Style ?

" Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style or system" - Bruce Lee. QUESTIONS I hear frequently: 1.What's your style? 2.What style do you teach? 3.What's the BEST style? ANSWERS I give frequently: 1.My style 2.My style 3.(For me)My style There is only ONE way to fight and that is YOUR way(YOUR OWN PERSONAL INDIVIDUAL WAY) with regards to style BOXING and KICKBOXING are not styles they are ACTIONS . Wing-Chun, Praying Mantis, Silat etc etc are NOT styles of fighting they are CURRICULUM and POSSIBLY methods of TEACHING . A proper perspective towards training and learning will result in a fulfilling Martial Journey and the best way to move towards that goal is to recalibrate our rains and look at the arts differently. If you look at other lifeforms you will notice that their method of combat strongly evolves around the use of their natural weapons,natural tools and natural attributes . Take elephants for example they aren't designed to bob and weave , they don't have an anatomy that could permit them to try a single leg takedown and i am pretty sure you won't see them doing jump spin kicks either The only thing Elephants do is CHARGE, TRAMPLE and of course use their TUSK and TRUNK . All Felines fight the same as do all monkeys therefore it is easier to understand that ALL men fight the same based on how they are genetically and anatomically predisposed. Have you ever noticed that some people just have a talent for fighting ? regardless of whether a combatant is trained or untrained there are some individuals that just possess an INSTINCT for fighting, some have it ( the ones that WIN fights) and some don't ( the ones that LOSE fights ). Training, natural athleticism, superior strength,endurance and agility must ALL be factored together when assessing one's skill in combat . Once we are actively using and practicing this training paradigm we will be able to learn and develop better and faster as Martial Artists. We will also be better equipped to express ourselves freely,honestly and effectively in combat. The goal has always been this even when we are/were operating from a place of our own personal ignorance. Fighting is often fast and usually very chaotic anything less than FREE, HONEST and EFFECTIVE EXPRESSION and EXECUTION could result in disaster! So there you have it, there is the case and a philosophy to support the concept and belief that has been suggested by a man who I have always admired .

Warrior Monk ?

A great day in the life of a modern day Warrior Monk. This morning i started my day @ 6am with some stretching and some water next was 7 rounds of Boxing sparring and then 5 rounds of No-Gi BJJ rolling. I am tired, I am sore, I am HUNGRY, I am content. My afternoon is in full swing and i am teaching Boxing to urban teenagers. A day in the training hall is just what everyone needs. It is a place to feed and grow the soul, strengthen the body and hone our skills. Many practicioners of the fighting arts consider themselves warriors HOWEVER i believe i am more i am a WARRIOR MONK . I approach the "WAY" differently if my training doesn't cultivate my spirit then it is incomplete and insufficient. There is more to training then just physical execution and exertion . We will talk more about this

It's been a while

So yeah , it has been a while, a LONG while since i've stopped by to say hello to myself. I don't have much profound going on or to share BUT it is time to break the silence . So these days I am running the gym and teaching and just trying to find answers to any questions that i may have. I have learned so much since the last time that i posted . I guess I can take a moment and share some random musings and ramblings , I have been coaching kids and teaching them the science of Boxing it is challenging but it is fun ( SOMETIMES ). I have really connected to my step daughter and she has discovered a love of Martial Arts ( BJJ in particular ) . My son has been doing some VERY amazing things with his Eskrima/Kali ( He has strong Boxing/Kickboxing and BJJ skills BUT he really has a talent for Eskrima . There was a FIRE in the gym ( NOT COOL ) . I rediscovered my love of Striking ( YES ) . I have been putting together some awesome training progressions and doing some truly creative stuff with my Martial Arts . I DON'T SLEEP ( maybe 2 hours a night ) . I am also VERY present these days , my personal goal is to be in a state of complete immersion in the moment . I will be elaborating more on these things and other stuff in the upcoming posts but for now at least there is activity here . Be well ,stay well Namaste, Chris