What I’m reading

When I’m not doing tai chi, qigong or my Eagle Claw kung fu, I spend quite a lot of time reading. I read the daily paper. I read quite a lot of thrillers (my favorites are by Daniel Silva, but I read books by many authors). And, of course, I read about the martial arts.

Here are two that I’ve enjoyed quite a bit:

Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams and Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee by Shannon Lee

Here is an excerpt from Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams, who trained under the guidance of Bruce Lee, Ed Parker, and more:

Bruce Lee and I were having dim sum, a traditional Chinese breakfast of meat-filled pastries, in a downtown Los Angeles restaurant after a lesson. I seized on this opportunity to tell him that I was discouraged. At forty-five, I felt I was too old and my body too stiff to achieve any real ability in jeet-kune-do.

“You will never learn anything new unless you are ready to accept yourself with your limitations,” Bruce answered. “You must accept the fact that you are capable in some directions and limited in others, and you must develop your capabilities.”

“But ten years ago I could easily kick over my head,” I said. “Now I need half an hour to limber up before I can do it.”

Bruce set his chopsticks down alongside his plate, clasped his hands lightly on his lap, and smiled at me. “That was ten years ago,” he said gently. “So you are older today and your body has changed. Everyone has physical limitations to overcome.”

. . .

“…[T]he real question is, is it really necessary to kick that high? The fact is that until recently, martial artists rarely kicked above knee height. Head-high kicks are mostly for show. So perfect your kicks at waist level and they will be so formidable you’ll never need to kick higher.

“Instead of trying to do everything well, do those things perfectly of which you are capable.”

Found on pages 25-28.

Here is a bit from Be Water, My Friend (p. 65):

While Bruce Lee’s life provides us with an impressive example, remember that we are focusing on you here, and the course and direction of your life. His life is complete in the form of Bruce Lee. Yours is ongoing. And Bruce can be an amazing pointer of the way. In fact, he himself said:

Remember, I am no teacher; I can merely be a signpost for a traveler who is lost. It is up to you to decide on the direction. All I can offer is an experience but never a conclusion, so even what I have said needs to be thoroughly examined by you. I might be able to help you to discover and examine your problem by awakening your awareness. A teacher, a good teacher that is, functions as a pointer to truth but not a giver of truth.

Another way to say this is: Don’t give up your sovereignty or personal power. Claim your own path and your own experience. Be respectful and grateful for the signposts you encounter, the lessons you learn, and the teachers who point the way, but remember that you and you alone are responsible for your path and your growth.