Desiderata
By
Max Ehrmann
This is my favorite Poem I hope you enjoy it as much as I do/.
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
And remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
Be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
And listen to others,
Even to the dull and the ignorant;
They too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
They are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
You may become vain or bitter,
For always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
For the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
Many persons strive for high ideals,
And everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
For in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
It is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
Gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
Be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
No less than the trees and the stars;
You have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
Whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
In the noisy confusion of life,
Keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
It is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Meaning of the Shao-lin Creed
This is from my unpublished book on Shao-lin.
The code, or Way, as it is called in the martial arts, is
The cement, or root of Shao-lin Ch'uan. By following the Way, the
Traditions of Shao-lin are preserved while living the life of a
Shao-lin disciple. To follow the Way is not an easy task. Many
Come to Shao-lin to try, and soon leave. The effort is just too
Much for the average person. You must be a cut above average to
Succeed in Shao-lin. The code is demanding, with no exceptions to
The rules. The rules are simple, as there is only one objective,
And only one way to obtain that objective. You simply have to
Wake up. By adherence to the Way of Shao-lin one will surely
Awaken. Then Shao-lin will take on its true meanings. Those who
Cannot follow the code of Shao-lin will fall by the wayside
Before long. The illusion of life is extremely difficult to
Overcome. It takes a special person, with deep convictions and
Determination, to succeed in Shao-lin training. The code also
sorts out those who might learn the arts for the wrong
Reasons. Because the code exists, the art of Shao-lin has been
Preserved to this day. Those who follow the code are called
Traditionalists. They follow their predecessors' teachings
Without question. They know there is no need to question.
Questions bring more questions and they are tricks of the mind.
There is no need to improve on what is already good. There is no
Better way, only one Way. There is no superior art or person.
Those who follow the Way know this, and therefore, ask no
Questions.
When I am talking about fighting skills, I say Shao-lin
Ch'uan. When I talk about the higher realms of training, I say
Shao-lin. The former is the outer and the latter is the inner.
The outer will return to the earth, the inner will return to the
Tao. The code is the path to the Truth, the true purpose of Shao-lin.
Those who become teachers in Shao-lin take an oath to follow
The way of our predecessors to ensure the future of Shao-lin
Ch'uan. Without this code of martial arts, Shao-lin Ch'uan would
Be no different than any other pugilistic form. It is the code of
Shao-lin that differentiates an art form from a sport. Without
The code, the study of Shao-lin would, in the long run, become
Tedious and boring. For once you have reached your top physical
Development, where else is there to go? What road is there to
Travel? When the physical challenge is over, boredom sets in.
Soon your interest will be taken by something else. As age
Weakens your fighting ability, you come to realize the physical
Skills of Shao-lin are passing away. All that training for a few
Years of top skill. Enjoy it, for it will change as death draws
Nearer.
Without the code the whole purpose of Shao-lin study losses
Significance. Why even bother? It is Shao-lin's deeper meanings
That make Shao-lin worth while. It is the Way (code) that makes
Shao-lin study worth anything at all. As one of my teachers once
Said, " When you're dead, of what value are the martial skills to
You?" Of course, none at all. The outer skills die with you, the
Inner cultivation lives on for eternity.
Those who follow the Way only become stronger in time. Their
Inner strength will be glowing with chi. Where the physical is
Lacking the awakened mind will compensate. Your kung fu moves are
Perfect, for error cannot exist in the awakened mind. The
Simplest of moves will be totally effective and simple for the
Master. It is the cultivation of the code that brings with it
Everlasting rewards that can be carried past death's door and
Into the next existence.
The code, or Way, as it is called in the martial arts, is
The cement, or root of Shao-lin Ch'uan. By following the Way, the
Traditions of Shao-lin are preserved while living the life of a
Shao-lin disciple. To follow the Way is not an easy task. Many
Come to Shao-lin to try, and soon leave. The effort is just too
Much for the average person. You must be a cut above average to
Succeed in Shao-lin. The code is demanding, with no exceptions to
The rules. The rules are simple, as there is only one objective,
And only one way to obtain that objective. You simply have to
Wake up. By adherence to the Way of Shao-lin one will surely
Awaken. Then Shao-lin will take on its true meanings. Those who
Cannot follow the code of Shao-lin will fall by the wayside
Before long. The illusion of life is extremely difficult to
Overcome. It takes a special person, with deep convictions and
Determination, to succeed in Shao-lin training. The code also
sorts out those who might learn the arts for the wrong
Reasons. Because the code exists, the art of Shao-lin has been
Preserved to this day. Those who follow the code are called
Traditionalists. They follow their predecessors' teachings
Without question. They know there is no need to question.
Questions bring more questions and they are tricks of the mind.
There is no need to improve on what is already good. There is no
Better way, only one Way. There is no superior art or person.
Those who follow the Way know this, and therefore, ask no
Questions.
When I am talking about fighting skills, I say Shao-lin
Ch'uan. When I talk about the higher realms of training, I say
Shao-lin. The former is the outer and the latter is the inner.
The outer will return to the earth, the inner will return to the
Tao. The code is the path to the Truth, the true purpose of Shao-lin.
Those who become teachers in Shao-lin take an oath to follow
The way of our predecessors to ensure the future of Shao-lin
Ch'uan. Without this code of martial arts, Shao-lin Ch'uan would
Be no different than any other pugilistic form. It is the code of
Shao-lin that differentiates an art form from a sport. Without
The code, the study of Shao-lin would, in the long run, become
Tedious and boring. For once you have reached your top physical
Development, where else is there to go? What road is there to
Travel? When the physical challenge is over, boredom sets in.
Soon your interest will be taken by something else. As age
Weakens your fighting ability, you come to realize the physical
Skills of Shao-lin are passing away. All that training for a few
Years of top skill. Enjoy it, for it will change as death draws
Nearer.
Without the code the whole purpose of Shao-lin study losses
Significance. Why even bother? It is Shao-lin's deeper meanings
That make Shao-lin worth while. It is the Way (code) that makes
Shao-lin study worth anything at all. As one of my teachers once
Said, " When you're dead, of what value are the martial skills to
You?" Of course, none at all. The outer skills die with you, the
Inner cultivation lives on for eternity.
Those who follow the Way only become stronger in time. Their
Inner strength will be glowing with chi. Where the physical is
Lacking the awakened mind will compensate. Your kung fu moves are
Perfect, for error cannot exist in the awakened mind. The
Simplest of moves will be totally effective and simple for the
Master. It is the cultivation of the code that brings with it
Everlasting rewards that can be carried past death's door and
Into the next existence.
The Shaolin Creed
This was taken from my book I wrote over twenty years ago but Never Published on Shaolin.
None of what you will see in this book has ever been revealed until now. I will for the first time reveal various aspects of the book over time for those who love the Shaolin Arts.. Learn and Enjoy
I WILL TRAIN IN EARNEST TO FIND MYSELF AND WHILE DOING SO I WILL CULTIVATE THE NATURAL TALENTS OF MY SHAO-LIN SKILLS BESTOWED UPON ME FROM THE GREAT TAO. ¬I WILL SIT IN QUIET REPOSE TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF REALITY. I WILL DWELL IN NEVER ENDING PATIENCE THAT MY IMMORTAL IDENTITY WILL BE REVEALED TO ME. I AM UTTERLY CONFIDENT I WILL SOME DAY WAKE MYSELF UP FROM THE GREAT SLEEP OF ILLUSION ONLY TO DISCOVER THE ONE THAT IS AND ALWAYS WAS.
I WILL TRAIN MY BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT TO UNITE IN FULL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE FINAL BREAKTHROUGH TO ENLIGHTENMENT. I WILL FOLLOW THE PATH OF MY ANCESTORS IN SHAO-LIN AND TRAIN WITH FULL VIGOR AND DETERMINATION TO WIN THE GREATEST OF ALL BATTLES WITHIN MYSELF. I WILL STRIVE TO OVERCOME ALL OBSTACLES IN MY WAY, AND TO LIBERATE MY SPIRIT. I WILL FACE LIFE AND DEATH EQUALLY NOT ALLOWING EITHER TO DETER ME IN MY QUEST FOR DIVINE KNOWLEDGE.
I WILL CELEBRATE MY DEATH BY MAKING MY LIFE FRUITFUL AND PURPOSEFUL. I WILL STRIVE FOR MY OWN ENLIGHTENMENT AND ONCE ACHIEVED I WILL HELP ALL SENTIENT BEINGS ACHIEVE WHAT I HAVE FOUND. THE PURPOSE OF MY TRAINING IS TO BE UNSWERVING IN MY QUEST FOR TRUTH. MAY THE TAO GUIDE ME IN ALL MY PURSUITS TO ACHIEVE WHAT MUST BE ACHIEVED.
I VOW TO BE STRONG AND RELENTLESS IN MY TRAINING SO THAT SOME DAY I CAN SAY I HAVE TRULY FOUND THE WAY OF SHAO-LIN. FOR BY FOLLOWING THE WAY I WILL BE LED TO THE HOME OF THE IMMORTALS, MY ORIGINAL HOME. TO THE GREAT TAO I MAKE THIS OATH, I WILL TRAIN MY BODY TO BE STRONG AND HEALTHY AND PROFICIENT IN THE SHAO-LIN SKILLS AND HELP ALL WHO MAY BE IN NEED OF MY SKILLS. I WILL TRAIN MY MIND TO BE CLEAR AND CALM, AND WORK VIGOROUSLY TO REALIZE MY BUDDHA NATURE. I WILL CULTIVATE MY SPIRIT TO THE HIGHEST EXCELLENCE SO THAT I MAY FOLLOW MY INNER NATURE BACK TO THE SOURCE OF ALL EXISTENCE..... TAO!
None of what you will see in this book has ever been revealed until now. I will for the first time reveal various aspects of the book over time for those who love the Shaolin Arts.. Learn and Enjoy
I WILL TRAIN IN EARNEST TO FIND MYSELF AND WHILE DOING SO I WILL CULTIVATE THE NATURAL TALENTS OF MY SHAO-LIN SKILLS BESTOWED UPON ME FROM THE GREAT TAO. ¬I WILL SIT IN QUIET REPOSE TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF REALITY. I WILL DWELL IN NEVER ENDING PATIENCE THAT MY IMMORTAL IDENTITY WILL BE REVEALED TO ME. I AM UTTERLY CONFIDENT I WILL SOME DAY WAKE MYSELF UP FROM THE GREAT SLEEP OF ILLUSION ONLY TO DISCOVER THE ONE THAT IS AND ALWAYS WAS.
I WILL TRAIN MY BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT TO UNITE IN FULL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE FINAL BREAKTHROUGH TO ENLIGHTENMENT. I WILL FOLLOW THE PATH OF MY ANCESTORS IN SHAO-LIN AND TRAIN WITH FULL VIGOR AND DETERMINATION TO WIN THE GREATEST OF ALL BATTLES WITHIN MYSELF. I WILL STRIVE TO OVERCOME ALL OBSTACLES IN MY WAY, AND TO LIBERATE MY SPIRIT. I WILL FACE LIFE AND DEATH EQUALLY NOT ALLOWING EITHER TO DETER ME IN MY QUEST FOR DIVINE KNOWLEDGE.
I WILL CELEBRATE MY DEATH BY MAKING MY LIFE FRUITFUL AND PURPOSEFUL. I WILL STRIVE FOR MY OWN ENLIGHTENMENT AND ONCE ACHIEVED I WILL HELP ALL SENTIENT BEINGS ACHIEVE WHAT I HAVE FOUND. THE PURPOSE OF MY TRAINING IS TO BE UNSWERVING IN MY QUEST FOR TRUTH. MAY THE TAO GUIDE ME IN ALL MY PURSUITS TO ACHIEVE WHAT MUST BE ACHIEVED.
I VOW TO BE STRONG AND RELENTLESS IN MY TRAINING SO THAT SOME DAY I CAN SAY I HAVE TRULY FOUND THE WAY OF SHAO-LIN. FOR BY FOLLOWING THE WAY I WILL BE LED TO THE HOME OF THE IMMORTALS, MY ORIGINAL HOME. TO THE GREAT TAO I MAKE THIS OATH, I WILL TRAIN MY BODY TO BE STRONG AND HEALTHY AND PROFICIENT IN THE SHAO-LIN SKILLS AND HELP ALL WHO MAY BE IN NEED OF MY SKILLS. I WILL TRAIN MY MIND TO BE CLEAR AND CALM, AND WORK VIGOROUSLY TO REALIZE MY BUDDHA NATURE. I WILL CULTIVATE MY SPIRIT TO THE HIGHEST EXCELLENCE SO THAT I MAY FOLLOW MY INNER NATURE BACK TO THE SOURCE OF ALL EXISTENCE..... TAO!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Sacrifice
What does it take to be successful in the Arts? I have in my blogs mentioned many things it takes to be good, but that does not mean I have stated it all as yet. There is another big word that accounts for success, and the word is SACRIFICE. One definition of this word among others is: "Selfless good deeds for others or short term lose in return for a great gain" That's the great gain I speak of not, not financial gain. If it was all about money I would never run a school, as a traditionalist, money is not the motivation, it is the gratification of teaching.
I think many will be surprised at just what a person goes through to be successful at attaining their goals in life. But if your not willing to sacrifice the chances of you making it to the top will be limited. Without sacrifice you might make it half way up the ladder but certainly not to the the top.
But what kind of sacrifice am I referring to is the next question. The answer is just about anything it takes to be successful. If you draw a line in the sand of what you will do and not do to attain success chances are you have already limited yourself. This is exactly what many do, they wish to learn the Arts or make it to a Teacher or even Master but put limits to what they will do or not do. With limits the chances of attaining your goals are limited simply because you limited yourself.
I always knew I wanted to be good in the arts and it was in my early years I made up my mind to attain my dream. I also knew I would do anything I had to do to attain this dream. I never made excuses to myself and I cant recall ever missing a training class. Was this a sacrifice, indeed it was. I missed out hanging out with friends, going to parties, or even vacations. My friends soon forgot asking me to go anywhere with them because they already know my answer, " I cant I have Class today". So they soon stopped asking me. It wasn't to much later I had no friends outside my Kwoon (Kung fu School). But over the many years of training, even when I was in the Air Force i trained with a martial arts. I did make it and archived my Teachers level. But unknown to me the real sacrifices would now begin. With Teaching comes more demands that only true sacrifice can overcome.
As I have said often the are many reasons why people learn the arts, but for me it was a life style, a Way of living and thinking. It was not just a sport to me or a pastime, the Arts is really nether of these, it is a brutal defense that requires total dedication towards self improvement and cultivation of the mind body and spirit. Anyone who studies the teachings of Lao Tzu knows about this Chinese Sage and what I am talking about. My goal was not only to teach defense but also a peaceful and gratifying way to live life.
I started teaching in the parks, I had no school and would not have for many years. I can add Master Chang was the same, he never had a school. He would teach in parks, or places where they offered space for free. It was not long after that I realized this is fine in the summer months but needed something indoors in the winter months, so I rented space in various CYO's or Church basements and even the basements of buildings.
To help the American people come to understand the Asian Arts I would demonstrate the arts for anyone interested in seeing its effectiveness and beauty. It was years later I was spotted doing a demo by a man named Mike who was an officer associated with the Sheriffs Dept. He approached me asking if I would be willing to teach new Police recruits, as he was in charge of Police training for Westchester County Zone Three Police Academy. I agreed to do this and he got me a job with D.C.J.S. (The Dept of Criminal Justice Services) who handle aspects of Police training. The pay was very little, and I had to do all shorts of odds jobs to making a living for myself as what I received from teaching was little or nothing most of the time. The sacrifice to teach was just beginning.
As I said; I taught for years and in most cases making little or no money at all but I was indeed spreading the Arts which was my main desire. I taught because it was in my heart to teach. I would take the few students I had and did demos everywhere to expose the beauty of the arts to the American people. The gratification I got by doing this, was seeing the expression on peoples faces as they saw the Arts in action.
After some time I did manage to get a better place to teach other then the CYO or basements and opened a small school. I continued to demonstrate the Arts for the P.A.L. ( Police Athletic league) along with Flyod Patterson the former heavy weight boxing Champ who showed his boxing skills and me showing my Martial arts skills to further expose the arts. As usual there was no money to be made, these demo's were run free of charge. I also did charity work for Saint Jude's Hospital by running workshops and donating the money to the Saint Jude's Hospital for the research needed to help the children. I did this because I was asked to help raise money for an important cause, this is just was the Martial Arts is about, so I did all I could to help without financial gain. This is sacrifice because there is nothing in this for me except the desire to help.
I never did advertised as I said, because it was not about having hundreds of students it was about teaching people who really loved the arts and wanted desperately to learn. If I could help, that was my rewards. Even when I first had a so called school, I started to charge a minimum amount to maintain the rent. I never charged more then I needed to pay the bills and have enough left over to pay rent on a small cottage where I lived. I was living on cheap meals as I could not afford much else. The little I made in income just got me by and nothing more.
I was totally focused on my teaching career, and soon I was offered a position with the Sheriffs Dept. When my wife to be came to the states we had nothing when we started, in fact we had to go to a auction house to buy used furniture because we had no money to purchase much else. We were married in the States but I had no money to speak of for the wedding. So I asked a judge to marry us and a rented a hall with the hope my students would come and that money would be enough to pay the bills. I had a musical group I was teaching called Rat Race Quire, they knew I was broke and offered to play at my wedding. This is the true arts namely helping each other out when in need. But now I was teaching both in my new job and after my work at my school.
My job consisted of teaching defensive tactics, weapons retension moves, arresting methods and controls etc. I did this for years and after a while the Sheriff Dept. merged with the Country Police I soon became a County Police officer and again assigned to the Academy to teach defensive tactics. I also taught the Dept of Corrections the use of the PR, 24 know as a Tonfa in the Arts. While on the job I also became a FBI Certified Firearms Instructor to further my knowledge and helped in qualifying the new recruits in firearms. I was always eager to keep learning, this is exactly what the Arts calls for, namely Learn All You Can!
Of course I had shift work meaning I had to go in to work either days or afternoons or evening, this was again another great sacrifice I had to face. There was no time at all for my personal life, it was work and teach and teach and work and nothing else. I taught either most of the night and worked days or worked days and taught most all evenings. I had no time for anything but teaching and sleep. Of course running the school meant I was the first one there and the last one out so I had no personal life at all. When I did have free time it was spent in further study of the Arts so as to keep up with the demands to further my knowledge, which is never ending.
When a Teacher decides to open a school there is great sacrifice involved especially if the school is run in a traditional way. I always keep my school small so I did not have to charge large amounts of money and make the Arts accessible to most anyone on any budget. Even doing this I was always in trouble trying to maintain the overhead, heating phones, rent etc. Plus most would not believe me when I say many students failed to pay their dues even with the low costs I was asking. I cant tell you how many times I paid these bills from my own pocket just to keep the school open. In essence I was paying to teach people, who in their right mind would do this that unless you will willing to sacrifice to make it. Not many I dare say, but traditionalist do it for the love of he Arts.
All of the above statements are made for those who are seeking the be among the best in what they do. You have to work and drive yourself hard to be recognized as one of the best. It's all about that magic word Sacrifice. How much are you will to do, how much are you willing to risk to make it?
By risk I mean financial as well as friendships, and even your family life. There is no getting away from the facts what make people great, it is their willing to focus on their goal and not let anything or anyone stand in their way. It is having the right people with you that don't hinder your ambitions. It is your willingness to lose most of the free time and never give up. This is the sacrifice I speak of. It is the your ability to handle the flack you will get along the way from those who wish to deter you by trying to make you feel bad that you are one sighted and are neglecting others. No, it's not easy, and nobody ever said it would be easy. But this is the sacrifice I speak of.
My rewards are the people I have taught, I cant tell you how may have told me how the training has changed their life for the better. Not to mention the stories many have related back to me how the Arts saved them from brutal attacks in the streets. Often these same students told me by learning the discipline the Arts demanded of them they were able to succeed in life and achieving great goals thy set for themselves, such becoming doctors or lawyers etc. They to learned how to sacrifice, work hard and never look back but rather straight ahead into the future, and in doing so they to archived their goals.
I think many will be surprised at just what a person goes through to be successful at attaining their goals in life. But if your not willing to sacrifice the chances of you making it to the top will be limited. Without sacrifice you might make it half way up the ladder but certainly not to the the top.
But what kind of sacrifice am I referring to is the next question. The answer is just about anything it takes to be successful. If you draw a line in the sand of what you will do and not do to attain success chances are you have already limited yourself. This is exactly what many do, they wish to learn the Arts or make it to a Teacher or even Master but put limits to what they will do or not do. With limits the chances of attaining your goals are limited simply because you limited yourself.
I always knew I wanted to be good in the arts and it was in my early years I made up my mind to attain my dream. I also knew I would do anything I had to do to attain this dream. I never made excuses to myself and I cant recall ever missing a training class. Was this a sacrifice, indeed it was. I missed out hanging out with friends, going to parties, or even vacations. My friends soon forgot asking me to go anywhere with them because they already know my answer, " I cant I have Class today". So they soon stopped asking me. It wasn't to much later I had no friends outside my Kwoon (Kung fu School). But over the many years of training, even when I was in the Air Force i trained with a martial arts. I did make it and archived my Teachers level. But unknown to me the real sacrifices would now begin. With Teaching comes more demands that only true sacrifice can overcome.
As I have said often the are many reasons why people learn the arts, but for me it was a life style, a Way of living and thinking. It was not just a sport to me or a pastime, the Arts is really nether of these, it is a brutal defense that requires total dedication towards self improvement and cultivation of the mind body and spirit. Anyone who studies the teachings of Lao Tzu knows about this Chinese Sage and what I am talking about. My goal was not only to teach defense but also a peaceful and gratifying way to live life.
I started teaching in the parks, I had no school and would not have for many years. I can add Master Chang was the same, he never had a school. He would teach in parks, or places where they offered space for free. It was not long after that I realized this is fine in the summer months but needed something indoors in the winter months, so I rented space in various CYO's or Church basements and even the basements of buildings.
To help the American people come to understand the Asian Arts I would demonstrate the arts for anyone interested in seeing its effectiveness and beauty. It was years later I was spotted doing a demo by a man named Mike who was an officer associated with the Sheriffs Dept. He approached me asking if I would be willing to teach new Police recruits, as he was in charge of Police training for Westchester County Zone Three Police Academy. I agreed to do this and he got me a job with D.C.J.S. (The Dept of Criminal Justice Services) who handle aspects of Police training. The pay was very little, and I had to do all shorts of odds jobs to making a living for myself as what I received from teaching was little or nothing most of the time. The sacrifice to teach was just beginning.
As I said; I taught for years and in most cases making little or no money at all but I was indeed spreading the Arts which was my main desire. I taught because it was in my heart to teach. I would take the few students I had and did demos everywhere to expose the beauty of the arts to the American people. The gratification I got by doing this, was seeing the expression on peoples faces as they saw the Arts in action.
After some time I did manage to get a better place to teach other then the CYO or basements and opened a small school. I continued to demonstrate the Arts for the P.A.L. ( Police Athletic league) along with Flyod Patterson the former heavy weight boxing Champ who showed his boxing skills and me showing my Martial arts skills to further expose the arts. As usual there was no money to be made, these demo's were run free of charge. I also did charity work for Saint Jude's Hospital by running workshops and donating the money to the Saint Jude's Hospital for the research needed to help the children. I did this because I was asked to help raise money for an important cause, this is just was the Martial Arts is about, so I did all I could to help without financial gain. This is sacrifice because there is nothing in this for me except the desire to help.
I never did advertised as I said, because it was not about having hundreds of students it was about teaching people who really loved the arts and wanted desperately to learn. If I could help, that was my rewards. Even when I first had a so called school, I started to charge a minimum amount to maintain the rent. I never charged more then I needed to pay the bills and have enough left over to pay rent on a small cottage where I lived. I was living on cheap meals as I could not afford much else. The little I made in income just got me by and nothing more.
I was totally focused on my teaching career, and soon I was offered a position with the Sheriffs Dept. When my wife to be came to the states we had nothing when we started, in fact we had to go to a auction house to buy used furniture because we had no money to purchase much else. We were married in the States but I had no money to speak of for the wedding. So I asked a judge to marry us and a rented a hall with the hope my students would come and that money would be enough to pay the bills. I had a musical group I was teaching called Rat Race Quire, they knew I was broke and offered to play at my wedding. This is the true arts namely helping each other out when in need. But now I was teaching both in my new job and after my work at my school.
My job consisted of teaching defensive tactics, weapons retension moves, arresting methods and controls etc. I did this for years and after a while the Sheriff Dept. merged with the Country Police I soon became a County Police officer and again assigned to the Academy to teach defensive tactics. I also taught the Dept of Corrections the use of the PR, 24 know as a Tonfa in the Arts. While on the job I also became a FBI Certified Firearms Instructor to further my knowledge and helped in qualifying the new recruits in firearms. I was always eager to keep learning, this is exactly what the Arts calls for, namely Learn All You Can!
Of course I had shift work meaning I had to go in to work either days or afternoons or evening, this was again another great sacrifice I had to face. There was no time at all for my personal life, it was work and teach and teach and work and nothing else. I taught either most of the night and worked days or worked days and taught most all evenings. I had no time for anything but teaching and sleep. Of course running the school meant I was the first one there and the last one out so I had no personal life at all. When I did have free time it was spent in further study of the Arts so as to keep up with the demands to further my knowledge, which is never ending.
When a Teacher decides to open a school there is great sacrifice involved especially if the school is run in a traditional way. I always keep my school small so I did not have to charge large amounts of money and make the Arts accessible to most anyone on any budget. Even doing this I was always in trouble trying to maintain the overhead, heating phones, rent etc. Plus most would not believe me when I say many students failed to pay their dues even with the low costs I was asking. I cant tell you how many times I paid these bills from my own pocket just to keep the school open. In essence I was paying to teach people, who in their right mind would do this that unless you will willing to sacrifice to make it. Not many I dare say, but traditionalist do it for the love of he Arts.
All of the above statements are made for those who are seeking the be among the best in what they do. You have to work and drive yourself hard to be recognized as one of the best. It's all about that magic word Sacrifice. How much are you will to do, how much are you willing to risk to make it?
By risk I mean financial as well as friendships, and even your family life. There is no getting away from the facts what make people great, it is their willing to focus on their goal and not let anything or anyone stand in their way. It is having the right people with you that don't hinder your ambitions. It is your willingness to lose most of the free time and never give up. This is the sacrifice I speak of. It is the your ability to handle the flack you will get along the way from those who wish to deter you by trying to make you feel bad that you are one sighted and are neglecting others. No, it's not easy, and nobody ever said it would be easy. But this is the sacrifice I speak of.
My rewards are the people I have taught, I cant tell you how may have told me how the training has changed their life for the better. Not to mention the stories many have related back to me how the Arts saved them from brutal attacks in the streets. Often these same students told me by learning the discipline the Arts demanded of them they were able to succeed in life and achieving great goals thy set for themselves, such becoming doctors or lawyers etc. They to learned how to sacrifice, work hard and never look back but rather straight ahead into the future, and in doing so they to archived their goals.
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