ZEN PENCILS
82. ZEN PROVERB: The master
This quote can apply to any discipline, but I always jump at the chance to draw some martial-arts/japanese-scroll/vintage-paper type illustration. Plus it’s a nice change from all the cartoony, bright and fun stuff I’ve been doing recently.
I know there are quite a few martial-artists who visit this site (I’m guessing thanks to the Bruce Lee series). If you do train in a martial-art, I’d love for you to leave a comment as to why and maybe let the other readers know the Zen benefits of practicing a martial art. I’m a phoney because I haven’t trained in years, but maybe one of your comments will inspire me to get back into it 
- Reader Paulo (thanks!) submitted this proverb but I can’t find any definitive source. All the websites I’ve seen it on attribute it as a ‘Zen Proverb’. If anyone has anymore information about its origin please leave a comment.
- The old master is loosely based on Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo.
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oh, and did i mentioned, that i LOVE your work?
kudos Gavin! ..
planning to create another MA artwork? can you please do one for Aikido? will send a quote…
Your work is my inspiration!
great work gav! love the japanese style you’re going with.
By the way, the martial art looks somewhat similar to Aikido and Judo, especially with the tossing of your opponent. do you practice them or anything similar?
Also, I’m almost done with the INVICTUS video i promised a while back! I just need to upload it to youtube.
another masterpiece sir Gavin
ur blessed! keep inspiring 
This great quote reminds us “Westerners” something that is vital in Eastern culture: respect for one’s elders, they need not be a “master” in the whole sense of the word, but just someone that has live longer than us, therefore have wisdom and knowledge that can only come from years of experience. They teach us; we will teach someone else. Best from Mexico!!
I did not know that mexicans were “Westerners”. Nice fact!
Amazing work, as usual. I’ve been training in Goju Ryu (Hard-Soft Style) Okinawan Karate for three years, and I have roughly three months Judo experience, (big ups to Kano! WOOT), and I can say that martial arts is one of the greatest things to ever enter my life. It teaches me to always adapt and learn for myself, that my Sensei is a guide, a finger pointing to the moon, but not the moon itself. I must go all the way, and only I can take the steps. It teaches me that no matter how much I know, there is always more to learn. Always.
So Gavin, what style did you train in? If you don’t mind me asking.:)
Martial arts is awesome! Everyone should do it! I personally do Tae kwon do but every martial art is good! It is my passion and I do marital arts at every chance I get, even if you can only do martial arts a couple times a week you should, not only does it keep you in shape but it is so much fun and the best thing ever and I could never imagine a life without it! I love the qoute!
Really enjoyed this piece.
I’ve been in and out of the dojo due to financial reasons, but I’ve not neglected my training. My reason is simply because martial arts has taught me respect to life: my body, my master, my family, my friends, and my enemies. Simply put, I’ve learned that all life is sacred and should not be squandered in idleness or evil.
Its about balance. You clearly are interested in finding an intrinsic motivation for your endeavors instead of wasting effort on things you hate and that’s exactly what martial arts has helped me to find. First i found it in judo, having been pushed into practice at a young age it was a long time before I found a reason to do it for myself. however, once I was able to look deeply enough into it to appreciate it for what it was I found I was able to translate that to many other aspects of my life.
Martial arts quantifies in motion and force those things that Zen teaches for the mind and soul. As your body learns balance and strength, so does your heart and your brain. As you learn, you come to see through things you previously thought solid: problems, inabilities, quandries, and ultimately, your own teacher.
Asurm said it well. All is sacred. Body, motion, wind, ground. Focus. Flow.
I have studied Judo, Aikido, Tai Chi and now am learning Cuong Nhu.
Beautiful work, Gavin. This time, brilliant and powerful in its simplicity and softness.
Very Zen…
MARTIAL ART MARTIAL ART !!!! YIPPEEEE
I’ve studied tae kwon do for a long time, but during a year when I lived in London I got to study capoeira (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira), which is just amazing. It pairs well with tae kwon do, since TKD is the most kick-oriented of the arts.
However, when capoeira is done by a middle-aged white guy with a body that’s genetically predisposed to tossing the caber, the results can be pretty comical.
In my mind I look like this – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8xxgFpK-NM, but in reality it’s more like this – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY_DF2Af3LM.
Thanks for the great comments! I studied Chinese kung-fu (mainly Bak Mei) for most of my teenage years and then did about 6 months of Krav Maga a couple of years ago. I’m always toying with starting again, but I always find excuses. Not enough time, money, it’s too inconvenient blah blah blah – I really should do something about it.
There is an endless supply of reasons not to do something.
Come up with the reasons to do something.
The benefit of training in martial arts is boundless! Martial arts in all forms helps in conditioning and strengthening your body, mind, and spirit. Mental preparation and focus is a very important part of martial arts as it is important in one’s daily routines. The short meditation period at the start of our judo training clears your mind of the stresses, distractions, and negative influences built up during the day. Being mindful of your every move during training helps in learning and developing proper technique and preventing careless mistakes. With the focus and drive, along with the discipline and etiquette developed in traditional martial arts, you have the potential to reach a higher state of well-being.
I’ve been a big fan since the first week you started Zen Pencils. There’s a visual poetry to your art that is captivating paired with inspiring words. I love all forms of martial arts, but judo holds a special place dear to my heart. I hope you get the chance to get back into training sooner than later!
I love your comics, and since you called for martial artist, I thought I would chime in. I’ve been doing Kali, a Filipino martial art for about 10 years. I don’t know about zen like, because I don’t know much about zen. I do know it is fun, and allows me to be creative and express myself, and fight the way I want to fight.
Great!
Hi, i recently discover your work and it is great.
i´m a black belt(sabom) in sipalki, i have over 9 years of practice and i found this quote extremely useful, especially for the young how usually follow blindly a role model, its important to follow the ones ahead of us as they have walked the path, but the path is ours to discover.
Thank you for inspiring me every week.
I am a second degree black belt in Shito-ryu Karate. I am also Sensei. Looking at me I’m a middle aged mom type.
I think of it as my secret disguise. I teach our pre-karate program, so I work with 4 and 5 year old kids. The whole circle of learning and teaching and learning is amazing. Karate has changed my life. I am no longer afraid and I’m calm and confident. The entire world is different now. Working with people who want to learn and progress just as you do is wonderful. My friends and I work together to be better at our art. Thank you for the wonderful portrait of what martial arts truly is.
I am not a martial artist, but I do really enjoy this comic. Beautiful work as always, Gav.
Of course I have to ask… Will there be prints of this one?
Even though I am not a martial artist myself, I do have several friends (including two sensei) who are and this would be a lovely gift to give. Thanks!
Love it!
I’ve been blessed to learn from several good martial arts schools (Shaolin Hung Gar, Jujitsu, Ninjitsu, Aikido, Escrima, Jeet Kune Do, and Tai Chi /Bagua) over several years. I’m still very much an unpolished rock and have much to learn.
I would say that martial arts teaches how to “dispel ignorance”, in yourself and in your opponent. You awaken to your own potential and you awaken your own compassion in conjunction with your combat ability. To your aggressor you help them realize their own ignorance or neutralize their violence. You are capable of being ruthless and effective on a battlefield but can also prosper and love in a peaceful society.
Thanks for the terrific artwork Gavin!
Ray
Love the quote.
I train in Capoeira, I can actually excercise and learn some form of self defense instead of being a lazy bum my whole life. what’s more it’s better than just simply learning how to fight, but Capoeira incoorporates music and dance, making it seem more light and fun to train
Agreed!
Aikido practicioner, and I can relate to this post (somehow)! Thanks for your epicness!
a large part of the comments here focus on eastern style martial arts. I train capoeira, an afro-brazilian martial art derived completely away from the eastern styles. But the same essence of that ‘zen’ spirit applies: that the master begins the path, but the student ends it, as a master or no. In capoeira developing your own effective interpretation of the art signifies ‘mastery’ in a sense. In my own experiences, its not necessarily about besting your master, its about besting yourself: pushing yourself and never stagnating your art based upon any established dogma. A master of any art inspires and is inspired, always finding unique and different approaches to the art.
I used to train Judo for almost eight years before moving through Kung Fu for a short stint into capoeira as well. I love finding other capoeiristas here! Despite capoeira having less stricture and regulation than many eastern martial arts, I’ve had the greatest experience of mindfulness through it. When you play (a capoeira fight is always referred to as a game) in the Roda, with music and energy, I empty my head of all other considerations and issues. There is only the game, yourself and your opponent, actions and reactions. For me I find capoeira to be meditative as you are fully and absolutely immersed in what you’re doing; if you slack on your concentration chances are you’ll wind up on the floor. Some instructors I’ve met have likened the actual playing of capoeira to a microcosmos, others to a dialogue and I find both have merit.
hi gavin, i frequent your site and i love your work! i train in silat, muay thai, grappling, jiujitsu, and kali. still looking to the master though.
i guess what zen teaches us through martial arts is that it is through knowing how to fight, that we must actually know why not to fight. similar to the lesson of the masamune-muramasa tale.
that by the is an interesting tale, you may wanna check it out and perhaps id see you do a comic on that one day. keep up the good work!
Have just slugged through half this archive late at night after being linked to your Gaiman piece, which was really apropros for me at the time. (Having lost my job, my health, and my housing, art was/is pretty much all I can do to keep from cracking.)
As for martial arts, I used to do aikido and jodo, until I tore cartilage in my knee. (Still can’t figure out how I pulled that off.) It’s cool to see so many capoeira practitioners here; I’m interested to learn, but alas, being poor in health and in wealth, I am in no position to start. So for now, I just take long walks, do push-ups and curl-ups, and keep a close eye on myself. Maybe when I am in a better state, I can try out capoeira too!
Great to have you here LBT, best of luck mate
Hi,
I recently discovered your site. I really like the martial-art based quotes.
I would like to share one which my master uses.
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional”
Arun
This is the first time I’ve commented, but I’ve loved your work for a long time now, its really fantastic stuff. Especially the recent quote from Thoreau, it really helped turn around the direction my life had been going.
Actually, I just received my black belt in karate a few months ago, just before leaving for basic cadet training in the Air Force. It took me seven years, so I had a lot of time to think about this quote and others like it.
Martial arts, to me, is a lot about attitude, and very little about aptitude. All the great students in my dojo had a fire burning in their belly to learn, because it was fun. There were plenty of kids who showed up and had a real knack for the basics of it right off the bat, but it was really only those who followed this quote and put all their effort into watching their sensei that really improved.
One of my favorite friends was actually older than me, but he couldn’t figure out why I learned faster and performed better than he did in our lessons. In the end, it really came down to this quote. He obsessed so much over why others could do better than he could, that he spent all his time watching himself and worrying about mistakes. But when it comes down to it, the only way to become a master is to watch your master at all times. That’s why I love this quote.
Sorry for the rambling comment, I tend to get excessively descriptive unnecessarily. Thank you again for your awesome work, hope you find the passion to take up martial arts again!
Thanks Roady, congrats on the black belt!
These stories have encouraged me to start martial arts. My life is fine, but I am in internal chaos and stagnation at the same time… Also, I need some physical activity. I shall begin searching tomorrow!
Yes!
Brilliant! I love how both of them aged over time. Is that judo I identify?
As per your request, I’ve been practicing martial arts for about ten years (half my life) and I say with utmost honesty, it has changed who I am for the better. I recently came back from a week-long karate/tai chi/kobudo training camp in the mountains, and the insight I have gained into life has been profound and invaluable. So get zen everyone, learn some gong fu!
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been doing a little research on this. And he actually ordered me dinner simply because I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to discuss this matter here on your web page.|
I found that I needed to be my own master. I master myself. I learn what is useful. What works in what situation. I listen, I observe, I test and I endeavor.
Lots of teacher’s have their own philosophy. They have their own way. Right or Wrong…. It boils down to self examination not just copying a philosophy but building one of your own.
Beautiful series. I love your website.
I’m a student of the philosophical side of gung fu, and I’ve done a few years each of Tai Chi and Wing Tsun, but it’s hard to find a master of ‘true’ Tai Chi Chuan in the UK. I left my last master when I realised he was almost certainly a fake: the lessons were focused upon the showy stuff (silk, fan) and looped round; the combative aspects were replaced with an entirely different style of kung fu, in a separate lesson that cost extra; and I found that the style he taught had been made up in the 1970′s by one of Bruce Lee’s fight co-ordinators. What made it tragic was that he was a great, genuine guy; he’d just been made the inheritor of a bad style.
I practice gung fu as a way to be, incorporating its lessons on softness, strength, personal excellence through following a path and general approach to life into mine. That’s why Bruce Lee’s Dao of Gung Fu was transformative. In it he condensed it down to its base – you can see the roots of Jeet Kune Do in his diagrams of the different strikes, gung fu techniques and sections on philosophy.
I don’t practic martial arts, but i play football, and it’s exactly the smae thing. I love your work
Awesome as always. Never fails to inspire and create real emotion. I train in martial arts for years now, first Kung Fu and now Muay Thai. My recommendation for anyone regarding MA is this… Once you go in that direction, your life can never be the same
Training martial arts at a young age helped me to build confidence and a state of mind that is willing and able to endure pain for longer term benefit. This mentality persists even long after I stopped practicing.
A student of fencing sought to train as the disciple of a great swordsman/hermit, so he trekked the long way to meet him.
‘Why do you seek my audience?’ asked the Master.
‘I want to learn fencing so I may teach it to my village to defend against bandits’ said the Student.
‘Then you will have to train with me for the next ten years at least’ said the Master.
The Student was offput by the long duration. ‘I promise to train very hard and relentlessly, so that I may learn it in five years.’
The Master frowned and leant forward.
‘Then, it will take you thirty years.’
Comment: Had the Student said that he would train as long as it took to gain mastery, he would have easily attained his goal. Instead he placed a time limit on mastery, which cannot be scheduled, despite modern society’s individuals that claim otherwise.
I just wanted to toss in my two cents: this quote is very applicable to dance and similar arts! It’s a little more poignant too, since a dancer’s performing career is usually very short, and a lot of former dancers become teachers because it’s very hard to give up dancing, even when your body doesn’t do what you want anymore.
I’ve been a martial artist for 17 years. I’m only 20. When I was young, I was angry, distracted, confused. At age three, my parents could see this. While my sister was taking ballet, I watched the dojo in the downstairs practice room. My parents enrolled me, and it was the greatest decision they have ever made. Martial arts gave me confidence. It inspired me to do something great with my life. It taught me to really think about the things I do. Every day, to just stop and realize how my day was spent, and cherish every moment. It created my personal motto, “Do something dangerous. Live.”
You are never closer to another man than you are to your sparring partner. There is no bond stronger than with the person you fight. For years it was my friend Ashley, then Jesse, then Mike. I constantly adapt my style, drawing on things and styles that work for me; my body and my mind.
Martial arts cures all ailments. It teaches you how to be. So many people spend so much time squirming in their own skin, because they feel they are so much bigger than they are, or that they are so much smaller. Martial arts showed me exactly how great I could be.
I train in martial arts because I heard the call of the warrior at a young age. Though I’ve been training for 20 out of 28 years of my life I can’t claim I’m any good.
I can say I continue to train for a few good reasons.
One. Everything in life requires self discipline. This art is a good way to train that.
Two. It’s good exercise.
Three. Being a warrior is in my blood.
Four. It’s good to know what my capabilities are for dangerous what-If scenarios.
If anyone is curious my main learned styles are:
Tae Kwon Do
Judo
Brazilian Ju Jutsu
Fencing
Kenjutsu
And Capoeira.
I’ve picked up techniques from many other styles but no formal training.
I found myself browsing this website(and obviously this comic), and upon reading the AN, and I found myself wondering why I continue to practice Wado-Ryu Karate. As to why I began, it is quite simple: at the glorious age of 6, my parents decided I should learn. But a better question would be “Why do I continue?”. Not unlike the unique relationship between Baptism and Confirmation, I find myself in the same situation within my studies of Martial Arts. My parents made the decision for me to start, but I have made the decision, as an adult, to continue.
That being said, I believe that it was a blend between the inherent teachings of Wado-Ryu( Which translates into “The Way of Peace and Harmony”), and the ideology of my own Sensei. Between the lessons of “No First Strike”, “No Wasted Motion”, “No Wasted Technique”, “No Wasted Power”, which are aspects of the foundation of Wado-Ryu, lessons such as “Treat your Belt with respect. If you can respect a piece of cloth, you can respect a human being” and “If you think about the Black Belt, you will become a Black Belt. If you think about Doughnuts, you will become a Doughnut.” from my Sensei, I have found that I continue on my path of my Martial Art journey because within each different style lies a message that one can learn and apply to his/her life.
To be completely honest, this website has given me quite a lot to think about, and I must thank you for this chance to better myself through the Internet, using time that would have otherwise been wasted on Facebook or the like.
Thanks Paul, I’m glad the site could help
And this site indeed has given a wonderfully drawn face to undying words.
You sir, are wonderful person.
I have to admit that some of these strips have made me shed a tear, they are so beautifully drawn, and then added to the words that make all the difference. Thank you for giving me massive amount of feels
I agree completely, it wonderful how especially in the eastern martial arts. The respect for life is enormous. I myself practice Bujinkan Shinden, which is a combination of 9 different schools, including practises used by the old samurai and ninja.
Yet while most moves are intented to kill or seriously harm an opponent, the major factor in the whole practice is the respect for life, to know how to make this move without harming your opponent.
It gives you the power to harm another person, or take his life. But that is not the meaning of the art, it is to teach you survival and control over yourself. To differ the weak minds from the strong. We do not harm anyone, we aim for harmony – in all things.
I’m practicing martial arts since Octuber 2001 with the same master, and my master always said to me ” the only secret in martial arts it’s TRAI, TRAIN and keep training.”
Saludos desde Chile
I recently “became the master” and it was such an organic shift. Suddenly I don’t take the class, I teach it. I’m still no sensei Tako but I didn’t make it this far by giving up. This site is awesome, I need the encouragement because I lack the confidence.
I’ve been taking classes in aikia jujutsu for nearly a year and a half now and I love it. I got into it because I’ve always wanted to try a martial art of one type or another and I finally got the chance. I’m going to be challenging for my orange belt soon! I’m super nervous about it but this comic has settled me a little bit. I really enjoy what I’m doing and it lets me get out and active. I’ve also gained a lot of confidence from it!
Being one of the lowest belts has been tough at times and I sometimes wonder if I’m improving or moving forward. Being one of the few girls at my club and not being fully in shape has had it’s own hurdles but like I said, I’m loving it and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world! I’m also extramley lucky that I have an amazing teacher and amazing support from the other people there!