Hanakwanmass!
(Hanuka/Kwanza/Christmas)
Budo means ‘to put down the spear.’
So whoever you are,
wherever you are,
work out long and hard,
so you can put down the spear
and hug your fellow man.
One of the things that newbies don’t think of,
they are so immersed in their studies,
is what is martial arts good for
after the mat.
It is so much fun to fight,
that they don’t think about the discipline they are building,
and the increased awareness,
and it takes them a while
to figure out what martial arts are good for.
So let me ask you the question…
have you picked up a musical instrument
since you began martial arts?
Or put some poetry down on paper?
Or taken classes in school?
Or done something else that requires
discipline, awareness,
patience,
whatever virtue you possess?
One of the things I enjoy is Haiku.
Haiku is a form of poetry,
requires extreme discipline,
and you end up with something like…
the frog on the pad
sees the moon in the water
kills it in one jump
And you think about life before you became aware of it,
whether a frog has awareness
what the moon looked like to that frog
before he attacked it.
This type of thought
is so much more fulfilling
than tweeting.
This type of thought fills your soul,
instead of emptying it.
So make a Hanakwanmass Haiku,
if you will.
Something about a tree
an ornament
a work out
a sword
a present
or…?
And think about how you are going to use
that delicious discipline you are building.
think about music
or writing
or painting
or whatever.
How can you express all that discipline and awareness
once you walk off the mat?
Okey dokey,
I know you’ve got family a waiting,
presents to open,
but make sure you take the time to visit the monster.
A glitter of electrons,
a computer present,
jump in.
Hanakwanmass to all!
And a durned fine work out, too.
Al
PS
following is my annual seasonal poetry.
Read it wisely.
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
Twas the night before Christmas
I was in my shack
primed and ready
for the red fat attack.
my weapons were loaded
the windows were barred
all would be safe
while I was on guard
The chimney was decked
with concertina wire
I crouched by the couch
ready to fire.
I had an M60
with ammo to feed
I didn’t care
if the red fat did bleed.
A loaded shotgun
and grenades to spare
when red fat came down
I’d blow him out of there.
Throwing stars and knives
and a really long sword
and if that didn’t work
I knew a bad word.
Sitting there late
my eyes started to close
when suddenly I heard
a bunch of ho hos.
Off with the lights
safety off, too
I watched the fire close
and heard a sound from the flu.
‘Ouch and gosh darn it
who put the wire here
those are my undies
starting to tear!’
Then a shower of soot
and a grunt and a groan
he landed in the fire
and gave out a moan.
He was rubbing the place
where the wire did tear
so I held down the trigger
and lead filled the air.
belt after belt
did I deal the red fat
he danced and he jumped
I knew he felt that!
then quicker than spit
I ran out of lead
but enough was enough
he had to be dead.
Boy was I shocked
to see him stand tall
stepping out of the fireplace
not bothered at all.
So I grabbed up the 16
to mow him down
he had to be hurting
cause I saw his big frown.
Then I was empty
and he came straight for me
I pulled out my knives
and sliced him with glee
He jumped to the side
moving real quick
disarmed my knives
with a well placed kick
then he dropped the big bag
he had on his shoulder
reached forth his arms
and his anger did smolder
He grabbed hard my neck
and held me up high
I tried kicks and punches
but I was like a fly
Not karate nor judo
no art did work
and he grinned a mean grin
and called me a jerk
‘Don’t you know
you stupid little man
Christmas is forever
in spite of your plan.’
Then he threw me aside
and proceeded to work
giving presents to all
and to me a great smirk
And when he left
the great big red fat
he left me a lump of coal
the big red fat rat!
HANAKWANMASS TO ALL
and to all
have a great work out.
Al
=o)
Matrix Martial Arts 