WEBVTT - This file has cues.
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Welcome to the Mama Mudra podcast.
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I'm Kate Thompson-Duwe, and I believe that the wellness industry has a joy problem.
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So we're aiming to fix it.
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This podcast is where we bring in experts to challenge beliefs and tools to feel good,
stay consistent and build a life that works.
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Because in this community, joy is the new performance metric.
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Anyone that knows me personally will know this guest that I have in studio with me today.
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He is my uncle.
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Chris Thompson and someone that I just adore and have so much respect for.
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And when I was first thinking about this episode, the topic was, is discipline the enemy
of joy or is it the enabler of joy?
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Because when I think of Uncle Chris, and I'm going to struggle to not call you Uncle Chris
the whole way through, when I think of Chris, um I think of extreme discipline.
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But then when I was discussing the episode with him,
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He involved Jean, his incredible wife, into the conversation.
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And Jean corrected me with regards to it not necessarily being a discussion about
discipline, but being a discussion about passion, which I love um because there is no
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real, well, there can be discipline without passion, but there certainly is no joy without
passion and discipline in equal parts.
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So Chris, thank you so much for being here today.
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First happy birthday for yesterday, you're gorgeous and I'm so blessed to be here.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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I'm going to read this off because I don't want to get this wrong.
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So, Chris, the reason that I think of him when I think of discipline and passion is
because of his incredible lifelong commitment to his art, which is karate.
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He spent his entire life just so dedicated and so invested in this world.
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You hold the rank of Shiha 9th Dan in Kimura Shokukai karate.
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and you also serve as a world joint chief instructor.
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And as you approach your 80th birthday, which is hard to believe, you are still traveling
internationally to teach, demonstrate, and inspire karate students all around the world,
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which is quite incredible.
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um So yeah, what I wanna discuss with you is long before there was this focus on wellness
and karate even was that mainstream, long before everyone was invested in longevity.
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you know, way before it was as widely known as it is today, this was your life.
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You found your passion for it and you chose to dedicate everything to it.
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You were sleeping on benches and dojos, apparently, according to Jean.
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And, you know, you really were studying how to optimize your own wellness and human
performance at a time when it wasn't a thing.
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um So I think that it's so incredibly interesting to talk to you about discipline and
passion.
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because you just did it just because of how you felt about this sport that you love so
much.
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It wasn't something that you were doing in a performative way.
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It wasn't even specifically with a goal in mind.
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You just did it because you couldn't not do it.
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So talk to us about how considering you've spent your life being this focused on one
thing, did it feel like a hard slug and like hard discipline to you or is it just is it
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purely that passion that's always driven you?
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Kate, it's...
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I think I was very blessed to have an engagement with a lady that fell apart, came back to
South Africa, opened a dojo in 1969, and it was kind of irresponsible.
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I was living in the dojo on a wooden bench, but I had this absolute fascination with
karate.
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Mom and dad were out of the country, and I could just be myself and follow exactly what I
wanted without letting anybody else down.
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Although your mom saw me in the street and I think she thought I was a bit weird, which I
was.
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I found the karate, something appealed to me, something challenged me about it, and it was
just an automatic thing.
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And so when I was in the dojo, I wanted to focus everything on the karate.
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So I was living on 10-round a month, bench, sleeping bag, cold water, noise, vagrants in
the front door.
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Every morning was a bit of a mess, you can imagine.
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but I was absolutely happy and thrilled to do it.
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I don't remember any difficulty.
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We had more cockroaches than anybody had ever seen in any one building in life, but it was
just an absolute treat.
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And of course, then I wasn't eating enough, and so I needed to get a job at the night
clubs to look after people and be a shepherd.
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em then of course, I was feeling that my health might be compromised.
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So I think that was the beginning of many things, but it gave me the opportunity to say,
put life on hold.
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I don't care, and I don't care what the world thinks.
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I don't care about what anybody else thinks.
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I'm just gonna do what my heart is telling me to do.
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So when I find other people doing
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something that they have a passion, it might not be financially sensible, but they've
decided to do it, then I'm always with them in spirit, because who knows what it can lead
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to.
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And then of course I fell in love with the possibility of representing South Africa, but I
had to really teach myself almost entirely.
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I had a real challenge to do that, so I needed the nutrition to fuel me.
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And I was looking for any micro detail that I could have, so that I could just gain,
because I wasn't making
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I was close, but not quite.
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Close, but no coconut.
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And so I had to improve, I had to get better.
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And I had to, I had to, so it was really many of those things I think that led to what
looked like discipline, but it was actually just.
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I think people need to make, first of all I think everybody needs to find something to be
passionate about.
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Something, you know that, something to be excited about.
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And then that can lead you.
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And the next thing, you're disciplining yourself, but you're actually just following your
joy, I think.
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And I mean, obviously there were sacrifices, you you speak about sleeping on the bench, et
cetera, et cetera, which even though they didn't feel like sacrifices then, in hindsight,
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obviously you are, you you can acknowledge that there were.
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So what do you think making those sacrifices in order to achieve the bigger goal taught
you that you kept on using in life?
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I think a lot of people think that they have discipline.
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They certainly think that they have a passion for something.
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and they are prepared to work towards it, but I don't necessarily think that a lot of
people are prepared to sacrifice for it.
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think, you know, we're quite, people have become quite, we expect instant gratification,
you know, if it takes too long, by great, I'm not gonna, I couldn't be bothered.
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And also they're not prepared to sacrifice now to win later.
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You, I think you, it sounds like you learned that without having to sort of teach it to
yourself, it just happened because of how strong your passion was for what you were doing.
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So.
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Do you think that that was something that you then consciously put into place in the rest
of your life in terms of understanding when sacrifice is needed?
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Or is it just something that you've always done really without thinking?
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I think first of all looking back, I think it was, if I look back and pretend it was
tough, if we think of all the people in South Africa that are living in just as tough a
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condition as a normal everyday life, and I think we have to always remember that and
respect that.
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And no matter how tough things are, actually get over it and wake up.
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And also the respect every day for the people that we meet.
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We must never forget that.
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But I do think that everything I've done
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in a way looking back was perhaps a self-defense.
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Because you either prepare for the future or the future will prepare for you.
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And you'll either make a choice or the world will choose for you.
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But if you're ahead of the game, a bit like what coaching in the karate, be ahead all the
time.
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And to be preparing for any eventualities so that you're safe.
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I'm bit of a challenge to the family because it's constantly no mistakes, no mistakes.
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And I think we make the right choices.
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the minute in our life as to what we are allowed to come into our mind, what we put in our
body, the way we treat people, we treat other people, the way we see ourselves.
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We're making choices all the time.
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So I think that's all to a degree discipline because it's self-preservation.
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It's being sensible.
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Otherwise, we will pay the price.
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Absolutely.
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The one thing that I will always think of when I think about you is, you know, everyone
assumes martial arts is about fighting.
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And obviously, you know, I grew up around you and it's always been your life.
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So I'm very aware of it.
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In fact, I remember trying to start studying karate when I think I was about, I don't
know, three or four, and I was teaching you ballet in exchange for you teaching karate.
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And the perception that people have of karate being about fighting.
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But it's so not.
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It's actually karate, think, specifically um is more about knowing that if you need to
fight, you can take that guy down, no problem.
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But it's more about avoiding the fight and actually deflecting or, you know, trying to
find a way to sort of subdue your opponent as opposed to being forced to fight.
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based on that and the analogy or, you know, the sort of the example that sits in one's
life.
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How do you think that has impacted your approach to things in life, to challenges and
situations that perhaps could have been more confrontational, but you had that sort of
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restraint?
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Because from what I've heard, you didn't have much restraint when you were younger.
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I'll tell you where I got the best experience was looking after other people.
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Yeah.
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If I saw somebody being bullied.
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As a bouncer.
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I can't watch.
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Not just as a bouncer.
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If you're driving along the road and somebody's in trouble, if somebody's being hurt,
somebody's being abused, I can't watch.
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Yeah.
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And so you would get involved to help them, which was great for practice because the more
you look after people, the more chances you get.
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He's again, he's practicing for a tournament, damn it!
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And so I think it was a responsible thing.
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It wasn't an irresponsible thing to do, but yeah, I think the practice was very valuable.
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But you know, the martial arts, very often, I think nearly all of the martial arts will
work with the idea of what they call tori and uke.
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You're tori, you're practicing.
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I'm uke, I'm the receiver.
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And I must accommodate you, but you must also not abuse me.
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And so we will work together and I will work with you to the level that is good for you,
not good for me.
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I'll push it to a level that'll be a benefit for you.
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I might push you, but at the same time, it's all about that looking after each other.
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And so although it looks violent, it's actually a beneficial uh level of potential
violence.
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And then you take that through into relationships.
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What I've learned, the one thing I've learned that I'm so excited about is I'm just in
love with the idea of love.
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know, Master Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, was the first person, I think the only one I
ever saw that said, Aiki is love.
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And that's because it's all about yielding.
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It's all about the yielding.
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And that's all, as you mentioned just now, rather let the power go past, rather deflect,
avoid, et cetera.
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That's very much what they do.
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So it's a very beautiful art like that.
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And in the karate, after many years of training, you can learn to do that.
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Most of the time it's a bit forced.
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A of the karate is actually too forced, too mechanical, almost muscular level.
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And there are levels beyond level, beyond level, beyond level.
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It's the beauty of training a long time that you learn.
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And then there are compensations for age.
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So now you have to learn because you're not gonna be able to do what you did and then you
find that you've been wasting time.
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So yeah.
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That's amazing.
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um You, as you said m earlier, became very interested in nutrition and, you know, wellness
and making sure that you were taking the best care of yourself in order to improve your
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performance to represent South Africa um way before it was as big as it is now.
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So what did that study of um your own body, but nutrition and wellness and everything,
what did that teach you in terms of how
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sort of your lifestyle, I would imagine you were way ahead of the curve.
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I mean, I know, you know, just your way of eating and the way that you do, know, the level
of consciousness you have with regards to what you put into your body.
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What has that sort of taught you in terms of nutrition and lifestyle outside of the dojo?
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And how has that affected your way of life and what you've taught to family and, you know,
grandchildren?
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know, the early days, the pioneers that I, the only pioneers I knew of was a company
called Rodale.
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And Rodale were saying things that nobody else was taking note of, which they're making
more and more of a fuss of now, 55, 60 years later.
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The pollutants, all of the bad stuff, and all of the food industry, and how they're taking
advantage of the world in that way.
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But I was looking for any micronutrients.
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I went to the health shops
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and I found this form of yeast and that form of molasses and this and this and this and
this.
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And I was putting together concoctions.
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But again, I was looking at the labels and going, okay, there's even more here.
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That can maybe just help you to be 1 % better.
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But I think the secret of the nutrition for me now is that we should avoid the load.
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that food can put through your body.
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Everything we put into our body is to a degree a load.
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It's either a plus or a minus.
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And of course the body can cope to a degree.
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It's a marvelous coping mechanism.
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But eventually it's gonna add up.
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So that whole bioavailability of food, what you're eating, how long will it take to
digest.
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for consuming.
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All of those things, you know.
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And of course now the microbiome is becoming so important.
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We got involved more than 30 years ago with health products and that's been a boost for
us.
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again, that science is evolving and the tailoring to individuals.
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saw that Jean said you posted something about this.
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Which Herbalife has just bought.
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Incredible.
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We're all individuals, we're all special, unique, individual human beings, but it's
difficult to know what to put through the body.
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So if in doubt, it's that reduce the load and just try and make it easy for the body so
that you can have the energy for yourselves to thrive.
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Yeah, I mean it kind of leads from the nutrition into the self-preservation, know um Jean
also mentioned when we were discussing today's episode how you you were always like years
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ago very conscious of when you had to travel a lot, know How is the travel going to affect
you?
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How can you make sure that you're traveling in a way that's comfortable enough that you
can still be at optimal levels when you land and say true, it's a head try which I can
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just imagine the situations she must have had to deal with
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on route traveling with you.
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Why do you think it is, know, considering this is always just been how you are and who you
are, why do you think that so many people struggle to do that, to prioritize themselves
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and their wellbeing until something goes wrong, until they reach a point that they're
like, oh, now I've got to, you know, now I'm in hospital for three months and I can't
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train for three months or whatever it is.
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You know, what do you think it is and how?
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probably the bigger question is how would one try and change people's mindsets to
understand that to be like you in the year that you're turning 80 is not something that
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you start at the age of 78.
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It's something that you start in your 20s or younger.
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And why the hell don't more people prioritize that from when they have the time?
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know, how, like, how do you change that mindset?
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It baffles me.
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I think.
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I think everybody's trying to survive.
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Life is a challenge.
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I think it's what people are investing in.
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If they're investing in their pleasures, if they're investing in their careers, in their
jobs, and they just can't cope, and so they are just taking anything for fuel to go
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through the day, you've got to understand.
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So we have to appreciate that.
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The challenge is, of course, you get behind, and if you're behind, you're in trouble.
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To get back to the norm is not easy.
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A very beautiful Frenchman many years ago said to me, you never fall behind.
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He was an incredible specimen and you must never get behind, especially when you get
older, don't get behind.
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So if you are getting behind, you need to catch up as quickly as you can.
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And so I think we have to just say that people don't maybe understand what they're doing
or they're doing it because they don't feel they've got a choice, but of course they have
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got a choice and it's not actually difficult.
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It's just new habits.
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It's just make something, for example, somebody is overweight, you make the result you're
looking for more attractive than the taste.
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And that's a mind change.
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You just make it more attractive.
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And you fixate on how wonderful it's going to be to improve.
00:17:49.723 --> 00:17:52.925
And then that will make the choices for you.
00:17:52.925 --> 00:17:55.807
This is our intention machine.
00:17:55.967 --> 00:17:58.509
Our intentions are so powerful.
00:17:58.509 --> 00:18:02.431
But you need to clarify the intention and then just follow that thread.
00:18:03.433 --> 00:18:08.946
hook out there and just go towards your aim and I think then anybody can change.
00:18:09.028 --> 00:18:11.202
And then it's also just minor changes.
00:18:11.202 --> 00:18:22.836
Which again, sounds on principle like discipline, but ultimately you've got to find the
passion for wanting that end result in order to keep yourself, you know, sticking with it.
00:18:22.836 --> 00:18:29.190
but I guess one can paint a picture that is, we all move away from pain towards pleasure.
00:18:29.190 --> 00:18:31.481
But then you need to say what pain is coming for you.
00:18:31.481 --> 00:18:38.866
So the inconvenience of doing the training or changing the habit is a pain, but it's a
minor pain.
00:18:38.866 --> 00:18:47.151
So shift your mind, get to what is potentially in store for you, and really abhor that,
and then come back.
00:18:47.151 --> 00:18:49.482
And I think the choices can be much easier.
00:18:49.582 --> 00:18:51.802
But I think once again, people are just wanting to survive.
00:18:51.802 --> 00:18:52.482
They're trying to by.
00:18:52.482 --> 00:18:56.582
And wanting to be kind to themselves so they can get up and do it again.
00:18:56.582 --> 00:18:57.442
Yeah.
00:18:58.176 --> 00:19:00.846
You, as we've said, are approaching 80.
00:19:00.846 --> 00:19:03.129
I hope we're having a party, by the way.
00:19:03.129 --> 00:19:06.421
um You're still teaching around the world.
00:19:06.421 --> 00:19:08.566
You still travel all the time.
00:19:08.566 --> 00:19:15.456
You're still such an inspiration and an icon to so many people and so many people look up
to you.
00:19:15.456 --> 00:19:17.928
How have you remained relevant?
00:19:17.928 --> 00:19:25.422
I mean, obviously your credentials speak for themselves and in your world, especially, you
know, it's, I remember walking around with dad when he was still alive and
00:19:25.422 --> 00:19:27.742
having everyone stop and be like, oh, Sensei, oh, Sensei.
00:19:27.742 --> 00:19:30.342
And he was, you he wasn't even in the karate world.
00:19:30.342 --> 00:19:36.822
It's a, it's a very respectful world in terms of the people that have been doing it for a
long time.
00:19:36.842 --> 00:19:43.402
But still, how have you remained relevant and also avoided becoming too fixed in your
thinking?
00:19:43.402 --> 00:19:48.442
Because I would imagine the world's have changed, you know, quite a lot since you started.
00:19:49.382 --> 00:19:54.486
And, and how, yeah, how, how have you remained relevant, but also
00:19:54.486 --> 00:20:00.844
engaged and evolved enough to still be able to relate to the 20-something students that
you engage with.
00:20:00.942 --> 00:20:09.882
You know, I've been blessed that I've trained with some of the very best people in the
world and in different disciplines.
00:20:09.882 --> 00:20:20.222
I've been graded in three different styles, but the teacher that I fell in love with in
1971 had been taught by a man who was challenging the norm.
00:20:20.302 --> 00:20:31.096
He had a research institute and he was looking after the past, respecting the heritage,
but at the same time, challenging the norm and looking at different
00:20:31.096 --> 00:20:41.184
different mechanisms with the body to test the body and see what was actually happening,
which of course has been carrying on in all the different disciplines since then.
00:20:41.305 --> 00:20:47.310
But because he was challenging, then my teacher was also challenging the norm.
00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:56.014
and expanding understanding and discarding certain things that most people are still
following and saying this is a better way.
00:20:56.014 --> 00:20:59.996
And so that history, and then of course 30 years ago he passed.
00:20:59.996 --> 00:21:06.919
And so it was then up to the four of us that were asked to lead the group to then carry on
the research.
00:21:06.919 --> 00:21:13.002
And so the stimulus is to say that there is no limit and we must keep looking.
00:21:13.002 --> 00:21:16.143
A bit like Krishnamurti said, freedom from the known.
00:21:17.545 --> 00:21:20.108
And so that's what we've been doing as a group.
00:21:20.108 --> 00:21:27.316
And then what my great teacher said was in an interview once was, I am responsible to my
students.
00:21:27.518 --> 00:21:31.141
Somebody thinks you have knowledge and they buy into you.
00:21:31.352 --> 00:21:32.266
can't disappoint.
00:21:32.266 --> 00:21:35.628
You can't disappoint and you cannot let them down.
00:21:35.628 --> 00:21:41.951
And so you're constantly making sure that you're giving them the absolute best you can
give.
00:21:41.951 --> 00:21:44.392
Which means you've got to stay open and on top.
00:21:44.392 --> 00:21:53.816
But fortunately, the karate we're doing has now evolved into being able to borrow from
other arts, largely from learning to be softer.
00:21:53.956 --> 00:22:00.199
And when you're softer, you can tap into the soft arts, which are deeper, et cetera, and
not lose what you've got.
00:22:00.199 --> 00:22:02.600
So it's really just been an absolute joy.
00:22:03.163 --> 00:22:08.576
to feel responsible, therefore research, and then get the blessing of what you're finding,
00:22:10.008 --> 00:22:16.521
You, I'm quite sure you're going to say no, but are you planning at any stage to slow
down?
00:22:16.642 --> 00:22:20.844
I know that you, mean, I think you were doing yoga since before I started yoga.
00:22:20.844 --> 00:22:27.838
mean, you've, you've always, you know, it's, never only been about your karate practice.
00:22:27.838 --> 00:22:35.493
It's been, you've always, you know, been very intentional with waking up and exercising
and moving your body and you've got your rituals and your things that you always do at
00:22:35.493 --> 00:22:35.803
home.
00:22:35.803 --> 00:22:36.203
know.
00:22:36.203 --> 00:22:38.174
So I doubt those will ever stop.
00:22:38.210 --> 00:22:41.678
But do you plan to slow down at any stage?
00:22:41.678 --> 00:22:48.198
If I don't change my habit of sitting at a desk too many hours, my body will stop me.
00:22:48.198 --> 00:22:51.078
And it creaks occasionally.
00:22:51.458 --> 00:22:54.798
But if I move enough, then it's okay.
00:22:54.798 --> 00:22:57.238
I need to do the hot yoga that you do.
00:22:57.998 --> 00:23:01.692
Yeah, but I'd rather do it in private, because I don't want to embarrass myself.
00:23:01.692 --> 00:23:05.530
You can come do a class with Sean, so anyway I'll get him to come, I promise you.
00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:09.545
But yeah, no, it's, I will never.
00:23:09.644 --> 00:23:10.955
Never stop training.
00:23:10.955 --> 00:23:13.797
Actually really funny, I know it sounds shocking.
00:23:13.797 --> 00:23:17.530
I've already got planned when I can practice in a hospital bed if I'm ever in one.
00:23:17.530 --> 00:23:18.300
Amazing.
00:23:18.300 --> 00:23:19.561
No, absolutely.
00:23:19.561 --> 00:23:21.963
And that's not difficult to do because it's all internal.
00:23:21.963 --> 00:23:22.623
Yeah.
00:23:22.623 --> 00:23:26.626
And so, um yeah, but fortunately, hopefully that will be a long time.
00:23:26.626 --> 00:23:27.187
Yeah.
00:23:27.187 --> 00:23:31.069
And no, cannot stop training, but I do need to adjust the training.
00:23:31.069 --> 00:23:32.971
I need to do a lot more of the yoga.
00:23:32.971 --> 00:23:34.051
Yes.
00:23:34.051 --> 00:23:37.238
And I'm working my karate towards a softer and softer level.
00:23:37.238 --> 00:23:39.048
It's more flexibility than strength.
00:23:39.048 --> 00:23:43.460
flexibility and using your mind to direct energy.
00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:46.422
The Tai Chi concept, the Aikido concept.
00:23:46.422 --> 00:23:57.557
And so that's been a blessing as well to say, okay, now you're getting older, now you're
learning that actually the intention shapes everything, shapes our life, shapes the way
00:23:57.557 --> 00:24:01.008
your body performs, shapes everything.
00:24:01.008 --> 00:24:08.912
And so I'm so glad that had the teacher I had, the influences I had, which led me to the
00:24:08.912 --> 00:24:12.436
exploration which has uncovered what I'm finding.
00:24:12.497 --> 00:24:15.420
I say for myself, guided by but finding.
00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:18.424
So yeah, never, training forever.
00:24:18.424 --> 00:24:25.072
Teaching as long as they will want to listen and if I'm still valuable I'm there and if
I'm not valuable I will move away quickly.
00:24:25.072 --> 00:24:25.533
Good.
00:24:25.533 --> 00:24:26.358
Yeah.
00:24:26.358 --> 00:24:39.694
What do you believe that younger generations possibly misunderstand about building a life
sort of driven by passion and discipline and how to create a meaningful life?
00:24:39.694 --> 00:24:50.349
I mean, you really have for anyone that doesn't know you and isn't lucky enough to have
visited where you live and the fact that you're surrounded by family and it's just, you
00:24:50.349 --> 00:24:51.558
know, it really is.
00:24:51.558 --> 00:24:52.644
mean,
00:24:53.082 --> 00:25:03.522
you set an example for those of us that are in your life of, know, this is how you grow
up, this is what you grow into, not that I'm not growing up, but you know what I mean,
00:25:03.522 --> 00:25:10.982
like this is, it's the dream just being surrounded by those that you love and just, you
know, having the marriage that you have, and it's just, you know, being in the shape that
00:25:10.982 --> 00:25:11.922
you're in.
00:25:12.922 --> 00:25:18.262
It's beautiful, but so intentionally cultivated, it didn't just happen to you, you know,
so.
00:25:18.262 --> 00:25:28.166
What do you think that younger generations potentially either don't understand or need to
learn about creating a really meaningful life, whether it's driven by discipline, passion,
00:25:28.166 --> 00:25:29.890
intention, whatever?
00:25:29.890 --> 00:25:38.234
I feel for the younger generation so much, think many of us feel that they're entering an
era which is going to be potentially very challenging.
00:25:38.274 --> 00:25:46.277
Changes are happening that are perhaps going to be wonderful, but I think we are venturing
to a degree into the unknown.
00:25:46.998 --> 00:25:50.479
And I think the youth have got the passion.
00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:58.003
If they find something that turns them on, whether it's a video game or whatever it is
that does turn them on, they can be so focused.
00:25:58.003 --> 00:25:59.664
um
00:25:59.664 --> 00:26:03.266
and God willing they find something that can endure.
00:26:03.807 --> 00:26:07.569
That's the beauty of finding something like a physical art, no matter what it is.
00:26:07.569 --> 00:26:13.033
I mean if we look at the surfers, they become totally obsessed.
00:26:13.033 --> 00:26:16.055
And obsession I think is a wonderful thing, a healthy obsession.
00:26:16.055 --> 00:26:25.201
And I think they should AI healthy obsession, and then they should be guided by and put in
the things that turn them on, but to find a healthy obsession.
00:26:25.201 --> 00:26:29.866
Because when they are obsessed, I'm sure that they can be as disciplined, focused,
passionate.
00:26:29.866 --> 00:26:32.236
they can be everything they need to be.
00:26:32.236 --> 00:26:34.381
And then it's the upside of addiction.
00:26:34.381 --> 00:26:41.930
It's kind of like it's the equivalent of, you know, like it's a mental craving of
something that you love, but if it's good for you, my God.
00:26:41.930 --> 00:26:49.133
Yeah, yeah, and then I think everything in life, the good old word balance, there's always
got to be the balance.
00:26:49.133 --> 00:26:51.294
And no man is an island.
00:26:51.835 --> 00:26:59.758
So if the young people, the other challenge at the moment I think is so sad is the social
media, which is basically lying to people.
00:26:59.758 --> 00:27:09.263
It's a misrepresentation of the truth and the kids take it as if it is true and then they
expect things too easily because it looks like it's easy.
00:27:09.263 --> 00:27:11.874
And so all of those aspects I think are
00:27:11.874 --> 00:27:24.415
the challenge but I think also the youth are starting to see through the whole facade m
and I think we must just have faith in the fact that they'll either learn from learning or
00:27:24.415 --> 00:27:32.750
they'll learn from the school of hard knocks but they'll learn, they'll survive and God
bless them because they are the future.
00:27:32.750 --> 00:27:33.850
Absolutely.
00:27:33.850 --> 00:27:47.446
If someone listening is feeling overwhelmed or really stuck um on their own journey and
watching this is taking inspiration out of you know someone looking at really having put a
00:27:47.446 --> 00:27:57.220
lot into creating the life that they want to be living where would you suggest what would
be like the one thing whatever it is one thing is probably too simple but you know like
00:27:57.220 --> 00:28:02.892
what small changes would you suggest they make that are potentially going to have an
exponential impact on their lives?
00:28:03.670 --> 00:28:11.313
Really, I'm not qualified to make a recommendation, but I think relationships are
everything.
00:28:11.734 --> 00:28:16.516
And that's the relationship with every other human being on the planet.
00:28:16.716 --> 00:28:25.540
I saw a beautiful piece on a podcast recently where the gentleman was talking about the
fact that we are spirit, which of course we are, and that we're linked to every other
00:28:25.540 --> 00:28:33.594
spirit on the planet, and that we must just get over all the prejudice, all of the
nonsense of what you, I mean, if I took the skin off, my skin off,
00:28:33.594 --> 00:28:40.809
Exactly, You're gonna see that behind it, we are all the same, we're all linked.
00:28:40.809 --> 00:28:43.650
And so that respect.
00:28:43.831 --> 00:28:45.472
And then respect for who?
00:28:45.472 --> 00:28:48.454
Respect for the people with the least.
00:28:48.574 --> 00:28:51.596
And the generosity of spirit to the people with the least.
00:28:51.596 --> 00:28:59.201
You don't realize that people sitting behind a cashier's desk, very often nobody has
spoken to them for the entire day.
00:28:59.201 --> 00:29:03.594
I went through Seapoint once and I went to a delicatessen three o'clock in the afternoon
and I
00:29:03.594 --> 00:29:05.155
Hi, how are you to the cashier?
00:29:05.155 --> 00:29:15.162
And she said you realize you're the first person who spoke to me today So if they realize
that the more we give the more we receive that's almost like a safety net you just love
00:29:15.162 --> 00:29:27.900
love love give give give make other people important and And if you can add value you add
value you don't move on Without adding the value because it's gonna come back the karma
00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.931
the whole concept.
00:29:28.931 --> 00:29:33.914
It's it's going to come back to you So we've got to make the world a better place
00:29:34.125 --> 00:29:35.767
It also opens doors.
00:29:35.767 --> 00:29:37.430
You never know who's watching.
00:29:37.430 --> 00:29:40.574
You never know who's going to be able to open a door for you.
00:29:40.574 --> 00:29:45.300
And so, yeah, we never know where we're opening a door or closing it.
00:29:45.824 --> 00:29:53.685
you say in closing is the one thing that you are the most grateful for out of everything
that you've experienced.
00:29:54.614 --> 00:30:04.721
relationships, friends, students, mean the people that have taken the trouble to want to
listen have given me the platform to be able to make a difference.
00:30:04.721 --> 00:30:08.344
I mean that's the joy, you you give, you're the lucky one.
00:30:08.504 --> 00:30:15.489
And so, and then you look at family, mean goodness, you you and Sean, my kids are
unbelievable.
00:30:15.489 --> 00:30:21.633
em And then, you know, we have to finish with the most important person, that's Jean.
00:30:22.294 --> 00:30:24.356
I mean she's a diamond.
00:30:24.717 --> 00:30:28.372
She's an absolute blessing so you don't get better.
00:30:28.372 --> 00:30:30.164
you.
00:30:31.090 --> 00:30:32.081
Thank you so much.
00:30:32.081 --> 00:30:41.109
I'm so thanks Kate for everyone listening I wish that you got a chance to meet this man
because he really is just the best of the best and I'm so grateful for you to be here
00:30:41.109 --> 00:30:45.142
because I really like and not just because you are my family and
00:30:45.786 --> 00:30:49.326
I think outside of that, you really do.
00:30:49.326 --> 00:30:55.186
You live such an intentional, beautiful life and it genuinely is such an example to
everyone that knows you.
00:30:55.186 --> 00:31:00.326
So thank you for giving us your time and trying to give a little bit of that to everyone
listening.
00:31:00.326 --> 00:31:01.830
I appreciate it so much.
00:31:01.830 --> 00:31:02.332
a privilege.
00:31:02.332 --> 00:31:03.216
don't see you enough.
00:31:03.216 --> 00:31:05.316
So thank you so much for allowing me the time.
00:31:05.316 --> 00:31:07.708
gonna have to record lots of episodes just so we can hang out.
00:31:07.708 --> 00:31:08.769
Thank you.
00:31:10.070 --> 00:31:11.011
Thank you.
00:31:11.011 --> 00:31:15.495
If this episode shifted something with you, share it with someone who needs it.
00:31:15.495 --> 00:31:20.879
Because the wellness industry doesn't change from the top down, it changes through
conversations like these.
00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:23.582
So like, subscribe, and stay close.
00:31:23.582 --> 00:31:25.503
We're not chasing wellness anymore.
00:31:25.503 --> 00:31:27.805
We're redefining it through joy.
00:31:27.805 --> 00:31:29.096
See you next week.
00:00:00.076 --> 00:00:02.347
Welcome to the Mama Mudra podcast.
00:00:02.347 --> 00:00:07.170
I'm Kate Thompson-Duwe, and I believe that the wellness industry has a joy problem.
00:00:07.170 --> 00:00:08.931
So we're aiming to fix it.
00:00:08.931 --> 00:00:16.655
This podcast is where we bring in experts to challenge beliefs and tools to feel good,
stay consistent and build a life that works.
00:00:16.655 --> 00:00:20.617
Because in this community, joy is the new performance metric.
00:00:21.118 --> 00:00:27.501
Anyone that knows me personally will know this guest that I have in studio with me today.
00:00:27.501 --> 00:00:29.112
He is my uncle.
00:00:29.112 --> 00:00:33.866
Chris Thompson and someone that I just adore and have so much respect for.
00:00:33.866 --> 00:00:43.484
And when I was first thinking about this episode, the topic was, is discipline the enemy
of joy or is it the enabler of joy?
00:00:43.484 --> 00:00:53.683
Because when I think of Uncle Chris, and I'm going to struggle to not call you Uncle Chris
the whole way through, when I think of Chris, um I think of extreme discipline.
00:00:53.683 --> 00:00:57.454
But then when I was discussing the episode with him,
00:00:57.454 --> 00:01:01.006
He involved Jean, his incredible wife, into the conversation.
00:01:01.006 --> 00:01:13.424
And Jean corrected me with regards to it not necessarily being a discussion about
discipline, but being a discussion about passion, which I love um because there is no
00:01:13.424 --> 00:01:20.488
real, well, there can be discipline without passion, but there certainly is no joy without
passion and discipline in equal parts.
00:01:20.488 --> 00:01:23.290
So Chris, thank you so much for being here today.
00:01:23.348 --> 00:01:27.746
First happy birthday for yesterday, you're gorgeous and I'm so blessed to be here.
00:01:27.746 --> 00:01:28.416
Thank you.
00:01:28.416 --> 00:01:29.367
Thank you.
00:01:29.367 --> 00:01:31.949
I'm going to read this off because I don't want to get this wrong.
00:01:31.949 --> 00:01:42.155
So, Chris, the reason that I think of him when I think of discipline and passion is
because of his incredible lifelong commitment to his art, which is karate.
00:01:42.155 --> 00:01:48.449
He spent his entire life just so dedicated and so invested in this world.
00:01:48.449 --> 00:01:53.042
You hold the rank of Shiha 9th Dan in Kimura Shokukai karate.
00:01:53.068 --> 00:01:55.620
and you also serve as a world joint chief instructor.
00:01:55.620 --> 00:02:06.607
And as you approach your 80th birthday, which is hard to believe, you are still traveling
internationally to teach, demonstrate, and inspire karate students all around the world,
00:02:06.708 --> 00:02:08.148
which is quite incredible.
00:02:08.148 --> 00:02:22.238
um So yeah, what I wanna discuss with you is long before there was this focus on wellness
and karate even was that mainstream, long before everyone was invested in longevity.
00:02:22.742 --> 00:02:27.555
you know, way before it was as widely known as it is today, this was your life.
00:02:27.555 --> 00:02:32.159
You found your passion for it and you chose to dedicate everything to it.
00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:36.066
You were sleeping on benches and dojos, apparently, according to Jean.
00:02:36.066 --> 00:02:44.677
And, you know, you really were studying how to optimize your own wellness and human
performance at a time when it wasn't a thing.
00:02:44.677 --> 00:02:52.108
um So I think that it's so incredibly interesting to talk to you about discipline and
passion.
00:02:52.108 --> 00:02:58.382
because you just did it just because of how you felt about this sport that you love so
much.
00:02:58.382 --> 00:03:00.744
It wasn't something that you were doing in a performative way.
00:03:00.744 --> 00:03:03.206
It wasn't even specifically with a goal in mind.
00:03:03.206 --> 00:03:05.607
You just did it because you couldn't not do it.
00:03:05.607 --> 00:03:19.147
So talk to us about how considering you've spent your life being this focused on one
thing, did it feel like a hard slug and like hard discipline to you or is it just is it
00:03:19.147 --> 00:03:21.438
purely that passion that's always driven you?
00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:22.926
Kate, it's...
00:03:22.926 --> 00:03:35.046
I think I was very blessed to have an engagement with a lady that fell apart, came back to
South Africa, opened a dojo in 1969, and it was kind of irresponsible.
00:03:35.046 --> 00:03:41.006
I was living in the dojo on a wooden bench, but I had this absolute fascination with
karate.
00:03:41.286 --> 00:03:48.106
Mom and dad were out of the country, and I could just be myself and follow exactly what I
wanted without letting anybody else down.
00:03:48.106 --> 00:03:52.206
Although your mom saw me in the street and I think she thought I was a bit weird, which I
was.
00:03:52.980 --> 00:04:01.806
I found the karate, something appealed to me, something challenged me about it, and it was
just an automatic thing.
00:04:02.247 --> 00:04:07.460
And so when I was in the dojo, I wanted to focus everything on the karate.
00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:15.675
So I was living on 10-round a month, bench, sleeping bag, cold water, noise, vagrants in
the front door.
00:04:16.136 --> 00:04:18.878
Every morning was a bit of a mess, you can imagine.
00:04:19.169 --> 00:04:23.034
but I was absolutely happy and thrilled to do it.
00:04:23.034 --> 00:04:25.076
I don't remember any difficulty.
00:04:25.076 --> 00:04:32.945
We had more cockroaches than anybody had ever seen in any one building in life, but it was
just an absolute treat.
00:04:33.434 --> 00:04:40.777
And of course, then I wasn't eating enough, and so I needed to get a job at the night
clubs to look after people and be a shepherd.
00:04:40.777 --> 00:04:45.220
em then of course, I was feeling that my health might be compromised.
00:04:45.220 --> 00:04:52.963
So I think that was the beginning of many things, but it gave me the opportunity to say,
put life on hold.
00:04:52.963 --> 00:04:55.644
I don't care, and I don't care what the world thinks.
00:04:55.644 --> 00:04:58.026
I don't care about what anybody else thinks.
00:04:58.026 --> 00:05:01.487
I'm just gonna do what my heart is telling me to do.
00:05:01.487 --> 00:05:03.248
So when I find other people doing
00:05:03.248 --> 00:05:12.144
something that they have a passion, it might not be financially sensible, but they've
decided to do it, then I'm always with them in spirit, because who knows what it can lead
00:05:12.144 --> 00:05:12.934
to.
00:05:13.275 --> 00:05:23.161
And then of course I fell in love with the possibility of representing South Africa, but I
had to really teach myself almost entirely.
00:05:23.522 --> 00:05:27.704
I had a real challenge to do that, so I needed the nutrition to fuel me.
00:05:27.704 --> 00:05:33.168
And I was looking for any micro detail that I could have, so that I could just gain,
because I wasn't making
00:05:33.168 --> 00:05:35.450
I was close, but not quite.
00:05:35.450 --> 00:05:37.192
Close, but no coconut.
00:05:37.192 --> 00:05:40.554
And so I had to improve, I had to get better.
00:05:40.554 --> 00:05:49.321
And I had to, I had to, so it was really many of those things I think that led to what
looked like discipline, but it was actually just.
00:05:49.612 --> 00:05:55.166
I think people need to make, first of all I think everybody needs to find something to be
passionate about.
00:05:55.166 --> 00:05:58.208
Something, you know that, something to be excited about.
00:05:58.208 --> 00:05:59.890
And then that can lead you.
00:05:59.890 --> 00:06:05.792
And the next thing, you're disciplining yourself, but you're actually just following your
joy, I think.
00:06:05.792 --> 00:06:14.728
And I mean, obviously there were sacrifices, you you speak about sleeping on the bench, et
cetera, et cetera, which even though they didn't feel like sacrifices then, in hindsight,
00:06:14.728 --> 00:06:17.640
obviously you are, you you can acknowledge that there were.
00:06:17.640 --> 00:06:26.377
So what do you think making those sacrifices in order to achieve the bigger goal taught
you that you kept on using in life?
00:06:26.377 --> 00:06:30.640
I think a lot of people think that they have discipline.
00:06:30.640 --> 00:06:34.102
They certainly think that they have a passion for something.
00:06:34.102 --> 00:06:41.146
and they are prepared to work towards it, but I don't necessarily think that a lot of
people are prepared to sacrifice for it.
00:06:41.146 --> 00:06:48.871
think, you know, we're quite, people have become quite, we expect instant gratification,
you know, if it takes too long, by great, I'm not gonna, I couldn't be bothered.
00:06:48.871 --> 00:06:53.012
And also they're not prepared to sacrifice now to win later.
00:06:54.162 --> 00:07:01.582
You, I think you, it sounds like you learned that without having to sort of teach it to
yourself, it just happened because of how strong your passion was for what you were doing.
00:07:01.582 --> 00:07:02.178
So.
00:07:02.178 --> 00:07:09.628
Do you think that that was something that you then consciously put into place in the rest
of your life in terms of understanding when sacrifice is needed?
00:07:09.769 --> 00:07:14.144
Or is it just something that you've always done really without thinking?
00:07:14.238 --> 00:07:23.362
I think first of all looking back, I think it was, if I look back and pretend it was
tough, if we think of all the people in South Africa that are living in just as tough a
00:07:23.362 --> 00:07:28.425
condition as a normal everyday life, and I think we have to always remember that and
respect that.
00:07:28.425 --> 00:07:34.707
And no matter how tough things are, actually get over it and wake up.
00:07:34.808 --> 00:07:38.670
And also the respect every day for the people that we meet.
00:07:38.670 --> 00:07:40.290
We must never forget that.
00:07:40.290 --> 00:07:43.952
But I do think that everything I've done
00:07:43.952 --> 00:07:47.032
in a way looking back was perhaps a self-defense.
00:07:47.212 --> 00:07:51.092
Because you either prepare for the future or the future will prepare for you.
00:07:51.092 --> 00:07:54.292
And you'll either make a choice or the world will choose for you.
00:07:54.292 --> 00:07:59.412
But if you're ahead of the game, a bit like what coaching in the karate, be ahead all the
time.
00:07:59.412 --> 00:08:05.132
And to be preparing for any eventualities so that you're safe.
00:08:05.432 --> 00:08:11.172
I'm bit of a challenge to the family because it's constantly no mistakes, no mistakes.
00:08:11.172 --> 00:08:13.872
And I think we make the right choices.
00:08:13.872 --> 00:08:25.432
the minute in our life as to what we are allowed to come into our mind, what we put in our
body, the way we treat people, we treat other people, the way we see ourselves.
00:08:25.492 --> 00:08:26.932
We're making choices all the time.
00:08:26.932 --> 00:08:33.052
So I think that's all to a degree discipline because it's self-preservation.
00:08:34.392 --> 00:08:36.192
It's being sensible.
00:08:36.192 --> 00:08:38.210
Otherwise, we will pay the price.
00:08:38.210 --> 00:08:39.250
Absolutely.
00:08:40.332 --> 00:08:48.148
The one thing that I will always think of when I think about you is, you know, everyone
assumes martial arts is about fighting.
00:08:48.148 --> 00:08:51.671
And obviously, you know, I grew up around you and it's always been your life.
00:08:51.671 --> 00:08:52.822
So I'm very aware of it.
00:08:52.822 --> 00:09:02.390
In fact, I remember trying to start studying karate when I think I was about, I don't
know, three or four, and I was teaching you ballet in exchange for you teaching karate.
00:09:02.390 --> 00:09:07.614
And the perception that people have of karate being about fighting.
00:09:07.628 --> 00:09:09.098
But it's so not.
00:09:09.098 --> 00:09:18.621
It's actually karate, think, specifically um is more about knowing that if you need to
fight, you can take that guy down, no problem.
00:09:18.621 --> 00:09:30.264
But it's more about avoiding the fight and actually deflecting or, you know, trying to
find a way to sort of subdue your opponent as opposed to being forced to fight.
00:09:30.264 --> 00:09:36.686
based on that and the analogy or, you know, the sort of the example that sits in one's
life.
00:09:36.728 --> 00:09:45.968
How do you think that has impacted your approach to things in life, to challenges and
situations that perhaps could have been more confrontational, but you had that sort of
00:09:45.968 --> 00:09:47.249
restraint?
00:09:47.950 --> 00:09:51.493
Because from what I've heard, you didn't have much restraint when you were younger.
00:09:51.846 --> 00:09:56.009
I'll tell you where I got the best experience was looking after other people.
00:09:56.009 --> 00:09:56.529
Yeah.
00:09:56.529 --> 00:09:58.310
If I saw somebody being bullied.
00:09:58.310 --> 00:09:59.180
As a bouncer.
00:09:59.180 --> 00:10:00.531
I can't watch.
00:10:02.232 --> 00:10:03.163
Not just as a bouncer.
00:10:03.163 --> 00:10:09.807
If you're driving along the road and somebody's in trouble, if somebody's being hurt,
somebody's being abused, I can't watch.
00:10:09.807 --> 00:10:10.417
Yeah.
00:10:10.417 --> 00:10:18.781
And so you would get involved to help them, which was great for practice because the more
you look after people, the more chances you get.
00:10:18.914 --> 00:10:21.967
He's again, he's practicing for a tournament, damn it!
00:10:22.350 --> 00:10:26.403
And so I think it was a responsible thing.
00:10:26.403 --> 00:10:33.056
It wasn't an irresponsible thing to do, but yeah, I think the practice was very valuable.
00:10:33.637 --> 00:10:40.921
But you know, the martial arts, very often, I think nearly all of the martial arts will
work with the idea of what they call tori and uke.
00:10:40.921 --> 00:10:42.392
You're tori, you're practicing.
00:10:42.392 --> 00:10:44.223
I'm uke, I'm the receiver.
00:10:44.223 --> 00:10:48.366
And I must accommodate you, but you must also not abuse me.
00:10:48.556 --> 00:10:53.770
And so we will work together and I will work with you to the level that is good for you,
not good for me.
00:10:53.770 --> 00:10:56.432
I'll push it to a level that'll be a benefit for you.
00:10:56.432 --> 00:11:01.516
I might push you, but at the same time, it's all about that looking after each other.
00:11:01.516 --> 00:11:10.103
And so although it looks violent, it's actually a beneficial uh level of potential
violence.
00:11:10.103 --> 00:11:13.405
And then you take that through into relationships.
00:11:14.374 --> 00:11:20.137
What I've learned, the one thing I've learned that I'm so excited about is I'm just in
love with the idea of love.
00:11:20.298 --> 00:11:27.902
know, Master Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, was the first person, I think the only one I
ever saw that said, Aiki is love.
00:11:28.128 --> 00:11:30.049
And that's because it's all about yielding.
00:11:30.049 --> 00:11:31.720
It's all about the yielding.
00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:38.583
And that's all, as you mentioned just now, rather let the power go past, rather deflect,
avoid, et cetera.
00:11:38.583 --> 00:11:39.833
That's very much what they do.
00:11:39.833 --> 00:11:42.405
So it's a very beautiful art like that.
00:11:42.405 --> 00:11:46.567
And in the karate, after many years of training, you can learn to do that.
00:11:46.567 --> 00:11:48.167
Most of the time it's a bit forced.
00:11:48.167 --> 00:11:53.990
A of the karate is actually too forced, too mechanical, almost muscular level.
00:11:53.990 --> 00:11:57.451
And there are levels beyond level, beyond level, beyond level.
00:11:58.032 --> 00:12:03.012
It's the beauty of training a long time that you learn.
00:12:03.012 --> 00:12:04.852
And then there are compensations for age.
00:12:04.852 --> 00:12:10.632
So now you have to learn because you're not gonna be able to do what you did and then you
find that you've been wasting time.
00:12:10.632 --> 00:12:11.736
So yeah.
00:12:11.736 --> 00:12:12.567
That's amazing.
00:12:12.567 --> 00:12:24.987
um You, as you said m earlier, became very interested in nutrition and, you know, wellness
and making sure that you were taking the best care of yourself in order to improve your
00:12:24.987 --> 00:12:30.341
performance to represent South Africa um way before it was as big as it is now.
00:12:30.341 --> 00:12:41.850
So what did that study of um your own body, but nutrition and wellness and everything,
what did that teach you in terms of how
00:12:41.858 --> 00:12:44.729
sort of your lifestyle, I would imagine you were way ahead of the curve.
00:12:44.729 --> 00:12:54.143
I mean, I know, you know, just your way of eating and the way that you do, know, the level
of consciousness you have with regards to what you put into your body.
00:12:54.564 --> 00:13:01.827
What has that sort of taught you in terms of nutrition and lifestyle outside of the dojo?
00:13:01.967 --> 00:13:09.110
And how has that affected your way of life and what you've taught to family and, you know,
grandchildren?
00:13:09.210 --> 00:13:15.873
know, the early days, the pioneers that I, the only pioneers I knew of was a company
called Rodale.
00:13:15.873 --> 00:13:25.798
And Rodale were saying things that nobody else was taking note of, which they're making
more and more of a fuss of now, 55, 60 years later.
00:13:26.678 --> 00:13:34.682
The pollutants, all of the bad stuff, and all of the food industry, and how they're taking
advantage of the world in that way.
00:13:35.242 --> 00:13:37.994
But I was looking for any micronutrients.
00:13:37.994 --> 00:13:39.024
I went to the health shops
00:13:39.024 --> 00:13:43.204
and I found this form of yeast and that form of molasses and this and this and this and
this.
00:13:43.204 --> 00:13:45.124
And I was putting together concoctions.
00:13:45.124 --> 00:13:48.464
But again, I was looking at the labels and going, okay, there's even more here.
00:13:48.464 --> 00:13:51.424
That can maybe just help you to be 1 % better.
00:13:52.384 --> 00:13:59.624
But I think the secret of the nutrition for me now is that we should avoid the load.
00:13:59.756 --> 00:14:02.028
that food can put through your body.
00:14:02.028 --> 00:14:04.951
Everything we put into our body is to a degree a load.
00:14:04.951 --> 00:14:06.932
It's either a plus or a minus.
00:14:06.932 --> 00:14:09.494
And of course the body can cope to a degree.
00:14:09.695 --> 00:14:12.857
It's a marvelous coping mechanism.
00:14:13.178 --> 00:14:16.220
But eventually it's gonna add up.
00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:21.464
So that whole bioavailability of food, what you're eating, how long will it take to
digest.
00:14:22.402 --> 00:14:23.634
for consuming.
00:14:23.695 --> 00:14:25.416
All of those things, you know.
00:14:25.416 --> 00:14:29.399
And of course now the microbiome is becoming so important.
00:14:29.640 --> 00:14:37.347
We got involved more than 30 years ago with health products and that's been a boost for
us.
00:14:37.347 --> 00:14:41.541
again, that science is evolving and the tailoring to individuals.
00:14:41.541 --> 00:14:44.633
saw that Jean said you posted something about this.
00:14:44.872 --> 00:14:46.416
Which Herbalife has just bought.
00:14:46.416 --> 00:14:47.338
Incredible.
00:14:47.338 --> 00:14:55.454
We're all individuals, we're all special, unique, individual human beings, but it's
difficult to know what to put through the body.
00:14:55.454 --> 00:15:07.990
So if in doubt, it's that reduce the load and just try and make it easy for the body so
that you can have the energy for yourselves to thrive.
00:15:07.990 --> 00:15:21.764
Yeah, I mean it kind of leads from the nutrition into the self-preservation, know um Jean
also mentioned when we were discussing today's episode how you you were always like years
00:15:21.764 --> 00:15:26.825
ago very conscious of when you had to travel a lot, know How is the travel going to affect
you?
00:15:26.825 --> 00:15:34.377
How can you make sure that you're traveling in a way that's comfortable enough that you
can still be at optimal levels when you land and say true, it's a head try which I can
00:15:34.377 --> 00:15:37.458
just imagine the situations she must have had to deal with
00:15:37.709 --> 00:15:40.230
on route traveling with you.
00:15:41.690 --> 00:15:54.150
Why do you think it is, know, considering this is always just been how you are and who you
are, why do you think that so many people struggle to do that, to prioritize themselves
00:15:54.150 --> 00:16:01.090
and their wellbeing until something goes wrong, until they reach a point that they're
like, oh, now I've got to, you know, now I'm in hospital for three months and I can't
00:16:01.090 --> 00:16:03.230
train for three months or whatever it is.
00:16:03.230 --> 00:16:05.944
You know, what do you think it is and how?
00:16:05.944 --> 00:16:18.185
probably the bigger question is how would one try and change people's mindsets to
understand that to be like you in the year that you're turning 80 is not something that
00:16:18.185 --> 00:16:19.754
you start at the age of 78.
00:16:19.754 --> 00:16:22.950
It's something that you start in your 20s or younger.
00:16:22.950 --> 00:16:28.055
And why the hell don't more people prioritize that from when they have the time?
00:16:28.055 --> 00:16:30.157
know, how, like, how do you change that mindset?
00:16:30.157 --> 00:16:31.577
It baffles me.
00:16:32.461 --> 00:16:33.228
I think.
00:16:33.228 --> 00:16:35.359
I think everybody's trying to survive.
00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:37.440
Life is a challenge.
00:16:37.520 --> 00:16:39.741
I think it's what people are investing in.
00:16:39.741 --> 00:16:50.826
If they're investing in their pleasures, if they're investing in their careers, in their
jobs, and they just can't cope, and so they are just taking anything for fuel to go
00:16:50.826 --> 00:16:53.307
through the day, you've got to understand.
00:16:53.338 --> 00:16:55.869
So we have to appreciate that.
00:16:55.869 --> 00:16:59.830
The challenge is, of course, you get behind, and if you're behind, you're in trouble.
00:17:00.231 --> 00:17:03.652
To get back to the norm is not easy.
00:17:03.672 --> 00:17:07.645
A very beautiful Frenchman many years ago said to me, you never fall behind.
00:17:07.645 --> 00:17:14.400
He was an incredible specimen and you must never get behind, especially when you get
older, don't get behind.
00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:18.362
So if you are getting behind, you need to catch up as quickly as you can.
00:17:19.683 --> 00:17:30.760
And so I think we have to just say that people don't maybe understand what they're doing
or they're doing it because they don't feel they've got a choice, but of course they have
00:17:30.760 --> 00:17:33.412
got a choice and it's not actually difficult.
00:17:33.412 --> 00:17:34.973
It's just new habits.
00:17:34.973 --> 00:17:42.338
It's just make something, for example, somebody is overweight, you make the result you're
looking for more attractive than the taste.
00:17:42.338 --> 00:17:43.669
And that's a mind change.
00:17:43.669 --> 00:17:45.440
You just make it more attractive.
00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:49.723
And you fixate on how wonderful it's going to be to improve.
00:17:49.723 --> 00:17:52.925
And then that will make the choices for you.
00:17:52.925 --> 00:17:55.807
This is our intention machine.
00:17:55.967 --> 00:17:58.509
Our intentions are so powerful.
00:17:58.509 --> 00:18:02.431
But you need to clarify the intention and then just follow that thread.
00:18:03.433 --> 00:18:08.946
hook out there and just go towards your aim and I think then anybody can change.
00:18:09.028 --> 00:18:11.202
And then it's also just minor changes.
00:18:11.202 --> 00:18:22.836
Which again, sounds on principle like discipline, but ultimately you've got to find the
passion for wanting that end result in order to keep yourself, you know, sticking with it.
00:18:22.836 --> 00:18:29.190
but I guess one can paint a picture that is, we all move away from pain towards pleasure.
00:18:29.190 --> 00:18:31.481
But then you need to say what pain is coming for you.
00:18:31.481 --> 00:18:38.866
So the inconvenience of doing the training or changing the habit is a pain, but it's a
minor pain.
00:18:38.866 --> 00:18:47.151
So shift your mind, get to what is potentially in store for you, and really abhor that,
and then come back.
00:18:47.151 --> 00:18:49.482
And I think the choices can be much easier.
00:18:49.582 --> 00:18:51.802
But I think once again, people are just wanting to survive.
00:18:51.802 --> 00:18:52.482
They're trying to by.
00:18:52.482 --> 00:18:56.582
And wanting to be kind to themselves so they can get up and do it again.
00:18:56.582 --> 00:18:57.442
Yeah.
00:18:58.176 --> 00:19:00.846
You, as we've said, are approaching 80.
00:19:00.846 --> 00:19:03.129
I hope we're having a party, by the way.
00:19:03.129 --> 00:19:06.421
um You're still teaching around the world.
00:19:06.421 --> 00:19:08.566
You still travel all the time.
00:19:08.566 --> 00:19:15.456
You're still such an inspiration and an icon to so many people and so many people look up
to you.
00:19:15.456 --> 00:19:17.928
How have you remained relevant?
00:19:17.928 --> 00:19:25.422
I mean, obviously your credentials speak for themselves and in your world, especially, you
know, it's, I remember walking around with dad when he was still alive and
00:19:25.422 --> 00:19:27.742
having everyone stop and be like, oh, Sensei, oh, Sensei.
00:19:27.742 --> 00:19:30.342
And he was, you he wasn't even in the karate world.
00:19:30.342 --> 00:19:36.822
It's a, it's a very respectful world in terms of the people that have been doing it for a
long time.
00:19:36.842 --> 00:19:43.402
But still, how have you remained relevant and also avoided becoming too fixed in your
thinking?
00:19:43.402 --> 00:19:48.442
Because I would imagine the world's have changed, you know, quite a lot since you started.
00:19:49.382 --> 00:19:54.486
And, and how, yeah, how, how have you remained relevant, but also
00:19:54.486 --> 00:20:00.844
engaged and evolved enough to still be able to relate to the 20-something students that
you engage with.
00:20:00.942 --> 00:20:09.882
You know, I've been blessed that I've trained with some of the very best people in the
world and in different disciplines.
00:20:09.882 --> 00:20:20.222
I've been graded in three different styles, but the teacher that I fell in love with in
1971 had been taught by a man who was challenging the norm.
00:20:20.302 --> 00:20:31.096
He had a research institute and he was looking after the past, respecting the heritage,
but at the same time, challenging the norm and looking at different
00:20:31.096 --> 00:20:41.184
different mechanisms with the body to test the body and see what was actually happening,
which of course has been carrying on in all the different disciplines since then.
00:20:41.305 --> 00:20:47.310
But because he was challenging, then my teacher was also challenging the norm.
00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:56.014
and expanding understanding and discarding certain things that most people are still
following and saying this is a better way.
00:20:56.014 --> 00:20:59.996
And so that history, and then of course 30 years ago he passed.
00:20:59.996 --> 00:21:06.919
And so it was then up to the four of us that were asked to lead the group to then carry on
the research.
00:21:06.919 --> 00:21:13.002
And so the stimulus is to say that there is no limit and we must keep looking.
00:21:13.002 --> 00:21:16.143
A bit like Krishnamurti said, freedom from the known.
00:21:17.545 --> 00:21:20.108
And so that's what we've been doing as a group.
00:21:20.108 --> 00:21:27.316
And then what my great teacher said was in an interview once was, I am responsible to my
students.
00:21:27.518 --> 00:21:31.141
Somebody thinks you have knowledge and they buy into you.
00:21:31.352 --> 00:21:32.266
can't disappoint.
00:21:32.266 --> 00:21:35.628
You can't disappoint and you cannot let them down.
00:21:35.628 --> 00:21:41.951
And so you're constantly making sure that you're giving them the absolute best you can
give.
00:21:41.951 --> 00:21:44.392
Which means you've got to stay open and on top.
00:21:44.392 --> 00:21:53.816
But fortunately, the karate we're doing has now evolved into being able to borrow from
other arts, largely from learning to be softer.
00:21:53.956 --> 00:22:00.199
And when you're softer, you can tap into the soft arts, which are deeper, et cetera, and
not lose what you've got.
00:22:00.199 --> 00:22:02.600
So it's really just been an absolute joy.
00:22:03.163 --> 00:22:08.576
to feel responsible, therefore research, and then get the blessing of what you're finding,
00:22:10.008 --> 00:22:16.521
You, I'm quite sure you're going to say no, but are you planning at any stage to slow
down?
00:22:16.642 --> 00:22:20.844
I know that you, mean, I think you were doing yoga since before I started yoga.
00:22:20.844 --> 00:22:27.838
mean, you've, you've always, you know, it's, never only been about your karate practice.
00:22:27.838 --> 00:22:35.493
It's been, you've always, you know, been very intentional with waking up and exercising
and moving your body and you've got your rituals and your things that you always do at
00:22:35.493 --> 00:22:35.803
home.
00:22:35.803 --> 00:22:36.203
know.
00:22:36.203 --> 00:22:38.174
So I doubt those will ever stop.
00:22:38.210 --> 00:22:41.678
But do you plan to slow down at any stage?
00:22:41.678 --> 00:22:48.198
If I don't change my habit of sitting at a desk too many hours, my body will stop me.
00:22:48.198 --> 00:22:51.078
And it creaks occasionally.
00:22:51.458 --> 00:22:54.798
But if I move enough, then it's okay.
00:22:54.798 --> 00:22:57.238
I need to do the hot yoga that you do.
00:22:57.998 --> 00:23:01.692
Yeah, but I'd rather do it in private, because I don't want to embarrass myself.
00:23:01.692 --> 00:23:05.530
You can come do a class with Sean, so anyway I'll get him to come, I promise you.
00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:09.545
But yeah, no, it's, I will never.
00:23:09.644 --> 00:23:10.955
Never stop training.
00:23:10.955 --> 00:23:13.797
Actually really funny, I know it sounds shocking.
00:23:13.797 --> 00:23:17.530
I've already got planned when I can practice in a hospital bed if I'm ever in one.
00:23:17.530 --> 00:23:18.300
Amazing.
00:23:18.300 --> 00:23:19.561
No, absolutely.
00:23:19.561 --> 00:23:21.963
And that's not difficult to do because it's all internal.
00:23:21.963 --> 00:23:22.623
Yeah.
00:23:22.623 --> 00:23:26.626
And so, um yeah, but fortunately, hopefully that will be a long time.
00:23:26.626 --> 00:23:27.187
Yeah.
00:23:27.187 --> 00:23:31.069
And no, cannot stop training, but I do need to adjust the training.
00:23:31.069 --> 00:23:32.971
I need to do a lot more of the yoga.
00:23:32.971 --> 00:23:34.051
Yes.
00:23:34.051 --> 00:23:37.238
And I'm working my karate towards a softer and softer level.
00:23:37.238 --> 00:23:39.048
It's more flexibility than strength.
00:23:39.048 --> 00:23:43.460
flexibility and using your mind to direct energy.
00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:46.422
The Tai Chi concept, the Aikido concept.
00:23:46.422 --> 00:23:57.557
And so that's been a blessing as well to say, okay, now you're getting older, now you're
learning that actually the intention shapes everything, shapes our life, shapes the way
00:23:57.557 --> 00:24:01.008
your body performs, shapes everything.
00:24:01.008 --> 00:24:08.912
And so I'm so glad that had the teacher I had, the influences I had, which led me to the
00:24:08.912 --> 00:24:12.436
exploration which has uncovered what I'm finding.
00:24:12.497 --> 00:24:15.420
I say for myself, guided by but finding.
00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:18.424
So yeah, never, training forever.
00:24:18.424 --> 00:24:25.072
Teaching as long as they will want to listen and if I'm still valuable I'm there and if
I'm not valuable I will move away quickly.
00:24:25.072 --> 00:24:25.533
Good.
00:24:25.533 --> 00:24:26.358
Yeah.
00:24:26.358 --> 00:24:39.694
What do you believe that younger generations possibly misunderstand about building a life
sort of driven by passion and discipline and how to create a meaningful life?
00:24:39.694 --> 00:24:50.349
I mean, you really have for anyone that doesn't know you and isn't lucky enough to have
visited where you live and the fact that you're surrounded by family and it's just, you
00:24:50.349 --> 00:24:51.558
know, it really is.
00:24:51.558 --> 00:24:52.644
mean,
00:24:53.082 --> 00:25:03.522
you set an example for those of us that are in your life of, know, this is how you grow
up, this is what you grow into, not that I'm not growing up, but you know what I mean,
00:25:03.522 --> 00:25:10.982
like this is, it's the dream just being surrounded by those that you love and just, you
know, having the marriage that you have, and it's just, you know, being in the shape that
00:25:10.982 --> 00:25:11.922
you're in.
00:25:12.922 --> 00:25:18.262
It's beautiful, but so intentionally cultivated, it didn't just happen to you, you know,
so.
00:25:18.262 --> 00:25:28.166
What do you think that younger generations potentially either don't understand or need to
learn about creating a really meaningful life, whether it's driven by discipline, passion,
00:25:28.166 --> 00:25:29.890
intention, whatever?
00:25:29.890 --> 00:25:38.234
I feel for the younger generation so much, think many of us feel that they're entering an
era which is going to be potentially very challenging.
00:25:38.274 --> 00:25:46.277
Changes are happening that are perhaps going to be wonderful, but I think we are venturing
to a degree into the unknown.
00:25:46.998 --> 00:25:50.479
And I think the youth have got the passion.
00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:58.003
If they find something that turns them on, whether it's a video game or whatever it is
that does turn them on, they can be so focused.
00:25:58.003 --> 00:25:59.664
um
00:25:59.664 --> 00:26:03.266
and God willing they find something that can endure.
00:26:03.807 --> 00:26:07.569
That's the beauty of finding something like a physical art, no matter what it is.
00:26:07.569 --> 00:26:13.033
I mean if we look at the surfers, they become totally obsessed.
00:26:13.033 --> 00:26:16.055
And obsession I think is a wonderful thing, a healthy obsession.
00:26:16.055 --> 00:26:25.201
And I think they should AI healthy obsession, and then they should be guided by and put in
the things that turn them on, but to find a healthy obsession.
00:26:25.201 --> 00:26:29.866
Because when they are obsessed, I'm sure that they can be as disciplined, focused,
passionate.
00:26:29.866 --> 00:26:32.236
they can be everything they need to be.
00:26:32.236 --> 00:26:34.381
And then it's the upside of addiction.
00:26:34.381 --> 00:26:41.930
It's kind of like it's the equivalent of, you know, like it's a mental craving of
something that you love, but if it's good for you, my God.
00:26:41.930 --> 00:26:49.133
Yeah, yeah, and then I think everything in life, the good old word balance, there's always
got to be the balance.
00:26:49.133 --> 00:26:51.294
And no man is an island.
00:26:51.835 --> 00:26:59.758
So if the young people, the other challenge at the moment I think is so sad is the social
media, which is basically lying to people.
00:26:59.758 --> 00:27:09.263
It's a misrepresentation of the truth and the kids take it as if it is true and then they
expect things too easily because it looks like it's easy.
00:27:09.263 --> 00:27:11.874
And so all of those aspects I think are
00:27:11.874 --> 00:27:24.415
the challenge but I think also the youth are starting to see through the whole facade m
and I think we must just have faith in the fact that they'll either learn from learning or
00:27:24.415 --> 00:27:32.750
they'll learn from the school of hard knocks but they'll learn, they'll survive and God
bless them because they are the future.
00:27:32.750 --> 00:27:33.850
Absolutely.
00:27:33.850 --> 00:27:47.446
If someone listening is feeling overwhelmed or really stuck um on their own journey and
watching this is taking inspiration out of you know someone looking at really having put a
00:27:47.446 --> 00:27:57.220
lot into creating the life that they want to be living where would you suggest what would
be like the one thing whatever it is one thing is probably too simple but you know like
00:27:57.220 --> 00:28:02.892
what small changes would you suggest they make that are potentially going to have an
exponential impact on their lives?
00:28:03.670 --> 00:28:11.313
Really, I'm not qualified to make a recommendation, but I think relationships are
everything.
00:28:11.734 --> 00:28:16.516
And that's the relationship with every other human being on the planet.
00:28:16.716 --> 00:28:25.540
I saw a beautiful piece on a podcast recently where the gentleman was talking about the
fact that we are spirit, which of course we are, and that we're linked to every other
00:28:25.540 --> 00:28:33.594
spirit on the planet, and that we must just get over all the prejudice, all of the
nonsense of what you, I mean, if I took the skin off, my skin off,
00:28:33.594 --> 00:28:40.809
Exactly, You're gonna see that behind it, we are all the same, we're all linked.
00:28:40.809 --> 00:28:43.650
And so that respect.
00:28:43.831 --> 00:28:45.472
And then respect for who?
00:28:45.472 --> 00:28:48.454
Respect for the people with the least.
00:28:48.574 --> 00:28:51.596
And the generosity of spirit to the people with the least.
00:28:51.596 --> 00:28:59.201
You don't realize that people sitting behind a cashier's desk, very often nobody has
spoken to them for the entire day.
00:28:59.201 --> 00:29:03.594
I went through Seapoint once and I went to a delicatessen three o'clock in the afternoon
and I
00:29:03.594 --> 00:29:05.155
Hi, how are you to the cashier?
00:29:05.155 --> 00:29:15.162
And she said you realize you're the first person who spoke to me today So if they realize
that the more we give the more we receive that's almost like a safety net you just love
00:29:15.162 --> 00:29:27.900
love love give give give make other people important and And if you can add value you add
value you don't move on Without adding the value because it's gonna come back the karma
00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.931
the whole concept.
00:29:28.931 --> 00:29:33.914
It's it's going to come back to you So we've got to make the world a better place
00:29:34.125 --> 00:29:35.767
It also opens doors.
00:29:35.767 --> 00:29:37.430
You never know who's watching.
00:29:37.430 --> 00:29:40.574
You never know who's going to be able to open a door for you.
00:29:40.574 --> 00:29:45.300
And so, yeah, we never know where we're opening a door or closing it.
00:29:45.824 --> 00:29:53.685
you say in closing is the one thing that you are the most grateful for out of everything
that you've experienced.
00:29:54.614 --> 00:30:04.721
relationships, friends, students, mean the people that have taken the trouble to want to
listen have given me the platform to be able to make a difference.
00:30:04.721 --> 00:30:08.344
I mean that's the joy, you you give, you're the lucky one.
00:30:08.504 --> 00:30:15.489
And so, and then you look at family, mean goodness, you you and Sean, my kids are
unbelievable.
00:30:15.489 --> 00:30:21.633
em And then, you know, we have to finish with the most important person, that's Jean.
00:30:22.294 --> 00:30:24.356
I mean she's a diamond.
00:30:24.717 --> 00:30:28.372
She's an absolute blessing so you don't get better.
00:30:28.372 --> 00:30:30.164
you.
00:30:31.090 --> 00:30:32.081
Thank you so much.
00:30:32.081 --> 00:30:41.109
I'm so thanks Kate for everyone listening I wish that you got a chance to meet this man
because he really is just the best of the best and I'm so grateful for you to be here
00:30:41.109 --> 00:30:45.142
because I really like and not just because you are my family and
00:30:45.786 --> 00:30:49.326
I think outside of that, you really do.
00:30:49.326 --> 00:30:55.186
You live such an intentional, beautiful life and it genuinely is such an example to
everyone that knows you.
00:30:55.186 --> 00:31:00.326
So thank you for giving us your time and trying to give a little bit of that to everyone
listening.
00:31:00.326 --> 00:31:01.830
I appreciate it so much.
00:31:01.830 --> 00:31:02.332
a privilege.
00:31:02.332 --> 00:31:03.216
don't see you enough.
00:31:03.216 --> 00:31:05.316
So thank you so much for allowing me the time.
00:31:05.316 --> 00:31:07.708
gonna have to record lots of episodes just so we can hang out.
00:31:07.708 --> 00:31:08.769
Thank you.
00:31:10.070 --> 00:31:11.011
Thank you.
00:31:11.011 --> 00:31:15.495
If this episode shifted something with you, share it with someone who needs it.
00:31:15.495 --> 00:31:20.879
Because the wellness industry doesn't change from the top down, it changes through
conversations like these.
00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:23.582
So like, subscribe, and stay close.
00:31:23.582 --> 00:31:25.503
We're not chasing wellness anymore.
00:31:25.503 --> 00:31:27.805
We're redefining it through joy.
00:31:27.805 --> 00:31:29.096
See you next week.
