Thinking & Shooting
“Conscious thought is the greatest hindrance to the proper execution of all physical action.” -Bruce Lee Thinking is the enemy of doing. When learning a new skill, however, trigger complex movements with key words. To “stop the pistol and see a perfect sight picture on the first shot,” during the draw, hear: “stop the sights.” […]
Presence
“The feeling that any task is a nuisance will soon disappear if it is done in mindfulness.” -Thich Nhat Hahn The awareness of presence is peaceful. When you suddenly become aware of a beautiful sunset, you merge with the present moment, which is always accompanied by a feeling of relief, a brief moment of peace. […]
Awareness Delivers…
“Silence is so accurate.” -Mark Rothko I first realized the transformative power of awareness in a practice session. (The 50 yard line of the Bianchi Cup’s Practical Event: three shots each on two targets in 15 seconds, shot from the prone position.) After I stopped shooting, it took a few seconds for my visual world […]
Do Not Be Attached
“The root of suffering is attachment.” -The Buddha Do not be attached to thoughts. Since you learned to think, thoughts cannot be “yours.” Take fewer ideas seriously. As you do that, an interesting thing happens: many things that used to bother you no longer do. When you stop wanting what cannot be changed to be […]
Visual Flow
“Don’t tell people your plans, show them your results.” -Unknown PART 1Shoot one-shot draws on an 8″ plate at 15 yards, with the goal on the first shot—to hit the plate as quickly as possible. Repeat 15 – 20 times, and remember your average time for a one-shot hit. DO NOT READ THE REST OF […]
Bud Enos – A Tribute
“If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right—the first time.”-Bud Enos I learned how to live from my dad. At some point I overheard him say, “All I want to do is raise our family (four sons and one daughter) in this house, and then die in this house.” Which is what he did. This […]
The Goal of Training
“Zen study is basically to reach the fundamental and clarify the essence of mind. … As for what this fundamental essence is, your features may differ as you die and are born over and over again, but at all times there is an inherent awareness.” -Keizan If you do not know what you must see […]
Eliminate The Unnecessary
“Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the even nobler art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.”-Lin Yutang Most thoughts are unnecessary. Awareness effortlessly eliminates the non-essential. The mind’s grasping and clinging tendencies are absent in silent awareness. When aware, each moment will relay […]
To Push? Part 2
“If you lose yourself in any action, that action will be the most successful.”-Sri Atmananda Consider this scenario: You and your competitor are close in points but you are a couple of points behind. It’s the last stage of the match, and your competitor just shot a good run, to his ability. You are up. […]
Care Less Part 2
“It’s in the silence that your problems dissolve. Try it. It really works.” -Robert Adams Care is a motivator—it stimulates the desire to improve. Then, eliminate caring by being fully attentive, and the doing takes care of itself. Become interested in the operation of your own mind; become aware of more thoughts. Each time you become […]