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.

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