Jan 2004

I started off as wanting to be a professional martial artist at twelve, but enrolled into medical school, after 5 years of medical practise, the professional Martial artist in me was born. So I believe, if u really desire something, Life takes u there.

Feb 2004

Being strongly atheistic (non believer in God), I searched and searched for a Philosophy that made sense. I embraced Martial arts as a religion to practice.

I was inspired by Zen and embraced it willingly, but it though taught me how to think (or not think!), it did not give me any guidelines for living.

Till I found JKD. The JKD principles of Simplicity, Directness, Effectivity, Open mindedness, Fluidity, Non traditional Nature, Absorb what is useful & Hack away the unessentials were gospel to me. I applied & applied these everywhere & anywhere.

and I succeeded like hell. The success was not always material, but my goals were always reached.

Mar 2004

I often wonder. Why folks donot use JKD in their lives? When it is the simplest & the most logical path? The answer is simple! The simplest thing in the world is the most hardest to comprehend. And if u comprehend, still it remains the most difficult to execute. Why? Bcos everyone is a slave to classical (traditional conditioning). And to the traditional mind, move in a direction away from the herd is blasphemy!

April 2004

As a human ,being part of the system, I always moved in reverse. People work on their profession, careers, assets, family. I chose to work on myself, my mind and my health.

At the tender age of 22, I was out into the world as a medcal professional. I practiced as a medical consultant part time using half my day, and reserved the other half for my workouts. I spent long hours with Sam (Dr Seema, my buddy & sparring partner of 20 years) discussing my mind, goals of life (whether they exist, if at all!) & the journey.

I realized that in life, people were involved in running at break neck speed towards their death striving towards amassing material goods. In the process they lost themselves and whatever they originally possessed - the freedom of a child's thoughts, the fitness of youth and the reasons for joy & laughter.

I lead my life differently. I worked on my body, my mind and my spiritual development. 

May 2004

Material Goods. Yes I would want them. A BMW convertible is a great desire. A BMW with a blonde is even better. With two blondes, hey Wow! But it doesnt matter if I walk on the streets. It was never a need.

Why do people give up all they have for material gains? I believe that there are many MUST HAVES.

First - freedom

Second - time

Third - fitness & health

Fourth - peace of mind & clarity of thought

Five - $ $ $ $ $!!! Money!

Imagine an obese, lame millionaire who has to play pawn to his father, who has no time for his family & who is jealous of his buddies! of what use is his wealth?

I preferred to be extremely fit, retain my childhood love for the arts, develop a no- mind, keep free from the humdrums of working 9-5 & keep procuring wealth as the last important priority. I didnot want to give precious moments of my life to doing anything that blocked my growth or obstructed my other priorities. 

June 2004

So, we decided, Sam & I, that we will take our combat concepts to those places where it will be really respected & needed. We started training the Police & Armed forces. 

In our country martial arts are taught for peanuts. (4 $ / month, yes, u got it right, four dollars!) We quoted higher professional charges.These could not be met by the forces without adequate time (6-8 months) for government sanctions.

So we did away with our professional charges thinking we either get paid the amount we deserve, or rather we do not get paid at all, but we will not dispense our superior art at throw away prices.

What we missed in wealth, we made up by accumulating respect. We won the respect of soldiers, senior officials & eventually the top brass (Service Chiefs)

So we were really a proud pair. We served our beloved Nation for ten years without any fees!

NOW LET ME BREAK THE RHYTHM....FLASHBACK TO A YEAR BACKWARD

July 2004

With the years, I felt younger. My hair is greying, hairline receding, skin beginning to age. But my mind feels fresher by time. And I am NOT AFRAID.

Few years ago, I realized that man is afraid. I WAS AFRAID.I made a list of fears. Death was first. The rest as below.

THE FEARS

(1)  THE FEAR OF DEATH .

(2)  THE FEAR OF AGEING

(3)  THE FEAR OF PERMANENT DISABILITY.

(4)  THE FEAR OF CHRONIC DISEASES.

(5)  THE FEAR OF DEPENDENCE (IN DISASTER / DISEASE / OLD AGE)

(6)  THE FEAR OF DISASTER .

(7)  THE FEAR OF SITUATION ( DANGEROUS ) .

(8)  THE FEAR OF DANGEROUS MEN .

(9)  THE FEAR OF DISAGREEMENTAND ASSERTION.

(10) THE FEAR OF LOSS OF ESTEEM AND LOSS OF FACE.

(11) THE FEAR OF MATERIAL LOSS.

(12) THE FEAR OF SEXUAL REJECTION .

(13) THE FEAR OF ALIENATION AND LONELINESS.

(14) THE FEAR OF POVERTY AND FINANCIAL INSTABILITY.

(15) THE FEAR OF SOCIETY.

(16) THE FEAR OF THE LAW.

(17) THE FEAR OF THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE .

(18) THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

(19) THE FEAR OF BODILY HARM.

(20) THE FEAR OF THREAT.

A couple of years back, there seemed no way I could have got over or conquered any of these fears. Man, I was really scared. Today, however, I have got over most. KUDOS !

Aug 2004

I have hit forty. I think often, what have I achieved in Life? I live in a rental house. I donot make enough money. I have not made a family. All I have done is educated myself. I posess 3 doctorates, & sam has a doctorate & an MBA. I have martial arts ranks. I have about 300 trophies and a hundred commendation letters from the ramed forces. What else?

I suddenly realize. I have a reasonably good physique, am extremely fit, am very good in combative arts. (I am not humble about this!) I have developed a zen mind (rather I have lost my mind) and I am in good health, am free, I hv all the time in the world to do what I want (not to waste or wile). I hv aacumulated a small amount of money to last me thru tough times. And I am FREE to experience, unbound by classical traditions!

Good enough, for forty!

Sept 2004

I did everything unconventional. JKD way. Had Lee been around, he would have probably said 'Hey, that man is for real!' Today his opinions about my life are reflected via Bustillo. He appears to be proud of me.

I had an unconventional education. I followed my instincts and defied my institutions to laern the right way.(lets not elaborate, for now). I had  unconventional relationships. I dumped traditional martial arts and yet made it big. I practise medicine questioning the answers and conventional therapies. I have an unconventional routine rather than a 9-5 job. And I work as an unconventional consultant in counter terrorism training.

The JKD has worked. And worked wonders.

Oct 2004

Now, What has life to offer? I want to LIVE! and see what more is to come. The Bad I will conquer or endure. PASS. The good, I look forward. Hey life, Here I am waiting with open arms... 

CHANGE: The most dangerous transition in Life! Man is so afraid of change. Routine is boring, but stable. Change is probably fun, bcos it brings the prospect of progress or gain, but dangerous. for u may leave ur perfectly secure position and move on to a very unstable position. From the Frying pan into the Fire!!.

Change should therefore be brought about by a Zennish attitude of opposites. CAUTIOUS BOLDNESS and never bcos of GREED of gain. I have seen many vanquished bcos they thought they must welcome / invite change primarily bcos of greed, but they passed it off as "one must move on"  I have faced so many changes, many without option, but have adapted to them all.

Intelligence is sometimes defined as your ability to adapt to ur environment, but also as your ability to make ur environment adapt to ur needs.(Tao). I have used this JKD principle quite often, trying to make my environment adjust to my needs, and wherever I couldnt, I have gracefully adapted to the environment. the soft force, "Water - The most adaptive, yet strongest force on earth."  

Nov 2004

How does one know whether what he did was correct or not?  Whether the chosen path, philosophy, attitude, decision or movement was right or wrong. Only by the JKD principle of EFFECTIVITY.

If at the end of the road, the person who walked that road truly thinks he ended up HAPPY, then the path was right. Or else wrong. So, only the individual himself can decide, Right or Wrong.

But many may rationalize and use the JKD principle to say I M HAPPY even if they are not. They use the JKD principles to suit their thinking, Such application is dangerous.They may eventually end up in a mess.

As I look back, I thank JKD for everything it has given me, and I thank Life for helping me find JKD.

Dec 2004

Seema was selected for Mrs India World Beauty Pagent. 250 selections from over 25,000 all over the country. Guess What, She made it to top 8 finalists. They were going to make her the Queen, but then she was asked whether she will return the favor. You know what.  She said go to hell.

Later I was told that many soldiers, officers & senior brass of the Army was cheering her all over India. What great motivation. She was my Mrs World anyways. Character won over Material gain. Woman of Substance!

Towards the end of this year, A thought crossed our minds... If we were to be told to die tommorow, would we have the same perspective to Life today? I am sure not.

Life would suddenly seem so beautiful. Every moment would be beautiful. Every human being would be uniquely important.

The past would not matter. The present will become most valuable, The future would not exist.

If we are in a hurry, time is slow. If we are ready to wait, Time is fast.  But Time is what it is. It is not!!

So let us live today as if we are going to die tommorow. And let us plan tommorrow as if We are going to live forever. In the words of Lee, It is defeat that you must learn to live for. When tommorow comes, you must learn to die.

Friends, We are so LUCKY to have crossed you. You all have enriched our life. We mean that with all sincerity to each & every one of you.

This year we all will  reach our goals and in this year we all will also reach our understanding of a goalless life. The Nothing which one seraches for, when the goal for everything ends. The No mindedness which is the height of cultivation of  all intelligence.

This year we will also try better, try Softer. When we need to exert a force stronger than the hardest force we have used, we will find that softness is needed. Thus the softest thing in the world will overcome the strongest.

This year we will Live. Enough of surviving Life. Lets live and live every moment to the fullest. Let us notice the Sunrise, the Birds chirping, the Wind blowing, the flower blossoming & the trees swaying gently to the Music of Life.

Let us listen to the music of our soul and quieten the noise of our mind.  

Jan 2005

When u want something, it seems very important to u. When u get it, it ceases to matter. Whether it is money, academic accolades, health, whatsoever.

The reverse is also true. When u have something, u assume it is urs to keep & take granted that fact. But when u lose it, u start valuing it.

Take my health for instance. During training last year, I have been obsessed with getting better, faster, stronger & more skillfull. Now, I have dislocated my knee. and I realise that I had been kicking, punching & moving so well.

I will recover. I always do. I have injured & battered my body so badly so many times. Countless Fractures, A Slipped disc had me down for 8 months in bed, Retinal tears sent me partially blind, Kidney stones handicapped me for months caused by severe dehydration. i had convulsions becos of hypocalcemia during a marathon. And now dislocated knee, the second time.

Nothing can keep me from Fighting. Becos fighting now is inseparable from me. It is a way of life... my way. Samurai philosophy is so deeply imbibed into warriors, therefore Samurai stay Samurai till the last breath.

Nothing will down my spirits. I am not ever going down. I will adapt, and survive. I know this well, its a time proven fact. 

I have also learnt to value my health, my fitness a lot more. And I have learnt to count my blessings rather than repent on hangups. I am never sorry about what happens. I am comfortable with myself.

My life is beautiful, I will respect & love it till the last breath. And till Ibreathe, I will stay a warrior... By choice!

Feb 2005 to Jun 2005

I have recovered from the knee injury. Am still a little slow but will soon get faster than ever.

I met a Millionaire. He wanted to learn Fighting. I taught him. He loved it. Somewhere down the line, he asked me whether I & Sam will head a company lauched by him in VIP Protection. We said yes. Cheers man. We would be rich! Overnight. Plans progressed. Meanwhile my students respect was growing & growing for me. Till it grew to a level of disadvantage to me! I was told by my Millionaire student that he didnot feel comfortable playing my boss. So lets drop it, he said. With that my (current!) destiny of getting really rich changed. No Problem, I shrugged it off. Lifes like that....Sometimes You get the Bear, At times the Bear gets you.

Sifu Bustillo is coming to India. Just to seminar us! I am thrilled. The Army Chief is once again interested in my work. This time I have suggested that they consider modifying their existing training in some aspects. National se curity is also inclined once again. Diving Ops is also interested. Looks like a busy year.

Mom is dying. Right in front of me. I love her so much. But she has to go, I gues. Her life cycle is complete. Her life has been complete, I reassure her. As a physician, I tell her that death is a neccesary component of Life. Not to fear. Not to pity. To welcome with open arms. To be happy about it. To have lived so fully... to so ripe an age. Kudos. I had great difficulty in telling her this. After telling her, I saw that she was first very sad. Then her sadness was replaced with happiness & an intense desire to experience her last few moments fully. I succedded in making her moments, I am glad. But the sadness in me is so profound. I look at her all the time & think, Mom u have been so good to me.... Thank u!

I have felt so profoundly sad only on 3 occasions. When my Dad died, When my Dog died & When my once dearest student betrayed me. Now I guess will be the 4th time. ON all these occasions it rained heavily, as if the skies were personifying my tears. No problem, Lifes like that.

July 2005

Friends. Many times, you meet someone from a totally different world. You get attached & a beautiful friendship begins.

I have many beautiful friendships. They are fulfilling. I once said 'Friendship is a verb'. So, it has to be 'done'. you have to keep in touch, meet, walk along, not say a once in a year Hi to your best pal.

In my life, I find that in the course of life, your friends get lost in life that the importance of the friendship diminishes. It then takes a small misunderstanding to lose its intensity. Also, two friends who donot have any common associations like business, work, hobby, common circle & common goals fail to travel far together. this should not be so, but practically, it so happens.

In any case, I will conclude by saying that whichever friends I have had, have only added to my life. Thanks to all of them. To those who have misunderstood me, or not understood my love, I am still grateful for having shared some thoughts with me along the way!

Aug 2005

Finally, we did something commercial. We opened up a State of the art 'Combat Training Center in India. Here we train civilians, law enforcement & military personnel who wish to train with us in hand to hand combat. This is the first one of its kind in India.

Yes, some moolah is flowing in. more than we asked for. But as a rule, we donot put money above our lives. students are desparate to train under us. At any cost. I am surprised that my work in combat is finally reaping some commercial benefits, without asking from destiny.  

At times I am given to believe in Karma, You get what you deserve, You reap what you sow, you get good returns if u do good, bad if u do bad. Seems mathematical. Hard to believe, though, if u are trained in science like me. But nevertheless, good adage for "doing good"!!

Sept 2005

The Army Chief organized a ACCS presentation Workshop at a high level convention presided by the Army Training Chief. It was attended by over 100 Officers from Col to Generals. Big moment for ACCS.

Oct 2005

My Dog is so beautiful. He is a dobberman pinscer. Male. Black & Tan. Drago - The Carbine. He has some congenital weakness in his hind legs. But Man, can he fight! He is an agressive guy when attacked by other dogs, otherwise he is the a statue of god!

He is an epitome of fidelity. Reminds me of how infidel man can be, What a contrast! Man needs to learn from Dog. OR DOB!

Nov 2005

Life surprises me. you meet some people, at times in life, who come so close. I am not referring to man-woman relationship. You meet the most unlikely person, take time to get friendly & suddenly - LO, u r great buddies. And Life changes so much. Fulfillment comes, Colors of Life change. So much Magic & Adventure may come.

Dec 2005

Do I have to keep writing? No, Life is full of Army assignments. We have achieved the Respect of People who matter. Feels good. I didnt know I was this man that they are talking about so much.

Jan 2006

Life offers so much. Sometimes its for the good. Sudden prosperity, Sharp downfalls. Unpredictable happennings.

A Young Martial Art Instructor Died. Most unlikely. My Dying mother lived. Most unlikely. A Fit man broke both  his hands. Unlikely. An old man of 94 survived an accident. Ha! I want to laugh.

Life is scary! Life is so Good! Life is CERTAINLY BEAUTIFUL.

Feb 2006

In Life One must learn the 3 qualities

1. How to Prevent Adversity

2. How to Combat Adversity

3. How to ADAPT if the fight fails.

I am learning to Adapt to all possible happennings in my life. Separation of a Dear One. Death of a Dear One. Handicap & Disability of Self. Loss of Property.

When it comes, I shall be already over it. IF IT COMES. If Life gives me  a BOOTY, I wont be surprised & will cherish it.

I want to be truly invulnerable. Like Buddha. Like Osho. Like BRUCE LEE. That is what fighting has taught me.

Mar 2006

I am overworked. Working towards beating fat. Beating a pot belly from appearing. Martial Arts Training. My work for the Forces. Research. My Academy.

In the midst I wonder, wh