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Articles by Art Mason

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14 articles by Art Mason · showing 14

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

Becoming a True Black Belt

Since our school was founded in March 2000, I have promoted approximately 120 people to the rank of Black Belt, either adult or junior. Many of these people moved on to other things shortly after this promotion. Our currently Black Belt population is about 75 with another 22 eligible this fall. Now I am not giving these number to brag about how many Black Belt I have, but to ask the question, how many of you are TRUE Black Belts? Most of the Black Belts in my system are excellent students of the art, but is this transferring to the real world?

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

The Path to Happiness

If everyone on the planet were to read, understand and internalize this teaching we would see an end to violence and conflict almost over night. The mind is an amazing creation. For centuries science thought that the mind was fixed. It thought that personality was set at birth. Today science understands one of the greatest teachings of the Buddha, the teaching that the mind can be transformed. What does this mean to us? For one thing it means that the personality is not set in stone.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

Learning to Think Better

If you listen to the news or read a paper there is so much negativity is can be overwhelming. Now from a business standpoint bad news sells, so this is what we get. I am however more interested in the thinking that causes this versus the situations themselves. The first line of our Student Creed states. “I develop myself physically and mentally based on the martial art spirit.” A martial art student trains the body to develop the mind, yet so many students of the arts are often so negative.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

The Path to Happiness - Suffering

We are truly our own worse enemy. Why is it when something goes wrong we are so fast to turn on ourselves and start the worry process? People are motivated by two things. The need to avoid pain and the need to experience pleasure, yet we focus so much on pain. What causes man to suffer? First there is physical suffering, the kind that come with injury, disease and age. The second is mental suffering, which is imposed on us by ourselves.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

What the Buddha Taught

2600 years ago the Buddha taught many truths that still hold truth to this day. Often times throughout history attempts have been made to stifle these teachings. Here is one of the most important, which I will attempt to put into such a language as to be understood by any and all readers. The 4 Nobel Truths: 1. "The noble truth that there is suffering" 2. "The noble truth that there is a cause of suffering" 3. "The noble truth that is there can be an end of suffering" 4.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

Reaching your Fullest Potential

One of the things that we talk about in our school is reaching your FULLEST potential. Parents bring their children to us, in hope that martial arts will help their child reach this peak. What is your FULL Potential? The human mind is an amazing thing. Scientist say that we only use 5-10% of our brain. Then we have people that are predominately right brained (creative) or left brained (logical). What does all this mean?

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

Are you addicted to your emotions?

When we think of the word addiction we often think about chemical addiction to alcohol, tobacco, or heroin. But did you know that you can be addicted to your emotions? We all know someone who is! Sometimes they are addicted to anger, depression, sadness and then there is the rare person who is always happy. What is an emotion? An emotion is a chemical response to outside stimulus. We are always having emotional response to what is going on in our environment. Sometime the emotions are weak, other times they are very strong.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

Take out the Trash

"We are what we think, all that we are arises with our thoughts, with our thoughts we create the world." These words were spoken by Siddhattha Gotama, The Buddha almost 2600 years ago. Jesus and Krishna spoke similar words, but we never listened to them. There is no hidden meaning in these words, they speak a simple truth. The truth is what we think about most will manifest in our reality, plain and simple. If we think about sickness, we will become sick, if we think about health we will be healthy. If our focus is on LACK, our lives will be in LACK.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

The Octagon and the Noble 8 Fold Path

The martial arts is rich with the teaching of the Buddha, the teaching of the movement of the octagon is no exception. What is the origin of the Octagon in martial arts training? It's movement is based on the teaching of the 8 Fold Path. If you follow this path you will live a happy life, likewise if you understand movement in the Octagon you will be safe from your attacker. The 8 paths are grouped into 3 headings. Wisdom 1. Right View - The 1st part of the path conce s "Right View". Does a person go though his or her life with the right view of life in mind?

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

High Level Martial Arts Mastery & Understanding

Today in the martial arts there is a heavy influence on 'sport' aspects. There is no problem with this however it can often mask the real purpose of martial arts training. The lifetime study of a martial art is not about competition with others, but concurring the self. When ever I think of great masters my mind goes off to Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido and others who truly understood and embodied what the martial arts are all about. I could list literally hundreds of names, but we all know the legacy of these masters. What is high level martial arts?

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

A Gift....who does it belong?

This is one of my favorite stories about the Buddha’s travels in India. I hope you like it. In the countryside of India the Buddha is giving a talk on Dharma. Whenever the Buddha talks people gather from all around to listen to his wisdom. On this particular occasion there is a heckler in the crowd. As Buddha talks the heckler is always interrupting, trying to get a rise of anger from the Buddha. Over time the man become more and more abusive. Finally after a long period the Buddha addresses the heckler.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

Martial Arts Belt Systems and Goal Setting

The martial arts belt system is one of the greatest human development systems ever created, but only if it is used correctly. Success in the real world is full of obstacles. They need to be surmounted to achieve the desired goal or result. Most people quit within inches of their success! So what does the martial art belt system teach? It teaches both children and adults to set goals, attain them, and see the visual results of these achievement.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

Black Belt Attitude

When someone reaches their goal of Black Belt what really changes? They have spent the last 4 to 5 years of their lives working towards this goal, then it is suddenly here and gone. What happens next depends on the individual martial artists. If the person is a self motivated goal oriented person, they are well prepared at Black Belt with their new short and long term goals. I was always set, looking to the future for new ranks and new learning experiences. Not everyone is. For some after hitting Black Belt something happens.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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By Art MasonRecently published1 topic

A Realization - There are no ordinary moments

I begin this by asking you two simple questions. Where are you? and what time is it? Almost everything I will write has a martial arts theme. That is because martial arts is part of who I chose to be. It is not who I am, but simply part of me. The reaso I refer so often to it is because it has been and still is a great vehicle for my understanding of life in general. Yesterday several of my students completed their level one Kyusho Jitsu exams (Black Belt). There was a year of preparation and classes to take this 3 hour written and physical exam.

Primary topic: Martial Arts

Martial Arts

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