#bigguybudo

[bigguybudo]

All too often we encounter martial artists who feel like they need to act or think a certain way to be credible. They behave as if they must follow some interpretation of the bushido code (usually their own interpretation), or they must behave as they read Funakoshi or Matsumura are alleged to have behaved.

It's pretentious, and it's often counterproductive. Stop thinking about your own appearances, work with the people around you, and consider how your actions and behaviors affect others.

Train first, and train sincerely. The rest will take care of itself.

(Hat tip to @mikeoliveri for use of the image.)

[bigguybudo]

Fall down seven times, stand up eight.

[bigguybudo]

Yes, martial arts students learn to fight. But the goal is not to fight, but to find strength and courage so they won't have to.

[bigguybudo]

Just as everyone's path within the martial arts is different, we all followed our own paths to begin training. There's no wrong reason to train, and we should never let anyone tell us otherwise. Always forward.

[bigguybudo]

If you can talk yourself into taking the first step, the rest is easy.

[bigguybudo]

Bourbon & Budo Unisex T-Shirt

Choki Motobu said, "It is necessary to drink alcohol and pursue other fun human activities. The art of someone who is too serious has no flavor." Our interpretation is not so much that you have to drink, but you should cut loose and have some fun from time to time. Don't take your art—or yourself!—too seriously. That s

Choki Motobu said, "It is necessary to drink alcohol and pursue other fun human activities. The art of someone who is too serious has no flavor." 

Our interpretation is not so much that you have to drink, but you should cut loose and have some fun from time to time. Don't take your art—or yourself!—too seriously. That said, our boss happens to be a bourbon fan, so we put this shirt together for him, just in time for National Bourbon Day on June 14th. Kanpai! 

[bigguybudo]

Make it work for you

There's nothing wrong with taking inspiration from the samurai or the early karate masters like Matsumura or Funakoshi, and there are definitely lessons in their accomplishments. My recommendation is simple: take the good, discard the rest. They were men, not saints.

Added to the blog over at the shop site.

[bigguybudo]

While martial arts training focuses on the development of specific skills, its participants are often inspired to cross-train for strength, flexibility, speed, endurance, and dexterity to improve the effectiveness of those skills. A side benefit, of course, is the improvement of the practitioner's overall health. 

Train in the martial arts and, in time, you may be pleasantly surprised at what you become capable of.