Mountain Academy Martial Arts

Calm in a Storm

// October 9th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // General Info

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by Dan Smith

I started my martial arts training at MAMA in the late 1980s, when the school was still located in Evergreen CO. My son, Josh, also became a student for a period of time. Both of us had been problem children of a sort. To the outside world martial arts seemed counter intuitive as a process whereby we might overcome our overly aggressive natures, and find some measure of peace. But to those of you who have trained here, you know that what the world thinks could fit on the head of a pin with room left over. There is a kind of karma that I recall Master Rankin describing. It was SOMETHING to the affect that, ‘the more we train to fight, the less likely it is that we will ever have to fight.’ As time and training have passed, I have come to learn that there is a deeper meaning to this concept, and it likewise applies to our everyday internal struggles. The “Do” is “Tang Soo Do” after all means the “way”. And the “way” always leads to peace of mind.

After I received my black belt in 1992, I stayed on until 1996 when the school up here first officially closed. I knew that to obtain a 2nd Dan meant I had to learn a new discipline of some sort, and bring something back to the school of real value. At first I was bit lost. My career was demanding and the idea of commuting to the new school without this gift in tow presented a challenge. Meanwhile I felt some calling to study meditation and explore the nature of my own existence – as it were. While that journey led me outside of martial arts for the next decade, it provided lessons learned and gifts of its own. However I would not have been able to appreciate that challenge without the platform of self discipline this school – and Master Rankin in specific – taught me. One lesson that stands out as it pertains to martial arts, is the following exchange I had with my teacher. I will attempt to paraphrase…

Teacher asked what would happen if a man came to my home and asked to use the phone. I said that I would probably let him in to do so. Then he asked me, what if you recognized him and remembered what had happened last time he came to your door and made a similar request. And pretend the last time he showed up, he had proceeded to trash your house. Imagine that he had overturned tables and smashed glass cabinets. After he used the bathroom, you discovered he spray painted rude messages on the wall, and had demonstrated a decided inability to urinate anywhere near the toilet! I won’t bore you with the additional details, but he continued to paint the most repulsive of outcomes.

Then he asked – “Would you let him back in?”

“Hell NO!” I said.

Then he explained that the thoughts I allowed to roll around in my head, always came knocking first in this manner. I was at choice to allow them into my home, to wreak the havoc they always had or not. When a thought comes that says, “You will never be able to…(fill in your own blank here),” why do you entertain it and feed it chocolate chip cookies? He asked.

“I have no idea,” I replied.

As part of my black belt test back in 1992, I needed to come up with an original break of some sort. I had seen a Japanese instructor; I believe his name was Ninomya(?), break a baseball bat with his shin at one of the early Sabaki tournaments. So I decided that is what I wanted to learn to do too. There is a paper on file with MAMA that I wrote, regarding the specific training methods needed to accomplish this break. However the lesson above applies. You can do whatever you believe you can, and set in motion to achieve. Competing thoughts will come and knock on your door. And other people may even express their grave concern for your mental health, as my family did back then – LOL. But to learn how to be true to yourself and your own aspirations, that is a real prize! Mastery of movement and forms will grow at an accelerated rate, when you recognize all evolution arises from the mastery of one’s mind!

May you all fare well, on your own personal journey…

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

// August 17th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // General Info, Master Rankin

If the Mountain Academy had a club flower it would be a rose, Ms Julianna Rose to be exact. Ms Rose has been and will remain an important part of our family.

Student, teacher, peer, all of the wonderful attributes any Martial Artist possesses, this is she.

As we send Ms. Julianna Rose off to college in Montana, I would like to mention just a few things.

We will miss her, we will be with her in spirit, and we wish her the best of luck.

We met Ms Rose when she was 13, over the past 5 years she has become part of our family and a great Martial Artist. We were honored and proud when she earned her Black Belt. As she became one of the instructors it seemed like a natural progression. She has been a joy to be around and work with. Energetic, independent, honorable, any number of adjectives will describe her. Most of all a friend that will be missed.

This next chapter in her life is necessary and expected. A new adventure of learning and spreading her wings. What she has, and will always have is her Martial Arts family, a family to depend on, to talk to, and to encourage her as we reveille in her accomplishments.

We wish her the very best , and look forward to her visits home.

New Calendar

// August 8th, 2011 // 5 Comments » // Events, General Info

After lots of feedback, I am happy to announce, we have a new calendar on the website!

You can find it here.

It’s through Google so if you use Gmail, you can click on the + Icon at the bottom and it will add it to your calendar.  The other benefit of this calendar is it now updates whenever we make a change.

I Am

// August 1st, 2011 // No Comments » // General Info

I AM …..

By: Arlin Parson, II

What does it mean to you to say, “I am a Martial Artist”?  What is the thing that comes to your mind in vivid colors and bright images when you utter those words aloud?  Take a few moments and think on these things.  Now, please ponder with me for a while the concept of Martial Arts as a philosophy.

“Philosophy” in its literal translation from Greek means ‘love of wisdom’.  Philosophy exists for many things.  However, if we take the original translation ‘love of wisdom’ and apply it to the Martial Arts, and place the emphasis on the word ‘wisdom’, then Martial Arts has a rich, deep, and profound philosophy inherent in it.

All true Martial Arts at the surface level are about learning those physical techniques that ensure our personal safety through acquiring the ability to defend ourselves against attackers and also to achieve some very remarkable feats of physical prowess.  Untrained watchers many times associate Martial Arts skills with flying side kicks and breaking things.  But as Mr. Myagi said, “Bricks don’t break back.” Unfortunately, in the 38 years I have been studying the Martial Arts, I have never been be able to pause in mid-air, or stand on the tiniest branch of a willow tree, but that has not hampered the pursuit of wisdom in the Martial Arts.  Right now, if I could pause in mid-air, I am wondering what I would do up there.

What I have discovered in Martial Arts training and teaching, is that there must be an understanding of the fundamentals of the human condition to progress to the highest levels. This is why most serious, life-long practitioners of Martial Arts will say that they study a ‘do’, or a ‘Way’.  It is not simply the physical techniques in which they study and train, but “The Way” of the Martial Arts. The Way of Martial Arts is a philosophy of life which does not simply seek wisdom and the understanding of life through intellectual, analytical reasoning.  The Martial Artist seeks to understand by awareness of all that is around him.

So what does that mean as a philosophy?  Consider first that all human beings operate from either reason, emotion or spirit.  The philosophy of Martial Arts bases itself on seeking to bring into harmony all three components.  Whereas seekers of flash and fame will hone their skills in the physical techniques only to find they plateau in their training when the body is able to be pushed only so far, true Martial Artists will pursue the training of their spirit with equal enthusiasm and continue on to greater levels of ability.

Physical training emphasizes the reason aspect of our human condition through dedicated training, and the emotion aspect through mental preparation to undertake the harsh, demanding, exhausting training required to achieve the upper levels in Martial Arts excellence.  Many practitioners neglect the spirit.  In order to live the Way of Martial Arts, the third component – the spirit must be trained as well.

To train the spirit we begin with practicing serenity.  How, you ask?  Begin with what is on the outside—your words and facial expressions.  The words that come out of your mouth and the expression on your face reflect what is in your spirit.  Train and change your words to be serene and your countenance to be relaxed and serene, and your thoughts will follow.  When your thoughts follow, your actions follow.  Serenity will produce relaxation also. And remember those first lessons you heard, “A relaxed muscle is faster than a tense one.”  Just as your round kick did not perfect itself because you wanted it; neither will your spirit become serene without practice.

Anyone can maintain serenity when all is well in the world and there is no conflict.  The philosophy of The Way of Martial Arts is serenity in all things at all times.  So, your personal demons are attacking your mind and therefore your spirit?—that attack is yours to defend.  It should be done in the confines of your reason and emotion and not spill over onto those around you or come into any self defense situation or training exercise with you.  If your emotions are taking over the training of your spirit in a way that you cannot manage on your own, find an instructor to help you just as you would seek help for a physical technique you have problems mastering.  This is important in the Philosophy of Martial Arts, and please bear with me here because I speak from experience; I once did not ask for help and let mental battles change the course of my life and the course of my training for many years.  The loss was great.

When we observe Martial Arts traditions and etiquette; focus on control and breathing; use our skills to help others; never initiate aggression; maintain serenity; and pursue and give honor and respect, we are exercising and strengthening our spirit of Martial Arts.

If Martial Arts permeate your entire life and affect all that you do, you have embraced the philosophy of The Way.  You experience the world around you with senses that are unencumbered by preconditioned responses.  You have stopped pushing against the human condition, but accept it and train with it in mind. You stop to wonder at the beauty of the sunset, but know that with your training you can protect yourself at any moment.  You can experience all your emotions and share them, but if circumstances warrant, put those emotions in a safe place in your mind while your spirit controls your actions.  If training your spirit has become just as important to you as training your body, then you are a Martial Artist.

I am a Martial Artist.

Traveling Black Belt

// June 3rd, 2011 // No Comments » // General Info

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Traveling Black Belt by John Dunham

TIME

Life, as we all know, has its “ups and downs”. One’s life, responsibilities, emotions, and physical health should have no impact on the choice of studying Martial Arts. Often times we say that life is too busy to participate or continue studying in the present, but we will continue or start class in the future. When this practice is assumed, it can impact one’s well being and make life more of a burden. For when a student decides that life is too busy to continue studying there is a good chance that they will loose self esteem, confidence, respect and courtesy. It is my experience that students that participate in Martial Arts will have more “ups” than “downs” in life, both in the present and future.

ONGOING STUDIES

I have been observing and participating in several different schools over the past couple of months. The experiences that I have encountered have enlightened me about the different styles available to students. I have seen schools where students are only half  motivated and look like they do not want to participate, much less be there. The students in these schools are a direct reflection of the instructors. Forms, basics, techniques, and even meditation are so disorganized that it is an embarrassment to all involved. Lack of discipline was also a major factor.

There was one school that I found that matched up to MAMA. You could sense that the students, instructor, and environment were all in unison. The instructor had the full attention of the students and the students wanted to be there. From the very warm welcome that I received to the question and answer session after class, I was very impressed. Forms were top notch, techniques were perfect, and there was no question that this school was very disciplined. I wanted to participate in this school and learn an additional form for my 2nd degree black belt. Unfortunately, the instructor demanded attendance be near perfect to study under him (3 days per week). He only wanted serious students and stated that 90% of his new students drop out after 3 months. If the school was closer to my home and I could have participated one to two times per week, I would have participated. I really admired the instructor’s discipline and dedication to the art and his students were some of the best that I had seen during my travels.

The major difference between the school above and MAMA is the quantity of instructors. At MAMA we have many dedicated instructors that are at the top of their class. If an instructor needs a vacation or time off to study elsewhere to gain rank, they can. In doing so, the students will continue to gain knowledge and improve themselves under a different instructor. All of the instructors in MAMA are dedicated to their students and their success. MAMA will be around for many years to come. While we may not be as disciplined as the above class, we are far above and beyond any other school that I visited.

I never realized how much of a mix of martial arts (not MMA) we are. We have many similarities to Karate, Aikido, Hapkido, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, and even Jiujitsu. I have been studying for 6 years under Grand Master John W. Rankin, his instructors, and have become an instructor myself. Part of my ongoing study of Martial Arts is to investigate other schools and bring knowledge back to MAMA. Through my travels and observations I understand even more how privileged and honored I am to be a part of the Mountain Academy of Martial Arts.

Advanced Class Cancellation

// May 13th, 2011 // No Comments » // General Info

Please be aware that there will be no Advanced Class Saturday, May 14, 2011.  We will have regular class as usual and advanced classes will resume next weekend.  Any questions, please contact Master Rankin or Mr. or Mrs. Barrow.

The Brotherhood of the Fist

// April 8th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // General Info

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Sounds scary right?  Well it’s not.  In point of fact, you’re in it right now. 

As a part of the Mountain Academy of Martial Arts you have joined our Brotherhood, our fellowship, our family.  And as such you need to remember that when you are here you will be taught how to use your fists, your feet and your whole body as a weapon. 

But more importantly you will learn how not to. 

We will expect the best of you and push you to unleash your potential.  It will not always be fun.  It will always be work and we will always push you, but it will always be worth it.  You will learn technique.  You will learn control.  You will learn power.  You will learn friendship. 

When you are here you need to remember that you are not trying to beat or hurt your partner. You are there to help them learn and perfect what they need to work on and they will help you.  If you have a problem, all you have to do is ask.  We are all here for a common goal, the betterment of ourselves and the school as a whole.  Just like a family.
 
So I say welcome to the Brotherhood of the Fist.

Dan Barrow