Strike Diary - Ultimate Kempo Alliance - April 14, 2005

April 14, 2005 Day 2. I receive notification to my in-box that the World Cow Chip Throwing Contest will be held this week in Beaver, Oklahoma. Rob Brezsny mentions in his newsletter that it would be worth competing since, "...it would be far better to do it in a setting where such activity is sanctioned. I am not so keen, but I keep the information handy.

I look at the site to check for any postings or any signs of protest movement including opposition. Amazingly enough, there are still a lot more posts about not posting. Today there is a little surprise too. One person posts against not posting. "Sorry I don't Agree with this Post Off Protest," is the title of the post by the member called Kookie. His post information is thoughtful and worth repeating:




"Sorry to the members who are united in their protest. The best protest is a healthy discussion. Let's air out our differences maturely and then we can sort things out. I think the member who started this mess is probably surprised by the overwhelming out-pouring of protest. I think this "little" post was used as a scapegoat for previous problems. This was an excuse to rally. It's shocked me. This group was like dead. Now it broke every posting record there was. 81 posts in 24 hours! You guys are out there and have been following the boards that's for sure! You proved it! How about saying Let's wipe the slate clean, shake hands & start over."




There are a lot of good points in that writing. "Why complain?" I always ask when I see negative comments on any websites including the one I manage. Why not just post or respectfully request was is missing from the site? Why aren't more people taking action rather than just observing that the site has a lot less kenpo.

Sometimes speaking up when you do not know what action to take or need help is important, but simply complaining is not enough. Complaining is compelling to people. There are ways to ask that actually bring people to respond. We are taught that what we actually DO is important. Actions are called for. The bottom line for me is that people will always be complaining about something. Where do we learn that? Certainly not in the dojo. Mom and Dad never let me whine and I think a lot of parents are the same way. It is not enough to simply complain, but it is important to be involved working towards solutions.

Some people want more kenpo. It makes me feel like dancing my moves across the room and asking, "Is this kenpo?" after every motion. Other people want more full-contact up on the boards and to be respected. I must say that they not only want it, they put it on the boards. You have to give the kickboxers' credit for that. They are posting what they want and taking strong action. You can count on one thing here, and that is you can't make everyone happy. I know that since I would like more martial arts philosophy.