MARTIAL MINDFULNESS FOR TODAY

If stress, mental health, and well-being were not already major health issues in the world prior to the pandemic they certainly are now. The uncertainty that has developed in all our lives has created a huge spike in anxiety and anguish all around the world. Not knowing what will happen tomorrow, next week, next month and even next year has had a major impact personally, socially, and financially.

The constant question that I have been asked in teaching, coaching, and consulting over the last 30 years is how to do it. Most people know what they are supposed to do and struggle in achieving results they are after. This is where martial arts provides the experiential learning on how to develop and use what I call Martial Mindfulness for today.

We all suffer from having the constant noise in our minds, that stops us from being able to stay on track, focus and be calm. This for many people causes sleeping issues, hypertension, cognitive  challenges, and disease.

An important element in mindfulness and meditation is developing the skill of having

‘no thoughts or no mind’. Taking away the mind chatter and replacing it with peaceful

silence, switches the Central Nervous System response from Sympathetic (fight, flight, or freeze) to a Parasympathetic (rest, relax, recharge) nervous response.

TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVE

No Mind has been well known and practiced in Eastern Philosophy for hundreds of years

through the teaching of Yin and Yang. The Yin- Yang symbol has become well known in the West over recent times with the increased exposure and use of Traditional Chinese Medicine, i.e. Acupuncture, Taichi and even Qigong exercises. It is commonly known as a symbol of balance between two (2) opposites, e.g. negative and positive. What is not understood is that in the philosophical teachings there is also a point called Wu Ji or still point. A calm point of No Mind that provides a state of clarity and focus

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