"Shaolin or Wu Tang" "Samurai or Ninja " "Regional or Angola"

In the Mythology of Chinese Kung Fu the Shaolin were the monks of the Shaolin Temple that trained Kung Fu to protect the Temple  from bandits the Wu Tang.

In the Japanese mythology the Samurai were the honourable spiritual warriors whereas the Ninja were the thieves moving with stealth in the night. 

 

In Capoeira theres a duality is between the traditional "Angola" and  more contemporary academised "Regional" styles

This weeks riots in London have impacted on me deeply, I believe there have been multiple causes, but I think many of the perpetrators have rioted in attempt to assert some sort of control, whether they have done so because they felt social injustice, boredom, disempowerment or simple greed. 20 years ago I might have joined them on the demo and I might have joined in the looting (shock horror)

For me it was Martial Arts that helped me empower myself ( The truth is I dont think I am that much tougher a person than I was twenty years ago) but practising martial arts has taught me many other things about myself I had not anticipated; my limitations, my capabilties, it has taught me about hierarchy and group organization, it has taught me about teamwork and loyalty , it has taught me humility, how to be assertive ( if necessary), how to relax, to pick my fights carefully and my role models and teachers even more so.

 My Master once said "In the old academies you never really know who the Master is, it might be the person you least expect like the one mopping the floor" the lesson is , we can all and should learn from each other.   Thanks to all who have helped me on my journey Masters, teachers and students all

Skate like a man - Off the beaten track - Culture Shock

The attached image has been a favourite of mine for years

I first encountered the image as a kid (when I was a skater) in the adverts of "Thrasher magazine" for the skateboard manufacturers "Skate like a man" I also remember "pigdog" commenting on the adverts with relish!

Years later I encountered it again when I moved to London it was the era of Spiral Tribe and the image was used for a flyer promoting a swanky west end "house" club entitled "Culture shock" which was a far cry from the hardcore raves I was used to.It was in this era that I was using the logo myself for some t-shirts and a mix tape. In recent years I have noticed it being used (with the addition of a surfboad) as the logo for "Off the beaten track" a surf shop in St Ives. I chatted to the owner of the shop this week and he told me its an Aztek symbol - my resonance with The Aztek is chronicled elsewhere.....

Follow The White Rabbit

U.R.

There have been two organisations to use the title U.R. that I have encountered over the years. 

The first a band of Intestellar Fugitives and Knights of the Jaguar whom I came into contact with through the Techno music emanating from an operational base somewhere in Detroit. The "Underground Resistance".

The second disparate band of Hipsters, Skaters , B-Boys & Gals ,Aerosol Artists and Capoeiristas , who practice their "Urban Rituals" in East London and beyond.

Promise, Loyalty, Truth

Which of these values is most important ? In what order would you choose to prioritise them ? is such an abstract question absurd ?

Today I chose to put Truth first ,Loyalty second and a Promise third

C's in my Conciousness

2011 is Census year in the UK and the branding includes a big "C" . The organisers  have acknowledged they are expecting a signifant number of people to record "Jedi" as their religious affiliation.

Today after a conversation about "Clears" in Scientology I started to experience more   C's on my conciousness which I have blogged about

"The Deep Blue C" (Conciousness) 

Luna C

Hinkley point C - Nuclear reactor

Clear Records - Jedi Knights

C3PO - Star Wars

Cerco

"Clears" "Clear Channel" & The Sea Org - Scientology

C & C Music factory

Mr C

The Christ/Cosmic Conciousness

Yellow Dragons, Lion Dances, White Rabbits, Boomtown Rats & Flying Stars

This week my Tai Chi / Chi Gung / Kung Fu school "Yellow Dragon Fist" were invited to perform a Lion Dance live for the BBC's "Chinese New Year"  (Year of the Rabbit ) edition of their Flagship "One Show". Chinese new year is always a busy time for the school with request to perform Lion Dances and make alterations to clients Feng Shui.  (My Master Simon Wong is  Taoist/Buddhist and a Practioner of Flying Star Feng Shui.)
Despite various obstacles (including the car breaking down) we arrived at Television centre in good time and met Chris Evans dressed as a White Rabbit and Sir Bob Geldof of  the Boomtown Rats before the show. This was my first ever time performing a Lion Dance in public. I usually play the drum or cymbals. But all went well and a link to the performance on The One Show can be found here.

Click the links for more on  Dragons , Dungeons and Dragons , Dragon Dice and Puff the Magic Dragon.