Disqus - Latest Comments for RickMatz

Re: The Trap of Pure Exercise and the Method of Mindfulness

RickMatz — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 14:00:27 -0000

I think doing mindless repetitions without really thinking about what you are doing are so many lost opportunities.

Re: A Historical Walking Tour of Seisan Kata

RickMatz — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:56:34 -0000

Excellent post!

Re: Martial Artist: Work in Progress

RickMatz — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:09:39 -0000

The purpose of continuous practice is to practice continuously. - Dogen

Re: The Impact of 9.0 – Understanding the Japanese Quake and Tsunami

RickMatz — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:36:42 -0000

It's ironic that "Fukushima" means "blessed (fortunate, wealthy) island."

Re: Touring Bonsai, The Little Tree Garden

RickMatz — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:42:53 -0000

An article on Bonsai Aesthetics:

http://cookdingskitchen.blo...

Re: Echoes of Government Shutdowns

RickMatz — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:20:53 -0000

Split the difference, compromise, and cut them both.

Re: Thinking By Year, Training By Day

RickMatz — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:55:44 -0000

The older I get, I find myself less and less in a hurry.

Re: Free Ebook: Shigeru Nakamura and Okinawa Kenpo

RickMatz — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:52:04 -0000

Thanks! I find martial arts history, even if it's not my own art, to be fascinating.

Re: The Judge Decrees!

RickMatz — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:52:44 -0000

The Square Form of Wu style Taijiquan, the Seven Samurai, Taiji straight sword, The Inner Chapters by Zhuang Zi (ok, it's a bit of a stretch), and Shakira.

Re: Even Funakoshi Got Caught Off Guard

RickMatz — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:36:56 -0000

I prefer "respond" rather than "react." It's a fine difference, but words mean things.

Re: Even Funakoshi Got Caught Off Guard

RickMatz — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:11:27 -0000

I think the main lesson is to maintain a clear mind.

Re: Interview: Bruce Heilman, 10th Dan Okinawa Kenpo Karate and Kobudo

RickMatz — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:57:15 -0000

Some of your readers may not be aware of just how rare is the title of "Hanshi."

In the aikido style I once studied, at 1st dan, you were considered to now be a real but beginning student. Your study up until now has only brought you to the starter's blocks.

At 3rd dan, you were now considered to be a serious student. At 5th dan, you were now considered one who practices the art.

At 6th dan, you were a shihan,師範. At this point, you've not only learned all of the physical names techniques of the art, but you could teach them and correctly answered all the technical questions. You have learned the whole style.

At 8th dan, you have mastered the art.

But there is more ...

After being recognized as a master of the art, no matter what dan rank, the next step is "hanshi (範士)." Note that this isn't just "shihan" re arranged. A hanshi is considered to be the very model of the art. The master now is the embodiment of the art and is a living example of the art to everyone else.

Re: Gojushiho Kata Step-Toss Bunkai

RickMatz — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:40:53 -0000

That's it! 一番！(Ichiban!)

Re: Gojushiho Kata Step-Toss Bunkai

RickMatz — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:07:11 -0000

Regarding your statement about the kata being studied by multiple styles: I once saw a video of a number of different high ranking karate masters, and while Chinese White Crane master all doing their own style's variation of the Sanchin Kata. I was just looking for it so I could post the link, but couldn't find it.

At any rate, it was fascinating. They were all different, but you could tell they all had the same root.

Re: The Story of Martial Arts Hierarchy (And It’s Benefits, Powers, and Perversions)

RickMatz — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:39:32 -0000

I don't care for the large organizations model. I like the one teacher - one dojo model better.

Re: The End of Urban Samurai

RickMatz — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:36:46 -0000

It's been a good run.

In Walden, Thoreau said he left the woods for as good a reason he had to live in them; he had other lives to lead.

The best of luck in your future endeavors.

Re: Wabi and Sabi – A Brittle Beauty

RickMatz — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:05:02 -0000

If you go to Amazon, and do a search on "Wabi Sabi" , you'll turn up loads of books on the topic.

Re: Gojushiho Every Day

RickMatz — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:40:38 -0000

Yes. I don't practice it exactly that same way; every teacher has his own "flavor", but that is essentially the square form I am talking about.

It's called "square" because the movements are clearly articulated with distinct beginning and end points and a clearly defined transition. It is also practiced slowly.

The "round" form is the flowing form that most people would recognize as taijiquan and tends to be practiced as a "fast form."

Re: Gojushiho Every Day

RickMatz — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:03:35 -0000

In the Wu style of taijiquan, it's the "square form." According to the head of the Wu family, Eddie Wu, if one studies the square form deeply enough and practice push hands with enough skilled partners, you can learn all the art of taijiquan has to teach.

Re: Steven Seagal is……Lawman

RickMatz — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:29:11 -0000

Years ago, I had a long running correspondence with a student of Seagal's aikido dojo in LA. While not involved in the day to day running of the school, or with the kyu ranked students. Seagal took a strong interest in his dan ranked students.

I was told he ran frequent seminars and clinics for his dan ranked students and conducted all the dan testing.

Among other things, as a celebrity martial artist, he didn't want a student to make him look bad.

I didn't see the show, but a friend did and reviewed it for me. He said that Seagal looked awful in sweats, but still moved as smooth as glass, and still had the speed.

There is learning and there is LEARNING.

Re: What Does Chen Style Taiji Look Like?‏

RickMatz — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:26:10 -0000

The character he shows for "neutralize" turns up as "change" (more or less) in my dictionary. I find it interesting how words are actually employed by a native speaker vs mere dictionary usage.

Re: Empty Your Cup

RickMatz — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:26:45 -0000

If you're setting about learning something from someone, it makes sense to me to do it their way.

Emptying your cup, your ego letting go of what you "already know"; is a very hard thing to do. It may be the first test along the way which will determine if you'll accomplish anything.

Re: How is Your Kata Reading Going?

RickMatz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:59:11 -0000

Very good post. As a student of taijiquan, I am always amazed at the new insights into the art I discover as I go deeper and deeper into the study of the form.

The head of the Wu family style of taijiquan said that if you study the standard square form deeply enough as well as practice pushing hands with enough skilled and varied partners, you can learn all hat taijiquan has to teach you.

Re: A Black Belt in Commitment

RickMatz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:33:21 -0000

What has served me well for my over 26 years of marriage is to great my wife every morning with: "I'm sorry, I was wrong, and it will never happen again."

Re: Warning: Technique Overload

RickMatz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:55:22 -0000

Fundamentally, a martial art is a training method.

In my understanding of internal martial arts, the focus is not on techniques, but on training the body to move and respond (as opposed to react) habitually in a particular way. Applications training in this context is meant to open one's mind by example to the possibilities, but too much attention to specific applications is a detriment; the mind becoming focused on the proverbial finger rather than the moon.