For a while there I would do anything for experience….Some times I would go to great lengths to see if I really had what it takes and to push my martial arts training to the limits. Upon getting my Black Belt at 21, I soon found myself craving real life fighting experience. Not that I was violent or aggressive, I just needed to see how I would handle myself under pressure, see how I would react, see if my training would survive in the street.
tags | actors, Andy Dickinson, Black Belt. Bouncer, fun
Do martial arts hang onto their traditional roots just for the sake of it?Does it enhance or impinge your learning experience?
What would it do to martial arts if there were no uniforms, no stances, no bowing etc? Have a think about how you would feel?
tags | Andy Dickinson, martial arts, tradition
Over the last few years many men and women, children and parents have seen the value in training in a martial arts program that is easy to learn, gets you fit, is fun and there is no risk of injury. It is also a great way to meet new people. Women too are enjoying the benefits of martial arts, at Northstar Martial Arts we are 50% women.
tags | motivation, Womens self defence
Are the days of the good samaritan over? You see a man hitting a woman on the street. You have never met these people before…
What would you do and why? As in all conflict the age old advice “look before you leap” is probably the best option before launching into something that you have no real idea of what is actually happening.
tags | fighting, honour, Self Defence, Women's safety, X Gen, Y Gen
So many people profess to love you and say they are loyal yet the first sign that their ego may be threatened and they will cut your throat, metaphorically speaking of coarse. Here is a news flash for most people are loyal only to the wims of their own ego! And what exactly is this ego anyway. In a nut shell, its all that you think that you are..more on that later!
tags | Andy Dickinson, Life, loyal, Sydney martial arts, warrior
There was a time when just being a Black Belt you were considered an expert, a lethal fighting machine, able to control your body and perform almost super natural feats of strength. The Black Belt is an important beginning, the first rung on the ladder, and there is no doubt that it is a mark of excellence.
tags | Martial Arts expert.
With the modernisation of martial arts, there has been an explosion of hybrid style competitions that are now far more popular than boxing or any other combat sports. Competitions such as UFC and Pride in Japan, have taken blood sports to the next level. They call these kind of competitions “Mixed Martial Arts.”
Watch the attached video and share your comments. Read more…
tags | Blood sports, fighting, Kimbo slice, MMA
Happiness is a base line that we all would like to have as a constant in our lives. Yet it can be here one minute and gone the next. Why is that so?
tags | Change, Life
As we get close to our first Super Session Grading on 28th March, I thought that I would check in with you to see how your preparation is going. Have you registered yet? Have you made the commitment? Gradings are great for self improvement. As Northstar develops lifestyles and not fighters, use your grading preparation to hone all aspects of your life.
Between now and grading as well as getting physically fit, lets also overlay some of the mental and emotional qualities we practice at Northstar.
tags | Life, martial arts, quality, space, stillness
I posted a question at the end of last week on where does spirituality sit with Martial Arts. Is it there? Has it ever been there? Is it an important part of the training? Is it necessary ?
Here are some of the contributions so far:
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![iStock_000010127212XSmall[1]](http://modernmartialartist.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/iStock_000010127212XSmall1-80x80.jpg "iStock_000010127212XSmall[1]")
Setting up my own martial arts system has had its challenges and it certainly attracted a lot of attention. Word quickly got that there was a new and interesting way to learn martial arts. I made many new friends and met many great like minded martial artists, but there was also a negative. I had to make sure that I was at the top of my game as I was constantly having to prove the system was effective and worthy to take its place as a new and modern martial art.
tags | Honor, martial arts, power, Spirit
Have you seen the Movie “Into The Wild?” It’s a true story about a man that spends his entire life running from people, wanting to be alone in solitude. He ends up isolating himself in an old caravan in the Alaskan wilderness. At the end of the story, trapped by the winter and sick from lack of food, just before he dies he enters a line in his journal saying that “we are not meant to be alone”.
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![iStock_000004698597XSmall[1]](http://modernmartialartist.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/iStock_000004698597XSmall1-80x80.jpg "iStock_000004698597XSmall[1]")
Honor friendship. Dont discriminate family and friendship. Dont treat your friends well and your family badly. My closest friend said to be recently dont argue with your partner, treat him/her badly then smile at the first stranger that you see in the street.
tags | attitude, committment, family, friendship, love
Great article on the power of intention by Yaro Starack
What Made A Difference?
Below are adjustments to my life and my mindset that I made this year, which I consider most responsible for the significant shift in results I’ve experienced.
tags | 2010, Attraction, success
Andy exclaimed “Arghh’ and tried to jump away from Kondo Sensei but Sensei followed him easily and appeared to barely touch his chest again to which Andy jumped away again and made that familiar ‘tiskkkkktatatata” sound that we all seem to make when something hurts a lot.
tags | courage, Honor, humility, martial arts
Fighting for the purpose of hurting another human is not what I am going to discuss. I have participated in thousands of rounds of sparring and competitions. I was often approached to fight in boxing and kickboxing but could never make that step. To be good at blood sports you have to really want to hurt your opponent.
tags | fighting, Man, martial arts
In this day and age, man has welcomed and embraced his feminine side by being a more caring nurturing partner, looking after the children, being a stay at home dad, slipping quite nicely into the feminine role.
This is all great, and works perfectly providing he also has an outlet to express and develop his masculinity. And here is where the problem lies.
tags | feminine, Honor, masculine, Men, Trust
Reprimanding people when they have got something wrong or failed to live up to their own standards is one of the hardest things a manager can do.
tags | children, leadership
Guest writer and popular yoga teacher; Patty Kikos presents a fantastic overview of her yoga practice, bringing to life the physical, emotional and spiritual components, enlivening the inner spiritual warrior:
When people ask what I do for a living and I tell them that I’m a yoga instructor, responses tend to vary greatly from looks of astonishment to bubbling enthusiasm. Funnily enough, even now, they are both responses I evoke myself from my own daily practice.
tags | diet, meditation, pilates, warrior, yoga
Powerful Women Who Inspire…
Cynthia Parr
Cynthia stars in a documentary about her life called “By your side” due to be screened soon.
What does not change?
Happiness is a base line that we all would like to have as a constant in our lives. Yet it can be here one minute and gone the next. Why is that so?
8 ways to improve and take control of your life
As we get close to our first Super Session Grading on 28th March, I thought that I would check in with you to see how your preparation is going. Have you registered yet? Have you made the commitment? Gradings are great for self improvement. As Northstar develops lifestyles and not fighters, use your grading preparation to hone all aspects of your life.
Between now and grading as well as getting physically fit, lets also overlay some of the mental and emotional qualities we practice at Northstar.
Spirituality in Martial Arts
I posted a question at the end of last week on where does spirituality sit with Martial Arts. Is it there? Has it ever been there? Is it an important part of the training? Is it necessary ?
Here are some of the contributions so far: