What is the weekly mettle maker? It’s a weekly shot in the arm, a semi-fortnightly kick in the pants — your helpful heckler, hammering away at you to stop hemming and hawing and hurdle headlong into becoming your own hero!
East vs. West?: Mettle Maker #301
Self-defense: Work on your breakfalls. Don’t ask me why, but breakfalls seem to figure much more prominently in Eastern martial arts than in Western. But it doesn’t matter whether you live in Katmandu or Kansas, you gotta be able to fall down without getting hurt. Watch the video on the left and then put in a few rounds of practice, and make sure you practice falling regularly. Beginners, start on thick mats or on soft outdoor surfaces like mulch. Intermediates, graduate to grass. Advanced players, start gently experimenting on harder surfaces like wood floors and concrete. And if you need some basic instruction on how to fall properly, consider training with us either in person here in Richmond, VA or via our free distance learning program.
Fitness : Try “Very Bad Karma” from my bestselling ebook The Calisthenics Codex. Select three or four exercises (in the video I picked Squats, Knuckle Push-ups, Lunges, and Crunches). Decide on your rep count of each exercise by dividing your single set max by 4. Complete as many sets as you can in 15 minutes. Interested in a fitness program? Check out our completely free Heritage Fitness Distance Learning Program . Did I mention it’s free?
Wildwood: Learn to tell direction by the stars. Sit down and marking a star against a distant landmark. If it moves up, as it does in the picture on the left, you're facing east. If it moves down, you're facing west. Interested in a free earn at home program that will encourage you to practice, keep you on track, and reward you with rank bandanas? Click here to sign up for the totally-free Heritage Wildwood distance learning program.
Spirit: East or West, wisdom is wisdom. Consider the two quotes below, one by the Buddhist teacher Dogen, the other by Jesus. We must always remember, however, that Jesus is not just a great teacher among many. He is the Son of God, the Logos, the creator of the spiritual path who makes the discovery of wisdom possible. All who speak wisdom are standing on the divine ground of the true master, Jesus Christ, whether they realize it or not. For true wisdom that delivers from the death that lasts forever, follow him.
“Just practice good, do good for others, without thinking of making yourself known so that you may gain reward. Really bring benefit to others, gaining nothing for yourself. This is the primary requisite for breaking free of attachments to the Self.” Dogen, Zen Master (Shobogenzo Zuimonki, III, 3)
2 “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Jesus Christ (Matthew 6 2-4)
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