Sex Therapist

[Fudog]

I was pondering a sub theme in the law enforcement training thread regarding certification of instructors. As a long time Kung Fu enthusiast I am painfully aware of the deification of pedigree in MA. O.K. so far this post may not seem to be about what the title implies so let me get to that. I have always likened fighting to sex in that they are both primal, everybody instinctively knows how to at some level,you ultimately learn by doing,some people are naturals or are naturally gifted,and nobody ever admits to having done it poorly.The parallels are endless but my point is that in either certification or lineage or any other source of 'officialdom" or "authorization" doesn't necessarily make you the better player. Ponder this analogy if you will and certified trainers don't feel like this is an attack.I would love nothing more than to have an "RMAX CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR" certificate to hang on my bedroom wall ;) .

Sincerely,
Edward Sloan

[janet lee]

I was surprised when I first started my martial arts training/playing to feel how like sex it was. But for the reasons you mentioned, and others, it is certainly true if you're paying attention and in your body.

As far as certification goes, for me, it raises the question of how to assess someone's ability to teach others. To follow your analogy, I was for a time in a training to teach spiritual sexuality and observed with frustration those who "jumped through the hoops" and got the stripes, but didn't have the skills in their bodies.

Creating a program that can accurately demonstrate ability not just to perform, but to teach others is not easy, if only for the fact that people come to their learning/healing for many different reasons and with many different entrenched habits and behaviours to be unlearned. It's rare to find someone with both abilities. In fact looking at the people I've known and trained with, some of the best practioners were horrible teachers, and some of the best teachers were only moderately skilled.


Janet Zahn

[Coach Jones]

Edward,

You're absolutely right when you say that certifications don't equal good coaches or instructors. You're also correct when you say:




you ultimately learn by doing



The problem is that in today's world there are far more people out there that don't understand that.


You ultimately learn (what your doing) by doing.


If a person trains in traditional martial arts and never puts their training against real competitive resistance, they are not learning how to fight. Now that's fine until they allow themselves to believe that they are fighters.

This applies to many areas beyond just fighting.

Taking a psychology class doesn't make you a psychologist and taking an anatomy class doesn't make you a doctor. It'd sure be great if it works that way, but it doesn't.

While those with certifications are not always more knowledgable in an area than those without, they are the best place to start. You play the averages.

If I have an injury to my rotator cuff, I consult with my medical team. Their backgrounds and training are what I, the layman, use to determine if their particular methods and training are going to be of benefit to me. There are other things to consider, of course, but as i'm not a doctor, accupunturist, chiropractor, or whatever - I begin with the certification.

If I lose my hand in a bizarre combine accident, my first stop will not be my buddies house because he's read some medical books. I go to the emergency room where i'm assigned a certified doctor. I hope he's good but the key is that I HAVE to trust him if I want to keep my hand. The hospital, in order to avoid malpractice suits, makes sure that their doctors are qualified and the most efficient way they do that is by checking the doctor's certification.

A problem that exists with many people in the coaching field, especially in martial arts & combat sport is that the large majority is made up of two group:

1. Those with certifications who find them to be important for whatever reason.
2. Those without who want to de-emphasize the importance of certifications.

There are a few people that for whatever reason take to a subject, dive in and become subject matter experts in a certain field without ever going through the process of attaining a certification. If they know their stuff, it should then be a very simple matter for them to get certified in their chosen field. If they honestly believe that they have the ability, knowledge and experience needed to be able to coach others then they seriously need to stop whining, crying and belly-aching and get certified, then it becomes a moot point.


Having a certification in anything is never a negative thing. You will never hear anyone say, "he's a pretty good trainer but i'm not going back there because the guy is CERTIFED."

Lack of certification is ONLY a negative. There are no positive messages that can be infered from not seeking certification.


In my personal opinion, a person with skills and ability in an area who fails to attain a certification, is telling me a lot. It tells me that they aren't the trainer for me right off the bat.

Not because certifications are empirical evidence of skill and ability, but because those who have them got off their ass and got them. Since I want a trainer who leads by example and has experience puposely avoiding being accountable by seeking certification implies self-doubt, fear, laziness, and about a million other qualities I would consider less than positive.

[Fudog]

One of the main points of paralleling fighting to sex is to illustrate that ultimately it is primal. Obviously finding someone who has the skills and abilities to sew my arm back on are of a different nature. I don't think it would be as difficult to find someone to kick my but as it would to perform major restorational surgery on me.I am not trying to discount, one iota, all of the technical,psychological, and scientific aspects that can be known, studied, and learned about fighting or sex for that matter I'm just saying when it comes down to it, not the practice of it, it is very base and primal. To borrow a quote from Coach Sonnon(he was referring to Clubbell®s),"chaos rules".

Personally I seek knowledge regarding fighting so that the next time I enter the bizzaro world of physical altercation something is there for me to draw on,If I am even able.Also, it helps to understand for those who seek understanding,like myself. I do not believe in the "Karate Kid" syndrome.

I have never met someone who was a poor fighter and went on to become a great one. There is almost always something to an individual that makes him or her a fighter to begin with and then he or she improves from there. I have stood in awe, fear and respect watching someone work out on a bag or in drills only to find when the gloves go on they cannot fight. By the same token I have sized people up thinking them inconsequential and found myself cursing the demon seed that must have spawned them while dealing with their torrent of furious blows or iron determination. You just never know.

When I first started training MA I wanted to reach the plateau and safety of the Black Belt. What I found is the knowing of not knowing. Who is to say.

The good news is I am a fighter of no account and a mediocre lover at best so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. I am grateful to have you guys to talk to about such things.

Sincerely,
Edward Sloan

[Coach Jones]

Ahh, I agree that finding someone to "kick your butt" would be easier than finding someone to sew the hand back on, but the person that "kicked your butt" is not the same as a good coach either.

I think your analogy of fighting to sex is fine, but your conclusions are flawed. Maybe not from your experience, but it is.

There are sophisticated skills and attributes beyond the likes of what you discover from tedious fumblings in the back of a Camero

If you were given a black belt and honestly feel like you didn't improve as a fighter, then that's entirely the fault of your teacher.

While I was teaching traditional martial arts, in four years I awarded 2 black belts. One of which to someone who was a good fighter when I met them and improved. he later went on to be much more knowledgeable in the art that I had taught him than I ever was.

The second went to a kid who showed up - head slung low, quiet and letting his "martial artist" friend push him around when they showed up at my door. Over the next couple years that changed in a profound way. He became a fighter from scratch.

I won't go into what they had to go through other than to say that I don't "think" they were good fighters...I know.

Luckily, I found RMAX and I no longer teach in the same manner where the goal was to drive them as hard as possible every day and as realistically as possible so that a fight on the street would seem like a vacation compared to being in class. My retention rate for students was horrific.

It sounds like you had a bad experience in regard to your martial art training. Rather than let that throw you off of martial arts entirely, if you are able, try and get to a Flowfighting seminar.

You might find you leave with a different outlook.;)

[Fudog]

I agree that the title is suggestive however the content is not. Notice thier are, at this point, 119 views and only 5 replies, including my own,interesting. If it is inappropriate I apologize.

Lastly what this post was actualy about and the point I Wanted to make is not anticertification, or disrespect to the professional fighter and or coach. My whole point, and one that I thought I heared here somewhere along the way, is that each person is his own coach of his own style. I don't blame past teachers for my MA experience. I blame myself, if there is any "blame" to be had.That's the whole point.It's me.

It costs a lot of money to learn from someone. There is a whole economic strata that cannot learn from a coach on a monthly basis. Does that mean they are doomed to nothingness? If it were brain surgery, yes. The outlook doesn't look good. But as I said earlier, fighting is primal. I belive determined individulals with some guidelines, and source of knowledge could teach themselves to be effective fighters. UFC champions, probably not. Good fighters , certainly. . I would have to believe that RMAX is of this opinion to some degree judging by some of the products offered. Am I wrong?

I am going to continue learning from whomever has something to teach of wich RMAX is a goldmine. I also understand that it is on me and up to me regarding me. My ambitions are personal not professional.I Would venture to say this is true for most dojo or MA practioners. Hopefully I will someday make it to a seminar. No tengo dinero amigo. Peace and love to us all. Being human is both natural and confounding. I am grateful to walk with you and am honored by your presense. I have said to much.

Tea time,
Edward Sloan

[Scott Sonnon]

A good coach knows that you cannot learn that which isn't already encoded in your cells. A great coach knows how to teach only that.

[Coach Jones]

Personally, I didn't take anything you said as disrespectful to fighter's or coaches, Edward. Not at all.

Everyone with access to good information and a good group can make themselves a better fighter.


That's the whole purpose behind RMAX Informal Training Groups, and Coach Murdock's Manual is specifically geared to address that issue, and how to use the resources to get the best out of them.

For others who have the desire to take their skills to the next level, that's where the coach comes in. I have had coaches my entire life. Now I have 4!


My point on credentials, and certifications has nothing to do with those who are training in RMAX Training Groups or using the resources in their solo practice. I was only addressing those who would try and teach a subject or coach an athlete without being in any way qualified to do so. Even that would be fine as long as those who would pay them know that they aren't certified or qualified to do so. That's why there is no money exchanged in an RMAX Training Group. Everyone is learning together no one is instructing.

[Coach Wilson]

It costs a lot of money to learn from someone. There is a whole economic strata that cannot learn from a coach on a monthly basis. Does that mean they are doomed to nothingness? If it were brain surgery, yes. The outlook doesn't look good. But as I said earlier, fighting is primal. I belive determined individulals with some guidelines, and source of knowledge could teach themselves to be effective fighters. UFC champions, probably not. Good fighters , certainly. . I would have to believe that RMAX is of this opinion to some degree judging by some of the products offered. Am I wrong?


interesting view you have. I wish I had more time, but here is 2 or 3 cents...
It seems as though your are simplifying Martial Arts (I may be reading you wrong) training as learning to fight. This is a very immature view, as martial arts (at least the way I train) is mental-physical-spiritual-emotional-social. It is a vehicle for self-improvement. Fighting or self-protection is often a by-product, but if fighting is your goal there are easier and faster ways to learn to fight than learning and training in martial arts. Also I have to ask, what is a good fighter? What type of fighting? there are so many parameters and subjective opinions possible here it boggles the mind. You could go down to your local pub, run your mouth a little and find out what kind of a "fighter" you are.

I do not know if determined folks could just become good fighters on their own, but again we would need to define what a fighter is.

As far as money goes, it is always touchy with people, but I believe that you NEED to pay for what you get. I have spent lots and lots of money on my education and I would not have it any other way. As a businessman and a school owner I can honestly say that those students that have recieved free training in the past, never valued it and never stuck with it. You have to pay, something. Just my opinion....keep the thread going I am curious to see where it goes.

[KD Jones]

An opinion.

The fact that an action has a "primal" (a term needing definition) psychological/physical component, or is instigated via some "primal" pathway, or has a "primal" effect does not necessarily lend us any meaningful control or insight into that action.

If the atribute of primalness is related to an evolutionary progression, then it would useful to look at the fact that the mutations that led up to any attribute were, from the standpoint of pure scientific inquiry, random, and any survivability gained via those mutations were, therefore, also random. This process could not care less which individual survived. It just happens that one does, and the process continues.

So, IF it were possible for a human to make some conscious choice to tap meaningfully and beneficially into some "primal" nature, it would be well to understand that we'd likely be throwing ourselves into the realm of primal results at the same time.

But as soon as we start talking consciously of goals, ends, means, methods, intentional learning, change... we're at least some distance from primal nature, whatever that is. And it's not even that simple to know what it might be; people spend their lives thinking about such things in and of themselves.

We are humans. Everything we do is embued with human values, and this is probably true of even the most complete sociopath - though the values are quite different. A quality some call "primal" is indeed desirable in a fighter or a lover, but I have never known anyone whose approach, understanding and reponse to either of these "primal" attributes is not completely human. Not to mention something truly human from the other involved. Most of us have never, and will never, deal with a human who acts completely unlike a human. Thankfully. (Note, though, that I'm not saying an individual human's behavior can't be degraded to a decadent, predominantly reactionary state.)

One last thing... I think it may be confusing to call our own attributes primal at all. Passionate, yes. But to try to split the whole our being into classes and types is something that requires science or introspection (one or the other, or both, depending on one's view) at a painfully rigorous level.

[Coach Camron]

I agree that the title is suggestive however the content is not. Notice thier are, at this point, 119 views and only 5 replies, including my own,interesting. If it is inappropriate I apologize.

Yes, I believe this statement is inappropriate. What reply do you want?


Lastly what this post was actualy about and the point I Wanted to make is not anticertification, or disrespect to the professional fighter and or coach. My whole point, and one that I thought I heared here somewhere along the way, is that each person is his own coach of his own style. I don't blame past teachers for my MA experience. I blame myself, if there is any "blame" to be had.That's the whole point.It's me.

It costs a lot of money to learn from someone. There is a whole economic strata that cannot learn from a coach on a monthly basis. Does that mean they are doomed to nothingness? If it were brain surgery, yes. The outlook doesn't look good. But as I said earlier, fighting is primal. I belive determined individulals with some guidelines, and source of knowledge could teach themselves to be effective fighters. UFC champions, probably not. Good fighters , certainly. . I would have to believe that RMAX is of this opinion to some degree judging by some of the products offered. Am I wrong?



Any determined individual with some guidelines and source of knowledge can teach themselves to do ANYTHING, not just fight, and be effective at it. I guess my question to you is what exactly IS your point? You say that your point is you and that you blame yourself for your past MA experiences. If that is truly your point then stop blaming and move on. There are people out there that have very natural abilities and people out there that have very learned abilities and there is no way to determine which are better. RMAX is a place to learn but you have to be willing to accept the knowledge.

[Nick1974]

I'm not a martial artist, and wouldn't pretend to be, but it seems to me, from what I have learned here at RMAX, to become a good martial artist (and fighter) we must 'unhinge' and counter condition a lot of our primal reflexes. Fear is primal. Hormone dumping is primal. Bracing, flexing, flinching and breath holding in anticipation of effort (or pain) is primal. These attributes are potentially detrimental to performance in combat. Some coaching and training would be required to help us rise above those primal behaviours.

[Coach Jones]

Excellent point, Nick.

[Scott Sonnon]

Camron, I couldn't agree more!

Nick, yes, indeed! We are given certain default biological survival gifts. However, as my friend Tony Blauer is fond of saying, "nature only takes us so far." Then we need to 'nuture' ourselves beyond mere subsistence of survival.

These genetic "gifts" are in place in the event of having no skills. The irony is that in order to develop skills, we must unhinge these default switches which limit our potential for ongoing refinement, especially our health and martial practice.

[KD Jones]

These genetic "gifts" are in place in the event of having no skills. The irony is that in order to develop skills, we must unhinge these default switches which limit our potential for ongoing refinement, especially our health and martial practice.

Exceptional.

[Scott Sonnon]

I cannot take credit. Read Richard Dawkin's The Selfish Gene and Robert Sapolsky's Why Zebras Don't Have Ulcers. Their respective studies have strongly influenced my own research and experimentation over the years, and reflect my empirical observations.

[Fudog]

Hmm,wow,well....

"Yes, I believe this statement is inappropriate. What reply do you want?" curlyFSU

I dont't want anything. I apologized if I offended. :confused:

"You say that your point is you and that you blame yourself for your past MA experiences." curlyFSU

No I did not. I said "if there WAS any blame". My point was I am not in the habit of blaming others for whatever my shortcomings may be IF there are any.

My relating to fighting as primal is not only for it's own sake but how people react to and around it. I don't expect it to be taken as the latest study from Yale University.It's simply my observation of wich I could expound on but do not find it prudent to do so at this point.

Dare I say it: I believe fighting ability is the ultimate measure of a "martial" art.Yes there are higher, spiritual, health issues and benifits that fall under the umbrella of MA training. I'm familiar with the TAO and long for pain free joint mobility(do Intu-Flow® every day). Martial arts are a macabre art in that thier beuty is rooted in it's deadliness. They were invented to fight. It's adherents appreciation for life was born out of thier taking and risking loss of life. Am I wrong about this ?

In a way I understand about valueing having paid for some knowledge. I don't expect someone of value to give away something for free either. What I am saying is that the person who is short on money or economicaly challenged has to rely to a larger degree on his or her self to decipher and digest the costly wisdom of those who know or they just don't get it at all. I buy your materials.I respect and want to learn what you teach. That's what I am able to do. Other wise I choose rent,groceries, and necessities for my family and children. Money is a limited resource for some people. $90 a month for classes is a big hit for some people. If you do not understand this than congradulations you are blessed. (I'm blessed to in having what I have I'm not complaining just stating).

My intention is only to throw out some ideas and thoughts I had and gain wisdom and insight from people whose opinions I greatly respect. Apparently I have been so off the mark and wrong. Ideas aren't easily disgarded so forgive my stuborness. At this point I would like to digress, enjoy a generous helping of humble pie and learn. You gentleman are truly learned and wise, sincerely. Thank you for your feedback.

Intu-Flow® and flowfit are awesome! I have been doing them on a regular basis. Thanks.

Sincerly,
Edward Sloan

[Scott Sonnon]

Fighting is the first a priori measure of a martial artist. If one cannot fight, one is not a martial artist. But what comes after this? You can teach a man how to fight in a weekend; in several weeks - very effectively.; in several months - with terrifying results.

However, martial art is not rooted in death, but in life. The sole purpose of martial art is not to inculcate lethal skills. As you astutely communicate, this is a mere primal heritage. It is a biological inheritance to kill, to maim and to harm.

Martial skill is rising above mere reflex, crude barbarism. Martial art is in learning how to not harm. The pinnacle of mastery in all martial art forms is the essence of efficiency: the ability to fight without fighting, to do so little harm as to even... help.

But that is a long road for the novice who is so consumed with the trappings only half way realizing what learning to fight is "ultimately" about. Often can one become marooned by one's very ego by thinking that it was about learning how to do more harm... when it's always about doing less and less and less.


Hmm,wow,well....

"Yes, I believe this statement is inappropriate. What reply do you want?" curlyFSU

I dont't want anything. I apologized if I offended. :confused:

"You say that your point is you and that you blame yourself for your past MA experiences." curlyFSU

No I did not. I said "if there WAS any blame". My point was I am not in the habit of blaming others for whatever my shortcomings may be IF there are any.

My relating to fighting as primal is not only for it's own sake but how people react to and around it. I don't expect it to be taken as the latest study from Yale University.It's simply my observation of wich I could expound on but do not find it prudent to do so at this point.

Dare I say it: I believe fighting ability is the ultimate measure of a "martial" art.Yes there are higher, spiritual, health issues and benifits that fall under the umbrella of MA training. I'm familiar with the TAO and long for pain free joint mobility(do Intu-Flow® every day). Martial arts are a macabre art in that thier beuty is rooted in it's deadliness. They were invented to fight. It's adherents appreciation for life was born out of thier taking and risking loss of life. Am I wrong about this ?

In a way I understand about valueing having paid for some knowledge. I don't expect someone of value to give away something for free either. What I am saying is that the person who is short on money or economicaly challenged has to rely to a larger degree on his or her self to decipher and digest the costly wisdom of those who know or they just don't get it at all. I buy your materials.I respect and want to learn what you teach. That's what I am able to do. Other wise I choose rent,groceries, and necessities for my family and children. Money is a limited resource for some people. $90 a month for classes is a big hit for some people. If you do not understand this than congradulations you are blessed. (I'm blessed to in having what I have I'm not complaining just stating).

My intention is only to throw out some ideas and thoughts I had and gain wisdom and insight from people whose opinions I greatly respect. Apparently I have been so off the mark and wrong. Ideas aren't easily disgarded so forgive my stuborness. At this point I would like to digress, enjoy a generous helping of humble pie and learn. You gentleman are truly learned and wise, sincerely. Thank you for your feedback.

Intu-Flow® and flowfit are awesome! I have been doing them on a regular basis. Thanks.

Sincerly,
Edward Sloan

[Coach Bentz]

Martial skill is rising above mere reflex, crude barbarism. Martial art is in learning how to not harm. The pinnacle of mastery in all martial art forms is the essence of efficiency: the ability to fight without fighting, to do so little harm as to even... help.

There are many, but I thought an article that Coach Wilson wrote a while back -- A Softwork Story (http://www.rmaxinternational.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4799) -- was an excellent example of this.

[Kathryn Woodall]

But that is a long road for the novice who is so consumed with the trappings only half way realizing what learning to fight is "ultimately" about. Often can one become marooned by one's very ego by thinking that it was about learning how to do more harm... when it's always about doing less and less and less.

I came to this forum with only health in mind and had no intention of ever learning any martial art(s). If I were to do nothing more than become a certed instructor and share the tremendous health benefits which are possible by training with the CST system, it would make a difference that would be highly rewarding to those willing to learn and do.

However, in one of the FlowFighting™ clips that was released I watched you take someone down "gently." By that I mean that while you were rolling him to the ground you placed your hand on his head so that he would not hurt it or his neck from the impact of the floor. I've heard repeatedly that martial arts is about learning to not harm. For a brief amount of time between living where there were no schools and the time I was injured, I investigated a few schools. The talk was often similar, 'we teach how to defend yourself and avoid injury', but then I would watch a session and it wasn't what they practiced. In fact I've never seen it practiced until that clip. Mind you, I've not had a ton of exposure to it but I do see the damaged bodies which come to my office post a martial arts class...and much of the time the injury came not from a fellow student but from the instructor, so it was with a jaded view that I arrived at this forum with little interest in learning MA despite having a strong fascination with it. My interest still lies primarily in the health aspect of CST, but watching that clip at least made me open to the idea that someday I may take more interest in it and actively train to attend and learn FlowFighting™. Thanks once again for being the type of person who consistently earns my deepest respect.

[Scott Sonnon]

Kathryn, thank you for your kind words. But I stand on tall and broad shoulders.

I've been blessed with many brilliant coaches, but it was Alexander Retuinskih who first was able to demonstrate this mastery to me.

Despite fighting him as hard as I could (and I was fighting at a world level at the time), he not only defeated me effortlessly, he even managed to prevent me from hurting myself (due to the vigor of my attacks.) Had I not felt that tangibly, I would have never believed it possible and would have remained lost in the cesspool of mere fighting.

Because of his masterful coaching, I realized that it begins with a choice and daily practice in all things.

[Nick1974]

Fighting is the first a priori measure of a martial artist. If one cannot fight, one is not a martial artist. But what comes after this? You can teach a man how to fight in a weekend; in several weeks - very effectively.; in several months - with terrifying results.

However, martial art is not rooted in death, but in life. The sole purpose of martial art is not to inculcate lethal skills. As you astutely communicate, this is a mere primal heritage. It is a biological inheritance to kill, to maim and to harm.

Martial skill is rising above mere reflex, crude barbarism. Martial art is in learning how to not harm. The pinnacle of mastery in all martial art forms is the essence of efficiency: the ability to fight without fighting, to do so little harm as to even... help.

But that is a long road for the novice who is so consumed with the trappings only half way realizing what learning to fight is "ultimately" about. Often can one become marooned by one's very ego by thinking that it was about learning how to do more harm... when it's always about doing less and less and less.


Coach, that is a great post. What percentage of non-RMAX MA classes and instructors out there do you think would adhere to this philosophy? Studying RMAX materials has stimulated within me an interest in MA, but I would (maybe unfairly) assume that any local MA classes around my area would be the MA equivalent of the local "fitness" gyms - macho, posturing nonesense that should be avoided.

[KD Jones]

Fighting is the first a priori measure of a martial artist. If one cannot fight, one is not a martial artist. But what comes after this? You can teach a man how to fight in a weekend; in several weeks - very effectively.; in several months - with terrifying results.

The a priori is crucial here. For me, it's back to the question of what primal might mean.

Human endeavors tend, oddly, to be undertaken by humans. As a result, again oddly, they cannot be distanced from human understanding, abilities, and nature of being.

The further back we go along the evolutionary scale (as we understand it) we go, the less we have any clue or connection with what a creature is, what our relationship to that creature may be, or what similarity we may or may not have with him/her/it.

As a result, in order to bring any quality of primality as observed in other creatures into our own being, we must humanize (or anthropomorphize) that quality. There is simply NO way to integrate an experience that is bound in a different consciousness than our own, to our own. We might as easily try to experience what it's like to be devoid of experience.

So, to see someone fight well is just to see someone fight well. That's the a priori criteria. Then there's the question Morpheus might ask, was that really a person fighting, or was it some kind of projection? Then, is it integrated into the being of humanity in such a way that there is something to be learned at a fully human level, from the fullness of what it was?

I think, if the answer to the latter is yes, only then do we begin to transgress on the domain of martial art.

At least, that's what the little animals under my bed tell me.

[Fudog]

Martial skill is rising above mere reflex, crude barbarism. Martial art is in learning how to not harm. The pinnacle of mastery in all martial art forms is the essence of efficiency: the ability to fight without fighting, to do so little harm as to even... help.

But that is a long road for the novice who is so consumed with the trappings only half way realizing what learning to fight is "ultimately" about. Often can one become marooned by one's very ego by thinking that it was about learning how to do more harm... when it's always about doing less and less and less.


Dude,...Sir, seriously , you rule!

Sincerely,
Edward Sloan