One of my favourite lines from the movie “The 13th Warrior”:

Herger gives Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan a Viking sword

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: “I cannot lift this.”

Herger: “Grow stronger.”

Hi

does anyone have any information on these "hall of fame" awards?

im pretty sure some of you have recieved these accolades and I wanted to know what the deal is?

i have seen some (not from the ones listed in the title specifically) where it seems you pay and you join so it is therefore a marketing excercise or a way to pat yourself on the back! 

are any of them "legitimately" awarded by a panel or vote etc (like an oscar or bafta if you like)

Get stressed! It’s not bad for your health, it helps you socialise, it helps you care for others, and it can help you live longer! A very interesting video from TED that I hope you find beneficial.

All the best,

Iain

I've been reading a book called The Zen Way to the Martial Arts by Taisen Deshimaru, a zen master, for the third time in a row slowly picking my way through it and disecting it like my good old English professors taught me, and I've come across this concept that I wanted to share.

Yes you guessed it, it is the same as the title.

Mushotoku or as the author defines it without desire for gain or profit.

First of all thank you for taking the time to read sorry if something similar has being said before.

when i cant sleep i lay away thinking about stuff im working on or concepts i use in my training, well this morning again i cant sleep and my thoughts went to the metaphor of my path up the martial arts mountain, my path is very different to others which im sure everyone reading this thinks the same but im also sure that people like me have concluded that the goal doesnt stop when and if u get to the top.

I thought that this is a bit of age-related motivation.  Here is an 81 year old man exhibiting high levels of conditioning, for a person of any age.

In this very interesting and well written article, Jamie Clubb explores the link between martial arts and self-help. Personally, I'm a great believer in martial arts as a vehicle for personal challenge and development. The idea of martial arts developing character is centuries old, but what is the basis for that link? And what of the modern influences discussed in this article? Jamie Clubb discusses, in great depth, how the western self help movement has impacted upon the martial arts. I'm certain this article will spark much discussion and reflection.

The six mistakes of man by Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC to 43BC):

1, The illusion that personal gain is made up of crushing others.

2, The tendency to worry about things that cannot be changed or corrected.

3, Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it.

4, Refusing to set aside trivial preferences.

5, Neglecting development and refinements of the mind, and not acquiring the habit of reading and study.

I recommend the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Emperor of Rome 161ad.

Initially I found this a bit hard going but there are some real gems, such as:

"Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life."

Very relevant to today as it was then.

Bye,

Ally

Has anyone else ever reached a point on their path through MA when they have for whatever reason either lost interest or motivation or have completely stopped training. I don’t mean the occasional "oh its cold and raining I won’t go training tonight". I am talking seriously lost all motivation.