By Sifu Ed Monaghan

More and more, the term mindful awareness is becoming a recognized phrase in articles and conversations across the western world. But what exactly is mindful awareness and what does it mean to the average person?

Mindful Awareness and its application in western society is the focus of my work as a professor at UCLA. Simply put, it’s being present and aware in the current moment so we can experience our life to the fullest extent possible. Mindful Awareness, is another way of saying meditation.

Think for a moment about times when our minds are so filled with what we have to do in 2 hours that we can walk 3 blocks and not notice a single thing around us. It’s sometimes as though we wake up from a dream and are in a different place. What about driving? Have you ever zoned out and realized that you’ve passed your exit ramp and now have to go 5 miles in the wrong direction?

These are the surface manifestations of living with our minds in tomorrow or yesterday, but there are much broader ramifications. The more we put on our plates, the more we multi-task, the higher our stress levels elevate. When our stress levels elevate our bodies pay the price and health issues such as hypertension, panic attacks, and any number of other maladies become more prevalent. My business partner is the director of Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center. He, and many other physicians, along with a substantial array of empirical data, assert that patients with a positive, calm state of mind have substantially faster and complete recovery rates.

So what does that mean to the average person? It means, activities that teach you to slow down and focus on the present moment are of positive benefit to your mind and body.

Mindful Awareness practices are typically eastern. There are myriad forms of meditation. Some are static, where you sit quietly and focus on the breath. Others use mantras and sutras, along with other movements.

Activities like yoga, martial arts, tai chi, qigong, can teach you to apply these principles and enjoy life more fully. Imagine a golf game where you are completely immersed in the joy of being in nature, with friends, sharing your day. As opposed to bending your wedge around a tree because you overshot the green.

Warmest regards,

Professor Edward Monaghan

Physical practice in its ultimate form becomes an expression of the spirit. Most athletes talk about a feeling of elation when participating in their sport of choice. We recognize on a scientific level, this is due to the release of endorphins, which produce sensations of euphoria. You may have also heard it called "runner’s high".

If it felt that good to exercise, everyone would do it all the time. Unfortunately, most of us experience a similar high when we eat a box of cookies. It’s a lot easier than running 10 miles. So how do we exchange one behavior for another?

We simply need to learn disciplined behavior and then discover what is the most efficient means of physical expression, which in turn, becomes a life practice. This practice can be anything for which you have passion. Some people find it in forms of creative expression such as dance, others in various types of sports.

The unique attribute of training in martial arts is that physical practice is purposefully coupled with mental and spiritual practice. The link between mental, spiritual and physical practice makes the experience much more meaningful than just going to the gym and getting on a hamster machine.

The spiritual practice of which we speak is non-denominational. Sometimes we in the west who follow Christian, Jewish or Muslim paths think eastern martial arts must inherently mean the practitioner must affiliate with an eastern religion. However this is not the case. Modern psychology has borrowed substantially from Buddhist thought because a primary aspect of meditative practice is learning to control one’s thought process to yield a more productive use of the brain, thus reinforcing positive behavior.

It is much the same with martial arts practice. We use ancient practices in order to better our body and mind, which in turn nourishes the spirit, regardless of one’s personal practice of spirituality.

In Taoist thought, Tao simply means "path" or "way". This means there are many paths to the truth. We show respect for all and find our own in our own way. When physical practice is coupled with such strong philosophical principles, the results are incredibly powerful.

If you want to experience the power of training on a higher level, please join us at Ekata Martial Arts & Fitness for a free class.

Ed Monaghan is a professor at UCLA and owner of Valencia’s Ekata Martial Arts & Fitness, located at 23333 Cinema Drive, #150, Valencia, CA 91355 (located across the street from Trader Joe's). Phone: (661) 255-1114.

One of the more common reasons to begin the study of martial arts revolves around the idea of learning to fight. Why? - Because we are afraid of physical danger. But the real issue isn’t the physical danger itself. The real issue is fear.

The only way to control fear is to control the mind. And the meditative practice inherent in the study of martial arts and the associated philosophical disciplines is intended to do exactly that – abate fear. Fear causes us to operate inefficiently. If you have practiced martial arts in any context, you will know that when you practice, it’s different than fighting. Whether you practice MMA, kickboxing, or traditional gung fu, perfect techniques that look great in class suddenly don’t work when a 650 lb. moose decides to take your head off.

As a professor at UCLA I’ve found the same factors, which affect learning and habitual behavior, affect one’s ability to perform in real life scenarios. Why? We need to change our behavior by changing our thought patterns.

Many classical martial artists find MMA training abhorrent since the elements of traditional decorum and respect are notably missing during the regular course of training. They feel this diminishes the standard of martial arts to that of street fighting thugs. While it may be true that the lack of formal tradition in MMA training can allow egos to run rampant, one cannot deny the effectiveness of the physical training itself. The bottom line is, if you learn movements that are meant to work in real life scenarios and then you fight, you can perform under pressure. And yes, the traditionalist view that it is still a sport is entirely valid. Yes, you can’t do any of the things that truly even the playing field like gouging, biting, small joint manipulations, strikes to vital areas, etc. But the bottom line is, if you have  ever experienced fear and had to perform under pressure, your reactions will be different and you simply don’t know how you will react, regardless of how many times you have practiced a given technique with a nice, compliant partner.

When we encounter danger, our brains are automatically stimulated and process data differently. Most people report a sense of slow motion occurring during attack scenarios. The same is true for accidents. That’s because along with the release of adrenaline we emit a series of enzymes, which affects our visual cortex and in effect, speeds up our ability to perceive visual stimulus like using high-speed film for a camera. So what can help us to hone our reactions under pressure?

Bruce Lee used to say there are 3 types of reaction time:

1) Perceptual awareness – Your ability to perceive danger or a threat

2) Reaction time – Your ability to send the electrical stimulus from the brain to the muscles in order to respond.

3) Skill speed – Your ability to efficiently use a physical tool to counter the treat.

All of these issues come down to one simple common denominator: self-awareness or mindful awareness.

Mindful awareness is the root of all meditative practice and all traditional decorum. The process of meditation is the process of becoming self-aware. The intent of this practice is to gradually become aware of our bodies, emotions, environment, and minds. This type of practice opens the doors of perception and allows us to take an objective, unbiased look at the world and our place in it.

Becoming aware of fear and fighting is just one part of the puzzle. So is attention to detail and traditional protocol found in so called "antiquated" martial arts practice.

My teacher Jerry Poteet related one of Sifu Bruce Lee’s lessons to me, which I’ve found quite profound. To paraphrase: "There is a truth to every martial art. They should all be respected because they yield a particular perspective. But we are searching for totality, the comprehensive truth. When we view things from this perspective, then we become whole human beings."

If martial art were just about fighting, I don’t think quite so many would be practicing around the world for so many years. It is a process of self-discovery and ultimately, as Sifu Lee stated, "A device for uncovering the source of our own ignorance."

So, to the traditionalists out there, bravo! Continue the meditation, respect and decorum. It all ads to the development of eliminating the ego so we can see world and ourselves for what they are. But, perhaps open up to some of the new styles of training. Things evolve.

To the non-traditionalist, MMA, Thai Boxers, Jiu-jitsu guys who poo-poo everything that is not MMA (including some arrogant JKD guys I’ve known), consider that perhaps there’s more than just fighting to martial arts. And also consider that traditional training philosophy may have validity. Much of it was derived from the battle field, and I would assert walking into a hand to hand battle where it is highly likely that you will loose your life instead of getting tapped out takes a special type of mental conditioning. So perhaps there’s something there.

By Sifu Ed Monaghan

It’s that time. Resolutions. How many times have you joined a gym or jumped on the bandwagon for the newest fitness craze only to realize six weeks later your motivation has fizzled out again?

I’ve worked with adults in the fitness market for over 25 years and I can undoubtedly tell you the secret. The secret is (Drum roll please): There is no secret. In order to achieve your goals you have to become engaged in the activity you’ve chosen to pursue. It simply isn’t enough to rely on vanity and aesthetics. I’ve seen it many times.

"I want washboard abs." "I want thin thighs." These attributes are a by-product of pursuing activities, which yield positive results for mind, body and spirit. We’ve heard that phrase commonly thrown around, but there is a distinct difference in those who find this state of balance and those who don’t.

Bruce Lee’s philosophy for fitness was the same as philosophy in martial arts: Simplicity and economy of motion. Lee felt that fitness had to be an integral part of life because without it, we miss out on opportunities that we might otherwise not experience. This is a practice and philosophy for all ages.

There is a common misconception in the adult market that you have to do back flips and get beat up to learn Jeet Kune Do. You don’t. Lee’s philosophy was to take what is uniquely yours and build upon it. Engage the mind and the body will follow.

When was the last time you went to the gym and forgot that you were on the treadmill because it was so much fun? If you’re like me, uh, never. In Jeet Kune Do we condition using scientifically sound physiological principles and integrate ancient training methods that stimulate the mind and body. As a result, your mind is occupied. You have fun, learn to eliminate stress in your life and get fit all in one.

That’s the essence of Jeet Kune Do: Oneness or Ekata (Sanskrit). If you are an adult, and you like the idea fitness integrated with Eastern philosophy to quiet the mind, eliminate stress and improve your life, give us a call. We specialize in working with adults and those over 40 who are deconditioned. We will work safely and incrementally to achieve your goals. And who knows, maybe you’ll do a back flip.

Professor Edward Monaghan

2^nd Generation Instructor – Jeet Kune Do

Ekata Martial Arts & Fitness, 23333 Cinema Drive #150,Valencia, CA .  Phone: (661) 255-1114

sifued@gmail.com