Empowering People

When you engage in empowering people you should never expect anything back. When you're involved in this you must find the passion to do it and be content in it. At times, I seems selfish to have the passion because it feels good. However, the empowerment will lift-motivate people and help them take thier course.

It could be something as small as showing them something infront of thier face that was not so apparent to them. It could be something as large as helping them carry the banner of thier cause.

Yes, at times people who empower others die pennyless but what else is thier to die for.

Decisiveness: sen sen no sen

Well, I have been studying and practicing the concept of sen sen no sen in a realm outside of martial arts and its really takes a keen sense. Fudoshin and sen sen no sen go hand in hand and the right balance is a challenge. My sense of intent has certainly been developed over the years which has been an asset today. I could only imagine that it will improve in the future with more practice.

I am putting these skills into play in my daily and public life which may prove to be effective, efficient, and invaluable.

We shall see.

Above video applies

Face Marred By Dust & Sweat

I cant help but put myself into the fray of things. I especially enjoy interrupting the selfish horders who descive the people. I frequently ask myself why I do it and I always get the same answer...because I must.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause who at best, if he wins, knows the thrills of high achievement, and, if he fails, at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Sentimental Thoughts on this Occassion

Fck the sentimental thoughts. At most, I've grown more tolerant, but intolerant toward the intolerable. Don't ever let the underhanded scum’s of the earth ever get the upper hand despite their false facade. Strike them down before they cause their destruction. You will be saving lives. Do good, defend the defenseless, always love the people, and be grateful for what you have no matter how little (its only temporary).

FYI I'm not going no where so quit complaining.

Catch & Release

I felt bad when I caught a fish I just could not consume myself and keept it. I only ate about a tenth of it. It went to waste. I was caught up in the moment of having caught this nice beautiful fish when I should have just admired it and released it back into the ocean to let it go about its business...its life.

When you catch a beautiful thing that you know you cant keep, you have to let it go knowing it was caught and enjoyed the short time you had it.

We Are Human After All.

What it comes down too in the final analysis is that we are all humans with faults. Our experiences create who we are despite how perfect we want to become or pretend to be. It’s my philosophy to try to understand things I'm unfamiliar with and be compassionate toward people and all living things. Who am I to judge? When reduced to base human beings its easier to understand and appreciate life (& of others. I'm just another flawed human being given the gift of life.

US News Block of Iranian Protest

I dont know which is worse, Ahmadinejad's forced news black out of the Iranian Protest or the US News Agencies obession with Michael Jackson. How pathetic are we? I'm ashamed for the News Services.

I Stand in Solidarity with Iranian Protestors in Tehran

I'm inspired by the great courage of Iranian Protestors who are attempting to seize their countries future.

The progressive, young people and women of Iran have the collective will to change the course, make their government more reflective of who they are, and bring Iran into the global community.

We know that this movement will take great sacrafices and our hearts weigh heavy for you.

They should know that people around the world and from Santa Fe Springs-Whittier California support them in their struggle.

This is the time. This is the place. We are waiting in anticipation.

Striking and Moving Through Like a Running Bear

A confident bear that senses a threat reacts swiftly, runs with great power and momentum and is unstoppable.

It was a slow day at the dojo with less than 12 students in attendance so I thought this would be a good time to focus on some concepts that are best taught in a small group. The lesson: Sensing intent, taking initiative and striking through with force (energy. This is an advance concept for karate students that comes later in study. However, I believe that they should consider this concept in appropriate circumstances.

I used the analogy of an attacking or rushing bear. There are in essence two types of bears in a threatening situation; 1) those that charge and stop at close distance and 2) those that charge through for the attack. The caveat/warning is "don’t ever test a bear".

A less confident bear charges to test the fortitude of the target, slows its momentum to a stop, and then retreats. It takes allot of energy to slow down and is very obvious as it uses its rippling strength to accomplish the stop.

However, the confident threatened bear that charges only builds up it momentum and force to exact its attack. There is no stopping short. Energy is transferred in the overrunning of the target and various bites and clawing. The sheer power is overwhelming. The weight and force generated can be 2 to 10 fold it’s actually weight.

Sen sen no sen, taking the initiative from intent to harm, is much the same. It should be a quick draw that is overwhelming-momentum, decisive in its strikes, and must move through the target. No slowdown to a stop. Once initiated its unstoppable.

With all this said, much must be practiced and learned from sensing intent and reacting. This could take years to hone through practice. Today we begin.

(Chief Running Bear.......…Ahhhhhhh, yes…I understand)

LA Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Yes, another pleasant visit to the LA Arboretum on its Annual Garden Show. As Wilde would have put it, there were so many people I couldnt see the flowers & trees and, at times, so many flowers & trees I couldnt see the people which is worse.

Regardless, It was a wonderful day. As you may know, there is great personal value in enjoying the Arboretum and Gardens. Even the great Musashi Miyamoto later found the peaceful calm and centering which nature gives to us.

So Kiss My Arse if you dont like a man who appreciates flora. Calm...centering.