League of Extra Ordinary Gentlemen-2 : MY MARTIAL ARTS MASTER

MY MARTIAL ARTS MASTER …!!!

“I give up…!!!”….i muttered as I gasped for my breath

 Words were unnecessary. Already I was down with head dug into my chest covering my head with hands on the cement floor. Deep fear assaulted every cell of my body. I was drenched in sweat and shame and hopelessly frightened.

A minute ago I courageously faced my Master in full contact kumite sparring. It was impossible to breach his defenses. I blended Speed and Power to every trick in world of martial arts. But no avail!! . He parried all my kicks and punches and finally jabbed me in my tummy very softly.

Yeah. Softly !. Jabbed softly and lifted me into air in one single fluid motion with clenched fist. 6ft- 75 kgs-Bantam weight level silver medalist-praveen sagar thrown royally one metre away. All my self confidence and royal ego gone down the drain

What was I expecting? Was I dreaming beating this man? This man who is one of the champions of Japan. Trained under disciple who himself was trained under Mas Oyama-worlds strongest martial artist. Mas Oyama who fought 400+ fighters. My own master had to fight 100 tough fighters to get his black belt. At 60^th fighter, his leg broke, he had to fight with broken leg at next 40 fighters (google if u don’t belive it) These men belonged to old school of kyokinshai karate. 

 http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/05/stories/2002120500610400.htm

A man who has attained mastery of an art reveals it in his every action 

                             --Samurai maxim

Its not martial arts I was been taught. I was taught lessons which will not be taught in colleges.  Our class would begin at 5.20 am. Actually it was at 5.15 am. After we complained that its very cold in 5.15 am, my master gave us permission to come at 5.20 am. Now I know what you are thinking. Just 5 minutes?. Believe me friends, for him even 1 minute is worth gold. Japanese are known for punctuality and time sense. My association with him for 5 years made me see it in action. I never believed that anyone can maintain time in India, esp moving in notorious Hyderabad’s traffic. But he was always on dot. When he says, 9.20 am. Its 9.20.  not 9.19 or 9.21.  Now that’s Ripley’s believe it or not.

Leaders Lead…!!!

Before class begins, we had to clean the floor. It’s the practice which should be emulated in India where boss do nothing as subordinates slog sweat out. In class, dirtiest job will be done by Master. Small things like sweeping, wiping floor is done by us. New comer just watches or does smaller work. But menial job like wiping some dog shit is work of big boss. No wonder , as subordinates grew in ranks, they wont feel ashamed of work and juniors as well are motivated by such boss

Iam not going to teach you my art. Iam going to share it with you –Bruce lee

There was nothing he taught which he himself will not do with us. No ivory tower approach. He was in 50s , 100+ kgs ( its 120, now he reduced), yet he moved like light. There was no jealousy on other styles which is a malaise every martial arts school undergoes. He never said, he is best.  On other way, he always encouraged us to learn best from everywhere .I was exposed to three different martial arts schools earlier. What we used to do there in 2 hrs, here we used to do in ½ hour. Total time optimization.

I can defeat you physically with or without a reason but I can only defeat your mind with a reason--- jim lau

We students were not allowed to participate in local competitions. He always used to say that he was only teaching us discipline and fitness exercises. When all other martial artists believed in more pomp and show. My teacher was extremely low profile. There were no fees. No new student survived more than 7 classes. Not that he is strict in karate. He is mercilessly strict with time. Even one minute wastage was unpardonable. Commitment is 100%. Come rain, shine, sickness..he will keep his word and time.

In his 10 year, Indian sojourn, only 5 people were awarded belt. Its character, discipline, which are more important parameters for belt than how good you are at karate. For Master, there are no favourites. He genuinely loved everyone equally.

To win 100 victories is not highest skill. To subdue the nermy without fighting is highest skill—Sun Tzu

He is quite clear. Violence is unjustified in any form or manifestation.

 There was a new guy who once asked what he should do if people attacked him and what’s the point in learning karate ?

.

People were shocked at the answer.

He calmly and confidently said. “Run…just run away….karate I teach is to able to escape, push the attacker and run away very very fast from scene of violence. Karate is to bring peace out of you”. He always insisted to be good in studies and take his classes when we have free time.

Hmm..We never understood. But its true. After reading “Zen in Martial arts by Joe hyams” I grasped the wisdom. Strongest person never fights. Strongest and wisest are 1^st to forgive. Its only the weak who has point to prove. People like my masters are super strong and they know it. Hence they don’t mind apologizing if his apology can avert nasty incidents. They are centered with no ego.

(This concept is more to be experienced than understood logically. If u understood it , I take it that ur quite advanced spiritually and wise)

I stopped all kinds of martial arts 10 years ago. My karate dress, gloves and

nan-chuk lie in some forgotten corner. Certificate in Japanese is pride among my other documents. I am totally contented, satisfied and absolutely no regrets. Though my hands and legs have forgotten lessons in karate , his lessons on life were nevertheless drilled into my bone memory which will leave only with death of this body. We are no longer in contact but nevertheless every march 20, on my birthday, I know for sure I will have an elaborate mail of pearls of birthday wishes and wisdom vignettes in my inbox.

 Coming back to moments when I was beaten by him..

Well., I was not ashamed that I was beaten. But I was ashamed that I got frightened. Next,for 7 days, I trained till the point when I faced him again….history repeated….but with mild changes in script. I stood my ground. Though I was beaten, I was able to penetrate his defenses, was able to “touch” him with my fist….believe me..no one was able to do it…its kinda personal record for me.

RANDOM MUSINGS...!!!!

Dedicated 2 Rajoe n Jacko. Have to keep both very happy coz Rajoe owes me money and Jacko is my future money lender!!

Random Musings

 

Just bored with life. So randomly jotted whatever came on my minds screen. Some copied, some original, some developed and improvised, some stupid, some provoking, some ugly, some taunting, some will hate me and some will love me, some God knows what dey will do….who knows, who cares…I lost my sanity even before I entered slave-depot aka school.

 

“When Gandhi exhorted “ Quit India” in 1942,,my grandpa misunderstood and went on to become India’s 1^st NRI.”

 

“I wonder whys man’s best friend is dog & diamonds r women best friends. Now we know who is greedy”

 

“ Why are men so loyal to their barber? We seldom change our barbers”

 

“Why do “Home” ministers aka wives buy tons of crockery that always lies in show case and seldom if not, never use them in next 100 years?”

 

“Man can have 6 pack backed by 10 dan black belt , trained black cat commando and well versed in all weapons from AK-47 to Bazooka to bofor howitzer to predator drone…yet when his gf/wife weeps…those few drops of tears would wash out all the weapons along with mans will to fight”

“ Woman hate when man expects dowry but woman always want guy who is rich cum handsome cum intelligent cum guy who can be good husband cum driver cum plumber cum joker cum genie who can fulfill every wish of hers to marry them”

 

“How come we never hear any alcohol company getting bankrupt?”

 

“Why do we divide India into north and south but never east and west? Do we Indians have any idea about North eastern states?”

 

“Greatest inventions from mans perspective: TV remote

From women’s point of view: hands free phone”

 

“Why word “foreign” depict only western nations in our mind generally and America in particular when even Nepal, Bangladesh etc are foreign countries?”

“Why does man want sexy gf but homely wife?”

 

“Why do aliens visit only USA, and why those flying saucers hover only over amerika and crop circles are found in developed countries?”

“We laugh when Rajinikant does some crazy stunt in films (like shivaji) but clap when Tom cruise does the same bizarre in       MI-3? when it comes to hypocrisy , no one can beat u and me”

 

“Happy man is a norm and Happy woman is a myth. “What man wants?” was never written and “what woman wants” can still fill all libraries of world. Now u know what I mean when I say that happy woman is myth?”

 

“How many are aware that India doesn’t have a “National” language..next time when some north-hindi-blabbering demands you to speak hindi…direct him to me..i will destroy his arguments in less time den he reads this line.”

 

“IIT’s are elite. IIM are world class. How many nobel prize winners for science and tech are from IIT? and how many CEO s for fortune 500 companies are from IIM and how many top 10 MNC were started by IIM wallas?”

 

“Pakis greatest loss after partition: Kashmir . Indias loss ?...all beautiful women..( guys did u ever see pakis gals?..just awesome)..All?..no ..one is very much reading this blog…hee”

 

Now I stop. My boredom ceased. I guess urs started. Mission accomplished.

 

RUSHDIES RUSTLINGS (Part 2)

RUSHDIES RUSTLINGS (Part 2)

Sitting all alone at pond in midst of nature with waves striking your leg playfully under starry sky in AOL ashram, my mind with nothing to chew, regressed into recent past over conversations that took place between me and a wonderful person called “Rushdie” few months ago. (Hence forth “ Rush” for convenience, well my dear reader, you will know more about this amazing character in next blog )

Couple of months back, Rush said in fleeting conversation that " She TRUSTS totally. "

Well., my personal thesaurus is very small and limited in its content and words such as these (Trust, nostalgia, forever, best pal etc etc) never figured in it. Not that I am traitor by nature, I probably have more sense of"Right and Wrong " than anyone around. But I am by nature Paranoid (professionally cultivated professional hazard) and I do understand the working of real world. 

Do not disturb. Already disturbed.!!

“Life is unfair, get used to it”---Bill gates

Now the question arises, Will I not feel bad when I get cheated or betrayed?..

Of course I will!!! But my question will never be Why me? Why ? Why?…

it will always be How ..How…How did you do it?

I don’t care why you cheated me. You have your reasons. I just want to know how you did it so that next time I will be careful.

 Better known devil then an unknown angel

Long time ago before I got enlightened by ways of real world, one my so-called then-trusted- pal fingered between me and my potential crush. Frankly with that, my relation never took off and if you think I threw him out, you folks are mistaken. He IS very much my friend even now. But now, iam more careful. Now that I know his weak points and strong ones. I manage things in such way there is no option for others to cheat or betray me.

There are no permanent friends or foes. Only permanent interests. 

Look how European nations are reacting when USA spied on them after Edward snowdens revelations, when they consider USA as their best friend. Words like Breach of Trust, Betrayal by Ally are flying across Atlantic. But friends, since when did Intelligence agencies work on trust? They work depending upon country’s interests not because someone is their friend or foe. 

This is a hard fact. This is how world functions.

 Its time even India snoop on world based on Chanakya and Machiavellian principles rather than hide behind Indian traditions like Ram rajya or Gandhi’s-Nehru legacy of Peace, Coexistence and Trust.

Mahabharata war , so called dharma yuddha is totally filled with Adharma. Rama-the ideal man killed Vali in treacherous way. Gods themselves cheat when they are born on this planet amongst humans. 

Ocean of White

Yeah I can hear Rush screeching “ its cosmic game dumbo, karma, gods leela, your zero brains never will understand cosmic plan..blah blah…”

Maybe, may not be. I speak from common mans point of view. Not from religious texts and top view. Iam no God.iam mere common man

Gandhi was product of time. knew how to use peace., He violently used peace very cleverly and threw out british buggers. Nehru  taking has principles literally and not knowing how to use them,trusted blindly thus losing 1962 war  and losing more than 60,000 kms to chinki china.

All talk about India being soft power is bullshit. You try to become soft power when you are incapable of becoming hard power.

Eh asli duniya hai –Boman irani to SRK in Don-1

Life never works on pure logic. Bad things happen to good people. And great things happen to undeserved. Like in chess match, our plan never works beyond first few moves. We need to continuously have to reassess everything and drop what’s unnecessary. Same thing with life ,buddies.

There is no rule that Gods will side good people and bad people will get roasted in hell. All these goodie goodie talk is only lull you and make you predictable thus conspired by society. Quicker you understand that you are solely responsible for good and bad being inflicted upon you, the better , thus saving agony of mental tension over unanswered questions such as Why me Why me…

Given a chance, every one will behave in most unfair way. Only fear of reprisals and repercussion stop you from being in that way. Only weak and helpless speak of morals. Nature of world is such that at every moment( almost) , exploitation takes place…in some way or the other…in smaller or bigger scale.

If things go wrong, no sentiments..Accept defeat. Pick whats left over and move on. If you have guts, plan for next move or else just walk off. Nothing to be embarrassed . This is how world is designed.

 What’s there to be embarrassed and seeing whom should we be embarrassed? I am of firm belief that we are no super important person that around world should revolve. I have no big fancy ideas about myself. I do what I can. Iam what iam. Worlds or society’s opinion is not required.. who cares for one insignificant person such as me in gigantic planet teeming with 7 billion population and look how insignificant our own planet which is mere micro dot in unlimited galaxies.

 Sweet dreams are made of this.
Who am I to disagree?
Traveled the world and the seven seas.
Everybody's looking for something.

Some of them want to use you.
Some of them want to get used by you.
Some of them want to abuse you.
Some of them want to be abused.
~Marylin Manson

Now the question comes if I would break anyone’s trust or betray anyone. Well whatever I write, whatever I believe, whatever my mind says… there something like basic DNA program which runs your life from cradle to grave. That will never allow me to break my word once I give.

Never in my recorded history I ever broke my word, even if it means changing the dynamics of destiny. Don’t believe it????. Ask my friends across the planet

Like  I said (or boasted playfully) in my previous blog.

“Praveen Sagar breaking Word is not remote probability but an  Absolute Impossibility.”

Now what do I see in air?...rushdies verbal projectiles? eeeks haaa