How Did We Get Here?

Believe it or not, we didn’t always go to gyms to stay in shape. At some point in history, there were no Nautilus machines. Aerobics classes were non-existent. People also didn’t have Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, or Slim Fast to keep the pounds off. No one heard of “fat-blocking” medications or artificial sweeteners.

I’ll bet you’re wondering how all those out-of-shape folks got slim. How did they fight mounting heart disease, cholesterol, and diabetes risks? How did they overcome cancer or avoid strokes?

You want to know the truth? I mean the REAL truth and not some Madison Avenue strategy to get you to buy something. It is so simple that most people don’t want to admit it or believe it.

People weren’t fat because they simply worked hard all day and ate wholesome food!

I know what most of you are saying to yourselves. You want to tell me that you do work a full eight-hour day and that you do eat only health food. You see, that is the problem. You have been told (sold?) that and now you believe it. I am sorry to say that you have been ripped off and manipulated. Don’t feel bad. Everyone else is in the same boat.

Here’s what happened:

People used to do hard laborious physical activities as their work. They couldn’t rely on technological advances to do the work for them. Farmers worked crops by hand. Factory workers put heavy things together by hand or things by hand. Very few people worked in an office and even that was a lot more physically demanding than now.

People walked everywhere or they rode horses. Ever rode a horse? That is a workout by itself if you are not used to it.

People picked things up by hand and moved things with their bodies. They mostly carried objects in their arms instead of using dollies. They hammered and sawed with their hands instead of using power tools.

Food usually came straight from the source. Fresh eggs, milk, and meat came straight from the farm or from the local store where it was just dropped off by the farmer that day. No processing. No additives or preservatives.

The outdoors was a primary source of recreation. They didn’t stay inside and play video games or watch TV. Kids regularly climbed, walked on their hands, flipped in mid-air, swam, or played in the snow for hours. They even did this into adulthood.

Doctors would do minimal procedures to fix someone. Most of the time, they gave their patients advice on how to let the body heal itself. Very few medications were needed and most of the time they were simple and natural.

Technology came by and made life easier which was nice, for the most part. We could get more done with less effort. But people then worked less hard when the body was really meant to be used hard and often. Food became a business. It was found that you could stick cheap chemicals in foods to make them have longer shelf life, to taste better, or to even make you eat more. This is how these businesses made a profit while unwittingly making our food less nutritious or even dangerous.

Exercise became a concept of something everyone had to do to stay healthy to replace the ever decreasing work in people’s lifestyles. Instead of doing activities that were demanding and physically educational, people usually didn’t do anything. If they did do something, it was usually a sport or fun activity that was occasionally played. Activity became only a hobby and not a healthy way of life. Physical work, which is healthy for the body and mind, was increasingly becoming something that “had to be done,” if done at all.

Now food and health are “industries” because we don’t have quality food or health. They have to be “fixed” and now there is money in fixing them. But they really don’t get fixed. We are told that the solutions are there but this is usually not true. Remember, there is money in making us well. If we are constantly sick, then we are a “cash cow.” Why actually make us well? There is no money in that.

Jack-Of-All-Trades

We have all heard the term "Jack of all trades and master of none" and we have probably met a few. It is easy to superficially dabble in a lot of things but it is really hard to take the time and get REALLY good at something.

There are more and more people falling into this category. I think it is the sign of the times. Stick-to-it-ivness isn't valued like it used to be. People tend to be more like collectors now.

In my opinion, I believe there are two reasons for this and both revolve around ego and insecurity. First, I think that many people haven't experienced the satisfaction of undertaking something for a very long time and doing it well. They then become impatient before the process is complete and try something else. Secondly, I believe that people feel they need to do as many different things as possible to keep up with the Jones'. It is like a high school kid who has friends who all do different things and feels that he or she also has to do all those things too to be liked or accepted.

The center of attenion.... "Look at me! I'm better than you. This will make you look up to me with great awe!"

It's hard for a person that deep into themselves to really see it for what it is: imaturity and insecurity. They think if they have "more" of something then they have a greater value as a person.

I see this in both martial arts and fitness. Martial artists seem to want to do as many different things as possible or whatever the latest fad may be. Why? Don't they feel comfortable with what they are training in already? Are they bored? Do they think that it will make them better than everyone else? Fitness trainers are the same way. They have to get a whole bunch of certifications that revolve around a "scattering" of skills like post-pregnancy fitness, pilates, aqua-robics, step interval classes, kickboxing, youth functional training, diabetic fitness, etc. Do they think it makes them more marketable? Are they hoping to make more money (scam) with all this extra "knowledge"?

All of these are examples of a bunch of "Jacks" but no masters. They are trying to get a huge breadth of knowledge when what they should try to get first is a great depth of knowledge in one area before they branch into other things. They think they are experts. Experts look at them as fools.

Budo Geeks

Beware the pocket protector!

What is it about martial arts that draws in the kooks? I'm not saying that I don't have a little inner geek in me but I don't go shoving it down people's throats. I have met so many people who come up to me and start talking about how much they know about martial arts. It's especially irritating when they try to tell me about my martial art when they have never trained in it. People who really do know what they are talking about usually don't say anything. And they especially don't try acting more Asian than the Asians.

Some have done a martial art for a while and then think they know everything. They show off all the terminology and history they know and then emphasize how subservient and dedicated they are (like a good enlightened martial arts student should be ;-) ). They have obviously had very little sleep because of all the years of internet surfing which is where they gain all their knowledge. And we all know how reliable online information can be....

The one thing that ties 99% of them together is that they have never trained. They read and study and then think they are an expert. This is especially true of a particular type of martial arts geek: the Budo Geek. The Budo Geek seems to have seen too many samurai flicks and knows everything about Japanese martial arts especially sword arts. They can give you a who, what, and where on just about every Budo art and they LOVE to tell you all of it. But they very rarely get on the floor and train because then they will obviously give up their "expert" status. If they do decide to train, they don't last long. They have to have an outlet for their "expertise" and a traditional class definitely isn't the right place for that type of egotistical behavior. They also get frustrated when they realize they actually have to work really hard to get better and that it takes a really long time. Knowledge is gained through patience and sweat and not just by reading a book or an internet article.

We did a demonstration one time a few years ago when one of these Budo Geeks came up to us and told us we were wrong because of something he read on the internet. He told us we had no right to do what we were doing and actually yelled at some of our group who were not involved and didn't understand what was going on. All of our classes are completely separate and the people in one do not know what is going on with any of the others. When asked if maybe what he read was wrong, he then said it was an internet expert that he followed. He did not train so he did not understand anything about what we were doing and he was a "wannabe" with his internet guru. The guy took himself too seriously like a small child who is sure he knows more than his parents. He not only showed his true ignorance but he also ticked off the group.

Some Budo Geeks try a little of a few different martial arts and gain their "wisdom" from their limited experience even though they think they know a lot. They sometimes think they have the inside scoop on everthing martial arts. They also cannot hold their tongue about all the comparisons of martial arts they have done. They are in love with themselves and their limited knowledge and skills. They care more about showing off and talking about themselves than actually developing respectful relationships with those around them. Then they wonder why they have no friends.

I highly encourage people to study and become more knowledgeable. If you "show off" your knowledge, you just may alienate yourself.

Release Your Inner Animal

I’ve taught a lot of self-defense classes over the years and one of the biggest issues that women have to overcome is their meekness. I’m not saying every woman is non-assertive but a lot are….especially in a confrontational situation. It has been documented many times in assault cases that the victim, man or woman, that fought back during a fight survived the incident. Interviews with criminals that asked why they chose or didn’t choose certain people to be victims show that assertiveness and awareness was a major deterrent.

Women display meekness for a variety of reasons. Fear, societal conditioning, poor advice, and personal beliefs are the major ones. I could go into each one in depth but the situation is still the same. Women, and some men, need to reach deep down inside when the time arises and let their “inner animal” instincts out. This can be hard but it is made easier and more effective through training. Many people think that they can go to a self-defense class, learn a couple of cool tricks, and they will be OK. Sadly, that is ignorant and not the case. A person has to go through training to develop that skill just like any other skill. Becoming assertive, and aggressive if necessary, is a skill that needs to be developed and maintained.

I have seen many women open up during training and turn up their response level usually due to the fact that they figured out how to do it, what it feels like, and how to “tune in” to that level of emotional release. I believe this is what every man and woman needs to do. Women are victimized more than men and they usually take care of children and the home. They are usually the first-line defense of a child or elderly person. It is essential that they learn proper protection skills.

Have I Got A Deal For You!!

Do you consider yourself a savvy consumer?

Have you ever been "taken" by a fast-talking salesperson?

No one wants to feel that a scheister took them for a ride but that is what happens every day for thousands of martial arts schools and health clubs around the country. I used to work in a "big box" gym years ago. My job was to sell memberships. I eventually quit because of how they wanted me to sell. I felt like used car salesman as they showed me how to "force" people to sign up and ignore them later when they realized that they signed a contract that they didn't want.

When I started my own dojo and started working with martial arts business consulting companies, I realized they did the same thing. No wonder gyms and martial arts schools have such a bad reputation. I still continue to hear stories about people who never received what they perceived were "the goods" once they signed up. I think it is safe to say that all gyms and most larger martial arts studios are this way. They force people to pay on contracts when they stop training through no fault of their own and don't try to help the client in some way. Those are not the "Budo Values" that we espouse.

To us, our dojo is a family. Whether they are a martial arts student or a fitness client, we care about their phyisical and financial well-being as much as they do. Now there are always those that are trying to shaft us and we will treat them accordingly but we will work with loyal and honost people who deserve it.