East West Kung Fu Schools
HOME OF BOK FU DO - SYSTEM OF THE WHITE TIGER - EST. 1967
We have 4 people that are starting their black belt testing process tonight! I thought it would be appropriate to post a compilation of a few small pieces from the Bok Fu Do philosophy book as a little motivation for them and for everyone else working towards that process.
You earned your Black belt with me by putting forth all of your might and strength in a tension which was half anguish, half Black belt ecstasy, in the effort to gather into your very soul more and more of what I call the creative chi fire of pure life energy. I assure you that as one of my Black Belts, if you learn how to use this force correctly, it can carry you through life with your head held high. You are a Richard Lee Black belt. Do not ever forget that. It is important to me, so make it important to you. You will find the very earth at these times will seem to move with you, a fresh new powerful Master rhythm will entire your entire body. No longer conscious of your movement, you will discover a new unity of mind-body-spirit with your chi and all of nature and even the universe itself; a new source of power and beauty in your movements; a source you never knew existed. You are becoming a Black belt Master, and you now know that it is in your hands to really make it happen, and that it can only truly come to you, people, with the total understanding of these words.
There is nothing people, that training cannot do. Nothing is above its reach. It can turn bad morals to good; it can lift men and women to angelship. With Bok-Fu we can create patterns of movement that create confidence, a sense of strength, flexibility, a sense of personal power, and fun. Whatever we focus on becomes our idea of reality. You’ve got to realize that you must take conscious control of running your mind. You’ve got to do it deliberately; otherwise, you’re going to be at the mercy of whatever happens around you. Experience is not what happens to a man, it is what a man does with what happens to him.
Realize that the emotions you are feeling at this very moment are a gift, from me to you, a guideline, a support system, a call to action. Remember men are wise in proportion, not to their experience, but to their capacity for experience.
As your journey brings you closer to your destination, realize that all the struggles you have gone through along the way have added immeasurably each of their own valuable layers to the sculpture you now begin to see inside yourself. The picture that lives in your mind must now be realized and brought to life by the awakening of your spirit. It will fire the engines of your body and rev impatiently as it awaits your mind to give it the green light. When it does, remember that you are the controller of your destiny. The dream is now reality and the vision is realized. You see outside yourself the sculpture of a soul that has been created within. Its carries you into battle with the incredible explosion of unbridled fury that can only be unleashed through super tight control over the emotions that now work for you. Your body is flying so fast that you appear to be on the verge of totally losing control but the reality is you’ve never been more in control. It is the ride of your life, a glorious union of your mind, body and spirit.
Enjoy the ride! Best of luck to the 4 of you as you begin this incredible process!