Martial Artist Quotes

“Get maximum effect from minimum effort.”

“I'm moving and not moving at all. I'm like the moon underneath the waves that ever go on rolling and rocking. It is not, "I am doing this," but rather, an inner realization that "this is happening through me," or "it is doing this for me." The consciousness of self is the greatest hindrance to the proper execution of all physical action.”

“I believe in teaching just a few students, as teaching requires a constant alert observation on each individual in order to establish a direct relationship. A good teacher cannot be fixed in a routine, and many are just that. During teaching, each moment requires a sensitive mind that is constantly changing and constantly adapting.”

“I don't believe in different ways of fighting now. I mean, unless human beings have 3 arms and 3 legs, then we will have a different way of fighting. But basically we all have two arms and two legs so that is why I believe there should be only one way of fighting and that is no way.”

“When we suddenly awake to the realization that there is no barrier, and never has been, one realizes that one is all things mountains, rivers, grasses, trees, sun, moon, stars, universe are all oneself. There is no longer a division or barrier between myself and others, no longer any feeling of alienation or fear there is nothing apart from oneself and therefore nothing to fear. Realizing this results in true compassion. Other people and things are not seen as apart from oneself but, on the contrary, as one's own body.”

“Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one's potential.”

“If you want to learn to swim jump into the water. On dry land no frame of mind is ever going to help you.”

“One rule is to not use complicated techniques unless they are necessary to achieve your goal. First, use simple movements, and if they don't work, then introduce the more complex ones.”

“True observation begins when devoid of set patterns; freedom of expression occurs when one is beyond system.”

“Conditioning obstructs our view of reality. We do not see IT in its suchness because of our indoctrination, crooked and twisted.”

“Because of styles people are separated. Research your own experience, absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is essentially your own.”

“The meaning of life is that it is to be lived.”

“Can you look at a situation without naming it? Naming it, making it a word, causes fear.”

“When there is freedom from mechanical conditioning, there is simplicity.”

“Put every great teacher in a room, and they'd agree about everything, but put their disciples in there and they'd argue about everything.”

“The meaning of life is that it is to be lived, and it is not to be traded and conceptualized and squeezed into a patter of systems.”

“Where there is no style, there is no slave. Martial Arts mean honestly expressing yourself. No style. No slave.”

“Do not be tense, just be ready, not thinking but not dreaming, not being set but being flexible.”

“Out of chaos, find simplicity, From discord, find harmony.”

“Any technique, however worthy and desirable, becomes a disease when the mind is obsessed with it.”

“The usefulness of the cup is its emptiness.”

“Before me now there is only one real fact -- Death. The truth I have been seeking -- this truth is Death. Yet Death is also a seeker. Forever seeking me. So -- we have met at last. And I am prepared. I am at peace. Because I will conquer death with death.”

“Be a practical dreamer backed by action.”

“Simplicity of expression rather than complexity of form.”

“It's not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.”