Aliveness 101

Why Aliveness?

I have traveled literally all over the world over the last several Years. And it has been a great privilege for me to do so. The reason for my travels have been seminars, and regardless of where I am I always start them the same way. I explain that my main message, the thing I am most interested in sharing with people, with communicating effectively, is the message of Aliveness.

Occasionally I am asked why I bother? Why not just teach some functional fighting skills, and leave it at that. Why explain the process? Why discuss the differences? In short, why is Aliveness the main message?

And my answer to that can be summed up in four words. . it is SO healthy!

When our intentions regarding the activity we are engaging in are clear, honest, and open, then that 'thing' (activity-event) becomes incredibly healthy.

It is about Authenticity.

In other words, if someone says "I do Tai Chi because I find it a relaxing form of moving meditation". . . .I say, rock on! In fact, I might even join them.

However, if someone says "no need for Doctors Tai Chi will cure your cancer." Then I may need to question that. And that questioning is also incredibly healthy. Likewise, if they say "Tai Chi will serve as a wonderful form of self defense". . .then I will also want to question that. Both those claims, 'cures cancer', and 'good for self defense', are verifiable within objective reality. And as such, if we are really interested in Truth with the capitol T, then not only should we question those statements, I believe we have an obligation to.

I think that is common sense. When we don't question such statements within ourselves, and accept them solely at face value, then we find ourselves lost, deceived, and often hurt.

Granted, one of those things (cures cancer) may be far more serious then the other. But both are equally irresponsible, and I never claimed to have the most 'serious' job. Just a blessed one.

So let me be clear about what I mean when I say 'question'.

We come to the question of speaking publicly on it. And to be clear, I don't advocate that for everyone. In fact, the only thing I believe matters is that we are honest within our own self about our own intentions. And that we remain skeptical, and question all forms, and statements of authority. . .for ourselves.

Whether or not someone then goes out and speaks to others about their findings is an individual thing. I can only say I am really-really grateful that some people do.

I think of the Amazing Randi, who has been debunking charlatans like Uri Geller for well over 30 Years. His writings had a great impact on me when I was a teenager. I remember watching Uri Geller on television and feeling like something was just not 'right'. And his book helped validate my own critical thinking on the matter.

And Lord knows that if this world could use a little more of something, then 'critical thinking' would rank VERY high on that list. Just under Love and Compassion, in my opinion.

I felt much the same about Martial Arts as I think Randi and many others felt about the scams of Uri Geller. I felt like I had been deceived, whether intentionally, or through ignorance. But deceived either way. And that is never a good way to feel. And it can, and does, happen to us all. Uri Geller deceived a large pool of highly educated scientists at the Stanford Research Institute, using what amounted to poor magic tricks. Just as thousands of people have been deceived by fraudulent Martial Arts, only to find out later that what they where being taught might in reality get them hurt. Especially if they believed it worked! (Witness the first few UFC's for an example).

Did they want to believe, or where they just naive?

I have a good friend who recently sat in on an interview with a major Martial Arts figure. This man being interviewed is known as one of the leading authorities in "pressure points". . .which he claims are hidden within 'katas'. When asked why we don't see this amazing pressure point knock outs in full contact sports, he said "they have been banned". When pressed as to why that would stop a grappler from striking a point on the body which was legal within most sports, he said "well you have to hit three points almost at the same time, and it depends on what time of day it is!". I am paraphrasing from memory, but I promise the exact quotes would be equally absurd. He then explained how these points are different on men and woman, and which order they need to be struck. My friend then asked, "what if the guy you are fighting was gay? Would you use the male points, or the female points?" And this person sat very still for a moment, and then he said "use the female points."

Sadly, he was deadly serious.

This man then went on to explain how you can knock someone down using just a sound. . .which he began to make. My friend emulated the sound, and then asked, "If I was in that corner of the room making this sound, and someone else was in the other corner making this sound, would you consider it a mass attack?" After some thought the man answered, "yes".

And no, I am not kidding.

So I still see Aliveness as the core message.

When Aliveness is compromised on, the entire structure falls apart. This happens because Authenticity is lost. And the results are not healthy.

But when Aliveness is maintained, then everything else seems to come right in the end. And once the proper methods for drilling and Coaching are added in, the sky is really the limit in terms of potential.

The following is a basic Aliveness Q & A. These answers have been gathered over many Years, and all these questions have been asked many hundreds of times. This section details the answers we have given, time and time again.

-Enjoy

"In considering whether being Alive is good, we must realize that what matters is not what the mind thinks about being, but only the experience of being. And this experience can only be had when the mind is not." - Robert Powell

What is Aliveness?

Aliveness is timing, energy, and motion.

What do you mean by timing, energy, & motion?

For something to be truly alive in what we do then it has have three key elements, movement, timing, and energy (resistance). If you are missing any one of these then it is not Alive.

Movement means real footwork, not contrived, not in a pattern... on the ground it means exactly that also... movement... if the person is just laying there, not moving as you apply your lock or move....that is not Alive. In the clinch its the same... pushing, pulling, moving.

Timing is of course just that... if its in a predictable rhythm, a pattern, a repeatable series of sets, then you are not acquiring or developing timing, just motion speed.

And of course energy... swing the stick like someone would really swing it... don't stop at centerline. Punch with the energy of someone who wants to hit you. Not locking your arm out so your partner can look good doing the destruction, or trap, or silat sweep, etc.

You must move, have a sense of timing, and progressive resistance.

Why do you place so much emphasis on this point as opposed to others?

Aliveness is everything. If a person grasps the principle and truly understands what is mean by it. . then they can never be bullshitted again . That's why I emphasize it so much. I am also constantly being asked... what's better... this or that. . this style or that style....why don't you do this drill anymore...why do you say this doesn't work... The answer to all those questions is Aliveness........so once they grasp what that means then about one thousand and one of their questions are answered for them. It's everything.

However, if someone wants to collect a certificate from a well known "Sifu", or look cool doing two person forms, then they will not care or pay attention to the concept of Aliveness.

Why do people then find the Aliveness concept so difficult to accept?

I think that is because when some people start to train Alive, and expose their students to Alive training, they often have to throw out a major portion of the curriculum they learned before. This is because it is shown to not work when applied against a resisting opponent. And Aliveness gauges that very quickly.

All of the sudden the premium is placed on performance. And Arts that perform well. . .boxing, wrestling, Judo, Muay Thai, BJJ, and others, become the base.

What is the distinction between "delivery systems", & personal "style"?

"Style" is always very individual.Each fighter has his/her own "style". And it's acquired only through sparring and Alive training. In that action against a resisting opponent the athlete discovers how to make the delivery system work for them.

That is their "style".

However, Delivery Systems always remain fairly constant, regardless of the individual body.

In other words, there is a proper way to put on a rear naked choke. And as long as humans have the same design to their bodies, that 'technique' will remain the same. That choke is an example of "delivery system".

That is why the typical JKDC method of a buffet approach, picking and choosing from many arts regardless of the delivery system, is such a poor idea. Without solid skill in the basics of the delivery systems of stand up, clinch, and ground, you will not be able to fight, or apply any of the information. Sticking to the simple basics, drilling Alive, and sparring, is the only way we have found to acquire real functional skill.

Delivery systems can be tested, and it's obvious what works and what does not. MMA has shown the boxing, wrestling, and BJJ delivery systems to be of great value. So the delivery systems fighters choose tend to all be the same. Someone trained in say 'silat', without that background in the functional delivery systems mentioned above, would be unable to compete in MMA. They cannot defend themselves against such opponents.

However, each fighter naturally develops their own style, as they practice, drill, spar, and fight. No two BJJ fighters are the same, yet they all use the same deli