These are just the eastern philosophies that influenced me, and the ways I look at things.
~ Aristotle Sabouni |
Eastern Religion
- Buddhism - The philosophy originated in India, but traveled to China, Japan and influenced much of the Orient. Many cultures have a mythology that goes along with the tales of their ancients, and Buddha is no exception. There is a lot of mythology associated with his life. But in common is how a human learned peace, self-discovery and enlightenment through meditation.
- Confucianism - With way too many people in close quarters, a religion about how to get along was bound to spring up. Confucius was a man, alive from 551-479 BC. One of the major concepts of Confucianism is li, which translates roughly as propriety, order, and courtesy, and is often expressed through ritual and ceremony. Li is basically the laws by which we are governed.
- Shintoism - Shintoism is the Japanese religion that believes in millions of spirits (Kami) in all things. These spirits are good and bad, more powerful or weak, flawed or not. Because no "founder" of Shinto and there is no supreme book or reference, this makes Shinto very adaptable.
- Taoism - The 'Tao' is an indescribable abstract.Since I enjoy a challenge, I'll try to describe it. Though some of the concepts of 'Tao', can be described, this is not a description of the Tao itself. The Tao is a holistic concept; where one must understand many of the parts to understand the sum. But it's about nature, balances, and the path to achieving it.
Eastern Thought
- Acupuncture - I studied it enough to know there no such thing as a "reheater organ". I also studied it enough to know that there's general benefits that extend well beyond the placebo effect. So it is both wrong and right at the same time. Whether the explanation for why is right or not, doesn't change the efficacy. And denying the efficacy because you don't like the explanation is probably more dumb than the other way around.
- Buddhism - The philosophy originated in India, but traveled to China, Japan and influenced much of the Orient. Many cultures have a mythology that goes along with the tales of their ancients, and Buddha is no exception. There is a lot of mythology associated with his life. But in common is how a human learned peace, self-discovery and enlightenment through meditation.
- Ch'i or Ki - What is Ch'i or Ki? Ch'i (Chinese) or Ki (Japanese) is the internal force in our bodies, the manifestation of our spirit. It comes from the Taoism, and the universe, or our center (which is our center of balance). When balanced, you can harness it to do things things you might think are impossible.
- Confucianism - With way too many people in close quarters, a religion about how to get along was bound to spring up. Confucius was a man, alive from 551-479 BC. One of the major concepts of Confucianism is li, which translates roughly as propriety, order, and courtesy, and is often expressed through ritual and ceremony. Li is basically the laws by which we are governed.
- Ego - People often ignore the importance of their own ego and sense of self, and run on the autopilot of their emotions. To me, to be consciousness means to be aware of your surroundings. You, your body, and your personality is your closest surrounding. Thus people that aren't aware of their own motivations are are by definition subconscious (below consciousness).
- Ethics of a fight - Ethics of a fight: know yourself, and know others. Since nobody wins a fight, the best way to avoid loosing one, is by not getting in one. To avoid doing that you should understand your motive and theirs, understand aggression, escalation and take responsibility for your actions and even reactions.
- Fighting Spirit - Fights are often more mental than physical. It is a battle of wills, and an important factor is who has the most to lose. This is a reason that you don't want to corner wild animals, or wild humans. If they have no path out, then they are much tougher combatants.
- Keep the tiger behind the bamboo - This is a rambling life lesson, that I once learned, and often ignore. My Karate Instructor used to say, "keep the tiger behind the bamboo". The lesson being that if you're a mystery, what people imagine you are, is probably greater than the reality. So stay mysterious and keep/get more students.
- Pacifism - Pacifism: when is fighting is better than the alternative? These are my thoughts. To me, the aggressor is not the one that throws the first punch, but the one who insists on fighting -- and it is not the person who won't fight because they can't win, but is the person who tries to avoid fights and exhausts all alternatives despite knowing that they would probably win.
- The Art of War - This simple book was written 2500 years ago, by a relatively uneducated peasant philosopher and General by the name of Sun Tzu. It is about learning to control others, in order to control yourself, to control a situation, and the costs of failure. It tries to teach people to think of the costs and consequences of their actions before hand. So they can win at life.
- The Tiger and the Strawberry - One day while walking through the wilderness a man stumbled upon a vicious tiger. He ran, but soon came to the edge of a high cliff. Desperate to save himself, he climbed down a vine and dangled over the fatal precipice... As he hung there, two mice appeared from a hole in the cliff and began gnawing on the vine...
- Unbendable Arm - As an ex martial arts instructor, I sometimes demonstrate Chi (or Ki), using the Unbendable Arm. (This is basically where using visualization, technique and mind, you can increase your strength dramatically). I basically wrap it in Western Explanations for how it works. But the facts are that it does work, whether you believe the mystical aspects or not.
Martial Arts
- Choosing a Martial Arts School - A few people have asked me about Martial Arts schools, and how they should choose. This is my answer in 1987 and Today. Most people start off backwards, they want to leap to Choosing a Martial Arts Style, and while that's not bad if you really have your heart set on a particular system. But if you don't, then this might help narrow your choices.
- Choosing a Martial Arts Style - In Choosing a Martial Arts School, the instructor is the most important of the variable, the Students are a reflection on the teacher. But they are not the only factors. Here is some information on what to expect from different styles, cultures and arts. This information can help you choose a "style" as well, and maybe give you a starting point.
- Ethics of a fight - Ethics of a fight: know yourself, and know others. Since nobody wins a fight, the best way to avoid loosing one, is by not getting in one. To avoid doing that you should understand your motive and theirs, understand aggression, escalation and take responsibility for your actions and even reactions.
- Fighting Spirit - Fights are often more mental than physical. It is a battle of wills, and an important factor is who has the most to lose. This is a reason that you don't want to corner wild animals, or wild humans. If they have no path out, then they are much tougher combatants.
- James Mitose - James Mitose was an Japanese American that learned the hard way about our legal system and how the public views Martial Artists. He is well known in some Martial Arts circles, because he brought Kenpo/Kempo over to Hawaii and the mainland from Japan, and is one of the important Masters of the art.
- Legalities of a fight - A fight isn't over when the last punch was thrown, that can be when the lawyers get involved. Legalities are different than realities. Laws vary widely, but a fight is about "intent"; yours or the other guys. The law (DA) isn't looking for heroes, it sees two people who weren't smart enough to avoid combat, and they might want to make an example of at least one of them.
- Pacifism - Pacifism: when is fighting is better than the alternative? These are my thoughts. To me, the aggressor is not the one that throws the first punch, but the one who insists on fighting -- and it is not the person who won't fight because they can't win, but is the person who tries to avoid fights and exhausts all alternatives despite knowing that they would probably win.
- The Art of War - This simple book was written 2500 years ago, by a relatively uneducated peasant philosopher and General by the name of Sun Tzu. It is about learning to control others, in order to control yourself, to control a situation, and the costs of failure. It tries to teach people to think of the costs and consequences of their actions before hand. So they can win at life.
- Unbendable Arm - As an ex martial arts instructor, I sometimes demonstrate Chi (or Ki), using the Unbendable Arm. (This is basically where using visualization, technique and mind, you can increase your strength dramatically). I basically wrap it in Western Explanations for how it works. But the facts are that it does work, whether you believe the mystical aspects or not.
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