We're good at acquiring stuff. Working, going shopping and coming home with new toys we'll probably never use is a cultural pastime. We even have a vernacular for it (i.e. retail therapy, impulse purchase, buyer's regret). We chase titles, belts and get a certificate to prove we learned anything. Well, so what? What does it … Continue reading You are an illusion.
It seems these days that everyone wants to believe that capitalism and consumerism have become something of a problem for our health, environment and our lifestyle. Just ask any of the 'Wellness' gurus, from Pete Evans and his paleo 'Magic Pill' to Belle Gibson and her cancer curing Wellness Diet. In fact, the phrase 'Wellness … Continue reading The cure for wellness…
I have a confession to make. I'm a thirsty fish. I've been a thirsty fish for years. Most people are I find. I suppose I had better explain myself... I first came across the 'thirsty fish' reading Jan Willem de Wetering's book "The Empty Mirror". It was the second book I had read about westerners' … Continue reading Of Thirsty Fish…
I remember I was so delighted to learn Melissa and I were expecting our first son - that was 10 years ago already! Naturally, when the time was right we told everyone. Eventually I got around to my friend and colleague (I was lecturing in Psychology at a NSW University back then), Darryl. He's an … Continue reading Balance – a noun or a verb?
Altogether, I have to date spent about 12 years of my life studying one 'form' or 'incarnation' of karate or another. I have also dabbled in a few other arts, but it's mostly karate. What was a I looking for when, at 17 years of age in 1987, I wandered into a zen-do-kai club in … Continue reading Letting go… and going on.
I knew it would happen one dark night. Minding my own business, walking out to the henhouse I was suddenly attacked. My legs were kicked out from under me in a flash, I had no time to even figure out what was going on. The concrete path came rushing to meet my already battered nose.... … Continue reading Tsunamis and river stones
'Kyu do mu gen' ~ Investigating the Way is endless It often seems to me that the popular western view of education, which is one of accumulation and attainment of educational status, makes a poor bedfellow with the idea of a 'Way' in karate or any martial art. Indeed the sale of karate 'education' … Continue reading What’s your hurry? It’s not like you’re ever going to finish… (or, Why karate is better than school).
n "These things that you keep, You better throw them away, You better turn your back on your soulless days, That was the river, this is the sea." - Mike Scott Over the last few years it has been my privilege to study with some very accomplished karateka, including of course my excellent regular instructor. … Continue reading That was the river, this is the sea.
(For clarity's sake - this post was written some years ago, when I was a 6th kyu). We all know the stereotype. Sporty kids are not so great at academic work and the ‘brainiacs’ have two left feet, are unfit and uncoordinated. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. While Karate has always … Continue reading Karate and Brains…
Karate begins and ends in courtesy. – Gichin Funakoshi (In the interest of full disclosure - I wrote this and the next post many years ago, when I was practicing a very different 'karate' with very different goals. They're pretty pithy and I thought of deleting them, but decided to leave them in the name … Continue reading Courtesy and the Martial Arts
