I remember a few years ago, I happened to have an epiphany that really changed my views on life and why I do kind gestures and acts of kindness towards others.
Here is how it all came about.

The N.H. Mall
________________________________________
It was December and Christmas was only a few weeks away. People were hurrying to do their shopping and find the best sales they possibly could. Christmas music was in the air everywhere. Money was extremely tight and is even tighter right now, but my lovely wife wanted to travel out to the NH mall in Manchester to do her shopping for some gifts for our children. My duty was to keep the kids busy and away from my wife so she could find them the gifts they wanted.

It was New Hampshire and that being said, it was snowing. Slush was on the ground from the sand and salt that the plow trucks were spreading. People were hurrying to get into the mall and out of the bad weather. Some people were running out of the mall to their cars, as if the snow was burning their skin or was going to melt them, although it was very cold that day.

Despite the frenzy, I was taking my sweet time and walked over to the double doors to the entrance of the mall. We had just dropped my wife off on the other side of the mall and we were going in to get a bite to eat when I noticed a man struggling with a few bags that he was carrying. He looked as though he was about to drop them and as if he was having a very bad day.

I ran over to the doors and opened them up really wide, holding them in place for him with a big smile on my face so that he could walk through them without any problems. After all, it was Christmas time and I was feeling in the spirit of the holiday, “chestnuts roasting on an open fire – Jack Frost biting at your toes,” or was it your nose?
I think that is the way it goes – who knows…?

As he walked through the doors, he gave me the dirtiest look anybody can throw in your direction. He also said some choice foul words that shocked me down to the pit of my stomach. After he walked past me I wanted to slam the door right into his face.

I looked at the back of his head as he walked by me, all the while hearing him swear at me like a drunken sailor. I walked through the door, heading in the opposite direction with my kids. We went to the food court without any conversation.You can just imagine what was crossing my mind at that point in time.

While I was standing in the line and waiting on our food, my mind kept racing. I was festering inside and building up such bad energy that the vibes coming off my body must have been really strong. I looked around to see that everyone standing in line with us was staying away from me. I must have had three feet of empty space around me. I was making everyone else in line feel very uneasy just by standing next to them. I started wondering, “What is their problem?”

We sat down next to a kind family with little kids. When I turned my back, I noticed that they got up and moved away from us by three to four table lengths, food and all. That really annoyed me as well. Again I was thinking, “what is their problem?” I was too blind by anger to see that it was really my own fault.

I started eating my food and before you knew it, I was finished. I wolfed the whole meal down without ever tasting it. I was then bugging my kids to finish with their meals so we could find my wife and rush home so I could be by myself. I wanted to reflect on what I had thought was a very bad day.
After finding my wife we exited the mall. On the drive home, my wife turned to me and asked, “So what is your problem?” My reply was classic – I turned to her and barked out, “NOTHING! I HAVE NO PROBLEM!” No one said one word in that car for the rest of the drive home. Sad…

I was so P.O.ed that all I kept thinking about was how I should have done this to that ungrateful man or I should have said that to the ungrateful man…etc etc. How many times has something happened to you and you walked away with this really bad feeling inside your gut that you should have done this or you should have said that
to this individual? This bad feeling not only affects you, but also affects (or infects like a disease) everyone you come into contact with.

Really Sad!

I was driving around by myself after a few days had passed and I had time to calm down and think. I had this epiphany. I always asked myself, “Why do I do the things that make me so mad and angry?” But for some strange reason I never gave my problem at the mall any thought. Nor did I question what had happened. I just became so angry that it affected everyone standing around me, including my family and friends.
I blamed everything on that man at the mall. But was it really his fault?

The Epiphany:
________________________________________

Here is what I found when I asked myself the following questions:

First, why did I become so angry at this man with empty words?
Why was he acting like that?

But who did I really hold that door open for, anyway?

Second, did I hold that door open for that angry man or did I hold that door open for myself?

Let’s explore this mind puzzle a little deeper and see how selfish I really was being that cold stormy day.
________________________________________

Plastic Merits

First, let’s look at the word merit. I feel this word will bring up why everyone does false good deeds (plastic – fake – gestures) without planning to on a day to day basis.

Now, the word ‘Merit’, from the Webster’s Dictionary, says, “Something deserving reward, praise, or gratitude, honor given for superior qualities, awarded for excellence, emotional considerations, etc. to deserve.”

‘Did I really hold that door open for the wrong person?’ I wondered. After giving this some deep thought, I came to have this epiphany that my reasons for holding the door open that day were wrongly done. I held that door unknowingly to gain merit from this man that I did not even know. He was just some stranger that I was looking for approval from.

Why?

We walk through life day to day ignorant of how our own egos can go unchecked. We believe we are humble beings. But are we? Are we really humble beings who care for others without wanting any merit back in return?

Ask yourself, ‘Can I do a good gesture for some unknowing person and actually want nothing back in return? Can I do a good deed without ever telling anybody that you have done it?’ Most people cannot do this. Most people will need something back in return for putting out their own positive energy or to do a good deed to help out another human being that has not asked for their assistance. This can come in a form of spiritual payment, or otherwise.

When you push yourself on to others by doing good deeds without ever asking if they want your help, it can be a very bad thing. Especially if you expect to hear some kind words like, “Wow You Rock Dude,” or something small and basic like, “thank you.” When you exhibit an excessive amount of kindness toward another person, sometimes you are actually robbing that person of their own dignity, which means self respect and honor. They will begin to feel really badly about themselves, because they can not give something back to you in return for your kindness, like a payment (favor) to help restore the spiritual balance that you have caused an emotional unbalance in.

When you give something and expect to get something back in return, whether you are aware of it or not, you can disrupt a balance in the force of nature. A force of nature can be how someone is feeling, like emotions. Sometimes it can be how someone is thinking or how they process their thoughts. The person or people you have helped without their permission will now start to build resentment towards you. Try to understand when you help someone out and they want to give you back something in return that you should accept it. It is their way of giving payment back, not just for your services, but also for the emotional forces at work on a higher level that you both may not be aware of.
When you give from your heart there will be a certain vibrational energy connected with the giving. Without that kind & good energy attached, your good deeds or kind gestures will be empty and worthless. This individual you think or believe you are helping will unknowingly start to develop animosity toward you. Eventually you both will come head to head with your friendship and the relationship will be over. The both of you will be left not understanding why or where it went wrong.

________________________________________
Conclusion:

So who did I really hold that door open for on that cold stormy day at the NH mall?
I held the door open for my own selfish reasons. I held the door open for that man and I was looking for his approval or good merits to be thrown in my direction, but it never came back to me in that way. That was my own selfish fault. I was in a sense acting like a good person, but in my heart I was actually being a selfish and fake (plastic) person. I was looking for a reward (merits) for my fake behavior.

Now I hold the door open for myself and when I do hold open a door for others I look for nothing in return. Why? you may wonder. Because now I try to accomplish at least one good deed for myself, everyday. If I accomplish two or more, that’s even better. But if I hold open a door and someone becomes upset with me, I do understand where they are coming from and it does not make me feel ill inside anymore. I am also more aware of my actions now. When something does hurt me, I do not take it out on the ones around me that I care most about and that I love so dearly.

When you see someone struggling with a chore, instead of saying, “Do you (need) some help with that?” rephrase the question like this, “Excuse me, would you (like) a hand with that?
Replace Need with like – Replace help with hand..

Can you see the difference in the two ways of asking the same question?
You are not robbing that individual of their dignity by making them feel that they can’t do things for themselves.
This does take practice. In the healing community or in the understudy of a martial art we are all taught, “think of what you are going to say, before you say it.” Because with all words come actions.Actions of thoughts – actions of feelings – actions of taking action or actions of giving action. Try your best to think before you speak with others or do for others and please choose your words wisely and carefully as with your actions.

There are people in need all around us. All we have to do is learn to open up our eyes and our hearts and give without taking or wanting back. I feel this was really how the creator wanted it in the first place, for all of us. We just got a little bit off track, so how about all of us making that little extra effort to get back up on those tracks and move in a forwardly kind of direction?

Thank you for reading my thoughts.

With much respect,

Peter Freedman Sensei Guro
Reiki Master Healer

No related posts.

Here are some more karambit drills shared by Coach Freedman.  Watch and enjoy.

Related posts:

1. Karambit Drills

The yawara is a small stick, sometimes with sharp points or rounded edges, usually used in pairs to initiate throws, bone breaks, and pressure point strikes. The yawara stick was popularized for police officers in the 1940s by Professor Frank A. Matsuyama. You can download the original “HOW TO USE THE YAWARA STICK” Published in 1947 by Mr. Frank Matsuyama manual for police self defense at the Yarawa.com site.

In recent weeks, Coach Freedman has been emphasizing yawara techniques in his classes. It is a great weapon for training as its small size and multiple uses make it a great weapon that anyone can use for self defense. Once one learns the basics it can be transferred to any small weapon that can be held in the hand including the kubaton, pen, hairbrush or even a small rolled up magazine (who thought you could be dangerous with a Readers Digest).

In this video Coach Freedman demonstrates the use of the yawara and shows with just a few simple techniques how you can have an effective self defense. He shows how the yawara can be used to maximize the torque on joint locks, increase the impact of strikes and add power to throws. Assisting him on the demo is Ryan Birmingham Sensei.

Video by Philip Duldulao

No related posts.

The piece of cloth that is worn around the waist of most martial artist is the color black which is a symbol. It is to symbolize the making of a warrior.

The color black symbolizes death. That is the deep darkness we all will face when our human journey is over and it is time to cross over into the Spirit realm.

When we train in martial arts, what we really are preparing for is death. We train to prepare how to die. This black belt you earn in the dojo today symbolizes that you understand what it really is to become a warrior and to die like a warrior.

No fear of death is the reasons for training. To lose the fear that will get in your way during serious altercations is what makes you that warrior to be feared by most on every battle field all over this planet. This is why the warriors of ancient times in our past history were so feared and so deadly. Death was an honor for them. They got to pick their time and day to die. The Native American Indians,  in my heart, mind and eyes, were some of the most awesome of warriors. I love their saying. “Today is a good day to die.” I ponder much on that saying every day.

Training under hardened conditions that would probably break most is what sets you aside to become a true warrior. The black belt is like a badge of honor that is earned through long hours and years of hard training. No one person can make you a black belt, that is done through yourself. Back in the ancient times they didn’t have color belts that standardized what level you were at. Everyone knew your level by how you conducted yourself, not just in the dojo but in daily life! Most highly skilled warriors always conducted themselves like a gentlemen  (or if you were a female warrior you conducted your self like a lady) with respect and manners.

If you have experienced war, you can appreciate peace.

Just by how humble you were was a sample of how deadly you truly were. The more humble someone was the higher their skill sets were for being a warrior. It was an honor to train to become a warrior. You had to qualify to get into some of the elite training sessions and that was done through physically earning that right of passage without complaining, that was to hard to do. Excuses like, “it is to hot or to cold” “my finger just got jammed up”, “I forgot my uniform”,  “my back hurts”,  “I have a bad knee”, “I feel sick today”,  “it is snowing out”, etc..were no excuses not to train.

This humility came out of you through extreme training sessions that were only capable of accomplishment if you had already earned your right of passage to wear or train with other black belts. And that was not easy thing to accomplish.

You had to check your ego at the door. Ego always got in the way of higher learning. The higher level you attained in the combative martial arts schools in the past the more you knew to watch your ego. The shadow self ego would get you killed!

The reason for training in the martial arts should never be to attain a belt but rather to seek perfection in one’s character. We all need to accept that we can be a little better and hard training is the best way to achieve this. In Japan this hardships of training is called Shugyo. By training daily and not allowing any thing to stop your training  (injury or sickness) forged the type of warrior you became.

It isn’t the belt that makes the person it is the person who makes the belt have meaning. The black belt is a badge of honor that is earned through hard style training by never giving up and not giving out. It forges the warrior spirit to continue to press forward even after the body has been killed. That kind of mentality is extremely hard to stop. When I was training some of the men and women who protected our last President, they told me that they are taught the hardest type of person to protect their client from is some one who is not afraid to die and will give up their own life to kill the person they are after.

So I think in today’s world people are hung up on the belts and are not really looking deep into what it is that made these martial arts last through out time. Lack of history, lack of culture, lack of research, lack of hardship type of training is what is missing in most methods today.

So, all in all, a Black Belt means you have just crossed the warriors path of understanding of what hard work is all about without complaining or giving up once you have attained a certain level of grade. Black belt means you are NOW ready to train amongst warriors but does NOT mean you are even close to being the best. A person who is a high grade should be able to defend them self. If you can’t you really need to question your own personal motives. Once your questions are asked, hunt for the best answers you can find. Because it is your butt out there that will be on the line when some bad-ass crosses that line to harm you.

Always with much Respect
Guro/Sensei/Coach Peter Freedman

No related posts.

Hello everybody, here are some training type of blades I made in my shop of wonders. I hope you like them. I will be selling these really soon. These are my prototypes. I am just trying to find my groove and work things out so I can make them quicker for you.

Also I will be making other types, styles and shapes of blades. So please do stay tuned.

This summer I will do my best to have my forge up and running. So that I can create different types of metal knives including Bowie and other types of fighters.

I hope to be making real Karambits soon. Karambits are a hook style knife that resembles a Tigers tooth or a Tigers claw. The training ones I am making out of plastic here that are white in color are fashioned after the Pasundan Pencak Silat system from Indonesia.

I will be having more photos and videos on how to use each and every one of these weapons on the way soon!

If you are interested in these knives you can call me at (603)529-3564.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

No related posts.

Coach Freedman has been teaching his own style of Ketsugo Jujutsu for many years now. He has a number of students that are teaching out of their own schools and he is concerned that they may not be teaching the core practices of his style. His style is built on three core practices  which are Footwork, the Nine Angles and the Flow Drill. In order to make sure that all his students are on the same page, he has decided to have a gathering of the Ketsugo tribe 6 times a year. This will be an opportunity to refresh the knowledge of the core practices and to meet with the other practitioners on a regular basis.

This past Saturday April 30, 2011 was the first meeting of the tribe. It was a cool spring day and students from NH and neighboring states met to get some training. Coach Freedman started the class with a warm greeting to all who attended and then talked a bit about martial arts and Ketsugo in particular. He stressed that it is important to know the history and origins of the martial art you are studying so that you can gain a complete understanding of the art you are practicing. He then began to discuss the importance of footwork in Ketsugo Jujutsu. Coach Freedman has identified 50 foot movements that he uses in his system. He took the group through the movements and explained the proper execution of each foot movement. He led the group through the 50 movements which was repeated multiple times.

Coach Freedman next began to demonstrate the usage of the foot movements.  He demonstrated how the foot movements were used to evade an attack with the long knife. By using the movements in the precise angles it became apparent how the movement was effective in the evasion of the attacks. The students then practiced the movements with an opponent attacking with a long knife. people who had not used these movements before were amazed at how effective they were. Coach Freedman demonstrated how the foot movements  along with strikes and locks were a devastating defense for this type of attack.

Coach Freedman next demonstrated leg lock and leg lock techniques. These also come out of the footwork. He had the students practice on long sticks before trying the techniques on each other. These techniques are quite effective and have to be practiced slow in order not to cause injury.

A lot more information was delivered during the course of the seminar. You had to be there to have gotten it all.

The day ended with all the students getting together in Coach Freedman’s back yard and sharing food that was brought by the students.

The date for the next gathering will be on June 25 at the Weare NH dojo from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The cost will be $25. Call (603)529-3564 to find out more information. Anyone can attend.

Below is a gallery of pictures from the day.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Related posts:

1. Ground Fighting Spring 2011

On a wintery spring morning Coach Freedman had a small number of students to at the dojo for an exclusive ground fighting seminar. He started out by explaining the purpose of ground fighting. He stated that the last place we wanted to be in a fight was on the ground. Especially in a fight involving multiple opponents. This was the quickest way to get injured or killed. however what we wanted and what would happen were two different things. if we ever go to the ground we need to know what to do there.

He talked about the history of ground fighting. Starting with the earliest warriors to the current competition ground fighting. Unlike competition when you are fighting for your life there are no rules and the goal is survival at any means. He talked about how the ground gives you power and you have to learn how to use that power. All the principles that you learn when on your feet also apply to the ground.

Coach Freedman then demonstrated and had us practice techniques for ankle, knee and hip locks. He had us work slowly to avoid injury. It immediately became apparent how effective and dangerous these locks were. By the end of the seminar we all had new confidence in our skills on the ground.

Listen as Coach Freedman talks about the principles of Ground Fighting

Here are some pictures from the seminar.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

You can attend future seminars and get this advanced training. If you want to be notified about upcoming seminars then subscribe to the newsletter.

Related posts:

1. From the Knife Making Workshop Spring 2011
2. Meeting of the Ketsugo Tribe April 2011

The Karambit is an all purpose utility knife that was carried by the Indonesians since the 11th century, and can still be seen in some provinces throughout their islands. It was not meant to be used for combat since it was first and foremost, a tool.  It evolved only because of the necessity of the people of these Asian Countries to protect themselves from foreign invaders. It is one of the main weapons of Silat and is commonly used in Filipino martial arts as well. You can read a short history by Steve Tarani at his site here.  Coach Freedman has studied the Karambit with several Silat masters and has put his own spin on the weapon. Watch in this video as he shows some basic attacks and defenses with this versatile weapon.

Related posts:

1. Karambit Drills Pt. 2

Peter in the Blade Shop

I have been working in the my knife workshop again. My knife smith mentor Mr. Dan Howland has been   guiding me on these latest projects. Thanks Dan.
First is my ball bearing knife. You can see my progress in the pictures below.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

I still have a lot more work to do on this knife before I can polish it and put it all together.

Then there are my railroad spike knives. Here are 3 knives that I am currently working on. They still need to be sanded & then heat treated.. and then polished.. and of course.. sharpened! Then they will need sheaths.. out of leather.. which I will make. I hope you like these.. next to the knives are how they looked  before I forged them. More pics on the way as things move forward.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Related posts:

1. Ground Fighting Spring 2011
2. Training Blades from the Workshop

Students often ask, “Sensei why do you have your students develop sensitivity? “

This is a great question.. Sensitivity is the top secret ingredient in all martial arts. The understanding of this idea will raise you above all the rest in the martial arena.

There are many layers of understanding this idea (Concept) of what sensitivity really is concerning martial play. Lets begin with skin … the biggest organ on the human anatomy. Your skin is very sensitive and was designed by our creator to help us stay out of trouble.

If you get to close to a flame – fire … you will notice your skin becoming hot. The closer you get the faster your skin heats up until you become burned. Winter time if you go outside without gloves you will notice your hands become cold. If you have kids and get up in the middle of the night to relieve your self and while walking in the dark you step onto the kids toy may be some thing hard and pointy … ouch … yup that hurts. I think you are getting the picture here so lets move on.

We always hear that in the martial arts you learn how to defend your self against much bigger and stronger attackers. There is this idea by learning martial arts you can magically defend your self with just a few memorized techniques done in order from prearranged attacks. Well I hate to burst your bubble here but that is just not going to happen.

Now days people are lifting weights and doing combat conditioning drills to help make themselves bigger and stronger so they will become a better fighter. This is all good but with this type of thinking you will only be able to defend yourself as long as you are in good physical shape.

What happens now when you are hurt or injured? What happens when you are sick and drop muscle and have no stamina? What happens when you age and your speed – strength drops?

Here is where sensitivity enters into the picture. By learning to yield or give way like in Jujutsu or Aikido – Tai Chi and other martial art system as well you can now blend with energy instead of clashing with it. Learning to use your skin to notice and feel pressure is one of the best kept secrets in the martial art world. A lot of martial arts teach it, but they don’t make a big enough deal out of it because it is so simple to learn. So they take it for granted and pass it by or even blow it off.

The other day I had a conversation with a service man, who is the hand to hand instructor for his unit. He asked me the difference between Jujutsu / Aiki-Jutsu and Aiki-Jujutsu. The difference is how they utilize the energy coming in from different attacks. Ju-Jutsu is more of a yielding method.. that is what JU means in the Jujutsu.. it means to yield. Just like merging into traffic with your car. Coming out of an exit and merging with others cars going in the same direction you are traveling. You will first need to match the speed while not bumping into other cars.. Merging is yielding.. If I throw a raw egg at you how would you catch that egg without it breaking? You will need to match the incoming speed of that egg at the same time merging your hands with that egg and as this egg touches your hand you go back into your self with your hand or hands that is doing the catching. You tend to cradle this egg in a soft easy approach. If you just threw your hand out there in one place while the egg hit it the egg would then break the time you closed your hand around it. Apply this concept – idea, to human contact.

Aiki-Jutsu is a little different. Aiki means to blend with energy. Here is where your skin comes in. When you feel some thing like pressure or heat from another human being you learn to ease up and blend with the direction of where this energy wants to go. By learning to relax your muscles and allow the muscles to go soft you will be able to notice more feeling in these muscles. Your touch with skin to some thing else, will become more noticeable and heightened. When you feel resistance don’t resist, instead just let the pressure take you over and allow it to win. Just like the old saying in Tai Chi Chuan, (win by losing) so by allowing this energy to push or pull you in what ever direction it wants to go you learn to ride the wave of energy and in that we call blending. Think of this.. you are in a river with rough waters. You are trying to swim and becoming very exhausted. Now if you lie back on your back and just float allowing the current to carry you where ever it goes that is Aiki.

Aiki-Jujutsu is having the best of two worlds blended together. So now you have blending with energy and yielding. Some times you will need to just blend with energy and at other moments in time you will just need to yield with energy … Here is where it may get a little confusing because these two concepts are so similar but also very different. What makes them different is how you feel about them while in motion. Some times you will only need to yield to oncoming energy. Some times will will need to blend with oncoming energy … do what you must to survive is the idea.. but understanding energy and the different methods of sensing it and using it against your opponent is key.

When we practice Arnis – Kali – Escrima and Dumog we utilize the sensitivity drills. In Filipino martial arts we have a term called sticky stick. This is where you touch your opponents stick and try to feel where your opponents movement is going. By easing up on your own stick and following the path of your opponent’s stick through the sensitivity in your hand that is holding that stick, you can feel where his/her stick will go next and by doing this have already countered your opponent. This drill is done back and forth for long durations of time. When done properly you go into a meditative trance-like state and when this happens you are now training by spirit alone, which is truly a wonderful experience. Kind of like the runners high that you may hear about. Now Wing Chun Kung Fu has this same drill Chi Sau (Spelling) and they even do this drill blind folded. Amazing I know, but with the right instructor and lots of practice you to can accomplish a great deal.

Please understand sensitivity is not just limited to the arms. Oh no, you can do drills with your legs, your back all parts of your body. I know in Judo and Brazilian Jujitsu they have sensitivity drills they practice on the ground. They allow their bodies to listen (feel) for which way their opponents weight will shift next and they move right along with it by relaxing and allowing their opponents movement to take over. Also by relaxing you save a great deal of energy as well which you will need for later on in the fight.

I hope this helped you to understand just how important sensitivity is and also please do understand that I could write a book just on this subject but need to stop here, otherwise this article would still be in my computer and you would not be able to read it.

Always train slowly and be safe while working out with your training partners. Try to empty your cup before entering the dojo (school of thought) Be kind to the planet and all who share it.

No related posts.