Questions And Answers 2

The second question and answer tape draws on Sensei Kirk Ellis's lifetime in the martial arts, and it's one of the most hands on recordings in the series.

It opens with a question many parents and coaches will recognize: is it all right to get angry and negative when we compete? He loves competition. It's healthy and fun, he says, and sports can teach perseverance, concentration and character. But a game is never separate from real life. Whatever we practice on the field, we are training into ourselves. An athlete who plays in anger hands their self control to the scoreboard, the crowd and the opponent. Calm, enthusiasm and good sportsmanship actually make you a better athlete.

Then comes a simple exercise you can try at home with a friend. One person sits on the edge of a chair while the other holds up a hand in front of them to stand for a problem, like an oncoming car or a barking dog. When the seated person focuses on that hand, a gentle pull on the shoulder moves them easily. When they keep their attention low, on their hips or under the chair, they become surprisingly hard to move. Where you place your attention, he explains, changes your balance and your power, and positive values naturally keep that attention steady.

He applies the idea everywhere, from the weightlifter and the firefighter to the driver who freezes at the wheel and the office worker distracted by everything around her. He also offers lovely images of unity: a good driver who feels the whole car, a judo throw that moves as one, a musician who becomes one with the instrument.

The tape ends with a bigger question about crime, drug abuse and conflict between nations. His answer is that these are human value problems, solved over time by education and wisdom rather than by force. Teach people how to live well, he says, and many of these problems begin to fade.