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In the distant past, hand-to-hand combat was the basis for military power. Knowing a more effective way of blocking was akin to a state secret and was guarded just as tightly. In some settings only immediate family members were taught the family martial art so as to prevent an outsider from learning defensive secrets. In other environments it was taught more broadly but never to one who might be expected to misuse the information or share it where it should not be shared.

It is from this origin that Integrity became rooted in Shaolin Kempo. Being a person of Integrity means being honest and abiding by moral principles. As such, it was only a person of Integrity who could be trusted to not use martial techniques against his teacher or his teacher’s family. It was a person of Integrity who could be trusted to guard martial secrets with the care that his instructor wished. And it was only a person of Integrity who could be trusted to not misuse Kempo to hurt an innocent person.

Many things have changed since that era. Modern weapons have brought about the near obsolescence of hand to hand combat and the internet shares secrets so widely and quickly there may soon be no secrets left of any kind. These changes call into question the necessity and efficacy of screening students for integrity. However, even as this shift has taken place a more important underlying motivation for the study and exercise of Integrity has only grown in clarity — that the use of physical force must be morally justified.

In order to be acceptable, the use of physical force must be justified morally. This is true whether one is using advanced modern weapons or a fist. Though it is no longer likely that a ‘rogue’ student could do damage to an instructor or that they could share ‘secret’ information, anyone with knowledge in the martial arts is capable of harming others. As such, a right-minded instructor will never teach martial arts to an individual that can reasonably be expected to misuse that information.

From past to present, the expectation of Integrity is inextricably linked with the learning of the art. Being allowed to train is not the only reward, however. The greatest reward is one’s relationship with oneself. A life of Integrity is lived for its own sake and is its own reward.

Further, there are many societal benefits to being a person of Integrity. One of the core aspects of Integrity is honesty, and a person who is consistently honest will develop a trustworthy reputation. This will improve their relationships with neighbors and engender reciprocal honesty. Further, a person of Integrity can be expected to fulfill their obligations, and as such people will be willing to enter into contracts and partnerships with them.

That said, and it bears repeating — a person should not choose moral behavior for societal benefits, but because it is the right thing to do.

The study of Shaolin Kempo and the accompanying cultivation of Integrity help to elevate individuals to their highest potential. It is hard to imagine that when the first teacher taught the first student how to block and punch they saw the cultivation of self as the highest goal. However, through time and generations we have found that Kempo not only offers an opportunity for screening new learners for Integrity but also acts as a crucible for its development.

Do what is right.

There is an old saying that, “When the student is ready, the master will appear.” This phrase is not referring to a list of duties that, when completed, will magically bring a master into a student’s life. On the contrary, the one thing a student needs to do in order to be ready is to decide to learn. That’s it! The master is everywhere, politely inviting anyone and everyone to learn and grow as people. Today people could begin to learn another language that would engage their mind and hone their discipline, yet very few will do so.

Today they could sign up to learn to swim, which would strengthen their body and could save their life. Very few will do so. Today they could begin the study of martial arts, which could lead to lifelong development of their Body, Mind, and Spirit. Very few will do so. Why, when just the simple act of deciding to learn is the first step, do so few people choose to embark upon these journeys?

The desire to learn is not constant in the human animal. It varies by the day and year — but more so varies by the individual. Throughout history, some individuals have set themselves apart by their voracious appetite for Learning — from Buddha and Confucius to Leonardo da Vinci and Charles Darwin. Their pursuit of Learning not only enriched their lives but the lives of all other people since. This desire for Learning has led to mankind’s development from its primitive origins to the current heights of arts, science, and society. This growth has not been linear and it has not been shared by all people equally. It is incumbent upon us as practitioners of Kempo to pursue our own growth and Learning aggressively — in all aspects of our lives. By doing so we may reach our own potential and help, encourage, and inspire those around us to do the same.

Once we decide to learn, and meet the proverbial master who will guide us, how can we optimize the journey? It is not necessarily obvious how one should go about being a ‘better learner’ or ‘more focused on growth.’ The first step is to appreciate that there exists an appetite for growth and to understand that it can be cultivated. Just as a body must be fed and exercised, an appetite for Learning must be fed and exercised. By actively and regularly seeking knowledge we stimulate the parts of the brain used for learning making them more receptive. We also increase our appetite for learning by attaining a sense of accomplishment. Furthermore, the concrete benefits earned by our efforts highlight the value of future growth, further whetting our appetite.

Along with cultivating the desire for growth, we should adopt certain other attitudes toward learning. One essential approach is the ‘empty cup.’ One cannot learn anything new while they are convinced that they know everything. Instructors dread phrases such as “I know, but. . . ” and “The reason I did it that way was . . . “ and countless others. These expressions are vocalizations of a mind that is convinced of its superior knowledge. So long as a student is in this mindset, they can learn nothing — their cup is already full so it simply cannot hold anything more. No matter what we know, we should enter our class with an empty cup — a mind that is open to possibility.

That said, it is possible for a student to be too humble where they cross the line into being meek. In this case they lack the confidence to try new things and to execute movements with intent. When this happens a student can not learn. It is impossible to steer a ship that is not moving and likewise it is impossible to teach a student who is not moving. Only by finding the delicate balance between humility and arrogance can a student optimize their ability to learn and grow.

Cultivating an appetite for Learning and having an ‘empty cup’ while not being excessively humble are abstract concepts but more simply and more immediately there is something that all people can do to improve their practice and thus their results: Prioritize and schedule learning and practice. That is to say, put “Practice Kempo” as a recurring event in your calendar.

Learning is imperative for us to grow and reach our highest potential. Kempo and civilization as a whole are continually evolving because of the quest for knowledge and improvement of all people. That said, not all people cultivate Learning to the same degree. As Kempo practitioners we must strive to be foremost in the quest for Learning.

Become more than you are.

 

The study of Shaolin Kempo Karate, as taught at Potomac Kempo, is an analogy for living. The methods for growing and excelling as a practitioner of Kempo are the same methods employed for living life well. The purpose of this chapter is to define the Pillars of Kempo℠ as the means by which a student elevates the practice of the martial arts from mere pugilism to the cultivation a well-lived life.

It is common for the martial arts to be misunderstood simply as training in hand-to-hand combat — that is, of course, definitionally accurate. It is also true that some people practice a martial art with this limited goal. In these cases it is not the art that lacks depth but the practitioner and — what is worse — their instructor. A worthy instructor will assist their students in discovering and developing higher goals that will enrich all aspects of their lives.

Students routinely seek the martial arts because of a desire to exercise or learn to defend themselves. After a period of time these students discover that they are benefitting in both of these ways and are often pleased with their good fortune. After further study they realize that their mental faculties are improving — they have greater focus, patience, discipline, and more. Only later — often years later — do students begin to realize that all of these pieces — the physical and mental benefits — were just the foundation for the development of their spirit. Through the study of Kempo they have become — and continue to become — better, more whole people. This amazing progression, from learning to kick and punch to learning about one’s higher self, is derived from the integration of the Pillars of Kempo into the foundations of the art. To understand the Pillars, we must first understand the historical progression that brought Kempo to us.

Generations

Each generation of practitioners learns from the one before and teaches the one after. This process is initiated with a person expressing a desire for learning, it can only proceed once they are found to be a person of integrity, and it begins again as they serve others from their position of knowledge and strength. These three steps logically give rise to the three Pillars of Kempo: Learning, Integrity, and Service.

Every day, somewhere a new student expresses a desire to learn and grow through the study of Shaolin Kempo Karate. This student seeks out a teacher and presents themselves as a student. This presentation can take place in a number of ways. At one point a candidate who wished to study at the Shaolin Temple had to spend three days and nights without food or drink to show their dedication to Learning. Now students are generally welcomed kindly and invited to learn. In either case, this desire to learn and grow, followed by the active seeking of instruction is the first step.

It is the Pillars of Kempo that elevate the practice of the martial arts from mere pugilism to the cultivation a well-lived life

After they have expressed a desire to learn they must be evaluated from a moral perspective. This practice began long ago when unarmed martial arts were the military technology of the day. In that era it would be irresponsible to teach a pugilist art to a person who would not deploy it appropriately. One could argue that in our current age of modern weapons this check is anachronistic. Happily, long before one could possibly make such an argument the step was ingrained in the process such that it can not be bypassed.

So the student is screened. They may be screened initially or incrementally as techniques become more advanced and dangerous. In either case an effort is made to be sure that Kempo is taught only to those of Integrity.

The step that completes the cycle is that of Service. The reason that we have the Art of Shaolin Kempo with us today is that Kempo and its antecedents have been taught from one generation to the next since time immemorial. Kempo exists because of the specific act of teaching, but this is only one method of Service. Service, defined broadly, has become deeply rooted in the culture and spirit of Shaolin Kempo Karate. This act begins in the Dojo as one student helps another to learn and achieve their goals and it grows the be a way of life.

 

Put your oxygen mask on first.

Why do they always say that? That’s just silly. I’m a helpful person, I’m a loving parent. The last thing I’m going to do is put MY needs before those of my child or friend. If those oxygen masks drop in front of me — and I’m pretty sure they will on this flight — I’m going to help everyone in my row to get their masks on. Then, AND ONLY THEN, will I be so selfish as to put my mask on . . . . unless I pass out first.

Why do they always say that? Because helpful people and loving parents are useless to help other people if they are unconscious. And yet day after day so many of us put other people’s needs before our own so that we are no longer able to serve them well.

The people in your life — your family, your friends, and everyone else — deserve the very best of you. However, putting everyone’s needs before your own is a short-term plan at best. Eventually you wear out and become too tired or overwrought to continue. Sometimes you even come to resent the very people that you work so hard to serve.

So. . . you shouldn’t help anyone else, you should look out for yourself and no one else, right? Of course not. Even the airline know the answer to that: “Put your oxygen mask on first, BEFORE HELPING OTHERS.”

Prioritizing yourself is not selfish, it’s just like the oxygen mask thing. It is what you need to do to make sure that you can take care of those who depend on you.

Take care of yourself. Create space in your life for the things that make you whole. Do something that keeps your body strong and healthy (like Kempo). Do something that engages your mind and dissipates stress (like Kempo). Do something that enriches your soul and helps you to find the stillness, peace, and calm that can — and should — exist in your life (like Kempo).

Do this, then take care of the people in your life.

 

Respectfully,
Chris Santillo