On the UBBT's Eco-Adventure

(Each year I take the members of the Ultimate Black Belt Test on a 3 or 4 day Eco-Adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail outside of Lake Tahoe, CA)

We are going into the Sierra’s for a number of reasons…and I promote this event purposely and with intent (not because it’s easy or convenient or because “we have to do something”).

I truly believe that being close to nature, connecting, turning off the virtual world, and being close to the earth, to trees, and sleeping under the stars is something we need to stay sane. If you could “get” the value of these things, you would, I believe, be that much better of a teacher, leader, and inspiration to others.

The chance to do these things and create the time to talk with you, to give you the opportunity to mix and connect –and to do it all without the wiz and hum of cell-phones, air conditioners, i-pods, car stereos, servants, TV’s, bars, convention center lighting, gift shops, slot machines, and on and on –it’s perfect.

If I somehow motivated you to take your students, periodically, into the outdoors…that you would somehow tie in a “martial arts education” to connecting, at least occasionally, with nature…well, then what a feather in my cap! What a gift that would be.

That’s part of what I’m doing. I’m showing you what I think is important ---and I’m hoping you say to yourself, “yeah, this is good” ---and then implement it as a part of the education you provide for all of those people who so look up to you.

Simplicity is a common theme in my writing and work ---but how to practice it? How do we get in touch with it? How do we let go, even just for a day or two, with all of the crud we have encumbered ourselves with?

This trip does some of that –and a bonus is that we’re not trekking across Death Valley…this area we go to is beautiful ---and still looks like America looked when your father’s great-great grandfather was working on his methods for making a living on the planet.

We have, some of us, forgotten the power of nature to clear the slate and clean the soul.

Forget "Karate", MMA is The Ultimate!

Forget your karate, your taekwondo, your aikido, your gung fu, your jiu-jitsu, your kenpo; mixed martial arts is the ULTIMATE!

Mixed Martial Arts –In Perspective

By Tom Callos

Mixed martial arts is the perfect art for the space it occupies. I mean, why not use what works when it’s needed? Why not forget a style’s country of origin, it’s founder, it’s history, it’s lineage? Who really cares what art a technique is from?

Hey, if the kick works, if the choke chokes, if the punch lands, who could ask for more? When you’re in the octagon or any fighting ring, you’re on the spot -there’s no time for history or philosophy, there’s only time to do what you’ve come to do.

I love mixed martial arts for its efficiency, for its no-nonsense approach, for its adaptability, and for its lack of baggage. It is the ultimate martial art for the 625-square-feet of space that makes up a 25’ x 25’ ring.

The only thing is, and it’s worthy to note: Life does not take place in the octagon. The rules of MMA practice and fighting, the whole UFC fight thing, well…it’s made for the ring.

Life is, yeah, BIGGER! Life is...

Life is REALLY BIG!

The rules that work so well in the octagon or in ANY ring, don't apply to the big ol' world. No, for the world, to live here in peace, to let our children grow up and love, live, reach, enjoy, and prosper, there are lots, and lots, and lots of other things they need to know.

This then, all you "karate teachers" (replace "karate with your style, system, method, etc.), is a wake up call (if you need one).

If you're going to define your art with "fighting" in the first paragraph of your description of what you do, then you have limited your overall value (to the tune of about 625 square feet).

If you realize YOUR playing field in the world (read: large!) --and teach accordingly, then your style will go on, will prosper, will have value, and will make a difference (in a much larger and, dare I say, more relevant way).

If your primary focus is kicking, punching, grappling, etc. -well, it's your choice isn't it? It doesn't make you bad or weak or anything, that is except less valuable to the world.

Teach more than fighting; redefine your mission; create a new INTENT.

Message to the UBBT Teams and Members of the 100, following the MAIA Supershow:

MMA has Landed.

The UBBT concept is, I think, especially vital –now that MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) has permeated everyone’s consciousness. MMA isn’t new, as it’s what all the masters practiced before they did what they did best --and followers wrote those ideas in stone.
MMA is here, now, vital, and it’s the culmination of years of effort from masters of many styles.

The UBBT however, is ULTRA-MMA, and not just in the realm of fighting.

Our curriculum engages boxing, BJJ, fitness training, traditional practices, and reality-based self-defense training, all components of MMA—but, as you know, we go way beyond the physical. We embrace meditation (and if you’ve done as instructed, you have already studied with a master), empathy and kindness training (character development), education (interviewing a master, reading, profiling 10 living heroes, journaling as leadership), and community involvement (environmental clean up, Alabama project, 50,000 acts of kindness project).

The 100 is my attempt to get “clients” and members to focus on Project Based Leadership Training and both environmental and peace activism in a way that enhances the education your school provides, opens up new promotional opportunities, and helps create a truly unique selling proposition for each school.

All of these ideas, for our little “industry,” are terribly (or wonderfully) radical and way, WAY ahead of their time. BUT, in the broadest sense, this is ULTIMATE MMA (if you view the martial arts as more than a sport or method of physical self-defense/combat).

MMA is built upon taking the best-of-the-best martial arts techniques from wherever they happen to come from, and blending them in a way that has nothing to do with politics, country of origin, or style. What works, works, what doesn’t is placed in another catagory. What we’re doing is exactly the same thing, but in a more holistic way.

Definition of Holistic:

ho·lis·tic [ hō lístik ] 1. analyzing whole system of beliefs: characterized by the view that a whole system of beliefs must be analyzed rather than simply its individual components.

Early on, Mike Valentine, the first person to join the UBBT, said that he thought the UBBT would be most effective (as a tool for change and business improvement) if participants took their physical martial arts training to the highest level. Being in top shape, actually being “good”, and being able to show a level of physical mastery would, for the martial arts community, demonstrate that we were striving for a healthy balance.

I agree, but I can’t get you in shape –I can only point the way and encourage you. My suggestion: Practice like this is your Olympics. Do that, and at next year’s Supershow, you will find yourself a part of those leading the pack.

UBBT Alabama / M Project UPDATE

One of the Most Interesting, but underrated accomplishments of the Ultimate Black Belt Test Team 4 (with help from other teams, as always and as it should be) is its work in Alabama with Pam Dorr, the Rural Studio, and in preparation for John Bielenberg and his PROJECT M.
The teams raised $40,000 to partially renovate two historic buildings in Greensboro, Alabama --structures to be used to launch art programs for local youth --AND to house the amazing PROJECT M.

I don't think most team members realize what we did --and who it is impacting.

It all began with our relationship with Pam Dorr --who I contacted because of my interest in the great teacher Sam Mockbee.

Then I read a story about Mockbee's influence on another amazing teacher (in another field), John Bielenberg. Project M --a radically different sort of training program for graphic designers, artists, writers, photographers, is in part named after Mockbee.

I e-mailed John about our work in Alabama --and asked if he'd like to participate in some way --and that lead to conversations with Pam Dorr --which lead to our plan to renovate a place for visiting artists, groups, etc. to come to in Greensboro --which lead to Project M actually coming to Greensboro.

Oh, and let me tell you a secret: I want to be a teacher like Mockbee and Bielenberg --in the martial arts world.

So, in part, because of our work in Alabama, we have formed a bridge between some seemingly disparate fields (architecture, art, design, martial arts), and become a part of a large family of dynamic people who are, in the end, all doing the same kind of work:

Inspiration; education; awareness; creativity; community activism; leadership training ---which, in my mind, all point to a very sophisticated and essential form of self-defense.

Good work Teams. Thank you to everyone who worked, raised money, fell off roofs, made films, and generally got down and dirty for this vision. Thank you to Jason and Claire, who came all the way from the UK to help. Thank you to Nancy for her amazing films. Thank you to all the schools who raised money. Thank you to Hal for his engineering advice and work. Thank you to Pam Dorr for allowing us to participate. Thank you to all the Mom's and Dads, Hal and John Miller, and Chris Natzke, and all that I've missed, for bringing your children into our work --they don't know what they played a role in, yet.

Thank you to everyone on the team who helped do something remarkable --without much praise, with very little fanfare, and with some healthy bumps and bruises. We left a mark there --thanks to you!

The links below talk a bit about the project --and show some pictures of the houses:

http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/field_trip/project_m_at_the_rural_studio_heats_up_61220.asp

http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/field_trip/a_rural_studio_tour_61238.asp

http://projectm07.blogspot.com/2007/06/yee-haw.html

http://projectm07.blogspot.com/

Tom Callos
530-903-0286

Martial Arts Answers for a Filmmaker (FYI)

A filmmaker, whose name must remain a secret, sent me the following questions in regards to a feature film in-the-works...

Hi Tom, Getting down to business, what I am really looking for is information re. the following aspects of martial arts:

What is the founding philosophy for marital arts and the core values that it aims to maintain and sustain in individuals? Would you consider martial arts a means to creating goodness in the world? and how?What is the form/type of martial arts that is most suited to a woman's physique, energy and mentality? Which types do women tend to pioneer in? etc.

I guess that is a start for now, I am also reading numerous books and looking at varied resources but wanted to get the organic knowledge from someone with as much expertise as yourself. Very briefly, my feature film (which I can not really say a lot about at the moment) but is about women superheroes! That is the most I can say for now. I trust you will understand. We maybe shooting in Austin too!! Hope you are great Tom.Thanks,

Ok ______, Thanks…and good luck!

Here are my answers:

What is the founding philosophy for marital arts and the core values that it aims to maintain and sustain in individuals?

There is nothing about the founding of the martial arts –or its core philosophy, that isn’t easily understood or recognized about "life" in general. Think of Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs…first you satisfy hunger, shelter, companionship, and at the highest levels self-actualization and community contribution.

So too is it with martial arts.

Most people, now and historically, first started "practicing" martial "stuff" out of the basic need for protection…then came health, another form of protection, then came the expression of art, game, community, the search for mental clarity (peace) ---and all of the things you and I (human beings) think about when they’re not fighting the life-and-death struggle.

When you think of "martial arts" think "LIFE." When you say "martial artist", say HUMAN BEING. To be a martial arts master is embarrassingly easy ---being a solid, contributing, compassionate, empathetic, whole human being ---now THAT is hard work.

To be a martial artist is to have a self-defense consciousness (coined by my wife)…and "self-defense" is holistic –and not reserved for defense from physical attack alone. Follow me?

Oh, and I should mention, to be a "warrior" is easy. Pick up a weapon and kill. It is returning to be a whole human being, once you have faced the brutality of war, that is hard. People who want to be warriors have not, I think, experienced the horrible stupidity and uselessness of real war; the death of children, innocent and wide-eyed…the death of women who could have been their mothers…fathers who wanted no more than to watch their children play. People who aspire to a warrior attitude are not thinking clearly –as there is nothing about murder that feeds the soul or makes us better human beings.

If you are depicting people or super-heroes who are warriors, depict the understanding that consciousness and clarity, in this regard, is the highest form of "martial art." To lose the need and desire to fight. That is, at least at this time in my life, how I understand it.

Would you consider martial arts a means to creating goodness in the world? and how?

The martial arts, practiced diligently and with the right frame of mind ---like many things, has the potential to bring the practitioner to a centered, balanced, healthy, compassionate place.

If anger, as is said, comes from a place of fear –then the practice of the martial arts helps the practitioner overcome fear –to face fear (not just the fear of attack, but the fear of how one might feel if he or she "loses face" or feels intimidated or less-than or of losing something irreplaceable), then it is good for the world…as people do stupid things when they operate from a place of fear.

The practice of the martial arts does not bring enlightenment –just as "living" does not bring about enlightenment. There are just as many dysfunctional martial arts practitioners as there are dysfunctional human beings. What the martial arts has the potential to do, is make a person physically fit…which lends itself, for some, to mental and emotional fitness.

It is, above all else the PRACTICE of controlling one’s fear, the PRACTICE of staying clear headed under pressure, the PRACTICE of facing opponents without unjustified fear, the PRACTICE of moving the body in a way that deescalates conflict, minimizes the need for it –or its effects, it is in the quest to become clear –that one reaps the benefits of the practice of the martial arts. This idea is in everything –golf, the tea ceremony, the mountain climber…these are universal concepts.

Practice is where the value is. One doesn’t achieve "mastery", one practices the acts and concepts of mastery.

Martial arts is the car –not the trip. Martial arts are, primarily, about self-control…and self-awareness. Someone who exercises self-control –and who has a heightened sense of self-awareness OUGHT to function better as a human being. Someone who is highly self-aware, is then, I think, highly aware of the same ideas in his or her fellow human beings. That is good for the world, no?

Where martial arts might (or might not) be a more direct path to creating goodness, is directly related to the philosophy of the teacher…and "goodness" philosophy isn’t a martial arts thing…it is a very human thing. The wisest martial artists (human beings), look for teachers in everything –they look for the universal truths…not the one’s with specific labels of origin.
Martial arts is neither smart nor dumb, neither good or bad.

The Korean proverb is: The cow and the snake drink from the same pond ---the cow makes milk, the snake makes poison.

What is the form/type of martial arts that is most suited to a woman's physique, energy and mentality? Which types do women tend to pioneer in? etc.

Well, tough question, as women, like men, come in all shapes and sizes. Best to look, at least part of the time, at martial arts "styles" like state or country lines. Is there really a line between California and Nevada?

No…

and there’s really not that big of difference in style or system of martial arts for the advanced practitioner. Some styles or systems might argue that point –but most of their stuff is what is called "branding" ---they’re making borders and rules that don’t exist in the real world. Bruce Lee’s philosophy in the Tao of JKD, is the right approach: "way as no way, no way as way." (actually, it’s "Using no way as way, having no limitation as limitation")

All that being said, women with less muscle than men, use martial arts techniques that don’t require superior strength. All martial arts have something of this as a part of their stuff…
And remember, empty handed fighting is a last resort…a weapon is almost always superior to no weapon. A woman with the right weapon, is (can be) as capable as a man or animal twice her size…or more.

Note too, that martial arts that are primarily sport related, like much of taekwondo and judo –are practicing with "rules of the game." These rules govern what they can or can’t do (or what they primarily focus on in practice). A warrior fighting a life and death struggle has no rules (I’m hypothesizing) except to survive.

Tom