Mushin University™ Self-Knowledge the Ultimate Knowledge
Stillness in motion is foundational to motion in stillness, learning to relax is big step to both of these goals. One of my biggest problems in the martial arts and life is the fact that I have a tendency to giveaway or walk away from anything that I have or ever wanted to avoid conflict. Yet, this is a big part of why I study martial arts. The willingness to hack away at the unessential is part of the growing process. Over the years I have seen this doesn’t work well, as somethings are worth fighting for,but I also have found that entering into conflict (winning or losing), doesn’t work out well either.
The trick is learning to identify what is necessary, so how do you define what is essential? I would suggest that you check out Maslow's hierarchy. The hierarchy may vary for each individual depending on where they are in life. My tendency to walk away is paradoxical as I have often stood up for others. In so far as to taking beatings to save friends and even strangers from having to endure pain, or unjust punishment. This willingness (some say stubbornness, or stupidity), did garner me praised from my old high school principle. Of course, that doesn’t buy a cup of coffee but the memory of old (HG) Harry Gardner, recognizing me years later and stopping me as an adult on the sidewalk to tell me so, has kept me warm many times over the years.
Still, I have never been pleased with anything that I have done; but I often try to act like it. While trying to
figure out why I have been unable to change my mental reset despite years of
affirmations, I came upon some interesting readings. They were comparing thought
processes to software and the brain as hardware. It seems from my reading of these
case histories of people in similar situations. These people that have had negative
reinforcement during their formative years often have it programmed into their
hardware. It seems that I qualified for this on many levels, from beatings, Stockholm syndrome, survival guilt, etc.
This might explain
why I play Metallica’s “Bleeding of Me”, back to back on a continuous loop.
Well it's either that or Green Day’s, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)". I use
this as justification for why I never fit in with the good old boys from the
dojo that wanted to go down to the bar and unwind. That and for having a tremendous stick up my backside. Seeing how I never have been
drunk or high, not counting the opiates the doctors used on me during my
recovery from any of the aforementioned beatings, conflicts, or gaps in wisdom.
Regardless music in the dojo is a very valuable tool, this is doubly so especially with advanced training. Music helps you develop rhythm and to understand when to break rhythm, and even more importantly to relax. Relaxation is vital to winning against greater speed, or strength. Relaxation is a key to finding an often untapped resource from within yourself. Hopefully, soon you will be able to develop motion in stillness, being able to feel the rhythm within, first with yourself and then with others. So, even if you are a wreck, mentally and physically, unable to be satisfied with anything you do, this relaxation technique might just help. At least until the end of the song, but then you can always hit replay.
Regardless music in the dojo is a very valuable tool, this is doubly so especially with advanced training. Music helps you develop rhythm and to understand when to break rhythm, and even more importantly to relax. Relaxation is vital to winning against greater speed, or strength. Relaxation is a key to finding an often untapped resource from within yourself. Hopefully, soon you will be able to develop motion in stillness, being able to feel the rhythm within, first with yourself and then with others. So, even if you are a wreck, mentally and physically, unable to be satisfied with anything you do, this relaxation technique might just help. At least until the end of the song, but then you can always hit replay.
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