Where have the Jedi Masters gone?

I am excited.

In seven days one of the greatest movies of all time begins a new chapter.

I was born the year that the original Star Wars was released; therefore I have a personal connection to the series. I played with the action figures, I read the post Return of the Jedi novels, and I know that Han-Solo shot Greedo first.

“We all know who shot first…”

Though I have not dressed up and attended a Star Wars convention, I believe that I am living the Star Wars life every day and following the “Jedi Code”. As a fitness professional, I believe that my peers and I follow a similar code when it comes to changing the lives of our clients.

I also wonder if some of my fellow peers and mentors have forgotten this:

“Emotion, yet peace”

“But I was going to Tosche station…”

On the internet, people like posting themselves training and working out. Perhaps they just want the attention or perhaps they are looking to inspire others to do the same. Either way, the internet response will be positive or negative. Recently, a video was posted on Facebook in which a person was attempting a Kettlebell Snatch at a regular gym. It is apparent that person most likely learned their technique from the internet or a book instead of with a qualified fitness professional.

My first reaction was “Ah, he had better be careful and not hurt himself.” Others reacted differently. It would be an understatement to say that there were a lot of negative comments. What was more surprising was that some of the negative comments came from fitness professionals. As one continued to scroll down, the comment section was filled with jokes and opinions until someone finally suggested that perhaps the person posting the video should offer to assist this individual.

“Ha, Ha, Ha?”

“Or Help?”

Obviously the person in the video was trying to perform the exercise properly. He may have even thought he was doing a good job. He needed guidance. Our competitive nature drives us to excel at everything we do and be better than everyone else. Therefore it is easy to give into our emotions and enjoy watching GYM FAILS.

 “Our Focus determines our Reality”

As Fitness professionals we are not emotional. We strive to move everyone towards optimal health and fitness.

“There is no emotion, there is Peace.”

“Ignorance, yet knowledge”

Since 2007, I have continued my education to learn as much as I can about the human body and how it responds to different type of training. I enjoy learning new training concepts, and really enjoy becoming part of an expanding network of amazing peers.

“Are You gellin’?”

I have worked under some amazing mentors or “fitness” gurus that have brought about innovative training ideas. The fitness revolution is moving in a good direction, and the general public is becoming more aware of how they should make their health and fitness a priority.

Fitness gurus are like Jedi Masters. They possess the knowledge and the power to change millions of lives for the better. It is almost as if they have learned how to harness this “force” and use it for the good of mankind. Every year, I join thousands of other fitness professionals and pay thousands of dollars to learn new training techniques and concepts from these Jedi Masters. As the Jedi Masters travel the world spreading their message through certifications events and social media their students or “Padawan” flock to them to learn more.

“Think Good. Feel Good. Do Good. Good Things Happen!”

I have traveled to different parts of the country to listen to my Jedi Masters and have noticed there is an underlying theme:

They are all saying the same thing.

This is not a bad thing. It means that many brilliant and unique fitness authorities are coming up with similar theories and conclusions at the same time. Like philosophers, they may deliver the message differently, but there may in fact be an underlying force that links them.

 “There is no Ignorance, there is Knowledge.”

 As Fitness professionals we share our knowledge. We also acknowledge that there are other members of our community that share similar fitness philosophies and beliefs. It reinforces the message we are trying to deliver.

 “Passion, yet Serenity”

Since the Jedi Masters around the world are teaching similar concepts it would probably make sense for them to get together and create some kind of “Jedi Order”.

Not so much.

 “If one is to understand the great mystery, one must study ALL its aspects…”

An enormous amount of time and energy is spent on debating on which certification or training modality is the best. In some cases, various groups actually look down upon other groups and try to convince the general public that they are not as great or even “dangerous.” Whether that is true or not is really up for the general public to determine. Any person that can benefit from the training and teachings of a particular training modality is living a better life.

“Primal movements” are the most recent innovation that has become integrated into all training modalities. Rolling and rocking are basic fundamental movements that everyone should be able to do in some capacity. They provide the foundation for us to potentially crawl, kneel, stand and eventually walk. I spend a lot of time teaching my clients and athletes how to roll and rock again whether they are “fit” or not. Whatever I give the name of that rolling/rocking/crawling movement is irrelevant.

“Crawling?”

“Crawling?”

“Uh…Crawling??”

Yet, Jedi Masters have many different names for the basic movement – “crawl”, “Natural Crawl”, “Beast”, “Bear”, “Quadruped”, “Quadrupedal”, “Scorpion,” “Lady Bug,” etc. – it really does not matter. It also does not really matter for the client either. They are the ones that have to do it, and it is challenging no matter what you call it.

It would be great for our Jedi Masters to start actually listening to one another. If it is our job is to make our clients’ lives better – make the human race better – then we are all trying to do the same thing.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Fitness professionals share their passion about the type of training they are experts in – WOD’s, boot camp, spinning, yoga, etc . Yet, they understand and take solace in the fact there are other forms of training that can also make a difference.

“There is no Passion, there is Serenity.”

 “Chaos, yet Harmony”

It is tough to make it in this business. At the end of the day, I do need to support my family. It is important for me to promote myself to make sure I have clients available to train. As my business grows, I want to make sure that I can keep up with the demand and clients that need me.

“She’s rich…”

Social media has allowed Jedi Masters to promote themselves all over the world, and in a short amount of time. I subscribe to all of their blogs and newsletters because I don’t want to miss any new piece of information or tidbit of knowledge they may introduce. Not every new fitness entrepreneur is savvy on all the latest social media tools, and it has created new business for marketers who know how to maneuver the social airwaves.

Yet it seems social media has created chaos for the general public. They are inundated with fitness catch phrases, trigger words, free reports, and manufactured “fears” that encourages the general public to make impulse decisions.

“The fear of loss is a path to the Dark Side.”

In my desire to stay relevant, I have had to spend a majority of my time staying on top of my competitors. I wish I could just live off the land, win the lottery, buy my Boathouse, and train clients for free!

There is a fine line between selling yourself and selling yourself.

“Everyone who lives here will be strong and healthy…”

We cannot forget why we got into this profession in the first place.

We wanted to help people.

“There is no Chaos, there is Harmony.”

 MORAL OF THE STORY

“Death, yet the Force.”

 “He who dies with the most toys, still dies. No FEAR.”

I bought that shirt when I was in high school. While everyone was wearing the “Big Johnson” shirts, I bought this black NO FEAR shirt above.

“Remember this?”

Although I was given a hard time about the No Fear shirt (a little deep for high-schoolers) I always liked the quote because it reminds me that what we do in life and our career is only reflected upon after we are gone.

To my Jedi Masters, I ask you:

What kind of students do you want to leave behind in your legacy?

In your individual quests to deliver your message did you remember that what you are teaching and preaching to us now will impact future fitness professionals when you are no longer with us?

“Original ending ALL the way.”

Will you finally acknowledge one another. combine ideas, and create an even more amazing fitness revolution?

We will continue to  be your students, but remember that we want to be great students and even greater teachers.

“There is no Death, there is the Force.”

In seven days, the new movie comes out and I am excited.

This upcoming week I will be able to watch the original movies with my 5 and 3 year old. I want to enjoy the look on their faces as they watch the movie that came out the year that I was born. I want to answer their questions about the Jedi Code, and why Darth Vader, though a bad-ass, is really not the person they want to be.

“There is still good in you…under ripped and Paleo grass-fed beef ab muscles…”

We all can be Jedi and will restore the universe to its natural order.

Let’s be Jedi and rule the universe as father and son…

Damn you Dark Side….

For more information on training programs for rowing, rowing technique, Kettlebells, Clubbells, DISC, and Process Communication like me on Facebook at RUFO OPTIMAL WORKOUTS.

Also check out the DISC2K – Philadelphia Seminar on January 9^th, 2016!

Online consulting and Skype sessions also available.