Letting Go

One of my current philosophical challenges is to maintain my desire and drive without getting attached to something.

Does that make sense to anyone else?

Two Steps Back, better than One Step Forward

There is an old saying:
"It is better to become the passive
in order to see what will happen.
It is better to retreat a foot
than to advance only an inch."

This is called
being flexible while advancing,
pushing back without using force,
and destroying the enemy without engaging him.

There is no greater disaster
than underestimating your enemy.
Underestimating your enemy
means loosing your greatest assets.
When equal forces meet in battle,
victory will go to the one
that enters with the greatest sorrow.

- Tao Te Ching Chapter 69

At the end of Tukong Moosul today Master Ali said that the school used to recite a saying at the end of every class.

"It is better to take two steps back than one forward".

He said that the obvious intention of this was if someone wanted a fight it is better to step back, rather than rush in.

Martial Application

Other classes have emphasized how to keep your guard up, while appearing passive. It is very funny to see my fellow Tukong students in some of these postures as they talk to each other. I was in a coffee shop talking to one of the black belts and he dropped into one of these stances. I adopted the same posture and we had a little private laugh. To the outside observer it looked like we were just standing there yacking.

These postures are good for "two steps back". I had a friend who worked in psychotic wards and he learned how to stand in a calm posture that would allow him to talk to psychotic patients; it was the same thing, the posture allowed him to block and avoid a number of attacks without seeming confrontational.



My Experience

So far I have never had to use my Martial Arts to hurt someone. It is an opportunity I hope I never have; but prepare for every day.

However, I have had a number of people confront me in threatening ways. I have found that my attitude and demeaner often defuse a situation. I simply look the person directly in the eyes, without tensing the muscles, calmly, and without fear. Very few hotheads will go off on you if you adopt this demeaner.


It is not easy to take two steps back. Once an angry guy cussed me out in Best Buy for no reason other than I was standing in the aisle looking at something. "Get your ass out of the way!" he shouted.

I turned and looked at him.

"You better get your ass out of the WAY!"

I stared at him.

"y' you shouldn't stand there"

and he walked off.

Part of me was afraid; he was a big guy
another part enraged; I could have hurt him

But mostly I was proud to have stood up to his threats, making violence uneccesary. If I had backed down I would have felt weak, defeated, and probably would allow myself to be bullied in other less threatening situations. Further, the thug would have been more likely to threaten others and may have wound up doing something stupid. But if I had fought him, what would I have gained?

In the words of General Tzu

" Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your
troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless
the position is critical."

Dinosaur Tail

Sometimes the practice of a mind body exercise elicits humor. I particuarly find myself laughing in hatha yoga classes.

Take last week when Rebecca was teaching a hatha beginners class. We were doing a pose called cat/cow, and she wanted us to loosen up our hips. Her instruction was

"imagine you have a great big dinosaur tail behind you" she continued to say "now wag your tail back and forth, but not fast, smoothly, remember it is a dinoaur tail"

I started guffawing. The thought of everyone in that class having a dinosaur tail. I saw great big brontosaurus tails sticking out. Then my mind went through a series of images:

• women worrying that their dinosaur tails were too big


• J Lo and Beyonce got some good dinosaur tails


• It would be so nice to have a dinosaur tail when standing, you could sit back on it.


• it would be really cool in sparring and wrestling adding a whole new limb to your body


• Let's see, in downward dog it would point out at a 45 degree angle, in half moon it would go straight up, in tree it would wrap arount you, full wheel would be interesting

It just went on and on. In fact, I walked around the rest of the day with a big dinosaur tail.

About Mind and Body

This is a blog for exploring martial arts and yoga. I plan to fill this blog with insights of my mind that are gained through the physical practice of Tookung Moosul and Yoga.

Red Belt Test

After a year without testing I decided I was ready to retire my blue belt and go for promotion. Grandmaster Wonik Yi administered the test. A few days before testing he told us that he had meditated and decided to make the testing more challenging. He felt the tests had been getting informal and that he wanted to move back to traditional testing.
For the next two days we heard that an "interesting" test was coming. On the day of the test I knew we were in trouble. We were asked about injuries and encouraged to quit if we had health problems.
Our tests have about 7 judges which consist of some of our most advanced practitioners.
I don't htink it is right to go into details, but I can tell you the test encompassed a broad range of skills. The test was very challenging...physically and mentally. It lasted 2 1/2 hours! Two days later I am still sore.
However I am glad to have passed this test. Testing is a good way to learn control, even in unpredictable and challenging situations. This last round has inspired me to practice harder, and work on my conditioning. Need to start running again.

Take a Deep Breath

I was in the elevator, and as I frequently do I took a deep inhale and let it out. A woman goes, "Yeah, life is hard!"
I realized that people think we should only let out a big long relaxing exhale if we are having troubles, or are frustrated.
I remembered being in a long meeting and I took a deep breath and exhaled to give me some energy. The boss glared at me, thinking I was making a statement.
But a deep breath is a treat, we can take it anytime, anywhere. It is natural and relaxing. Don't wait until you are tense, tired or frustrated to use a deep breath. Find little times in your day to take a deep breath.
- in the car just before you start it
- at a long stoplight
- while your computer is booting up
- before you go to sleep
- before you lift something...even something light
Take a deep breath
N O W

300 Days of Yoga

It has been one year since I joined YogaYoga. Considering days off, travel and a few days of laziness I estimate that last year I practiced 300 days or approximately 400-500 hours of yoga last year.
I still can't put one foot in my ear while standing on the other and wrapping my arms up my ass. In fact, I really can't do any spectacular poses at all. I can barely touch the floor in a forward bend.
Yet the internal benefits are manifest.
I have zero neck and shoulder pain. I used to have chronic, regular pain in my shoulder. My blood pressure has lowered.
More subtly my attitude is a lot more calm and peaceful.
I think it is an outstanding compliment to martial arts, and often helps me relax while we are doing some intense exercise. The other day I couldn't figure out a staff form and I just relaxed, went with it and eventually got it. I think a year ago I would have been frustrated and that would have only made matters worse. Of course I have to give a good share of the credit to martial arts training but yoga has been a good compliment.
Ok, gotta go see if I can get my elbow in my ear so I can say I am a true yogi.