thelightofthecenter:

the Mystery-systems have always exhibited an example for the instruction, encouragement and emulation of those prepared to make the attempt and the necessary sacrifice. To hearten them to the task the Initiatory Colleges have held up a prototype in the person of some great soul who has already trodden the same path and emerged triumphant therefrom. It matters nothing whether the prototype be one whose historic actuality and identity can be demonstrated, or whether he can be regarded only as legendary or mythical; the point being not to teach a merely historical fact, but to enforce a spiritual principle. In Egypt the prototype was Osiris.

W.L. Wilmshurst. The Meaning of Masonry

The World’s Rarest T-shirt and How to Get One

Before 1970, logo t-shirts barely existed.  But by the time I was in high school, around ’76 or so, cool t-shirts were in demand.  Wearing some funky t-shirt that nobody else had was a one-way ticket to Coolsville.  But they were hard to get.  You had to actually attend the concert or event.  There was no Amazon, and the shirts that you could find on the shelf at JC Penney or in the Sears catalog were  strictly plain.

These days t-shirts are ubiquitous.  Every company, club and event produces a promotional shirt.  Custom ones are available from hundreds of online shops.  There are racks of wicked t-shirts available at every department store, even Target, including reproductions of classic, vintage tees.  If you’re truly hip, you can even find actual vintage tees on eBay.

But I have a shirt that’s extremely rare.

It’s a Cabal Fang t-shirt.  The only way to get your hands on one is to practice the martial art known as Cabal Fang.  You have to show up and sweat.  If you stick around long enough we’ll give you one.  You cannot purchase one with any currency other than perspiration, determination, dedication, and friendship.

Note that our shirt doesn’t say “I’m a bad-ass martial arts instructor,” “Keep Calm and Kick Butt” or “Look at me, I have a black belt in awesome.”

Our shirt is a mystery.  If you want to have any idea what Cabal Fang is, you have to ask  the person wearing it (or at least take the time to google it).  But if you really want to know what Cabal Fang is, you’ll have to go on a bit of a quest.  You’ll have to find and join an existing club to start one of your own.

Cabal Fang has no uniforms, and there are no tuition payments, belts or trophies.  Your greatest achievements will be written on your heart and soul, not on your sleeve.

As for your t-shirt, well it may indeed proclaim that you are as tough as nails inside and out.  It’s just printed in invisible ink.

SLOW KICKS, MEDITATION

SLOW KICKS (100 ea. very slowly with perfect form, 5+ seconds per kick, 20 mins.); MEDITATION (15 mins.) * #cabalfang #WOD #hagakure

* If desired, try The #Hagakure #Meditation: Imagine that you are a tree, looking out at the world, which is obscured by your own leaves. Now picture your leaves falling away, each leaf an attachment, a need, obligation, or desire. As each leaf falls away your view of the world becomes more and more clear. Finally you are looking out past bare limbs. You have no attachments, no needs, no desires, and no obligations. Your view of the world is crystal clear and unclouded.

“Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. 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 surging 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 committing seppuku at the death of one’s master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead. There is a saying of the elders’ that goes, "Step from under the eaves and you’re a dead man. Leave the gate and the enemy is waiting.” This is not a matter of being careful. It is to consider oneself as dead beforehand.“

~Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai
by Yamamoto Tsunetomo