Thoughts on Teaching--part 1

Thoughts on Teaching--part 1

• To become, and thus be a great teacher, one must first become, and thus be a great student—ever seeking and learning—ever growing in and through enlightenment and change. This I truly see epitomized by my Teacher—Mr. +Todd Durgan—who I feel probably has stated this not only verbally in other words/ways, but also shows through his actions of continuous seeking of knowledge and growth.

• We must forever seek to be, “The Cup and Saucer”—the Cup that is constantly poured into, but is emptied to a point at times and at other times overflowing, running to the Saucer that catches said overflow and retains it contributing to our refilling and never “truly,” becoming empty.

• One cannot truly teach something if one is not a student of it—learning, analyzing and reassessing said subject matter and thus acquiring new enlightenment and perspectives of said subject matter for oneself, and thus having said enlightenment and perspectives to share with one’s student(s) and others.

• One should not assume, nor ever believe, one shall ever know all there is to know about Kenpo—if one does, one is already lost, and cuts oneself off from all that one could, have been blessed to learn and experience through one’s own growth and as well that of their students.

• As a teacher, I am also one, of my greatest students. For as I grow in Kenpo I learn more and more not only about the Art/System, but and equally important, I learn about myself. Doing so I am rewarded with growth and enlightenment exponentially. As my Teacher Mr. +Todd Durgan  often says, it is truly in many regards, “…a personal journey of enlightenment.”

Basics, basics, basics

     
     As Martial Artist, our beginning, our early teachings, shall in many instances, stay with us for life. These early teachings, ideals, basics—good and bad habits—will come to be the foundation of the rest of our journey as they are our first steps, our building blocks if you will, upon which all shall be built upon. I found it interesting as even just the other day, my Teacher of 19 years expressed to me this very fact when he stated:

·         “You move in some ways like Mr. Rainey…”

·         “I do not think there are too many, if any that move as well as him...that is one of the reasons I have stayed/been with him for all these years—he is my Teacher and always will be.”

·         “You always will have some of his training expressed through/in your execution as he was your first Kenpo Teacher.”  

     I was surprised to hear the last bullet, as I had been with Mr. +Todd Durgan  for now 19 years—I had never thought that subtle nuances of 1 year of training with Mr. +Ac Rainey  would be noticeable/visible after all these years. Not that moving like Mr. Rainey is a bad thing—truthfully, it is great and a compliment to even be thought of to move like him—I just assumed I looked like Mr. Durgan when I moved as he has been my teacher for so long. He, Mr. Durgan, went on to further state, “He was your first Kenpo teacher and thus his teachings will always be with you…”

     I had actually begun this piece sometime ago but had yet been compelled to finish and thus share it—the previously mentioned experience proved to be that needed push.

     To establish and maintain a strong foundation, we must from the beginning, be sure that not only are our basics correctly executed and remembered, we must be attentive to consistently and often practice these basics and thus maintain and improve our foundation—one must always work upon and enhance their basics.

     Though this may for some be boring, or thought to be a waste of time as emphasis, focus upon, and learning the, “advanced” stuff is given more importance, it is from the basics—one’s foundation—where growth and expansion stems, originates, and is derived as execution of even the “advanced”  moves/maneuvers/etc., comes from basics.

     If your basics or foundation, have weak points, cracks, issues, or execution is incorrect, your advancement shall suffer, if growth is experienced at all. Your improvement shall be minimal and though promotion may occur, one shall sadly come to realize, they are lacking and truly inferior.

     Be focused upon the basics and solid rationale thought from the inception/beginning and throughout, or you shall find revisiting them shall be even more frustrating than they are "boring" to have to do. Embrace your basics, love and adore them—spend much time with them through practice, let them take up permanent residence in your mind and think of them often, or you shall regret it.

We as Martial Artists

     We as Martial Artists and warriors should not merely be self-centered takers, focused solely upon or own promotion and or accomplishments. We must as well be sacrificing givers—enriching and enlightening the world, and yes when needed enforcing justice through our warrior honed skills and tactics.

     We need to be far more like wise “Dragons” than mere ferocious tigers—and this can only be accomplished through our Spiritual development and growth and a commitment to "Qualities of Character"(1) such as, “Humility…Loyalty…Integrity…Honor…Mercy and Discipline.”(2)

(1) Mr. +Shaun Damon Hagler 1^st Degree Jr. Instructor of the Arts

(2) Mr. +Todd Durgan 7^th Degree Senior Professor of the Arts

The Spiritual component of the Martial Arts

     I will not digress into a diatribe upon religion, for this is not my intent with this composition—I desire to discuss and actually emphasize the omission of Spirituality in society and in particular the Martial Arts. There seems in our world today to acquiesce to a wantonness to appear to be religious, rather than actually being Spiritual, and thus Spirituality is lost.

     Even within the Martial Arts community, a microcosm of society as a whole, the Spiritual component has been lost. In days of old, Warriors yes honed their physical bodies, but they meditated to improve their Spiritual selves and to become enlightened. They did so as well so that they would internalize not only the physical/combative element of their existence and training, but to as well evolve by internalizing “Qualities of Character”(1) such as:  “Humility…Loyalty, Integrity…honor, Mercy, and Discipline…,”(2) to name a few.   

     Today these qualities are not emphasized nearly as much, and thus not internalized, for this emphasis/component has become downtrodden by a focus upon attaining promotion and rank and or money and praise. The attention to the development of Character—which can only be attained through the Spiritual— for most practitioners, is not highlighted and or not taught at all. Thus, as significant to the development of one as a Warrior as it is, and thus to the whole of the Martial Artist, is lost. Warriors of old were poets, and philosophers, as well as skilled killers. They meditated and worshiped—though we may religiously not ascribe to their philosophies, such as I am Christian, and many of them were Buddhist, the emphasis upon Spirituality was not in one iota overlooked. Furthermore, though my religious beliefs may differ, I can still appreciate, and thus acknowledge that the spiritual component of my training so profoundly affects my mental and physical and thus cannot and shall not be ignored nor neglected. They trained to protect, and defend not merely for fame and or as we sadly tend to be more concerned with tournament victories and belt promotions.

     As well, theirs was the epitome of an, “lay your life on the line,” era in time. When they fought, people were killed and or wounded. They knew someone would die and fought anyway as that was the code, founded upon truth and true honor, by which they lived. Today, ours is more often than not, “a way of,” mindset and inferior approach to training because for many it is not about “life or death,” respect, integrity, honor nor discipline, nor a commitment to excellence in execution of one’s Art. Again, due to the loss of the Spiritual Component, in many cases training more so is a preoccupation with the material trappings of training; trophies, and belt ranks, and the like in addition to pats on the back as being the baddest on the block, or in the Dojo.

     What is your Spiritual depth? Is it as a shallow pool or puddle that has no tributaries in or out of it? Alternatively, is it more as if a running river stemming from a snow covered pristine mountaintop magnifying GOD’S glory and “Qualities of Character”? This pure and wholesome source, so high and elevated, causes that river to flow downhill, enhancing and giving life to all that drink from it, as it travels to the deepest ocean. Moreover, said ocean’s ebbs and flows, which are vaporized by the Sun that return to its original source, that beautiful mountaintop, as falling snow.

     It is time for a resurgence and re-commitment to the Spiritual component—not merely tradition per say, but a re-commitment to logical, sound, wise, practices that will allow for us to maximize and develop our character, skills and bodies as a whole. So that we may become the very best, we can be as people and Martial Artist—for these should not be separate.    

     We as Martial Artist and warriors should not merely be self-centered takers, focused solely upon or own promotion and or accomplishments. We must as well be sacrificing givers—enriching and enlightening the world, and yes when needed enforcing justice through our warrior honed skills and tactics.

     We need to be far more like wise “Dragons” than mere ferocious tigers—and this can only be accomplished through our Spiritual development and growth and a commitment to "Qualities of Character"(1) such as, “Humility…Loyalty…Integrity…Honor…Mercy and Discipline.”(2)

(1) Mr. +Shaun Damon Hagler  1^st Degree Jr. Instructor of the Arts

(2) Mr. +Todd Durgan 7^th Degree Senior Professor of the Arts

Conceptualization--Adherence--Practice--Time

 Conceptualization along with understanding of sound-proven concepts and principals, along with understanding, retention of, and adherence to these concepts and principals allows for better execution.       

     Practice, brings about improvement in fluidity and continuity of motion at a faster and higher degree of execution—in addition one becomes more economical in motion and output and thus the return upon/for one’s efforts multiplies.

     Thus, in time, one becomes a “Master of Motion”—not over-night, nor shall just promotion and undeserved stripes on one’s belt attain this.

Thoughts on "Motion"--continued

Execute with purpose...there must be meaning behind your moves, there must be intent...

Let not your moves be "superfluous," or "purely aesthetics" or without intent or "purposeful-less." These are examples of "wasted motion" in many regards, which in turn is wasted energy and time, and in combat these are not positives, they increase the probability of one being defeated.

The articulation of your weapons as well comes to mind:

·         Your hand in a punch, are you striking with the two major knuckles?  

·         Your foot in a kick; is it the ball, the heel, or the blade used and thus conveys clearly even what type of kick  it is?

For that matter:

·         Your footwork, blocks, parries, etc., all motion and movements should be clear, defined, and refined.

All these convey your will/desire—that is what “you,” desire to do to your opponent and cause to happen—these are conveyed through the display of execution. As is your retention, comprehension and understanding in regards to the principals and concepts of motion.

Your proper execution and articulation demonstrates as well depth, training, commitment, and devotion and sacrifice—for one does not  mature in regards to execution/motion, and graduate to a higher level without these qualities. 

Reflections stemming from a conversation with a young student

     While on my nature walk with my 6-year-old nephew today he asks me, “Uncle what belt comes after white belt?”—so of course, we begin to discuss the multiple belt rankings in the American Kenpo System and that as well if he does not practice more, he will be a white belt until he is 25 and that it will be quite a while before he would be eligible for Black. After our laugh, and discussion as well of his most recent material, he shares with me that there is a kid in his class who is a Black-belt, and likes to pick fights with the kids in his class and the school.

     His words not mine—“I told the kid that he feels he needs to prove that he is tough just because he has a Black-belt, and that I wouldn’t fight him to prove I was tough just because I don’t have one. You always tell us we only fight when we have too, and that we better not ever use Kenpo to pick on people.”

     I shared  with my Nephew and student, what I hope to be where comforting words, that of course he can always talk with me about anything in addition to his parents and Grandma, and that he should not worry as the Kenpo he knows now, he can use to protect himself. I told him if you cannot get away to tell a teacher or adult, if you need to, you fight back. That, when unable to get to a teacher or adult for help, if this kid attempts to pick on, or hold him down and hit, and or kick him that it is o.k., to protect himself.

     No, I am not encouraging my Nephew to fight; I am encouraging my Nephew and student to hone his ability within, and confidence and belief in Kenpo and his using it to protect himself and stand for right. Through Kenpo, I as his Uncle and Instructor am helping him to become not only a better, confident, young man, but also a better Human being.  As I am also helping him to grow, and mature and come to realistic perspectives and terms with the world we, live in. For those that may disagree and argue that I am encouraging him to fight I pose this question—Is it not the foremost responsibility and duty of an Instructor to prepare their student(s) for that which they will encounter in the world, both outside of and inside of the Dojo? I answer with an emphatic, “Yes it is,” and thus conclude it is our responsibility to equip them with realistic, applicable, and practical “Self-Defense” theories, concepts, perspectives, and actions—whatever System we are teaching and thus, “training” them in. We should be as well endeavoring to encourage and nurture their growth, and striving for growth for ourselves in the areas of “Mind, Body, and Spirit,”—Mentally, Physically and Spiritually/Emotionally. If we are not doing this, we are not doing our utmost as Instructors and are truly ill preparing them, and discrediting ourselves.

     My Instructor, Mr. Todd Durgan, 7^th Degree Black, Senior Professor of the Arts, wrote, spoke, and has emphasized as long as I have known him for 19 years:

"Patience, Loyalty, and Honor should be maintained above all else, we should not allow our paths to a better understanding, to be corrupted by greed for money or rank."
- Mr. Todd Durgan, 7^th Degree Black, Senior Professor of the Arts

     My Nephew’s experiences, furthermore, I argue, validate this—under no circumstance should a 6-year-old be anywhere near having the rank of Black—they are not spiritually, mentally, and thus not emotionally mature enough to handle the responsibility and or comprehend the material required to hold said rank. I mean, if a 6-year-old can see the problem(s), and comprehend that it is not a wise mode/means of action, where does the disconnect in logic and reason and actions occur for some adults/instructors?

     Those Instructors in the Martial Arts who are, need to stop practicing hasty promotions, promoting students without testing them, and thus, disgracing the arts. For, not only does it make them as Instructors and Teachers look like immoral, corrupt, money grabbing degenerates seeking praise and acknowledgement through their students—it does our students and our Systems the greatest disservice.  As it gives them, their students and said Instructor(s), a false sense of accomplishment and security, as well as over inflated egos ascribing to arrogance and haughtiness, rather than integrity, humility, and compassion.

Salute