Friday Knight News
"Confidence comes from your technique," Joe Lewis
Some of the best advice I ever got in martial arts came from Joe Lewis. This advice was something that helped me both in and out of the dojo, and it basically came down to a method to help evaluate self-worth. To utilize this advice you must remind yourself of all the struggles and goals that you have accomplished in your life. Once you have made the calculations of all the things you have you done in your life, it is easier to see the totals. That seems to be the crux of the philosophical art of self-defense, when applied to life in and out of the dojo. The best way to go about answering this question is to list your major events and rate them. After all, you should be happy about what you have overcome.
Life's struggles are not about what you have, but they are all about what you have overcome to get to where you are. No one but you knows what you have gone through, and no one but you understands that what might seem to be a minor step to some was a major accomplishment for yourself. On the other hand, the very same can be said in reverse. Sometimes we achieve things easily that are major tasks to others. We can never really appreciate what another has done unless we walk a mile in their shoes, sandals, or moccasins. Either way, no matter how big or small the achievement is, it should be listed if you want to be happier for reaching your goals.
So Joe admonished us to remind ourselves of all the hard work we put in to get to where we were. He taught that having a pet technique, (tokui) was the same as having a secret technique, (okuden). In fact, Joe taught that having two or three pet techniques was great. He showed me how he would throw his famous side-kick eight different ways. I dare say he could do the same for his back-knuckle strike or reverse punch too. Still learning to apply martial arts into our everyday life is just another part of the philosophical art of self-defense.
"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you," Lao Tzu
Some of the best advice I ever got in martial arts came from Joe Lewis. This advice was something that helped me both in and out of the dojo, and it basically came down to a method to help evaluate self-worth. To utilize this advice you must remind yourself of all the struggles and goals that you have accomplished in your life. Once you have made the calculations of all the things you have you done in your life, it is easier to see the totals. That seems to be the crux of the philosophical art of self-defense, when applied to life in and out of the dojo. The best way to go about answering this question is to list your major events and rate them. After all, you should be happy about what you have overcome.
Life's struggles are not about what you have, but they are all about what you have overcome to get to where you are. No one but you knows what you have gone through, and no one but you understands that what might seem to be a minor step to some was a major accomplishment for yourself. On the other hand, the very same can be said in reverse. Sometimes we achieve things easily that are major tasks to others. We can never really appreciate what another has done unless we walk a mile in their shoes, sandals, or moccasins. Either way, no matter how big or small the achievement is, it should be listed if you want to be happier for reaching your goals.
So Joe admonished us to remind ourselves of all the hard work we put in to get to where we were. He taught that having a pet technique, (tokui) was the same as having a secret technique, (okuden). In fact, Joe taught that having two or three pet techniques was great. He showed me how he would throw his famous side-kick eight different ways. I dare say he could do the same for his back-knuckle strike or reverse punch too. Still learning to apply martial arts into our everyday life is just another part of the philosophical art of self-defense.
"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you," Lao Tzu
If you have never read one of my Kindle books, you will find a martial arts adventure that is intertwined with science fiction throughout the story line. My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.
Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)
Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.
Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)
Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.
Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6
Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.
Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)
Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past.
Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past.
Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)
The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.
Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)
Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.
The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.
Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)
Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.
Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)
Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.
Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)
Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.
Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.
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