Martial Arts and "The Art of Learning"

I have been making my students read "The Art of Learning" by Josh Waitzkin. Josh Waitzkin is an 8 time National Chess Champion, Taiji Champion, and currently a Machado Jiu Jitsu student. Basically the book is an in depth examination of what it has taken him to master so many different subjects. Guess what people...Lots, and lots of practice, of course there is much more involved but until you master the fundamentals of whatever you are attempting to do you are handicapping your self from making forward progress.

I would guess that most of us us the restroom everyday, eat, drink, and sleep daily, and I certainly hope that all us are brushing our teeth and using deodorant daily. Martial arts practice should be just as important as any of these other activities. Every time you eat you need to remember that hey maybe I need to do my kicks, form, or some strikes to burn these calories. When you cleanse your body and your teeth remember that martial arts can cleanse the soul and the mind.

If I could take you my students or parents who are reading this forward in time, 10 years or even 20 years into the future. What would you or your child's future hold? Would they be well adapted, ready to deal with the challenges that life is always throwing at us? Would they have the kind of never say die attitude that drives them to get back up after they've been knocked down? Would they have the kind of leadership skills that would make them an asset to any company's workforce? Would they identify themselves as martial artists, the village protectors who are always seeking to make a difference in their world? I want you, your children, your grandchildren, and everyone you come in contact with to benefit from martial arts training. I do need your help, I need time to make this stick in their heads; I need commitment, they have to train and as parents it is your job to remind them...you have to pick your battles and this is one you cannot afford to lose; and I need enthusiasm, you students have to bring it when you step on the mat otherwise you are hurting your own progress as well as that of your classmates.

Parents and students if you really knew the true value of what martial arts has to offer you would never miss another class... I realize life gets in the way, that there are other things going on, that ball season requires so much time. The is nothing wrong with these other activities, I played high school ball for 3 yrs...But in all the times I have been in bad situation I never said to my self, "hey I'm a baseball player I can deal with this..." Maybe if someone had tried to mug me on the way back from batting practice with my Louisville slugger still in my hand....But no... every time I have had my world turned upside down I have been able to pull something from my martial arts training to help me through. Guys Mississippi leads the Nation in Obesity, our test scores are among the worst in the Nation, and we are near the to in Diabetes and Heart Disease. By the way have you noticed the sides of the roads we drive on every day? We also have some of the trashiest highways, interstates, and public roads in the Nation. What does all this have to do with martial arts training you ask?

Well my friends, I can give you real tangible skills to help you deal with an attacker if that ever occurs... But I have to tell you, your lack of exercise, the things you are putting in you mouth, and the television are far more likely to kill you than an act of random violence. I can do something to help you here....To the best of my knowledge we are the first and only school in MS to be implementing diabetes education, we will be teaching verbal judo to our students, we are the only school around requiring community service, working the concept of bringing marital arts out of the dojo and into the world, and last but certainly not least we have the best martial arts program around (I might just be a little biased here..).

So to wrap up this "Epic" post... What does all this stuff have to do with "The Art of Learning"? Learning requires effort, constant practice, commitment to excellence, and the right mindset. If you will let me teach you have to have success in these areas it will turn you into the kind of leaders that we need today. It will help you manage your life, your weight, deal with your personal relationships in a more positive manner, and it will give you a tool box of knowledge and skills that will help you be successful in life.

Peace,

Chris Holmes-Master Teacher