The Purpose of Training...

Why do you train? What is your purpose, your intent when you step on the mat? How do you apply your training to your life? Do you apply your training to your life? I would guess that all of us have different answers for why we train, what motivates us, our purpose, and what our intent should be.

Let me offer some suggestions...Train so that you understand your self as completely as humanly possible, know what makes you tick and why... Understand your limitations then do something about them... Don't settle for the mediocre... Why would you want to accept being average? Push yourself to excel, to grow, to expand... Look at things from a new perspective, your way is not the only way...(As your instructor, my way is the right way... Just kidding) See things from someone else's point of view...

One of my mentors Master Tom Callos tells me, and probably 300 other people weekly: that the last thing this world needs, is another punch thrown in anger, another grenade or missile launched...There is more to the quote but Coach Tom is like a hurricane of ideas, you have to try to catch whatever you can. The point is that we need to measure our actions, control our reactions, and understand what motivates us to the point where we are able to leave our emotions, our prejudices, our lack of understanding out of the picture and respond as a empathetic human.

Unfortunately some people refuse to be appeased, you cannot always walk or run away, and they leave you no hope for a peaceful solution... You see this cycle repeating time and time again through out history, I am a historian by training as well... This cycle will not be broken in our life time and probably will exist as long as we exist on this planet... Is is hopeless? I don't think so... but we need to educate ourselves, be diligent, patient, and aware... Train our students and our children for peace but teach them self protection so that they will be enabled to do whatever needs to be done. We need to chose our battles wisely and minimize the effects on the innocent that happen to be nearby... Be aware, be prepared, be patient, be concious of those that are not actively involved... (When you are sparring you don't roundhouse kick the ref.... At least you better not if I'm the ref!)

I train for battle, so I can live in peace. I push my body, so my body can continue to push me. I train my mind, so I control it and keep it from controlling me. I train my spirit, so my training won't be just a physical act that occupies my time, it becomes a dance, a merging of the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of me... I train to be...

Why do you train?

Peace

Chris Holmes-Master Teacher