Healing & The Martial Arts

Book Review on "A Tooth From The Tiger's Mouth," Author: Tom Bisio

To many old-school Chinese martial artists, an important part of training was (and is) acquiring an understanding of how the human body works - how to destroy it, and conversely, how to fix it and make it stronger. This tradition is philosophically rooted in Taoist duality - if you know how to maim, you should also know how to heal. On a practical level, the golden age of martial arts was purely based on developing real-world fighting skills, and thus extremely hard core. Students were injured all the time, and in an age before health insurance, hospitals, and doctors in white lab coats, a master had to know how to treat injuries and sickness if he wanted any of his students to survive long enough to complete their training.

Indeed, martial arts masters were often master healers who were called upon more often for their medical skills than their fighting abilities. Sun Lu Tang and Wong Fei Hung are two legendary fighters cast in this mold. Indeed, though Wong's martial exploits make more entertaining movies, his status among Chinese legends has more to do with the fact that he famously had a policy of treating anyone at his clinic, whether or not they could afford to pay.

Martial arts masters/healers treated blade wounds, traumas, sprains, bruises, concussions, and broken bones, and along the way, developed methods of keeping the body healthy and free of illnesses. In many ways, the methods they developed still surpass anything modern Western medicine has to offer. Don't believe me? Observe an elderly old-school Chinese martial artist. He's spry, flexible, alert, and balanced. He can hike for miles without getting winded, and when you spar with him, he still hits like a mule. Now observe an aging athlete from the Western tradition, amateur or pro. He has problems getting out of bed every morning - heck, he probably grunts and groans every time he sits down or gets up. He regularly takes pain relievers for his back, knees, and/or shoulders, uses a brace, and though he hides it well, there are some simple things he simply cannot do anymore. Things like lifting his hand above his head. He's long since given up practicing the sport(s) he loves at even an amateur level, and can look forward to a steady path of declining physical ability, accompanied by a procession of treatments and surgeries that don't really help.

Knowledge about Chinese healing methods has remained largely inaccessible to the West, even though other aspects of Chinese culture - including the martial arts, have become rather popular. There are a number of factors for this. Learning about Chinese medicine requires, first of all, a knowledge of the Chinese language that surpasses basic conversational skills (which is difficult enough for the non-native speaker to acquire.) As well, many materials used in Chinese medicine are not exactly available at your local drugstore. And, Western medicine has had a propaganda-like lock on the public's perceptions of healing for so long that most people believe that the American Medical Association, in association with Harvard Medical School and the pharmaceutical industry, are the sole source of legitimate medical knowledge.

Yet consider this: only in the past 20 years have Western doctors really begun to advocate what Chinese doctors have always known - that the best, most effective form of medicine is preventative and doesn't involve pills or injections or treatments of any kind.

Now there is an easily accessible source for the Chinese medical tradition. Not a complete source, to be sure - that would be beyond the scope of any one book, but an excellent primer, intended for martial artists and athletes, but useful for just about anyone. In "A Tooth From The Tiger's Mouth," Tom Bisio gives an overview of all major Chinese approaches to medicine, particularly in the realm of sports injuries.

Tom covers diagnosis techniques; preventative daily exercises designed to heal, improve, and strengthen; dietary advice; body treatments like acupuncture, acupressure, and massage; specialized techniques such as cupping, moxibustion, and coining; and traditional herbal remedies - liniments, poultices, salves, plasters, and broths.
Perhaps more importantly for the last category, Tom provides herbal recipes that can be understood not just by English-only readers, but by proprietors of Chinese herb shops. No more wondering what some exotic herb looks like in a musty, pungent Chinatown store - simply present the owner with the recipe and let him fill it for you.

The book is written in such a way that a reader can use it as a reference manual, to be opened only to look up a specific treatment to a specific ailment; or, as a primer for Chinese medical theory so that he or she understands why certain approaches are used.

A slim volume, there is clearly an emphasis on the kinds of ailments an active athlete would incur during physical activity - bruises, sprains, tears, cuts, joint problems, and broken bones, along with chronic pain. Ailments such as indigestion and insomnia and serious illnesses are given little, if any coverage in this book.

But Bisio's book lives up to its billing and more, and can be of use to anyone. For when it comes to martial arts and its help to human race, books like this on really makes a layman understand the basic principles of human body and curing it.
Feeling the desire to read it? Go get it!!!

Find Your True Calling and Purpose

If you have attended one of my workshops on intuition or have worked with me in a martial session, then you will know how highly I speak of journaling and teach a specific method of writing that allows you to connect with your inner wisdom। This technique has helped many to attract abundance, romance, a purer connection within themselves, and true clarity, freedom and peace.

Today, I would like to share with you what came through one of my writings recently and if you are searching for your calling, then you will definitely want to read this। If you have a friend who is feeling down and out about their life, someone who is feeling lack of fulfillment, then feel free to forward this edition to them. If you are EVER not feeling clear or blissful, at ease, inspired, empowered, or feeling good, it is because you are not fulfilling the role you were meant for. And know that you ARE meant for great things!

We are all a part of this world just like everyone else and so you truly are meant for greatness, whether you can really get a feeling of that or not। But how can a plumber or an international speaker or a dentist or a doctor or even a sales person be meant for greatness and what does that actually mean? Greatness means fulfilling the role you were created for.

This is why at times you may feel down in your life when you are doing something that you feel is not you or something that you think you need to, should, ought to, better do or just flat out have to do or else! The most common example is working for a company that you don't really want to work for। In other words, you are just doing so because there are few if any alternatives and this is the best of the worst.

This is also why when you are feeling really great, you can be sure that the role that you are playing is one you were meant to fulfill। Fulfilling our role in life is similar to how an actor would fill an acting role. When actors learn a role, they immerse themselves in it. They explore how that character would act and react in a variety of circumstances and in different situations. They explore their characters deeply and are committed to that exploration.

So how can you find out what your role is here? What are you meant to do and how can you fit into this world? And just as important, how can you truly find fulfillment?
The way you can get to know your true role is by asking these four questions:
1. What inspires you?
2. What are you passionate about personally?
3। What do you love doing more than anything else

4। What are you good at?

Take some time right now, to write down your answers! Don't just read these questions and move on। And an important key to remember is that although we are all here to fulfill a role, be conscious and aware that it is a just a role that you are playing and fulfilling. You are much more than just that role. You are much more than your physical body, your emotions, your intellect, your creativity, your relationships, your soul and even more than these entire elements put together!

Many people tend to lose themselves in the role। They get caught in the role and forget that there is much more to them than the role itself. Eventually, if this happens, an individual can end up feeling unhappy, unsure about ourselves, lost, and more often than not confused about his/her direction. This is common with many actors who enter the profession of acting, that they were once inspired by. As they get caught in the glamour and glitz of it all they forget about and lose the passion that led them there in the first place.

Are you truly proud of your gifts, of those qualities that you have that help you to stand out? I hope so... because those qualities are going to help you fulfill the role that you are meant for...

They are your qualities of greatness! Rejoice in those qualities। They are gifts from the Universe so don't be shy about them. And they are not just gifts from God and the universe for YOU and YOU alone, they are gifts given to you so that you could share them with the world.

Allow yourself to fully express who you ARE! For you are eternal and an important part of the unfolding of everyone else's life.
"Inspiration is the expression your soul makes when you are sharing your gifts with the world।" So now is the time to get to know your role, which may mean going on a vision quest, meditating, journaling, so that you can discover who you really are and what you are here for. Pay attention to and be conscious of those things that light you up. Consider how you can take steps, one at a time to utilize your gifts and life skills, share them with the world, and at the same time build a career.

Please keep in mind this important point...
Your true calling is not something that takes great effort, for it is already a part of who You ARE।Just like actors who get to know their characters, project their thoughts, create their lives... so too can you do the same. Recently I was working with a woman who was unsure about her direction in life. She was and is currently (temporarily!) in a sales position. I asked her, what really ignites her? What inspires her? What does she love to do above all other things?

Her answer, was... Singing.
As she started to talk about her experience when she sings, the hairs on my arms stood on end and in that moment, it was as if the whole world lit up for me... I saw it all in a flash... Her entire structure, physically (she is gorgeous), mentally (she is sharp and has great street smarts), creatively (she has a quick wit and thinks outside the box), and her attitude is just perfect to become a pop singer... there are many other qualities she possesses that I could go on about here। It is as if, her entire genetic makeup was created for the soul purpose of singing। And as we talked about this for a few moments, she began to share her insights and passions about singing, something she had not considered before as her soul path or life's path (career if you wish)। Within a few minutes, we both realized, it is the main role she is meant to play

And just thinking about it, makes her feel incredible। Since then, she has taken a few singing lessons, sang for her friends, and is in the process of getting this going। And she knows that she is much more than just fulfilling a role, that there is more to her and her existence than that. But at the same time, it is clear to her that this is her path.

And this is where synchronicity comes in... everything is lining up for her. She has in a very short amount of time connected with musicians, teachers, and people who will help to make this dream a reality. When we are fulfilling our role... all things (people, material wealth, emotional support, physical health and well being) become aligned and as a result we experience pure FLOW.
If you are not feeling fulfilled, fear not, for it is just a symptom and a sign that you are not fulfilling the role you are meant for। And that can change quickly!

So be sure to ask yourself the questions above if this sounds like you. Go through each one and write down the answers that come to you. I know that you ARE here for great things. And I would love to hear about it and share with you in the adventure. Until next time, have a great week, Be-Inspired!, and may you win an Academy Award;)!

Hope for the Earth

The future of the earth lies in our hands, and not only in our hands but in our hearts, our minds, and in the ability that each of us has to contribute to the vast network of light and of consciousness of which we form a part. This network includes every living soul and allows each of us to make more of a contribution to the whole of life than our smaller self would have us believe is possible. Yet, the truth is that each heart and each life makes a difference of immense proportions to the outcome of what shall be.

For this reason, we must each assume responsibility for what we think and feel and come to understand that it is only by purifying our emotions, thoughts, and energy body that a new life for the earth can begin and new solutions be found to the problems of old that have beset mankind and continue to do so. The choice is ours and the possibilities are great. For in every heart there is a wish for peace and in every heart there is distress at the suffering of others as well as at our own.

Yet, our difficulty in conceiving of our own interconnectedness with others and our sense of being small rather than large can prevent the kind of alignment with light that is so greatly needed today in order to bring mankind’s consciousness to the next level of its expression.

Today, there is hope for the earth and for each soul who inhabits her sphere and it lies in this: that through the greater advent of light on earth we are becoming more aware of our inner relationship to each other and with our own souls, and out of this sense of interconnection shall grow an immediacy of love and of responsibility which no longer permits the divisions among groups and among nations that presently exists. This love will display itself not only in outer action, but in inner knowledge, and not only in the wish to do good, but in the wish to become a representative and embodiment of that which is ultimately good, namely, God.

This then, is the call to all nations - it is a call for people everywhere to meet the challenge and the opportunity of this pivotal time in human history with a sense of hope and of vision. It is a call to meet God’s heart from a place within our own that seeks the expression of our soul and the presence of a lasting peace.