Rain Drops On The Windshield
My second Full Contact Stick Fighting Tournament was at the State Championships in Austin, Texas. We were told the only mandatory gear was personal groin protection and a mouth piece while they supplied a fencing head gear. At this point I had never worn a fencing head gear before. This concerned me because the second I put it on I couldn’t see past the front of it. If you have never seen a fencing mask before it has a metal mesh that covers the front. So when you first put it on all you see is… MESH! It took me a few moments to gain my focus. What helped me the most was having someone swinging a real stick at me (YIKES). I mean you stop worrying about what you can and can’t see real quick when someone is trying to take your head off. This made the mesh just disappear! I found myself right at home moving as if I normally would. There were some great fights that day and I had the honor of taking home second place.
I experienced more than how to stick fight better that day.
First, I discovered that it is ok if you can’t see the end of the journey. You just have to have faith in your training, skills and instincts as well as whatever you believe in.
Second, if we only focus on the end of our nose we can’t see the big picture. It is like you are driving down the road while it is raining. If you focus on the rain drops on the windshield you can’t see the road much less the cars in front of you. This goes back to the Bruce Lee quote from Enter the Dragon where he talks about focusing on the finger instead of the moon. If you look at the finger too long, you miss all the heavenly glory.
Last but not least, when you immerse yourself into something where you have to respond… all your worries go away. This is truly the most primal of all things. It is proven to beat anxiety, depression and a whole list of other issues.
So while you are on Lockdown, Shelter in Place, or practicing Social Isolation… it is up to you to not focus on things you can’t control.
Make a list of what you need to do.
Make a list of what you have been putting off because you “haven’t had time.”
Make a list of things you have wanted to always learn.
Then… press GO!
Get up and immediately start doing those things on your list. When you do you will have put yourself in your own State Championships. You will immerse in the real fight. The battle to make yourself a real champion!
#FightTheGoodFight
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Guro Larry, Sonja, Lauren & Tori St. Clair
Martial Way Legacy
"A Compass to the Preservation of Bruce Lee’s Philosophy and Legacy"
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