What do you get out of doing the Martial Arts? What strange abilities can you really discover and awaken? Is there a reality that could be called Zen Karate...or zen aikido, or zen whatever other martial art you might study?

There is a discipline referred to as zen, and the best book for describing it is Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. Past that, zen is the method by which you experience yourself, as discovered through specific discipline. My specific discipline and experience was through the martial art of Kang Duk Won karate.

The discipline is through the repetition of kata and bunkai, and through this discipline you learn to control your body. People who fight just to fight, as in MMA, never experience this discipline. They might know martial, but they don't know art.

And, if you can learn to control the fact of your body, you realize that it took control of mind. The struggle to make your body do exactly as you want comes from you making your mind do exactly what you want. And now we come to the point of it all.

Why doesn't life do what you want it to? Why can't you get that great car, have the cheerleader, get that great job? The reason, for most people, is that they can't control themselves.

I am not talking about controlling your body, nor even that thing you call a mind, now. I am talking about controlling you, the person who tells your body and mind what to do. You.

You want to be as snazzy as Bruce Lee, as rapid as Jet Lee, able to jump through hoops better than Jackie Chan? Learn to control your body, then learn to control your mind, and, ultimately, learn the secrets of controlling yourself. Learn to control that person who is controlling your body and mind.

I recommend the martial arts as the valid path for learning to control yourself. Karate, kung fu, wudan, they are all valid paths for learning how to control yourself, and to see yourself as separate from body and mind. Learn to do this, dedicate yourself to the discipline that will make you have zen karate, or zen kung fu or zen whatever, and you will be able to control the universe, and all the cars and cheerleaders therein.

You can find out about the modern approach to Zen Karate by picking up a free ebook at Monster Martial Arts. The author, Al Case, has forty years experience.