Martial training science: May 2012

Meggitt Training Systems Portable Simulator (XVT)

when napoleon was asked what principles of war he followed, he replied that followed none.

To know that one is in a certain condition, in a certain state, is already a process of liberation; but a man who is not aware of his condition, of his struggle, tries to be something other than he is, which brings about habit. So, then, let us keep in mind that we want to examine what is, to observe and be aware of exactly what is the actual, without giving it any slant, without giving it an interpretation. It needs an extraordinarily astute mind, an extraordinary pliable heart, to be aware of an to follow what is; because what is is constantly moving, constantly undergoing a transformation, and if the mind is tethered to belief, to knowledge, it ceases to pursue, it ceases to follow the swift movement of what is. What is is not static, surely - it is constantly moving, as you will see if you observe it very closely. To follow it, you need a very swift mind and pliable heart - which are denied when the mind is static, fixed in a belief, in a prejudice, in an identification; and a mind and heart that are dry cannot follow easily, swiftly, that which is.

Jidu Krishnamurti, 1809-1865

pre-emption

"pressing down the pillow" refers to one's efforts not to let the head of one's opponent rise. In battles based on martial strategy, it is taboo to let your opponent take the initative, thus putting yourself on the defensive. You must try at all costs to lead your opponent by taking complete control of him. During combat, your opponent intends to dominate you as much as your want to dominate him, so it is vital that you pick up on your opponent's intentions and tactics so as to control him....According to the principle of martial strategy, you must be able to control your opponent(s) at all times. Study this point well
The book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi, 1584-1645

The mind of war

(colonel John) Boyd paid particular attention to the moral dimension and the effort to attack an adversary morally by showing the disjunture between professed beliefs and deeds. The name of the game for a moral design for grand strategy is to use moral leverage to amplify one's spirit and strength while exposing the flaws of competing adversary systems. In the process, one should influence the uncommitted, potential adversaries and current adversaries so that they are drawn toward one's philosophy and are emphathetic toward one's success

The mind of war: John Boyd and american security, Grant T. Hammond 2001

Fearlessness and Fearfulness two sides of the same coin

When a man has learned within his heart what fear and trembling mean, he is safeguarded against any terror produced by outside influences. Let the thunder roll and spread terror a hundred miles around: he remains so composed and reverent in spirit that the sacrificial rite is not interrupted. This is the spirit that must animate leaders and rulers of men - a profound inner seriousness from which all outer terrors glance off harmlessly
THE I CHING, China, Circa Eighth century B.C.

Effort

Ray Lewis once said that at the end of the day, a champion should be judged by effort. Effort doesn't care whether you have bad genetics or not.

Effort doesn't care if you don't have access to the best equipment at your gym. Big effort gets big results. You have all the diet and nutrition information, you just need to provide the effort.

Young or old. Put out

- When you are prepared to die for something worthwhile then you truly live.

Today I die

Meditation on inevitable death should be performed every day. Every day when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surgin waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or commiting seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead.

Hagakure: The book of the samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo 1659-720