Infinite Insights

“The humble man makes room for progress; the proud man believes he is already there.” - Sigung Ed Parker (1931 - 1990)

If you ever wonder whether the feedback an instructor is sharing with the entire class specifically applies to you, stop wondering. It does. No matter how removed the feedback seems from your own situation, its relevance cannot be evaluated or understood unless it is first applied. Only application and effort unlock a lesson’s full potential.

We cannot control how a lesson is delivered but we have absolute control over how we apply the delivered lesson. We can choose to:

• Ignore the lesson

• Intellectualize the lesson and leave it at that.

• Apply the lesson to the best of our ability and leave it at that.

• Apply the lesson to the best of our ability and then analyze its efficacy.

Information is priceless. Probing deeper by asking WHY the lesson has helped or not is where deeper understanding of the art is gained. This understanding can (and must) be applied to everything you have learned in the past and then brought forward with this new, stronger foundation of insight. There can be over five years worth of knowledge waiting to be discovered within a single lesson.

Never underestimate the value of a lesson. Whether or not it helps you with your technique is not the sole indicator of its value. Understanding why it helps or does not help provides you with insights that, when applied to everything else you thought you knew, are infinite and priceless.

Jeff Brinker

Black Belt Success Cycle

Black Belt Success Cycle

1. Set a Goal

2. Have a Plan (and success coach)

3. Take consistent action

4. Review your progress

5. Review your goals

Accomplishments worth achieving usually begin as goals. Most people who get involved in the marital arts have the iconic black belt in their mind when they think about the ultimate goal that fuels their training. The first step of the Black Belt Success Cycle is SET A GOAL.

Ironically most people do not achieve their black belt because they set themselves up for failure by never proceeding beyond the first step of the Black Belt Success Cycle. Earning their black belt is their ultimate goal but if they do not proceed to the second step of the Black Belt Success Cycle — HAVE A PLAN(and a success coach), their stated goal is still in the dream phase, not the goal phase. For a dream to become a goal, you must HAVE A PLAN. While you’re at it, it is not a bad idea to also HAVE A SUCCESS COACH. No sense in reinventing the wheel if someone who has successfully achieved the goal you aspire to achieve is available and willing to help you.

The third step of the Black Belt Success Cycle is — TAKE CONSISTENT ACTION. A plan is only as good as the action and deeds that go with it. Common sense tells us that thinking about taking action is not the same as actually taking action. Unfortunately many people fail to notice the difference. Consistency in effort is a key component of success in anything.

A plan is only viable if it is consistently followed and critiqued. Taking consistent action that conforms to a plan but ultimately is not serving our intended over-arching goal, is wasted action. That is why the fourth step of the Black Belt Cycle is important. REVIEW YOUR PROGRESS. If your goal is to get to Jasper but after reviewing your progress you find yourself in Wainwright, it is time to put the brakes on because you are going the wrong way. Reviewing your progress gives you the ability to constantly upgrade your plan so that your consistent action serves your intended goal.

The fifth and final step of the Black Belt Success Cycle is REVIEW YOUR GOAL. If you are having troubles with the middle three steps of the Black Belt Success Cycle, odds are your initial goal is no longer a priority for you. Honestly reviewing your goal can go a long way to helping you respect your priorities by doubling your efforts or cutting your losses. The only thing guaranteed in life is change. It is important that we recognize and respect that by mindfully reviewing our intent and adjusting our efforts accordingly.

Jeff Brinker

Eye For Detail

What we train, as in what we practice, develops our technical skill. How we train, as in how we practice, develops our eye for detail. Technical skill can only develop so far on its own before our eye for detail is required to take our training to the next level. 

A good student will spend the majority of their time embracing the repetitive training that is required for mastery but unfortunately many are performing their repetitions mindlessly and are missing opportunities for improvement and growth. A master level student approaches every training session as an opportunity to hone their eye for detail and stimulate growth and improvement.

Developing an eye for detail requires mindfulness in our approach with continuous awareness of where we are and what we are doing. The only constant in this world is change. Your body is changing everyday. Every experience, no matter how mundane, changes our attitude and our viewpoint on how we see the world and how we see ourselves. Embracing a mindful approach to our training with an honest assessment of who we are, allows us to continuously improve in realtime. 

This past week everyone had a major opportunity to improve their eye for detail. While board breaking is a fun challenge, there is a lot more to the act than a show of machismo and accomplishment. When a board breaks we get instant feedback on the effectiveness of our technique and intent. The same happens when a board does not break — instantaneous feedback. We can use that feedback to feed our ego (positively or negatively) or we can use that feedback to feed our eye for detail. Analyzing your success and failures gives you insight into your kung fu beyond anything your instructor can give you. However, only if you apply that insight will you improve your eye for detail.

Reflect upon your board breaking experience. Can you identify what helped you succeed? Can you identify what contributed to your unsuccessful attempts? Your ability to identify those things is your eye for detail. Your application of the knowledge you gained by identifying those things is mastery in action. If you want to master kung fu, apply what you learned from your board breaking experience and apply that newfound knowledge to how you approach your forms and how you practice.

Remember, every experience is an opportunity for growth and, more importantly, every opportunity is a call to action.

Jeff Brinker

Discipline and Respect

No matter our reasons for beginning kung fu, the art can only guarantee two things: discipline and respect. When you think about it you will come to realize that with those two things anything and everything is possible. 

There are always provisos that come with guarantees. Logically we all understand that a guarantee is only as good as our common sense and our engagement. Your car’s warranty is void if you drive the car off a cliff. Likewise the guarantee of discipline and respect is void if you are not putting in true, consistent effort. You do not benefit from lessons unless you are present for those lessons. Nor do you benefit from lessons if you are not actively applying them.

Our uniform, like most things in kung fu, serves a purpose. Our uniform helps ground us by being a constant reminder of what we are a part of. It clarifies our perspective and reinforces our commitment while reminding us that no matter our background, we are all equal in the kwoon with the same goals of improvement. 

If the uniform is to be a useful tool to help us develop discipline and respect, we must keep our uniform clean and well-maintained. You can’t expect a saw to do its job if you do not keep it sharp and clean. Your uniform should be treated the same.

Students who continually show up to class with dirty or torn uniforms, are not progressing as quickly as students who respect their uniform. They are not progressing to their full potential not because their uniform is dirty but because they are not applying discipline and respect to their training and their lives. 

The biggest statement a student can make about discipline and respect is how and when they arrive at class. Clearly you are not applying those concepts if you are constantly arriving late for your classes. Consistent tardiness is one of the most disrespectful actions toward your fellow students and your instructors. The second biggest statement a student can make about discipline and respect is the condition of the uniform they are wearing to class. 

The bottom line:

If you want to learn kung fu, you must be taking your training outside the kwoon and into the world by consistently applying the concepts of kung fu in all aspects of your life. That starts by taking care of when you arrive at class and taking care of your uniform.

Jeff Brinker