Author Bruce Clayton, in his book Shotokan’s Secrets uses the analogy of mountains in reference to studying martial arts. He states, in so many words, that we all have mountains to climb, but sometimes you have to look at another mountain for answers.
I love that analogy.
As a matter of fact, I spend a lot of time dwelling on that statement since I read it. Since then, and in my limited experience in martial arts, I’ve found that in many cases, we tend to shut our eyes to the other “mountains” out there as we climb higher and higher on our own. In fact, sometimes people aren’t even aware that other mountains even exist. It’s all too easy to fall into the “ours is the only way” of thinking. That gets perpetuated a lot in martial arts schools.
Climb your mountain, martial artist. Climb it to its peak; but know that there are other mountains out there that also have answers. Open your mind, open your eyes.
(Master) Wayne Boozer
HUGE SMILE on my face…Tang Soo Sir !