Do You Hate Your Body?

Do you hate your body? When you train do you take pleasure from punishing it?Do you hurt it out of annoyance?When you look in the mirror do you hate what you see?Why? Your body is the only lifelong friend you’ll ever have.If you look after it, it’ll look after you.It has its own wordless language and is always communicating with you.Before going wrong, it whispers, then talks, then shouts warnings if you able to listen.It loves movement, loves good training, healthy nutrition and repays you good feelings and joy.Why would you let anyone else make you betray that friendship? You’re … Continue reading Do You Hate Your Body?

Deeper Teaching

As a teacher you might wonder why what you’re teaching seems to go in one ear and straight out the other with students. You might keep repeating the same thing again and again, wondering why it’s not sinking in. Then occasionally a student might say “you’ve been telling me this for years, but I’ve only just realised what you’ve been trying to say.” You might be presenting it badly, and that’s certainly worth examining, but also a student can’t understand anything until they’re ready. How can we tell when a student is ‘ready’ to understand that deeper teaching? Firstly you … Continue reading Deeper Teaching

I’m A Machine…

I’m a machineProgrammed with Martial ArtsWizened with TaoismNow old and rustySome bits lostOthers replaced with second rate partsThe machine might be on its last legCateracts on the camerasAudio down 50%Limited range of movementNearly time to scrapBut put me next to younger devicesI can Bluetooth knowledgeInsight and wisdomLearned by experienceIf their Bluetooth is set to receive. The survival programming is goneNo desire to function leftWaiting for GodNo needs leftIt gets harder to communicateContract with life expiredA burden to othersCollecting dust in a cornerConstantly having to be movedAlways in the wayWhen my machine finally failsAnd goes to the scrapyardWhat happens to my … Continue reading I’m A Machine…

The Simple Truth

The Simple TruthMost truths are simpleBut simple is not easyIgnorance is to ignoreStudents cannot see the simple truthThey listen and move onThey didn’t digestThey didn’t internaliseThey didn’t let the truth ‘sit’ in their mindIt went in one earAnd out the otherForgotten in an instantDisregardedThey divert the conversationTo what they think is a problemNot realising the teacher had just given them the answerThey read complicated booksWatch videos of people selling mystiqueBuy their snake oilNot realising the simple truthWhat they’re looking for is already inside of themIt requires them to broaden their perspectiveTo be objective not subjectiveIf they change themselvesThey change their … Continue reading The Simple Truth

I’m Not Happy…

I’m not happyI’m not unhappyI’m not depressedI’m not joyfulI’m not thisI’m not thatI’m not binary This worldPeopleMy mindWant me to chooseThis or thatBecause it’s a binary dimension But there is a curved line inbetweenSeparating yin and yangBalanceThe optimumA line of no thingnessThis line is a portalWhere everything disappears It’s stillSilentMindfulZenicInsightfulAnd full of wisdom And in this refugeIs the secret to lifeAnd beyond By Steve Rowe Continue reading I’m Not Happy…

The Truth Seers

This can be hard for a lot of people to understand. Some people didn’t want to be born. They’ve never wanted to be here. They’ve never liked life, they’ve never liked people. They’re not ‘damaged’ they’re not unhappy, the idea of happy, unhappy and persuing happiness is ridiculous to them. Life to them is like a prison sentence, stuck in a meat vehicle, they keep their head down, try to fit in and get by, they don’t want to cause harm and as long as they are left alone, they won’t bother anyone. They don’t understand the need to accumulate … Continue reading The Truth Seers

Potential And The Switch….

Potential…..When practising martial arts and for life in general, we must always have the potential for hard or soft. This is the deeper meaning of having a ‘soft front and strong back’. To have potential is a state of mindfulness, to have a mind that is aware, focused, sensitive and intense. Aware of what is going on with our own mind, emotions and body and of the situation that we’re in with everything and everyone around us. Focused on what is important inside that awareness. Sensitive to our situation and of that of others and ourselves. Intensity is the guardian … Continue reading Potential And The Switch….

Your Body & Instincts Language

Your body and instincts have their own language! Be still, be silent, breathe deep, and wait for body to calm down, then your emotions, and finally your thoughts – and then wait for your body and then your instincts to speak. They don’t use words, their language is usually drowned out by your thoughts and emotions, but when they finally calm down, you can learn the language. It’s the same that your dog, cat, all animals and nature uses. You really can learn to be at ‘one with the universe’ by listening to it. We are indoctrinated to abuse our … Continue reading Your Body & Instincts Language

Emotional Balloons

Life changes, what you were yesterday, you’re not today, love, relationships, friendships all change. People die, pets die, your health changes, what you used to be able to do, you can’t do now. When Ragnor Lothbrok was in a boat with his sons going to war, one turned to look back to his mother on the dock and Ragnor turned his head back around and said “don’t look back, you’re not going that way”, good advice. If my mind inadvertently strays that way I imagine holding the strings to all the balloons of my past and let them go one … Continue reading Emotional Balloons