-Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings; The Water Chapter, 'The Frame of Mind For The Martial Art."
Martial Arts is sacred to me. Through it's practice I have come to know one of the deepest parts of my true self. It is a realm in which no excuse is valid since it demands discipline, sensitivity, focus and heart.
My connection to Martial Arts started stretching it's roots when I discovered and began practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), but in reality my link to these ways are much more ancient. Even though it took me a long time to realize this...
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| Wrestler Stone Statue. Olmec. |
I remember learning about BJJ and beginning to try some moves out with family and friends who were interested in knowing more about the art but had no means of practicing at a formal academy for different reasons, mostly economic. We would watch instructional videos and practice at home. I remember the exciting anxiety of knowing the power of the lessons and techniques. I also remember the beginning stages of practice and the enraging discomfort of having another individual so close to my personal space and having to overcome this obstacle. Since I was usually one of the few or the only female during rolling sessions and I had to spar with males, I woke a savage desire to learn how to truly protect my self.
Some of my inspirations:
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| Rickson Gracie |
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| Kyra Gracie |
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| Cain VS. Big Foot |
About a year after I gave birth to my daughter, I slowly started practicing again. By the time my daughter was about 2 years old, the passion for BJJ had spread throughout my family and community and most people I knew were practicing the art with their families and some even moved on to joining academies. I was a member of a community group that practiced weekly and even though I missed sessions due to my responsibility to my daughter and job, I still kept falling in love with the art. While I was a member I learned some boxing and wrestling techniques as well that added depth to my love for self defense. By the time my daughter was about to turn 4 years old, I found my self training a few times a week and my life revolved around practice. However, there were some personal issues that I was facing. Physical injuries for lack of care to my body, a final separation from the father of my child and the overall turmoil of the mind that these types of situations create.
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| Sharing some basics with the youth at a community space. |
I couldn't listen to direction. I felt lack of focus during sessions. I couldn't remember the most basic warm up routines. All this made me feel low about myself, but I kept trying, only getting worse as my personal life was so off balance. Finally, I heard the voice in my head telling me it was time to step off the mat for a while. I didn't want to, but I had to. I felt like the aspirations I had to learn the art been compromised. Like I had let a part of me go. But my mind was shaky and I couldn't learn anything new. My body was being damaged from trying to push hard. I couldn't use my hips since they had not healed in strength properly after childbirth. A 10 year old motorcycle accident injury on my left leg was bothering me again and my sciatic nerve damage pain gave me very little rest, day or night. I was under overwhelming stress.
I finally retreated.
I settled into a new home, with new routines and energy. Letting go of all the things that were damaging me. Accepting my new reality, I began to nurture myself again.
Creating the best environment I could for my daughter and me, I became more stress-free and the skies in my mind began to clear. I became more in tune with my body, started being hungry for the right things again. I was able to see my self with out fear and once this happened, I became free again.
Accepting the fact that I was hurt and needed care was not easy. I was used to pushing and driving powered by instinct and duty, to slow down has been a challenging but beautiful process. Having to make time to nurture my self and my health has revealed amazing teachings. The body is a natural machine and it's nature is to provide and protect itself. But there is the Universal law of natural process. All trees were once seeds. To protect our families and planet, we must be able to protect ourselves first. Time must pass and events must arise in natural order.
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| Shinmen Musashi, 'The Rhythm of Martial Arts'; Twelfth Day of the Fifth Month, Second Year of Shoho |
Through the love and presence of my daughter, I have learned to be humble and patient. My duty towards her forces me to think critically in order to find the best example I can give her by being the best that I can be. My love for life and our planet have made me conscious about the importance of eating healthy, balanced and in gratitude.
To nurture my physical temple and strengthen its foundation I now practice breathing techniques to align the body and chakras in a meditative state through the gravitational and magnetic pull, moderate weight training and yoga, occasionally swimming and various cardio exercises alternated throughout the week and an occasional rolling session just to maintain the sensitivity needed to practice BJJ. I also find that learning Martial Arts thought and culture greatly increases my perspectives of life. Teaching me how to manage through the hardest situations and purifying the struggle within to find one's own light and victory.
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| Light and darkness understood through Tezcatlipoca principles. |
This personal growth process has led me to connect with my internal warrior. Like Tezcatlipoca, it forces me to see what I am truly made of, who I really am. Do I have the integrity to maintain discipline and overcome adversity? How do I overcome the tricks of my own mind and those of others? Only through knowledge of self. Only through walking the path and facing challenges as they come, always doing my best to use critical thinking in decision making.
By learning and loving to flow with the push and pull of life.
By listening to breath, movement, intention and purpose.
By becoming one with my environment, the cosmos, and the UniVerse of my self.
In this way I become absolute and happy.
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| Tezcatlipoca - Smoking Mirror |
My goal is to nurture my self until I am strong enough to move to the next level of learning to protect my self and family and some day go back to practicing BJJ consistently.
The Shaolin harvest energy and inspiration from nature, their culture and commitment. The teachings of Buddha and the presence of the spirits of ancient and present masters in their Temple are a testament to beauty and strength produced by discipline and understanding and practicing righteous principles. Understanding the relationship between all things and finding our place under the Sun is a sacred experience.
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| Shaolin Monks |
I harvest inspiration from the planet, cosmos, and my ancestry. I think of the Maya Temples, our halls, our art, culture, our warrior columns and ceremonial sites. It's because of my ancestors that I am alive. I am a new seed of the survivors of the MesoAmerican Indigenous Genocide.
To protect life is instinctual to me. A natural martial art. It's like an embedded code that runs through me.
Acknowledging my weaknesses, building towards humble strength. I look forward to the day I can look in the mirror and see the result of my sacrifice.
The simple realization of knowing that balance is not a choice, but a requirement for prosperity is a treasure in its own right.
Understanding the bond between all our inner and outer existence is only the beginning.
There are many paths to take in life. I am thankful to have found mine... Becoming the master of my own universe.
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| Shinmen Musashi, 'The Rhythm of Martial Arts'; Twelfth Day of the Fifth Month, Second Year of Shoho |
"Perspectives" Blog Series 2015
