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My Boys
I just wanted to share this photo. These men are all the epitome of lives lived truly from the heart. The fact that even in todays time of quick, exterior based, personality driven fame, heroes of the heart still resonate their same power whether they are still with us physically or not. Share the love, baby
Dana White Commits Seppuku
If only Dana White, aka as “The Philly Soft Roll Boy” had a shred of true martial arts ethics and dignity to literally commit such a noble act. Such aristocracy is not in his make up. His last act, though, has effectively created the beginning of his, most welcome and needed eradication from his lofty reign I predict.
There is a lot of controversy, and conflicting stances regarding the UFC, and MMA. The questions really are about the style of combat sports that should be allowed. Boxing, wrestling, and kickboxing are accepted, mainstream sports. With a couple rule changes such as the use of a ring as opposed to a cage, and eliminating elbows and strikes to the head on a downed opponent the argument quietly fades into obscurity where it belongs. This is where it eventually will go; it is just a matter of time before the more sporting rules of PRIDE fighting are applied. The true problem is the UFC’s, and MMA, Dana White, and the powers to be that allow him to continue to promote his façade.
I have been a practicing martial artist for 35 years, making the gradual transition from violent, angry, young man, to philosophical, peaceful warrior. Many activities in life are dangerous to one’s health and safety. From my perspective, sport is sport. Through exerting yourself with full intensity in many types of competitions, the competitors fully accept the responsibility, and possibility of serious injury or even death to themselves and/or their opponent. Is face to face combat more violent than a blindsided, fully intent on physical damage, to a unaware, completely defenseless against the collision, football quarterback. Is face to face combat more violent than a pitcher throwing a 90 mph fastball at a batters head? In my opinion the mindset is where the ethics and moral questions arise. Just as one’s personal choice of health enhancing exercise is defined by that individual’s personality, so is their support of a sport. The choice of yoga, hiking, walking, weight lifting, pilates, endurance training, or martial arts as a personal choice of fulfilling the obligation to respecting, and enhancing our physical vessel are all good choices, if they fit the individuals personality, and physical requirements. Sports are physical culture arts. As with all art, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which is determined by perspective, experience, and personal preference.
Mixed martial arts is not anything close to martial arts philosophically. It is simply a sport of hand to hand combat. Martial arts philosophy is a belief that self-realization occurs only through intense conditioning, physical training and mental discipline. Although many of the competitors in MMA competitions are truly martial artists, many are just sport fighters with no interest, let alone understanding of the concept of self-realization. Do I watch MMA competitions? Yes I do. I relate to, admire, and respect most of these athletes in this ultimate, pure, man to man sport. There are competitors in MMA, such as Randy Coutour, Anderson Silva, George St Pierre, B.J. Penn, Frank Shamrock, Carlos Newton, Royce Gracie, Dan Henderson, Bas Rutten, and more that epitomize a martial arts lifestyle of ultimate self-realization through a base of physical culture.
The bloodlust attraction of no holds barred, hand to hand combat is certainly nothing new. In 648 B.C.E., the Greeks introduced the sport of pankration into the Olympic Games. The word pankration is a combination Greek words, pan, meaning “all,” and kratos, meaning “powers.” The sport was a very violent mixture of Hellenic boxing, wrestling, and submission techniques. Common techniques included punches, joint locks, choke holds, elbow and knee strikes, and kicks. Kicks to the legs, groin and stomach were quite commonly used. Standing strikes such as these were common, though the overwhelming majority of pankration bouts were settled on the ground, where submission holds and strikes were both accepted practices.. The only two rules were no biting and no eye gouging. The bouts could end only when one competitor was knocked unconscious, or submitted to his opponent by raising his hand. These matches often lasted for hours, and sometimes ended with the death of one, or even both competitors. The sport became the most popular event in the Olympic Games, and across the Hellenic world.
In a time of strangling, neutering political correctness, it is refreshing to see the purity of feelings, beliefs, and philosophy of life that the UFC’s front man, Dana White‘s foul mouthed, self serving, controlling, egomaniacal, emotional rants serve up. You have to give him credit for not playing the insincere, PC charade. But, to deny the negative impact in credibility of all combat sports he invokes and that his mindset, and philosophy is the antithesis of anything resembling martial arts, would be as blatant an ignoring of the obvious, as recognizing that his affected machismo, pseudo-badass arrogance, and need for attention is fueled by very deep seeded insecurities of his own identify, and manhood. In two successive weeks, Dana made absolutely sure that it is well known that he is a cretin of the highest order. First he shows his fickle loyalty with a very disrespectful criticism of, by his own account, the greatest fighter in the world, Anderson Silva. Then, just as the stench of his public defecation of lack of character began to fade due, his perennial need to be seen as a bad boy, or just an inability to think before speaking has him publish as a video blog a vile, sophomoric, ill informed tirade against a female reporter for the most highly read MMA web site online. Here is an example of Dana White’s unacceptable diatribe:
“f***ing retarded story … you f***ing moron … f***ing dumb … you don’t know what the f*** you’re talking about … shut the f*** up … whoever gave you that quote is a p***y and a f***ing f*ggot and a f***ing liar … maybe you’re the liar … everything that comes out of your mouth is f***ing stupid … You f***ing dumb b****. F*** you, Loretta Hunt.”
Mixed martial arts are here to stay, as it deservedly should. Just as assuredly Dana white will be replaced with a dignified, true martial artist who will take MMA to its place as a mainstream sport. The sport will thrive, and the competitors will be treated with the same respect and parity as other mainstream sports. Thanks, Dana, for doing the right thing, albeit, in a bad way.
Peace
Earth Soldier - World Peace Song 2009
As a sports coach I have had the benefit of learning incredible things from players of all ages and sexes. I would say that I have learned as much or more from them than they have learned from me. In matters of , compassion, empathy, and the importance of humanity and love before power, and success, they have, many times, been my teacher. I am thankful beyond words that I was of a mindset to be open to their brilliance.
This is a beautiful, moving film and message. Once again fortifying the importance and value of the voice of our youth. This film is the work of a young fim student in India, Aaditya Shakya. It is a moving and beautiful piece of fil art and, a thought provoking message. Do yourself a favor and enjoy it.
Blue Collar Zen Cuisine
The following is an example of how a Blue Collar Zen master passionately enjoys beautiful, sumptuous cuisine. Preparing a delicious, nutritious, beautiful meal is a sensual act of meditation. From the creative recipe conception, on to the focussed, detailed preparation and finishing with the joy of sharing and enjoying the feast, . This is a fusion of two of my favorite styles of cuisine, mediterrannean and sashimi,`along with a secret French/Mexican inspiration. I had some fun preparing the vinaigrette to pair with a nice Pinot Noir by using just a little balsamic vinegar with some of the Pinot Noir as the base of the dressing.
Ahi Sashimi with Avocado and Fava Bean Salad
serves 4
Salad ingredients:
1 pound sashimi grade ahi tuna
1 cup fava beans
1 large avocado
20 tear drop tomatoes
8 cups mixed butter lettuce, arrugala, and radichio
Mixed Olive, Pesto Vinaigrette ingredients:
2 T mixed olive tapenade
2 T pesto
4 T Pinot Noir
1.5 T balsamic vinegar
1 T extra virgin olive oil
2 T tamari or soy sauce
Mix vinagrette ingredients and set aside. Slice tomatoes and mix with fava beans, lettuce, radichio and arrugala in salad bowl. Slice ahi into 2 inch long, 1/8 inch thick pieces. Slice eac avocado 1/2 across 1/8 inch thick. Add all but 2 tablespons of the vinagrette to the greens, tomato and fava beans, and mix. Mound salad mix high in the center of the plate. Alternately lay the avocado and ahi slices around the base of the salad. Drizzle the remaining vinaigrette over the ahi and avocado and serve with love.
Perception is Reality
If you wish to see the truth, hold no opinons for or against anything….It is due to our choosing to accept or reject that we do not see the true nature of things. — Seng-Ts’an
Reality is merely an illusion, although a very persisent one. — Einstein
“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination
” — John Lennon
“Everything you see or hear or experience in any way is all specific to you. You create a universe by percieving it, so everything in the universe you percieve is specific to you” — Douglas Adams
Oprah, Gastric Bypass & The Secret
Someone brought it to my attention the other day that Oprah was over 200 pounds, embarrassed and considering gastric bypass surgery to solve her problem. When inquiring about the source and informed it was People Magazine, I was relieved, as I realized it was nothing more than propagated for profit rumor.
Medieval Torture Reinvented: pinch off 1/8th of the stomach and attach a tube to bypass directly into lower intestines
Gastric bypass to loose 50 pounds is ridiculous. It would be crippling to Oprah in many ways. It would be a public surrender to her lack of discipline in keeping unneeded food in her mouth, The total time involved with recovery from surgery and actual loss of weight by medically supervised starvation would comparable to loosing 2-3 pounds per week the healthy, intelligent and disciplined way. The end result of the body by gastric bypass would be a paltry contrast of the results of taking the holistic, to-it-yourself route. If you believe drugs, surgery and starvation level daily calorie intake is physically devastating I need you to hurry up and sign up for my service providing stock tips that will put you on top of the soon to happen market explosion.
Knowing that People Magazine is a bottom-dweller I went an picked up a copy of “O” to read the words written by Oprah herself. No mention of gastric bypass, just an intelligent account of her mismanagement of her own health and regrettable over dependence on physicians and the drugs they peddle for Big Brotha Pharma. While taking a walk with her friend and personal trainer, Bob Greene, she was informed she looked like shit, seemed depressed and all around unhealthy. He told her to get off the health deflating medications and get her health and fitness act together. She started doing just that immediately, starting with calling her doctor who started weaning her off all her medication. Oprah stated, “That choice was the beginning of my road back to health-and back to myself.” Me-depressed? I hadn’t thought I was, but definitely something was off. I felt like the life force was being sucked out of me. I always had an excuse for being tired. It took extra effort to do everything. I didn’t want to go anywhere, and I didn’t want to be seen any more than I had to. I could oversee a show and a magazine that tell people how to live their best lives, but I definitely wasn’t setting an example. I was talking the talk, but I wasn’t walking the walk. And that was very disappointing to me.
The message here is to do whatever it takes to preserve a schedule in life that allows for cultivating healthy physical, mental, emotional and spiritual planes. It is not selfish to demand time for what is needed to maintain your balance and growth in life. The biggest mistake of reason that one can make is to believe that you can stay the same. It must be personally managed to maintain optimal energy and progress. Meditation, nutrition, hydration, physical activity and sleep must be continually managed to the best of your ability. Does that mean you are going to be able to get all of these things in adequate amounts every day? Are you kidding me? Of course, most of us are going to have days that work, the kids, flu or colds, work or social obligations don’t allow time for everything applied adequately. BUT, this is where it matters most. Regardless of this reality you must have a mindset that is prepared everyday to manage your health adequately, regardless of you percentage of completion. If you can maintain this mindset it will “manifest” into progressively more reality. You will find ways to adjust to allow it. You will know that it neurotic to feel guilty to maintaining your health at the highest level so you can be at your most productive for life and service.
Oprah needs to understand and apply this so she can really help the millions of people depending on her to make “The Secret” work. The key to “The Law of Attraction” is that you must cultivate yourself spiritually to be able to use it. Once Oprah figures out that the self applied management of your own health is a necessity for most people to create a base position of evolving spiritually, she will find her own motivation to “walk the walk.”. What Oprah doesn’t get is that she possesses extraordinary powers of the mind and spirit. For her, the failing of her body will only reduce and ultimately deprive the world of her altruistic contributions and spirit. For most of us the operating in life with limited physical energy and health keeps us from finding our better selves.
Life goes on and you either get better or worse. Think about it. Of course that’s just my perspective and my angle of view could be askew.
De La Hoya es Muy Impotente
“When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek small improvements one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens and when it happens, it lasts.”
-`John Wooden
Oscar De La Hoya was one limp example of machismo Saturday night as he did his impersonation of a sacrificial lamb being offered up to slaughter at the hand of Manny Pacquiao. The only reason this shameful display is getting attention on my blog was some comments made by Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach and De La Hoya himself about his inability to react quickly enough to be effective. It had nothing to do with his age as suggested. The problem lies in his poor lifestyle in relation to his occupation as a professional fighter. Any skill that is left unhoned will diminish in time. He lives the life of a wealthy land owner and only exercises to burn calories and keeps his form slim. There is nothing done on a consistent basis to maintain his combative reaction or to stimulate his naturally low aggressiveness. The problem is that De La Hoya jogs and spends time on a elliptical trainer at a walk in the park pace. No training to maintain muscular balance, strength or aggressiveness. No work on making his feet quicker and improving his balance and movement ability being added to his daily fitness routine.
Oscar De La Hoya approached preparing his body for hand to hand combat with the same mindset that the general public approaches maintaining their healthand fitness. The bottom line is specific needs must be met to reach any physical state. The more complete the approach the more accomplished. Oscar’s fragmented, nominal effort at getting down to weight and making sure he could move and punch for 12 rounds was minimal at best. His timing and technique was that of a part timer. The general public puts in similar fragmented, compartmentalized approaches such as cutting trans fats and going to the gym 3 days a week. I need say no more. The results of De La Hoya in the ring and the state of our collective health and fitness are clearly definitive of the effectiveness of their approaches.
More than likely De La Hoya would have lost against the better fighter, even if he had improved his mental and physical preparation. But, I can guarantee you he would not have performed in the shameful manner in which he did and would have felt that he earned his multi million dollar paycheck. Performance in the ring or performance in life takes an integrated management of your state of health, fitness and performance ability, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Manny Pacquiao walks the walk of a physical culturist and is an inspiration as a person and an athlete. His success and joy of life is well deserved and well earned. Your performance in life defines you. Is your performance in life all you can give?
Psychedelic Meditation, Savantism & Human Potential
I fell across a very cool, simple e-book, “Psychedelic Meditation“, and had a friend send me a video clip of Daniel Tammet, the genius math and linguistic savant, this past week that fell right into place with my current focus, human potential. Meditation is a pillar component of the “Blue Collar Zen Lifestyle”, “Psychedelic Meditation” is a brilliantly simple, fun meditation guide, and Daniel Tammet is able to instantaneously go into a ultra deep state of psychedelic like meditation and access parts of the brain that are able to produce breathtaking intellectual results.
I found RebelZen.com while bouncing through some blog links. I couldn’t tell you the exact path. I felt like I was home as soon as I landed. Rebel Zen’s blog articles offer easy to follow do-it-yourself enlightenment content, delivered in a salt of the earth tone, equipped with working class humor, and obviously, straight from the heart intent. Steve Mills and Seamus Anthony offer a very amusing, and informative, free e-book, Curly’s Law. Curly’s Law, in direct, laid back terms defines the essence of mindful action; Zen living at its most fundamental level. Seamus Anthony’s “Psychedelic Meditation” is brilliant in its simplicity and written in a voice true to his generation. No wasted, spiraling, verbose page filling here, just a laid back, easy to follow guide to meditation for fun, pleasure and DIY enlightenment. In true Rebel Zen style it’s about lightening up and still getting it done. We are all different and it is not essential that we be obsessed with as rapid and thorough self realization as possible. Different paces and different emphasis’s define the beauty of the human creature. It made me realized that meditation for the pleasure of the consciousness altering affect was ok, and in line with constructively satisfying your basic pleasure desire. It made me realize that meditating for the relaxation and visual entertainment will still enhance and create momentum in cultivating one’s personal potential.
Daniel Tammet is a twenty-something with extraordinary mental abilities, Daniel is one of the world’s few savants. He can do calculations to 100 decimal places in his head, and learn a language in a week. Abilities as portrayed in this video are far from the norm and beyond the scientific community’s ability to understand, define, or even know where or how to begin to explain. Daniel goes into a state of deep, intuitive meditation when performing these unfathomable mathematical calculations. He puts out no effort. He just takes in the problem and goes into a trance, which could be described as psychedelic, allowing the problem to access the mathematical potential of the brain and, without a calculator or paper comes up with exact calculations to a degree beyond the capability of all but the most complex computers. In his mind, he says, each digit up to 10,000 has its own unique shape, color, texture and feel. He can intuitively “see” results of calculations as pschedelic landscapes without using conscious mental effort.
Cultivating human potential on all planes is a reoccurring theme in my life and work. Helping others access available tools to self-manage their enhancement towards their potential is my passion. We have potential that is literally unlimited in all areas of life, physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. Working towards a path of integrated enhancement is Zen living. No end in mind, just continual, gradual improvement. As you expand, your vision of your potential will also expand. With this said it could be stated that goals made in your current state of mind could actually be limiting as your goal that was produced only realized a fraction of your potential. Goals are short lived in satisfaction while consciously closing the gap on potential in a Kaizen sense, is pure contentment and joy. It transcends in leaps and bounds the common “routine approach” to living. Keep on trucking!
Curly’s Law, Flexible Meditation, Regeneration & Balance
I read an article in the NY TImes Friday that brought the Sicilian in my blood to a boil. I reacted with a post on this blog that was appropriately harsh, yet I awoke this morning realizing I did not feel good about experiencing the energy it took to write it. This was very apparent in my mood apon awakening as I had a hang over of sorts from that energy. I had a good 20 minute meditation to rebalance my mood and regenerate the love. During that meditation “Curly’s Law” came to mind and I was reconnected with the fact that this site and my intentions are not about the negatives, but about the positives. It is about adding positive componenets to your life and allowing them to take over. For example doing your best to consume food that is wholesome and fresh (whole grains, legumes, fresh fruits & vegetables and lean protein) in meals whose main focal point revolves around the garden. For many of my clients this approach alone once applied is all that is needed to start melting off that unwanted bodyfat and rekindling some dyanmic energy. With that said I have removed the article (Fitness, Journalistic Whoredom, & the NY TImes) from blog and put into my articles.