I wasn’t able to post for some time now as I was experiencing what could have been a rather simple case of too much effort on the eyes.

The thing is that I didn’t realize what was the problem and started experiencing a lot of stress and impatience when thinking about reading or writing. I became negative blaming all sorts of reasons on my short temper and completely failed to make the connection to the need for a reading glasses.

I’m sure everyone has experienced a similar situation from time to time. There was something psychically wrong that one’s failed to acknowledge and then there started a chain of mental reactions which could be explained easily after the real problem was acknowledge.

It works the other way around as well, something in a situation bugs you and anytime you find yourself in the situation you start feeling bodily pains.

I’m supposed to be very connected with my mind and body so any occasion in which I realize that I’m not aware of what’s really going on inside me is sort of an insult. I should have known better, I should have been more aware and all sorts of internal chit chat that I came to realize is very characteristic of therapists on any field that were not so bright diagnosing themselves.

Well now I know the problem and I’m aware that I’ll have to come up with solutions as I really need good eyesight for my work. As so many times before I know that a solution is there, not always what I would have chosen as being afraid of change is really natural and plus all the spiritual consciousness is a great way to be over critical of oneself.

I have created this situation in my reality for a reason now let me find out what it is.

And on another note I want to recommend the really good guide to 24 Tai-Chi postures that you can find on the Cloud Hands blogs it is really good and can assist anyone that is practicing to become more accurate and evolve in his practice.

I’ll update you soon on what’s going on in my life

I just happened to read a great post on getting to know my self blog about a post found trough the wordpress tag search.

The original post explains how in order to really practice tai-chi and qigong it is not enough to practice it is important to increase the chi, a link is then given to a new amazing product that can make you and I quote “unstoppable fighting machine”.

The whole idea is off course very amusing and if people are suckers enough to try I have nothing against  doing few mistakes along the way.

On a more serious note - sure when you chi is healthy and strong and when it flows openly you’ll be better at your practice, but in fact it just means that you are balanced and lead an healthy and balanced life. The practice is improving the chi flow, the balanced life is what keeps you chi happy.

It is so easy to get confused and really start thinking that I really need to increase my chi to be able to practice martial arts better, there is nothing easier than spreading fear and confusion, questioning yourself on any issue because someone says in a serious voice that if you don’t do this or that you’re life are limited in one way or another.

The hard thing is to stay centered and listen to the inner calm voice that knows truth and illusions and can tell them apart.

I’ve read Dave post on Formosa Neijia about the hardship of establishing a martial art business in a world when people are not really willing or able to give a lot of time for the hard work needed, when they search for something to suite their hours and for a technique that is well known and in fact most of the hard work each teacher does to reach a teacher status goes to waste as people have no special interest in the originality of the teaching or many other things for that matter.

I guess that when one sells a unique product no matter if it is a training in a special less famous martial art or a painting he faces the same situation of having a huge gape between him and his target market.

From my experiences there are two options to choose to be there and let people come to you when they’ve heard or read about this special technique and what it can do for them or when they are searching for that special teacher with the exceptional training or you can create your own market.

My brother is learning Sitar for many years now in India and he specializes in Indian classical music, his teacher would starve if he had insisted on teaching only serious students and only classical music. What he does and what I did when I had my meditation classes is to teach sitar to everyone that want to know and play a song to his friends. Even two sessions are welcomed.

From all the people that tried taking lessons during their travel just to experiment there were always the few that fell in love with the music the instrument and the teaching and stayed for longer periods, some of them settled in India for long periods to be close to their teacher and some have brought the classical music to the West.

The key is to think of yourself as a bridge rather than an important teacher. If you are interested in serving the community, you might be able to share your passion with them in many occasions but it all depends on your willingness to enable them to see things through your eyes, rather than expecting them to come prepared and have a great appreciation for you and what you can give them.

If they know nothing about what you teach or have no mental image of this or that tradition, open courses that offer people introductory knowledge of the martial arts. When a teacher loses all expectation that people would acknowledge his hard work, expertise and experiences and simply serves people by showing the beauty of the martial arts and the specific technique that he specialize in, he would always be recognized by those who choose to go deeper.

I’ve just read an interesting post on Chiron about the three important elements of martial art practice: the physical ability or conditioning; technical skill; and the whole mental/spiritual component- the attitude. Read the full post here.

Anyway I started thinking about my strengths and weaknesses on all three and realized that I have two major weak points that are not limited to the division that was suggested above, in fact it is one basic weakness I panic.

It works for stopping practice when I think I’m over stretching myself, or to discontinue a mediation routine even after long periods because things are starting to be too intense. It works with forgetting the right movements when the pressure is to intense for me and it works with the attitude. I panic and I lose the focus and balance that I’m supposed to have.

In my defense I can say that I always calm down and start again but sometimes the time or the situation lost are important ones.

I really thank god my teachers and the meditation practices that enabled me to cope now much better than I used too. This is still my weakness but I’m making progress on not losing balance and when I do to return to the center much sooner.

I found this video on Total Karate.

Can’t say that I was surprised as the results of the match it is just that I was more feeling sorry for the Master.

Anyway I completely agree with Stephen that Martial Arts don’t need this kind of service.