http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFACrIx5SZ0

This video has a family of Orangutans.  They use tools, use boats, into DIY.  I thought this was interesting.

Alot of people are want to study at the Shaolin temple like it was in the old days. This involved basically being an indentured servant for a couple years, living on whatever your "master" gave you. You live in seclusion for 10-20 years training. Then you take you lift a metal box with your forearms, burning a tiger and dragon into your forearms. Then a chamber leads you to the outside where you must spend several days in the wild.

Then there's the other extreme. Where people can just buy a belt also known as the "McDojo." Just sign the dotted line and you get your belt. Doesn't matter whether you can fight your way out of paper bag, you will get many trophies.

Personally, I would like to do the third approach. To live in a community of like-minded individuals who enjoy the study of martial arts. Who wish to help each other become better. This is my dream.

So I wanted to stop drinking soda. Went three days then get headaches. So my next solution is to go organic. I can buy organic soda. Have it special ordered to save costs. My cut down on the stuff.

You know I used to think it was more important to have a good teacher than to be in a good system. Yet, I'm beginning to reconsider that. For example, if the system says one thing, the teacher can be overruled. Also, what if the teacher can't keep teaching and someone else takes over.

Hard versus soft

Soft has a negative meaning to it. Most people when they think of soft equate it too weakness. When I think of soft I think of flexibility, being able to adapt to the situation, controlling how much force one uses.

I was reading an article that was discussing whether today's Judoka are as good as yesterday's. One thing it discussed, is traveling costs. For instance, to train an olympic judoka, you would probably want go to training camps where you could get instruction from the best. One thing though, is it is easier to send one person somewhere then a bunch of people.

An example of this is that by the time an owner of a martial arts school goes to seminar, he might as well put one on at his school. One reason is that then he get's help defraying the cost of the seminar. Also, your working with a bunch more people.

Colors of Character

One idea I had with the Colors of Character is perhaps that instead of Self-discipline, Self-Control, and respect, we instead do the five rules of the school. That way it ties into the rules of the school.

“Love is like a friendship
caught on fire.
In the beginning a flame, very pretty,
often hot and fierce,
but still only light and flickering.
As love grows older,
our hearts mature
and our love becomes as coals,
deep-burning and unquenchable.”

~ Bruce Lee ~

I saw this on speeding up your learning. One thing I wish would have been better is more on memorization.

kneeling or sitting

I read an article about a Japanese sensi who came and kneeled while he watched people do forms. One thing is some people's knees can't handle that.

High Energy = Good Person?

One thing that bothers me is when High energy is mistaken for being a good person. A high energy person could do things that aren't very good. A person who doesn't have alot of energy could be a good person.

I ran into someone I know from Karate. She said she would go more if she had more energy. This is a person who is getting ready for there blackbelt.

Traditionalists or sport martial arts?

I recently read an article in Black Belt Magazine, brought up the decline of Traditionalists in Martial Arts. That there are fewer and fewer traditionalists in Martial Arts. More and more people who practice martial arts as a sport are in business.

Well, for one thing, society likes winners. People who can put champion before his name have celebrity status. Also, I was talking with someone about eventually starting a school. He pointed out that if someone was in the Olympics, and versus a guy who was a black belt, who would you go with?

But on the flip side. To teach good technique does have to be as hard on students as a traditional teacher? One thing is that some training techniques such as using hot sand can be detrimental to one's health.

I'm more of a middle line appoach. My thought is why can't we make things fun. How can most people gain from there training? Most people wouldn't be able to handle the "Traditional" way of doing things. Then when they have to defend themselves, they will be ready.

Sports versus martial arts

Sports versus martial arts or Sports versus music or Sports versus Scouting. Why does it have to be sports? Why can't the kids do multiple activities?

You know I was watching this program, this young woman was going for the Chinese Olympic Team. If she doesn't try for it, she will live for the rest of her life wondering what could have been. But most of the kids aren't that committed.