Duty Calls!

My friends!

I had planned on posting my thoughts on running as a supplemental fitness activity on Sunday, March 1st. However, I have received a desperate message from an old friend, and I must answer this summons. The fight against the unrighteous never ends, and I must continue to do my part.

I will leave you in the capable hands of my disciples. The Stout Master has agreed to post more from my biography, and it is possible that Deshi will share more of his observations from our training. Perhaps another of my disciples will also have thoughts to share. We have yet to hear from the Silent Master, but that is to be expected.

I will return as swiftly as events permit.

Quotes

You may train for a long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning a dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do. -- Gichin Funakoshi.

Enemies you threaten make armies. Enemies you destroy make graves. -- author unknown.

The stick is equally as deadly as the blade in the right person's hands. -- Suro Mike Inay

The Role of Fitness for the Budoka

We approach the empty cup. Are you out of breath?

It is written in the Jingde of the Lamp that Bodhidharma left the court of the Son of Heaven to meditate at the Shaolin Monastery. He contemplated a wall for nine years without speaking, then mysteriously left. All he left behind was an iron chest in which the monks found a manuscript, the Yi Jin Jing. By reading the Bodhidharma's gift, the monks discovered the miraculous exercises that would improve their health. The fitness regimen become the basis of Shaolin Kung Fu... or so the story goes...

I pour Gatorade into your cup.

"Fat Ninja."

You laughed; or at least, you smiled. It is a funny image. How could you not be amused?

Immediately your mind seized upon the image of a bumbling , rotund man dressed head to foot in black -- probably jogging along a tiled rooftop and unsuccessfully attempting to be silent. It is absurd. How could such a man remain unnoticed? How could such a man squeeze through secret holes? Would such a man have the agility to fight the dozens of armed samurai any half-way decent ninja could easily handle?

It is my opinion that the manufacturers of Budo Uniforms have no business making them in Double-Extra-Large. Fat men have no business in real Budo. This may seem harsh -- perhaps it is. Perhaps I should allow the obese into my training in order to lose weight and gain the benefits of Budo.

But I don't.

Instead, I tell them to lose the weight first. Some, of course, are angry and complain. But I make it clear to them: if you don't have the discipline to lose the weight, you don't have the discipline for Budo.

Throughout history, it has been the nature of the warrior to run. He runs to battle. he runs during the battle. Sometimes, he runs from battle. The warrior runs.

The warrior is also a pack animal. He carries his armor and weapons to the battle. He endures their weight in battle. And he returns with his valuable tools of his deadly trade; hence the Spartan woman's admonition, "Return with your shield, or on it." Frequently the warrior carried his own supplies for food, shelter, and camp life. Logisticians and Historians tell us the packload of the Roman legionary and the modern US Army Ranger were roughly the same (depending upon the mission), between 80 and 110 pounds. This takes strength and endurance.

Fitness, therefore, is not an afterthought of the Budoka: it is an essential trait. Even for Budoka who are not professional warriors, fitness matters. Fitness determines the amount of punishment the Budoka can dish out and the amount he can sustain. A fit body resists damage better, and heals better from any damage that is inflicted.

Despite being a physical activity, Budo -- at least, in the sense of the practice of Kihon waza, kata, and randori -- is not enough to sustain the fitness of the Budoka. Though Kihon, Kata, and Randori are an essential component of Budo fitness, we must in future posts explore the other elements of fitness training.

Excerpts from Recent Budo Training

I am "Deshi," the newest student of the Antagonistic Buddha; the Great Sage. It is my duty to record the thoughts uttered by the Antagonistic Buddha during our daily Budo Training sessions and report them on a weekly basis. Here are a few of the Great Sage's pearls of wisdom:

There is a rhythm to Budo, but it is not a regular, steady rhythm: "1 - 2 - 3." True Budoka must be aware of the half-beats: "1-and-2-and-3-and." The Budoka must use these half-beats to his advantage. He must set the rhythm and not allow the other to dictate the rhythm.

We accept the basic premise of Brazilian Jiu Jutsu that it is good and healthy for members of the species to roll around with each other half-naked. What we must question is the notion that it should be a same-sex event.

You must be ready at all times for anything. You believe you are prepared for an adversary's punch, but what if he attacks you with a rubber chicken? You laugh. But will you still be laughing when he hits you with it? With so simple a gimmick, he has captured your mind.

Quotes

My instructor once told me that the first five dan ranks come for what you've gotten out of the system, the next ranks come for what you've given back. -- author unknown.

Boards don't hit back. -- Bruce Lee

Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment. -- Rumi

The Drunken Disciples of God are Formed

Greetings, Gentles. The Stout Master continues his report on the Antagonistic Buddha's early life, when he was still known by his given name of J_____. We are presently examining the four years he spent among the "drunken scholars," the Great Sage's colorful euphemism for his college years.

Our last report introduced the character profile of J_____'s esteemed mentor, the Drunken Master. We shall now continue with the development of their friendship and the establishment of their controversial secret society.

J_____ did not meet the Drunken Master until his second year. It is likely, though we do not know for certain, that J_____ first observed the Drunken Master's daily practice of kung fu on the Quad behind the Science Building. As a keen student of martial arts, J_____ surely found the unusual Zui Quan style favored by the Drunken Master compelling. The Great Sage has said that his first conversation with the Drunken Master was motivated by his great desire to learn the "Drunken Monkey Fist" form.

Although the martial arts provided the initial common ground, the two cemented their friendship in an epic drinking bout. The Great Sage recalls what he termed an "Around the World" party. In this sophomoric ritual each room along a dormitory corridor is designated to represent a different country of the world. The occupants are required to offer an alcoholic beverage native to that country. It is amusing to hear the Antagonistic Buddha, now a devout tee-totaller, to describe this phase of his youth. The Great Sage remembers -- vaguely, he laughs -- that he and the Drunken Master recognized each other as kindred spirits in the Japan room over sake. They pledged each other as blood brothers over plum wine in the China room.

I must now introduce a third figure, J_____'s future roommate, Tom Collins. Tom had no kung fu, but he also had a prodigious intellect and a mighty thirst for beer. Tom's chief talent was for organization, planning, and logistics. Years later the Great Sage heard Tom Collins was an aide to a Congressman and helped to draft several sections of the 2009 Stimulus package.

It speaks to the fraternal bond among the three men that they could reliably be found together on Friday nights at a round table with a ready supply of Jack Daniels bottles arranged at the center. The Drunken Master, Tom Collins, and J_____ became legendary for the heady conversation at these sessions. Their favorite topic was cosmology -- not only the nature of the universe, but especially man's place in it. The philosophy would not end until either the whisky was gone, or dawn broke.

Spectators were welcome -- and, in fact, frequent. Though it was not unknown for observers to clutch their heads and run screaming into the night after trying to follow the discussion. It was considered a great honor to be invited to sit at the table to join the conversation.

Tom Collins was considered the "head" of the group because he organized the sessions and scouted for promising thinkers to participate. The Drunken Master was the heart because he argued the most passionately, he invited the adoring girls, and it was his wit that kept the audience entertained. J_____ was considered the soul as it was he who encouraged the guests to contribute and encouraged an ongoing dialogue between sessions. Together, these three formed the nucleus of "The Drunken Disciples of God," a secret society originally devoted to debate. It would become so much more in the turmoil to come.

Quotes

The Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) were conquered and united into one kingdom. To insure his rule, the king confiscated and banned possession of weapons by people other than his troops. A second ban on weapons was instituted by Japanese conquerors approximately 200 years later. These two incidents are generally credited as the cause for the intense development of the empty handed fighting techniques... -- Special Forces Manual ST 31-204

It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. -- Vince Lombardi

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. -- Niccolo Machiavelli

Practice Budo with the spirit of Bujutsu

We approach the empty cup.

I have been speaking of Budo -- the martial way. There is a danger in speaking of Budo to fall into the lofty language of a philosopher. As a lifelong pursuit, Budo aims at the mastery of self and perfection of character. But the true Budoka recognizes that when it comes to the essence of martial arts: we are talking about fighting. In the words of Motobu Choki, "Nothing is more harmful to the world than a martial art that is not effective in actual self-defense."

I pour tea into your cup.

We must reject the false dichotomy between Budo, or "martial way," and Bujutsu, or "martial technique." There are too many who believe Budo is merely philosophy made physically manifest, and Bujutsu is the real and practical combat method. Rubbish.

The ultimate practice of Budo is intended to focus the practitioner on longer term goals than mere survival, but a true Budoka recognizes that his practice began with learning to fight. He will spend the rest of his life honing his skills. If a Budoka cannot act appropriately to survive when danger exists, then all other goals for which the Budoka strives are moot. Therefore, those who seek true Budo must be mindful of the effectiveness of their Bujutsu.

But what is true Bujutsu? In former times, the Bujutsu were divided into many disciplines. Warriors spoke of the Bugei Juhappan, or "eighteen martial arts." No two lists of the Bugei Juhappan matched, but usually included: jujutsu, kenjutsu, iaijutsu, naginatajutsu, kyujutsu, sojutsu, shurikenjutsu, bajutsu, and even the much maligned ninjutsu. The purpose of the Bugei Juhappan was to stress that the fighter must be multi-dimensional.

In this current age, the surviving ryuha of Bujutsu, and the newer forms of Budo, tend to limit themselves to specific -- even archaic -- skills. Yet, danger does not only threaten with sowrds and spears, but guns, bombs, and... worse. My Budo is true Budo, and knows no limits. We may appeal to traditional forms and practices, but we are not bound to them. We acknowledge that there is much to be learned from the skills of the past, but I encourage my students to explore whatever aspects of Budo suit them.

Real Budo includes all Bujutsu and the philosophy to know how best to use your formidable skills to live a virtuous life.

Your cup is full, perhaps even overflowing. Empty it carefully before we proceed.

The Great Sage's Sojourn among the Community of Drunken Scholars

Greetings, Gentles. The Stout Master continues his report:

So... The Great Sage's public life truly begins with his stay among the so-called "community of drunken scholars." With effort, I have traced his records and movements under the Antagonistic Buddha's given name, J_____. I discovered he was enrolled as a student in a small, liberal arts, and religiously-affiliated university nestled in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland. It is not the kind of institution that would appreciate the truth of being referred to as a "community of drunken scholars," and I choose to respect their privacy enough not to name them outright.

Through a simply subterfuge, I was able to obtain J_____'s academic record. On the surface, it describes the life of any full-time college student. J_____ majored in History and English. There is no record of disciplinary action. By all indications, our interest lies in his life outside the classroom. This was the place in which he met his first two mentors: The Drunken Master, and the Old Warrior.

We also know that it was here J_____'s heart was first broken. beyond that bald fact, however, there is only mystery...

Now I shall profile the Drunken Master, an irascible character. Of his mentor, the Great Sage recalls, " He was a smooth talker with an export cigarette. I don't believe I ever saw him without a cocktail in his hand." In a jungle filled with party animals, the Drunken Master as a lion. Ironically, though the Great Sage clearly recalls the expensive cigarettes favored by the Drunken Master, he has no memory of seeing them smoked. In retrospect, says the Great Sage, "it would've affected his kung fu."

The Drunken Master was an adherent of Zui Quan, or "Drunken Boxing." He took great delight in the erratic movements of the style. Afternoons often found him -- drink in hand, of course -- on the Quad practicing his "Monkey King Stealing Wine" form to the delight of passing girls.

This was another aspect of the Drunken Master's personality -- a magnetic attraction for the opposite sex. "I don't believe I ever saw him without a kitten on his hand," says the Antagonistic Buddha.

Despite the potential distractions, apparently the Drunken Master was exceptionally brilliant. He studied philosophy and Business. After graduation, the Drunken Master went to work on Wall Street and made a fortune through investment legerdemain. In mid-2008, the Drunken Master withdrew his savings, liquidated his assets, and promptly disappeared from New York City. It is the Antagonistic Buddha's belief that it was this single action that destabilized the world economy. But I digress.

We shall explore the relationship between the Drunken Master and the Antagonistic Buddha in our next posting.

Quotes

Knowledge does not grow like a tree where you dig a hole, plant your feet, cover them with dirt, and pour water on them daily. Knowledge grows with time, work, and dedicated effort. It cannot come by any other means. -- Ed Parker

Victory goes to the one who has no thought of himself. -- Shinkage Ryu saying

It is better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life. -- Elizabeth Kenny

The Budo Uniform II

We approach the empty cup. If it appears somewhat larger than before, perhaps this is no accident.

I recall the words of the Bearded Bards of Texas: "Every girl's crazy about a sharp dressed man." Truly, clothes do not make the man, but they do reflect the mental outlook of the inhabitant. Therefore, your Budo uniform should be clean, neat, tidy, and ordered -- like your mind. Let us learn the discipline of the keikogi.

I pour tea into the cup.

As we learned previously, there are but three pieces to the keikogi: uwagi, zubon, and obi. Tradition is important, but failure to recognize innovation leads only to stagnation. Before we examine the keikogi, we must first look at garments never before considered part of the Budo uniform: the accurately, if inelegantly, called "base layer."

Modern fabrics have been developed which can both compress the muscles for support and efficiency and wick away moisture from the skin for cooling comfort. Many compression shorts also include a pocket for an obligatory part of the gentleman's ensemble, the protective cup. Ultra-orthodox traditionalists never thought about a "base layer" beyond the need for an athletic supporter and cup. Simple, cotton t-shirts were disdained; let alone the high-technology fabric t-shirts of the 21st Century. Yet this base layer adds more than comfort, it is an extra layer of protection against chaffing and mat burn, it also contributes to hygiene. Do not allow adherence to tradition to blind you.

There is a traditional order to donning the keikogi. If you are so inclined to learn it as part of the discipline: first is the uwagi, then the zubon, and lastly the obi. This conforms with a Japanese sense of dignity and modesty. The idea is that with the jacket on first, you are "dressed" and ready for an attack. Here in the West, notions of modesty are different. If the goal is to be prepared for sudden attack, most Westerners would feel more comfortable wearing pants. (Ladies, of course, may feel somewhat different.) I believe the order is less important than the rationale. It has been my observation -- furtive as locker room observations must be -- that most men instinctively put on the zubon.

The uwagi is folded left over right. There are several reasons for this. Japanese garments do not have pockets. Personal items were carried inside the fold of the jacket or tucked into the folds of the obi. By folding the clothing left over right, the person's right hand -- and Japanese are overwhelmingly right-handed -- may slip into the jacket to retrieve items. This is important in Budo, in which we may hide small weapons within our uwagi. It is also traditional for the Japanese to dress the dead with the clothes folded right over left, so it is considered ill-omened for the living to dress this way. Although we are taught be many authorities that the way of the warrior is found in death, it is not a condition we desire prematurely.

I pour more tea into the cup.

If you are wearing an uwagi meant for karate practice, there will be ties on either hip to cinch the garment closed and maintain a neat appearance. My Budo is real Budo, and it is often rough and tumble. In the course of real Budo training, these ties may be ripped loose; do not tie them. This is another reason why I suggest the use of a Judo uniform. In the course of real Budo training, it is not unusual for the uwagi to become loose. The Budoka, or practitioner of Budo, should keep the uwagi straight. Some will make a sloppy or worse -- an ostentatious, display of tucking in the uniform. A true Budoka will surreptitiously pull the bottom corners of the uwagi to straighten the uniform without undue attention. If in the course of training, the uwagi flies completely free of the obi, it is proper during a break in the action to turn around, kneel, and quickly undo and retie the obi over the uwagi. These may seem small, but these are details that will reveal volumes about the seriousness of your study of Budo.

The obi is an item that has a mythic status among martial artists. While this status is mostly undeserved, it is still significant. for that reason, I shall address the obi and how to tie it in a separate lesson.

It is currently the vogue for martial artists to sew a multitude of patches onto their uniforms to transform their once pristine white suits into a harlequin's motley. Some of these patches identify the wearer with schools or training federations. Some patches present information about the training of the wearer. Too many patches are commercials and advertisements. Your Budo uniform is a reflection of your Budo attitude. It should reflect the purity and seriousness of your Budo training. Treat your Keikogi with great respect. I say once more: if you intend to practice Budo, wear a Budo uniform. If you intend to act as a clown, wear a clown suit.

Do not sully your honor with patches -- especially on your ass.

I see your cup is full once again to the brim. You must now empty the cup before we begin again.

Thank you for spending time with the Antagonistic Buddha.

Quotes

Karate is a defensive art from beginning to end. -- Gichin Funakoshi

It is easy to kill someone with a slash of a sword. It is hard to be impossible for other to cut down. -- Yagyu Munenori

A great part of courage is having done the thing before. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Great Sage's Childhood

Greetings, Gentles.

Please allow me to introduce myself: I am the Stout Master. It is my joy and honor to serve the Antagonistic Buddha; The Great Sage as his official scribe and chronicler. It is my duty to record the events of his life for the edification of future generations.

So... we begin, as the Great Sage teaches, at the beginning. This is, however, an enduring mystery. We know the Antagonistic Buddha was known by his given name, J_____. Beyond that, we are left mostly with what he has already sketched out for us, or delivered in drips and drabs to his closest students over the years.

We know, for instance, that he disappointed his parents by not following into the family's professional firm as an accountant or attorney.

We also know that as a youth, J_____ encountered the blind masseur. The Great Sage remains circumspect about this encounter. He says only that it was the impetus for his spiritual journey. My own investigations have -- with great difficulty -- uncovered a few additional bits of information about this masseur.

The masseur was known as a notorious gambler and ferocious swordsman. He was known by various aliases, including "Solo" and "The One." Perhaps it was this man's preternatural swordsmanship that inspired J_____ to leave his family and begin the public phase of his life.

The Budo Uniform I

We approach the empty cup again.

As the philosopher taught, "It is impossible, or not easy, to do noble deeds without the proper equipment." At the start, very little "equipment" is necessary for proper Budo training: a pure heart, a sincere attitude, a strong spirit. But one should have a uniform.

I pour tea into the cup.

A uniform may appear to be a small thing, but like many small things in Budo it is part of the foundation. There are many today who denounce uniforms. Yet so many of this breed simply wear a uniform of their own choosing. Nevertheless, it is still a uniform. If you intend to practice Budo, why not wear a Budo uniform? If you intend to SCUBA, you would wear a SCUBA suit. If you intend to be a clown, you would wear a clown suit.

And what is a proper Budo uniform? A keikogi is the proper Budo uniform, and it consists of an uwagi, or jacket; zubon, or trousers; and an obi, or belt. I do not care what color your uniform is any more than I care what color your skin is. White, however is traditional and presents a neat, clean appearance. I, the Great Sage, often wear black because it looks sharp... and I admire Johnny Cash. A re-white-and-blue, star-spangled uniform is not a serious Budo uniform; it is a clown suit.

My Budo is real Budo, and it is often rough and tumble, and so I suggest a Judogi. Your uniform must reflect your Budo spirit: sturdy and strong.

I see room remains in your cup... I pour more tea.

Your Budo uniform must be cared for with the same attention you give a newborn. When you first procure your keikogi, you must wash it before you wear it. Again we find that a simple activity has subtlety and nuance in a Budo setting. Let us examine the care of your Budo uniform.

If your keikogi is colored, add a half-cup of vinegar to the wash to help set the dye. It is important to do this immediately, because if you wear your keikogi before the first wash, your sweat and natural oils will affect the dye.

In subsequent washings, you should use the customary amount of detergent. If you are one of those unfortunate ones who perspire profusely, consider adding a scoop of baking soda to the wash. Do not use fabric softener, as this will cut the service life of your Budo uniform.

I see your cup is nearly full...

The most important aspect of care is drying. Whenever possible, you should hang your Budo uniform in a warm, dry place to drip dry. This will keep your Budo uniform from shrinking, and protect the dye from fading.

Ah, the cup is now full to the brim. Next time we shall discuss wearing the Budo uniform with dignity and reverence.

Thank you for spending time with the Antagonistic Buddha.

Quotations

The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants. -- Master Gichen Funakoshi

Nobody can hurt me without my permission. -- Mohandas Ghandi

Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt. -- Sun Tzu

In the beginning

The cup sits empty before us.

Though few of you are ready, i shall begin my instruction. We shall start at the beginning for this is only proper. To leap ahead -- as many in this age attempt -- would be both foolish and dangerous. Budo is a journey, not a detination. Much like travel by train, the Budo journey begins slow and then picks up speed before falling into an ebb and flow to match the terrain and conditions encountered.

I shall pour some tea into the cup.

What should we know about Budo?

There are those teachers who try to impress beginners with fancy techniques. They speak of this style or that style: Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wing Chun, Bujinkan, Genbukan, Mixed Martial Arts, Catch Wrestling, Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do, Bando, Muay Thai... When in reality there is only Budo, or Moosul, or Wuxia, or Martial Art -- the language does not matter. All true Budo lead toward the same destination.

Divisions into schools or styles is commercialization of Budo. It is of ancient vintage. And even I, the Antagonistic Buddha; the Great Sage, am not above this commercialization. For as the Immaculate One has taught, "We are living in a material wordl," and I am a material guru. Even an enlightened bodhisattva must eat on this plane. This is a truth of the reality with which we must make peace.

The cup is full. You must now empty it before our next lesson.

Thank you for spending time with the Antagonistic Buddha.

Budo Training is not intended to make strong people out of weak people. The only people who will thrive in Budo are already strong. They are strong where it counts most: in the spirit.

No amount of Budo training can make a weak spirit strong. It can only refine, temper, and shape a strong spirit. Budo training is not unlike the process of taking iron -- good, raw material -- and creating first steel and then shaping it into a fine sword.

Too much Budo training in today's world starts with aluminum and merely produces cheap, ornamental wall-hangers like you can buy on eBay for $39.95. It may look like a sword, but looks are deceiving. This is wasted Budo.

My sword is meant to pierce illusion and cut through ego.

Thank you for spending time with the Antagonistic Buddha.

Quotes

Traditionalists often study what is taught, not what there is to create. -- Ed Parker

If you don't realize that you can kill someone with a bokken, I don't want you using one in my dojo. -- Frederick J. Lovret

The fastest draw is when the sword never leaves the scabbard,
The Strongest way to block is never to provoke a blow,
And the cleanest cut is the one withheld.
-- Anonymous

Watch This Space!

The Antagonistic Buddha welcomes you to his Normal Martial Arts page.

Posting will begin shorty. Soon you will join us in a most auspicious journey towards mastery of martial arts.

The Antagonistic Buddha does not rush his work. Please, do not rush the Antagonistic Buddha.

Enlightenment only comes to those with patience.

Thank you for spending time with the Antagonistic Buddha.