U.S.C.A. Award for Best Martial Arts School in Flagstaff
"Water Mountain... is a very supportive place to train. The instructors really understand how to work with you to achieve success, and to continually build upon and reinforce your successes. Everyone, students and instructors, work together to form an extremely positive environment. When I walked into the studio for the first time, I immediately felt at ease--sometimes I come in early just to relax in the calming environment. I feel sincerely respected by everyone I've met here. WMMS is like a supportive family, always encouraging me to new levels...."
--Alan Kaufmann, East Flag
"Water Mountain has improved my health so much-sometimes I can hardly believe it! When I first started coming here I was having so much pain, I was just about disabled. Now I'm energetic, feel younger, and I'm nearly pain free. Water Mountain has changed my life for the better....You can come here to handle stress, have a more balanced life and receive lots of positive support both from the staff and from all the friends you make here."
--Maureen White, West Flag
"Water Mountain Martial Arts has been a huge asset for my sons now ages 11 and 13. They not only benefit from the strength and skill building, but also are learning self-defense and discipline. They have learned that it takes a lot of hard work to accomplish some goals in life, but also that it is worth it all in the end."
--Judy Stratton, Upper Greenlaw
"Master Steenrod, I am writing you this letter to thank you and Water Mountain Martial Society for providing martial and lifestyle programs that have been part of my life for several years now. WMMS allowed me to achieve success, and continually build upon my successes, by reinforcing my positive frame of mind, and by cultivating the processes that move students toward imminent objectives using a clear agenda."
--Josh Edwards, East Flagstaff
"Water Mountain Martial Society is a great place to train. Besides the beautiful facility, every instructor is professional, respectful, easy to get along with, and concerned with your progress. The lessons are always very useful and practical, and techniques are demonstrated in a way that makes them quite easy to learn and do, often with surprising results.
A question I've often found myself asking after a class is: "Was I really just able to do that?".
Training at Water Mountain has also improved my health in a long-term and lasting way, both physically and mentally. After training there I find myself with much less stress, as well as an increased drive to do well in life, with the skills and confidence I need to do so.
I would encourage anyone interested in training to try it out. You won't be sorry!"
--James "Bolt Cutter" Patton, West Flagstaff
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What Does Qi Gong
and Kung Fu actually do?
Dear Friend,
One of the things that I do is constantly struggle to find simple ways of explaining kung fu and qi gong to other people so that they can understand the arts, and learn to value them. I do this, because I believe in the ability of the arts to improve lives, having seen them do so many times. When you get to the core, nutshell ideas of a thing—well, the world turns and lightning strikes, doesn’t it?
Qi gong Nutshell
Basically, the world has demanded that you be a certain way. That way has nothing to do with you what you need to be healthy or happy. Qi gong is about getting you to function in a way that fits the way your body was designed. That makes you happy, healthy and clear minded.
Let me expand upon that.
What does the world want from you? It wants you to produce. It wants you to perform an action—to build something, to provide a service. Over time, your qi and your mind goes to support you doing that. You become shaped by that act of production. Your body gets use to moving in certain ways. It builds up in some areas. It starts to fall apart in others.
If you are stressed, you develop habits like eating that allow you to deal with the stress. You start to tense muscles habitually. The world is happy because you are producing, but your body isn’t.
It’s breaking down. It’s falling apart. It’s aging.
You see, you were built to move about in the wilds. You were built to be exposed to different sensory stimulus—new things to process. You were designed to move in odd directions, to have your body shift angles. You were built to move fast and slow. You were built to struggle for your food. You were built to be cold and hot. How much of that have you been lately?
Qi gong is simple: it takes the body that was made for production and remakes it for you. You become healthy because you become what you are supposed to be.
We won’t even talk about the problem of having your mind dedicated to production.
How much of your mind’s mental activity is for you?
Kung Fu Nutshell
I spend more time talking about kung fu than qi gong, because people are more interested in kung fu, and have heard the words, “kung fu.” Kung Fu is about learning to take that risk. We have within us comfortable boundaries, places where we are used to being. It doesn’t matter whether or not we like the place. It doesn’t matter if the place is healthy for us. It doesn’t matter if we know better. We tend to stay there because of the comfort.
Learning to take that risk isn’t about bungi jumping or leaping from a speeding car onto a speeding truck. It’s about expanding yourself outside of that comfort area, and understanding the fear that reins you into your comfort spot. As you understand and release yourself from fear, you are able to do the things that you should do to fit the challenge you face or in life to do the thing that you know will bring you happiness, but are too afraid to do so.
Of course, for it to be kung fu you need a skilled coach to prod you out of that comfort area.
Not everyone can do that.
Warm regards,
Master Mikel Steenrod
P.S. If your wondering what art would be a good fit for you, sign up for the FREE online course below. It will lead you through a series a simple, step-by-step descriptions to help you come to an impartial decision.
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