercise, looking at the past year, with all it up's and down's. Examining what we could have done differently to produce the results we would have liked better. We all had to pick one thing we would focus on for the next year to come and try our best to keep that one thing in mind "all year long".
When our focus came back to the room, the new year had started.
What better way to begin the year can you imagine? Pure mind, clear ideas, optimal mindset.

Will your mind be clear on first of Januari 2010?

On a more personal note, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Hayes and his family for allowing me to share "their" family party on that januari first as I found myself dancing a tradional mineworker dance with a Japanese lady present, tasting the "first" sushi of my life and discovering delicious pasteries.
Thank you for your hospitality and kindness.

Best wishes for the year 2010!