Our version

It is such an amazing thing to see how people have their own versions or perspectives of everything. I experience this every day dealing with my students and their parents.

At the last Black Belt qualification exam, I really had a difficult time making students understand there is only one way to do push-ups and that it is the only correct way -- not my way or your way or your version of the way. Knowing that the instructions were to touch the side of face, stomach and thighs to the mat, students constantly came up with their own version of the side of the face, the stomach, the thighs, the mat and finally, even their own version of the word touch.

At the time, I wondered how understanding this simple push-ups exercise and the concept it represents (natural laws) can change the quality of our lives.

I wondered what would happen if we stopped having our own versions of the words honesty, honor and integrity and took those same words at their literal, face value.

It is a funny thing to see how some students and their parents have their own versions of our tuition rates, policies and regulations. It is even more amusing seeing how they try to get away with these versions, and sometimes they do, at least in their own minds.

I don’t know about them, but I do know that when I talk to them about natural laws’ concepts and how we not only have our versions of them but also constantly defend our versions, I came to the realization that this was also my own qualification exam. I go through many challenging experiences throughout my day, but none are as powerful as when I have the opportunity to practice what I say.

I know the hardest thing for me is acknowledging natural laws, respecting them, being aware of them, and obeying those same natural laws. I know that I do not have to like them and they do not have to like me. The fact is that they still operate the same, regardless of my being aware or not aware of them.

One of the most difficult conversations I have with myself happens when I listen to my feelings as I am making a decision. Most of the time I catch myself making decisions based purely on how I feel. However, now I am beginning to understand what I have been trying to teach all these years. It doesn’t matter how I feel about something as long as it is the right thing to do. What I mean by the right way is the way that is determined with natural principles and universal laws.

Maybe I am just beginning to get it. After all these years of teaching the art of self-defense, I have been my own worst enemy and I have had to protect myself from the enemy. The true enemy is the failure to realize the realities of martial arts training – consistency, persistence, loyalty, and lots of practice.

I need to practice more...