Dont be Namby Pamby

 Today I sat and endured a type of training that, IMHO, will create weak minds, weak personalities and more issues than it cares to solve. 

Apparently people are that easily offended these days, that workshops and educational programs are now in place to make people (you and me) aware that anything that is  said might offended someone else.....

Its a great way to generate a new industry and create jobs, spend money and reap the taxes from it. So it starts at the top with Government and then filters on down through companies as law, and therefore a requirement. 

Now, I don't condone bullying or harassment of any kind.  I've been bullied myself back in the day. Hence another reason I do a Martial art.

Martial arts breed and nurture physical and emotional strength, and ultimately a way of being in the world. The 'Do' ...the way of Karate is part of this. It helps us navigate a path through things we don't like, gives us strength and tenacity to deal with the bullshit created by those around us and to us on a daily basis. 

One of the things I have always liked about the Karate world i move within is the non existence of prejudices. No one cares about race, religion, sexual orientation, male, female or even what job you do. 

All that is focused upon is the Karatedo and the training. 

Ex president Obama is noted for saying that Michael Jordan contributed to the way people viewed the Afro American athlete......

Personally I never thought of Jordan in this way....I only ever saw him as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.....his race had fk all to do with anything.....

And this is the problem....something isn't a problem until someone makes it one. Hurty feelings and Namby Pamby attitudes are now the norm.

Personally I don't care much for Namby or Pamby. Nurture strong minds and bodies through sweat and hardship. Or, it could be you're now part of the problem with a 'flowery' Karate club where a student gets an award for just rocking up.  

Martial Happiness

Not all Karate is the same. Not all clubs are the same. Not all organisations are the same. Not all Dojo are the same. But this said, there is a common theme amongst them all....no exceptions....control.

I once had a Sensei who would say or give an impression of one thing, but in actual reality was something else. Sure the Karate was authentic enough, but the thing I was a part of was a bit different than what I was led to believe it was. Maybe I was bit naive, or maybe I couldn't see the wood for the trees, my mind  not wishing to accept that it wasn't what I thought. 

I did however, learn to train myself. Sounds odd right. But its not as easy as you think, training yourself. It's all too easy to 'let yourself off. Let things slide; its not easy putting yourself under such self scrutiny. 

I actually feel a little bit sorry for those i left behind and the illusions they are under. The art of fighting can be an odd thing, with many who do it never having had one....

Training was a free session today ....I do one of these now and again where I give no mind to working on anything in particular. I don't worry about form, or working to exhaustion, I just do my Karate. The opposite if you like of the scrutiny I talk of. And having 3 fractured ribs at the moment hasn't kept me out of the Dojo....that would be letting myself off...... there are no illusions here. 

So....you need to know what it is that you're involved with...it could be you're happy with it, or it could be that you're not sure. Or maybe like I did, you will awake from the illusion and be in a happier Martial place.