Monday, July 14, 2008

"Respect the Mud"

"When the rainy season starts, respect the mud. They build four-storey buildings out of it that last for three thousand years. Don't think for a second you can just scrape it off your boots."

Had to share that one.

Got to box and submission wrestle with a pair of young soldiers. It was fun, and they had good heart, but they were playing. Good kids having fun and maybe learning a little.

This is a strange environment. There's a thing called "pinging the radar" sort of a modern version of zanshen. Certain types of people walk into certain places and recognize each other--they 'ping'. They give a slight nod and either say "Hi" (rarely) or choose to leave each other alone.

This is the richest radar environment I have ever seen. There are kids, sure, and a few wannabes, but this is the highest concentration of truly dangerous men that I have ever seen. Very polite, very professional. Not a speck (that I have seen) of hatred or racism or cultural disdain... just some supremely skilled, supremely fit warriors here to do a job. Lots of good guys, some who have gone partially native, friendly and smart. But they don't ping the radar the same way.

This will sound weird, but I have to be careful to put some yin in my aura when I am dealing with people. Americans are often oblivious to the radar. Not so here.

So, respect the mud and tune down the aura. Good lessons for the week.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:01 AM

    "tone down the aura"... Wow. Good luck with that.

    I wanted to drop a line and say I enjoyed the book. I posted a review here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3396377

    Keep them safe (as can be).

    LynD

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  2. I like 'respect the mud.' It makes me think about what I dismiss.

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  3. I like the yin in the aura. Wise, since some of the really bad guys have that zen samurai attitude about life and death ...

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  4. Good to hear from you. Seems like a different world there, but one that you've already known somehow. It's just a matter of tweeking the little things. Adapt, improvise, and overcome. Later!

    Loguer

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  5. "Tone down the aura" is excellent advice, especially for power-obsessed American martial artists.

    I once got told by a much higher level martial artist than me that I was too strong. He said he could see it in my every movement -- my aura, as it were. He said that such obvious strength would work against me and that I should learn to hide my strength. He suggested taichichuan and I've been obsessed with it ever since.

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