As we age in the world of martial arts, specifically for me karate-do, we should consider how we will handle that age adjustment. I am taking a different view now that I have reached the ripe old age of fifty-seven. I realized one day long ago that trying to keep up with my younger, stronger, younger martial associates simply resulted in wear and tear that no longer added to my health and fitness but started to actually wear the body that I perceived as detrimental to reaching a very large age number.
I wanted to make sure my body would handle life for a long, long time. I wanted my quality of life to be such that I would not be a hindrance or burden to those I love. The only way to do that is to treat my body according to the rules of mother nature. Once I passed fifty years, which is way beyond what it was for life expectancy back historically speaking, I realized that to go the distance I needed to adjust as I age.
I took my ego and dumped it, hopefully, where I could not be goaded into doing things by younger, stronger, younger persons. It was not beneficial to my spirit-mind-body. I admitted to myself that I am aging and I can adjust and still practice, train and, if so desired, instruct.
So, I was reading a really good book. It was a book or series that I read over twenty-five years ago. It was good then and even better now. It is fantasy and magical. It does take me places in my imagination that are really cool. Even so, it also provided me a quote that I feel applies to me and the aging adjustments, etc. Here it is:
"As you get older, you find that life begins to wear you down. Does not matter who you are or what you do, it happens. Experience, time, events - they all conspire against you to steal away your energy, to erode your confidence, to make you question things you would not have given a second thought to when you were young. It happens gradually, a chipping away that you do not even notice at first, and then one day it is there. You wake up and you just do not have the fire anymore.
Then you have a choice. You can either give in to what you are feeling, just say "Okay, enough is enough" and be done with it, or you can fight it. You can accept that ever day that you are alive you are going to have to face it down, that you are going to have to say to yourself that you do not care what you feel, that it does not matter what happens to you because sooner or later it is going to happen anyway, that you are going to do what you have to because otherwise you are defeated and life does not have any real purpose left.
When you can accept the wearing down and the eroding, then you can do anything. You just have to get past the fear." - The Owl, "The Elf Queen of Shannara." by Terri Brooks
Our attitudes; our mindset; our "Jiko-no-hanashi-no-geijutsu," will need to change and taking this perspective, per quote above, may help to admit, understand, and accept the inevitable of life.
I just wanted to pass it along. Those of you who are no where near this time of life can put it into your mental storage locker for you may find it beneficial when the time comes. Those of you reaching or already there, I hope it provides something of value!
Hey, Attention on Deck!
Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!
When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:
I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me
I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me
I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull
I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death
I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed
I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes
I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados
I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers
The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn
Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung
WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE
The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.
Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.
“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated.” - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)
“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)
“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne
I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.
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