Walking With The Tengu

Budoushoshinshu: How To Face Death

Today, I meditate on how we should face death. Inspired by a chapter from the Budoushoshinshu by Daidouji Yuuzan that I had previously passed over. Drawing further quotes from Seneca's essay "On Old Age", Marcus Aurelius, the Old Testament, and the Hávamál.

Martial Arts Politics Explained

It can be dangerous to discuss politics in general, let alone in the martial arts world. Yet, Jonathan Bluestein wrote a book about it. I highlight some interesting discussion to be had from the topics in his book though I only scratch the surface. You can find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Politics-Explained-History/dp/B0DHKS2XVS/WWTT Episode: “Traditional vs. Modern” https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/walkingtengu/episodes/Traditional-vs-Modern-e3de4i

Tension

Ever been told to use less strength and focus on technique? This is both true and not entirely accurate. What we need to actually do is learn to regulate our tension. Let's take a look at what the classics have to say about regulating our strength. The Book of Five Rings https://archive.org/stream/MiyamotoMusashi-BookOfFiveRingsgoRinNoSho/Book_of_Five_Rings_djvu.txt Support Walking With The Tengu by purchasing the small pocket volume of classical quotes with musings and training prompts. Buy it here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/matthew-krueger/pocket-training-volume-1/paperback/product-e7pqmyv.html

Zhuangzi: Giving Monkeys Acorns

What happens when you give monkeys 3 measures of acorns in the morning and 4 at night? They get angry. But what happens when you give them 4 in the morning and 3 at night? They are content. This is true with martial artists as well. Our perceptions of the same thing presented two different ways can make all the difference in the world. Support Walking With The Tengu buy purchasing the small pocket volume of classical quotes with musings and training prompts. Buy it here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/matthew-krueger/pocket-training-volume-1/paperback/product-e7pqmyv.html Find a vast library of classical Chinese works to read for free at: ctext.org

What Do You Do When You Can't Train?

Have you ever been traveling, stuck somewhere, or whatever reason not been able to get in some training? Today I share for exercises for squeezing some extra training into your day that I've included in a little pocket volume that you can find here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/matthew-krueger/pocket-training-volume-1/paperback/product-e7pqmyv.html It contains a collection of short quotes from mostly classical works with a short meditation and paired with an overt and a covert training prompt. I have sourced these from Boxing, BJJ, Judo, Sumo, Shuai Jiao, and Iaido. These 12 solo exercises, 6 overt, 6 covert, can benefit anyone who practices just about any martial art. There is a brief description of each in the back.