Martial Arts are about perfecting character. Without altruistic training and philosophy, martial artists are just brawlers. Without compassion, martial artists are just street fighters learning to beat each other up. The National Leadership Team is about taking the lessons we learn in our martial arts leadership programs and applying them to real world projects and goals. The experience is everything. This experience creates leadership.

Let me explain...

'Martial' Arts (martial means military) are known worldwide as a form of fighting. These fighting arts are showcased to the world on TV, Movies, and other media. The UFC has shown the world the effectiveness of the mixed martial arts as a means of close (empty handed) combat. Everyone thinks they have an idea of what the martial arts are all about, again because of the media and the violent image that is portrayed. Training or learning the martial arts can be a very different reality.

The other side of the martial arts, in my opinion, the more important side of the martial arts, lies in the process and experience of going through the training. It lies in the experience of becoming the best person that you can possibly be mentally, physically, even spiritually.

"The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the characters of it’s participants"

-Master Gichin Funakoshi

Though the physical benefits are great, the mental fitness and compassion side of the martial arts training are truly at the core of WHY people train.

The martial arts are an expression of the human body and mind, an expression of self. A peaceful warrior practices peace arts through expression in the martial arts (much like painting or playing an instrument, both arts also). The secret lies in training in the martial arts with thoughts and/or feelings and/or a consciousness or awareness of peace.

As a result of this training in a state of peace awareness, a peaceful warrior can apply the martial arts training to the real world we live in today. Without this application in today's world, and without this understanding of peace and compassion in your martial arts training, you are simply learning how to become a brawler/street fighter.

Martial Arts are about transforming yourself. They are about learning through the experience and expression of yourself performing and training in the arts. They are about you taking action on the things that are important to you.

Do you only enjoy the physical part of the training and don't necessarily care about the other aspects? Great! Take my personal challenge: Set some big physical goals, write them down, show them to others, make a commitment. Then take action, and complete those physical goals. In doing this, you are practicing the mental and expression side of the martial arts! The body and mind are more connected than we'll ever understand.

We can all use the National Leadership Team as a means of developing leadership in ourselves through taking positive action on powerful goals that we have set in front of the nation through the NLT site. The kicks and punches and locks and throws of the martial arts are simply a means of learning how to excel in a physical art form to learn mental and emotional balance.

Judo, TKD, Jiu Jitsu, Karate, MMA, XMA, etc... They are all useless in today's society if you are studying the arts just to learn to become a great fighter or a great technical martial artist. The last thing we need in this world is another punch thrown, kick landed, lock applied, or throw executed.

"Our world suffers from terminal normality."

Stuart Emory from Mastery,

We are suffering from a lack of pursuing what's important to us, a lack of mastery in our own lives. In the United States today, for most people, we are not fearing for our lives when we step outside. We don't all need to learn to become great fighters to protect our lives and our families lives like hundreds of years ago. (unless your in the military which NLT does support)

In today's age, physical combat is secondary. We are more likely to be hurt deeper and hurt longer by the following:

•  Negative Opinions From Others
  

•  Bad Relationships
  

•  Low Self-Esteem
  

•  Environmental Issues
  

•  Bad Nutrition
  

•  Acceptance of Mediocrity
  

•  Lack of Compassion...etc.
  

Allow your martial arts to be practiced with an appreciation and understanding of gratitude and compassion. Let the reason you train in the martial arts to be to demonstrate what is possible physically, mentally and compassionately instead of training solely out fear of being attacked someday. It's a paradigm shift that we all must endure.

And Check This Out - As a result of the physical martial arts training, you will be prepared when that dangerous opportunity arrives; though you may find that these dangerous situations will never come because of your level of compassion in your training. You'll find that you won't be attacked because you've put out such a vibration of understanding and empathy and trust and compassion and peace, that these fearful, violent acts that require the physical self defense of the martial arts simply wont find a place in your life. This is ultimate self defense.

I am making a personal commitment to pursue my martial arts in a whole new light. My art, my expression needs to be beautiful, moving, and elevate to something above and beyond just forms and grappling and sparring. I need to demonstrate to others that I am a great martial artist and in the process, have become an extraordinary human being. I further challenge you to pursue a similar mission with your own martial arts training.

Being a great technical martial artist is not enough. I must lead by example and perform at the highest levels of acts of kindness, community projects, and personal goals that I've achieved. Leadership will come as a result of the experience of getting the Black Belt (and beyond), rather than the actual receiving of the belt.

This experience of training in the martial arts is a vehicle of my pursuing goals that are important to me. Julia Butterfly Hill sat in a tree for a couple of years to save that tree and others around it. From her work, she asks a very interesting and important question, "What is your tree?" What she means is, what is your mission, what is so important to you that you are willing to make a stand for it and make it your personal purpose.

So why do martial artists need a program like "The NLT?"

To train in the martial arts for combat is not enough. As modern day martial artists, we need to practice overcoming mediocrity, practice environmental self-defense, practice peace education and pursue your mission, your tree, as an expression of what your martial arts has become. This is what will protect you and this is real self defense.

The NLT is a way for you to compete, gain recognition and inspire others with your mission and your action. NLT students are fighting for what's at the core of the martial arts; Peace, Activism, Taking Action, Mastery, Higher Awareness, and an Understanding of What is Truly Important and Whole in Our Lives.

Do you want to be a part of something big? Do you have a need to fill a void that you can't get from the physical side of the martial arts alone? I challenge you to join the NLT, exercise your mind and your spirit through experiential based leadership training.