Stories

Be Like Jack

One day at the end of class Little Johnny’s teacher asks the students to go home and think of a story, to be concluded with the moral of that story. The following day the teacher asks for the first volunteer to tell their story. Little Suzy raises her hand. “My dad owns a farm and every Sunday we load the chicken eggs on the truck and drive into town to sell them at the market. Well, one Sunday we hit a big bump and all the eggs flew out of the basket and onto the road.” When the teacher asked for the moral of the story, Suzy replied, “Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket.” Little Lucy went next. “My dad owns a farm too. Every weekend we take the chicken eggs and put them in the incubator. Last weekend only 8 of the 12 eggs hatched.” Again, the teacher asked for the moral of the story. Lucy replied, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” Next up was Little Johnny. “My Uncle Jack fought in the Vietnam war, and his plane was shot down over enemy territory. He jumped out before it crashed, but could only take a bottle of whiskey, a machine gun, and a machete. On the way down he drank bottle of whiskey. Then he landed right in the middle of 100 Vietnamese soldiers. He shot 70 with his machine gun, but then he ran out of bullets! So he pulled out his machete and killed 20 more. Then the blade on his machete broke, so he killed the last ten with his bare hands.” The teacher looked a little shocked. After clearing her throat, she asked what possible moral there could be to this story. “Well,” Johnny replied, “Don’t screw with Uncle Jack when he’s been drinking.”

Fighting Like a Rat

Known as “fierce survivors”, rats are the most resilient mammals on the planet. In order to survive, they will squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter, scale brick walls, swim for over a half a mile and then tread water for three days, gnaw through lead pipes, cinder blocks, and glass using chisel-like teeth that exert an unbelievable pressure of 24,000 pounds per square inch, withstand being flushed down a toilet, enter a home using the same route, and even plummet five stories to the ground without a scratch. They have adapted to not only survive, but thrive in unsurvivable situations… including surviving atomic blasts. After WWII, the U.S. carried out atomic bomb testing in the Enjwetok Atoll. Enormous craters were formed, the vegetation was eliminated, and the atolls were engulfed with giant waves. Each blast spread lethal radiation beneath the mushroom clouds. The small islet of Engebi was one of the worst hit. On this islet lived our hero… the rat. A couple years after the holocaust, biologists returned to Engebi. Everything they found, plant life, fish, soil, etc., contained radioactive substances. It was assumed that all animal life had perished. Yet, somehow, the island abounded with rats! They were not maimed or genetically deformed. They had actually adapted to their new environment and, at the same time, increased their life spans beyond what is considered normal for a rat.

Jersey Joke…..

Once upon a time there were three little pigs. The straw pig, the stick pig and the brick pig.
One day this nasty old wolf came up to the straw pig’s house and said, “I’m gonna huff and puff and blow your house down.” And he did!!!
So the straw pig went running over to the stick pig’s house and said, “Please let me in, the wolf just blew down my house.” So the stick Pig let the straw pig in.
Just then the wolf showed up and said, “I’m gonna huff and puff and blow your house down.” And he did!!!
So the straw pig and the stick pig went running over to the brick pig’s house and said, “Let us in, let us in, the big bad wolf just blew our houses down!”
So the brick pig let them in just as the wolf showed up. The wolf said,”I’m gonna huff and puff and blow your house down.” The straw pig and the stick pig were so scared!
But the brick pig picked up the phone and made a call.
A few minutes passed and a big, black stretch limo pulls up. Out step two massive pigs in pin striped suits and fedora hats. These pigs come over to the wolf, grab him by the neck and beat the living shit out of him, then one of them pulled out a gun, stuck it in his mouth and fired, killing the wolf, then they got back into their limo and drove off.
The straw pig and stick pig were amazed. “Who the hell were those guys?” they asked.
“Those were my cousins from Jersey …………. the Guinea Pigs.”

The Rooster

There was once a king who was determined to own a champion fighting cock, and he asked one of his subjects to train one for him. The man began by teaching the cock all the techniques of combat. After ten days the king asked, “Can I organize a fight for this cock?” The trainer said, “Certainly not! He’s strong enough, yes but his strength is empty, hot air; he wants to fight all the time, He’s over excited. He has no endurance.” Ten days later the King asked again can he organize a fight ? “No, no! Not yet. He’s still too fierce; he’s till looking for a fight all the time. When ever he hears another rooster crowing, even in the next village, he flies into a rage and wants to fight.” Another ten days of training passed and the king made his request a third time. “Now is it possible?” “Well he no longer flies into a passion now, he remains calm when he hears another rooster crowing. His posture is good, and he has a lot of power in reserve. He has stopped loosing his temper all the time. Looking at him you aren’t even aware of his energy and strength.” “So we can go ahead with the fight?” Asked the king. The trainer said “Maybe. “So a great many fighting cocks were assembled and the tournament began. But no bird would come anywhere near that one. They all ran away terrified and he never needed to fight. The fighting cock had become a cock of wood. He had gone beyond his technical training. He possessed enormous energy inside but never showed it. That way, the power stayed within himself and the others had no choice but to bow before his tranquil assurance and undisplayed strength. I’ve always loved that story, the patients, the skill, the training and the complete lack of fear without being cocky. We’ve all seen the little Honda Civic with the flares and mufflers racing around trying to beat anyone near, whether it’s a minivan or a sports car. Just trying to prove how fast they are. If a Supercharge Ferrari pulled up next to you, do you think he or she would want to race?

Old Japanese Folktale

“Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the House, he thought to himself, “This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often.” In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, “That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again.” All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?” How true is this regarding our training? No matter what belt level you are at, your training attitude reflects everyone in the class. If you are not feeling like training at 100% or you are visibly upset that you have to do so many repetitions of a particular exercise, remember that many people are watching you; especially lower ranking belts. They are influenced by the work ethic in which we train. If they see you roll your eyes or put in a half-assed effort, don’t be surprised when they mirror your attitude. On the other hand, if you go out, put in a hard days training while still demonstrating the love for our wonderful art, then your students or under belts will have the same attitude (although in Kajukenbo – sometimes its hard to smile after an extreme beating the love is still there). Be happy and enthusiastic each time you step up to train. It will reflect on each and every person in your school and more importantly, it will reflect positively on our art as a whole. Matt Bono

Gung thoughts

Confidence typically comes from practice. Unknown territory is a scary thing. I’ve heard martial artists time and time again state they don’t spar (or maybe they do, but without contact) because it would be too dangerous. I’ve heard that the techniques are only for the street. Maybe practicing forms and slow techniques on a stationary target are the way to go. Everything has its place in the arts, balance technique, endurance. They come from many things we practice. I’ve also many times had martial artists with black belts and stripes on their belts (from whatever art) come to my school and spar and a white belt barely touches their face and they go into panic mode. Under duress your body will perform the way is was trained to. Train for what you want to be able to do. There is NO short way around it. If you played football on a video game and then went out to a field and played the bruises would be in different places. (it might be your Ego….) Peace Professor

The Five Rings The Broad Principles of Musashi’s Strategy

Excerpt from “The Ground Book” … Strategy is the craft of the warrior … If you practice day and night … your spirit will naturally broaden. Thus is large scale strategy and the strategy of hand to hand combat propagated in the world.
This is recorded for the first time in the five books of Ground, Water, Fire, Tradition (Wind), and Void (Emptiness). This is the Way to learn my strategy: 1. Do not think dishonestly.

2. The Way is in training.

3. Become acquainted with every art.

4. Know the Ways of all professions.

5. Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters.

6. Develop intuitive judgment and understanding for everything.

7. Perceive those things which cannot be seen.

8. Pay attention even to trifles.

9. Do nothing which is of no use.

It is important to start by setting these broad principles in your heart, and train in the Way of strategy. If you do not look at things on a large scale it will be difficult for you to master strategy. If you learn and attain this strategy you will never lose even to twenty or thirty enemies.

Gung thoughts Evaluating your game…. What does this mean?

Well it depends on the context of the discussion your involved with. Since we are talking martial arts let us look at that. Do you ever look at your skills and break them down into their smallest parts. Of course that could be endless. I’m sure I’ve forgotten far more then I remember in the arts and I’m sure as I get older at some point I’ll forget that I forgot…or something like that…sounds a little like Abbott and Costello for those of you old enough to know who they are. For some the idea is to gather a great deal of information. For others it’s to learn very little but try to master it. Some on the other hand just go through the motions. When you look at your “game” or skills we could also say, what do you see?.. .Humm…..Are you looking? Sometimes it’s hard to reflect on one’s self. I think those that are the best in anything have broken down the individual parts that make themselves up and decided what needed the most work and then tried to master it. So in the arts, we have the “art” part, in Kaju it’s pinions, punch and grab arts as well as the stances, punches and kicks. Of course we could go on and on with what the art entails. I have many, many different categories for myself; more then I have the time or desire to go over here today. So let’s look at just the fighting aspects. The ranges, there are four; kicking (long range), boxing (punching range), trapping (very close up range much like a clinch in boxing) and grappling (the ground range). Though you can mix and match a bit with these, you should at least be partially proficient in all of them. If not, then you need to be able to move at will into what range you are very good at. This my friends is a difficult task. Can you kick from distance with out being taken to the ground? Can you punch and not leave yourself open for a counter? Can you control a person that is within inches of you and use your elbows knees and head as a weapon? On the ground can you get someone off of you or stay on top? Make a list. Make it a large list with as many different parts of the arts as you can think of. Then put them in sections. Figure out what you’re a great at, middle of the road at and just not good at, at all. Rate them with a 1-10 scale, 10 the highest level. Then make three levels, 1-3, 3.1-6.9, and 7-10. Now work on that bottom level till it passes the upper level and then you can reevaluate your list again. It’s a never ending process that should take a lifetime… O and bye the way… if you have any thing at the 10 on the scale, send me a note,…I’d like to meet you… Peace Professor

Gung thoughts

Remember this….those days when your to tired to train, or you feel sore. Maybe you didn’t get enough sleep or you had a hard day at work. You have some type of injury or a cold. I think I’ve heard every excuse not to train. Nuclear fall out blocking your commute to the school? Your instructors have heard every excuse. Everyone knows what is meant by “it’s not you, it’s me”. Sometimes lazy is just lazy. I’ve learn more at times when injured and watching or having one of my students teach and see a mistake I never fixed or a better way to do the technique. A great portion of martial arts are for self defense. Do you think an attacker will except the excuse, your sick, or injured or had a hard day at work and will come back when you feel better? I think not. You will react to a situation with how you train. Spar with one arm because the other shoulder hurts, great, now you’re ready for that. Train when you had one hour of sleep, ready again. I think you get my point. You’ll never look back at your life and remember that day you ate a pizza and watched TV, but you may remember a great training day. It may save your life or a loved ones life. Who’s the excuse for anyway the instructor or yourself. Old students always say “I’ll start back up when I’m in shape” when will that be?? You get in shape by training at your school not before getting there. Personally I never found that running 5 miles a day made my nose less sore when I got hit in it.
Peace Professor

Black Belt Test what does it mean? How Important are they?

(This is an Article I wrote in a moment of Passion after just listening to people talk….)

Many people look at a Black Belt test like a quiz in high school. If they miss it they can always make it up…somehow. They think it’s a passing event like an invite to a movie. They’ll just see it another time. It may be more like a wedding a once in a lifetime event (you can only hope anyway). When people invite friends and family to their wedding or graduation do they notice they didn’t show up? If someone took the time to invite you to one of the most important events in their lives you must be very important to them and yes they will notice. Well these days many people get married many times over. Earning a Black Belt from a challenging school may take you 10 years or more to get. Could you court the opposite sex for 10 years before getting married…well maybe….if you’re lucky, but it’s unlikely. I guess in some arts it can be that way, but in the True arts it is more akin to getting a PHD or doctorate degree. You train you study hard to accomplish a goal you will only achieve once. Students always remember there first degree Black test. The excitement, the trauma, the bruises, the camaraderie, the fatigue, the blood, sweat, tears….did I say trauma….oh yes I did. Being a doctor and a teacher for a great many years now, I have heard every excuse, every fabricated reason people can come up with for missing a class or appointment or event. Of course we know the excuse is really for them. Sometimes I wonder, “Do people Really think I’m that dumb as to believe this excuse?” For the most part I just let it go and let them believe that. As for me if something is important to someone I care about or respect I show up. If there is more then one day warning it helps of course. Normally events and plans with great importance are scheduled weeks and many times months in advance. A Black Belt test is one of those events with plenty of forewarning. The way I see it, if I can’t organize my life enough to change my plans for such an important event…well then I need to reevaluate my life, my priorities, my soul….. Prof

Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow, or it can crash! Be water, my friend……”Bruce Lee”…..the last interview