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April 2023
RAISED SPIRIT CBD Massages at the Cowshed Spa, St Mortiz We are very pleased to announce that our 100% Organic CBD spa treatments are now available at this Miami-inspired hotel on the north Cornish coast, surrounded by an endless natural playground, is perfectly situated in the ‘culinary triangle’. Set between the exclusivity of Rock, postcard-pretty Port-Isaac with its award-winning restaurants, and the burgeoning gastro-hot-spot, Padstow, St Moritz Hotel is the place for relaxation, rejuvenation and adventure. Treatments feature our 100% Organic and handmade CBD skincare range. To book in for a RAISED SPIRIT CBD spa treatment at St Moritz, call 01208 869800 or email [email protected] |
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Jan 2023
CBD Benefits for Mental Health - PART 2 An article by Nick Osipczak, the founder of RAISED SPIRIT How Do We Master The Mind? Meditation is the simplest answer. What are the prerequisites for meditation? The ability to hold one’s attention for a prolonged period of time... AKA, focus. Is it any wonder that the skill of focusing is lacking in our species in our modern era of digital electronics and consumerism? Which generation has grown up most affected by the ever shortening lengths but quicker successions of media stimulation? The children. And the children are the future of our species. Once we have the ability to focus, we can then rest our attention on something which has a natural rhythm.... like our breath. Following the inhales and the exhales, over and over again, like observing the waves coming in and returning to the ocean. |
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The more we do this, the more time we are spending in the PRESENT. This is the goal – to become more present. Like animals. Like plants. Like the universe. Alive, aware. Seeing things as they really are.
The mind will continually wander off during the practise of meditation, which is perfectly normal. The key is to continuously and consciously bring the attention back to the object of focus. The repetition of this exercise also teaches us to attach less and less importance to the wanderings of the mind, which is looking for any and all distractions, and over time as those distractions become less and less appealing, they can fade into the background and allow the primary attention to be based more in the present.
To be in the present means not being in the past or projecting into the future. It’s OK to do both of these things, but if we spend too much of our time in the past or future, then we suffer.
We all know someone who for too long has been trapped “living” in the past, and the results are usually anger, resentment, bitterness, regret, guilt, depression, etc.
We all know someone who spends too long projecting into the future, and the results are usually anxiety, worry. The VAST majority of things we worry about will never happen. I’d rather, and am, be someone who overshoots what they think is possible, than someone who undershoots. Get yourself into a situation and figure it out in real-time. This is a skill that builds with practise. Life is a continuous series of challenges whether you want it to be or not, so fear nothing and steam on straight ahead! Deal with the real challenges in front of you rather than battle the imagined ones in your head. People want to feel secure, but as nothing is certain in life, it is a far better strategy to become comfortable with uncertainty.
Master the mind, and it is easy to master the body. Lose control of the mind, and all areas of your life will spiral out of control. This is not an exaggeration, it is literal.
Do animals live the majority of their time in the past or the future as opposed to the present? No. They are too busy collecting food, taking care of their young, relocating due to the seasonal weather changes, etc, etc. And if they do have some leisure time, they want to maximise their enjoyment/relaxation before hitting the grind again. AKA, they don’t have the (luxury?!) of dealing with our “1st-world problems”, they are too busy living.
Are we so different to animals? What makes us different? Pondering these questions help us understand ourselves more deeply, which can illuminate our path out of suffering.
Most animals are operating the majority of their time at a “survival”-level of consciousness. This means day after day, focusing their attention on acquiring the required sustenance, reproductive procedures, avoiding predatory attacks, and having somewhere safe to rest and recover.
And we as humans need these life-basics in place too in order to continue as a species. But as humans, we are also capable of more than just living in “survival” mode. We can establish a routine/system which meets our basic needs, freeing up time and energy to move into “thrival” mode, which is where the spiritual dimension of our being comes into play.
So, how do we summarise what the basics needs are for humans, which are still relevant in our modern era as much as they were in the traditional days, to ensure that we are providing our bodies and minds what they have evolved to want/need?
STRENUOUS EXERCISE - the more our bodies are capable of performing a variety of strenuous activities at the drop of a hat, the more our appetites will be rebalanced. “Strenuous” is relative. If you are 75 years old and you find walking a mile is doable, then 2 miles might be your version of a strenuous activity. It doesn’t have to be everyday, but it does need to be regularly. To keep the “body” in shape, but also the mind disciplined (master of the mind). Think back to the old days... the village needs to relocate immediately under threat of destruction. You can either “get with the going or get gone.” Open the lungs, feel the heart beating, get a sweat on. This does NOT mean trying to become a body-builder. Think lean and versatile. Strong AND flexible. Mix it up, be spontaneous, surprise yourself. Everyday is a new opportunity.
REAL FOOD – not processed food. Primary drink = water. Feast occasionally, fast occasionally. Know what hunger is. Know restraint. Fuel the body for the activities it needs to perform. Think about what exercise you did yesterday, what you are doing today, what you are doing tomorrow and fuel accordingly. Think about what season it is, and what food would be growing locally back in the day. Energy expenditure and fuel required - it is a feedback system. If you overeat too often, and are putting on the pounds, then this will negatively impact your strenuous exercise abilities.
STRESS – consciously expose yourself regularly to stressful situations. Good news – this can be covered at the same time as your strenuous exercise... two birds, one stone. Cold water exposure, new business venture, new hobby... whatever you want to do but have been too scared to try... move towards it consciously and exposure yourself to a stressful situation. It is most often WAAAYYY less stressful to do it vs the stress involved in worrying about it. The more we get out of our comfort zone, the better we become at it, and can handle ever more stressful situations. It is all relative... some people find stepping out of their front door stressful. Build the resilience. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Develop your “F*** it” switch. No regrets. Better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all. Without fear, there can be no courage. All the cliches.
Stress is tension: opposing forces. By removing the force in one direction (usually fear), you can reduce stress. The more you practice consciously exposing yourself to stressful situations, the more peaceful your default state will become. That’s why it’s best to get your stressful situation out of the way first thing in the morning, as the rest of the day then becomes a breeze.
Is stress the enemy? Not at all. We just need to know how to manage it. The only constant in our universe is change. If we do not change, we will be at odds with the universe, and experience stress. We seek to be in harmony with the changes of the universe. How do we know when it is time to change? There must be some sort of signal. This signal is communicated as stress – feedback that something needs attending to.
We have replaced the frequent bouts of extreme stress from life-or-death situations from the old days with the constant background buzzing of relatively minor stresses of modern life. This background hum, fed by the media to fear all things and to desire more things, and the ever present wifi, electronics, caffeine, stimulation, results in most of us continually residing in the state managed by our sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight mode), and rarely in the para-sympathetic state, which is when our bodies and mind can relax and heal themselves. Consciously enter a para-sympathetic state on a daily basis (e.g. via meditation, knitting, gardening, etc.) until this has become your default state once again.
CONNECTION – the opposite of connection is isolation. We can be physically isolated, but we can also be mentally isolated, even if we are physically close by to others. It’s ironic as the people who live in the most populated areas (cities) are usually the most lonely as they are lacking in genuine human connection. As a species, we NEED close connection to other humans, and also to the earth and her creations. The mind’s primary trick that leads to suffering, is the illusion of separation – making one feel disconnected to our environment. All the wrongs throughout history that humans have been responsible for are because of a “me” or “us” vs “them” mentality. If you realised that harming others harms yourself, would you still do it? The easiest ways to regain a sense of connection, are:
- to immerse oneself in nature (and remove “artificial” stimulation)
- human (also animal) physical touch. Sport, massage, hugs... don’t overthink it, just do!
I’ve already written a lot, and probably left more questions than answers in your minds, and I’ve not even mentioned CBD yet. I could write a book on many of the aforementioned subjects, but that is for later in life. For this article, like bamboo - which takes years to root before finally shooting out of the ground faster than any other plant on earth, I needed to lay solid foundations before bringing CBD into the picture.
CBD is the hot topic of plant-medicine right now, but I want to be clear and say that there are MANY plants which can do incredible things for us. It’s just that majority of the known powerful plants are made “illegal” in the interest of governments and pharmaceutical companies who seek to swap health for profits.
CBD comes from the hemp plant, which has CO-EVOVLED with our species over thousands of years at least. This means that we have an intimate relationship with hemp, which has been used to clothe, feed, shelter and heal us for millennia. Hemp has helped us in many ways, supporting the proliferation of our population, and we have helped spread hemp around the planet too... a like-for-like mutually beneficial arrangement.
What is the essence of the hemp plant? Homeostasis. This means BALANCE. Maintaining and restoring balance. It restores balance to the environment. There cannot be an organism unless there is simultaneously an environment... so you could say there only exits organism/environment relationships, and never either one of these individually. The environment grows the organism, and the organism creates the environment. The environment that hemp grows in, and rebalances, is the same environment that we grow in – planet earth.
Hemp, more so than us, is connected to the earth. That is because of its roots, that grow down into the earth, whilst the stem simultaneously reaches for the stars. We, on the other hand, are susceptible to losing awareness of our connection to the earth, and forgetting that we come from the earth and one day will return to the earth, again – literally.
When we consume the hemp plant, in particular the flowers of the hemp plant, which contains the magical cannabinoids such as CBD (there are over 100 identified cannabinoids), we strengthen our connection to the earth. The CBD enters our endocannabinoid system, and begins regulating our homeostasis.
Whatever is “out-of-balance” can be helped. Need more sleep? CBD helps. In pain? CBD reduces the inflammation. Hormones? Yes.
Our awareness shifts away from the incessant thinking of the brain, and deposits more into the feeling of our bodies as a whole. This helps bring us more into the present, reducing anxiety levels and increasing feelings of calm and peace. As the background white-noise of tension and fear reduce, we are able to more clearly see the woods-for-the-trees and can chose more wisely how to spend our time and energy.
So, we are gifted a helping hand in resetting our state, but now it lies with us to deploy our strategy based on (newly received?) information... what choices will we make today. Will we choose to move well, eat well, and proceed bravely towards our goals and aspirations, or will we succumb to feelings or doubt, inadequacy, fear, and restrengthen old habits that enslave and deplete us? This ability to choose is what makes us human. Choose wisely. You are more powerful than you realise and your choices lead to actions which have bigger knock-on effects than you can imagine. Chose a life of no regrets. Live boldly.
“Look: here is a tree in the garden, and every summer it produces apples. And we call it an “apple tree” because the tree apples; that’s what it does. Alright, now here is a solar system inside a galaxy, and one of the peculiarities of this solar system is that—at least on the planet Earth—the thing peoples.” Alan Watts
The mind will continually wander off during the practise of meditation, which is perfectly normal. The key is to continuously and consciously bring the attention back to the object of focus. The repetition of this exercise also teaches us to attach less and less importance to the wanderings of the mind, which is looking for any and all distractions, and over time as those distractions become less and less appealing, they can fade into the background and allow the primary attention to be based more in the present.
To be in the present means not being in the past or projecting into the future. It’s OK to do both of these things, but if we spend too much of our time in the past or future, then we suffer.
We all know someone who for too long has been trapped “living” in the past, and the results are usually anger, resentment, bitterness, regret, guilt, depression, etc.
We all know someone who spends too long projecting into the future, and the results are usually anxiety, worry. The VAST majority of things we worry about will never happen. I’d rather, and am, be someone who overshoots what they think is possible, than someone who undershoots. Get yourself into a situation and figure it out in real-time. This is a skill that builds with practise. Life is a continuous series of challenges whether you want it to be or not, so fear nothing and steam on straight ahead! Deal with the real challenges in front of you rather than battle the imagined ones in your head. People want to feel secure, but as nothing is certain in life, it is a far better strategy to become comfortable with uncertainty.
Master the mind, and it is easy to master the body. Lose control of the mind, and all areas of your life will spiral out of control. This is not an exaggeration, it is literal.
Do animals live the majority of their time in the past or the future as opposed to the present? No. They are too busy collecting food, taking care of their young, relocating due to the seasonal weather changes, etc, etc. And if they do have some leisure time, they want to maximise their enjoyment/relaxation before hitting the grind again. AKA, they don’t have the (luxury?!) of dealing with our “1st-world problems”, they are too busy living.
Are we so different to animals? What makes us different? Pondering these questions help us understand ourselves more deeply, which can illuminate our path out of suffering.
Most animals are operating the majority of their time at a “survival”-level of consciousness. This means day after day, focusing their attention on acquiring the required sustenance, reproductive procedures, avoiding predatory attacks, and having somewhere safe to rest and recover.
And we as humans need these life-basics in place too in order to continue as a species. But as humans, we are also capable of more than just living in “survival” mode. We can establish a routine/system which meets our basic needs, freeing up time and energy to move into “thrival” mode, which is where the spiritual dimension of our being comes into play.
So, how do we summarise what the basics needs are for humans, which are still relevant in our modern era as much as they were in the traditional days, to ensure that we are providing our bodies and minds what they have evolved to want/need?
STRENUOUS EXERCISE - the more our bodies are capable of performing a variety of strenuous activities at the drop of a hat, the more our appetites will be rebalanced. “Strenuous” is relative. If you are 75 years old and you find walking a mile is doable, then 2 miles might be your version of a strenuous activity. It doesn’t have to be everyday, but it does need to be regularly. To keep the “body” in shape, but also the mind disciplined (master of the mind). Think back to the old days... the village needs to relocate immediately under threat of destruction. You can either “get with the going or get gone.” Open the lungs, feel the heart beating, get a sweat on. This does NOT mean trying to become a body-builder. Think lean and versatile. Strong AND flexible. Mix it up, be spontaneous, surprise yourself. Everyday is a new opportunity.
REAL FOOD – not processed food. Primary drink = water. Feast occasionally, fast occasionally. Know what hunger is. Know restraint. Fuel the body for the activities it needs to perform. Think about what exercise you did yesterday, what you are doing today, what you are doing tomorrow and fuel accordingly. Think about what season it is, and what food would be growing locally back in the day. Energy expenditure and fuel required - it is a feedback system. If you overeat too often, and are putting on the pounds, then this will negatively impact your strenuous exercise abilities.
STRESS – consciously expose yourself regularly to stressful situations. Good news – this can be covered at the same time as your strenuous exercise... two birds, one stone. Cold water exposure, new business venture, new hobby... whatever you want to do but have been too scared to try... move towards it consciously and exposure yourself to a stressful situation. It is most often WAAAYYY less stressful to do it vs the stress involved in worrying about it. The more we get out of our comfort zone, the better we become at it, and can handle ever more stressful situations. It is all relative... some people find stepping out of their front door stressful. Build the resilience. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Develop your “F*** it” switch. No regrets. Better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all. Without fear, there can be no courage. All the cliches.
Stress is tension: opposing forces. By removing the force in one direction (usually fear), you can reduce stress. The more you practice consciously exposing yourself to stressful situations, the more peaceful your default state will become. That’s why it’s best to get your stressful situation out of the way first thing in the morning, as the rest of the day then becomes a breeze.
Is stress the enemy? Not at all. We just need to know how to manage it. The only constant in our universe is change. If we do not change, we will be at odds with the universe, and experience stress. We seek to be in harmony with the changes of the universe. How do we know when it is time to change? There must be some sort of signal. This signal is communicated as stress – feedback that something needs attending to.
We have replaced the frequent bouts of extreme stress from life-or-death situations from the old days with the constant background buzzing of relatively minor stresses of modern life. This background hum, fed by the media to fear all things and to desire more things, and the ever present wifi, electronics, caffeine, stimulation, results in most of us continually residing in the state managed by our sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight mode), and rarely in the para-sympathetic state, which is when our bodies and mind can relax and heal themselves. Consciously enter a para-sympathetic state on a daily basis (e.g. via meditation, knitting, gardening, etc.) until this has become your default state once again.
CONNECTION – the opposite of connection is isolation. We can be physically isolated, but we can also be mentally isolated, even if we are physically close by to others. It’s ironic as the people who live in the most populated areas (cities) are usually the most lonely as they are lacking in genuine human connection. As a species, we NEED close connection to other humans, and also to the earth and her creations. The mind’s primary trick that leads to suffering, is the illusion of separation – making one feel disconnected to our environment. All the wrongs throughout history that humans have been responsible for are because of a “me” or “us” vs “them” mentality. If you realised that harming others harms yourself, would you still do it? The easiest ways to regain a sense of connection, are:
- to immerse oneself in nature (and remove “artificial” stimulation)
- human (also animal) physical touch. Sport, massage, hugs... don’t overthink it, just do!
I’ve already written a lot, and probably left more questions than answers in your minds, and I’ve not even mentioned CBD yet. I could write a book on many of the aforementioned subjects, but that is for later in life. For this article, like bamboo - which takes years to root before finally shooting out of the ground faster than any other plant on earth, I needed to lay solid foundations before bringing CBD into the picture.
CBD is the hot topic of plant-medicine right now, but I want to be clear and say that there are MANY plants which can do incredible things for us. It’s just that majority of the known powerful plants are made “illegal” in the interest of governments and pharmaceutical companies who seek to swap health for profits.
CBD comes from the hemp plant, which has CO-EVOVLED with our species over thousands of years at least. This means that we have an intimate relationship with hemp, which has been used to clothe, feed, shelter and heal us for millennia. Hemp has helped us in many ways, supporting the proliferation of our population, and we have helped spread hemp around the planet too... a like-for-like mutually beneficial arrangement.
What is the essence of the hemp plant? Homeostasis. This means BALANCE. Maintaining and restoring balance. It restores balance to the environment. There cannot be an organism unless there is simultaneously an environment... so you could say there only exits organism/environment relationships, and never either one of these individually. The environment grows the organism, and the organism creates the environment. The environment that hemp grows in, and rebalances, is the same environment that we grow in – planet earth.
Hemp, more so than us, is connected to the earth. That is because of its roots, that grow down into the earth, whilst the stem simultaneously reaches for the stars. We, on the other hand, are susceptible to losing awareness of our connection to the earth, and forgetting that we come from the earth and one day will return to the earth, again – literally.
When we consume the hemp plant, in particular the flowers of the hemp plant, which contains the magical cannabinoids such as CBD (there are over 100 identified cannabinoids), we strengthen our connection to the earth. The CBD enters our endocannabinoid system, and begins regulating our homeostasis.
Whatever is “out-of-balance” can be helped. Need more sleep? CBD helps. In pain? CBD reduces the inflammation. Hormones? Yes.
Our awareness shifts away from the incessant thinking of the brain, and deposits more into the feeling of our bodies as a whole. This helps bring us more into the present, reducing anxiety levels and increasing feelings of calm and peace. As the background white-noise of tension and fear reduce, we are able to more clearly see the woods-for-the-trees and can chose more wisely how to spend our time and energy.
So, we are gifted a helping hand in resetting our state, but now it lies with us to deploy our strategy based on (newly received?) information... what choices will we make today. Will we choose to move well, eat well, and proceed bravely towards our goals and aspirations, or will we succumb to feelings or doubt, inadequacy, fear, and restrengthen old habits that enslave and deplete us? This ability to choose is what makes us human. Choose wisely. You are more powerful than you realise and your choices lead to actions which have bigger knock-on effects than you can imagine. Chose a life of no regrets. Live boldly.
“Look: here is a tree in the garden, and every summer it produces apples. And we call it an “apple tree” because the tree apples; that’s what it does. Alright, now here is a solar system inside a galaxy, and one of the peculiarities of this solar system is that—at least on the planet Earth—the thing peoples.” Alan Watts
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Jan 2023
CBD Benefits for Mental Health - PART 1 An article by Nick Osipczak, the founder of RAISED SPIRIT Mental health is a hot topic at the moment, and it’s worth considering, why? Why are so many people struggling with their mental health? I was asked to write this article, but was hesitant. People are looking for a simple answer, but this is a complex subject. People generally want a one-sentence-cures-all answer, but this is not possible. Before I upset anyone, I want to put forth the following disclaimer.... these opinions are my own, and based on my experiences. They do not relate to ALL cases of mental health, but they do relate to the vast majority. |
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My background is in the martial arts. The traditional (non-sporting) martial arts were developed to train the mind, body and spirit, and to keep the balance between all three. Martial arts were a way of life which initially helped the individual prepare to perform masterfully in life-or-death situations. Later in the journey, the rewards of study would help lead the practitioner to reach states of inner-peace, transcending the worries of the world and passing on their wisdom to the next generations of martial artists.
The biggest general fear in the human species, is of death. By directly facing the fear of death head-on, one can gain immense insight into how to live a fuller life.
If you want to know more about martial arts, watch Kung Fu Panda - classic.
Martial arts aren’t the only systems developed to balance mind, body and spirit... Yoga, Qi-Gong, Tai Chi and numerous meditation practises are amongst some of the other popular options that millions of people around the world use everyday to manage their wellbeing.
I am not someone claiming to be immune to mental-health issues, on the contrary, I have gone public before saying I believe EVERYONE has mental health issues! That’s because I recognise that we all do STUPID things frequently... which you wouldn’t do if your mental faculties were operating at full capacity. The difference between me and most people, is that I know I can do something about it when my mental health is not up to my standards of where I want it to be. I can usually sort myself out in 2-3 days. I can also mess up my mental health with 2-3 days of “bad” choices. Most people feel like a victim with their mental health, and take no responsibility. Then they start taking anti-depressants, drinking excessive alcohol, sleeping pils, etc, etc... which in my opinion is a very bad response to the situation and totally not necessary. But information is key, and the powers that be would rather have a sick population that fill their pockets, than a healthy population.... now THAT is mental health!
Right now in my life I am in a chapter of high-stress which requires more delicate management of my mental health. This period has been going on for over a year already, and I predict will continue for about another 2-3 years. The important point to note however, is that I consciously CHOSE to put myself in this position, knowing full-well that it would be extremely stressful and last a few years. Why would I do that? Because:
1- Without struggle, there can be no success. The greater the goal, the bigger the price.
2- I have faith, gathered through experience, in my ability to manage both physical and mental stress, to keep the levels from tipping over the edge.
3 – No stress forever is no good... you have to put yourself out of your comfort zone. This is where the magic happens.
4 – I like a challenge, and am playing the “long-game”... investing more of my time and effort now to create a setup which will allow for periods of relaxation later, up to the lengths of my choosing.
There can be many triggers to mental health issues, but in my opinion, the majority of them can be traced back to one of two categories:
The Body
How many humans are out-of-shape physically? Seriously... as a percentage? When I was a kid, it was starvation that was the main problem, but now it is over-consumption. And this is just in 3 decades.
What kind of environments do the highest populations of out-of-shape humans live in? What do these populations eat? What do they drink? How much movement does their daily lives involve?
Compare the human species to ANY animal species. When I say animals, I am referring to animals in the wild. How many of those animals are moving around out-of-condition compared to the rest of their species? VERY few animals are “out-of-shape” when considering the shape they have evolved to be. Why the disparity?
What would cause an animal to be in poor physical health?
Pets can be out of shape. Easily. Why?
They have been taken out of their natural habitat and their diet and movements are now dictated by their owners. Do this for a few generations, and the species will begin to lose its acumen for the best kind of movement and foods it should select. Suddenly, the pet has it “easy”. It doesn’t need to worry about finding its own food, nor shelter, not worry about predators. It thinks it has hit the jackpot, and can lounge about all day, be taken for a short walk every now and again chasing a ball, and be fed at regular intervals. DANGER. WARNING.
Try and seek out this lifestyle yourself, which is the very lifestyle we are being sold on ALL THE TIME and this is a sure way to ill health, BOTH physically and mentally. Guaranteed it will lead to an unfulfilling life, where you fall way short of your potential, create little of value, and end your days in a constant state of regret. Harsh for some, but you will thank me later.
Let’s rewind a bit, and contemplate ourselves. That’s right – the human species. Where do we come from and how long have we been around? Now THAT’S a hard one, which we do not have the answers to. But we do know that:
Let’s give it a generous 200 years to cover the above questions.
What is my point?
My point is that humans have been doing things a certain way when it comes to movement, diet and contemplation for a long, long, long time and only in relatively VERY recent history, did we start doing things a NEW way.
This new way of doing things it TOTALLY different to before, but our biology is still almost completely formed of experiences from the traditional way. And now we have health problems on a MASSIVE scale. Physical, mental and spiritual health problems. Take any organism out of their natural habitat, and they too will experience all sorts of distress.
How have our bodies and minds evolved over the aeons?
We have a big brain and 4 limbs. We can run, jump, climb and swim. We can build and create art. We can ponder the meaning of life, write poems and stories. We can sing, laugh and dance. We can make tools. We can create languages. We can make fire. We can farm. So many talents, all accumulated and refined over the generations practising the skills, movements, sounds.
We have evolved eating food grown from the earth. Fruit hanging from the trees, fish swimming in the sea, animals roaming the land. Eating gloriously fresh, nutritious food, with gratitude as we fill our bellies on days where we know we are safe to rest and digest afterwards, or on the move little by little if there is the threat of danger.
We evolved close to violence. Murder. Rape. War. There is no point burying our heads in denial. This is where we have come from. This is how our nervous system has been hard-wired – exposed to daily threats of sudden tribal slaughter in the most terrible ways imaginable.
We have evolved to be able to traverse immense miles of hostile terrain, carrying heavy loads, surviving great periods of time without food or sleep.
We have evolved with a deep connection to the natural world around us, being able to sense the spirit in all things... fire, rivers, mountains, plants and animals. We learnt which plants healed us, which plants could kill our enemies, and which animals could feed us, and become allies.
Most likely this is more subject-matter than you were probably expecting from a mental-health article, but I hope you can appreciate that in order to heal ourselves, we have to understand who we are and where we come from.
Otherwise, we are clutching at straws in the dark.
We must be masters of our minds. The mind is a powerful tool that should be used by us when we want to employ it. If it is not tamed, then it will go rogue, and we will suffer. There are too many forces in play in the modern world pulling the mind in all different directions. The captain of a ship doesn’t just hope that the wind will steer their ship to the preferred destination.
Anxiety and depression. These are the 2 main symptoms of an unhealthy mind.
The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.
The biggest general fear in the human species, is of death. By directly facing the fear of death head-on, one can gain immense insight into how to live a fuller life.
If you want to know more about martial arts, watch Kung Fu Panda - classic.
Martial arts aren’t the only systems developed to balance mind, body and spirit... Yoga, Qi-Gong, Tai Chi and numerous meditation practises are amongst some of the other popular options that millions of people around the world use everyday to manage their wellbeing.
I am not someone claiming to be immune to mental-health issues, on the contrary, I have gone public before saying I believe EVERYONE has mental health issues! That’s because I recognise that we all do STUPID things frequently... which you wouldn’t do if your mental faculties were operating at full capacity. The difference between me and most people, is that I know I can do something about it when my mental health is not up to my standards of where I want it to be. I can usually sort myself out in 2-3 days. I can also mess up my mental health with 2-3 days of “bad” choices. Most people feel like a victim with their mental health, and take no responsibility. Then they start taking anti-depressants, drinking excessive alcohol, sleeping pils, etc, etc... which in my opinion is a very bad response to the situation and totally not necessary. But information is key, and the powers that be would rather have a sick population that fill their pockets, than a healthy population.... now THAT is mental health!
Right now in my life I am in a chapter of high-stress which requires more delicate management of my mental health. This period has been going on for over a year already, and I predict will continue for about another 2-3 years. The important point to note however, is that I consciously CHOSE to put myself in this position, knowing full-well that it would be extremely stressful and last a few years. Why would I do that? Because:
1- Without struggle, there can be no success. The greater the goal, the bigger the price.
2- I have faith, gathered through experience, in my ability to manage both physical and mental stress, to keep the levels from tipping over the edge.
3 – No stress forever is no good... you have to put yourself out of your comfort zone. This is where the magic happens.
4 – I like a challenge, and am playing the “long-game”... investing more of my time and effort now to create a setup which will allow for periods of relaxation later, up to the lengths of my choosing.
There can be many triggers to mental health issues, but in my opinion, the majority of them can be traced back to one of two categories:
- the individual’s overall physical state of health. I use the word physical here to imply the body. However, the mind (mental) will also greatly benefit and improve in health through disciplining of the body. If the body is not in decent condition, it becomes much more challenging, although not impossible, to have a healthy mind. The mind and body are so closely linked, it is hard to tell where one starts and the other ends. By improving the condition of one, the other improves too. Take posture for example. Just by consciously improving your posture throughout the day, so too will your mood and mental performance improve. I would go as far as to say that 90% of the mental health issues in the world would disappear if our population became physically strong and fit.
- Aligning the mind and body with the spirit. Here we are talking about life-mission, destiny, love. Service to others. Living without thought-of-self at the front of mind. First you get the mind/body right, and then you are free to live your higher purpose.
The Body
How many humans are out-of-shape physically? Seriously... as a percentage? When I was a kid, it was starvation that was the main problem, but now it is over-consumption. And this is just in 3 decades.
What kind of environments do the highest populations of out-of-shape humans live in? What do these populations eat? What do they drink? How much movement does their daily lives involve?
Compare the human species to ANY animal species. When I say animals, I am referring to animals in the wild. How many of those animals are moving around out-of-condition compared to the rest of their species? VERY few animals are “out-of-shape” when considering the shape they have evolved to be. Why the disparity?
What would cause an animal to be in poor physical health?
Pets can be out of shape. Easily. Why?
They have been taken out of their natural habitat and their diet and movements are now dictated by their owners. Do this for a few generations, and the species will begin to lose its acumen for the best kind of movement and foods it should select. Suddenly, the pet has it “easy”. It doesn’t need to worry about finding its own food, nor shelter, not worry about predators. It thinks it has hit the jackpot, and can lounge about all day, be taken for a short walk every now and again chasing a ball, and be fed at regular intervals. DANGER. WARNING.
Try and seek out this lifestyle yourself, which is the very lifestyle we are being sold on ALL THE TIME and this is a sure way to ill health, BOTH physically and mentally. Guaranteed it will lead to an unfulfilling life, where you fall way short of your potential, create little of value, and end your days in a constant state of regret. Harsh for some, but you will thank me later.
Let’s rewind a bit, and contemplate ourselves. That’s right – the human species. Where do we come from and how long have we been around? Now THAT’S a hard one, which we do not have the answers to. But we do know that:
- We have been around for AT LEAST hundreds of thousands of years in our “homo sapien” format, whatever that means.
- Our ancestors, as believed by most scientists, have been around for millions of years.
Let’s give it a generous 200 years to cover the above questions.
What is my point?
My point is that humans have been doing things a certain way when it comes to movement, diet and contemplation for a long, long, long time and only in relatively VERY recent history, did we start doing things a NEW way.
This new way of doing things it TOTALLY different to before, but our biology is still almost completely formed of experiences from the traditional way. And now we have health problems on a MASSIVE scale. Physical, mental and spiritual health problems. Take any organism out of their natural habitat, and they too will experience all sorts of distress.
How have our bodies and minds evolved over the aeons?
We have a big brain and 4 limbs. We can run, jump, climb and swim. We can build and create art. We can ponder the meaning of life, write poems and stories. We can sing, laugh and dance. We can make tools. We can create languages. We can make fire. We can farm. So many talents, all accumulated and refined over the generations practising the skills, movements, sounds.
We have evolved eating food grown from the earth. Fruit hanging from the trees, fish swimming in the sea, animals roaming the land. Eating gloriously fresh, nutritious food, with gratitude as we fill our bellies on days where we know we are safe to rest and digest afterwards, or on the move little by little if there is the threat of danger.
We evolved close to violence. Murder. Rape. War. There is no point burying our heads in denial. This is where we have come from. This is how our nervous system has been hard-wired – exposed to daily threats of sudden tribal slaughter in the most terrible ways imaginable.
We have evolved to be able to traverse immense miles of hostile terrain, carrying heavy loads, surviving great periods of time without food or sleep.
We have evolved with a deep connection to the natural world around us, being able to sense the spirit in all things... fire, rivers, mountains, plants and animals. We learnt which plants healed us, which plants could kill our enemies, and which animals could feed us, and become allies.
Most likely this is more subject-matter than you were probably expecting from a mental-health article, but I hope you can appreciate that in order to heal ourselves, we have to understand who we are and where we come from.
Otherwise, we are clutching at straws in the dark.
We must be masters of our minds. The mind is a powerful tool that should be used by us when we want to employ it. If it is not tamed, then it will go rogue, and we will suffer. There are too many forces in play in the modern world pulling the mind in all different directions. The captain of a ship doesn’t just hope that the wind will steer their ship to the preferred destination.
Anxiety and depression. These are the 2 main symptoms of an unhealthy mind.
The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.
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Nov 2022
CBD Massage Courses Now Available We are pleased to have partnered with The Academy who are now offering the world's first CIBTAC endorsed CBD massages. CBD Body Massages, CBD Facials and CBD Body-wraps are the courses currently available. To apply for our CBD Massage training, contact The Academy on [email protected] or call 01236 796 245. |
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Jan 2022
RAISED SPIRIT Partners With Fairmont Windsor Park We are proud to be supplying the brand new Fairmont Windsor Park with the world's finest organic CBD products. Surrounded by 40 acres of grounds and gardens right on the edge of Windsor Great Park, Fairmont Windsor Park is a five-star hotel complete with state-of-the-art spa facilities, holistic therapies and innovative health assessments and wellbeing treatments. For the official Fairmont Windsor Park website, click here. |
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Aug 2021
NEW Organic CBD Bath Salts Our luxurious CBD Bath Salts have been lovingly hand blended in Oxfordshire using only the finest organic ingredients to help hydrate and soften your skin, whilst helping you reach deeper states of relaxation. Let your muscle aches and pains melt away as your body absorbs the 84 minerals contained in these beautifully fragranced CBD Bath Salts, including: calcium, magnesium, iron, chloride, potassium and zinc. Available in two sizes. LEARN MORE. |
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Aug 2021
RAISED SPIRIT Organic CBD Body Balm Makes Best Pain Relief 2021 List Read full article here. |
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March 2021
eScalate RAISED SPIRIT are proudly supported by eScalate, secured by OxLEP Business. |
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Feb 2021
NEW Single-Wick Candle Option Due to popular demand, we are pleased to introduced a smaller version of our organic and vegan-friendly hemp candle. This single hemp-wick option has a 20 hour burn time and carries the exact same fragrance as its bigger, double-wicked brother. Learn more. £24.99 | 100g | 20 hours burn time |
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Nov 2020
NEW Organic Hemp Candles Released We are super excited to release our new organic hemp candles after 21 months of product development. Hand-crafted in small batches, our vegan-friendly candles utilize slow-burning hemp wicks and sustainable, eco-friendly rapeseed wax. With 130mg of full spectrum CBD, these candles can be lit day or night to raise your spirit and fill your space with the healing properties of nature's finest organic essential oils. LOVE & LIGHT |
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Nov 2020
Our Biggest Giveaway Bundle Ever! We have partnered with Om Yoga Magazine to offer you the chance to win our biggest hemp hamper ever, which includes our brand new organic candles, an Aroma Diffuser, CBD Diffuser Oils, 5% and 10% CBD drops, Massage Oils, Body Balms, Face Serums and a hemp accessories bag. That's enough hemp power to keep you going for quite some time... and your Christmas gifts taken care of too! Enter here and tell your friends too, so they can give you some goodies if they win :-) |
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The Luxury Skincare set features our three best-selling organic cosmetics - all made by hand in Oxfordshire using vegan-friendly ingredients. And our Luxury Wellness set features a collection of seven hemp goodies, including our brand new organic hemp candle! Complete with a keepsake box, filled with hemp fiber padding, this hamper comes with free UK delivery. Read more here. |
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Oct 2020
NEW Product Release - CBD Face Serum We are excited to announce the launch of our new Face Serum with CBD. Like the rest of our organic skincare range, this lightweight serum is hand-made in Oxfordshire, and is vegan-friendly. This golden elixir is suitable for all skin types, for use morning and night. You can read more about the skin benefits of each ingredient carefully selected, here. |
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Sept 2020
Science and Benefits of CBD Skincare We have put a new page together educating on the science and benefits of CBD topicals. Read more here. |
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Aug 2020
Hemp Harvest Nick and Shen have just finished helping with the hemp harvest - collecting the enormous, potent buds that developed from seed after just 4 months. Working closely with Mother Earth in 29-degree sunshine during the harvest celebration, all were mesmerized as always by the feel of being surrounded by these amazing hemp plants that grew to over 3 metres tall. The flowers were hand-picked from the finest organically-grown hemp plants, and then taken for drying in preparation to later be used in all of your favourite Raised Spirit CBD goodies. Keep up to date with the latest adventures of the Raised Spirit family by following us on social media. |
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May 2020
New VIDEO Check the new promo video for our beautiful bamboo Aroma Diffuser with Organic CBD Diffuser Oil. |
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April 2020
New Release - Aroma Diffuser with Organic CBD Diffuser Oil We are super excited to share our latest product release with you all, and the timing couldn't be any better! Bringing calm and good vibes into your homes, our Aroma Diffuser is made from sustainable bamboo, and includes a bottle of hand-blended CBD Diffuser Oil, made from 100% organic and vegan friendly ingredients. Read more here. |
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March 2020
NEW Recipe Section Check out our new recipe page for plenty of delicious creations, like this peanut butter hot chocolate, made with our organic CBD Coconut Oil CACAO. |
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March 2020
Raised Spirit CBD Spa Treatments As sponsors of the UK Spa Association event held at the beautiful Carden Park Hotel & Spa on 4th March, we were very excited to announce the launch of our new CBD Spa Treatments. Our totally unique holistic spa experiences draw from the best of many different healing traditions & cultures from around the world, and incorporate our organic CBD products. Find out more about our CBD Treatments here. |
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Jan 2020
Raised Spirit founder on the Ridiculously Human Podcast Episode 107 "Martial Artist. Movement Expert. UFC Fighter. Hemp Specialist. Sacred Geometry Artist. Father. Life Long Learner. Teacher. Founder of Raised Spirit." You can listen to Nick Osipczak on the podcast here. |
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Jan 2020
Hempcil Case The first Raised Spirit hemp bag has been released :-) • Handmade • Naturally anti-bacterial • Super durable • Perfect for stationary, cosmetics, toiletries See more details about this beautiful accessories bag here and learn more about the incredible properties of hemp textile... once you become aware of it, there's no going back! |
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Dec 2019
As Featured in the Financial Times Our Organic CBD Coconut Oil CACAO PRO hit the number 1 spot in the "How to Spend It" magazine. |
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Nov 2019
New Product Release - Organic CBD Massage Oil Lovingly hand blended in Oxfordshire using only 100% organic ingredients, our CBD Massage Oil is designed to soothe your body, relax your mind and nourish your skin. 💚 Ingredients (vegan friendly): Organic Golden Jojoba Oil, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic CBD Oil, Organic Patchouli Essential Oil, Organic Lavender Essential Oil. 100ml bottle CBD content ≈ 400mg £44.99 Full product details here. |
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June 2019
Former World Champion delighted with our Protein Powder Boxer Dazzlin Tom Doran is one of many professional athletes switching over to organic, plant-based supplements to help performance and recovery. Tom has felt immediate benefits after switching to Raised Spirit Hemp Protein Powder with CACAO. |
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June 2019
Hemp Protein Powder with CACAO Introducing the newest Raised Spirit health product. This delicious chocolate-flavoured Protein Powder is made from only 3 Organic ingredients: finely crushed Hemp seeds, raw cacao powder and coconut palm sugar. Video Recipe: 2 tablespoons Hemp CACAO Powder, 1 glass almond milk (or any alternative), 1 banana, 1 tablespoon almond butter. Available in 500g and 1KG pouches. Read more about the amazing health benefits. |
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April 2019
New Product Release - Organic CBD Body Balm Raised Spirit CBD Body Balm is the first in our natural cosmetics range. Hand made in Oxfordshire. Ingredients: Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Hemp Flower Extract, Organic Lavender Essential Oil, Organic Sunflower Lecithin. Read more about the skin benefits of each carefully selected ingredient here. Contains 400mg of CBD, 120ml jar. |
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March 2019 New Product Release - Organic CBD CACAO Raised Spirit CBD Cacao is made from 100% Organic ingredients. Rich and smooth, this chocolatey CBD jar is made by hand in Oxfordshire, using raw cacao powder and sweetened with coconut blossom syrup. Available in 500mg strength (196ml jar) or PRO 1,000mg (280ml jar). |
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Nov 2018 Vegan Trade Journal Interview The founder of Raised Spirit Nick Osipczak was featured in the latestest edition of the Vegan Trade Journal, asked for his opinions on the CBD market. You can read the full copy here. |
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Nov 2018 2019 2-Day Health Retreat Date Announced The weekend of the 18/19th May 2019 will be the next Raised Spirit Health Retreat held in Oxfordshire, England. Read more details click here. |
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Sept 2018 Top 10 UK CBD List Features Raised Spirit TWICE! We were very pleased to see our PRO CBD Coconut Oil and 10% Drops recently featured in this list by respected CBD website highandpolite.com |
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Sept 2018 Hempine Organic CBD For Animals Hempine is a sister-company of Raised Spirit, specialising in organic CBD for dogs and horses. Free delivery for all EU customers. To read more about how CBD can benefit dogs, click here. |
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May 2018
Raised Spirit Organic Hemp Protein Powder Released Read more about Hemp protein powder here. To buy, click here. |
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May 2018
New Podcast - The Raspberry Ape I was recently invited as a guest onto the Raspberry Ape podcast hosted by the well known and entertaining BJJ practitioner Daniel Strauss. We talked about my background in martial arts, Tai Chi, gambling, fighting animals, Ayahuasca, Sacred Geometry and CBD... check out episode 55 here: https://soundcloud.com/theraspberryapepodcast/episode-55-nick-osipczak |
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February 2018
Bagua Series, Part 1 It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to the first in a 9-part series about the Bagua symbol authored for the Raised Spirit blog by Adam Phoenix, who has a deep reverence for Chinese philosophy and is a practising Acupuncturist. This series will detail the origin, significance, meaning and various uses of this ancient Chinese symbol, including delving deeper into each of the 8 trigrams and the energies they represent. Part 1 is an introduction... enjoy! --- The Cyclic Pattern of the Bagua by Adam Phoenix It’s not hard to tell that the ancient Chinese, like other traditional cultures, lived life deeply connected to their environment - the bagua is an expression of this connection. |
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The bagua consist of 8 trigrams steeped not only in ancient history, but in profound wisdom that explains all natural phenomena of the universe.
But what is the Bagua? Where did it come from? And how do you interpret the symbols?
This is an introduction of some key concepts that will help us get a sense how these mysterious symbols were used.
There are 8 trigrams each made of 3 lines consisting of a solid line which is yang, or a broken line which is yin. The three lines are constructed from the bottom up. The first line represents Earth, the middle; Human, and the top line; Heaven.
There is much more to add to this list, but here are some of the associated elements with each trigram from the ‘post-heaven’ sequence.
The Two Arrangements of the Bagua
Bagua means ‘eight trigrams’ and is pre-historical, immersed in ancient Chinese folklore. There are two main arrangements of the bagua, ‘Pre-heaven’ and ‘Post-heaven’.
The Pre-Heaven Bagua
It is understood that the 8 trigrams and the 64 hexagrams (I Ching) originated from Fuxi around 3000 BC, a legendary character who is considered the father of ancient civilization in China. The ‘Pre-Heavenly Sequence’ is arranged in such a way which display perfect balance and harmony. This arrangement of the trigrams represent 8 forms of primordial energy, which emanate from the original source, called the void or Wu. As you can see from the pre-heaven sequence each oppositional trigram is balanced but shows no movement and is static. Heaven is balanced by Earth, Fire balanced by Water, Thunder balanced by Wind, Mountain is balanced by Lake.
Before the yinyang energies merged there was Wu (the void). The is depicted as stillness, the unfathomable sea of nothingness, Oneness and absolute yin before the creative burst of light. Movement and change occurred when the universe was born, in modern physics this is called the big bang.
The Post-Heaven Bagua
The ‘Post Heavenly Sequence’ or ‘Hou Tian’ in Chinese, translates as ‘after the appearance of the phenomenal world’. This illustration of the bagua is arranged in a certain way that shows the cyclic changes of yinyang within the natural world, and also within the human as well. The energies have merged to create the post-heavenly change.
The ‘Post-heaven’ sequence is also sometimes called the King Wen arrangement. The combination of the pre-heaven trigrams are superimposed with the Lo Shu or ‘magic square’, another pre-historical reference to the bagua. It is said that King Wen revised the bagua in the Shang dynasty 1600 – 1046 BC further developing the 8 trigrams and 64 hexagrams called the Yijing ‘I Ching’. The I Ching is also an expression of the active cycle of the post-heaven bagua, hence why the most accurate translation of the I Ching is the ‘Classic of Changes’ or ‘Book of Changes’. It is movement, it is change, and it is the transformation of energy of life in the Universe.
So, the Post-heaven arrangement is an expression of the universe in flux called taiji ‘Supreme Ultimate’. This arrangement could be described as yang in comparison to the yin pre-heaven sequence, so it’s more associated with life on earth, movement and growth. It is this sequence we use to guide us and explain how life is ordered in the universe.
So, What Are The Applications Of Using The Trigrams?
The trigrams can be used in geomancy, astrology, astronomy, farming, medicine, and martial arts. Each of them can be expressed as either masculine or feminine with each 8 having their own unique quality. The trigrams can be understood either internally (within the human) or externally (all other natural phenomena). For example: the seasons, directions, time, role in the family, colours, the body organs and numbers.
As I mentioned above, the post-heaven sequence is an expression of change within the universe. This is further expanded upon by using the Yijing or ‘I Ching’. One of the uses of I Ching is a form a divination which was favoured by Carl Jung as a self exploration tool for the user.
By combining the trigrams a total of 64 hexagrams are formed to give insight in the intention of the user. Since the trigrams relate to the 5 phases in Chinese medicine and feng shui (fire; summer, earth; late summer, metal; autumn, water; winter, wood; spring), we can use them to explain the cycles in nature, our environment, but also human nature. Different body/spirit constitutions make up the human body types, shen and jing. It can be the more yin dense physical form, the actual body (jing), or the more yang aspect, the ethereal form - the spirit (shen). From this we can get a sense of the persons ‘natural expression’.
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The Unity Of All Things The trigrams are an expression of Oneness. These ancient people knew and understood that their experience of nature was not separate from themselves. They felt that they were not an isolated fragment but a part of the whole web of life. They saw unity in nature. |
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This was how the ancient Chinese depicted all natural phenomena, and while this was a creation of the mind, it was how the ancients sensed Human existence instinctively. So while we can marvel at the insights of ancient Chinese philosophy and what it can offer, today remote tribes living in the forests around the world have this understanding etched into their senses. And while these philosophies are Chinese, the indigenous people of the Amazon or tribes in Gabon will express this connection to life and the universe in their own cultural understanding, which is based on a coherent universal understanding of yinyang. But for the rest of us, studying the bagua is one way to help us remember and re engage our senses.
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Check back soon for part 2 of this series, where Adam will be delving deeper into one of the 8 trigrams.
www.clinicphoenix.co.uk
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February 2018 New Raised Spirit PRO Jar Released - 1,000mg CBD I have released a jar of CBD Coconut Oil specifically formulated with professional athletes in mind. Packing a whopping 1,000mg into a 190ml jar, athletes can be 100% sure my products contain NO THC.
You can use promo code "PRO10" to get 10% off your first order. |
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February 2018 New Scholar Warrior Podcast It was a lot of fun doing my second podcast recording with the Scholar Warrior founder Robin Gamble, talking about the three biggest trends for 2018: Tai Chi, CBD and Sacred Geometry :-) Click here to watch |
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February 2018 2-day Seminar in Germany - April 28/29th I am excited to return to Germany this year to teach another 2-day seminar, spreading the Mindful Movements training method. Location: Hassloch Dates: April 28th & 29th For tickets and more details, contact Yvonne Otterstätter [email protected] |
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January 2018
Why Taking CBD with Coconut Oil Is the Best Way For Maximum Health Benefits With increased awareness of the many health benefits Cannabidiol (CBD) provides, the next question everyone is asking is what is the best way to take it? Read the full article here which explains all the science behind how the body can get the most efficient uptake of CBD. |
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January 2018
Exhibiting at the Oxford International Art Fair Come and see my original paintings on display at the prestigious Oxford International Art Fair, February 23rd-25th. My art is based on Sacred Geometry - the fundamental underlying patterns of the Universe. In this clip of Vice's documentary, "Hitting The Canvas With Nick Osipczak", I am in a London Gallery talking about some of my paintings and what they represent. The Youtube version of this video has now been viewed over 220,000 times! |
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January 2018 World class athlete uses Raised Spirit CBD Coconut Oil to speed recovery UFC top 10 ranked fighter and winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, Yair "Pantera" Rodriguez recently announced how he felt my organic product helped speed up his recovery after training and improved his sleep. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound found in the hemp plant which has many proven health benefits, such as acting as an anti-inflammatory. Read more here. |
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January 2018 Next Mindful Movements Camp - Portugal My next Mindful Movements Level I Instructor camp will be held over 3 days in the Algarve, Portugal this May. Combining the best of martial arts, yoga, tai chi and meditation, this course will be limited to seven places to ensure each participant receives sufficient attention. Training will take place from Friday 4th - Sunday 6th May. For more details click here. |
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January 2018 New Mindful Movements Instructors Added An excellent way to kick off 2018 by adding more Level I instructors to the Mindful Movements family at the intensive camp held in Oxfordshire, England. Seven movement enthusiasts, including Yoga teachers, black belt Martial Artists, Tai Chi and Qi-Gong specialists came together to learn, share, and evolve their understanding of movement and health. The program is expanding rapidly, with Scotland and Lithuania now added to the list of countries Mindful Movements is being taught in. The next Instructor training camp for those interested in Level I certification will be held in the Algarve, Portugal 4-6th May (limited to seven places). Sign up to the newsletter to stay up to date with details, and contact [email protected] to reserve your place. |
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December 2017
Training with DK Yoo - Part II
In this article I will detail what DK Yoo - teacher of Korean special armed forces - was having me practise during our private session held recently in London, as part of his first visit to the UK.
I want to make clear that in my comparisons between what he was showing me, and what I personally teach and train, I am not stating one approach is superior or inferior to the other, only different. After all, there are many paths to the mountain top, and variety is the spice of life.
On the whole, what we trained was similar to traditional boxing, albeit with superior mechanics. Bear in mind, that even within a single style such as boxing - there are a whole range of different approaches and styles. A heavyweight will tend to utilise different movement and strategies than a lightweight, and even within the same weight class, styles can vary greatly. For example, one fighter might like to be very offensive – always looking to close the distance and stay “in the pocket”, trying to land the power shots, whereas another fighter might prefer the counter-striking style: seeking to maintain a safe distance and utilise rangier striking options, aiming to take as little damage as possible.
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When I asked DK if the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was popular in Korea, he said not really – but that boxing was. This might go some way to explaining DK’s apparent preference for applying his skills to a similar framework that is utilised by boxing: fast hands, high guard, head movement and lots of footwork. It is also likely that a lot of his teaching experience would have been spent improving the boxing skills of students in Korea.
An important point to note for many martial artists out there who haven’t dedicated a lot of time to boxing, is that improving your “hands” would be the most sensible option to increase your overall efficacy as a martial artist. Your fighting skills will be pretty rudimentary if you have not spent countless hours in the gym actually training to defend against someone who is really trying to punch you in the head, delivered by someone who can throw with decent speed and power, and without telegraphing. (This may sound obvious, but I am constantly surprised by “experienced” martial artists I meet who have not done so!). This would lend extra credence to DK’s choice of teaching in this format, as it is an effective way to round-out the holes in most people’s games. |
Padwork with DK Yoo - speed, distance, reactions
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After a brief “touching of hands” for DK to assess my “Internal power” and sensitivity through touch, we began with some preliminary footwork drills – making sure I was in the correct stance for his style, and maintaining it whilst advancing forwards and retreating backwards. He taught the rear heel to be kept off the ground, and the front foot to be turned slightly inwards to coil the legs - storing energy which can then be released and put into the punches. DK emphasised the importance of first mastering long-distance management, and seeking the opportunity to catch the opponent as they advanced towards you. The similarities between his style and approach shares a lot in common with Jeet Kune Do, and his speed certainly cannot help but remind all observers of the late Bruce Lee.
This long-range distance management is a different approach to what I’ve been working on the last few years. Nowadays, I no longer attempt to stay “just out of range”, but seek to make contact with the opponent at the first opportunity, bringing myself into a range they are unfamiliar with (middle-distance), but one that I am most comfortable in - having dedicated so much of my time drilling here.
I have also been training to keep the back heel down. This may limit your stepping speed and range of punches, but as I am no longer seeking to quickly dart in and out, and as I am punching from middle-range rather than from afar, these no longer become relevant issues.
It is surprisingly easy to get good at a game that no one else is playing. Take for example the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu … you don’t have to be an expert to be able to get your opponent to the floor. If you are a BJJ blue belt facing a black belt in Kung Fu, who has never trained real punches or takedown defence, then sooner or later you will get the fight to the floor. And so it is with closing the distance for middle-range fighting… strikers are so used to playing the game of “tit-for-tat” at a particular distance, that they become conditioned to an unwritten rule of not coming too close to one another, because they both want to get back to where they feel most comfortable. Comfort comes from familiarity – what we spend the most time doing – which in the case of most strikers is hitting pads from a particular (long) range.
During the stepping exercises, DK emphasised the importance of not moving the upper body, not bouncing up or down, and not dragging the feet on the ground. The goal was to glide just slightly above the ground, making sure you land in a good stance, primed to strike.
This long-range distance management is a different approach to what I’ve been working on the last few years. Nowadays, I no longer attempt to stay “just out of range”, but seek to make contact with the opponent at the first opportunity, bringing myself into a range they are unfamiliar with (middle-distance), but one that I am most comfortable in - having dedicated so much of my time drilling here.
I have also been training to keep the back heel down. This may limit your stepping speed and range of punches, but as I am no longer seeking to quickly dart in and out, and as I am punching from middle-range rather than from afar, these no longer become relevant issues.
It is surprisingly easy to get good at a game that no one else is playing. Take for example the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu … you don’t have to be an expert to be able to get your opponent to the floor. If you are a BJJ blue belt facing a black belt in Kung Fu, who has never trained real punches or takedown defence, then sooner or later you will get the fight to the floor. And so it is with closing the distance for middle-range fighting… strikers are so used to playing the game of “tit-for-tat” at a particular distance, that they become conditioned to an unwritten rule of not coming too close to one another, because they both want to get back to where they feel most comfortable. Comfort comes from familiarity – what we spend the most time doing – which in the case of most strikers is hitting pads from a particular (long) range.
During the stepping exercises, DK emphasised the importance of not moving the upper body, not bouncing up or down, and not dragging the feet on the ground. The goal was to glide just slightly above the ground, making sure you land in a good stance, primed to strike.
Then we moved onto pads … this was to be my first proper pad-session in seven years. Pad-work played a significant role in my training for many years when I was younger, but I consciously moved away from it around the age of 26 to focus on more Internal practices and strategies. Hitting pads is no longer particularly conducive to the style of fighting I am pursuing – one which seeks to make contact with, and control the opponent, before striking them. Each strike is deliberately delivered to a specific target area, at a specific angle, with a specific part of the body … so repeatedly throwing the same handful of punches in a variety of combinations tends to yield diminishing returns after a certain level of investment.
The approach I take goes a fair way to removing the need to rely on superior speed, hand/eye coordination and reflexes triggered by visual cues. Of course, a good martial artist certainly needs excellent speed, coordination and reflexes as part of their arsenal - so I definitely recommend hitting pads as part of one’s training, but for the time being my training focus is elsewhere.
We worked on the jab - first on its own, and then later as a counter-punch. DK would emphasise that a counter is not two separate things, but actually all one movement. This definitely helped me upgrade the speed of some of my old boxing habits, where I was used to drilling in a 1-2 rhythm instead of just an instant counter as soon as their punch started coming towards me.
Master Yoo likes to show the effectiveness of jabbing up the middle, as well as to both sides of the opponent’s head. Now most people will believe a jab is not powerful enough to do damage when thrown to the sides of the face, but that is only because they have not experienced it done by someone who can connect their whole body - creating a whip-like power that starts from the floor, travels through the body and down the relaxed front arm. It must also be noted that we don’t see too many examples of these strikes being used in boxing, but in my opinion that is mainly to do with the large gloves involved. Not only does the weight of the gloves slow the movement down somewhat, but the pathways to entry are significantly reduced, and the cushioned design of the gloves remove a lot of the hand’s versatility. Being able to strike with various parts of the hand and arm is key yet missing from a lot of sport-fighters’ arsenals.
I personally would have preferred to have hit the pads without gloves on, or MMA gloves if necessary, believing you get a better feeling for accuracy and distance without them. Consider the added benefit of conditioning the hands over time, which will lead to far fewer hand injuries - particularly for competitive fighters.
For these alternative jabs, DK had my front arm dangling down onto my front leg, with the rear hand high to protect the chin. For each permutation of the jab, the hand begins the same way – rising up the middle, and only near the end of the movement would the trajectory begins to change as it arced towards the desired target area.
We worked on the jab - first on its own, and then later as a counter-punch. DK would emphasise that a counter is not two separate things, but actually all one movement. This definitely helped me upgrade the speed of some of my old boxing habits, where I was used to drilling in a 1-2 rhythm instead of just an instant counter as soon as their punch started coming towards me.
Master Yoo likes to show the effectiveness of jabbing up the middle, as well as to both sides of the opponent’s head. Now most people will believe a jab is not powerful enough to do damage when thrown to the sides of the face, but that is only because they have not experienced it done by someone who can connect their whole body - creating a whip-like power that starts from the floor, travels through the body and down the relaxed front arm. It must also be noted that we don’t see too many examples of these strikes being used in boxing, but in my opinion that is mainly to do with the large gloves involved. Not only does the weight of the gloves slow the movement down somewhat, but the pathways to entry are significantly reduced, and the cushioned design of the gloves remove a lot of the hand’s versatility. Being able to strike with various parts of the hand and arm is key yet missing from a lot of sport-fighters’ arsenals.
I personally would have preferred to have hit the pads without gloves on, or MMA gloves if necessary, believing you get a better feeling for accuracy and distance without them. Consider the added benefit of conditioning the hands over time, which will lead to far fewer hand injuries - particularly for competitive fighters.
For these alternative jabs, DK had my front arm dangling down onto my front leg, with the rear hand high to protect the chin. For each permutation of the jab, the hand begins the same way – rising up the middle, and only near the end of the movement would the trajectory begins to change as it arced towards the desired target area.
Next we began to work some head movement (slipping) and blocking – making sure to instantly counter each attack. DK loved to continually reference fighters that have mastered particular movements: Tyson, Lomachenko, Mayweather, McGregor, Roy Jones - and could imitate each of them precisely.
Overall it was a great honour to train with DK Yoo - he has a very nice demeanour, and a lot to offer any martial artist. Anybody who is helping spread awareness of the benefits of meditation is a top person in my books, and I feel like I came out of our training session about 20% faster.
It is occasions like these that remind me what a gift it is to be part of the martial fraternity … may we continue to help push one another towards becoming the best version of ourselves.
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Part III of this blog will be out early January, and I will explain the key concepts DK is trying to convey to his students in terms which are easier for a Western audience to understand, and will be going into detail about the "subtle" or "sensitive" state he frequently refers to.
Overall it was a great honour to train with DK Yoo - he has a very nice demeanour, and a lot to offer any martial artist. Anybody who is helping spread awareness of the benefits of meditation is a top person in my books, and I feel like I came out of our training session about 20% faster.
It is occasions like these that remind me what a gift it is to be part of the martial fraternity … may we continue to help push one another towards becoming the best version of ourselves.
...
Part III of this blog will be out early January, and I will explain the key concepts DK is trying to convey to his students in terms which are easier for a Western audience to understand, and will be going into detail about the "subtle" or "sensitive" state he frequently refers to.
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November 2017 Training with DK Yoo - Part I One of the many rewards I receive today, in return for dedicating myself to my passion for the martial arts over so many years, is being invited to train with some of the best Masters in the world. Most recently, it was with DK Yoo – the phenomenally fast Korean Youtube sensation. When I was younger, I would seek out the highest quality instruction I could find, which often meant travelling a long way to get there and back. The journey never really bothered me, because it forced me to really question my motivations for going there in the first place, and gave me plenty of time to get myself into the optimum state in order to download as much knowledge as possible upon arrival. There would be no point in my mind to drive a long way only to waste the opportunity and give it anything less than 100% of my focus and commitment. If I had a bad training session, which inevitably happens on occasion when preparing for a fight, the journey home would seem doubly-long, but it would provide me with the perfect prolonged isolation to motivate me to never make the same mistakes again. On the route there I would set clear intentions and goals, often picking one or two techniques I wanted to refine and try out in live sparring against a particular training partner. On the way back, I would replay key scenarios from the session over and over in my mind’s eye, until I knew exactly what adjustments needed to be made. |
DK Yoo likes to wear red in tribute to the Fire element
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Over the years I developed many strategies for ensuring I would get the most out of every training session, and to this day when I attend a seminar I always have the goal in mind to learn more from it than anyone else in the room. For this happen, you have to put yourself in a receptive, open mode. For anyone who has reached an elite level in their chosen field, the ego is the biggest obstacle for continued growth. Most of what DK was showing me today was contrary to what I’ve been working on for the past few years on a daily basis. But when in Rome … do as the Romans do! So I kept my mouth zipped, and gratefully donned my beginner’s hat, working diligently on whatever I was shown.
Any good teacher will always start by checking your basics, so you have to constantly be ready and willing to "start from scratch", even if the little voice inside your head is protesting because it feels like so much time has already been invested in covering those areas before. We also all normally have one or two aspects of training in mind that we think we should be working on instead, or would simply be more comfortable refining.
But being a teacher myself, I am well aware that there is no way around this ... you will never be shown more by the teacher if you do not approach the basics with the correct attitude: one of respect, humbleness, openness, and total commitment. Trust me - it doesn’t matter if you can or can’t do what you are being shown, if you are trying your best to get it, and your focus is unwaveringly put upon what the teacher is showing, then this will be felt by the teacher, and they will sense the “naturalness” of the transmission that is taking place, providing them with a feeling of fulfilment … isn’t that what we all seek after all?
We all like the being the expert at something, but the real gains are to be had in positioning yourself as the beginner.
Any good teacher will always start by checking your basics, so you have to constantly be ready and willing to "start from scratch", even if the little voice inside your head is protesting because it feels like so much time has already been invested in covering those areas before. We also all normally have one or two aspects of training in mind that we think we should be working on instead, or would simply be more comfortable refining.
But being a teacher myself, I am well aware that there is no way around this ... you will never be shown more by the teacher if you do not approach the basics with the correct attitude: one of respect, humbleness, openness, and total commitment. Trust me - it doesn’t matter if you can or can’t do what you are being shown, if you are trying your best to get it, and your focus is unwaveringly put upon what the teacher is showing, then this will be felt by the teacher, and they will sense the “naturalness” of the transmission that is taking place, providing them with a feeling of fulfilment … isn’t that what we all seek after all?
We all like the being the expert at something, but the real gains are to be had in positioning yourself as the beginner.
"The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Dao.
…
When you are content to be simply yourself
and don't compare or compete,
everybody will respect you."
Dao De Ching - Chapter 8
One thing I want to make clear is that DK is an Internal martial arts teacher. People may be confused, thinking he is teaching a boxing technique, or whatever it may be at the time, but it is the underlying principles being utilised, the mind-set, and the training that takes place on a daily basis that determines whether someone is practising Internal Martial Arts or not. To the untrained eye, the differences can be very subtle, but for someone who knows what to look for – it really doesn’t take long to decipher what level of understanding, with regards to energy and body mechanics, is being displayed.
DK places the upmost importance on, and emphasises the same two key aspects of training as I tell my own students: Meditation and Standing Practice (Zhan Zhuang).
Meditation to calm the mind, bring awareness to the breath and body, and enter what he refers to as the "subtle" or "sensitive" state. I will elaborate on what he means by these terms later in the blog, delving deeper into what he deems to be a state of "super-consciousness".
One of the purposes of Standing Practice is to develop the whole-body connectedness, by aligning the skeleton optimally and releasing all unnecessary tension - allowing the effects of gravity to be felt more acutely.
Anyone who incorporates these two aspects into their daily training regime cannot help but soon become an Internal martial arts practitioner.
The changes in consciousness that occur as a result of the practice makes one too aware of a more efficient path to mastery - returning to the old way of doing things is no longer an option!
DK continually reaffirms the importance of connecting the whole body, and being able to lead energy from the ground up through the “seven joints” (ankles, knees, hip, spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists). This is bread-and-butter theory for anyone who has studied Internal martial arts, but it is not so easy to do. It requires the body to be in a relatively tension-free state before you can lead the energy from the feet to the fingertips. Most professional martial artists have tight shoulder areas in particular, which blocks the transfer of energy from passing down into the arms.
Another key indicator that DK is an Internal martial artist, is in his use of reference to the Dan-Tien: an area in the body approximately 2 inches below the navel and inwards a bit towards the spine. The goal of many Internal arts (not just the martial ones) is to develop awareness and control of this area. Over time, it can become pressurised and fill like a balloon, opening up a whole new way of generating movement in all directions.
DK places the upmost importance on, and emphasises the same two key aspects of training as I tell my own students: Meditation and Standing Practice (Zhan Zhuang).
Meditation to calm the mind, bring awareness to the breath and body, and enter what he refers to as the "subtle" or "sensitive" state. I will elaborate on what he means by these terms later in the blog, delving deeper into what he deems to be a state of "super-consciousness".
One of the purposes of Standing Practice is to develop the whole-body connectedness, by aligning the skeleton optimally and releasing all unnecessary tension - allowing the effects of gravity to be felt more acutely.
Anyone who incorporates these two aspects into their daily training regime cannot help but soon become an Internal martial arts practitioner.
The changes in consciousness that occur as a result of the practice makes one too aware of a more efficient path to mastery - returning to the old way of doing things is no longer an option!
DK continually reaffirms the importance of connecting the whole body, and being able to lead energy from the ground up through the “seven joints” (ankles, knees, hip, spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists). This is bread-and-butter theory for anyone who has studied Internal martial arts, but it is not so easy to do. It requires the body to be in a relatively tension-free state before you can lead the energy from the feet to the fingertips. Most professional martial artists have tight shoulder areas in particular, which blocks the transfer of energy from passing down into the arms.
Another key indicator that DK is an Internal martial artist, is in his use of reference to the Dan-Tien: an area in the body approximately 2 inches below the navel and inwards a bit towards the spine. The goal of many Internal arts (not just the martial ones) is to develop awareness and control of this area. Over time, it can become pressurised and fill like a balloon, opening up a whole new way of generating movement in all directions.
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Master Yoo would continuously reference the "Tai Chi" wave in relation to describing the movement of the body to generate power, and would hold up a piece of paper displaying the Taijitu (Yin/Yang) symbol to show the "S"-shape in the middle, helping reinforce in the students’ minds the kind of energy pathways we seek to aim for. Circular or spiralling energy creates a far superior kind of power for the martial arts. Not only can you generate more power this way, but it is also more difficult for the opponent to deal with it. Not only are opponents less familiar with the feeling of this power, but it is much harder to discern the origin of it too.
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The Taijitu (Yin/Yang) symbol
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Think of a tornado as an example: relatively calm and stable in the middle, with equal and opposite forces expanding out from the center. If there were no debris, dust or objects being thrown around by the tornado, there would be no visual clues as to its existence; however, it would still be in existence, and it would still be generating awesome power. This analogy alludes to the Internal Power that many martial arts seek to cultivate – that which isn’t always obvious to the untrained eye, but exists nevertheless. The better one becomes at Internal Martial Arts, the more power is generated with smaller and smaller external movements, as the internal waves become more refined. This takes a long, long time to achieve, because not only does one have to work towards releasing tensions buried deeply in the body and mind, but the consciousness has to permeate one’s physiology on a continually deeper level, until we can become aware of, and control, every cell in the body.
I will be going into greater details about these points in future articles, but for now I just wanted to make clear that if the speed of DK is something you are seeking to emulate, you have to start incorporating Internal training methods into your practice if you haven’t done so already. Once you have a good understanding of the Internal principles, you can fit them into whatever style, sport, movement or endeavour you like.
...
In Part 2 of my blog about this recent training experience, I will go into more detail about what we worked on in our private session, and analyse some key differences in our approaches, and why that might be.
I will be going into greater details about these points in future articles, but for now I just wanted to make clear that if the speed of DK is something you are seeking to emulate, you have to start incorporating Internal training methods into your practice if you haven’t done so already. Once you have a good understanding of the Internal principles, you can fit them into whatever style, sport, movement or endeavour you like.
...
In Part 2 of my blog about this recent training experience, I will go into more detail about what we worked on in our private session, and analyse some key differences in our approaches, and why that might be.
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November 2017
Mindful Movements Instructor Training - 7 weeks to go There are 4 spaces remaining on my upcoming Mindful Movements Instructor Course - taking place in Oxfordshire Jan 5/6th 2018. I recently opened up spaces for 10 more people to become certified and teach the Raised Spirit Mindful Movements program. So far we are being joined by new representatives from Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Scotland, England & Lithuania! Holla for more details: [email protected] |
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November 2017 Raised Spirit CBD Coconut Oil For years now I have wanted to release my own hemp-based product. Earlier this year the stars finally aligned, and I am super excited to reveal my new CBD Coconut Oil - made organically and ethically from locally-sourced hemp, grown in my home-county of Oxfordshire, England. It combines two of nature's greatest superfoods: hemp and coconut, and can be used topically or ingested. Read up more about it on my new Raised Spirit Products website, which details the many benefits of CBD as well as covering the science. I provide only the best quality CBD you can buy, as it is made from the flower (bud) of organic hemp plants, which means it contains the FULL SPECTRUM of cannabinoids. All my batches are independently tested by 3rd parties to ensure the correct levels of CBD are stated, and the THC levels are in accordance with both the law and sporting regulations (which is super important for all you athletes who are using this for recovery). To celebrate the launch of this product, knowing how much of a positive effect it will have on so many people, I want to offer you all 10% off your first orders - just click here and the discount will automatically be applied. ... make sure you leave feedback telling me how much it has changed your life! x |
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November 2017 Thoughts on GSP vs Bisping superfight - Part 3 Georges says he has continued to train the whole time that he has been away from competition, and I am inclined to believe him… albeit with a different approach to training I’m sure as to the one when in fight-camp mode. Once the pressure of an upcoming competition is removed, space frees up to have fun training again… working on what you feel like working on, as opposed to only doing what you are being told to do, or what you think you should be doing. Rarer skills can be developed and refined, holes can be filled, and perhaps most importantly – more emphasis can be placed on allowing the body to heal itself. This is a process that takes a long time for any athlete, especially a professional MMA fighter who has pushed through so many injuries in order to fulfil a contractual obligation or simply to gain remuneration. |
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Most fighters never have the luxury of being able to take enough time off in order to heal all the small, niggling injuries which normally one isn’t even aware of due to spending so much time in a laser-focused, amped-up state. This “firing on all cylinders”, or overtraining to put it more simply, is most prevalent in professional sports due to the relatively-short career spans available. The athlete wants to maximise revenue from the limited times their bodies can compete at an elite level, and create momentum for their profiles by competing as regularly as possible.
“Ring-rust” is a factor for some, but after being hit a couple of times, it doesn’t take long to adjust in my opinion, and luckily for Georges - Mike is not well known for his power-punching. His style is much more volume-based, averaging 4.44 significant strikes landed per minute - keeping a high pace and waiting for his opponents to buckle under the relentless pressure.
Although I had sparred with Mike a few times at his old base in Liverpool, before our time together filming for TUF 9, it was there in Vegas that I really got a feel for his game. I have heard many people over the years say Mike is over-rated, but let me tell you – he is much more effective in person than he looks on the screen, with a particularly under-appreciated ground game. With only one submission loss in 37 fights, he is very effective at maintaining good positioning on the ground, nullifying any submission attempts, and quickly looking for the scramble to get back to his feet.
What impressed me most about Mike was his work-ethic. Come rain or shine, hung-over or sober, Bisping would always push himself harder than anyone in the room, as if proving a point to himself. And fair play to the man - it has paid off for him… sporting success paid for by blood, sweat and tears. Widely considered as not being the most skilful or aesthetically fantastical fighter, he has made an incredibly memorable career out of being solid in all areas, always turning up in excellent condition, and displaying that “never say quit” British attitude. He possesses excellent guard-recovery skills, and likes to use the cage to help himself back to his feet… something that I’m sure we will witness against “Rush” on Saturday.
If GSP turns up with a fully regenerated mind and body, fighting with the hunger and ferocity he displayed back in 2008, I pick him to win by decision or via TKO by cut - inflicted by elbows from within the guard. If he doesn’t turn up in peak condition and the fire has gone from his belly, which could well be evident if he gets off to a slow start, I say Mike takes it by decision - outpointing GSP in the striking-department and finishing stronger in the Championship rounds.
“The Count” has been on a roll taking names recently… let’s see if his boxing skills, takedown defence, size-advantage and conditioning will prove too much for the French-Canadian to overcome. Or will GSP regain the spotlight and take his already-cemented Hall of Fame status to the next level by becoming only the 4th man in history to conquer titles in multiple UFC weight divisions?
“Ring-rust” is a factor for some, but after being hit a couple of times, it doesn’t take long to adjust in my opinion, and luckily for Georges - Mike is not well known for his power-punching. His style is much more volume-based, averaging 4.44 significant strikes landed per minute - keeping a high pace and waiting for his opponents to buckle under the relentless pressure.
Although I had sparred with Mike a few times at his old base in Liverpool, before our time together filming for TUF 9, it was there in Vegas that I really got a feel for his game. I have heard many people over the years say Mike is over-rated, but let me tell you – he is much more effective in person than he looks on the screen, with a particularly under-appreciated ground game. With only one submission loss in 37 fights, he is very effective at maintaining good positioning on the ground, nullifying any submission attempts, and quickly looking for the scramble to get back to his feet.
What impressed me most about Mike was his work-ethic. Come rain or shine, hung-over or sober, Bisping would always push himself harder than anyone in the room, as if proving a point to himself. And fair play to the man - it has paid off for him… sporting success paid for by blood, sweat and tears. Widely considered as not being the most skilful or aesthetically fantastical fighter, he has made an incredibly memorable career out of being solid in all areas, always turning up in excellent condition, and displaying that “never say quit” British attitude. He possesses excellent guard-recovery skills, and likes to use the cage to help himself back to his feet… something that I’m sure we will witness against “Rush” on Saturday.
If GSP turns up with a fully regenerated mind and body, fighting with the hunger and ferocity he displayed back in 2008, I pick him to win by decision or via TKO by cut - inflicted by elbows from within the guard. If he doesn’t turn up in peak condition and the fire has gone from his belly, which could well be evident if he gets off to a slow start, I say Mike takes it by decision - outpointing GSP in the striking-department and finishing stronger in the Championship rounds.
“The Count” has been on a roll taking names recently… let’s see if his boxing skills, takedown defence, size-advantage and conditioning will prove too much for the French-Canadian to overcome. Or will GSP regain the spotlight and take his already-cemented Hall of Fame status to the next level by becoming only the 4th man in history to conquer titles in multiple UFC weight divisions?
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November 2017
Thoughts on GSP vs Bisping superfight - Part 2 But Michael Bisping is no stranger to the wrestling-architype. His resume displays wins over the likes of Dan Henderson, C.B. Dollaway, Matt Hamill… and he only narrowly missed out in a split-decision loss to Rashad Evans at Light Heavyweight (which would prompt his move to the Middleweight division). Bisping’s footwork makes him a more difficult target to time a takedown on. Influenced heavily by his boxing experience, his feet are always moving - looking to change the distance and create angles. And one of Mike’s best weapons has always been his cardio; boasting a resting heartrate of just 34 beats per minute - a testament to his supernatural work-ethic. This will come in extra handy if GSP is successful in his takedowns attempts, because Bisping will need to have enough energy to bounce right back up off the canvas and resume his pugilistic offence. |
Sparring session featuring 5 UFC fighters, Nottingham (UK)
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Wrestling is often referred to as the most tiring of the critical skillsets that are required by any top-tier fighter, so given the step-up in weight for GSP, it’s likely that this is where the fight will be won or lost. If Bisping can manage to get back to his feet within a few seconds of being taken down, then not only will this dishearten his opponent, but Georges will also most likely have expended more energy in the exchange.
Scheduled for 5 rounds, and factoring in a considerable size advantage for Mike (expected to be 15-20lbs), I predict that if Bisping can “bounce-back up” from the first 5 takedowns, then we will soon start to see a gap appear in the gas-levels between the two contestants. Mike will smell blood and increase the pressure, making George a little wilder in his striking, and leaving him more susceptible to receiving blows. Not powerful, knockout strikes, but enough to make Georges doubt himself and enter a more anxious state, which in turn will fatigue him further.
We can also expect Mike to attempt at least one double-leg takedown of his own at some point during this contest, to keep Georges honest. Should he gain success with the takedown, it is most unlikely that Mike will be able to keep Georges under control for very long in my opinion. From the briefest of glimpses we’ve seen of GSP working off of his back in the five and a half hours Octagon time he has racked up, he has always made quick work of getting a sweep or creating enough space to stand up… one example being against the incredibly durable and strong wrestler – John Fitch.
It is interesting to note that in the corner of GSP will be legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach, widely regarded as one of the best boxing coaches of all time, and long-term mentor to Manny Pacquiao. This is the first time Roach will be cornering for an MMA fight, and undoubtedly he will have been brought in to help nullify Bisping’s most utilised offence – his fists.
One of the main reasons “Rush” has taken such a long hiatus from the sport is because, by his own admittance, he started to take too much damage in his later fights. His last 7 bouts all went the distance, and in his last 3 fights he received more head-shots than in all his other fights combined since becoming the Champion. Someone who is as intelligent as GSP (who speaks 4 languages), will surely be cognizant of the damage that is being sustained to his brain, and he has openly discussed the mental suffering he experienced as a result of the pressures of being a long-standing Champion. OCD, insomnia, anxiety, memory loss… the fun had left the sport for Georges who couldn’t maintain a work-life balance that he was happy with anymore.
I can relate to what Georges has been going through the last few years because I took 5 years out from MMA competition myself. Fighting had become too much of a job, and it’s easy to drift away from what first draws one to the sport.
Scheduled for 5 rounds, and factoring in a considerable size advantage for Mike (expected to be 15-20lbs), I predict that if Bisping can “bounce-back up” from the first 5 takedowns, then we will soon start to see a gap appear in the gas-levels between the two contestants. Mike will smell blood and increase the pressure, making George a little wilder in his striking, and leaving him more susceptible to receiving blows. Not powerful, knockout strikes, but enough to make Georges doubt himself and enter a more anxious state, which in turn will fatigue him further.
We can also expect Mike to attempt at least one double-leg takedown of his own at some point during this contest, to keep Georges honest. Should he gain success with the takedown, it is most unlikely that Mike will be able to keep Georges under control for very long in my opinion. From the briefest of glimpses we’ve seen of GSP working off of his back in the five and a half hours Octagon time he has racked up, he has always made quick work of getting a sweep or creating enough space to stand up… one example being against the incredibly durable and strong wrestler – John Fitch.
It is interesting to note that in the corner of GSP will be legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach, widely regarded as one of the best boxing coaches of all time, and long-term mentor to Manny Pacquiao. This is the first time Roach will be cornering for an MMA fight, and undoubtedly he will have been brought in to help nullify Bisping’s most utilised offence – his fists.
One of the main reasons “Rush” has taken such a long hiatus from the sport is because, by his own admittance, he started to take too much damage in his later fights. His last 7 bouts all went the distance, and in his last 3 fights he received more head-shots than in all his other fights combined since becoming the Champion. Someone who is as intelligent as GSP (who speaks 4 languages), will surely be cognizant of the damage that is being sustained to his brain, and he has openly discussed the mental suffering he experienced as a result of the pressures of being a long-standing Champion. OCD, insomnia, anxiety, memory loss… the fun had left the sport for Georges who couldn’t maintain a work-life balance that he was happy with anymore.
I can relate to what Georges has been going through the last few years because I took 5 years out from MMA competition myself. Fighting had become too much of a job, and it’s easy to drift away from what first draws one to the sport.
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November 2017
Thoughts on GSP vs Bisping superfight - Part 1 This Saturday, the two fighters with the most wins in UFC history face off in Madison Square Garden, New York. Georges St. Pierre returns to the Octagon after a 3-year layoff, moving up a weight division for the first time to take on the middleweight Champion, Michael Bisping. GSP is the greatest Welterweight ever to compete in the sport of MMA, winning his last 12 fights in a row and managing to erase the only two blips his record contains in emphatic fashion. Michael Bisping has already successfully defended his title once, but the Brit has still not received the respect a Champion deserves. Perhaps this is because of the brash and antagonistic caricature he likes to present to the fans and fighters alike; but one thing is for certain – he always shows up to fight. |
Me and Georges after a sparring session at Roger Gracie Academy, London
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I have been fortunate enough to have sparred and learnt from both these UFC legends, including being captained by Bisping for The Ultimate Fighter, season 9. In this article I will share my opinion on how the fight will go, and the keys to victory GSP needs to use in order to overcome the biggest challenge of his career.
Georges opens up as the slight favourite for this bout (just under evens), and it would be hard to make him the underdog given his prolific record for figuring out every opponent that has ever been put in front of him. He is an incredibly cerebral fighter, who utilises a philosophy based simply on taking his opponent out of their comfort zone. With a takedown accuracy rate of 74% (putting him at number 2 on the all-time UFC stats list), Georges’ bread-and-butter is to bring the fight to the canvas and maintain top position. This is a strategy he has been perfecting for over a decade against increasingly skilled opponents who have trained specifically to try and stop this exact scenario from unfolding. Combining an explosive drive with an impeccable understanding of timing, Georges is a master of lowering his level and penetrating through the other fighter just as they begin to shift their weight forward.
I have experienced this first-hand, as GSP took me down three times in a single round, each time without effort or strain. This certainly left me with a lot to ponder after the session, as I tried to replay the moments in my mind to deduce what tells I was giving off to let Georges know when it was safe to close the distance and swiftly bring the fight to the floor.
I was left with a new found respect for Georges that day after he kindly gave me some pointers for my wrestling after I offered some feedback on his striking. Not content with merely having explained the principle behind the technique, he made a point of having me execute the takedown two times to ensure I had properly integrated it. For a while after that day, I was very impressed with how generous Georges was with sharing his knowledge, until later down the line it dawned on me that on some level he was just implementing the karmic law of “what you give, you will receive” … a display of just one of the many ways that Georges knows how to continue his development as a martial artist and as a person. It is all too easy to plateau once you reach expert-status in any field, but if Mastery is what you aim for, then you must constantly be on the lookout for new ways to attract the kind of information that will help you.
“Seeking knowledge is like opening doors. And I know the doors are everywhere.” Georges St. Pierre
Georges opens up as the slight favourite for this bout (just under evens), and it would be hard to make him the underdog given his prolific record for figuring out every opponent that has ever been put in front of him. He is an incredibly cerebral fighter, who utilises a philosophy based simply on taking his opponent out of their comfort zone. With a takedown accuracy rate of 74% (putting him at number 2 on the all-time UFC stats list), Georges’ bread-and-butter is to bring the fight to the canvas and maintain top position. This is a strategy he has been perfecting for over a decade against increasingly skilled opponents who have trained specifically to try and stop this exact scenario from unfolding. Combining an explosive drive with an impeccable understanding of timing, Georges is a master of lowering his level and penetrating through the other fighter just as they begin to shift their weight forward.
I have experienced this first-hand, as GSP took me down three times in a single round, each time without effort or strain. This certainly left me with a lot to ponder after the session, as I tried to replay the moments in my mind to deduce what tells I was giving off to let Georges know when it was safe to close the distance and swiftly bring the fight to the floor.
I was left with a new found respect for Georges that day after he kindly gave me some pointers for my wrestling after I offered some feedback on his striking. Not content with merely having explained the principle behind the technique, he made a point of having me execute the takedown two times to ensure I had properly integrated it. For a while after that day, I was very impressed with how generous Georges was with sharing his knowledge, until later down the line it dawned on me that on some level he was just implementing the karmic law of “what you give, you will receive” … a display of just one of the many ways that Georges knows how to continue his development as a martial artist and as a person. It is all too easy to plateau once you reach expert-status in any field, but if Mastery is what you aim for, then you must constantly be on the lookout for new ways to attract the kind of information that will help you.
“Seeking knowledge is like opening doors. And I know the doors are everywhere.” Georges St. Pierre
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October 2017 10,000 - some call it the magic number The first free online instructional video I released has now officially benefited over 10,000 people! This brings be a huge amount of joy... spines around the world are becoming stronger and more flexible! There is a reason I dedicated the first video to the spine... because by improving the health and awareness of "the backbone of the body", all the other parts of the body will also become more healthy! Keep seeking to know your spine a little more each day my friends x |
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October 2017 Mindful Movements Instructor Certifications Today I opened up to the public the option to become certified in my new Mindful Movements program. Currently being taught in 4 countries, I've made spaces for 10 more instructor positions, with the next workshop being held in Oxfordshire: January 5th & 6th 2018. If you are already highly experienced in at least one area of movement (e.g. martial arts, yoga, tai chi, qi-gong, gymnastics...), and want to be part of the movement - get in touch today! [email protected] |
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September 2017
The Middle Way discourses - Chapter 1 The present contains both the past and the future. It contains both the inevitable and the opportunity for choice. The pre-determined is cause-and-effect at work. Free-will is our tool for creation. Using our intent to manifest; the alchemy of thought into matter occurs. What is happening right now is a result of our past choices. Where this moment leads is determined by our current choices, in the here and now. If we see things for how they are then we always have free will, free choice. We shape the direction we move in by our reaction to the present moment. If we are seeing the current moment clearly, for how it really is, we can choose wisely. If we see it through filters, then we are interpreting it and we are deluded. Then we are not reacting to what is, but to what we perceive as is. |
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August 2017
Lineage "You can take a horse to water but you cant make them drink it." In this blog I would like to introduce and give thanks to some of the teachers who have been most influential in my understanding of the Internal Arts. The ancient streams are pointed towards by one generation to the next... without transmission there cannot be growth. The man who first introduced me to Tai Chi Ch'uan - Jeffrey Sutherland is a Jamaican Londoner with a big heart, who stays true to his roots. Sensing the Dao at play in our meeting, Jeff generously offered to teach me for free in the beautiful Battersea park, right next to the River Thames and close to a large Pagoda. It was a rare find to study under a teacher who was also passionate and knowledgeable about the martial side of the Internal Arts, and after downloading some new information every session, I would always leave with a smile on my face! Adam Mizner is a teacher who explains things in the way I think, so it was a breath of fresh air to hear someone able to articulate so clearly the methods and mechanics of Tai Chi Ch'uan. Attributing his quick progression in the art to years of meditation, Adam has penetrated deeply into the workings of the mind - and shares advanced yet easy-listening Dhamma talks. “George” Xu Guo Ming has been able to adapt well and comprehend both the Eastern and Western ways of thinking. An elder gentleman, George's experience and wisdom guides him to emphasise the planting of an idea deep in your psyche, recognising that this inception can go on to grow and bear many fruits if supported and nourished in the correct way. A two and a half hour private lesson working on one idea is time well spent in my book, and I know there is no point going back for more until I have become that idea! This is just a short introduction - I will be putting up some photos/videos in the near future! There have been countless others who have also helped shaped my path, all greatly appreciated x |
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