The Secret Art of Boabom
When The Students Speak:
Extended Student Comments
In this section:
Content
Page 3
I feel more positive in my approach to my everyday life now... more awake, more clear-headed. Physically, I feel better than I have in a long time. I feel strong, flexible and more relaxed. I feel happier... healthier (they do go hand in hand). Physical problems that were nagging before have diminished noticeable or disappeared. My focus and confidence in general are greatly improved and I feel I am becoming more in tune with what I need in my life internally and externally and what I do not. Soon after I began the class, I felt a positive effect quickly. Since, this effect has continued to grow in surprising ways. It began with self-defense and became so much more. I feel a great deal of gratitude for everything Boabom has helped to awaken within me.
Jennifer Winslow
Technical Writer
USA
Like all natural things, everything has a beginning and a development. For me, arriving at the School a few years ago has meant an awakening from a long and profound lethargy. Just like a tiny sprout, with the passage of time I have grown into the teachings of this Art and have cultivated a steely discipline, which has meant a better and stronger life. I have eradicated small vices, such as smoking and a generally sedentary life. I can also affirm a dramatic improvement in my mobility, resistance to stress, muscular agility, breathing capacity, and especially in knowing how to observe, assay, and measure any adversary, any problem in general, without fear, achieving confidence in myself and my actions.
I must also emphasize the noteworthy dedication of our Teacher, her persistence, clarity, and devotion which has allowed the achievement that I live today...
Juvenal Buccarey
Naval Officer-retired
Second-in-Command of Antarctic Mission (1977-79), Arturo Prat Naval Base
Chile
Since the first day I have been learning a lot of new, exciting moves and techniques on the Art of Boabom. The classes have been challenging and engaging with thorough, detailed instructions by our teacher. Our teacher is dedicated and helpful, and has taught us many things about the Art. Whenever I am unclear about a move or an idea, he would explain it very clearly. The classes are serious yet unthreatening, so it has been a good learning environment for me. I hope to continue learning and gaining more physical and mental strength from the Art of Boabom. Although the classes are getting more difficult, I am excited to learn all the new moves and steps as I grow as a student.
Toshiko Oda
Teacher
Japan
I have been practicing Boabom for over a year. Within that time, I have been happy to witness a distinct physical transformation as well as an increased ability to focus. At first, the movements and the overall classes seemed fairly simple and not too rigorous. As my studies in the Art have progressed, the classes and movements have gradually become more complex and demanding, both physically and mentally, although never beyond my ability. The many movements I have learned work the entire body and have created equilibrium between all the muscle groups in my body which have helped me maintain better posture and have also helped to relieve me of occasional tendonitis flair ups. The concentration that is required to learn new movements has also helped me to increase my ability to focus.
I enjoy the seemingly endless sequence in which new movements are introduced, which keeps the class interesting and keeps the student wondering what will be learned in the next class. I am always looking forward to the next class and eager to teach my body to do new things. The classes have been taught in a very positive way and our teacher has always been very supportive, patient, and clear in the explanation of new movements.
I look forward to the knowledge that will be passed to me in the next stage and witnessing the physical, spiritual, and mental growth that will result in the acquisition of that knowledge. Although Boabom is an ancient Art, I feel that, in these days of cubicles, computers, and automobiles, is needed more than ever for its wellspring of personal health and wellness.
Stephen Fell
Musician and Teacher
USA
I have been doing Boabom for almost four years, and just recently I started Seamm-Jasani as well. It sounds like I have been a student for a long time as I write it down, but it feels like it has gone by very quickly, and I still feel new. In that four-year period I have had four different teachers and four very different learning experiences from each one. I find this quite amazing, since the material being taught is the same.
When I started, I was so consumed by the physical coordination and nature of the movements, that that is all I could think about. My body had never moved in those ways before, and I loved it. As I became more agile and deft, particularly in movements that required a lot of coordination of the left and right side, I began to feel more confident. My endurance increased, and I felt very happy after classes (and sweaty, as well). Then, as I became more accustomed to the Art, I was able to pay more attention to precision in my movements. I found that the classes helped me focus in a way I rarely experienced in my life. Sometimes, while doing the movements, I would have thoughts or ideas come into my head that were solutions to things that had been bugging or preoccupying me. Those thoughts gave me even more energy and zest for giving my all in a class.
This past year I sustained a work related injury from repetitive hand movements, and I had to stop taking Boabom classes for several months. It was very hard to admit that I could not practice because my wrist was so vulnerable; I stopped all physical activity to help my wrist heal. I immediately saw the repercussions. I began to gain weight, feel more sluggish, and in general my life slowed down. In some respects it was nice to rest, because I am a highly active person, but I missed the invigorating energy I got from Boabom classes. As my wrist got better, I was advised to slowly reintegrate myself into the Art. This is when I discovered Seamm-Jasani. In Seamm-Jasani, the movements are much more slowly paced, and there is an emphasis on patience, relaxation, and grace. I loved the classes, and found them gentle enough to help me begin moving again, without fear of re-injuring my wrist. My wrist got progressively better, and in the past month, I have rejoined Boabom. I am now taking both Seamm-Jasani and Boabom and it's a dynamic combination. Because of my absence, I could not continue with my old Boabom class, which has moved on to a new stage, so I am in a new and bigger class that has just begun the stage I was in before I left. I love the experience of learning with other people, and the energy in the class is outstanding. I am very happy to be back.
One more thing, before I end. The best part of taking classes, aside from physically feeling great, is being with the people. The Art attracts a wonderful community. The teachers cultivate a positive and light energy that spills into their students. Whatever was going on for me during the day gets cleared up when I go to a class. I look forward to many more years of self-discovery and change.
Sara Bursac
Social Work Graduate Student
Yoga Instructor
Croatia
The Art has been a great discovery for me. I have never been so comfortable with any discipline, never so confident and so happy practicing it. The changes I have seen in myself have been completely visible, first the physical changes, feeling that I was in much better shape, that my endurance has notably increased, as has my energy. My way of looking at life and facing problems is much more effective and positive, and now I always see a solution. I do not drown in a glass of water anymore, and when faced with anything I breathe as in my classes, become calm... and then the answer comes.
Joan Hudson
Businesswoman
Chile
Strength in Motion: that is my favorite visual image of Boabom. Thank you all for a very warm, welcoming teaching experience.
Fred Lacerda
PhD, Architect
Brazil
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Boabom is unique in that it helps people find balance both within their bodies and in the way they engage and interact with the world, no matter what their particular background, lifestyle, personality, stress-level or fitness-level may be. Many Eastern arts like Yoga and Tai Chi while they may be extremely beneficial in helping people cultivate their Yin energy (balance, flexibility, breathing, and relaxation), they are less focused on developing Yang energy (power, speed, quick reactions, assertiveness). The reverse is true of many of the Eastern Martial Arts that focus on developing Yang energy which they do through a lot of strength and speed training, as well as through contact, sparring, and breaking exercises, while not focusing on the development of Yin energy.
Boabom is as beneficial to a person with a predominantly Yin constitution as it is to a person with a predominantly Yang constitution. I have always been somewhat of a shy person and my experiences with Boabom have been invaluable in teaching me how to unfold and develop my Yang energy and have helped me with self-confidence and assertiveness. I have no doubt that if necessary I could react and defend myself in a threatening situation. For Yang-type individuals, people with high energy or stress levels who are naturally more extroverted and easily aggravated, Boabom helps them to connect with their Yin energy through its focus on breathing and meditation in order to help them achieve relaxation, self-control, and balance. In my experience, Boabom has a unique approach that differs from other Eastern Arts because it helps individuals cultivate internal and external balance through the development of both their Yin and Yang energy.
Heather Lance
B.A. Asian Studies
Graduate Student in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Discovering and knowing the School has filled me with joy, since for years I longed to learn Boabom, where I could use the physical and mental in harmony... Today I am a different person, with more decisiveness and courage to face the future. I feel that I am back in college, but this time studying my body and mind, and I would like to be a professional in this... The teachers of the school have guided me in this, "awakening" me, and for that reason I am very thankful to them, both for teaching me and for making me feel part of something so special...
Carlos Varas
Designer and Jeweler
Chile
On the eve of this special class, I have been asked to compile some thoughts on Boabom. At the outset I would like to mention that I have only the highest praise for the Boston School of Boabom, its instructors and students. Also, I would like to thank Asanaro and the Ancient Ones who have preserved this Art and, most importantly, to thank my teachers for their generosity in teaching me. Three things attracted me to this art: the stated lack of ego involvement, the focus on body-movement as a form of health, and the description of an art that unfolds with movements that may be linked together into something that resembles a dance. With these things in mind, I decided to take an introductory class. I was surprised to discover that what appeared to be simple movements were, in fact, very difficult to perform. I had poor balance and a lack of coordination that made my body seem very alien to me. Not knowing what I was about to study, I decided to begin.
If I am attracted to an art that discourages ego involvement, then it didn't seem right that I would come to class with a list of demands or expectations. "After all," I thought, "who am I to insist that the art would cater to my pre-conceptions? " But I had to make a deal with myself. I decided it was okay if I looked to Boabom to develop my awareness of my body through movement. At first the peculiar movements seemed awkward and, due to lack of stamina, often times difficult to perform. Class after class, I felt improvements throughout my body. The persistent pains in my neck and lower back disappeared. My breathing and stamina improved, as did my flexibility, balance and coordination. These were great incentives to continue. Soon it became apparent the distance I had traveled in such a short amount of time. The movements were no longer awkward. They had become more natural and my body was less alien to me. Outside of class, I had increased strength to move and lift my body; to reach back and hold a door open or to bend down to get pots and pans. Through practicing very particular movements in class, my body had become comfortable supporting itself while performing tasks. It seemed like a very natural way of weight lifting. Boabom was preparing my body for an active life outside of class. The daily activities I perform were no longer stressful. This might seem mundane but all of these little movements are the very movements that add up to on-going pain.
Two months into my practice, some interesting things began to occur. Time seemed to fall away from my awareness during class and I felt more focused and more aware. I began to learn to summon up reserves of energy that I did not know I had. My mood was lifted and the energy I could tap into to perform tasks in class I began to have access to outside of class. In short, the movements were not only working on my body but also on my mind.
My third month into Boabom, I witnessed a fistfight between a big muscular guy and a shorter guy of slight build. From my vantage point, the fight was unprovoked by the little guy and the outcome was as mismatched as their sizes: the muscular guy did all of the punching and the little guy did all of the bleeding. Though it was morning rush hour at a T-station, these combatants might as well have been completely alone.
Generally, I don't believe that the world is a harmful and dangerous place. Also, I like to believe that people come to each other's aid in times of crisis. This whole affair really shook me. I worried that not only is the world a dangerous place but people are looking to harm me. This thought took root in me and expressed itself as doubt. For weeks, I began to wonder if I should study a more violent form of martial art. I wondered if I needed to enroll in a class that would enable me to immediately disable another person.
During this time the actions I performed in class seemed hollow and less joyful. I tried to shape Boabom into a dirty and crude weapon to be used against others before the others (those imagined assailants transgressors) ambushed me. To pull myself out of this form of despair, I focused on why I began Boabom in the first place. Slowly I brought my attention back to performing movements. I took delight in a very particular joyful experience (somewhat akin to swimming) that the movements bring about in me. I began to use the movements as a form of meditation and as a way to connect my mind and my body. As a result, my mind and body began to work together to improve and to sustain a unified healthy mind-body.
With this renewed peace I decided that most people do not get into fights and that it is more important to learn to avoid them. I began to, once again, take delight in my classes. I realized that I did not want to study something that actively promotes doing harm to others. Rather than reinforcing spontaneity, constant hitting through sparring enforces a destructive attitude that discourages learning. Boabom offers a unique approach in that no one is hit during class. All actions are allowed to blossom in each student, at their own pace, without any abuse or antagonism. Not knowing exactly what I was learning, I decided to focus on increased health as a form of self-defense (that is, protecting myself from ailments not attackers) and I stopped thinking about martial arts.
During the Christmas holiday, I left Boston for a couple of weeks to visit family in California. As I predicted I missed Boabom. The aches and pains began to return to my body. Occasionally I could squeeze in some practice, but there really wasn't adequate space nor did I bring the right attitude for practice. I tried to speak to family about what I was learning but it was a little too esoteric for them to grasp. The closest analogy was to Tai chi but having never studied it, I didn't know what I was talking about. Besides it seemed a poor fit for Boabom and I let the matter drop.
Upon my return to Boston, the school hosted an evening of Boabom videos. Fortunately, my wife and I attended and I was able to share with her some aspects of the art. It was an eye-opening experience. It was as if a curtain was drawn back and I could see what was behind it. Sometimes as one learns something new it seems like an uphill climb. However, what I saw on the video was like witnessing a tornado that comes down and lifts people to great heights. The students seemed propelled by a great force or energy. Each new level seemed to demonstrate this in increasing abundance.
Also, I was struck with, regardless of size or body type, how graceful the students moved. This was especially apparent during the performances of several practitioners moving offensively against a single person. If a single Boabom practitioner could be effective against five others who also practice Boabom, then it seems to follow that a Boabom student would be very effective against a single thug. All my worries and doubts from a few months earlier subsided. It is important to note that everyone on the videos seemed very considerate and kind and I strongly believe this to be a reflection of the spirit of the teachers. Also, the students seemed genuinely grateful to be learning Boabom and they embodied the values of the school: humility, respect and discipline. Lastly, I believe, the videos were a gift to the students from the instructors at the Boston School of Boabom. It showed a great willingness to share with us something they hold very dear.
Though my own experiences are by definition unique, I don't doubt that my classmates have encountered similar forms of resistance, surprise and joy. This may be a necessary part of my stage, whereby the student's mind and body are being shaped to receive future information. I look forward to being able to continue to study Boabom and I look forward to what will be revealed to me as I progress.
Truly, this is a wonderful Art!
Dennis Cheaney
Visual Artist, MFA
USA