Category Archives: Philosophy

Maria Baird Interview

LOCAL STORIES PUBLICATIONAUGUST 26, 2022 Rising Stars: Meet Maria Baird Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Baird. Q: Hi Maria, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today. A:…

Ignore Result – Follow Process

“Ignore result,” was a common mantra of Grandmaster Suh. He constantly reminded us to to “try to hard for power,” that power will come out of excellent training following principles — that if you try for power, you will lose it. This is such an important point that I should post it every day for…

Inch by Inch

When training a martial art, it is important to keep on mind that you are involved with an “inch by inch” endeavor — that it takes time to do something well; and, more particular, it takes time to undo what time has done! You could be 15; you could be 50: but those are not…

Just Keep Training – It Will Come: Part 2

“A response to a question on a Facebook thread. I thought I would share the info here, with you.” “It is the scholarly position that I represent. Doing what one believes is one thing; proving it through years of research is another. In that, keep in mind that techniques are not unlike suggestions. There are…

Just Keep Training – It Will Come

Food for thought. If you remain in the thought-realm of “if he does this, I do that,” you are not yet trained enough. The basics, the techniques are all representations of “theories.” These theories give birth to variations and a multitude of understanding. The multitude comes from your creative force within and adapts, assimilates in…

A Year, A Life – in Reflection

A Year, A Life – in Reflection Martial arts has a Way about them. There is a humbleness and yet a power within them. But, the power is not one that is obtained; it is a power that is gifted from years of arduous training. Train soft to become strong; train slow to become quick;…

Something You Are

When you train kung fu/karate, you step into another world. You walk, kick, and punch through the hands and feet of the ghosts of the past — but you are actually becoming that past, now present. It is a spiritual step. It is a step of trust and ethic. It is a step of faith,…

Clarity of Mindset

There is this whimsical thought that one can mix and mash any style together through being creative and become better martial artists and fighters. This is seriously flawed thinking in my opinion. Technique represent more than just “hit him this way.” Technique, and the style it is embraced by, is not simply physical movement but,…

Trying Too Hard

Instead of trying too hard, overworking and adding to your frustration list, slow things down. Take a deep breath and relax. Wake up each day and make your classes. Listen to the instructors: participate and enjoy yourself. There is nowhere to go and all the time to get there (my common and long standing mantra)….

Mantra

One of my favorite mantras — returning to it over and over: “Instead of making excuses on why you cannot do something, make excuses on how you CAN do it! Become a CAN person instead of a CANNOT person.” Your world shrinks with “I cannot. It expands with “I can.” Which kind of world do…