The Joy and Dance of Kickboxing:
Say what?
Let me explain.
The other night in our Teen/Adult class after more than 25 years of martial arts training and over 20 years of teaching full time, I experienced a deep joy and dance while we were doing some of our kickboxing curriculum (footwork, evasions, punches, kicks, shadow sparring and light sparring).
I grew up extremely competitive and in a very competitive community. All I knew was win or lose. I had to beat the other guy to prove myself and feel validated. This conditioning had colored so much of what I had done in my life and even though I won the trophies and other accolades, I was lacking joy and fulfillment.
Then over 20 years ago, I began a very dedicated meditation practice and began seeing life from a very different perspective, much more about connecting than competing. As my inner joy and fulfillment increased, I began to lose my interest in martial arts and saw it as the antithesis of connection. Fortunately I didn’t give it up and about 8 years ago I was introduced to Russian martial art Systema, which is very much about breath, fluidity and connection. Systema has helped transform my martial arts experience and my life in general but I still didn’t see how I could be fluid and connected when sparring or doing wrestling/BJJ. This was the first time I truly experienced joy and connection as if I was a dancer celebrating love, connection and life.
Thank you to link removed for helping me to always be a white belt and know that there is no end to the amount of growth I can experience.
Say what?
Let me explain.
The other night in our Teen/Adult class after more than 25 years of martial arts training and over 20 years of teaching full time, I experienced a deep joy and dance while we were doing some of our kickboxing curriculum (footwork, evasions, punches, kicks, shadow sparring and light sparring).
I grew up extremely competitive and in a very competitive community. All I knew was win or lose. I had to beat the other guy to prove myself and feel validated. This conditioning had colored so much of what I had done in my life and even though I won the trophies and other accolades, I was lacking joy and fulfillment.
Then over 20 years ago, I began a very dedicated meditation practice and began seeing life from a very different perspective, much more about connecting than competing. As my inner joy and fulfillment increased, I began to lose my interest in martial arts and saw it as the antithesis of connection. Fortunately I didn’t give it up and about 8 years ago I was introduced to Russian martial art Systema, which is very much about breath, fluidity and connection. Systema has helped transform my martial arts experience and my life in general but I still didn’t see how I could be fluid and connected when sparring or doing wrestling/BJJ. This was the first time I truly experienced joy and connection as if I was a dancer celebrating love, connection and life.
Thank you to link removed for helping me to always be a white belt and know that there is no end to the amount of growth I can experience.
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