jay508x01 Traveller in the arts
Posts: 9
(6/17/02 9:01 am) Reply
One of My best parts
I have only edited this once, but people say it's good. Please tell me what you think.
Copywright 2002 Jason Compton
One particular night, Jason had a very peculiar dream. He was back on Earth, training under his master, Sifu
Yen. His master asked Jason; "What are you going to do when I can teach you no more. What do you think
you will be able to accomplish by practicing martial arts? What will you do with all of these skills given to
you?"
Jason could not find an answer. He did not know what he would do with his skill, he did not know
what the purpose of his higher training was. He trained more than the average person, more then even most
warriors. But there was no purpose to his actions. He simply trained for the sake of training.
"You stupid apprentice." His master told him, as if he could read his thoughts. "There has to be a
purpose if you wish to get into the most secrete, the most advanced of martial arts. Techniques such as the
eight foot stomp and Qinggong cannot be mastered by anyone without reason for training. You must find a
reason." His master then walked away.
"Wait, master," Now Jason was a kid again, calling again to his master after he had walked away.
"Does this mean that I cannot train with you any longer?"
Jason waited for his master to return, but instead a bully who used to pick on him in school
appeared, He was a big guy, but he could never pick a fight with Jason because he knew he couldn't win.
"Higher martial arts are useless," he was saying, as he always said. "They serve no purpose anymore. All
they are is a waste of time. You can get better results with firearms."
"That isn't true," Jason would say, but he could find no argument to help convince himself that it
wasn't. Suddenly, another memory flashed. The bully had been cornered by a gang of thieves, all great
martial artist, and in close quarters. Jason was there, in the shadows, waiting. The first bully came at the kid,
but Jason, with the several Kungs he had learned, (Kungs are specific training exercises that are meant to
raise train a particular ability or skill.) Jason had gained incredible speed, and these forms of higher martial
arts made the other kids no match for him, even then. Was this the answer? Close quarter combat hardly
seemed reason enough to learn higher forms of martial arts. But the big kid he had just saved was talking
again. "If they had firearms, would they still have been able to defeat you?" No, Jason thought, they were
too close together, and him too fast for them to get a clear shot. But this still didn't seem like enough reason
to learn higher forms of martial arts, though Jason felt that he was missing something...
Another image came to mind. His family and friends were with him at Christmas. They were
unwrapping presents. It was one of the only times Jason had spent time with his family. He remembered how
happy he was then. But then he remembered something else. He remembered his fear of anyone trying to
come and ruin that day.
His father and mother were sitting at a table suddenly, talking about the possibility of a robber
entering the house or a murderer, going after one of the family in order to bring about chaos, which has
happened once. Jason's father laughed at the idea. "Jason would protect us." He had said, "His master told
me that he is the best student he ever had." Jason remembered how proud he was. He trained extra hard
after that.
"Protecting is one of the reasons to go into higher martial arts," his master said in his dream. "You
cannot always carry a gun, but your martial arts are always with you. Upon mastery they can be called upon
anytime."
"To protect...," an unknown voice said in his dream.
Another image flashed in his mind. Every mourning in twentieth century China millions would wake
up and practice Qigong. This is what started the world-wide increase in health and longevity. But health and
longevity wasn't the only reason for this vision, Jason knew it somehow. You can improve your health with
beginners martial arts. He wondered what the purpose to higher martial arts were. His image focused on one
particular man. He was meditating by himself in front of a statue of Buddha. The image flashed again, and
the same man was found sitting in front of the same statue five hundred years earlier. There was no change
in his appearance, he did not look a day younger. His superior martial arts kept him alive more than five
hundred years. That was when Jason realized that only the higher martial arts could, in legend, attain
immortality. This is not known though, but with a man such as this as an example, it was not doubted very
much. Legends say the man still lives today. He has black hair and a black beard, a small but fit looking
frame, and a wise look on his face, as if he knew more then a human usually would...
"This man's name is Noam. He has wondered the earth for many years, living off the vitality given
to him through the most advanced Qigong. No man has ever wandered the earth longer, and no man has
gotten closer to perfect spirituality," Jason's master said.
"Spirituality..."
Again, the unknown voice. Now Jason saw a young master doing his Qigong forms and trying to
understand what they did to himself, and another man science and ways of the universe. Both were trying to
find the truths about their own existence and the existence of the universe. Jason remembered what his
master said about this. "This is what separates the good martial arts from the inferior martial arts. A true
martial artist tries to figure out why he exists. The other martial arts only focus on the first point. This is the
basis for much Chinese culture."
"Understanding..." The voice said. Now Jason remember all of times his master had tried to deliver
this message to him. As usual, he felt like an idiot for having forgotten and not fully understanding these
points. But there was another reason for Jason.
Since he was a child Jason has practiced martial arts in some form or another. It was his life, and he
knew nothing else. He had been following this path blindly until now.
But why was he in the army? The answer came to him almost immediately. Since martial arts are
practiced in the army, and there was much knowledge in the universe to be had, Jason had joined the army to
find out more about the universe. It was the best way to do it, no matter how Jason looked at it. He would
not be able to do so otherwise because his family generally did not like space travel, with his sister and
himself being the exception, and though his family was well to do, their parents would not let them have any
money unless they earned it on their own, and personal space ships were so expensive even some rich
families could not afford them.
Message Boards:
Jworld a place to discuss health, Qigong, Psionics, Astral Projection, eastern philosophy, and martial arts. J Anime Worlddiscuss anime, write fan fiction, and discuss games in a friendly enviornment.
J Authors Worlda place for writers to discuss writing, publishing, and to get criticall feedback on thier work. Also a place for people in the movie business trying to write a script.
"If we are going to train, then we might as well have fun while doing so."
Bigger and better. Just finished (Yet never finished.)
J Qi/PSI World
jay508x01 Traveller in the arts
Posts: 10
(6/19/02 3:16 pm) Reply
Re: One of My best parts
Don't be afraid to tell me "It sucks" or "It's OK but..." I can take it.
Message Boards:
Jworld a place to discuss health, Qigong, Psionics, Astral Projection, eastern philosophy, and martial arts. J Anime Worlddiscuss anime, write fan fiction, and discuss games in a friendly enviornment.
J Authors Worlda place for writers to discuss writing, publishing, and to get criticall feedback on thier work. Also a place for people in the movie business trying to write a script.
"If we are going to train, then we might as well have fun while doing so."
Bigger and better. Just finished (Yet never finished.)
J Qi/PSI World
Traveller in the arts
Posts: 31
(6/22/02 10:52 pm) Reply
Re: One of My best parts
Jay, It still doesn't grab me. Sorry I am not past here often anymore..the popups are just too much.
I am trying not to be rude. Here is the bottom line: You need to study grammar and to tighten your work. It needs to be inviting and more individual..the dream is too long. Partially I lost interest because I am not a teenage boy and if that is your target audience then perhaps you are on track. A great writer can make me want to read about peeling paint when they describe it. You need to make me want to know about Marial Arts..and you did not. Keep at it..write an d rewrite.
jay508x01 Traveller in the arts
Posts: 11
(6/25/02 7:28 am) Reply
Re: One of My best parts
Maybe you just aren't into my style. That's Ok, thanks for the input
A lot of people looking but noone posting.
Message Boards:
Jworld a place to discuss health, Qigong, Psionics, Astral Projection, eastern philosophy, and martial arts. J Anime Worlddiscuss anime, write fan fiction, and discuss games in a friendly enviornment.
J Authors Worlda place for writers to discuss writing, publishing, and to get criticall feedback on thier work. Also a place for people in the movie business trying to write a script.
"If we are going to train, then we might as well have fun while doing so."
Bigger and better. Just finished (Yet never finished.)
J Qi/PSI World
Message Boards:
Email This To a Friend
Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies 
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies