Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
In my last Kumite class I was quite tired after having worked 6 days in a row...
Our class is usually around an hour and a half...most of which is non-stop free style fighting.
So we all go at it pretty steady, working with our partners, male and female until the Sensei wants to change up the partners...
...needless to say I was gasping for air after about 5 minutes of non-stop sparring and could barely keep my guard up for protection.
It's at times like this that I can feel my weaknesses and realize how out of shape I am, even though I am 48 years old...age is no excuse as my Sensei is in his fifties and is in excellent shape.
After changing partners a couple of times, I was paired up with a gal I will call Heather, not her real name, but she has a black belt and is an instructor and is in way better shape than I am...
We were practicing a couple of Kumite moves. The first move is from your Kame as you lower your stance and move both arms out, indicating to your opponent that your about to come in for an attack. This is just an affront, instead of coming in, you wait until your opponent takes either an offensive stance or defensive stance...as soon as they realize that your not coming in, is the moment when you shift in and deliver a backfist to the side of their head and then shift back out...the back fist is one of your most indispensable tools in Kumite, as long as like everything else, you don't use it so often that your opponent can easily recognize it coming in.
Now here's the alternate attack that follows the setting up of that particular back fist attack, in your opponents mind.
From the Kamae, shift in like your going to throw your backfist again, but this time, simply, put your fist or open hand directly in your opponents face and block his or her view and throw in a hard round house kick, aiming for the lower ribs...they won't be able to see it coming, and there guard will be up in anticipation of blocking your feigned backfist to the head.
It's a devasting combination of moves if it gets used sparingly, in conjunction with other techniques...
Once I was tired, my control went out the window, and so it was that during my blocking of Heathers eyes, that I scraped a hunk of flesh off of her nose with my finger nail...oh yah, that's a good point to remember, always keep your finger and toes nails as short as possible or perhaps even taped up to avoid accidental injuries...you don't want to be responsible for poking or scraping someone's eye out.
Anyway, make those above mentioned Kumite moves a part of your arsenal...they work great...
RJF
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Time...is it an illusion?
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Well, it's about time I did some blogging, man talk about being a slacker...
I've got an excuse though, I've been setting up the new computer, and it's taken up way more of my time than I thought it would...
Not to mention the fact that I had to work an evening shift...that sure messes up a guy's routine.
That evening shift also cost me a weeks worth of Karate training, including my favorite, a Kumite class.
Things are starting to return to normal, so I hope to be putting more effort into my Karate especially since I've got a red belt exam coming up in March as well as a badge exam in June and then there's my instructors training...
I started thinking about how much time I was wasting doing things...
...and then wondered if I really was wasting time? I mean, what "is" time anyway?
If I live my life, as best I can in the present moment, as fully aware as possible ...am I really wasting time?
Then I thought about the mechanism that makes up my "sense" of time...
...and I came to the conclusion, that it must be made up of one, ever present moment followed by another, ever present moment and so on and so on.
My sense of time then, is really in part, just the use of my memory...using it to reflect on a particular moment of time in the past along with my imagination, to create an imaginary moment of time in the future.
I thought to myself, that's why I lose all my sense of time when I am concentrating on my Karate, because I am not engaging those 2 mental processes...
...I am living and experiencing my life through the present moment.
That's my understanding of it anyway, I'm only wasting time or rather living in time, when I am not living my life in the present moment.
Now the problem is, I don't live my life in the present moment, at least not as much as I would like too, and that is why I'm thankful to be able to engage in Karate as a means of accomplishing that fleeting reality.
Well, enough about time...it's time to practice my Kata...
Well, it's about time I did some blogging, man talk about being a slacker...
I've got an excuse though, I've been setting up the new computer, and it's taken up way more of my time than I thought it would...
Not to mention the fact that I had to work an evening shift...that sure messes up a guy's routine.
That evening shift also cost me a weeks worth of Karate training, including my favorite, a Kumite class.
Things are starting to return to normal, so I hope to be putting more effort into my Karate especially since I've got a red belt exam coming up in March as well as a badge exam in June and then there's my instructors training...
I started thinking about how much time I was wasting doing things...
...and then wondered if I really was wasting time? I mean, what "is" time anyway?
If I live my life, as best I can in the present moment, as fully aware as possible ...am I really wasting time?
Then I thought about the mechanism that makes up my "sense" of time...
...and I came to the conclusion, that it must be made up of one, ever present moment followed by another, ever present moment and so on and so on.
My sense of time then, is really in part, just the use of my memory...using it to reflect on a particular moment of time in the past along with my imagination, to create an imaginary moment of time in the future.
I thought to myself, that's why I lose all my sense of time when I am concentrating on my Karate, because I am not engaging those 2 mental processes...
...I am living and experiencing my life through the present moment.
That's my understanding of it anyway, I'm only wasting time or rather living in time, when I am not living my life in the present moment.
Now the problem is, I don't live my life in the present moment, at least not as much as I would like too, and that is why I'm thankful to be able to engage in Karate as a means of accomplishing that fleeting reality.
Well, enough about time...it's time to practice my Kata...
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Kumite Equipment...make sure it fits properly and is in good shape...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
I originally bought my Kumite equipment used, (not the groin protector) because the equipment itself can be quite expensive...some where around $300.00 for everything.
Unfortunately on my last outing, I tore the thumb right off one of the punches from a hard reverse shot to my opponents body.
The particular style of punches that I use are 1/2 vinyl foam, and I had already ripped the finger slots off of them in previous sparring sessions.
I had more duck tape holding them together than vinyl...
...so I figured it was time to cough up the money for a new pair.
They just aren't robust enough for the kind of contact being made in our non-contact Kumite classes...
...some nice leather ones would be better I think, as they could better handle the flexing when I tighten my fist on a punch.
While rummaging around the local thrift store the other day, I found a pair of elbow pads which appear to be brand new.
...they actually have more padding than the ones I normally use and they were only $2.50
I'll probably end up replacing all my Kumite equipment over the next year or so, that way the cost is spread out over time.
It's a safety thing for yourself and your opponent that you keep your equipment in good shape, just to avoid any injuries...
Happy sparring...
RJF
I originally bought my Kumite equipment used, (not the groin protector) because the equipment itself can be quite expensive...some where around $300.00 for everything.
Unfortunately on my last outing, I tore the thumb right off one of the punches from a hard reverse shot to my opponents body.
The particular style of punches that I use are 1/2 vinyl foam, and I had already ripped the finger slots off of them in previous sparring sessions.
I had more duck tape holding them together than vinyl...
...so I figured it was time to cough up the money for a new pair.
They just aren't robust enough for the kind of contact being made in our non-contact Kumite classes...
...some nice leather ones would be better I think, as they could better handle the flexing when I tighten my fist on a punch.
While rummaging around the local thrift store the other day, I found a pair of elbow pads which appear to be brand new.
...they actually have more padding than the ones I normally use and they were only $2.50
I'll probably end up replacing all my Kumite equipment over the next year or so, that way the cost is spread out over time.
It's a safety thing for yourself and your opponent that you keep your equipment in good shape, just to avoid any injuries...
Happy sparring...
RJF
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Meditation: Why Meditation And How Does It Help by Kevin Pederson
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
The stressful lives we lead today take their toll on our health. Mental stress and physical fatigue drain us of our positive energy leaving us depleted physically, mentally and emotionally. Considered to be part of alternative medicine, meditation is fast gaining popularity amongst conventional medical practitioners as well. Patients are increasingly being advised to meditate for sometime in the day, which is believed to have a positive effect along with the allopathic medicines prescribed for a number of medical conditions.
What is meditation? Meditation is a technique that helps us focus and calms the mind resulting in relaxed and restful state of physical and mental being. Meditation is generally focused on one constant thing, usually your breath. Meditation is an effective tool to gain mind control, self-awareness and understanding that eventually lead to inner calm and peacefulness. For people practice meditation, it can lead to profound experiences of self-realization and transcendental awareness and knowledge. A proven alternative therapy, meditation is a known stress reliever.
Meditation is beneficial not only psychologically but is known to have positive effects on various health conditions ranging from blood pressure, insomnia to even depression. There are different techniques of meditation that people follow today. These are a product of diverse cultures and peoples around the world. The power of meditation has been harnessed to alleviate pain, suffering and promote healing for centuries in different cultures and religions, in some or the other form.
Types of meditation There are various types of meditation that originate from various parts of the world. Prayer is possibly the most common one, the others are Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness meditation, Zen meditation, Buddhist Meditation and Taoist Meditation.
The body under meditation Scientific experimentation and research has found out how the human body reacts under profound meditation. It has been found that the meditation process counteracted the effects of the sympathetic nervous system - the one that wants to fight or flee. Whereas the sympathetic system dilates the pupils and gets the heart rate, respiration and blood pressure up, the parasympathetic system, activated when we meditate, does just the opposite.
Muscle tension decreases, blood pressure drops, and for some extraordinary practitioners, even temperature and basal metabolism rates drop during a prolonged meditation. Oxygen needs of the body are reduced when you are in a highly relaxed state, and brain waves change from the busy beta waves to the blissful alpha waves.
Meditation Techniques There are two major approaches to meditation, which are Concentrative Meditation and Mindfulness Meditation. These can be explained as follows -
1. Concentrative Meditation The approach to still the mind is to focus the attention on the breath, image or sound (mantra). This gives way to greater awareness and clarity. In its most basic form concentrative meditation requires you to sit quietly and focus your attention on your breath. Practitioners of yoga and meditation believe that there is a direct correlation between one's state of mind and one's breath. For e.g. when a person is anxious, frightened, agitated or distracted, the breath will tend to be shallow, rapid and irregular. On the other hand, when the mind is calm, focused and composed, the breath tends to be slow, deep and regular.
2. Mindfulness Meditation In this type of meditation, the mind is aware of all that is happening around you. You just observe the sounds, feelings, sensations, images, thoughts, smells etc without getting involved in them or thing about them. The person is just like a spectator who is witnessing everything but one who does not react or get involved with thoughts, memories, feelings, worries or images. This helps to gain a more calm, clear and non-reactive state of mind.
About the Author
Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies for some of the most common illnesses as well as methods of meditation .
The stressful lives we lead today take their toll on our health. Mental stress and physical fatigue drain us of our positive energy leaving us depleted physically, mentally and emotionally. Considered to be part of alternative medicine, meditation is fast gaining popularity amongst conventional medical practitioners as well. Patients are increasingly being advised to meditate for sometime in the day, which is believed to have a positive effect along with the allopathic medicines prescribed for a number of medical conditions.
What is meditation? Meditation is a technique that helps us focus and calms the mind resulting in relaxed and restful state of physical and mental being. Meditation is generally focused on one constant thing, usually your breath. Meditation is an effective tool to gain mind control, self-awareness and understanding that eventually lead to inner calm and peacefulness. For people practice meditation, it can lead to profound experiences of self-realization and transcendental awareness and knowledge. A proven alternative therapy, meditation is a known stress reliever.
Meditation is beneficial not only psychologically but is known to have positive effects on various health conditions ranging from blood pressure, insomnia to even depression. There are different techniques of meditation that people follow today. These are a product of diverse cultures and peoples around the world. The power of meditation has been harnessed to alleviate pain, suffering and promote healing for centuries in different cultures and religions, in some or the other form.
Types of meditation There are various types of meditation that originate from various parts of the world. Prayer is possibly the most common one, the others are Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness meditation, Zen meditation, Buddhist Meditation and Taoist Meditation.
The body under meditation Scientific experimentation and research has found out how the human body reacts under profound meditation. It has been found that the meditation process counteracted the effects of the sympathetic nervous system - the one that wants to fight or flee. Whereas the sympathetic system dilates the pupils and gets the heart rate, respiration and blood pressure up, the parasympathetic system, activated when we meditate, does just the opposite.
Muscle tension decreases, blood pressure drops, and for some extraordinary practitioners, even temperature and basal metabolism rates drop during a prolonged meditation. Oxygen needs of the body are reduced when you are in a highly relaxed state, and brain waves change from the busy beta waves to the blissful alpha waves.
Meditation Techniques There are two major approaches to meditation, which are Concentrative Meditation and Mindfulness Meditation. These can be explained as follows -
1. Concentrative Meditation The approach to still the mind is to focus the attention on the breath, image or sound (mantra). This gives way to greater awareness and clarity. In its most basic form concentrative meditation requires you to sit quietly and focus your attention on your breath. Practitioners of yoga and meditation believe that there is a direct correlation between one's state of mind and one's breath. For e.g. when a person is anxious, frightened, agitated or distracted, the breath will tend to be shallow, rapid and irregular. On the other hand, when the mind is calm, focused and composed, the breath tends to be slow, deep and regular.
2. Mindfulness Meditation In this type of meditation, the mind is aware of all that is happening around you. You just observe the sounds, feelings, sensations, images, thoughts, smells etc without getting involved in them or thing about them. The person is just like a spectator who is witnessing everything but one who does not react or get involved with thoughts, memories, feelings, worries or images. This helps to gain a more calm, clear and non-reactive state of mind.
About the Author
Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies for some of the most common illnesses as well as methods of meditation .
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Holidays are over...it's back to the Karate workout...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Had my first Karate class after our Dojo took the Christmas, New Year holidays off...
What a killer...1 hour of mostly kicking....front snap, side snap, side thrust.
Then just for fun, Sensei would make us do double kicks... and then he would throw in a few slow pushups when we slacked off.
After that first hour, my gi was soaked with perspiration and we still had another hour of Kata training to go.
I'm going for a red badge some time in June...all's I have to do to get it is, Heian 1-5, Tekki 1-3, Bassa-Dai, Kanku-Dai and the first Jo Kata, Nijuni...
So, for the second hour, we only worked on perfecting the first 6 movements of Kanku-Dai, paying attention to the slow and fast aspects of the different movements, and making sure we used lots of Kime.
Sensei was also demonstrating the bunkai, or the practical meaning of the movements...there's some really cool and damaging techniques in Kanku-Dai...great stuff.
I was completely exhausted after class, and downed a liter of water before I even made it to my car for the drive home.
A couple of tylenol before bedtime and I slept like a baby.
I was sure stiff the next day though...that'll teach me for slacking off during the holidays.
Anyway, I should be getting back into the routine of things. Funny how fast the body goes soft when it isn't being worked, and how long it takes to get it back into shape....
That's why its important to find a sport or activity which a person really loves doing...it's way easier to motivate oneself that way and easier to stick with it and ultimately stay in some semblance of good shape...
RJF
Had my first Karate class after our Dojo took the Christmas, New Year holidays off...
What a killer...1 hour of mostly kicking....front snap, side snap, side thrust.
Then just for fun, Sensei would make us do double kicks... and then he would throw in a few slow pushups when we slacked off.
After that first hour, my gi was soaked with perspiration and we still had another hour of Kata training to go.
I'm going for a red badge some time in June...all's I have to do to get it is, Heian 1-5, Tekki 1-3, Bassa-Dai, Kanku-Dai and the first Jo Kata, Nijuni...
So, for the second hour, we only worked on perfecting the first 6 movements of Kanku-Dai, paying attention to the slow and fast aspects of the different movements, and making sure we used lots of Kime.
Sensei was also demonstrating the bunkai, or the practical meaning of the movements...there's some really cool and damaging techniques in Kanku-Dai...great stuff.
I was completely exhausted after class, and downed a liter of water before I even made it to my car for the drive home.
A couple of tylenol before bedtime and I slept like a baby.
I was sure stiff the next day though...that'll teach me for slacking off during the holidays.
Anyway, I should be getting back into the routine of things. Funny how fast the body goes soft when it isn't being worked, and how long it takes to get it back into shape....
That's why its important to find a sport or activity which a person really loves doing...it's way easier to motivate oneself that way and easier to stick with it and ultimately stay in some semblance of good shape...
RJF
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
How To Empower Yourself With Self Defense by Rob Goyette
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Maybe you were bullied in school, or maybe you live in a rough neighborhood - whatever the case you just want to know how to defend yourself. Self-defense training is a way to take back control of your life, rather than cowering when a dangerous situation arises. Many people will take self-defense courses, or arm themselves with weapons or other self-defense tools.
No matter which course of action you take, there are some key things you need to understand about self-defense. Here are a few things that will help you in evaluating your self-defense needs.
* If you choose a self-defense course, do your research on the course. Not only should it offer physical techniques for defense, but it should show you how to handle aggressive conflicts, being aware of your surroundings, and what you need to do to be safe. All good courses are a combination of things to not only help you fend off a physical attack, but to avoid them if you can.
* Whatever option you choose for self-defense, learn to execute it properly. If you have a can of pepper spray or a pen knife, find out everything you can about the application of these products, what they can do, and maybe most importantly - what they cannot do. If you are learning verbal avoidance and awareness, learn as much as you can and apply what you have learned regularly. The more you make self-defense a part of your life, the greater the chance of it saving your life when the time comes.
* Learn several options for self-defense. You may not be able to get that can of pepper spray or the Taser out of your jacket or purse, so an alternate strategy is important. It might be worthwhile for you to take a brief course to learn the awareness and resolution strategies, and a few close combat physical techniques, along with carrying a self-defense product.
* If you like the idea of learning a discipline and perfecting it over time, then marital arts classes might be the right idea for you. You will be taught several physical techniques for defense, along with personal discipline and in some classes you will also learn simple escape techniques.
* Not one method can guarantee success, as each attack is different. Don't let anyone tell you that they can guarantee that you will get away from attacker with their system or their self-defense weapon. This is impossible. No one can ever predict or re-enact your attack when it happens. Being taught how to respond is the only thing they can guarantee.
* Realize that any self-defense method, whether it is a weapon, or physical defense strategy, is meant to merely provide an opportunity to escape - never to continue engaging with an attacker. If you are being taught to prolong your defense, or to make the attacker 'pay' longer than they should, then you might think twice about that option. The longer you are with the attacker the more jeopardy you put yourself in, physically and emotionally.
The options are there: weapons, physical defense such as karate or other martial arts, and avoidance techniques. Find the right one for you - one that you are most comfortable with, and stick with it. Once you learn to defend yourself from attack, you will feel empowered in the face of danger, rather than shying away and being taken advantage of by your attackers. Confidence and peace of mind are a much more enjoyable feeling than fear and angst any day. Empower yourself with a self-defense option - you won't regret it.
Visit us for your FREE subscription to the about-self-defense newsletter where you will get great information on various styles, weapons, classes, and self defense books and videos. http://www.about-self-defense.com
About the Author
Rob Goyette created the about-self-defense.com website to help educate those who want to walk the streets with confidence knowing they can minimize chances of attack and injury. Sign up for your free newsletter here: http://www.about-self-defense.com
Maybe you were bullied in school, or maybe you live in a rough neighborhood - whatever the case you just want to know how to defend yourself. Self-defense training is a way to take back control of your life, rather than cowering when a dangerous situation arises. Many people will take self-defense courses, or arm themselves with weapons or other self-defense tools.
No matter which course of action you take, there are some key things you need to understand about self-defense. Here are a few things that will help you in evaluating your self-defense needs.
* If you choose a self-defense course, do your research on the course. Not only should it offer physical techniques for defense, but it should show you how to handle aggressive conflicts, being aware of your surroundings, and what you need to do to be safe. All good courses are a combination of things to not only help you fend off a physical attack, but to avoid them if you can.
* Whatever option you choose for self-defense, learn to execute it properly. If you have a can of pepper spray or a pen knife, find out everything you can about the application of these products, what they can do, and maybe most importantly - what they cannot do. If you are learning verbal avoidance and awareness, learn as much as you can and apply what you have learned regularly. The more you make self-defense a part of your life, the greater the chance of it saving your life when the time comes.
* Learn several options for self-defense. You may not be able to get that can of pepper spray or the Taser out of your jacket or purse, so an alternate strategy is important. It might be worthwhile for you to take a brief course to learn the awareness and resolution strategies, and a few close combat physical techniques, along with carrying a self-defense product.
* If you like the idea of learning a discipline and perfecting it over time, then marital arts classes might be the right idea for you. You will be taught several physical techniques for defense, along with personal discipline and in some classes you will also learn simple escape techniques.
* Not one method can guarantee success, as each attack is different. Don't let anyone tell you that they can guarantee that you will get away from attacker with their system or their self-defense weapon. This is impossible. No one can ever predict or re-enact your attack when it happens. Being taught how to respond is the only thing they can guarantee.
* Realize that any self-defense method, whether it is a weapon, or physical defense strategy, is meant to merely provide an opportunity to escape - never to continue engaging with an attacker. If you are being taught to prolong your defense, or to make the attacker 'pay' longer than they should, then you might think twice about that option. The longer you are with the attacker the more jeopardy you put yourself in, physically and emotionally.
The options are there: weapons, physical defense such as karate or other martial arts, and avoidance techniques. Find the right one for you - one that you are most comfortable with, and stick with it. Once you learn to defend yourself from attack, you will feel empowered in the face of danger, rather than shying away and being taken advantage of by your attackers. Confidence and peace of mind are a much more enjoyable feeling than fear and angst any day. Empower yourself with a self-defense option - you won't regret it.
Visit us for your FREE subscription to the about-self-defense newsletter where you will get great information on various styles, weapons, classes, and self defense books and videos. http://www.about-self-defense.com
About the Author
Rob Goyette created the about-self-defense.com website to help educate those who want to walk the streets with confidence knowing they can minimize chances of attack and injury. Sign up for your free newsletter here: http://www.about-self-defense.com
Monday, January 02, 2006
The right breathing....source of personal and universal Ki...continued
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Excerpts from The Zen Way to The Martial Arts...
...breathing in is taking in supplies; breathing out, slowly and deeply, spreads them through the body.
It is important to concentrate on breathing out, on spreading and distributing, because breathing in, stocking up energy, happens unconsciously and automatically.
The Japanese martial arts use this way of breathing, and any attack must take place while breathing out (yang), if possible while the adversary is breathing in (yin), because he is then at his most vulnerable.
What is the most important thing of all in the martial arts?
T.D. Breathing. What condition are you in below the navel? I don't mean your sexual organs! I mean the hara, three fingers beneath the navel. The way to develop the power of the hara, to assemble all your energy there, is by right breathing.
Excerpts from The Zen Way to The Martial Arts...
...breathing in is taking in supplies; breathing out, slowly and deeply, spreads them through the body.
It is important to concentrate on breathing out, on spreading and distributing, because breathing in, stocking up energy, happens unconsciously and automatically.
The Japanese martial arts use this way of breathing, and any attack must take place while breathing out (yang), if possible while the adversary is breathing in (yin), because he is then at his most vulnerable.
What is the most important thing of all in the martial arts?
T.D. Breathing. What condition are you in below the navel? I don't mean your sexual organs! I mean the hara, three fingers beneath the navel. The way to develop the power of the hara, to assemble all your energy there, is by right breathing.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Belief, Faiths and CONS by Robert Bruce Baird
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
The CON in CONstructs:
There are many esoteric wisdom schools and many divisions or a hierarchy in each one of them. Some of the initiates think they are all-knowing once they see what their school has placed in the ether to make them think what they want to think. Carl Jung describes something related to this in his forward to The Tibetan Book of the Dead. He makes it clear that once a person is entering the afterlife they will see what they thought they believed or expected to see at first. Astral 'travelers' who blunder along with little awareness of history will think they are finding proof of God or alien involvement in Earth's cultural development. The magicians and priesthoods of the past were well aware most people 'traveled' every night. In the pre-Christian era this 'travel' was conscious and most people were more adept and aware. The Thoth-Hermes or Imhotep-Asklepios intellectual schools which noted historian Michael Grant tells us was the main system of thought in the Old World is mirrored throughout the whole world.
The Mediwiwin Society of North America and the Toltecs or Chanes/Dragons join the pantheon of adept spiritual scientists that modern quantum physicists note the Eastern philosophies were most expressive about. The Mandukya Upanishads, the I Ching and Tao or Zen - all these systems including Yoga of my early adulthood and search for truth are noted by Capra, Heisenberg, Wigner and the likes of Zukav as well as top Nobel Laureates of all hard sciences. It was these schools of philosophy or thought that made me know our history was all made up and not very close to reality. It goes both ways. Knowledge must be checked through other means of awareness and all facts must be included. There should be no anomaly in any true account that understands our culture or science. Belief is 'closure' of the mind! But 'belief' or 'Faith in some CON game that Noahdists, Brahmins or other Cabalistic types might have made has a very negative side to it. It builds the kind of obsession and nationalism that leads to Gihads of many kinds. It makes people say they speak for God or 'consult higher authority' as they create War on Terra (Or is that Terror?).
"Two key terms for Pisces is Sacrifice and 'I believe'. Could that be the lesson of the Piscean age, to sacrifice belief? By the way there is nearly six hundred years of the age of Pisces left to run. To stop the indoctrination of our young into established religions, to tell kids the truth and stop trying to build moral conscience through the stick and the carrot method of religion. This continual projection of shame, judgement and repression upon people who possess particular abilities is more the cause of psychological unsoundness than the ability itself. Yes, as a modern progressive society we are growing into a fuller appreciation that freedom of expression and psychological health go hand in hand but we are still a long way from libertarianism. {Which certain Illuminati say is their front and I know is derived from the Merovingian Physiocratic School that Dupont de Nemours initiated Jefferson into.}We are still a hard punishing lot, the rule of law of our secular governments simply representing a shift in power base from king and Pope to a ragtag of over-opinionated people sponsored by commercial interest promoting an ethic of self interest.
As long as society in general and us as individuals resort to punishment as a way of modifying human behavior, God as the face of human collective unconsciousness, the universal mind will not be whole and balanced. God will be too ashamed to look at his own face because of how disgusting and ugly the not understood aspects of his nature are thought to be. So there the God and Devil sit at opposite ends of the same fence, facing away from each other, we forgetting that they are two halves of the one whole. For those who have journeyed along the inner landscapes will know you need to be friends with all aspects of human nature and it is the job of the individual to reconcile this split in consciousness and let these two friends, God and the Devil go home together.
Once again getting back to the legends of the enlightened ones who guide mankind, the secret societies, the esoteric orders who boast themselves privy to secrets too sacred for the uninitiated, the custodians of spiritual truth, the mystery schools that demand loyalty upon fear of death. Why would God as collective consciousness dream such groups into existence? For one, these groups have literally cemented the inner landscapes with bricks and mortar and sign upon sign. These pioneers of psychic exploration have mapped the human subconscious with such dedication that they have made travelling the realms, looking for answers possible. These groups provide a double function. They know the direction of man's destiny is going to come through the unravelling of a psychic thread so they promote themselves as custodians of the keys of enlightenment. Their second function is to prevent anyone gaining access to this psychic thread.
God as the collective unconsciousness knows that as long as the hero keeps entering the labyrinth clutching Ariadne's thread only to return through the same way he left that it is the thread it's self that prevents him finding the other side of the maze. His own tradition of trusting in the fate repetitiously woven by Athena/Arachne in aspect as the weaver goddess, prevents him from dropping the old thread and finding the new one. When I enter the subconscious realms I want to met Elvis and Frank Zappa, Freddie Mercury and my Aunt Shirley. I found it really annoying to be directed by the custodians of the inner paths to answer questions about such old Archetypes such as Janus and Isis. My imagination was figuratively being constrained by the cemented traditions of which I have no interest, they are so antiquated they only represent tombs for thought not repositories for the living material of conscious building.
So any aspirant who seeks enlightenment who is able to open his mind up, raise his conscious level is trapped like a fly in a spider's web, into a stereotypical interaction with the subconscious resultant of the archetypal conditioning of the collective subconscious. What appears to have happened is that participants in the initiate mystery schools started to believe that the ritual Archetypes who were deliberately woven into the mists of the collective unconscious as signposts were actually real. This sentiment permeates many modern initiate schools who speak of the reality of the Otherworld as being just as real as this one. So the belief structure built up around this Otherworld has cut it off from the technique's original purpose which was simply an easy way, a step by step plan of gaining access to the human collective consciousness. These belief structures have cemented God, as collective conscious, into a prison. So, why if this is so obvious, why hasn't it been picked up before? This is the other function of mystery schools, to prevent people from seeing the truth, finding the keys, having access to a broader view of God as the collective unconscious.
By structuring the collective subconscious it has been fixed to a spot, anchored if you like. Imagine the evolutionary process of mans consciousness as a precessional zodiac wheel. With time errors appear, the archetypal map no longer represents the topography but the errors are only slight and by extending the original structure by over laying new myths over the old frame the map appears accurate. The two dimensional imagery of the subconscious becomes three dimensional. Every time the current of man's development has allowed him to glimpse a new concept, the essence has been symbolized and quickly incorporated as new building material in the old structure.
So the original spot in man's consciousness where the precessional development of man's full nature has been so built upon, become so dense, that a fortress, a whirling castle of Arianrhod has been built. Instead of mankind drifting along the path of evolution we have been fixed in space, chained to a huge structure architecturally designed and contributed to by every fully initiated master. So if this structure is what's keeping man from continuing on the road to enlightenment why was it designed by people who were seeking that very thing. Because the Architect knew that one day these structures would finally be seen for the prison they are and God as collective unconscious would teach himself the means by which he could escape the prison walls. In hindsight we can say that man's conscious is genetically coded not to continue development until such time as man is consciously aware of the process and has made a conscious decision to evolve." (7)
About the Author
Author of Diverse Druids Columnist for The ES Press Magazine Guest 'expert' at World-Mysteries.com
The CON in CONstructs:
There are many esoteric wisdom schools and many divisions or a hierarchy in each one of them. Some of the initiates think they are all-knowing once they see what their school has placed in the ether to make them think what they want to think. Carl Jung describes something related to this in his forward to The Tibetan Book of the Dead. He makes it clear that once a person is entering the afterlife they will see what they thought they believed or expected to see at first. Astral 'travelers' who blunder along with little awareness of history will think they are finding proof of God or alien involvement in Earth's cultural development. The magicians and priesthoods of the past were well aware most people 'traveled' every night. In the pre-Christian era this 'travel' was conscious and most people were more adept and aware. The Thoth-Hermes or Imhotep-Asklepios intellectual schools which noted historian Michael Grant tells us was the main system of thought in the Old World is mirrored throughout the whole world.
The Mediwiwin Society of North America and the Toltecs or Chanes/Dragons join the pantheon of adept spiritual scientists that modern quantum physicists note the Eastern philosophies were most expressive about. The Mandukya Upanishads, the I Ching and Tao or Zen - all these systems including Yoga of my early adulthood and search for truth are noted by Capra, Heisenberg, Wigner and the likes of Zukav as well as top Nobel Laureates of all hard sciences. It was these schools of philosophy or thought that made me know our history was all made up and not very close to reality. It goes both ways. Knowledge must be checked through other means of awareness and all facts must be included. There should be no anomaly in any true account that understands our culture or science. Belief is 'closure' of the mind! But 'belief' or 'Faith in some CON game that Noahdists, Brahmins or other Cabalistic types might have made has a very negative side to it. It builds the kind of obsession and nationalism that leads to Gihads of many kinds. It makes people say they speak for God or 'consult higher authority' as they create War on Terra (Or is that Terror?).
"Two key terms for Pisces is Sacrifice and 'I believe'. Could that be the lesson of the Piscean age, to sacrifice belief? By the way there is nearly six hundred years of the age of Pisces left to run. To stop the indoctrination of our young into established religions, to tell kids the truth and stop trying to build moral conscience through the stick and the carrot method of religion. This continual projection of shame, judgement and repression upon people who possess particular abilities is more the cause of psychological unsoundness than the ability itself. Yes, as a modern progressive society we are growing into a fuller appreciation that freedom of expression and psychological health go hand in hand but we are still a long way from libertarianism. {Which certain Illuminati say is their front and I know is derived from the Merovingian Physiocratic School that Dupont de Nemours initiated Jefferson into.}We are still a hard punishing lot, the rule of law of our secular governments simply representing a shift in power base from king and Pope to a ragtag of over-opinionated people sponsored by commercial interest promoting an ethic of self interest.
As long as society in general and us as individuals resort to punishment as a way of modifying human behavior, God as the face of human collective unconsciousness, the universal mind will not be whole and balanced. God will be too ashamed to look at his own face because of how disgusting and ugly the not understood aspects of his nature are thought to be. So there the God and Devil sit at opposite ends of the same fence, facing away from each other, we forgetting that they are two halves of the one whole. For those who have journeyed along the inner landscapes will know you need to be friends with all aspects of human nature and it is the job of the individual to reconcile this split in consciousness and let these two friends, God and the Devil go home together.
Once again getting back to the legends of the enlightened ones who guide mankind, the secret societies, the esoteric orders who boast themselves privy to secrets too sacred for the uninitiated, the custodians of spiritual truth, the mystery schools that demand loyalty upon fear of death. Why would God as collective consciousness dream such groups into existence? For one, these groups have literally cemented the inner landscapes with bricks and mortar and sign upon sign. These pioneers of psychic exploration have mapped the human subconscious with such dedication that they have made travelling the realms, looking for answers possible. These groups provide a double function. They know the direction of man's destiny is going to come through the unravelling of a psychic thread so they promote themselves as custodians of the keys of enlightenment. Their second function is to prevent anyone gaining access to this psychic thread.
God as the collective unconsciousness knows that as long as the hero keeps entering the labyrinth clutching Ariadne's thread only to return through the same way he left that it is the thread it's self that prevents him finding the other side of the maze. His own tradition of trusting in the fate repetitiously woven by Athena/Arachne in aspect as the weaver goddess, prevents him from dropping the old thread and finding the new one. When I enter the subconscious realms I want to met Elvis and Frank Zappa, Freddie Mercury and my Aunt Shirley. I found it really annoying to be directed by the custodians of the inner paths to answer questions about such old Archetypes such as Janus and Isis. My imagination was figuratively being constrained by the cemented traditions of which I have no interest, they are so antiquated they only represent tombs for thought not repositories for the living material of conscious building.
So any aspirant who seeks enlightenment who is able to open his mind up, raise his conscious level is trapped like a fly in a spider's web, into a stereotypical interaction with the subconscious resultant of the archetypal conditioning of the collective subconscious. What appears to have happened is that participants in the initiate mystery schools started to believe that the ritual Archetypes who were deliberately woven into the mists of the collective unconscious as signposts were actually real. This sentiment permeates many modern initiate schools who speak of the reality of the Otherworld as being just as real as this one. So the belief structure built up around this Otherworld has cut it off from the technique's original purpose which was simply an easy way, a step by step plan of gaining access to the human collective consciousness. These belief structures have cemented God, as collective conscious, into a prison. So, why if this is so obvious, why hasn't it been picked up before? This is the other function of mystery schools, to prevent people from seeing the truth, finding the keys, having access to a broader view of God as the collective unconscious.
By structuring the collective subconscious it has been fixed to a spot, anchored if you like. Imagine the evolutionary process of mans consciousness as a precessional zodiac wheel. With time errors appear, the archetypal map no longer represents the topography but the errors are only slight and by extending the original structure by over laying new myths over the old frame the map appears accurate. The two dimensional imagery of the subconscious becomes three dimensional. Every time the current of man's development has allowed him to glimpse a new concept, the essence has been symbolized and quickly incorporated as new building material in the old structure.
So the original spot in man's consciousness where the precessional development of man's full nature has been so built upon, become so dense, that a fortress, a whirling castle of Arianrhod has been built. Instead of mankind drifting along the path of evolution we have been fixed in space, chained to a huge structure architecturally designed and contributed to by every fully initiated master. So if this structure is what's keeping man from continuing on the road to enlightenment why was it designed by people who were seeking that very thing. Because the Architect knew that one day these structures would finally be seen for the prison they are and God as collective unconscious would teach himself the means by which he could escape the prison walls. In hindsight we can say that man's conscious is genetically coded not to continue development until such time as man is consciously aware of the process and has made a conscious decision to evolve." (7)
About the Author
Author of Diverse Druids Columnist for The ES Press Magazine Guest 'expert' at World-Mysteries.com
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