Arbonaut
Go Climb It
Many of the tenants of serious martial art study are applicable in your every day life. Self-control, Discipline, Perseverance, Efficiency: these are all attributes which when applied through constant practice will enhance the ability to set goals and attain them.
Martial arts are based on three main roots; physical development, mental development and spiritual development. The physical and fine motor skill development inherent in the pursuit of martial art training will enable one to employ better technique in any physical endeavor. Life is not about flowery fists and embroidery kicks it's about what actually gets done. Indomitable spirit speaks for itself. Successful practitioners turn problems into opportunities. The proof is in the pile.
There’s no doubt that the practice of cutting firewood is good exercise. And wood heat is uplifting for the spirit of people who consider it a primary function of life and for people standing next to the stove. Many of us would do it just to fire up a chainsaw. Saving $300-500 per month on propane is also good for the mood. Cut and burn enough wood and physical and spiritual development grows.
What does mental development have to do with splitting wood? Upon reaching expert level martial art ability you have long been seeking to improve every task in the day. You no longer take it for granted how you walk and breathe because you have cultivated an awareness of these things. When you have been going to a training facility for awhile and you’ve mastered basic technique, you graduate to the next level ---Sparring! In the first few months no matter really what is the difference in physical condition between the instructor and student, students can never figure out why they are being scored upon at will and are totally worn out while the instructor doesn’t appear to be breathing heavy or sweating. At around the Blue Belt level you are informed that you were holding your breath. There is much more energy spent in executing any physical manuever under a high degree of muscle tension than in a state of relaxation. You are tense and holding your breath, he or she is cool and relaxed. Translate this to the physical tasks you do each day. Use proper breathing and conscious relaxation to help you get more work done.
Relaxation will also prevent injury. Take for example the fact that a drunk is less likely to get injured in a car wreck. If you asked them, they might say, “we’ll I wasn’t feelin’ no pain.” But why does it happen that way really? The alcohol or dope has the nervous system detached from the brain. And the same delay in reaction time which often causes or contributes to the situation also prevents the muscles from contracting upon impact. When a muscle stretches and contracts at the same time, you can imagine what happens.
When you relax, you can focus the mind with intensity. Employ presence of mind. Consciously apply this to your work. Channel it through the splitting maul, and the wood stack grows.
Martial arts are based on three main roots; physical development, mental development and spiritual development. The physical and fine motor skill development inherent in the pursuit of martial art training will enable one to employ better technique in any physical endeavor. Life is not about flowery fists and embroidery kicks it's about what actually gets done. Indomitable spirit speaks for itself. Successful practitioners turn problems into opportunities. The proof is in the pile.
There’s no doubt that the practice of cutting firewood is good exercise. And wood heat is uplifting for the spirit of people who consider it a primary function of life and for people standing next to the stove. Many of us would do it just to fire up a chainsaw. Saving $300-500 per month on propane is also good for the mood. Cut and burn enough wood and physical and spiritual development grows.
What does mental development have to do with splitting wood? Upon reaching expert level martial art ability you have long been seeking to improve every task in the day. You no longer take it for granted how you walk and breathe because you have cultivated an awareness of these things. When you have been going to a training facility for awhile and you’ve mastered basic technique, you graduate to the next level ---Sparring! In the first few months no matter really what is the difference in physical condition between the instructor and student, students can never figure out why they are being scored upon at will and are totally worn out while the instructor doesn’t appear to be breathing heavy or sweating. At around the Blue Belt level you are informed that you were holding your breath. There is much more energy spent in executing any physical manuever under a high degree of muscle tension than in a state of relaxation. You are tense and holding your breath, he or she is cool and relaxed. Translate this to the physical tasks you do each day. Use proper breathing and conscious relaxation to help you get more work done.
Relaxation will also prevent injury. Take for example the fact that a drunk is less likely to get injured in a car wreck. If you asked them, they might say, “we’ll I wasn’t feelin’ no pain.” But why does it happen that way really? The alcohol or dope has the nervous system detached from the brain. And the same delay in reaction time which often causes or contributes to the situation also prevents the muscles from contracting upon impact. When a muscle stretches and contracts at the same time, you can imagine what happens.
When you relax, you can focus the mind with intensity. Employ presence of mind. Consciously apply this to your work. Channel it through the splitting maul, and the wood stack grows.
:bang:
