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Purpose of Fishing Rod Holders
Fishing is a sport designed for relaxation. It is where fish
lovers pride themselves of the fish caught while celebrating it
with friends and family.
The rod holder is a fishing tool that allows fishermen to
multi-task easily. It was...
The Internet Is Responsible For The Resurgence Of Sports Cards And Collectibles
In recent years there have been discussions among collectors suggesting that the internet may actually be hurting the sports cards and collectibles hobby. They point to decreased card show attendance and the struggles of brick and mortar stores as...
The Whey To Weight Loss (Part II)
Effects on serotonin, blood sugar regulation, and more!
Although the above would probably be the major mechanisms by which whey could help the dieter, there are several secondary effects of whey that may assist in weight loss. For example, whey's...
Where to Find Roulette Tables -
Roulette tables are generally rectangular in shape and can range from three to five feet in length. Most of the commonly used tables are covered in green felt. Roulette tables are also labeled in individually marked boxes. Each box is color-coded...
Yacht Competition Racing for the Disabled Takes Off!
Yacht racing, though it may seem like “a breeze” to spectators (to turn a phrase), is really a lot more complicated than it looks. Anyone who’s ever been involved in a “backyard regatta” or a world-class yacht race will tell you: This is a sport...
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Martial Arts in Each Season: Nature in Training
We of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, the people who inhabit the wild lands north of The Bridge, are at the crest of winter. Which isn't saying much, because no matter what time of year, up here, winter has a way of creeping gleefully nearby, like an antic, poised to drop in on even the most summery of days - like an August wedding (mine), and remind all who live here that we live, first and last, at nature's pleasure, and not she at ours.
I love nature and the outdoors. Here, you would be hard pressed not to, since nature is ever present and wild, and cannot be constrained. We live here among the big forests, the blue-black waters of Mother Superior.
At my Center, we are about to dive into our first kangeiko, which is intensive winter training. The windows will be open, and the cold will surely come. The indoor sanctity of the dojo will be broken by the outdoors, the rude ways of the howling, northern winds.
It occurs to me - we spend so much of our time trying to protect ourselves. When it is hot outside, we try to
cool down; when it is cold, we try to keep our warmth. In Japanese martial arts tradition, kangeiko and its summer counterpart, shochugeiko, are ways of marking one’s training, and giving over to nature. When the sun is raging, and summer's heat is on - train fully, sweat, give over to the experience and hold nothing back; in the depths of winter's cold, do not tighten and try to stave it off, but accept the cold, relax into it and break through to a new understanding.
But in this training, I believe, we find a mirror to life itself. Beautiful, chaotic, demanding - nature. Nature just is.
About The Author
Paul Smith is the Founder and Director of the Aikido Center of Marquette (www.aikido-marquette.com), located in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan. He is an avid outdoorsman, and is also the webmaster of www.a1-outdoors.com, a website serving as a resource for outdoor sports gear and information.
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