Favorite Martial Arts Books

Perpetual Beginner gave me the idea of posting a list of books I have read. (She does it periodically on her blog. BTW, go visit her blog - http://perpetualbeginner.blogspot.com/ - very insightful and well written.) If you read my previous post about running into the "psychotic professor" at the book sale - http://martialartsmom.blogspot.com/2008/07/beware-of-man-of-one-book.html - then you already know how avid a reader I am. (Side note: The "psychotic professor" is kind of like my own personal fish story. He gains momentum in each subsequent retelling. In my post, he started out as "a bookish little man", moved on to "the nutty professor" and in my current rendition, is "the psychotic professor". Who knows - next version may have him as "Dr. Dimented"!) Anyway…

Since I'm so effective at staying on subject (NOT!), I decided to narrow my book lists down for my blog, only listing martial arts related books which I enjoyed because if I didn't enjoy them, I'd have stopped reading mid-book or sooner, and also books that are on my wish list to read. I figured since this is a martial arts blog, you probably did not want to know that "sTori Telling" by Tori Spelling is on my full, all-subject-encompassing "want-to-read" list. (See, there I go again - admitting to watching those awful, exploitative reality shows like "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood" - Do you still respect me?)

Without further ado, my lists:

M.A. Related Books I Read and Loved:
*Living the Martial Way by Forrest E. Morgan
*The Making of a Butterfly by Pete Starr
*American Shaolin by Matthew Polly (E-mailed him and he e-mailed back - supposedly making a movie of this book! That would be a great movie!)
*Solo Training by Loren Christensen
*The Way Alone by Loren Christensen
*Martial Arts after Forty by Sang H. Kim Ph.D
*Dojo Wisdom for Mothers by Jennifer Lawler
*Dojo Wisdom:100 Simple Ways to Become a Stronger, Calmer, More Courageous Person by Jennifer Lawler
*Be Like Water by Joseph Cardillo (This is more a devotional type book for martial artists - haven't read entire book but like what I've read so far.)
*Bow to Life by Joseph Cardillo (Again, more of a daily m.a. motivational book - haven't read it all, but what I have read, I like.)

M.A. Books I Want to Read and Love:
*Gravity Never Stops: The Life & Training of a Martial Artist by Ron Sreh
*Mastery by George Leonard
*The Art of Balance by Ambrose Loughlin
*Steal My Art by Stuart Alve Olson
*Quotations for Martial Artists: Hundreds of Inspirational Quotes to Motivate and Enlighten the Modern Warrior by John D. Moore
*Persimmon Wind: A Martial Artist's Journey in Japan by Dave Lowry
*The Monk from Brooklyn by Lang Reid
*The Dance of Becoming: Living Life as a Martial Art by Stuart Heller with Marilyn Ferguson
*Meditation and the Martial Arts by Michael L. Raposa
*Easy Meditation for Martial Artists by Robert Morgan
*The Fighter's Body by Loren Christensen
*Extreme Joint Locking and Breaking by Loren Christensen
*Winning with American Kata by Loren Christensen
*And a ton and half of other books…these are just the ones that come to mind…

I am a huge fan of the St. Louis County Library - the ultimate resource for someone in St. Louis. Most of the books on my wish list must be purchased because they are not available from the library (even via inter-library loan) and I am not in a financial position to be buying books, so I will probably not have the opportunity to read the books on my wish list for quite some time.

I have also found that with my interest in martial arts, I have also acquired a curiosity about eastern culture and history. I have read a few books by Adeline Yen Mah, which were great and have heard of a few more I'd like to look into about the foot-binding custom (how barbaric!) Another favorite subject stemming from my study of martial arts is energy work, pressure points, meridians, etc. Upon the recommendation of one of our teachers, I am reading, or rather studying, a book on pranic energy, "Your Hands Can Heal You" by Stephen Co & Eric B. Robins, M.D. Very interesting. We did one of the energy experiments in class last session and I inquired as to its origins and was referred to this book. As I said, I'm reading it very slowly, highlighting key points and doing the exercises as I go along. I consider it my own, private pranic energy course at the University of MAM (Martial Arts Mom). So, while not technically martial arts related, and therefore not on my official "lists", these books/subjects are related, and important, in my martial arts journey.

What are you favorite martial arts related books? Do you have any recommendations of additions to my wish list? I'd love to hear your thoughts or lists on the subject!

Quest for Balance - 2nd update

Well, I've been practicing the 4 Corner Balance drills recommended by Coach Sonnon http://www.rmaxinternational.com/flowcoach/?p=155 for a little over a week now. I still cannot hold these positions for 10-15 minutes at one stretch, but I've made my own modification that works for me - I hold them as long as I can at different times throughout the day. Practiced them in the pool last weekend - now that was a challenge! But I think it really helped accelerate my improvement. In execution of these exercises, I no longer look as if I'm on a pogo stick anyway! Just to measure a little of my improvement, the other morning, I was brushing my teeth and doing my hair and I balanced in a high knee chambering as if I were going to do a front snap kick or side kick and I held it there for quite some time without even wavering - all while carrying out my morning routines. And in class the other night, I did some back kicks, similar to the last position in the balance drills, so I saw some improvement there. I also did some roundhouse kicks - a low and then a high without rechambering and I was able to do it without losing my balance. This is a marked improvement for me. So, that's where I'm at one week in...anyone else have any progress to report yet?

Learn to Teach - Teach to Learn

I am not a teacher and I don't play one on t.v. either.

I can know something, know how to do it well, but ask me to teach it to someone else verbally and I'm a bumbling idiot. Or so it seems to me anyway. For this post, I'm using this statement in a martial arts context, but the statement is true for almost any situation in my life - whether I'm trying to teach someone at work an aspect of a computer program, trying to teach Buddy how to tie his shoes, or teach my daughter and her friends how to play "Zooma-Zooma". (You had to have watched Big Brother episodes with Evil Dick to know what I'm talking about. And on a totally unrelated topic - I can't believe I just admitted to all cyberspace that I watch superficial reality shows like Big Brother!) Okay to get back on the subject at hand…

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm a word person. I think I write pretty eloquently…okay, maybe not eloquently, maybe more like expressively. Whatever - I'm mooting my own point here! And I can create written instructions that would rival any of the "Dummies" books any day. I have written directions for logging onto online reference libraries for those whose extent of computer experience is the self-checkout at the grocery store. And I'm never verbally at a loss for words either. (Just ask anyone who knows me.) But to teach someone, face to face, is very difficult for me. And I don't like this about myself. Therefore, it is something I absolutely want to change.

I wrote this post over the course of a few days. In that short period of time, my frame of mind shifted quite a bit after one of my karate classes.

The first (and original) frame of mind (written Wed. & Thurs.):

A few months ago, we had a child start with the beginner's class who had obvious attention problems. I recognized the characteristics as very similar to my son's ADHD behaviors…the not being able to stand still while at attention, the flailing arms and legs, which did not seem to be under the control of the child attached to those limbs, the scanning of the room in every direction except for the teacher at the front of the dojo. I painfully watched from the sidelines for a couple of weeks, when I finally asked my sensei, who is a teacher by profession, if she would allow me to just kind of shadow this child. I know that one-on-one is usually the best possible solution for Buddy and thought it might work for this child as well. Still being a white belt at that point myself, I was a little gun shy about asking, but I knew the basics, so I risked the rejection of being told no because I was too new. But she agreed. The next week, I bowed in and stood right near the child and tried to help him shore up some of his moves. I encouraged him to stand still and at attention when that is what was expected of him. He was still very unfocused, but I would like to think my being there helped him a little. If for nothing else, just knowing someone cared enough to take a personal interest. I would like to think that, but in truth, when trying to help him, when showing him correct ways to perform the movements, we got behind the rest of his class and that is where the real problem lies. I think I was the one who could have benefited from the one-on-one at that point! It was frustrating - I knew that I had the knowledge but just couldn't get the info to him in a manner that would make it clear enough to him to make the correction and recover in time to catch back up with the class. He did go on to the intermediate class and still had difficulty focusing, but in watching from the sidelines with his mom, I did seem to notice he didn't seem quite as "frantic" as he had been in his first session.

I offered to help a few more times with the children's beginner's class after that, and again, I found, that when I tried to demonstrate to a child the correct technique or form, both the child and I fell behind the rest of the class. I can't speak for the child, but I know this really threw me off. Therefore, I'd get confused and I'm sure I wasn't helping the child much. Now don't get me wrong - this didn't happen with every assist - just when the child wasn't "getting it" and there was a major correction to make that put us a little behind the others.

About 3 weeks ago, there weren't as many adults to help with the kids' intermediate class. I had always shied away from helping with the intermediate class. A boy who had taken a session or two off had forgotten some of the nuances of the basics. So, I asked if I could help the teacher. He said yes. We did okay until we got to the basic kata. In trying to help this boy and correct his incorrect moves, he and I lagged behind and I got confused because the teacher went on with the rest of the class. The teacher instructing the class jokingly told me to learn my kata. He was well aware that I know it. I think he sensed my frustration and was teasing me a little because he didn't want me to be so hard on myself.

So, knowing this is one of my weak points, I need to put some extra effort into it. I need to talk to one of our senseis and/or teachers to help me with this problem - Ask them how to help without falling behind the rest of the class and getting discombobulated myself. As I said, I know the basic info in trying to help these kids. I am just not versed in the best ways to help and not hinder. Please do not misunderstand me - I am by no stretch trying to insinuate that I am a teacher, but as I continue in my journey in the martial arts, I know that teaching is expected as one progresses. And not only because it is expected , but also because helping someone else with something I love so much is an aspect that I truly enjoy and find rewarding in my own journey, I plan to work very hard at improving this skill.

The second (and now ongoing) state of mind (written Fri. morning after Thurs. night class):

I had thought I was finished with this post until after my class last night and was feeling a little down on myself. But, in pursuit of being a better class helper, I talked to Mack, who helps with, and sometimes even teaches the intermediate kids classes. (Remember him - he is the guy who encouraged me to start the adult classes in the first place -"If I can do this, anyone can do this") In talking to him, I asked how I could be a better helper for the kids' classes, for example, how to avoid the dilemma of the child and I both getting behind the rest of the class when I try to help them correct themselves. Mack hesitated a little and almost laughed and said, "You can't, really." He reassured me that it happened to him, too, and went on to advise me that sometimes the best thing you can do is to just do the exercise along with them and lead by example.

And that one piece of advice made all the difference in the world to me. One of our orange belts taught the intermediate kids' class last night and she asked me to help her. So, I put Mack's advice into practice. I made sure I was in the front row at all times so the kids could use me as a reference. You see, I was doing the techniques in the same direction as the kids. The class leader was facing them so they were seeing it "backwards" when looking at her. I was their peer and they could look at me to see which way they should turn or if they should have left or right side forward. (Now I said they "could", not necessarily "would' : ) I only gave the kids who were next to me a few corrections - no stopping what we were both doing and getting behind. I would just remind them that they were executing a chest punch and not a face punch and their arm would immediately travel down to more of a solar-plexus level. We broke up into groups and I assisted one of our black belts who was teaching our Basic Kata # 1 to three of the six kids. I just continued with my newfound assisting technique, performing the kata right along with them, only correcting slightly, not getting behind, leading by example. We then went on to work on two of the five ippon kumites, where I played the role of uke. (and I was not a bad drama queen if I do say so myself.)

We wrapped up the kid's class without my having gotten discombobulated. And I think I might have even helped a kid or two, even if just marginally. And it felt really good. Thanks, again, Mack - you are always able to inspire me in my journey.

Last night I had an epiphany - Sometimes teaching is just as much about learning as it is about teaching.

The Knuckle Push-Up

A few posts ago, I declared the "inside-out crescent kick" as the bane of my martial arts existence. The knuckle push-up is probably a distant second. I say distant because I actually kind of enjoy the knuckle push-ups whereas the inside-out-crescent kick…not so much.

Back when I was watching Buddy take his first classes and saw the knuckle push-ups, I thought I surely must be seeing/hearing something incorrectly. Surely I was not seeing these little kids supporting all their body weight on two knuckles on each hand? Well, that is exactly what I was seeing…and stop calling me Shirley. (Oh, c'mon, laugh - you've seen Airplane! haven't you?)

When I confirmed that what I was seeing was, in fact, these little kids holding all their body weight up on 4 knuckles, I started to get a little nervous. After all, they only had to hold up about fifty or sixty pounds. I had a heck of a lot more weight than that to hold up on my 4 knuckles! I thought to myself, "Self, this is not going to be easy."

And I was right. On my first night of class, Sensei told the new people that we could just get on our knees and rock forward with the weight on the 2 knuckles of each hand until we became more used to it…that we could build up to it. He then went on to explain the purpose of this unusual exercise. We punch, leading with the first two knuckles. This exercise toughens-up those knuckles. He explained that some women did not feel comfortable doing them for discomfort reasons or because after time, the knuckles seem to get bigger. I looked around and everyone, women included, were doing the knuckle push-ups. So, I tried. And failed. (But I didn't really fail BECAUSE I did try.) I determined that this was going to be one of those challenges I would work my way up to. I started on my knees and rocked forward on my knuckles, putting as much weight as possible on them. I'm not going to lie to you - it hurt. Mercifully, we only do ten repetitions of the knuckle push-ups in each class. (But, before you dismiss this as too easy, keep in mind that they follow 10 regular and 10 triangle push-ups!) Sensei then showed those of us new to this torture how to "shake it out" and get the blood flowing to all our filanges again. And it felt great.

And I did the modified version of this knuckle toughener for quite a few more sessions before I felt able to lift myself on my knuckles. And if you've been reading my posts, you have probably already figured out that I practiced at home, and up against walls at work, and I even push doors open with the first two knuckles of my hand to help that toughening process.)

Recently, Sensei started having us count each push-up out loud together. I don't know about you, but I'm so used to the regulated breathing that I try to use now, that it makes it more difficult for me to do the push-ups (knuckle or otherwise) when I'm counting them out loud as well. Sometimes, it is all I can do just to do the push-ups themselves.

But now that I've been doing the knuckle push-ups for about a year now, I can usually do them. I don't dip as deeply as many of the students who have been with it for years, but I do it. But some nights, I just don't feel I can pull (push?) my own weight. And on those nights, I stay on my knees and rock forward like I did when I was a brand new student. Can't really put my finger on why I feel like that occasionally - maybe just not feeling strong arm strength that night, sore hands from a hectic day of office work, weak from a cold or flu…Whatever the reason, I try not to judge myself and try not to feel like a failure when I just can't do them on a particular night in all their uncomfortable glory.

And I try to remember something Mickey Rooney said, "You always pass failure on the way to success."