Over the past month I’ve been enjoying an extended martial arts journey in Thailand, training in an obscure martial art that was never taught outside the Lanna kingdom until about 10 years ago.
Some might think I am on vacation, but that is definitely not the case. Per usual, I am in learning mode.
We flew to this Land of 1,000 smiles in mid-December and have been on the go, since then. Each day I meet with Kru Nik, a master who also recognizes me as one, for a few hours of private instruction.
The material is challenging in many ways, and the benefits are incredible as well as palpable.
The first day I began training here, Kru Nik, told me how he got his start in martial arts, but after realizing how destructive the art he began with was to his body, he switched gears to an internal art that was far more rewarding.
This same sentiment about the destructiveness of many forms of exercise and martial arts, is echoed by Pendekar William Sanders, whom I’ve been training with for over three years. Pendekar is 70+ years of age, and when it comes to movement, I’ve never seen anyone better. In fact, it’s not even close.
But sadly, most people don’t get the memo about the harm they are doing to their bodies until it’s too late. This is why so many martial artists, athletes and fitness freaks turn into dream patients for orthopedic surgeons.
I got the memo long ago, and I changed the way I trained from primarily external to mostly internal.
Last Friday, during a lengthy conversation with some other masters, they told me how so many once great fighters in Thailand can no longer kick with any power. Their bodies are banged up beyond belief. In fact, many cannot lift their leg and maintain balance.
But this is not the case with those who practice the internal arts and engage in the exercise practices I teach in my Power Postures course.
When you practice internally, the way I lay it out for you, instead of traumatizing your body, you repair and regenerate. You recharge and renew.
As a 20 or 30-year old, you might think there’s no trauma to your body when you train. But when you turn 40, 50 and then some, you find out that your body remembers everything you did to it that wasn’t so good for the long haul ahead.
The good news is that, you can start today, as in NOW, to turn the tables in your favor.
Learn how to move in ways that eliminate pain and weakness without beating into submission.
As I have said many, many times: Focus on being loose, long, limber and strong, and you’ll go far.
Even better, enroll in my Power Postures course NOW, while the amount is still quite low.
I’ve had to raise the fee a few times already, and will probably be doing so again quite soon, as the benefits are off the chain. So jump on this pronto, my friend. Your body will thank you for doing so.
Matt Furey
