There are so many wonderful philosophies in the world, all you have to do is study any of the ancient texts and they will give you the most wonderful stories that one could ever ask for. What are philosophies, why are they so important to man, what can they teach us, well soon I will come back to write more, that is when we can find these things out together, thank you for coming and hope to see you again soon.

Thank you and God Bless you all

Through the years of first being a basic student, to being a teacher, then realizing that I am going to be a student for the rest of my life, I have found a deep love for the different philosophies of the martial arts. It is not unlike the philosophies of life. To study a Martial Art with out philosophy, is to study a very sub standard way dealing with martial sports. For to gain power without philosophy how can one fall back on something that puts us back in check, helping us deal with our ego's. The Martial arts is something that gives us hte power to do many evil things, but only if we were taught martial arts without philosophy. Martial arts gives us great power and a far greater ability than the normal person, we must have a philosophy to give us direction in life, to give us a "way" to follow. There are many ways to follow, and who is to say there way is better than the other. I would have to say that for every kind of peoples in this world there is a different way, for every color of skin there is a different way, for every different martial art there is a different way, as long as the "way" is teaching you a good moral teaching, then that is for you to decide which way to follow. In any class that I teach I never push my philosophy down someone's throat, I do however suggest different things to read, different paths to follow, and that is the ultimate truth. I can only show you the way, I can only set you on the path, it is up to you to make that path great, it is you who can make your self great in the eyes of your peers. I cannot make you a Master, but I can show you the way, I can put you on the right path. But it is you who has to work hard to climb the towards the proper direction in your life, and be all you can be in this world.

I never ever want anyone to be me, I want you to be you, for you can be the best in the world, it is you that can be great by following your positive self and follow a path that has greatness in everything that you do. You have to not only help yourself, but you have to help people. But only after you have truly helped yourself, for how can the blind lead the blind. You must strive to be the best you can as a martial artist in this world. Then after reaching a certain goal that time and hard work can only bring, you will see the rewards that follow. Look into the mirror when you run into problems, look into the mirror when you need to find answers for it is you and only you that can answer these questions. Look into the mirror and you will find many answers, look into the mirror and be honest with the person that stands before you, "the self". Don't look around to blame others when there is a problem, don't look around when things do not go right, look into the mirror and look straight into the eyes of the self, and you will find every answer that you are looking for. This has helped me become who I have become, it has been a rocky road, because every time that I thought that I was something, I found out that I was not. I had no one to blame when things were not right, because it was always me, no one else. Once I found this I was set free from so many things in life, and people became so much more special because each and every one of us has something to give to this great earth. We are all special, we are all filled with something that others do not have, and yet if we only sat down and shared all of the good things with each other we would be so much better off. So please do not waste your time to , hate, or to hold a grudge, or to have a chip on your shoulder, or even worse to be jealous of someone, that causes great turmoil inside your body and mind, set yourself free by being honest with yourself, and look deep into your eyes and find what ever problem lies before you.

THE OPTIMIST CREED

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give very living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble
 

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE

If a child lives with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, they learn to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If a child lives with praise, they learn justice.
If a child lives with security, they learn to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, they learn to find love in the world.

Shaolin Principle

Learn the ways to preserve rather than destroy
Avoid rather than check, check rather than hurt
Hurt rather than maim, maim rather than kill
For all life is precious, nor can any be replaced
 

Read Carefully:

Philosophy in Kung Fu is very inspiring. There are many sources of philosophy in Kung Fu,
Buddhism, Taoism, Confucius. Each and every style or system of Kung fu seems to have its own
philosophy that they live by to help them grow in their arts and lives. I will have many links in the future in these area's of study.

FIVE ELEMENTS

From the interaction of the yin and yang arose the five basic
elements: wood, earth, metal, water, and fire. These elements can exist in a helpful and
complementary relationship to each other, or they can work against one another and destroy
themselves.

Wood burns to produce Fire,
Resulting in the ash which becomes Earth,
From Earth there emerges Metal, which produces Water by
condensation.

Also

Wood occupies Earth, and Earth soaks up the Water,
Water douses Fire, Fire melts Metal and Metal cuts wood.

The tongue is soft and it remains, the teeth are hard and they fall out.

Pain is joy and joy is knowledge.

Relaxation: Bend too the weight of a fly.
Be soft and yielding. Exert no strength.

Concentration: Mind Of Movement.
Let the mind direct the movement.

Mediation: So Easy and yet so hard, for some.
Balance the movements of the mind, the body and the chi.

Harmony: Walk in the light, be one with nature.
When thoughts and movements are in accord, you gain the power.

Breathing: Feel your whole body breath.
Breathe naturally through the nose into the abdomen. With the abdomen relaxed tranquility will prevail.

Writings contained in the Tao Te CHING

Yield and overcome;
Bend and be straight;
Empty and be full;
Wear out and be new;
Have little and gain;
Have much and be confused.
Therefore wise men embrace the one. They set an example to all.
Not putting on a display. They shin forth. Not justifying
themselves, They are distinguished By attending to the chi, and relaxing completely, you will be able to be like a new born babe.
Yin and Yang in succession is called the Tao.

Feel your feet firmly rooted against the earth
Feel the power of the move come from your legs
Feel the power directed by the waist
Feel the power in the hands…. Gradually you can begin to remove any blocked tension from your body and in this way bring your whole self into the balanced, harmonized state.
Nothing under heaven is more yielding than water; but when it attacks things hard and resistant, there is not one of them that can prevail.

A hypocrite is someone who says; "Do as I say , not as I do"
Someone who says " Do as I do, not as I did" is a great teacher.

In daily life, be competent.
In action, be aware of the time and the seasons.

There is no greater sin than desire,
No greater curse than discontent,
No greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself.
Therefore he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

The wise student hears of the "Tao" and practices it diligently.
The average student hears of the "Tao" and gives it thought now and again.
The foolish student hears of the "Tao" and laughs aloud.
If there were no laughter, the "Tao" would not be what it is.

Between birth and death,
Three in ten are followers of life,
Three in ten are followers of death,
And men just passing from birth to death also number three in ten.
Why is this so?
'Because they live their lives on the gross level.
He who knows how to live can walk abroad without fear of the rhinoceros or tiger.
He will not be wounded in battle.
For in him rhinoceroses can find no place to thrust their horn,
Tigers no place to use their claws,
And weapons no place to pierce.
Why is this so?
Because he has no place for death to enter.

The ancient Masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.
The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable.
Because it is unfathomable,
All we can do is describe their appearance.
Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream.
Alert, like men aware of danger.
Courteous, like visiting guests.
Yielding, like ice about to melt.
Simple, like uncarved blocks or wood.
Hollow, like caves.
Opaque, like muddy pools.
Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?
Who can remain still until the moment of action?
Observers of the "Tao" do not seek fulfillment.
Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change.

We who are studying in the KY MOO KWAN do aspire to these Virtues.

1. We are proud to study the spirit of CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS.


2. We shall always practice courtesy in every sense of the way.


3. We shall be quick to seize the opportunity to help others.


4. We shall always practice patience, in learning, being respectful to those above us and below us, and in training our techniques over and over again with out any thought as to what our teachers have planned for us.

5. We shall always keep the age-old fighting spirit of Kung fu alive and well, never hurting our fellow artists, never having ego even if we think that we have better skill, always helping the lower students and giving thanks to those that do well, and not having ego if they best us, but giving them there rightful praise when they do show signs of improvement.

6. We shall pay respect to the past Great Masters of the arts, as well as the Masters that stand before us, whether these Masters are from another system or from ours, we shall bow to those that walked before us before and after every class.

7. We will always be ready to help the weak, old, and helpless, no matter what the cost, never turn a blind eye to those in need.

8. We will meditate daily in order to keep the ancients in tune with us, and to be in tune with nature.

9. We shall always show respect to all the authentic arts from the past and
present.
10. We shall never throw the first punch, but will always land the first blow.

Prayers to help against Evil

ANGELS, ST. MICHAEL, & PADRE PIO

Another Prayer:

Angel of God, My guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here: Ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen

Another Prayer

Oh Jesus, full of grace and charity, victim for sinners, so impelled by your love of us that you willed to die on the cross, I humbly entreat thee to glorify in heaven and on earth, the Blessed, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who generously participated in your sufferings, who loved thee so much and laboured so faithfully for the glory of your heavenly Father and for the good of souls. With confidence, I beseech thee to grant me, through his intercession, the grace of which I ardently desire. 3 times Glory be the Father.

Daoist Studies

Buddhist Studies

Sifu Dee