Old Info New Mind
I was fishing around online tonight, like I often do, searching for some martial arts content or fight vids or whatever I can find relating to the subject. I came across some older material with the late Remy Presas Sr. the founder of Modern Arnis, who was an instructor and dear friend of MY instructor Datu Kelly Worden. I immediately started understanding some of the underlying humor in Datu's jokes now that I have seen and heard the way Remy Presas presented his material. Mr. Presas was an excellent teacher and presenter and both his mannerisms and character provided a great first impression. What was interesting, however, was the immediate connection I saw between his training methods, motions, and theories and those presented by Datu Worden. What struck me most though was just how much the art has progressed over the past 20-30 years...undeniable!
That got me thinking.
Datu has absorbed the information, analyzed it, and refined it to suit both him and his environment. In the process he has kept what was useful and discarded what wasn't. This process has been recurring over and over again and always on the cutting edge. This is what makes the art ALIVE. This is what keeps it modern, progressive, growing, and adapting. It is a living thing.
In saying this it reminds me of what my goal and that of other leaders of the arts is: KEEP IT ALIVE AND ADAPTABLE. This is where YOU all come in. The next generation of leaders are responsible for taking this information and putting it through the ringer, testing it, moulding it, and adding to it. The cycle of adaptation should remain constant throughout your training. It is your time to take what is useful and discard what isn't, but also to return to the "recycle bin" and see if it may have a place within the bounds of new understanding.
Information seen in new light or within a new context often holds a newer, deeper meaning. Make a habit of visiting "old news" with a "new mind" and see what you find. Oftentimes the old material that you have discarded may hold the key to a better understanding of the new.
That got me thinking.
Datu has absorbed the information, analyzed it, and refined it to suit both him and his environment. In the process he has kept what was useful and discarded what wasn't. This process has been recurring over and over again and always on the cutting edge. This is what makes the art ALIVE. This is what keeps it modern, progressive, growing, and adapting. It is a living thing.
In saying this it reminds me of what my goal and that of other leaders of the arts is: KEEP IT ALIVE AND ADAPTABLE. This is where YOU all come in. The next generation of leaders are responsible for taking this information and putting it through the ringer, testing it, moulding it, and adding to it. The cycle of adaptation should remain constant throughout your training. It is your time to take what is useful and discard what isn't, but also to return to the "recycle bin" and see if it may have a place within the bounds of new understanding.
Information seen in new light or within a new context often holds a newer, deeper meaning. Make a habit of visiting "old news" with a "new mind" and see what you find. Oftentimes the old material that you have discarded may hold the key to a better understanding of the new.
posted by -s- at
6:39 a.m.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home