Survival

I have been reading some articles and blogs from those that have the knowlage and wisdom I strive to aquire. Some of them were thoughts on conditioning, or thoughts on technique, or philosophies, etc. It's important for me to take that stuff in and learn all that I can for what works for ME, while evolving it and discarding what does not work for me. Today I had a great conditioning session, with a bit of parkour thrown in. I was thrilled to know I improved in my ability to perform the art of parkour. I also realized again the most fundumental attraction I have to this way of life. Freedom. Freedom to move in any way, to be able to DO anything I tell my body to do, regardless of the situation or place, even regardless of what clothes i am wearing.



Being new to the desert gives me a brand new sense of awareness to my surroundings, especially while conditioning myself in the mid day sun when it's well over 100 degrees outside. While exploring these desert mountains, or seeing these new places around the city, I am struck by a certain impression; survival is what it's all about. By training in unfamiliar locations, in different climates, in work out clothes or my leather hiking boots, in jeans or whatever. Doing this is not nearly the same as training in your comfort zone, when you have all the correct accessories and the proper outfit, running in the proper locations after doing the proper warmup.



I ask people, why do you train? I train for functionality in any given situation. I wish to be the master of myself, so no situation or person can manipulate me. If there were a natural disaster, would those useless muscles from the gym help you to evade debree in an earthquake or avoid a mob of brutality if the police weren't around to keep sheep in check? In a global age with wars rampant across the globe, natural disasters shattering records...it's vital to be prepared for anything.



If one trains only in a way that is comfortable, with their running shoes and shorts, how will they fare if someone was trying to hurt them in a night club or after a long day of tiring work? This is essential to be aware of while training. Run barefoot, learn how to aquire water without plumbing, learn how to track animals, study combat. These are just as important as mathmatics and science, writing and music.

Find your own path, don't just imitate and try to do what you are not prepared to do. Spend free time at study, or on a project you really want to do but never seem to find the time, spend it preparing for situations by creating those situations in a controlled manner.

Running in the desert today made me feel like fajita in dragon ball z back in the day...he trained in a place with much stronger gravity...so back on earth he would be stronger from that extra difficult training. It made me feel while running today that I could do anything, that no obstacle, physical or mental, could ever hold me back.