Take Control of Yourself through Martial Arts

Martial artists learn to control their power, and that is why they can do great things physically and mentally. As I was observing students training handstands during one of my classes, I noticed that instead of maintaining proper form they were all over the place. Some students were falling here, some were falling there. Some were doing the splits and some were not pointing their toes, etc. In other words, it there was a just a big mess on the mat and with a lot of students training at the same time, that can also be a safety hazard.

So, I brought all the students in for a huddle and said, "If you can control your power, you can do great things." The following are the basic stages we go through as we learn to control our power, and not just for martial arts, but for all walks of life.

Ignorance is Bliss

The first stage of control, is that you don't know and you don't care if you have control. Students at this stage of development have generally never done particular movements, techniques or exercises. They have no baseline or measuring tool to understand that they are completely out of control. Some may think they are in control, but to the trained and initiated they are "all over the place." In order for a student to move on from this level, they have to finally "get it."  Essentially, they have to come to the hard realization that no matter their past experiences, at this particular junction in  bodily movement, they are a beginner. Moreover, as a new student training with more advanced students, the new student will be prodded and trapped to lose their mental and emotional bearing. During the early stages, new students have no idea that they are being manipulated into an experienced students' hands. Ultimately frustration prompts the new students to realize they are out of control and they don't have a solution to overcome the experiences they are facing. 

Realize You are Out of Control

Once a student realizes that they out of control, they can begin to assess themselves and critique their own progress. They will begin to observe more than talk, they will begin to ask many more questions to understand where they are, and how to get to where they would like to be. Denial is a big river to wade through, and it takes different amounts of time for people to accept that that they are out of control. However, through asking the questions, and making a conscious and serious decision to improve, students can take control of their self physically and emotionally. Students will start to realize when others are taking advantage of them as well. Students are now learning instead of going through the motions. 

Take Control

At this level of training, a student is fine tuning their techniques and movements, and making them their own.   As I tell many people, everyone's body is different, so every single move ever created will work slightly different. Therefore students will have to make the movements their own.  Teachers teach basics over and over, not with the wish that all students become exactly like them, but that they would develop what works for them. Students are also developing their mental and emotional maturity. The great thing about this stage is that it transfers to all parts of someone's life. Martial arts is very transformative like that. Those who were too aggressive gain balance in life. Those who were too timid, gain balance in life. Those who were always kind of balances, learn to take it to one extreme or the other depending on the situations they are presented with. As an instructor it is a beautiful transformation to watch.

Teachers and students alike have a responsibility to improve. We must all help each other move through the stages of growth when it comes to control - Ignorance, Realization that I have no Control, and Taking Control.  Taking control of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally solidifies a person's ability to overcome anything life can throw at them.

Benjamin "Sensei" Moriniere
Entrepreneur and Martialpreneur in Japan
www.capoeira-okinawa.com
@CapoeiraOkinawa

Scared to Get Out of the Military? Don't be, Here is Why!

I meet so many people who are completely horrified when it comes to the idea of getting out of the military. There IS life after the military and one day, even if you don't want to, you will have to transition out. If you are indeed scared to get out of the military, don’t be and here is why…

 

 

1. More family time!

 

 

2. The civilian equivalent of your military job probably starts around 2X as much salary plus benefits. (Start job hunting at a year to a year and a half out. Even greater than your technical skills, is the leadership skills the military provided. Companies want leaders).

 

 

3. If you are pre-retirement, you can transfer to the Government service under (APF or NAF), and buy back your service time. You have a limited period of time at your new government position to initiate the Military Service Buy Back Credit that will allow you to “purchase” your military time and ADD it to your Government Civilian Service Time.

 

 

EXAMPLE: You were not retained from the US Navy after 15 year in service and you buy back 15 years of Navy service and put it towards your new job working at the Pentagon. Well, now you have only 5 years left until you meet the Minimum Retirement Requirements for Civilian Service… awesome right?

 

 

4. If you really want to finish your military career, you can join the Reserves! It will take you longer to get to retirement, but you can still do it.

 

Benjamin "Sensei" Moriniere

Entrepreneur, Martialpreneur in Japan

@CapoeiraOkinawa