War Chief Pt1

Maybe your not a protege' but a parasite.

A parasite wants what you've earned not what you've learned.

A parasite wants whats in your hands not what's in your heart.

Are you a protege' or a parasite ?

A mentors suggestion is a command for a protege'

Dr. Mike Murdock

Jim Maloney, 'War Chief' to The Mi'kmaq Nation, The Mi'kmaq are the original natives of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick parts of Newfounland, Quebec and Maine. 

To get Jimmy going when he was sparring, Bob Bethoney would pound out an Indian war drum beat on the floor louder and louder. It was as if to call the Indian Chiefs' spirits to come down and join Jim's body. After that jimmy was fighting like a God. When you look at the last scene in the movie THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, where the father having seen his son killed, rushes up the mountain slaying dozens of Indians without breaking his stride and with the eye of the tiger in Mooshin , finally gets to the person who killed his son and is able to take revenge with violence of action, power and technique.......that is Jimmy.

Bruce Lee visited George Mattsons' Dojo once and Jim had a chance to fight Bruce; in fact there is a picture in Bruce Lee's book with Jimmy and Bruce squaring off.

Maloney's fighting speed in those days was phenomenal.

Bruce only weighed 127 lbs back then. He had a hard time against Jim who would charge him behind a wauke screen sweeping away his kicks.

In this shot you can see Bruce Lee about to be taken down by Maloney.

 Uechi has the 'straight blast' similar to WC but with open chain palms out of seisan that are extremely effective for short stop and take downs.

 Bruce wasn't used to that.

In a conversation with Van Canna, Jimmy said that the exchanges were many and Bruce used some of the photos for his book of the action shots. 

Van said, Bruce was trying to close the distance with fast kicks,
 but couldn't and that Jimmy had to take it easy on him because he weighed only 127 pounds. George Mattson was telling Jimmy ‘Take it easy’ for fear he’d knock him to the floor. Jimmy did confirm he got his wauke under his side and round kicks several time in a jamming fashion,off balancing him, but holding him up so he wouldn't fall.

I remember as a 14 year old kid going to Jimmys' seminars on (P.C.T.).

 His Pressure Point Control Tactics seminars are 'electrifying' to say the least !!! 

 No matter how many times he 'lit me up' I kept going back....... 
At 15 years old I returned to George Mattsons' Summerfest and demonstrated the skills he had taught me the year before. Sensei Maloney awarded me a beautiful certificate from the tribal justice institute, it became my prize possession.

Disenchanted with the politics involved in the testing process in Uechi Ryu,  I hadn't tested in 10 or more years. I had a discussion with Sensei Maloney about Rank and Titles in Uechi Ryu, To my surprise asked me to look at my 'material' the next day.

So I previewed my material for this motly crew. for hours in the hot sun...............

The Gi tore at my sunburned skin as I performed the test material on a wet incline of grass at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

 Much to my surprise my board consisted of a host of legendary fighter / Grand Masters from Karates' Blood & Guts era ! 

I was surprised and empowered when these great men actually cheered me on.

"Stop looking up and look ahead, you've already arrived"

Jim Maloney

Don't look for someone to give you influence only as a mentor.

Your mentor should be a source of influence to your life,

not a channel of influence to societal wealth and power and prestige.

His influence should be towards achieving your dream and greatness.

CHIP AWAY AT THE 'BLOCK'

I wish neither to possess, nor be possessed.

I no longer covet paradise, 

more important, I no longer fear hell.

The medicine for my suffering

I had within me from the beginning.

But I did not take it.

My ailment came from within myself,

but I did not observe it until this moment.

Now I see I will never find the light

unless, like the candle,

 I am my own fuel, consuming myself.

 The Silent Flute,

 - Bruce Lee -
 October 19, 1970

 

 

 

        People we cherish in our lives will sometimes become estranged from us.

Good friends are like stars, you may not always see them but they'll always be there.

When you perceive yourself as being hurt,

 you don't want to hear about someones best intentions,

you want them to acknowledge harm and take responsibility.

Men kick friendship / love like a football,

but it doesn't seem to crack.

Women treat it like glass and it all goes to pieces.

'Night' can fall at any time, concentration turns to fear and desperation.

 

I'm trying to make this a kinder and gentler story.

I could live without speaking up, all I'd have to lose is my vanity.

Recently I've had writers block...... I know what your thinking,..

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ???

 

 I'm not really tortured, inspired, pissed off or disgusted. 

Therefore this will be a random mish-mash of collected sentences

edited from unused  stories, and insights collected over the last couple weeks

 I've started, then lost the inspiration to complete several stories.

 These are the tattered remnants of those musings.

In writing, relationships and sales you need positive

 or negative emotion to be successful.

I've got nothin !!

September was a record month with 26 stories and lots of drama having been hacked

by someone using some pretty interesting tactics requiring me to get new bank cards,

a new operating system for both the computer and the phone.

I changed emails and my phone number.

Sorry to all that were inconvenienced.

October we had the JLFS conference. 

 Mid November is almost here and we head to Martial Arts University.

Only 20 stories in October.

 Once you see the truth for what it is,
 anger and resentment is replaced with hope, faith and forgiveness.

 Everyone has been fooled

by the 'perfume on the pig' at one time or another.
it wears 'makeup' like graphiti on the walls of the heartland.

Life is a journey, you never know what 'state' you find yourself in.

It's not real healthy to keep 'a book of conspiracies' in your hand.

Though the past is 'a days bus ride from here' 

when the day is over and the sun is settling down you look to the 

horizon you can see the silhouette, that darkness that nearly consumed you.

You are your your own fuel, you can see the light if you,

 like the candle, consume yourself.

The ailment is within and so is the cure.

-Robb Buckland-

The Quest for Equanimity

Few are capable of expressing with equanimity

opinions which differ from the

prejudices of their own social environment.

-Albert Einstein-

The latin aequanimitas, means to have an even mind;
aequusan  even animus  mind/soul is a state of psychological stability
and composure which is undisturbed by experience of or exposure to
emotions, pain, or other phenomena that may cause OTHERS 
to loose the balance of their mind.
The virtue and value of equanimity is extolled and advocated 
by a number of ancient religions and martial art masters.


Joe Lewis would speak of Bruce Lee entering a sort of 'alpha state' 
during intense moments of there training together.

I have been busy with a great new job in an industry that I love,
The practice of equanimity allows you to consistently create outstanding results
while keeping a level head at work or in your life.

Being lied to by a friend or a customer, or having them 'twist your words'
to serve their own agenda used to give me that 'stomach thing' and I would just walk away because that person isn't worth my time.
Really though, what was happening was I was handing them a personal victory .


A sale is made at every table or in each situation,
them, or me....

My recent liberation from social media has been beneficial in helping
to cleanse the mind/soul of the attutudes and opinions of
KEYBOARD WARRIORS.

A Matter of Intent

Here's to bad judgment, questionable morals and a brutal hangover

that'll result from yet another night spent trying to create memories 

we'll be to drunk to recall.

I've spent years attending every martial arts confrence and seminar

 I had enough gas money to get to.

Slept in cars to save on hotels...whatever it took.

It was my avenue to overcoming low self esteem.

now when I look back on the past,

I smile and say to myself,

"I never thought I could do it, but I did.

I overcame all the people who tried to bring me down"

There will always be a reason why you meet people,

either you need them to change your life,

or your the one that will change theirs.

The journey is not easy, it is wrought with pain and disapointment.

 if you are a slave to your emotions.

Emotions are the slaves to your thoughts,

and you are the slave to your emotions.

Bruce lee would talk about emotional content.

Joe Lewis, about having an attitude technique.

I tell my people to 'Act as if'......

and 

'Move with authority'

On the sales floor I am a master manipulator.

a ruthless wordsmith with a bottomless 'toolbox' 

and the tenacity of a rabid dog.

The intent though is not merely to create revenue for my company,

but to bring a lifetime of great memories to my customers and their families.

In the end all any of us has is our memories.

In Life, Love, Martial Arts and Business whats important is intent not illusion.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

Create REAL memories, cherish the time with friends and family,

train till you puke ....then train more

A plant doesn't grow from ambition

 or to satisfy good intentions

 They thrive because someone expended effort on them.

Never , never, never forget

The Joe Lewis Legacy

The two best days of Joe's life were at age 48 

the births of his son Joseph Cameron Lewis,

 and two years later his daughter Kristina Ruth Lewis.

To Joe his kids were the most important accomplishment in his life.

Please suport their continuing education.

http://joelewisamericankaratesystems.com/

http://joelewislegacy.com/

To be yourself 

in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else

 is the greatest accomplishment.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

I wrote this August 30, 2012.....

Tomorrow I fly to see my Friend and mentor Joe Lewis for what is probably the last time.
 His courage, integrity, wisdom and friendship will live within me forever.

 I will take him with me to every class I teach or attend.

I will continue to honor his memory all the days of my life. 

I am who I am today because of his inspiration.
 Through me he will continue to inspire the hearts and minds of all who's lives I touch.

He asked us to
 'Innovate not Immitate'.....
That's what I will do !!

My mentor and friend Grand Master Joe Lewis,
 passed away peacefully at 10:45am on Friday, August 31st,
 with his family at his side as I sat on the runway in Portland, Oregon to go see him.

Mr. Lewis fought a valiant 13 1/2 month battle with brain cancer. 

His vision will live on in the hearts and minds of all whose lives he touched.

Good Bye and God Speed Joe Lewis
we love you Rest in Peace. 

http://fearsltd.blogspot.com/2012/08/mentor-master-friend.html

That hand is still on my shoulder.....

In the JLAKS (Joe Lewis American Karate System) ,

and NCCM (Non-Classical Combative Methodologies),

 there are no formulas, no recipes.

 In JLAKS there are a minimum of required skills,

 performed in an unlimited amount of ways.

It is conceivable that a long time ago a certain martial artist discovered some partial truth. During his lifetime, the man resisted the temptation to organizee this partial truth, although this is a common tendency in a man’s search for security and certainly in life. After his death, his students took his hypotheses, his postulates, and his method and turned them into law. Impressive creeds were then invented, solemn reinforcing ceremonies prescribed, rigid philosophy and patterns formulated, and so on, until finally an institution was erected. So, what originated as one man’s intuition of some sort or personal fluidity has been transformed into solidified, fixed knowledge, complete with organized classified responses presented in a logical order. In so doing, the well-meaning, loyal followers have not only made this knowledge a holy shrine, but also a tomb in which they have buried the founder’s wisdom.

-Bruce Lee -

We have been left with a great responsibility , let's not screw it up !!

In the mean time lets not forget.

It's said as long as the living still speak your name you continue to live.

A year and a day ago my Master, My Mentor, My Friend....

Joe Lewis lost his battle with brain cancer. 

Speak his name, do it today do it every day.......

Never, never, never forget it !!!!

Joe Lewis 

Legends are forever 

Ode to Matthew

He teacheth my hands to war.
 I shall pursue my enemies and overtake them.

 I shall not return until I finish them off.

I shall assault them and they will not be able to stand.
 
They will wail and beg and there will be no savior for them.

  He will not answer.

I shall pulverize them like the dust upon the face of the wind

  I shall tread upon them like the mud of the street 

Psalm 144

 You're making me angry.

You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. 

-Dr. David Banner-

I've learned in my many years of sales that selling from emotion is key.

Positive or Negative they gotta feel it ! 

I choose words that convey emotion to trigger a buying response.
 Don't let anyone tell you it is unprofessional to be passionate or enthusiastic.
 Emotional words make emotional connections.

 Everyone loves a story.

People connect emotionally with the story teller.

Buyers justify their purchases with facts and figures they buy on emotion.

In relationships,

Reacting  Bad....Responding Good !

Emotions are just emotions.
They are not right or wrong, good or bad.
However, when you allow your emotions to propel reactions, problems result.
Allow yourself to have whatever emotions you have.
Acknowledge them as how you feel.
Then, decide how you want to respond.
Reactions are derived from emotions alone.
 Responses are a result of consult with your brain before taking action.

In the movie Enter the Dragon

 while teaching one of his students Bruce Lee says,

"move with emotional content." 

 The student then snaps a kick with anger.  

With emotional content, not anger!

-Bruce Lee- 

 Joe Lewis teaches us,

 we must learn to allow thoughts to simultaneously participate in our actions,

 aggressive behavior (emotional content),

 combined with

 profound strategic certainty (confidence).

With good strategy there has to be appropriate balance

 or

 we will perform passively.

A fighter needs  style and subtance and above all attitude.

Control your Attitude or it Controls You

-Joe Lewis-

Trial by Fire

Trial by fire or ordeal
is a judicial practice by which the guilt or innocence of the accused is determined by subjecting him to an unpleasant, usually dangerous experience.
 Classically, the test is one of life or death and the proof of innocence is survival.
 The accused is considered innocent by escaping injury or if his injuries heal.

'Ordeal by Red Hot Iron'

According to modern evolutionary theory, 
different emotions evolved at different times.
 Primal emotions or fears are associated with ancient parts of the brain.

They evolved among our pre mammal ancestors.

If you always put limits on everything you do,
physical or anything else.
 It will spread into your work and into your life.
 There are no limits.
 There are only plateaus,
 and you must not stay there,
 you must go beyond them.
-Bruce Lee-

It's said that failure to act or laziness is a sin...............

Sloth...... is defined as physical laziness or spiritual laziness.
Sloth has also been defined as a failure to do things that one should do.
 In Christian faith the definition is evil exists when good men fail to act.

In martial arts the trial by fire is the Black Belt test.
  Joe Lewis told us that for 11 minutes he wanted us to give him all of our heart.
This was probably one of the most pivotal moments in my life .
Did I experience fear....yup ...............Pain ....Hell Yea !

When I was experiencing intense pain,
 just on the other side of the suffering was an intense connection with life.
 and with being embodied, having a body and feeling sensations.
 It’s almost as if the pure experience of it was all that mattered.

I recently had the honor of watching two of my students 'trial by fire',
The pre-test for Black belt.

I know intimately the commitment and sacrifice they've made.
And
I am blessed to have shared this experience with them.

In what ways might you be avoiding the pains of daily life? 
How can you engage on your lifes' journey while saying “No” to the parts that feel difficult?

We numb ourselves by constantly pursuing achievement and in doing so, 
we miss out on the true joy that comes from actualizing our truest and deepest desires.

Fire is the origin of stone.
By working the stone with heat,
I am returning it to it's source.

-Andy Goldsworthy-