Mountain Winds Karate

http://m.theepochtimes.com/n3/569094-holistic-fitness-through-martial-arts/

Holistic Fitness Through Martial Arts Western films, novels, and popular culture are rife with images of martial prowess bringing mass destruction to enemies, but there is another aspect of the “war arts,” that many forget.

"A black belt doesn't mean anything. The meaning is in the journey." -Unknown

This could be up for debate. Achieving black belt signifies that you have worked hard and overcome obstacles and hard training to get to that point. Flip side of the coin, if you just paid X amount of dollars and get your belt regardless of the effort you put in, where is the pride in earning it? Most black belts will say they prefer the satisfaction and pride of knowing they worked hard to earn their black belt. Or any belt for that matter. That is something money can't buy.

"For me, the martial arts is a search for something inside. It's not just a physical discipline."
--Brandon Lee

Good thought. There are more angles to martial arts than just the physical discipline. There is healthy mind, nutrition to keep the body in good shape, studying so you can speak to why you train...so many aspects that can be forgotten. It all comes back to "Why do I train? What drives me?"

http://www.blackbeltmag.com/daily/self-defense-training/self-defense-for-women/the-art-of-teaching-womens-self-defense-less-is-best/

One of the better self defense related articles among the countless out there. It brings up several good points for those that teach a self defense course; including that the instructor must remember to stay in touch with the average knowledge base of the student. Students who sign up for a self defense class will have various skill and fitness levels. A good instructor will be able to recognize these and adapt their course for maximum benefit to their students.

The Art of Teaching Self-Defense: Less Is Best – - Black Belt Kelly Muir, the Black Belt Hall of Fame's 2012 Woman of the Year, comments on how to best teach women the basics of self-defense.

"Follow not in the footsteps of the masters. Rather, seek what they sought."

Everyone has their own path to follow. Not everyone will train at the same speed or intensity as others. Yes, you should work hard, but the path your teachers took to get where they are today is theirs. You need to find your own path to get to your goals and your dreams.

http://www.martial-art-potential.com/sports-nutrition.html

Most of us already know a lot of what this article speaks of, however, it never hurts to revisit a few of the building blocks of good nutrition. The author breaks things down nicely, as well; allowing someone who may be "new" to good nutrition a well informed starting place.

Sports Nutrition in the Martial Arts Sports nutrition in the martial arts – learn all you need to know about keeping a diet fit for your needs…

"For martial artists, there is no finish line. You can always do better." -Bruno Fernandes

So to the point. Especially with how much knowledge there is to learn. We can always refine our technique...or learn a new one. We will always be learning and training and growing.

“Brotherhood starts the day we walk off the street and into the training hall. There, regardless of who we are, we are all the same. We leave our differences at the door and we unite for one purpose, to help ourselves and each other become the best we can be” ~ Master Karen Eden

This can tie into the article on egos. Again, just because someone has more experience, or is a higher rank than another student, does not give them the right to hold that over the other student. Ego should be left at the door for dojo is family. We are only as strong as the students we have. There is no room for inflated egos. Yes, we should have pride in our accomplishments, but we need to be willing to share that knowledge with our students and classmates. It does no one any good if we allow a student to give up because they did not have the proper support structure from their fellow students and instructors.

http://breakingmuscle.com/martial-arts/role-ego-jiu-jitsu-and-elsewhere

Another very good article that crosses over into other branches of the martial arts tree. We as martial artists, no matter what rank we are, must remember to be humble because we all started as a white belt and with all the knowledge out there, we can only hope to know a fraction of it and apply it well. Black belt does not mean you are better than another person. It means you searched and trained for something to better yourself and are willing to share that with others who are just as willing to to learn.

The Role of Ego in Jiu Jitsu - and Elsewhere “Leave your ego at the door” - as you cross the threshold into the grappling academy or gym, tap into your humility really fast. You can learn a vital truth from anyone - if you are willing to do so.

http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=62

This is a good article on Mushin, or "the practice of having a clear mind." There are several references to how having a clear mind can be a good thing for the martial artist, as practicing it makes you more aware of the subtle sensory sensations of your body and surroundings, i.e "a mind more able to freely perceive and respond." With a brief history of Mushin and how it is applied to traditional and modern aspects of training and life, it is definitely worth a read.

FightingArts.com - Mushin What is this central concept that underlies most of martial arts?

"The only bad workout is the one that didn't happen."

No one said it is a requirement to bust your rear at the gym. Everyone has to start somewhere and you should base your workout on what you are able to do. It is always better to at least try than convince yourself (or let others convince you) you can't do it. Find the workout that works best for what you can do now, then adapt it as you progress. Always talk to your doctor before starting any new workout if you have doubts if it is the right one for you.

"We know what we are, but we know not what we may be." - William Shakespeare

The future is uncertain and we may not know where life's road will lead, but that is part of the adventure. Have dreams. Have goals. Try new things. Who knows what the future will hold for you or what opportunities will stroll your way. And when you achieve your dreams and goals, make new ones and keep the journey going.