Please allow me to share something that touches me very much. I’m writing this with a mind that is still racing, but in a very positive way. This morning at around 3am, I came home from a two day seminar with Thong Sensei. I’ve been practicing martial arts for over 30 years now, but always(one exception being, Systema) “Hard Styles”, or “Reality-Based Styles”. After hurting myself for the umpteenth time in training, after noticing that I’d begun to develop a closed mind when it came to martial arts, and after admitting to myself that Reality-Based Styles offer NO way whatsoever to develop myself as a human being, to cultivate openness and physical and mental health, I decided to stop teaching about two months ago.

I’d always had an interest in “Internal” Styles, but I never felt driven to really explore them. It seems I had to walk the path I did, before admitting to myself that it didn’t do anything for me anymore. As long as I can remember, I defined myself as “Norbert who does Full-Contact Combat Sports”.My friends and family had known me as that Norbert as well. Now, the “Full-Contact” part of my self-definKyokushinkai Karate, Cadena, Wing Tsun, Systema, Senshido Instructorition had fallen away and left me with a big hole. A huge part of what I thought defined me was now missing.
So I was torn when my brother Alexander Schilgen called and told me that Thong Sensei would be holding a two day seminar in Munich. I was on the verge of leaving martial arts completely behind me. There were only two options: Quit and avoid the pain, or man up and face reality. Thankfully, I chose the latter and went to the seminar. Thong Sensei shattered every preconception, every assumption, every LIE I had built around my martial arts practice.

For the first time, I felt that mysterious emptiness Thong Sensei spoke about in his Facebook group. I really felt it, and it destroyed my Reality-Based Combat arrogance. Boy, did I feel humbled and ashamed for having been so pretentious… “Reality-Based always works!!!” — yeah, sure.

Funny how life goes. Thong Sensei has opened a new door for me, and I will now go exploring what lies behind it.

Thank you brother, Love you!

~Norbert G. Matausch
Kyokushinkai Karate, Cadena, Wing Tsun, Systema, Senshido Instructor

 

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