The Wanderers

"Don't think about it (Traveling, the idea of traveling) too much. Don't make pro and con lists. Pro and con lists are nothing but trouble. If you think about it too much, you'll just end up staying home and then someday you'll be telling your grandchildren, "I always wanted to do that" instead of showing them photos of the trips you took and giving them advice on where to go. My family and friends often say to me, "I'm living vicariously through you." Don't ever live vicariously. This is YOUR life. Live."

-Lavinia Spalding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I think of martial artists, I cannot help but remember the culture associated with them.

And one of my favorite aspects concerning martial artists is that of the ronin. Wandering warriors- those without teachers. No matter who or where you are in training, sooner or later you have to follow your path alone. Your teacher cannot always be there. Some of us will not know what that is like until we are old ourselves, some of us got to know the experience before we were even twenty. Sooner or later though, you will find yourself in that situation.

In this modern day and age the world is a pretty accessible place. As far as I can tell I have practiced martial arts in North America and Europe, and soon will be adding the Middle East to that list. I have no intention of stopping there, and Asia is my next stop, planned around the time I turn thirty.

Everywhere I go, I make sure to practice there. If I only do one form or even kick everywhere I go, I have in my heart completed that personal mission.

That's the thing so many overlook; many practice the martial arts, but forget that once you begin to do so, the martial arts slowly becomes a part of you. So everywhere you go is as a martial artist also.

Why forsake that?

Now I usually do far more than just a single kata or practice session. Often I devote many, many hours while there, especially in the mornings. Most of the videos I have made on youtube were made in Hungary, but a fair few were also here stateside.

Everyone travels, and it is unlikely where you are now is where you will always remain unless you choose to do so.

Since announcing my sojourn to Israel, a lot of people have commented that it must be nice to travel. That is a small statement of them saying passive aggressively they would like to.

That's the thing, nothing is stopping one from doing so. Especially if you speak one of the more populous languages in the world. If you speak any English at all, someone somewhere in the world is willing to pay to bring you there to do so. That seems to be what my future holds; traveling and teaching. So if I were to go elsewhere in my life, why would I stop developing myself? And by that I mean stop practicing the arts.

The journey begins with a single step. I challenge any who read this to go somewhere they had only wished and dreamed of going. It's more than possible.

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."

-Muhammed Ali