CHAYON-RYU TRAINING, HEALTH, And LONGEVITY
by Charles E. Broughton
How long will I live and will I always be healthy? These questions normally do not surface in
one’s mind until about age 40 as it is only then that most really begin to
realize our mortality. Life’s events and
our heritage will determine many things as we age; sporting accidents, car
accidents, serious illness, birth defects, enough food to eat, dental care,
education and other events in our lives all have a lifelong effect on us and
how we “make it” in this earthly endeavor.
Chayon-Ryu training is an excellent way to maintain health,
cleanse ourselves of our biggest enemy, stress, and offer us a way to achieve
the longevity we desire. As we train and
strengthen our physical bodies we also have a serious and very good effect on
our mental status. As our skills in
self-defense grow, we also, many times unknowingly, increase our
self-confidence and that has a tremendous effect on our daily lives. My opinion is Chayon-Ryu training, over an
extended period of at least five years, will allow the “true”, good,
personality of the individual to emerge.
Many times individuals act or re-act to work, family, or the general
public in a way we “think” we should and not how we really are as a man or
woman. With the self-confidence of our training we shed the ego, the worry
about what other people think, how we should act, and simply be ourselves and
when the real person shines through many times very good things take place in
one’s life. We cease to worry about
things we cannot control and we focus on things that we can have a positive
effect or impact on. Our cheerful smile
and hard work ethic tells others this individual is comfortable with who they
are and will do their best at whatever is in front of them.
My training began at what many would consider to be very
late in life, age 57. Fortunately my
physical body was in excellent condition; knees, back, hands, etc. worked like
they should and nothing kept me from doing the things I needed to do in
class. A few years later in my working
life, I was about 61, I worked for and retired from a huge corporation that has
a world-wide presence, my immediate supervisor was from another country and had
none of the US values and most importantly, Texan values that we feel are
important to one’s existence. I had to
work another four or five years and someway, somehow I had to find a good
working relationship with this supervisor or the possibility of no job late in
life was a stark reality.
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| Gyosanim Charles E. Broughton, 2nd Degree Black Belt, Chayon-Ryu |
Fortunately I
was about four years into my Chayon-Ryu training and this enabled me to honestly
and clearly assess the entire situation and determine a path to success.
On the day I retired, just before my 65
th
birthday, this supervisor, female, came up to me, gave me a big hug and told me
how she really appreciated how I did my job and how effective I was working
with people all over the world.
To this
day we still have a cordial relationship and this is a real win – win situation
for both of us.
After two years of
military service in the mid-1960’s and a little over 40 years of employment
with one company,
I only wish I had started my Chayon-Ryu training many, many
years earlier.
How has Chayon-Ryu training affected my life? I always wanted to own my own business and in
retirement have a thriving small business that is a joy to operate. My relationship with the public is very
positive and good and my circle of friends and acquaintances, in retirement,
has expanded, not contracted. Last year,
while stepping down onto a step-stool out of the back of my pickup I fell, very
hard, on a concrete floor and it knocked the breath out of me. My training
kicked in immediately and I looked up to protect my face/jaw as I fell forward,
face toward the ground, slapped the hard floor as we do in class, and rolled to
one side. After lying there for about
five minutes I got up, did an assessment, and nothing was sprained or
broken! My relationship with my wife and grown
children and grandchildren is at an all-time high; very good, very positive,
and we all love and care for one another.
Now we live over 40 miles from the school and it requires an effort and
gas money to get to class.
At a 50th
High School reunion last fall we noticed how many of our classmates walked
slowly and with difficulty, how many were using canes, one in a wheelchair, and
remembered the goodly number who have already gone on to their greater reward.
We continue to train at age 68 and are thankful for Master Sean Kim,
Grandmaster Kim Soo, and all the dedicated people of Chayon-Ryu who help me
regularly.
Where are you in your “journey” in Chayon-Ryu? As GMKS so regularly says, “Don’t Quit”! Stay the course and earn the rewards that
will be yours with diligent application and effort. Who knows what lies around the next corner of
life and how you may rely on Your training to enhance Your life and the lives
of those around You. Set your goals
high, I did at age 57 on earning a Black Belt from the very best school and
very best teachers in Chayon-Ryu. How am
I doing? Well, I’m getting pretty good
at Basic Form 1, and still have goals and aspirations and hope that you do as
well.
Charles E. Broughton
2nd Dan
February 2013
