Tag: philosophy

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Emotional Intelligence in Martial Arts

Steve Rowe

In Martial Arts we talk about developing the student ‘holistically’ or developing the ‘whole person’.  What does this mean? Some schools say that the sole purpose of training in the Martial Arts is to learn to fight and the rest is just ‘fluff’ and extraneous, but is a ‘fighter’ a Martial Artist? Most people don’t come to the Martial Arts to learn to ‘fight’, 99% of the phone calls we take are from prospective students who want to be fit and healthy and to be able to defend themselves.  These two purposes are not mutually exclusive and there is a … Continue reading Emotional Intelligence in Martial Arts

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Vicars, Tarts and Martial Arts

Steve Rowe

This guy from the local paper rings me up and wants to take some self defence type pictures for a “Vicars Are To Learn Self Defence” article.  “No problem” I say…. Any (reasonable) publicity is okay… The reporter comes up and like all newspaper (and magazine) journalists and photographers wants the stupidest pictures that you wouldn’t be seen dead doing.  But being a veteran I was ready and irrespective of what he asked for gave him the right ones. “Can you…….  (Steve immediately strikes up one of his poses with uke) Oh… OK…  fine….”  (Click, click) “Then could we have…..  … Continue reading Vicars, Tarts and Martial Arts

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Is Kata A Waste Of Time?

Steve Rowe

Is Kata A Waste Of Time? Is there a point to doing kata? Or is it just a waste of time? Does it have an application? That is magical and sublime? By the time it came from China, To Okinawa and Japan, It had been changed so many times, In each and every land. The true meaning has been lost, And by the time it came to the West, Nobody could remember, As the value became less than less. Then along came competition, Where it just had to look good, Nice shapes, crisp and focused, But empty, loud and awkward. … Continue reading Is Kata A Waste Of Time?

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Ethical Is Successful Business In Martial Arts

Steve Rowe

Martial Arts businesses suffer from some of the worst marketing on this planet.  All the ‘hype’, ‘management consultants’, ‘Leadership Programmes’, ‘upgrades’, door to door sales, mass leafleting and buzz words that have lost their meaning such as ‘self discipline’, ‘confidence’, ‘self defence’, the self made ‘Masters’, countless ‘World Champions’, clubs that throw every Martial Art into the hat with lists that they couldn’t possible supply has left potential and existing students sullied, confused and lost. Schools wanting to develop relationships with outside sports clubs have had their fingers burned by the expansionist, badly run and heavily marketed clubs. Under the … Continue reading Ethical Is Successful Business In Martial Arts

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How To Get A Black Belt

Steve Rowe

“How long will it take me to get a Black Belt?” This has got to be the most common question asked to any Martial Arts instructor by potential students. “How long is a piece a string”  is probably the most common answer…. I try to equate it with other skills in life. How long does it take to get a degree at university?  If you work hard on a daily basis and attend all your classes and work hard it should take three years. If you wanted to learn to play the piano or guitar, 3 years of daily practise … Continue reading How To Get A Black Belt

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The Peng Balloon

Steve Rowe

The Peng Balloon The deep core of the body softens, Until the feet spread evenly to the floor, The arches fill with energy, As they take the weight of the head. The soften down creates the press up, Causing the body to rise, stretch and open, Up and out through the crown of the head, Until everything balances upon itself. As the spine opens upwards, The shoulders and arm joints open downwards, With a soft stretch to the fingertips, Bringing the neural system alive. The ankles, knees and hips unlock and soften, Opening the hips and allowing the tailbone to … Continue reading The Peng Balloon

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Healing In The Martial Arts

Steve Rowe

If you study Martial Arts for Self Defence…..  What is most likely to kill you?  The answer is of course, bad health – and therefore that should be your first line of defence!  You have to care for your physical, mental and emotional health to be able to deal with any external threat effectively An important day in your life as a Martial Artist is the day you take responsibility for your own well being and training regime. The art of healing is an essential part of your Martial Arts training.  The Japanese say satsu/katsu that it is essentially that … Continue reading Healing In The Martial Arts

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Bringing Zombies To Life

Steve Rowe

Bringing Zombies To Life Most people are zombies. Why is this? Because they are dead while they live, Their body lives whilst their mind doesn’t. They live in a dormant state, Texting while they walk, Earphones in while they run, Or just blank minded mouth breathers. How can they come to life? How can we bring that spark back? How can they become present in the moment? And actually live their life? The secret is in the Dojo, In the first commands you are given, “Stand tall, breathe deep and focus your mind,” The moment you do this you wake … Continue reading Bringing Zombies To Life

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Armed Or Unarmed?

Steve Rowe

Armed Or Unarmed? What came first, The chicken or the egg? Weapons training, or unarmed? In martial arts it is a quest. You would think unarmed led to weapons, But it was most likely the other way. Ever since man existed, He threw rocks and used pointy sticks. All fighting was weaponised, Why do anything else? The only time it became unarmed, Was when the weapon was lost. Village sport was wrestling, Children in the garden wrestle, Pups and cubs wrestle, This made sport and play. Why is this important? Because martial skill begins with weapons, Unarmed are adaptions of … Continue reading Armed Or Unarmed?

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You Can’t Stop Growing Old…

Steve Rowe

You Can’t Stop Growing Old… It begins when you’re shaving your Dad in the mirror, When your first steps in the morning are like the ‘dawn of man’ poster, When your designer stubble makes you look homeless, And your back goes out more than you do. Your karate belt gets shorter, To kick someone in the head, You have to kick them in groin first. When you look around the club, Everyone is younger than you. You’re now officially ‘the old boy’. Age can be a gift or a curse, You can either wear it with dignity, Or act disgracefully. … Continue reading You Can’t Stop Growing Old…