New! Lessons of the Week for 2002 - 2006 are now available on CD-rom. Send an email to Shihan Ader at jwader@earthlink.net - he'll give you the address. The price is $15 and includes shipping.

The lessons presented here are slightly edited to delete information about items for sale and seminars available only in the States. If you would like to receive Shihan Ader's lessons via email each week - unedited - send your request to jwader@earthlink.net

Following are a sampling of Lessons of the Week by Shihan Jeff Ader:

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April 16, 2006 -

Quotes:

"We are here to add what we can do, not to get what we can from life." William Osler, Physician

"The price of greatness is responsibility." Winston Churchill

"Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory." Norman Vincent Peale

"Self-esteem is so delicate a flower that praise tends to make it bloom, while discouragement often nips it in the bud." - Alex F. Osborn


Lesson of the Week:
Ten Precepts of Shaolin Fighters

As most of you know Shorin Ryu is, to a large degree, based on Shaolin fighting.

Combat arts Precepts of the Shaolin Monastery have come down from generation to generation. Not far from the Main Gate, there was a bronze plate with basic combat precepts written on it.

1.First of all, it is necessary that the body would be agile, quick and energetic. For instance, if you take a step, your hand should make a correspondent swift movement; movements of all parts of the body must be coordinated. When you have to strike, try not to look even at the shadow of your hand, i.e. do not attract your attention to the fist. You must improve your skill all the time, only in this case you will be able to reach staggering results.

2. The second precept: motion and rest of two arms and two feet must be in coordination and in supplement of each other.

Motion of the heart that controls the distribution of "chi" energy is born in the region of cinnabar "dantian" field (approximately 3 to 5 cm below the navel). The activity of the "chi" energy enforces the body to carry heroic struggle and to be valiant like a tiger or a dragon. If force and energy are melted into a single whole in the body, it is demonstrated by the ability to exert astonishing sounds.

3. The third precept of combat arts is as follows: During a fight all the five elements should represent a unique fusion. In order to understand the interaction of the five elements of nature, one should observe Nature and the arrangement of the Universe around us. If you perceive laws of the birth and the surmounting of the five elements, you will understand the nicety of combat arts. Each of the five elements originates with the single "chi" energy. This energy is the base of the force, which makes the body to act. If you understand their mutual transformation, you could move things weighing thousand of jins (one jin is equal to about 600 g) with one motion of your hand or foot. This precept also demands that blood and "chi" should be in harmony with each other. If the blood and "chi" are in harmony and good health, the man enjoys iron health and strength.

4. The fourth rule you must know demands the knowledge the eight-point theory of "ba tiao". For instance, you move up and down, retreat, but your retreat appears to be an advance. If you follow this law, your eight successes will become more impressive. Owing to it your movements up will be energetic and your movements down will be pliable and soft, and all the movements will be coordinated. You must be prepared to meet an enemy who appears, disappears and appears again. Your enemy can be as dangerous as a tiger released from its cage. However, if you were able in an instant to turn about to defend yourself from the front and from the rear, you would look like a divine protector of combat arms who is always protected from all the sides. You should be able to turn very quickly to face an enemy's attack from the left and from the right. If you retreat, you should decoy your enemy into a trap. During an attack fury will be helpful for you. In that case you will look like infuriated tigers and snow leopards. A small birdie, which takes its chance, can fly over a high mountain.

5. The fifth precept one should know about combat arts is: your gait must be as stout as that one of gods. It is better to make five more steps than to make a mistake by one qun (one qun is equal to 3.2 cm approximately). There are different types of movements during a fight. Measured steps (qun bu) should be separated from each other by not more than three chis (one chi is equal to 0.32 m). In a struggle your life is at stake all the time, that's why you should step carefully and measurably. Steady steps should be separated from each other by five chis, and a too big step is equal to two gongs (in the ancient times one gong was equal to five chis). A quick step (kuai bu) is equal to one zhan (one zhan is equal to 10 chis). As a matter of fact, it is a horizontal leap that is made with energetic force of thighs and feet (i.e. by the whole leg). A spilling step (zhan bu) is a great upward leap to be made, if you are rounded up and you have to break out of encirclement.


6. The sixth rule is the knowledge of arm and legwork during a fight. The special point with Shaolin combat arts is fist work. The pugilistic methods are such that each punch must pierce the enemy and cut him into pieces. The arm should bend without bending and unbend without unbending so that the enemy could not follow your movements and could never get sight of your punch. Your arms should separate your thorax with a speed of a lightning. Activity and training of sinews determine the force of arms. The punch must be a surprise, so the enemy could not avoid it. The arm must make an accurate cut, obediently flying up and readily, if necessary, going down.

Notwithstanding how your body is twisted and your hands are bound by the enemy, there is always a chance to free yourself, like a swallow has always a chance to find water springs. If in a close combat one of the hands is pinned down or both hands are neutralized, you can punch with a stone elbow. Your punch can be directed into the enemy's pudenda from below. Leg movements are more mysterious. There are seven leg works: "qi" - uprising, "fan" - overturning, "lo" - tumbling, "zhin" - advance, "ti" - kick, "qai" - kick, "zhuan" - kick. All the five natural elements unite into one "chi", feet act in unison striking from the front and from the rear, so it is impossible to approach you. Step by step and no any sound is heard except sounds of punches of infuriated soles touching the ground after strikes. The legs are like ferocious tigers or dragons in the sky.

7. The seventh rule demands simultaneous advance of arms and legs, because during the fight they act together and depend on each other. If you furiously use only your arms, the result may be only satisfactory; the reason is: when you advance, your feet, arms and torso should act in complete agreement. One should aim at achieving the following qualities: mind, body obedience, manhood, speed and fury. During an actual fight those five qualities will bring you miraculous results.

Mental work - "gong" means that during a fight one must more depend on one's mind. Body obedience - "shun" means that one must train his body for a long time to make it natural one. Manliness -"yong" means that one should work out bold plans and boldly realize them. Speed - "ji" implicates that during the execution of methods of hand-to- hand fighting one must act fast like a lightning. Fury - "hen" is required only at the moment of your attacks. You should keep a vigilant watch over enemy's stances and positions and clearly understand them. You must easily find his weak points. You should not rashly start fighting and deliver blows.

8. The eighth precept one should know about combat arts is all-round defense, its distinct manifestations and timely pursuit. If a man keeps in harmony those rule in his actions, he will become invincible. The rule of cover - "ting" consist in the necessity of permanent protection in the front, from the behind, from the left and from the right. Besides, one must not forget that the enemy can strike from above and from below. The rule of opening - "kai" consist in the necessity of opening your weak or strong points depending on the situation on the left or on the right and in the necessity of delivering and receiving blows with the support of sinew force. Both fist and palm must be formed during a spurt. 
The rule of distinct manifestation - "zhe" is used for the work of arms, body, head and heart. At the moment of an action there should be a clear and efficient manifestation. If you act, you must be as fierce as a tiger, and if you manifest a sentiment, it must be a frightening fury. Your shout should frighten your enemy. You should be able to win without a fight, only with your loud laughter. This rule consisting of few hieroglyphs is more precious than gold. The rule of pursuit - "zhui" consists in the following. You should use any opportunity to pursue your enemy and should not give him a chance to collect himself. As soon as steps become faster, you should use this opportunity to rush to the enemy. If at that moment you act like lightning and thunder, you can take anyone by surprise.

9. The ninth rule which one should know about combat arts is as follows. Three human elements - eyes, ears and heart intelligence must be in harmony. You should have attentive and active eyes and follow any enemy's manipulations all the time. You must prick your ears to sense movements and rest. You should have keen ears to hear voices of tigers and snow leopards from the eight sides of the Universe. The eyes look, the ears listen and they transmit the received information to the heart. If the heart is bright and eyes are alert, you will not commit mistakes.

10. The tenth rule for those who practice in combat arts is as follows. Use your sinews, because "shen", the ability to use spiritual sources, allows to achieve a great success. Sinews are chiefs of bones. If sinews tremble, "chi" energy is wasted. Furthermore, sinews are transmitters of information of three senses (vision, hearing and mind). If you are in possession of them, it is a great success.
Those are the Ten Basic Precepts of Combat Arts. To achieve them, one must work a lot. The most valuable quality for mastery of combat arms is persistence. One must persistently engage in pugilistic arms and weapon use. In winter, frost and snow are not hindrances to it. In summer, one should train himself notwithstanding hot weather, when you are running wet with sweat. Even if you have a headache, you should train your body to make it firm and strong. Do not stop, even for a moment, your persistent efforts to preserve your life and destiny. One should remember that only the noble men of high morals may be taught the true combat art. On no account a bad man who does not follow true "dao" (the way) should be taught.

"One is never too old or too wise to learn humility" - Jeff Ader

Inspiration:
The Razor's Edge
By Vic Johnson

It has often been said the line which separates winning from losing is as fine as a razor's edge--and it is. (I am talking about winning in a big way and in all areas of your life.) One person "just about" starts a project, the other person starts it. One individual "almost" completes a task, the other completes it. One person sees an opportunity, the other acts on it. One student "nearly" passes the exam, the other passes it. And although the difference in their marks may be only one percentage point out of a hundred, it's that one point that makes all the difference.

The annals of sports history are rich with dramatic illustrations of the Razor's Edge concept. For example, at the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal, Canada, there were eight finalists competing in the one-hundred meter dash, but the runner who won the Olympic gold medal was only one-tenth of a second faster than the runner who finished in last place. Now, you may have grown up with the idea that some people have it and some people don't. Or, because some people are much better than others, they enjoy much more of the abundance of life. But I want you to understand, right here and now, this idea is absolutely false! For you are every bit as good, or as powerful, as anyone you see, know, or even hear about.

Remember, since the difference between them and you is only in the area of accomplishments, and since there is something you can do that will vastly improve the results you are achieving presently, you have the potential to become even more successful than they are.

You may already know how to do what others are doing (if you don't, you can learn), and since your potential power is unlimited, you can do even greater things than they are now doing.


January 8, 2006 -

Quotes:

"To have courage for whatever comes in life – everything lies in that." – Mother Teresa, Missionary


"Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you." - Denis Waitley


"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence." – Robert Frost, Poet


"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." - Jimmy Dean

Lesson of the Week:
The Tiger

The first of the nine animals we will discuss is the tiger. The tiger is known for its courage and strength. It doesn’t hold back and is always direct and to the point. When it is hungry, it eats. When it is tired it sleeps. It knows what it wants and takes it. If a tiger stylist were to witness a boxing match he would be amazed as the action continues round after round. He would be thinking “why doesn’t he just jump in and break the opponent’s neck and be done with it?”

The physical techniques of the tiger style consist of the tiger claw and movement to close quickly using elbows and knees to get inside an opponent’s defenses.

The tiger claw is often misunderstood. In most situations the tiger claw strike is actually a palm heel strike. After the initial strike the fingers attack available targets that are contiguous to the area struck by the palm heel. The tiger stylist loves to be close and moves quickly to the inside position and continues the attack with knees, elbows, grappling and takedowns. Like a tiger in the wild the tiger stylist goes for the throat and immediate finishing techniques.

In self-defense we teach new students: “Do something!” We know that it is better to do something than nothing, even if it isn’t the best choice. The tiger would laugh at people that seem to never be able to make up their mind about something. How about people that walk around looking down at their feet exhibiting low self-esteem? As a teacher you can start teaching students like this the way of the tiger. You will soon see a remarkable improvement in their self-esteem and overall confidence.

The tiger likes to move forward and the tiger stylist does the same. I liken it to some Japanese styles I have trained in. The Sensei who teaches these styles would answer the following questions something like this:

Sensei, if you were attacked on the street, what would you do? “I would move forward.”

What if there were two or more opponents? “I would move forward, taking out the nearest one first.”

What if they were armed? “I would move forward faster and stronger”.

This is exactly the way a tiger stylist would think as well. Now this isn’t to say that they would not use strategy and tactics but only if a choice had to be made, then they would move forward. In how many ways in your own personal life do you wish you were more assertive and stood up for yourself, your principles or looked after your own personal needs better? Martial artists are notorious for giving and giving and letting people take advantage of them because they don’t want to offend. A little more tiger in each of us might just demand that we teach others to respect our time and work harder when they are in class with us.

Teaching a young child or even an adult to be more assertive is very similar issue. To teach a common person off the street that they have the personal right and ability to defend themselves is equally as important. To understand the way of the tiger is to understand confidence, strength when needed and a calm, cool attitude when dealing with problems.

A strong and positive attitude is one of the key factors I see in the tiger. Attitude or “Shisei” in Japanese is one of the key elements to success. In any endeavor you would be hard pressed to find anything more important than a positive attitude. The modern warrior must become a master of developing, maintaining and demonstrating the proper attitude in order to shorten the process of goal attainment in combat, business or personal life.

“Shisei” is made up of two kanji meaning “shape, forces”. In other words, it is the attitude that shapes the forces in our lives. Modern success coaches state the same thing when they explain that whatever you believe in, with conviction, will become your reality. It is this process in which the karate-ka learns the proper attitude in dealing with conflict. It is here that the warrior learns to deal with conflict and begins to learn to display “Tamashi” or an indomitable spirit. It is this attitude that may be more important in victory on the battlefield than the specific techniques or strategies employed. As martial arts teachers, our mission is to change the self-image of our students building their self-confidence and self-esteem along the way.

At the foundation of proper attitude is the belief that you are guaranteed victory as long as you do not quit. The classic Japanese saying “nana korobi ya oki” or “fall seven times – get up eight", represents this indomitable spirit or winning attitude. As a student develops confidence through martial arts training, he begins to demonstrate this winning attitude in a variety of ways, including speech, posture and deeds. The dojo is filled with the sounds of the karate kiai. The kanji for “Kiai” translates as “energy, join” or in other words, “come to meet my energy.” The student learns how to overcome temporary discomforts on the path towards victory. He understands that all worthwhile accomplishments come through hard work and perseverance. A warrior is the epitome of those qualities. After all, if it was easy, everyone would do it and then it would lose its value. Indeed the warrior attitude is priceless and cannot be bought. It is only learned through hard work and discipline.

Respectfully, JWA

Next week “The Tiger, Pt. 2”

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January 1, 2006 -

Quotes:

"Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill. " – Muhammad Ali, boxer


"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves." – Amelia Earhart, Aviator


"Never be satisfied with what you achieve, because it all pales in comparison with what you are capable of doing in the future."

- Rabbi Nochem Kaplan


Lesson of the Week:
The Nine Animals and Nine Elements
Understanding the Postures

During the last year I have touched briefly on the postures and elements of the Shaolin Temple as they relate to Okinawan karate in general and Shorin Ryu specifically. My intention is to go into a little more depth on this subject over the next 20 weeks or so. I hope that you find this series of lessons both enjoyable and enlightening.

The early Chinese tried to understand the world around them by watching mother earth. As the explored their world they watched and mimicked the behaviors and the way various animals stretched, relaxed, hunted for food and invariably fought for survival. Later as the postures took on a more combat role they once again looked at the attributes of the animals and attempted to incorporate those actions and principles into their fighting style.

I have learned that the essence of Okinawan karate and the Chinese systems that were incorporated into it is in understanding the kamae. These fighting postures include the forms but also the methods of following up on these forms. In fact, I have come to believe that this is true of all classical martial arts and of life itself. Learning to read postures, understand their intent and proactively using this knowledge is the mark of a true warrior.

For example, in business, they sometimes recommend that you follow the money trail to understand who is making all the decisions and their true intent. The same is true when attending a seminar. Is what you are hearing the truth or is it slightly slanted toward the interests of the presenter? I have on many occasions heard speakers get up and give a presentation only to contradict themselves moments later.

In western thinking, we believe that when a person has self-confidence, his posture changes and projects that confidence in the way he sits, stands and walks. In eastern thought, if a person improves his posture in sitting, standing and walking, his self-confidence improves. Whatever your school of thought, there is a direct correlation between posture and self-confidence. Seasoned opponents recognize this and often will avoid a conflict with a person the exhibits confidence. This is one of the reasons that instructors spend so much time on posture in kata training. This is not only for good health but has an element of self-defense as well.

Understanding the intent of postures is to understand the truth of martial arts. The warrior is in constant pursuit of the truth not just perception. He understands the ways of deception and how a clever opponent uses them. Hiding the real and concealing the truth is a useful tactic. In the animal world this is demonstrated with posturing, growling and a false show of strength. Humans show false strength also with exaggerated posture and overblown words. Knowing the truth is imperative if you are to make appropriate and wise decisions.

Take marketing for example. Many top companies use their advertising dollars to run an ad campaign because they think it will be effective. Everyone has an opinion and it just doesn’t matter what the executives think. What matters is what the numbers show. Personal opinions are of no consequence.

In self-defense the same principle holds true. Showing false strength is a bluff and it sometimes works in the real world. A blowfish puffing up or a bear standing up on its hind legs demonstrates this. In the world of man, however, this tactic can have significant weaknesses. First, it is relying on the opponent’s sense of the rational. This is a gamble and may actually trigger the attack that you’re trying to prevent.

On the other hand, showing false weakness can be a more effective tactic. Lao Tzu said, “Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.” This is the demeanor of the Chinese master that appears to be old and slow but in reality is agile and powerful. This tactic can be used to pull an attacker in and creates the element of surprise. Birds do this by pretending to have a broken wing and attempting to lead intruders away from their nests. If you intentionally show a weakness, you have a high probability of knowing what your opponent is going to do, which gives you a tremendous advantage.

It is said that the stalk of rice with the most fruit bows the lowest. The warrior that has the most confidence in his abilities is usually the most humble person you will ever meet. Successful people set high goal but take their accomplishments with a grain of salt and give credit to others.

As you proceed into the world of the 18 postures of the Shaolin Temple, understand that there is really not a right or wrong way of seeing the animals and the concepts that were derived from them. I was once told that each classical martial art form that you learn is an encyclopedia of knowledge on fighting theory. If this is true, then I consider the animals and elements as file folders, which hold the principles and theories of many styles and schools of thought.

I encourage you to keep an open mind as you explore the theories, strategies and tactics behind the animals and elements. Personalize them for your own use.

As we go forward with this series I will add some personal philosophies that have developed as part of my many years of training and hope they will aide you in building an effective training foundation and in life in general.

Next week “The Tiger”

Respectfully, JWA

Jeff Ader
Director: OSMKKF/AOSKKF

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December 25, 2005 -

Good morning. I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, a Happy Chanukkah or a Very Happy and Peaceful Kwanzaa. Enjoy the season and prepare for a safe and successful New Year. May you and yours be blessed.


Quotes:
“The warrior who would run wildly into battle is not the bravest soldier in the emperor’s army. The warrior who is afraid, but goes anyway is the bravest.” - Kung Fu Tzu

“Hope for the best, but do what’s possible.” - Zenji Jiyu

“Training is this: the moment you think you have mastered it, you’ve lost it. The moment you think you’ve lost it, you’ve lost it. There is nothing to ‘have’, but you will ‘lose’ it if you do not train daily.” - Zenji Jiyu


Lesson of the Week:

We have been discussing goal setting and of course setting your goals and putting them in writing are very important steps toward achieving them. Sometimes people believe that they can’t have what they want until they achieve their goals or until they have stockpiled all the necessary resources. Read the two brief stories below and see if you don’t get a new insight into your own goals and plans.


Two True Stories:

A while back I went to a conference in Boulder, Colorado. It was a business conference, but I went because I was curious. There were two people who were going to be there that I wanted to meet.

While there, Jonathan Mizel, the conference organizer, told an Interesting story. I'm telling this from memory, so I won't get it word for word, but you'll see the point, I think. It was about his first discussion with his new business coach.

Jonathan was really excited about the process. (He has big goals.) The coach asked him what he wanted to get out of their conversations. Jonathan said he wanted to get rich.

The coach asked him what he meant by rich, and Jonathan said he wanted to make a million dollars. The coach asked him, "What would you do if you had a million dollars right now?"

Jonathan thought for a second and said, "I'd go fishing!" To which the coach replied, "Jon, you don't need a million dollars to go fishing."

Jonathan does a lot of fishing these days. And he's moved from Colorado to Hawaii.


Contrast this with another, older incident:

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I lived in Belleville, New Jersey.

One day I read an article in the local newspaper that changed a lot of how I thought about life. It wasn't a happy article, but it carried a powerful lesson.

You may not know this, but the winters can get really cold on the east coast, sometimes brutally cold.

The article I’m referring to was about a man who literally froze to death in his sleep, in his apartment.

That was unusual, but not unheard of. When the police looked the place over to make sure the man wasn't the victim of a crime, they discovered something that shocked them.

No, the man wasn't murdered. He simply froze to death. The neighbors talked about how poor the man was. He bought only the cheapest food he could get, and kept the temperature in his tiny apartment so low that no one could visit him for long. Almost no one wanted to anyway. He was suspicious and paranoid.

While checking out his apartment, they noticed something odd about the mattress. When they looked, they discovered that it was stuffed with money. He had apparently saved virtually every penny he'd ever earned.

The man froze to death sleeping on over $1,000,000 worth of silver certificates.
In both cases the resources to achieve their goals were already present but recognizing that or at least having an accurate perception of reality wasn’t. To set accurate goals it’s necessary to take inventory of what you already have in terms of skills and resources. This is an important step along the path to “Black Belt Excellence”.

Respectfully, JWA


Jeff Ader - Director: OSMKKF