Author: Steve Rowe

Martial artist, philosopher, author, writer,
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Teaching Children Martial Arts

Steve Rowe

How to teach children, by Steve Rowe 9th Dan, gleaned from 50 years experience of teaching successful children’s classes. Control them before a class, when they enter the hall they must either sit down with arms and legs folded, be practising their techniques or sitting with their parents. If you let them run around or be silly before a class you will never control them in it. They must be following instructions ALL the time. Either sitting with arms and legs folded, standing to attention or at ease or performing a technique. They must always be looking at you and … Continue reading Teaching Children Martial Arts

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Tai Chi Does Me

Steve Rowe

My morning training sessionI think I’ll work on this or thatThe moment I drop into ‘the zone’Everything changesTai Chi does meInsight and wisdom arisesWay beyond what normal me could think ofIt’s wordless, full of understandingsThat would be impossible to describeI’m in awe of what comes throughThis morning it showed me the yinHow all the yang outward techniquesHad had an inward yin expressionStrikes gouges and pushes outwardHad strangles, chokes, throws and pulls on the insideBoth could co-exist at the same timeAnd be trained at the same timeLike in the yin/yang symbolWhile one was being expressedThe potential for the other always existedHow … Continue reading Tai Chi Does Me

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Martial Art ‘Business’

Steve Rowe

You don’t have to be good at martial arts to make money from them. It all started with the Americans. They brought formatted marketing, franchising, revolving door recruitment, squeezing money out of newbies until they were bled dry and the ‘briefcase sensei’ to the U.K. in the 80’s. Those of us old enough remember, watched as junior instructors were encouraged to leave their Sensei and association and follow the American ‘yellow brick road’ of a purely commercial Dojo. When a new student joined, their black belt was put on the wall with the potential date of when they would achieve … Continue reading Martial Art ‘Business’

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Classic Student Quotes

Steve Rowe

Let’s look at a few classics. I’m going away for a few weeks so have cancelled my payments.That’s fine but you appreciate that your payments reserve your place in class so you lose that and we have a waiting list to fill your place that you can join when you return. I’d love to train with you but you’re too far away.I went to China to learn what I’m teaching you, but do you want me to come round to your house and move your arms and legs for you? I’d love to come on your seminars but the only … Continue reading Classic Student Quotes

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Leave People Alone

Steve Rowe

Leave People Alone Sort yourself out firstBalance yourselfDevelop your internal locus of powerIf other people want helpThey’ll askThen you decide what help you can giveSo that they can also develop their powerDon’t enable their negativity You might think that you can helpFamily, friends and those closestAre the most likely to not want itBecause they know you in a different wayUnrequested help is negativeAnd will be seen as pressureThey will see it as abuseYou can offer politely onceThen leave them alone It’s hard to watch those you love sufferBut it’s their lifeTheir pathThe best help is detachmentAnd just be there if … Continue reading Leave People Alone

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Absent Students

Steve Rowe

Any long term martial arts teacher knows this. When someone says “I won’t be there because….. “ whatever follows doesn’t matter. They’re not going to be there. I remember saying “it’s okay, I’m always happy to see and teach you, but when you’re not here, I never think about you.” The student looked hurt. The thing is, if we get upset when people don’t attend sessions, we’d be upset all the time. To be happy when they’re here, but not think about them when they’re not, keeps a good relationship and keeps the teacher sane. In the 70’s martial arts … Continue reading Absent Students

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The Assisted Dying Bill

Steve Rowe

I’m glad the assisted dying bill went through today, but it’s still nowhere near enough. Everybody has the ability to take their own life, it’s just how messy and successful it’s going to be. When ministers are arguing that it’s wrong for people to do it because they feel like they’re burden to others I’d say that that’s the main reason and the culprits for that are the government. Benefits and pensions are nowhere near enough to support sick and disabled people. When they need care someone has to pay for it and it’s often the family that can’t afford … Continue reading The Assisted Dying Bill

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I Used To Be Enlightened But I Forgot…

Steve Rowe

Around 40 years ago I was giving a talk to an astrology group about the idea of reincarnation. I suggested that natal charts were astronomical configurations that were ‘nets’. When someone died all their unresolved karmic issues went with them and the soul travelled through the universe until it was caught in one of these configurations that brought them back into a body to resolve them. Thus reincarnation until there were no issues left. Afterwards one of the attendees came up to me and said “you know, I used to be enlightened, but I forgot” and I understood what she … Continue reading I Used To Be Enlightened But I Forgot…

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How Often Do You Die?

Steve Rowe

How many times do you die?Every time you exhale it’s a deathEvery time you inhale it’s a lifeEvery time you fall asleepIt’s a deathEvery time you wake upIt’s a lifeEvery time you’re mindlessIt’s a deathEvery time you’re mindfulIt’s a lifeEvery time you dieIt’s a deathEvery time you’re bornIt’s a life Live simplyStay close to natureMeditate deeplyBe gentle and kindSpeak truthListen to your heartBe competentHelp othersHave a soft frontAnd a strong backBy Steve Rowe Continue reading How Often Do You Die?

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Wealth Is A Sickness

Steve Rowe

Why do people worship the wealthy? How could any decent person flaunt their their wealth while others starve and suffer? How can any decent person look up to them or aspire to do the same? Both sides of that coin are sick. There is a limit to the things that this planet can produce and it’s designed to create balance, humans are supposed to have intelligence and humanity and share that produce with each other and any other being that inhabits it’s environment. Until we diagnose and recognise that hoarding is a sickness we can’t deal with it. If we … Continue reading Wealth Is A Sickness