Baseball has its gear; so does football; and tennis. While they do not share the equipment, they do share the guiding mind behind their use — tactics!
Train hard. Be serious. Study your opponent; study yourself; make a plan; then follow the plan. It is the tactics that count in the end. If two people meet with similar skill, it is the one who has smart, clever tactics that will prevail.
Spend time training techniques. But don’t shy away from pondering tactics — ones that YOU can use based on your personality, size, strength, and tenacity. ]]>
AUGUST 26, 2022
Rising Stars: Meet Maria Baird
Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Baird.
Q: Hi Maria, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
A: If you told me years ago that I’d be a martial arts master teaching civilians and police officers self-defense, I would have laughed. That was not my plan, but who am I to say? I did, however, love kung fu movies growing up. My older brother would make movies of me taking on the evil crime boss (my other brother) and beating him to submission. Besides this, I never gave it another thought, until one day, while we were shopping, my brother and I came across a Kung Fu school and thought it would be fun to try out a class. That was back in 1986, and now here I am, still training, except now, I am an owner along with my husband, Don Baird.
Q: Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A: Surprisingly it has been a smooth road for most of my career. The bumpy road came recently when covid hit. We had a few schools in California, but they were closed for an entire year. So many schools closed their doors for good; it was really sad. I feel very blessed that we could stay in business during that time. As we rolled into another year of being closed, we realized we needed to make some tough decisions; zoom kung fu was not going to work for much longer. We decided it was the perfect time to move to NC, a place we’ve always wanted to live. As soon as we made that decision, everything happened so fast. Our home literally sold in an hour, the schools were bought by a few students, we packed up, put our shepherd in the car, and drove off to North Carolina. Within the first week of being in NC, we bought our house and rented our school building all on the same day. It was crazy but I wouldn’t change a thing, we really love it here!
Q: Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
A: I love what I do, our martial arts school is so special. Not only are you learning a very old style that’s usable today, but students become family and friends; we joke that “those that kick together, stick together.” Our school helps the individual to grow.
It’s almost a mystery; If you’re shy, you gain confidence; if you’re hot-headed, you calm down. If stressed, you learn to relax. It does bring out the best in people. We specialize in Kung Fu and tai chi, and we’re known for having our grandmasters teach the classes. We start at age 4 and go up; adults and children are in separate classes. I love that anyone can train; it doesn’t matter how old you are, how in shape or out of shape you are, as our school motto is “train only to master yourself.” As far as what I am most proud of, I’d say it’s being the highest ranking female in our system and getting a master’s hall of fame award. I’ll be honest. I didn’t do anything that anyone can’t do, I just stuck it out. Come by and try out a class or two on the house. See an amazing system full of old Shaolin animal techniques, exciting katas, interesting takedowns, and peaceful tai chi; come in as I did so many years ago, and stay for a spell or a lifetime.
Q: Any big plans?
A: I’d say we just went thru that when we moved from coast to coast. But now that we’ve settled in, I’m looking forward to bringing some fun events to the area. We enjoy hosting art shows and concerts given by our students and our grandmaster is starting a haiku poetry class this October. I would also like to donate my time giving women self-defense classes to the community. These events are always open to the public to come and enjoy.
Contact Info: Website: kungfukarate..com
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Our bodies are similar to the hose. They are the structures that deliver power — focused energy from the mind, body and spirit (desire). A fighters body needs to remain supple of which adds to their strength, not detracts. Another word that helps a fighter is “looseness” (within structure). This is a magical word that assists footwork, agility, speed, balance, and strength — all crucial aspects of being a great fighter — of being a great athlete.
Tension can be of assistance from time to time — but not for good balance, smooth movement, acceleration, and explosiveness. Those qualities can only come from softness — the structure being held in a gentle, loose way — being there for the mind to call upon it. When the mind calls, the body must be able to obey. A proper structure of looseness assists that process.
Just pondering out loud. Thanks for visiting.
gmb
www.kungfukarate.com
Fun stuff!
]]>What you see isn’t always what you get. The student is always improving if they are training sincerely — being conscientious. It just doesn’t always show up right away. We, as a species on the planet, are in a hurry to see the bottom line. Well, that bottom line may be in the mail — but not immediate. Once again, the student (and teachers) must be patient and let nature run its course.
Keep heading toward well-defined goals. Your mind will guide the body regarding how to achieve them: the mind leads; the body follows. Remain sincere in your efforts and the rest Will Be.
pgmb
Please visit out website here to get all the details on our class schedule.
A celebration of Grandmaster Suh, 2013.
Mr. Suh always reminded me to eliminate just one bad habit a day. Train forms, animal techniques, take-downs and joint locks, etc., chi kung … every day … and remove one bad habit … improve just one thing. As the years go by, your skill will surface — almost unnoticed. Skill isn’t something you can demand; it is something you can encourage to arrive but cannot demand. His thoughts are with me today, 40-some years later.
Angle and attack.
Train slowly, train evenly … do not rush body or mind. Let your improvement happen over time. Be patient.
pgmb
www.kungfukarate.com
Please visit out website here to get all the details on our class schedule.
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www.kungfukarate.com
Please visit out website here to get all the details on our class schedule.
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Master Don Baird at American School of Martial Arts
When training a martial art, it is important to keep in mind that you are involved with an “inch by inch” endeavor — that it takes time to do something well; and, more particularly, it takes time to undo what time has done! You could be 15; you could be 50: but those are not just numbers; they are habits — and they do not change/adjust easily. You are what you are and, therefore, should remain patient with yourself as you train to make some changes as you groom yourself and your life through martial arts.
Kung Fu is truly an “inch by inch” process, but so very worth it!
pgmb
www.kungfukarate.com
Please visit out website here to get all the details on our class schedule.
]]>Yesterday, at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church was a magical, wonderful day that I will remember for a long, long time. The people are of all backgrounds, all faiths, but aligned in heart. I hope you enjoy this presentation as much as I enjoyed presenting it. And while your perspective(s) might differ from mine and what I present, please listen from beginning to end — give it a true and real listening — and then ponder the things that will assist you, your life, and your future. Forget what doesn’t.
I’ve always mentioned that if a student or audience member walks away with just one meaningful thing to their life, the entire event was worth it. Take what works for you — and cherish it. Never dwell on “the doesn’t”; dwell only on “the does.” Somewhere, in the “does” of my presentation, I hope I have helped you find yourself in at least one new, significant way.
http://emersonuuc.podbean.com/e/the-five-excellences-1426481760/#.VQcIaAhRb64.facebook
Peace and Blessings,
Grandmaster “D”
Please visit our website here to get all the details on our class schedule.
“To illustrate my point, slightly, a story: when you are playing push hands (any style or version), you are implementing the basics you have been taught. Over and over you play, improving your “game.” Soon, you become difficult to defeat. One day an advanced player asks to push with you. You accept. During the exchanges, you find yourself being defended against rather well — your “techniques” are being thwarted. In the midst of it, you “get an idea.” You lead your opponent into your idea and trap him — you trap his body, but more importantly, you trap his mind. Suddenly, you use a slight variation of one of your common techniques that moments ago wouldn’t defeat him. However, as a result of your deeper understanding of theory, you received a fresh idea, a slightly different approach, and it worked — your opponent was uprooted. And, you never tried it before. It’s a new idea, a fresh approach. Mind does not come from technique; technique comes from mind; mind comes from principles/theory — for the advanced.
Everyone has experienced epiphany. And most of us have during our years of training. Epiphany comes from the roots of your understanding of theory. Technique is just the outward of the inward; it is the visible of the invisible. The invisible is the “secret” behind technique, not the technique itself. It’s the theory that operates the technique and it’s theory that adapts a technique to a new and more difficult environment. The technique will alone, not always set you free. But theory will; it will set your mind and body into a fluidity where thought and movement are joined together in a surplus of assimilation — and therefore, creative function.” ~ pgmb
Summary: Feel more; think less. That’s my book! (only for the advanced).
Please visit out website here to get all the details on our class schedule.
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