I Deflect Negative Energy

One of the most powerful mindsets you can have is "I deflect negative energy". It is the concept of not letting negative people or situations steal your joy, and it was a lesson recently reiterated to me by one of my mentors, Dave Kovar. It's easy advice to give, isn't it? The real trick is having strategies that help you apply it.

First off, avoid environments and situations that are likely to present negativity to you. Dave shares a great story about this. Years ago someone came into his Karate school asking about lessons in self defense. The gentleman had a black eye and stitches. He said he'd just been in a bar fight, and was on the losing end. "So," he said, "I need some self defense lessons because every time I go into that bar I get beat up." "Well," responded Master Kovar half jokingly, "Why don't you stop going to that bar?" "Oh," said the guy, "I never thought of that!" The question is: what "bars" do you need to avoid?

Next, just don't talk to, associate with, read facebook posts of, or take any notice whatsoever of negative people. Negative people are just that - negative. They are septic. They don't have nice things to say, and nothing you can say to them will turn them to the good. Just avoid them.

Lastly, control your focus. When you find yourself focused on negative energies, count your blessings. Focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable... anything that is excellent or praiseworthy. Focus on things of "good report". That's good advice from another mentor of mine.

Donn Douthitt

I don't know if you guys know Donn Douthitt. Odds are you have probably seen him. Mr. Donn helps out with classes two nights a week here at the school, and often covers classes when Neil and I are out of town.

Of all my students, Donn is one of whom I am most proud. Why, you ask? Well...

Donn has been training with us for almost 5 years. He started back in the days when the school was on Five Mile Rd., and when the school had it's first employee, Brian. I remember three separate things that happened to Mr. Donn in the first few weeks of his training.

1) Donn, at around 50, was out of shape, and in those days I hadn't figured out how to train beginners. I pushed him extremely hard - harder than I would dare to push anyone now. He was hurting. You could tell.

2) It seemed like every class someone was bruising his shins and arms, and though he didn't complain it was obvious that he wasn't thrilled.

3) The biggest guy in the school kicked a white belt Donn in the mouth sending him to the E.R for stitches.

I think you'd agree, most people would have given up. In fact, I recall Brian saying, "I can't believe that Donn guy keeps coming! If anyone had a reason to leave..." But quitting just isn't Mr. Donn's way. Mr. Donn earned his black belt at our first black belt test a year ago.

Few of my students worked as hard as Donn did as a color belt. He was 100% rock solid on his attendance, often coming in to use the mat when the school was closed, and frequently meeting Mr. Tyler for one on one classes to improve his technique. He worked exceptionally hard, at times out training and out doing his younger counterpart, Mr. Neil.

Today I'm astounded at how good Donn has really become. His fitness, at 50+ is exceptional even for a 25 year old. His forms are very good. He has no fear (well, no paralyzing fear) of standing across from "the Master" in the ring. And, quite honestly, he might have a better grasp of Dan Holland's ground fighting than I do.

Additionally, Donn's support of the school, me and my family has never wavered. In three years of helping and teaching class, he has missed only TWO days.

But what I find the most remarkable about Donn Douthitt, is that he's accomplished all of this on the strength of his mental discipline. I don't think he'd mind me saying that he's not a natural athlete. Perhaps he's even the opposite. Donn, however, is goal-oriented and driven, rock-solid and consistent. He's become an excellent practitioner. He's a model martial artist, the students look up to him, and so do I.

These kids get older? What?

Today I found myself in University Cafe on the U of M campus. It has been a long time since my last visit, but it was once a place I frequented. Happily not much has changed. You can still smell delicious home style Korean Food from a block away. The place looks the same, more or less - they've repainted with maize and blue theme, and added a Coke refrigerator, but it still has that "hole-in-the-wall" vibe I love. They still don't sell bottled water, they just have a big, bright yellow "Igloo" container with cold water in it. Get your own, don't pay for it.

The patrons, I'm glad to say, are still mostly Koreans. It's a sure sign to foodies that the fare remains authentic. Of course, this is U of M's campus and as such there is a smattering of people from all over the world. A guy with a clearly Eastern European accent, a German accent, an overweight, white haired American "dude" eats with an Indian friend. Probably a half a dozen cultures are represented in a tiny little cafe, all happily chowing down on bibimbab, bulgogi, rice or whatever. It's one thing I love about this country.

I didn't recognize the guy behind the counter taking orders. He's a young, handsome Korean kid, probably a student. I ask him who is cooking. He stammers, looking for the right answer.

"Mrs. Peltier?" I ask.
"Yes," he responds and looks genuinely relieved when I smile.
"Can I say 'hi'?"
"Sure."

And from out of the kitchen she walks... she recognizes me on sight. She and her husband (whose first name won't come to me) used to bring their son William to train with me at Master Kim's school. I don't recall how long he was there now, maybe a couple years. He was a good kid... 6 or 7 when he was there... and I always looked forward to seeing him and his parents. They are good people.

I still remember when they opened University Cafe. Remember it like it was yesterday, as cliche as it sounds. I remember being the only guy in there, and slowly watching it grow. Nowadays you have to share a table with a college kid if you want to sit down. American guy marries Korean lady, has two kids, opens Korean restaurant on college campus, watches kids and restaurant grow. It's story book stuff, and it's beautiful, don't you think?

Anyway, first question out of my mouth is, "How is William?" I'm racking my brain... is he in high school yet? Probably... or maybe not.

"Good!" she says, her voice thick with accent.
"How old is he now?" I ask, still racking my brain to place his age.
"21," she tells me, the number dropping like a bomb in my brain.
"TWENTY ONE?!" Wait, if he's twenty one he's a walking, talking, voting, drinking young man who probably has opinions, a job and a girlfriend! That's not right! He was just SEVEN... I mean, maybe I could see him being 14 or 15 now, but not twenty freaking one!

My next thought? How old am -I- now???

What do your techniques say about you?

Self Actualization

Bruce Lee understood self actualization and the martial arts very well. He spoke of it often. To him, the actualization of ones inner person was the purpose of martial arts training. It puts the “art” in martial art. As an actor, I suspect Bruce was very comfortable ignoring who he was on the inside to portray the character he needed to on the outside. Thus it makes perfect sense to me that his challenge was to use his martial art to express who he actually was as a person... to “express himself honestly”, as he would say.

For better or worse the way we perform our techniques is always an actualization of ourselves. Those with sloppy, lazy technique tend to lead sloppy, lazy lives. Those who can not relax and too rigidly perform their actions are likely spending too much time in a state of “stress” and “overwhelmed.” Those too timid and shy in life may perform their techniques with out snap or spirited yelling.

Listen to what your techniques say about who you are. Begin to let them speak for the person you wish to become. Balanced, focused, driven, powerful, confident, secure.