a breakthrough

[Matt - a simple hobbit]

Hey Mountain Warrior Community ... it is your friend - the absent, though continuing to train, ningsite lurker. I wanted to share a breakthrough I had in my art with you all. I have continued to train my punches, kicks, knife, and sticks in the air (not ideal, but valuable). 2 or 3 times a week I go for a late walk with my staff. It is too big to train in our apartment and I haven't brought it to the office yet to train at lunch. They already think I am a bit in on the intense side.

 

Up to this point, on my walks, I have been going through the 10 steps drill as well as the passing drills, imagining my partner sharing in the prescribed steps Sifu Bronson lays out. The past week, either due to my growing levels of familiarity with the staff and movement or to increased creativity or both, my imagined partner jumped out of the prescribed steps and I entered a sweet place Sifu Bronson calls free flow. One partner became multiple attackers and I lost myself in the moment. I am not sure how much time passed, but when I ended in a defensive horse stance I was breathing heavily and perspiring. It was a timeless moment.

 

While in class, I have shared in free flow training spaces that Mr. Bronson has made for us. During these times I would participate physically, but my mind always seemed to be on with chatter. "Was that kick strong enough?" "I have done too many punches, time to switch to another move?" "Is it three minutes yet?" "Dakota really should get a hair cut."

 

It is difficult to calm the mind in our time. I give much attention to this and rarely ever achieve the freedom I have known from time to time, but the other night, under the clouds, on the wet grass, with frogs cheering, I was one with my staff. One with the trees close by. One with my attackers. Oneness. It was a taste. I hope someday I can make this a feast I get regularly.

[Ken Meeks]

Thanks for sharing that.  I recently had a most worthy discussion with Sifu Bronson about "being" in the present. My grey matter is plagued with chatter, and when its chattering its either thinking about the past or the future, and thereby missing the focus of whatever I am being in the present. It was good to hear your description of a quiet mind absorbed in the present.

After my discussion with Sifu Bronson, and after reading your blog, I am beginning to have an intellectual comprehension of what it means to have a quiet mind. It seems to be a step beyond absolute focus on the present activity such as a professional athelete focusing on making a game winning free-throw, or concentrating on sinking a million dollar putt. It seems as though the mind is so aware of the present that the present is all consuming and therefore is a separate reality.......and maybe I just went to too many Dead shows in my youth........but it just came to mind that there is a famous climbing route in Yosemite called Separate Reality....and I know when climbing it helps to have total focus...which makes me wonder the inspiration for the name of the route......better sign off as I'm starting to yarble.

Anyway, thanks again for your well stated description and sharing your experience.

 

[suzanne sanders]

What a great blog.   :)

[Joseph Bronson]

NICE!!!!!!