Your Greatest Mission
We both have an important mission you and I. Do you know what it is? This quote pretty much sums it up: "Men go forth to wonder at the heights of mountains, the huge waves of the sea, the broad flow of the rivers, the vast compass of the ocean, the courses of the stars, and they pass by THEMSELVES without wondering." ~ St-Augustine  How amazing is it to be here, fully conscious, with the ability to create the reality we wish and experience life to the fullest. Do you realize the amazing potential you have locked inside? Your most important mission, responsibility, or job is developing, knowing and challenging... YOU. I happen to like the martial art path because of the fighting spirit it instills in you and the self-discipline you need to stick with it. Many paths can keep you on the path of self-mastery. Find yours and be dedicated to it. How sad would it be to go through life and only realize when it's too late what you could of really accomplished if you only took the time to realize how special and lucky you are? Just something to keep in mind and ponder about as you start your week off. Master Yourself, Sibok M Labels: Fang Shen Do, Fighting Spirit, Life Lessons, Purpose, Sibok Martin Patenaude
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It's Louse Time! Are you Dead or Alive?
If you're new to my list of focused, motivated, self- starters, Welcome. (if you're not new jump right away to today's lesson below) Every day I communicate to you the best ways to train and the kind of mindset it takes to get results either in your physical fitness or martial art training. Friday is always what I call: "Louse Time". Modeled after Bruce Lee's strategy in Enter the Dragon. You know that part where he's having tea with the government agent but he's disturbed by one of his students and Bruce Lee tells the agent: It's Louse Time! The agent replies with his British accent: "yes of course". Since I'm 6 years old that scene has always stuck with me and I'll be using that same strategy with YOU every week. Friday is where I share with you Life Lessons and Direction given to me by my dad (and Sifu) every Friday. Today's lesson is: Are you Dead or Alive? I try to be smooother in my approach in my other e-mails during the week but on Friday I feel like I can cut right to the chase. After all, it is Louse Time.
If you remember my original posts about the meaning of "louse time" it means to deliberately insult somebody's behavior and attitude.
Insult is a strong word, I would say the purpose of Louse Time is to shake your beliefs, get you to take action, break a bad habit, bring awareness to a disempowering behavior, or to force you to take massive action.
So I ask you the question again: Are you Dead or Alive?
As you might of noticed there are many dead people walking around among us.
Here's how I've been taught to categorize if someone is Dead:
-Someone who purposely stays in a dead end job, complacently stuck in a routine rut and doesn't create values.
-Someone who doesn't realize there is more to us than the physical chores of: eating, drinking, going to the bathroom, and sleeping.
-Someone who does not DO what they love, what they were born to do.
-Someone who doesn't read and continually educate himself/herself.
-Someone who allows external authorities to control their life, failing to make their own decisions.
-Someone who accepts mediocrity.
-Someone who fails to ask the question: "There has to be a better way" and misses the importance of making self-improvement a top priority.
-Someone who's too afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone.
-Someone who's given up on their childhood dream.
It all boils down to what kind of existence do you want?
Are you just going through the motions?
Are you continually postponing some of your dreams?
Be careful not to wait too long, waking up one day and saying: "I should of done this" and "I wish I could go back and do things differently".
No one should have to live with regret.
Choose to be Alive, take a chance and follow your heart.
Aim Higher,
Sifu Martin P.S Without a doubt martial arts training can stir things up for you, get an edge, learn how to become a martial artist, here's a great book to get you started: 10 Secrets Labels: Attitude, Fang Shen Do, Fang Shen Do Book, Life Lessons, Louse Time, Purpose
www.fangshendo.com
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It's Louse Time!
If you're new to my list of focused, motivated, self- starters, Welcome. (if you're not jump right away to today's lesson below) Every day I communicate to you the best ways to train and the kind of mindset it takes to get results either in your physical fitness or martial art training. Friday is always what I call: "Louse Time". Modeled after Bruce Lee's strategy in Enter the Dragon. You know that part where he's having tea with the government agent but he's disturbed by one of his students and Bruce Lee tells the agent: It's Louse Time! The agent replies with his british accent: "yes of course". Since I'm 6 years old that scene has always stuck with me and I'll be using that same strategy with YOU every week. Friday is where I share with you Life Lessons and Direction given to me by my dad (and Sifu) every Friday. Today's lesson is: Living Life on Your Own Terms I like this quote by Christopher Morley: "There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way." Have you ever been discriminated against? Ridiculed. Told you weren't good enough. Been openly criticized? Well we have. I can just imagine how women felt back in the early 1900's. Unable to vote. Not recognized as a qualified person to be appointed to the senate, other people telling them what they could and couldn't do. Or what African Canadians went through to have equal rights in this country. The nerve of people who think they can control you and decide what you can and cannot do in your place. I have alot of respect for those groups of people that had to fight for their Freedom. Choose how you want to spend your life. With Who? Where? Doing What? Do not let anyone dictate what you can or cannot do. There's only one person that can stop you from accomplishing your goals: YOU. Become a Self-Leader. Stick to what you believe in and march straight ahead towards it. Master Yourself, Sifu Martin Labels: Goals, Purpose
www.fangshendo.com
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Live by this Code
I'd like to share with you this quote I received from one of my mentors. It is profound, and if you follow these guidelines they will put you on the right path. -To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. -To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. -To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. -To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. -To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best. -To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. -To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. -To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. -To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. -To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. Promise yourself these things. ~ Christian Larson Jot these down and place them on your night table or read them aloud when you awake in the morning. See what kind of effect it has on your attitude, your sense of purpose and the way you tackle daily chores and challenges. This is exactly the state of mind you want to be in before starting your daily meditation. Still unsure as to how to meditate? You can get your meditation course right here. Master Yourself, Sifu Martin Labels: Attitude, Meditation, Purpose
www.fangshendo.com
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Our new kung-fu website
There we go again. Taking what we have and improving it. Never being satisfied or complacent. I think there's a great lesson to be learned here. You must become a student of this philosophy and mind set, it is: Constant and Never Ending Improvement or what the Japanese call: Kaizen. Adopt this mentality in everything you do. In your physical training, your relationships, at work or in your business, with your family and in the martial arts.  Learn from mistakes, make corrections, Ask yourself: "How can I do this better?", Aim for the stars and chances are you'll hit the moon or lower your expectations and aim for a bird, you'll surely hit a measly post. AIM HIGH! "Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing"- Albert Schweitzer It's one thing to say something and it's another to actually do it. Look at every area of your life and find something you can improve on. Becoming too comfortable in any one area leads to stagnation, over-confidence, lack of creativity, loss of drive, and lets not forget "Boredom". As my dad would say: "Life is either an exhilaration or a burden" Making everything you do an exhilaration guarantees you'll feel happy and excited, it will leave you feeling strong, active and alive. One key to exhilaration is learning. Be a life long learner. Take our book for example. It's filled with 10 foundational elements to laying down a strong martial art foundation. Pick up a copy today.Aim Higher, Sifu Martin Labels: Fang Shen Do, Purpose
www.fangshendo.com
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Break out of your comfort zone
So many people are searching for that magic workout, special pill or that new piece of equipment. I had this guy once come see me to take classes and he said he was ready, he wanted to learn the art, train hard, you know all that stuff. Except there was this little problem. He didn't want to SWEAT! "Sweat?!" I said. "Yeah, I don't like to sweat" Can you imagine what I told him? What AM I supposed to say to that? What, you want me to do the push-ups for you? So I told him the nice way: "Sorry Buddy but I can't help you with that", BYE. I think too many people want to be wrapped in comfort when they're training. Things like: Water bottle strapped to their belt, Fully Air conditioned environment, watch TV simultaneously, nice little floor mat, etc... Yes you should stay hydrated but if you're always reaching for that water bottle how's that suppose to help with will power and determination? Distracting yourself with TV? You're supposed to feel your body and be aware of it. Listen to it. Pay attention to weaknesses and plan to strengthen them at your next session (for some it's lower back, shoulders or knees) You're gonna have to go through a little pain to get to some major pleasure. The pleasure of knowing you didn't give up when you could of easily quit. With each training session, you feel you're taking one more step up the ladder of strength, endurance and flexibility. Our training program might not feel as good as flopping on the couch with a bowl of ice cream but I can guarantee you, you'll feel a whole lot better after our workout, you'll have more energy, you'll be feeling awake and charged up for hours, more than that sluggish feeling you'll feel after that very short felt moment of gratification after ingesting that fat infested dish. Get "un"-comfortable, Get trainin' now.Sifu Martin Labels: Purpose, Strength Training
www.fangshendo.com
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