| Arts are about perfecting character. Without altruistic | | | | protect our lives and our families lives like hundreds |
| training and philosophy, martial artists are just | | | | of years ago. (unless your in the military which NLT |
| brawlers. Without compassion, martial artists are just | | | | does support) |
| street fighters learning to beat each other up. The | | | | In today's age, physical combat is secondary. We are |
| National Leadership Team is about taking the lessons | | | | more likely to be hurt deeper and hurt longer by the |
| we learn in our martial arts leadership programs and | | | | following: |
| applying them to real world projects and goals. The | | | | * |
| experience is everything. This experience creates | | | | Negative Opinions From Others |
| leadership. | | | | * |
| Let me explain... | | | | Bad Relationships |
| 'Martial' Arts (martial means military) are known | | | | * |
| worldwide as a form of fighting. These fighting arts | | | | Low Self-Esteem |
| are showcased to the world on TV, Movies, and | | | | * |
| other media. The UFC has shown the world the | | | | Environmental Issues |
| effectiveness of the mixed martial arts as a means | | | | * |
| of close (empty handed) combat. Everyone thinks | | | | Bad Nutrition |
| they have an idea of what the martial arts are all | | | | * |
| about, again because of the media and the violent | | | | Acceptance of Mediocrity |
| image that is portrayed. Training or learning the | | | | * |
| martial arts can be a very different reality. | | | | Lack of Compassion...etc. |
| The other side of the martial arts, in my opinion, the | | | | Allow your martial arts to be practiced with an |
| more important side of the martial arts, lies in the | | | | appreciation and understanding of gratitude and |
| process and experience of going through the training. | | | | compassion. Let the reason you train in the martial |
| It lies in the experience of becoming the best person | | | | arts to be to demonstrate what is possible physically, |
| that you can possibly be mentally, physically, even | | | | mentally and compassionately instead of training |
| spiritually. | | | | solely out fear of being attacked someday. It's a |
| "The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in | | | | paradigm shift that we all must endure. |
| victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the | | | | And Check This Out - As a result of the physical |
| characters of it’s participants | | | | martial arts training, you will be prepared when that |
| -Master Gichin Funakoshi | | | | dangerous opportunity arrives; though you may find |
| Though the physical benefits are great, the mental | | | | that these dangerous situations will never come |
| fitness and compassion side of the martial arts | | | | because of your level of compassion in your training. |
| training are truly at the core of WHY people train. | | | | You'll find that you won't be attacked because |
| The martial arts are an expression of the human | | | | you've put out such a vibration of understanding and |
| body and mind, an expression of self. A peaceful | | | | empathy and trust and compassion and peace, that |
| warrior practices peace arts through expression in | | | | these fearful, violent acts that require the physical |
| the martial arts (much like painting or playing an | | | | self defense of the martial arts simply wont find a |
| instrument, both arts also). The secret lies in training | | | | place in your life. This is ultimate self defense. |
| in the martial arts with thoughts and/or feelings and | | | | I am making a personal commitment to pursue my |
| or a consciousness or awareness of peace. | | | | martial arts in a whole new light. My art, my |
| As a result of this training in a state of peace | | | | expression needs to be beautiful, moving, and |
| awareness, a peaceful warrior can apply the martial | | | | elevate to something above and beyond just forms |
| arts training to the real world we live in today. | | | | and grappling and sparring. I need to demonstrate to |
| Without this application in today's world, and without | | | | others that I am a great martial artist and in the |
| this understanding of peace and compassion in your | | | | process, have become an extraordinary human being. |
| martial arts training, you are simply learning how to | | | | I further challenge you to pursue a similar mission |
| become a brawler/street fighter. | | | | with your own martial arts training. |
| Martial Arts are about transforming yourself. They | | | | Being a great technical martial artist is not enough. I |
| are about learning through the experience and | | | | must lead by example and perform at the highest |
| expression of yourself performing and training in the | | | | levels of acts of kindness, community projects, and |
| arts. They are about you taking action on the things | | | | personal goals that I've achieved. Leadership will |
| that are important to you. | | | | come as a result of the experience of getting the |
| Do you only enjoy the physical part of the training | | | | Black Belt (and beyond), rather than the actual |
| and don't necessarily care about the other aspects? | | | | receiving of the belt. |
| Great! Take my personal challenge: Set some big | | | | This experience of training in the martial arts is a |
| physical goals, write them down, show them to | | | | vehicle of my pursuing goals that are important to |
| others, make a commitment. Then take action, and | | | | me. Julia Butterfly Hill sat in a tree for a couple of |
| complete those physical goals. In doing this, you are | | | | years to save that tree and others around it. From |
| practicing the mental and expression side of the | | | | her work, she asks a very interesting and important |
| martial arts! The body and mind are more connected | | | | question, "What is your tree?" What she means is, |
| than we'll ever understand. | | | | what is your mission, what is so important to you |
| We can all use the National Leadership Team as a | | | | that you are willing to make a stand for it and make |
| means of developing leadership in ourselves through | | | | it your personal purpose. |
| taking positive action on powerful goals that we have | | | | So why do martial artists need a program like "The |
| set in front of the nation through the NLT site. The | | | | NLT?" |
| kicks and punches and locks and throws of the | | | | To train in the martial arts for combat is not enough. |
| martial arts are simply a means of learning how to | | | | As modern day martial artists, we need to practice |
| excel in a physical art form to learn mental and | | | | overcoming mediocrity, practice environmental |
| emotional balance. | | | | self-defense, practice peace education and pursue |
| Judo, TKD, Jiu Jitsu, Karate, MMA, XMA, etc... They | | | | your mission, your tree, as an expression of what |
| are all useless in today's society if you are studying | | | | your martial arts has become. This is what will |
| the arts just to learn to become a great fighter or a | | | | protect you and this is real self defense. |
| great technical martial artist. The last thing we need | | | | The NLT is a way for you to compete, gain |
| in this world is another punch thrown, kick landed, | | | | recognition and inspire others with your mission and |
| lock applied, or throw executed. | | | | your action. NLT students are fighting for what's at |
| "Our world suffers from terminal normality." | | | | the core of the martial arts; Peace, Activism, Taking |
| Stuart Emory from Mastery, | | | | Action, Mastery, Higher Awareness, and an |
| We are suffering from a lack of pursuing what's | | | | Understanding of What is Truly Important and Whole |
| important to us, a lack of mastery in our own lives. | | | | in Our Lives. |
| In the United States today, for most people, we are | | | | Do you want to be a part of something big? Do you |
| not fearing for our lives when we step outside. We | | | | have a need to fill a void that you can't get from the |
| don't all need to learn to become great fighters to | | | | physical side of the martial arts alone? |