Arts of Personal Transformation
Informed by Nature

Martial Philosophy

Mars is at the head of military affairs, and executes his office with a certain fiery ardour. —Basilius Valentinus

Governing our feral, frenzied and unrestrained passions, Mars was throughout history and across cultures a much feared malefic planet for its destructive effects upon the collective consciousness. Despite the negative associations, Martial energies are an archetypal, primordial and necessary force of Nature. It is through destruction that renewal, regeneration and rebirth occur. The Martial Arts can be an expression of this process. By removing obstructions and superfluities that prevent us from flourishing in alignment with our true nature, the following transformations take place:

Training Transformations

🜔 Physical

The body becomes harmonious; light, relaxed, efficient, resistant to injury, disease and degeneration.

🜍 Psychological

The inner voice slowly quietens, allowing deeper intelligences and intuition to take its place.

☿ Energetic

Freeing up the body and mind leads to greater energy, vitality & wellbeing.

Inner Work

The ram, Aries, is the domicilium of Mars, the fiery planet of passions, impulsiveness, rashness, violence, and so on... to be unconscious of one's passion is much worse than to suffer from passion... you have overcome the worst danger when you are aware of your fundamental desires or passions. —Jung, The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga

The Martial Arts are a route through which we can get in touch with and understand in a healthy and constructive manner our destructive passions. These aspects of our psychological shadow are often repressed or directed inwardly. By allowing them to be expressed, we can then consciously integrate them to bring about psychological transformation and healing.

Mars and Venus

To lovely Venus, and to Bacchus yield... —Orphic Hymn to Mars

His friends are only Venus; enemies all the other planets. —Lilly, Christian Astrology

Loving and accepting these parts of ourselves removes their power and hold over us. This is tempering the harshness of Mars with the softness of Venus. Poetically, it is iron and copper—Mars and Venus—that together create healthy blood cells within the body: strengthening our hearts and our ability to show up as kind and loving individuals in the world.

This is the ultimate aim of the Martial Path.

Image: Mars and Venus Caught in a Net by Vulcan, Rembrandt, 1643

Refining the Martial Archetype

Balanced Martial Aspects

Will, Fortitude, Courage, Self-control, Protection, Assertiveness, Boundaries, Renewal, Peace

Unbalanced Martial Aspects

Vengeance, Anger, Aggression, Destruction, Wrath, Hatred, Discord, War

Mars, moreover, is the flaming energy of passion, it is the male quality in its lowest sense; it is the courage which goes berserk, and I do not mind telling you that, in my own case at least, one of the inhibitions with which I had most frequently to contend was the fear that I was going mad. —Crowley, Eight Lectures on Yoga

Image: Mars, engraving by Crispijn de Passe the Elder, 1589

Magnanimous, unconquered, boisterous Mars,
In darts rejoicing, and in bloody wars
Fierce and untamed, whose mighty power can make
The strongest walls from their foundations shake:
Mortal destroying king, defiled with gore,
Pleased with war's dreadful and tumultuous roar:
Thee, human blood, and swords, and spears delight,
And the dire ruin of mad savage fight.
Stay, furious contests, and avenging strife,
Whose works with woe, embitter human life;
To lovely Venus, and to Bacchus yield,
To Ceres give the weapons of the field;
Encourage peace, to gentle works inclined,
And give abundance, with benignant mind.

—Orphic Hymn to Mars, ~100-200AD

Training Principles

Through the nervous system the body and mind are intrinsically linked. Developing qualities within the body simultaneously develops mirroring qualities within the mind—and vice-versa. We can refine the arts to reflect these qualities.

Awareness

Greater awareness of our internal physical states through increasingly deep levels of proprioception leads to a greater understanding of our psychology; increasing our senses of perception, intuition and self-knowledge.

Connection

Connecting the body together within itself, together with the mind and also together with the external world leads to integration, where we are able to harmonise with both ourselves and the external aspects of our lives.

Sensitivity

Cultivating sensitivity leads to better listening skills and increases our ability to empathise, read and "feel" others—enabling us to be more supportive to those around us.

Focus

Learning to focus the mind maximises alertness, reflexes, responsiveness and our ability to carry out tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Play

Training with a sense of play and freedom of expression encourages neuroplasticity: forming new connections between neurons which increases the mind's adaptability, creativity, problem solving abilities and emotional regulation.

Structure

A firm but flexible structure, achieved through correct alignments and strong rooting, is more conducive to the healthy flow of bodily fluids—leading to inner stability and resilience.

Release

Long-standing emotional/mental blockages and traumas as well as shorter-term stresses are stored as tension within the physical matrix of the body. The body can be used as a gateway to access this inner space, allowing us to experience and release these blockages in a healthy and constructive manner.

Syllabus

The syllabus covers internal & external strength training, conditioning, meditation, movement, striking, partner work, sensitivity drills and weapons, with a focus on form, posture and breath.

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Teaching Approach

Training is tailored according to your strengths, weaknesses and natural inclinations. My approach to teaching is fun and playful and encourages strong fundamentals, derived from my teaching experience working with children with Special Educational Needs.

Martial Correspondences

Rulership

Aries

Process

Calcination

Day

Tuesday

Colour

Blood Red

Metal

Iron

Medicinal Properties

Astringent, haemostatic, wound healing, blood & circulatory health

Minerals

Hematite, magnetite, pyrite

Plants

Nettle, wormwood, thistle

Bodily Organ

Gallbladder

Bodily System

Immune System