I'm a big fan of Miyamoto Musashi. I believe every martial artist can learn from reading The Book of Five Rings. I'm sure I will be posting numerous thoughts about Musashi and his text in future posts, but today I want to share something that can help everyone become a better martial artist, and if applied to other areas of your life, a better person. These are Musashi's nine rules for learning the art:

1. Think of what is right and true.
2. Practice and cultivate the science.
3. Become acquainted with the arts.
4. Know the principles of the crafts.
5. Understand the harm and benefit in everything.
6. Learn to see everything accurately.
7. Become aware of what is not obvious.
8. Be careful even in small matters.
9. Do not do anything useless.

Incorporate these rules into your training and life and you are bound to see greater success. - Alain

I read this report at: http://english.sina.com/taiwan_hk/1/2006/0516/75916.html


Jackie Chan, Jet Li to join forces in new movie
2006-05-16 03:18:44 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONG KONG, May 16 (AP) -- Jackie Chan and Jet Li -- two of the biggest names in action cinema -- plan to join forces, a news report said Tuesday.

The stars have signed on to do a movie tentatively named the "J & J Plan," the Chinese news Web site Sina.com said.

They're still brainstorming about the plot for their first collaboration, which begins filming next year, the Web site said.

A formal announcement and pre-sales will be made at the Cannes Film Festival, which starts Wednesday and ends May 28, the report said.

Publicists for Chan and Li did not immediately respond to calls from The Associated Press seeking comment.

The two actors made their names as action stars in Hong Kong before moving on to Hollywood. Trained in Peking Opera, Chan pioneered his own comedic fighting style. Li is a former martial arts national champion in China.

Chan's Hollywood credits include the "Rush Hour" series and "The Tuxedo." Li starred in "Lethal Weapon 4," "Romeo Must Die" and "Cradle 2 the Grave."

A friend of mine sent me this article and I thought I would share it here. It features an interesting computer game where you actually have to perform martial art techniques as you play, rather than just sitting in front of a screen with a joy stick.

You can check out the article here:

http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn9092?DCMP=NLC-nletter&nsref=dn9092

- Alain

In the book, The Samurai: The Philosophy of Victory, Robert T. Samuel shares Hojo Soun's 21 Articles written by Hojo Soun in 1490. I want to share number 21:

"It is imperative for you to constantly practice reading, writing, martial arts, archery, and equestrian skills. Literary skills belong to your left hand, martial skills to your right."

This is very good advice. We must not only study our physical arts, but we should read, write, and exercise our minds just as we exercise our bodies. We should strive for balance. Just as you should set aside each day for exercise and training in your chosen martial art, you should also set aside time to read and study from good books on those topics that interest you and can further your careers or get you ahead in your studies if you are in school.

Train hard, train smart, and take time to read good books. - Alain

I taught my students a variation of a couple techniques last night. The one joint lock we were performing was a basic arm bar. The foot work I had them using was different from the basic footwork I teach with the arm bar in the curriculum, but was the same footwork I teach with another of the basic locks I teach. The point was to realize how correct locks, footwork, posture, and movement can be interchanged to meet different situations.

As you progress in your art, you should examine the underlying principles that make your art work. Footwork, posture, and movement mean so much in generating power, keeping your balance, and making techniques more effective. Study the basics and learn how they apply in different situations and you will increase your ability as a martial artist.

Train Hard and Train Smart - Alain

According to a samurai legend, "Dishonor is like a scar on a tree, which time, instead of effacing only helps to enlarge."

Honor is an important concept in the code of Bushido. It was also an important concept to the Hwarang warriors of ancient Korea. In fact, you find honor in all warrior classes. As warriors, martial artists, and individuals who train in methods of hurting or killing others, be it for your occupation, sport, or whatever, it is extremely important that we live with honor and by a code of conduct. You'll see me touch on this theme a lot with my writings and teachings because it is very important.

- Alain

In reading The Code of the Samurai by A.L. Sadler, it says, "One who is a samurai should continually read the ancient records so that he may strengthen his character." This book is a translation of Daidoji Yuzan's Budo Shoshinshu.

This is good advice for modern warriors and martial artists too. Reading can teach many things. Reading the older texts such as the Budo Shoshinshu can provide many guides to live by that are just as relevant today as they were when written. I continually read, study, and try to implement the lessons from these texts into my training and life. I'll share a lot here in this blog, but I also recommend that you build a warrior and martial art library and do your own studying to incorporate with your training.

- Alain