This is more.

Kenpo Karate can be beautiful, graceful, fluid, and flowing as a martial art form.  It is, by its very design, however, supposed to be intense, devastating, overwhelming, brutal and perhaps, even malicious, in its raw, combat application.

Did you know that the Boy Scouts of America do not recognize the martial arts as a viable activity in which their scouts can earn a badge? Apparently, there is a particular badge they must earn for an extracurricular activity, or something along those lines, and they don’t recognize the martial arts because they believe that it promotes violence.  Having read this in one of my martial arts periodicals awhile back, I must tell you, it upset me.  Here we have this age-old, established organization, with such a narrow, ignorant viewpoint!

So, the question then arises, from those who know nothing about what we do in the martial arts,”DOES THE MARTIAL ARTS PROMOTE VIOLENCE?”  To someone having no involvement in the martial arts, the answer would likely be a resounding, “YES!” Interestingly enough, there are even martial artists out there, I believe, that would say the same things about the martial arts promoting violence.

The martial arts aren’t just about punching, and kicking, and learning to beat another person’s head into the ground. The reason WHY we train IS NOT TO PROMOTE VIOLENCE; rather, it is to learn to accept violence, confront it, and ultimately, CONQUER IT.

There is something known as the “paradox of the martial arts.” For those who don’t know what a paradox is [because I, up until a few years back didn't]–it is a contradiction of things. This paradox, or contradiction in the martial arts, is not readily seen by students, and must either be taught to you, or you must realize it. These, in my humble opinion, are the 3 primary paradoxes that are necessary for a student to understand as you train in the arts:

#1 – We train in the areas of conflict, force, pain, and the reality of death, because once we’ve learned to accept, confront, and conquer these things, we are not bound by fear– thereby allowing us to be truly free to live our lives as human beings should;

#2 – We train to inflict violence on others so that we may approach any conflict with calmness, and live as peaceful people because we know that should a situation escalate to its most extreme point, we have skills which can be deployed at will, to address the situation;

#3 – We train to KILL, so that we learn and remember that all life is precious, and CANNOT be replaced.

Finally, there is one pearl of wisdom I’d like to add, which is not really part of the paradox of the martial arts, but is important, nonetheless. Because we are caste from a warrior culture and heritage, one should remember:

“A true study of the martial arts entails not only training how to LIVE well, but also training how to DIE well.”

Humbly Submitted,

~Sensei Gerry Valido

Many of us, live day to day, without realizing that we have built a “box” around ourselves. This “box,” is also known as a “comfort zone,” “complacency,” or ” just plain laziness. It is very easy to build this box–its elements are constructed from our life experiences, and subsequently, programming oneself to live a certain way, think a certain way, and act a certain way. Two things need to happen to break us out of this “box”: (1) someone we trust has to ‘check’ you and point out that you need to step out of your comfort zone; and (2) you then need to do it. Resultant behaviors from living in your “box,” can be procrastination, selfishness, and fear.

When living in your “box,” you tend to put things aside, thinking you always have tomorrow to get something started, or accomplished. The problem is, you may not always have tomorrow. The reality of life that many people tend to ignore is that “tomorrow is no guarantee.” Life can be snatched from you in the blink of an eye. It happens. Living in the “NOW” is the best way to accomplish your short term goals, as well as ensure that you are taking steps toward achieving your long term goals. Living in the “NOW” forces one to step outside of the “box.”

When living in your “box,” you tend to ignore others. Or, more accurately, you ignore whatever it is you don’t think pertains to you, or that which you don’t want to hear. You are so set in your ways from living so long in your “box,” that you lose the capacity of keeping an open mind, accepting advice, or embracing a different viewpoint or a way of doing something. Stepping out of your “box” makes you vulnerable to others’ criticisms, suggestions and commentary, but if you take others’ input as lessons, you can more positively discern those lessons from which you’ll learn, and those from which you won’t. A much better way of doing things, instead of shutting out everything altogether from the start.

When living in your “box,” it’s all about ME. Or, ME, and whoever is and has been directly attached to ME for as long as I’ve been in MY box (i.e. – child, parents, sibling, dog, or just ME, MYSELF, AND I). It can be a challenge to have to consider someone besides ME, and learn that others can come first sometimes. It can be a challenge to consider the many, the group, the partnership, the relationship, or the stranger, over ME. This selfishness isn’t usually brought about because of ill will towards others; it is brought about because one has been programmed, while in their “box,” to only consider themseleves, their own well being, and what will bring them the most satisfaction–because no one else has ever been in the picture long enough to matter. This struggle can be difficult for people entering into a new relationship after being single for so long, people having their first child after going for years without one, having to care for someone new, like an aging or sickly relative, after going for so long only caring for yourself. The more we step out of the “box” through the course of our lives, the ability to consider others becomes much stronger, because we are not always focused on pleasing ourselves.

At 40 years old, I am finally learning how to do this. Many close friends, whom I consider to be as close as family have tried for many years to get me out of my “box,” succeeding in some instances, failing in others. I have my future wife, and true soulmate, Claudia, to thank for showing me how step, in fact, LEAP out of my “box.” Sometimes, it takes someone like a soulmate, whose hold on you is so spiritually entrenched, to dig you out of your complancency. I am learning to live more freely now, outside of the confines of what can be equated to a spiritual container–that prevents you from living life. Thank you Claudia, I love you.

Humbly submitted,
Sensei Gerry Valido

In the 2003 feature film, “The Last Samurai,” there was a scene where actor Tom Cruise’s character, Captain Algren, was being instructed by the samurai lord, Katsumoto, as to the definition of “bushido,” or the “way of the warrior” which was, “life in every breath.” This statement embodies a very strict way of life to which many martial artists aspire, but never really comprehend. Its meaning dictates that a warrior place their total and complete attention on the activity at hand and live and experience each moment of life. But, is this the pinnacle of existence? Can one aspire higher??

Life in every breath suggests experiencing life as it is handed to you–doing what one does, and experiencing each moment as if it were your last, no matter how each moment unfolds.

I once attended a funeral where one of the eulogizers preached, “that all people should leave this world in a better condition than which they entered.” I believe this to be true. I believe that through our life experiences, we should and must grow and become better, more intelligent people, adding depth to our existence. If this is the case, then instead of just living life in every breath, experiencing each moment as it comes, no matter how it comes, why not make each moment count by creating each moment to be better for ourselves? We should create life in every breath.

In our method of Kenpo Karate, it is this that epitomizes our spiritual training, which in simple terms, would be training the being, or that part of ourselves from where our awareness originates. We strive to perceive, feel, imbue and channel, our own created energy as well as that of other beings. The ability to “create” is a basic spiritual ability–one of many inherent abilities of the ‘being.’ It is partially mental, but its execution is spiritual, and its manifestation can be physical and spiritual.

Let us first view this from a martial arts standpoint. In training, the martial artist will often execute the physical movements as he has learned them, solely from a physical aspect. They focus on form, and movement. They operate from a type of ‘comfort zone,’ where movements are learned and regurgitated robotically, lacking life, animation, and depth. However you want to put it, the movements lack “creation.” Instead of executing the movements from a physical aspect, why not approach it from a spiritual one? This would entail that the martial artist create each movement in as perfect a fashion as can be seen in his mind’s eye. He creates and harnesses the energy or feeling of that image, and manifests the energy of that image into the physical world, through his movements. The spiritual component of creating that energy must be present for this to happen. It is one thing to move physically, and it is another thing to think about moving a certain way, but it is the spiritual ability of “CREATE,” or “creation,” that one must use to fuse it all together. One must rise above, or create above whatever comfort zone in which he is used to operating, and tap into energies and potentials that will provide more in the way of physical, real-world ability.

Examples of this are seen all the time, in those individuals who have come to a point in their respective fields of endeavor where they are essentially insouciant, or having such an incredible amount of control over an activity, that they can, at will, “DO,” and not have to TRY. One who is insouciant has an extraordinary ability to create actions that are perceived as effortless, but are fully imbued with positive, vibrant energy. Have you ever seen the likes of Magic Johnson, or Michael Jordan handle a basketball? How about Mikael Barishnokov dance? What about Eddie Van Halen play guitar? How many masters of the martial arts have you witnessed that display insouciance? Masters of Karate, Kung Fu, Escrima, Aikido, and other arts, are easily recognized based upon their ability to create, while those who cannot, or do not even grasp the concept of this ability, are equally recognizable for their shallowness in the execution of their movements.

Wouldn’t this same ability be applicable, if not even more expected in everyday life? By creating life in every breath, a person has an incredible opportunity to tap into those potentials which will bring about that control and superiority in virtually every aspect of his life. It is very common for a person to live in a particular comfort zone, getting by, and doing things, as is expected and as he is used to doing. By utilizing one’s ability to create what one intends, a person can now breach the roof of his comfort zone, and operate at a higher level, with more seniority over his dealings. Think of it, asking that special someone out on a date does not seem that difficult to confront anymore; by the same token, one’s ability to be successful in business or financial dealings is not such a far cry; similarly, by creating and being above and senior to any given situation, one suddenly isn’t affected by the inconsiderate driver, or the petty gossiping of his co-workers. Any of these examples can be accomplished with the proper creation of energy–truly giving a person the opportunity to live his life in an effective, positive manner and leave this world better than when he entered.

By always imbuing the energy of a specific creation, one walks a little taller, sees the world through clearer lenses, and carries an aura that captures the attention of others. This same person is also seen as having a more powerful, in- control-type of persona, and would commonly be looked to as a leader, and not a follower.

When the martial artist has developed this ability to the point of insouciance, he fears not what the opponent can do, but fears what he may do to the opponent, should it be necessary. The martial artist does not have to try to kill his adversary, as he is in such complete control in combat, he instead may toy with his assailant, who may die at the hands of the martial artist anyway. The martial artist is senior to any physical world considerations in combat–the distances, execution of techniques, and effectiveness of movement come in an effortlessly. Although the road one must take to develop a creation of life in every breath is long and arduous, it is not impossible. Furthermore, as one applies it to all areas of his life, and has conquered the barriers of his comfort zone, he can utilize the potentials on the other side of those barriers, and thus, the impossible becomes possible.

Humbly submitted,

~Sensei Gerry Valido

Thank you for visiting the website of the AKMA. The site is developing rapidly, but is not quite all the way there yet.  Feel free to click around and give it a test run. Whether you’re brand new to the AKMA or a long-time member, we appreciate your thoughts.  This site is here to serve you, to inspire you and to meaningfully enhance your experience with the AKMA. In the coming days, we will be adding key information about our programs, as well as a store to purchase AKMA merchandise, apparel and books.  For gear, we’ll be doing it the old fashioned way, ordering it person to person. But most importantly, all of the black belts of the AKMA, the elders of our school, will be contributing to the Warrior Blog.  With over 100 years of combined martial arts experience, our black belts have invaluable information that goes far beyond the martial arts.  This blog will allow them to post their thoughts, share videos and offer links to sites that are sure to be extremely valuable.  Thanks again for visiting the AKMA’s website.