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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Karate Kid - A Lesson in Being Still

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Anyone who knows me knows that I love watching movies. I am especially enamored by inspirational stories in the guise of children’s movies that carry a motivational message for a far greater audience. The Karate Kid is just such a movie.

Our young hero is moving from Detroit to China leaving behind all that he knows when his mother accepts a job in Beijing.12-year-old Dre develops a crush on a sweet, young classmate Mei Ying. She reciprocates but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, in befriending her he makes a bitter enemy of the school bully.

Here is my warning; the scenes of bullying and violence were intense and upsetting to watch.

Completely powerless and isolated, Dre has nowhere to turn. The apartment’s withdrawn maintenance man, Mr. Han, witnesses this young boy’s growing frustration, anger and fear. In one brutal fight scene, Han appears, coming to Dre’s rescue. His Kung Fu prowess immediately captures our protagonist’s attention and Dre begs Han to teach him how to fight.

What unfolds is an inspirational story of how two very different men teach this martial art to young boys. Through stillness and repetition Han demonstrates that Kung Fu is the practice of being calm and centered, whereas the bully’s teacher demands his students use it to inflict pain, dominate and destroy.
 
Bullying in schools has become epidemic and this story brings to light the harsh reality of the daily struggles that kids face every day. As a loner during my school years, I closely related what was portrayed. The daily struggle for survival in a hostile environment creates such a deep level of emotional stress it pushes kids to a breaking point. Feelings of helplessness, anger and self-hatred at not having the power to stand up against daily abuse undermines everything.

Mr. Han also has a tragic and troubled past. He is beaten down by life’s traumatic twists and turns. However, through taking Dre on a journey of empowerment they form and amazing bond of trust and respect. Ultimately they guide each other through fear into wholeness.

Han guides Dre into the Wudang Mountains to a sacred temple where we see breathtaking feats of Kung Fu prowess – each one more amazing than the last. Dre watches a female Kung Fu practitioner copying the intricate movements of a cobra before her. In typical Kung Fu master style, Mr. Han teaches that the cobra was actually copying her. She was in such a state of oneness that the cobra was mirroring her movements.

“Being still and doing nothing are two very different things,” explains Mr. Han. Wisdom that I believe has profound application in each one of our lives.

We are never powerless. I loved this story as it provides an opportunity to see where we get stopped in life by our fear. It powerfully illustrates what is possible once we meet our fear head on. Dre realizes that facing down the bully will be the fight of his life and even in the midst of his pain he knows that until he does he will always be afraid.

Posted at 5:05 pm  |  Send to a Friend

Comments (10)

By A. Elizabeth from NC on 06/23/2010

Bullying,  cliques, passive aggression is rampant in our schools and culture.

I pray we will remember to rise above this frequency with Love and Strength, Light, Patience, Stillness…
If we are ever confronted with the option to join the Bullying.

By Cat Anderson on 06/24/2010

There is also another dawn awaiting us: the miraculous moment of realization that we exist in a realm so far beyond these vibrations that there is nothing left within us to resonate with this low stuff. It takes no facing, no will, no concentration, no beliefs. Acknowledging old hurts, and bringing them into light and resolution, clears out those old vibes, with whatever assistance from whatever sources, and creates the Clear space within. The “outer” world just whistles through and is gone. In the highest kung fu, even a fist passes through. When this began to happen for me, after years of clearing, accelerating dramatically in these days of the global Great Purification, when many aggressors’ “stuff” is arising, as are old wounds, I was shocked to notice the absence of reactions. It is a blissful, holy, preternaturally silent moment. It will be interesting to see how I respond to the new version of this movie. The original was one of my greatest favorites, and I came undone every time in the championship bout, since that courage felt so beautiful and powerful. I wonder what it will look like through new eyes.

By Chuck on 06/24/2010

What is amazing is that in my twenty years in my current field, I finally met a bully in the office.  The person even has the unofficial title ‘the office bully’.  I still feel like a teenager trying to deal with this situation in some ways.  And yet in others, I know myself and I know I have options.  No violence required to solve this problem.  I have been using it as a way to see my own insecurities that get triggered and to love and accept them.  It has been quite a process that is not finished at this point.  I’ll watch the movie tonight!

By Judee Pouncey from United States on 06/24/2010

Thanks for sharing this Panache.  I am really looking forward to seeing this movie.  I see it making a positive impact in many people lives!

By Lisa Jones from greenville on 06/24/2010

Yes, bullying is rampant. I chose to remove my children from the public school system.  Something that I should have done long ago.  Send your love to all educational systems in the world (they need the energetic support) and refuse to be the victim and become the victor.  Love is power.

By Chris diMonda from Marietta, GA on 06/29/2010

Panache, once again your blog hit exactly on an issue I dealt with yesterday at work, and am still dealing with because I obviously have not figured out how to solve it yet. Now I’ll have to see that movie! (and I really had no intentions of seeing a kids’ karate movie.) I have kept asking myself for now three years, “Why is this office bully in my life? Why did I get this? Why do I keep getting it? Why won’t he go away?!!” Your blog helped me realize that he really is there for a reason, and my challenge is to figure out how I am to respond to him differently. He does bring up alot of fear and insecurities, with just a few (stupid) comments. I guess I will go see the movie for a first step. If you have any more insight on this topic, I would love to hear it. Thank you, and love to you!

By Chaz from Mason, OH on 07/06/2010

I was hesitant to see this movie. Because Panache recommended it I did see the movie and loved it… couple of times cried… for me I loved the turning point when Dre stopped fighting… the training ...and was there for Mr. Han and the two joined together (connected) and the… I loved the movie…and the music…and the cinematography… and Mr. Han’s home/garden/car/patio.

By Michael Soo from Durham, North Carolina on 07/07/2010

My favorite part for the scenery was the hike up Wu Dang Shan to drink from the dragon well.  This is the second most famous home of Gong fu after shao lin.
Overall a great update on a classic coming of age movie.  When he had to answer Mr. Han as to why he still wanted to fight, Dre answers ” because i don’t want to be afraid anymore”.  Excellent motivation for me on the the path of letting go.

Another secretly spiritual movie is Kung Fu Hustle.  The protagonist is basically Buddha nature, but through the trauma of being bullied and feeling shame, he forgets this and he can’t face that part of himself.  So he tries to be bad. It takes the purity of the deaf ice cream vendor to see the good in him even when he is robbing her and acting out to re-awaken the seed of compassion in him.

By donna nikzi from portland, oregon on 07/24/2010

I’m so happy I have found your posts - each one feels like a song for the soul.  I too love films that teach lessons of compassion or empowerment. I wanted to tell you about two films while you were here. One is called, “To Live and Become” based on real life events and beautifully told, the other is
“Jodhaa Akbar” - also based on history and so beautiful. Both brought deep healing to me around the separation of cultures. THank you Panache for
EVERYTHING!

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