"Old Men Say"

The old men say, “The essence of training in a martial way is the investigation of the Near and Far, the High and Low, and the Fast and Slow of the universe.”

The advanced level of unification of the Body, Mind, and Spirit might be seen as-

Near and far- Near being the entry point of the fundamentals, i.e. basics, drills on the physical plane etc. but here it would be the work done, over time, and application of will to the training. The far is the distance and depth one penetrates the learning process through sacrifice, perseverance, pain, and effort.

High and Low- it’s not the linear distance on which one travels in the quest for mastery but the depths of the training (Low) combating depression, fear, procrastination, and initial failures, in the tests they encounter along the way and then are balanced by…

The High which are the lessons one obtains in the struggle of ascending the hills and mountains of maturity with all their slippery slopes, loose footing, and sheer virgin mountainsides that only a few have dared to climb.

Fast and Slow- Fast is the type of initial progress that the novice makes as he applies him or herself to the task of warriorhood. The momentum is intoxicating, and it's therefore easy to miss crucial lessons in one’s hurry to move on to new and exciting techniques along the path. SLOW, therefore, is the practice and, respect towards the virtue of patience that enriches the journey of the well-rounded, balance warrior and is a mark of his character.

Rank is a recognition of the warrior’s passing over the threshold and through a portal to a new level of understanding and functionality in perpetuating the legacy they represent. It shows in their eyes, their smile, and most of all in their actions.