The Centipede

Start log - Star date May 18, 2009 at 12:00 hrs

"The centipede was happy, quiet, Until a toad in fun Said, "Pray, which leg goes after which?" This worked his mind to such a pitch, Hey lay distracted in a ditch Considering how to run."

NOTES: This is a prime example of not thinking to much. Just like in sparring, when you stop to think about what punch you are going to throw or how to block a kick, you get hung up in contemplation and get hit. I most assuredly believe that the toad in the story presented the question to the centipede to get him locked into his own mind and his own thoughts to open a window of opportunity to eat the centipede. As I relate many of life's questions and challenges to combat, this Koan is a way to teach how we need to have a free flowing mind, to be able to react to things without having to stop and think. Too much thought only slows down our reaction time. This is why we must practice our techniques thousands of time and make them a natural reaction so the mind does not have to think about what it is going to do, we should perceive the threat and then react. no formulation of a strategy or contemplation of philosophy. Just the raw physical reaction of self preservation. Don't become the centipede, free you mind and just do. The absence of thought is liberating.

Peace out GhostDog