Casting aside any socially constructed ideas of ‘masculinity’ or ‘manliness’, The Masculine is a fundamental principle that exists in all of us.
The Dark Masculine principle at its core is our capacity to remain unperturbed in the expression of who and what we are, and unflinching in the living of our purpose.
The Dark Masculine is freedom.
Freedom from fear of judgment
Freedom from hesitation in making our needs known
Freedom from the need to please
Freedom from doubt around our masculinity
Freedom from wariness of other men
Freedom from being anxious around women
Freedom from the reluctance to be vulnerable
Freedom from automatic closure in times of upset
Freedom from cautiousness in 'taking' what we want in love
Freedom from the inability to handle conflict
Freedom from the shame that society subtly encourages us to feel for being men
Freedom from overthinking and the inability to FEEL our way through problems
Freedom from looking to the women in our lives to sooth our fears
Freedom from the fear of death
The Dark Masculine has become suppressed in us today and has been largely replaced by the smiley ‘New Man’. This new man, however, in an attempt to not be like the macho men of previous generations, has adopted an equally dysfunctional way of navigating through life. He has simply replaced controlling behaviour with pleasing behaviour.
And so when a man attempts any ‘dark’ aspects of The Masculine, it comes out wrong. His heart is closed and he is defensive instead of fearlessly loving.
The truth is that most women have a stronger relationship to The Masculine than we do.
'SHE WANTS THE KILLER IN YOU', is the famous chapter from the book The Way of the Superior Man.
In it, David Deida explains that your partner doesn't want you to be an actual killer but is deeply turned on by your capacity to kill.
When she 'pokes' at you, what she's trying to elicit is your Dark Masculine... your capacity to love fearlessly, your wanting of her instead of needing her, and your capacity to lovingly take what YOU want in your giving to her.
COURSE CONTENT
In this private intensive training, held for a maximum of 14 men, we will develop aspects of our body-mind that relate to the Dark Masculine.
We will also explore and develop our relationship to violence - a concept that lies deep within the inner caveman part of ourselves and that actually plays a bigger role in our day-to-day lives than you might believe. Opening up this relationship can be the key to opening the doors to freedom from all the fears listed above.
You will receive training using:
- Principles and techniques taken from the Warrior, Tantra and Zen traditions of ancient Japan.
- Mind-body exercises taken from Qi-gong and Bioenergetics
- Elements of the Op.3 Unarmed Combat System
You will experience:
Mushin - the no-mind state
Fudoshin - the steady-mind state
Controlling emotional openness and closure
Feeling into your centre while under stress
Breaking through the social conditioning that tells you to be a 'good boy'
Relaxing into who you really are
Connection with your inner caveman
Self-parenting and taking ownership of the little boy in you
An exploration of death and killing
WORKSHOP LEADER
Sharif's journey in the martial arts began over 25 years ago at the age of 7. In his teens, his training began to incorporate the philosophical, mental and spiritual aspects of the combative arts.
Becoming more involved in military and police 'functional' unarmed combat in his 20's, as well as serving in the British Army as a reservist, Sharif has been teaching self-defence and personal security for over 10 years.
In more recent years, this 'hard' approach to preparing for violence has revealed the same truths taught in the softer, internal martial arts teachings.
Coming full-circle, the content of this course is the product of Sharif's relationship to violence and his journey of self-discovery - from his abusive and dangerous home environment as a child, to his military experience and from his involvement in Buddhism to his work with relationships and intimacy.
LOCATION/DATE/TIME/
Dharma Shala
92 – 94 Drummond Street
Euston, London
NW1 2HN
March 25th, 2018
12pm – 6pm
Notes: Let us know at the time of booking if you have any illnesses or injuries that you may have. There will be a short break for light snacks. This workshop takes place in a yoga studio where we will be bare-footed. Please bring a yoga mat or similar. Image source