The Way of the STAFF & BOW to find the FLOW - 3 Principles for Martial Arts & Life. 

Can't wait for the day I go for a hike and stumble upon two guys fighting with sticks in full traditional highland garb!

I'm a life long student of the martial way and an old man now. This is just a word of encouragement and appreciation. You are doing great young man and contributing mightily. Please, keep doing what you're doing. I personally gain valuable information and sweet inspiration from your work ✨️ Thank you

It was an absolute pleasure shooting with you and Ben, you’ve done an amazing job with the edit as always, still can’t believe I got to shoot with you as It’s been a dream collab ever since I saw the Highlander kit video. Let me know when you want to do another one 👊

One of the top three videos I have watched this year. A meaningful masterpiece.

I realized that I reached that level of detachment, but I didn't have the right balance of discipline and play to keep myself in that great state of mind. I was too detached to the point of being somewhat too willing to let things go, even things that I should have fought for. But when life became much harder my habbits of too much play and almost no discipline instantly made me fold and lose that state of mind. This video has given me a benchmark of balance and hopefully it will help me reach that same state of mind with a bit more backbone to it aswell. This was an absolutely fantastic video fandabi, thank you for giving me a path forward.

28:59 I love that double hit! It was such a fun fight! I wonder how many people died for real with perfect comedic timing. Thanks for having me Tom... Your writing is going from strength to strength 🗡️

"The Law of the Stick"~ Shilleghla Law. It rules the land. What flows through the bone we call the Stick? water.

To see such a beautiful work boils me blood and I feel really proud of being a scot. And that is quite a compliment, since I am brazilian. Nice work, Lad!

Gosh, the Universe is looking after me 🥰 - your vid turned up on my RU-vid feed and was exactly what I needed😁 have been really struggling with existential stuff in my head; environmental activism, cultural inertia on sustainability and recycling, reliance on fossil fuel😬 my need to earn a living and compromise on those principles in doing so (I’m a professional gardener - I could do worse lol)😕 And then you said Discipline is getting knocked down and just getting up again. Not perfection, just the resolve to keep doing something. Detachment from outcome. I’ve always called Flow ‘The Dance’ - as in being instep with the rhythm of the universe. Haven’t been in step much lately - your vid showed me the path back. THANKS❤️

Before I had hit 23:12 in the video, I had already decided I needed to watch this video multiple times. Thank you for making this. You have reminded me of many concepts I had already thought on in my younger years, but have forgotten as I've gotten older; with the worries of child raising and providing for a family. I've grown far to serious and have let the day to day struggles and toil overwhelm me. I've lost myself in the process, and the man I was....fun and carefree. Always exploring.... I will be coming back to this video now for inspiration. You have done a great service with this...more than you probably know. This video is SO Jeet Kun Do....even Bruce Lee would be impressed, I believe. Keep at it man.....really.

"Play" is what makes this video different and really worth watching. The end scenes illustrates this perfectly :)

I’m a PE Teacher in Tainan for Elementary School students. I am in a CLIL position as a foreign teacher from Hawaii and don’t know any Chinese or Taiwanese, intentionally. I love your explanation of Flow and the three principles. Thank-You.

It's really a great idea to make a video about the concept of flow in a way that is not too connected with any specific martial art or that sorta stuff, I think you're the first person I saw doing this. Btw, have you already made a video on how you made (or bought idk) those padded staffs? Me and my friends are testing some ways of doing it, but your's seems to be the least awkard way of padding a big stick to hit people with.

Rewatching again, this is a masterpiece!!!!!Thank you so much for that! You could be the twin brother of my teacher in the other side of the world! Greetings from South East Asia!

Shooting a bow is so satisfying. I've been practicing for a year and try to get my Son to practice when I can drag him away from screens. You 100% correct about instinctive shooting.

This video and the one on 'Hunter gatherer skills for survival in the 21st century' are wonderful, inspiring and informative. They are full of humour, confidence and humility. Keep up the good work and thank you.

This channel speaks my language. The language of action and jolly cooperation.

I needed this, I've been in a rut for a couple months now, and lacked motivation to get back into my old good habits.

Such a good film. Loved it and really spoke to me on a personal level. I truly believe that these ideas can help people with mental health and depression.

Your videos are on another level. Keep it up!

I am seriously learning things here: "The mind is an excellent servant, but a terrible master." So profound. You hit the nail on the head for my own joyless discipline when you talk about needing more than just discipline. I feel stuck in a depressing, pessimistic rut with my discipline. My discipline is developed, strong, and fully mature, but like you mention: joyless, cold, boring, negative. Thank you for making this educational film. I am 41 years old, and you are humbling me with your insight and intelligence. I don't think much of myself, but for you to so easily educate me shows the hard work and Heart you have put into your education and Life, and I truly appreciate your time and courage to make this happen and help others. Thank you*

That was awesome, Tom! Definitely one of your best videos so far. Beat me up into shape and I'll be very happy. Will definitely watch this video again.

Tom, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have grown up all my life, and built my foundation on what was told to be good, and in the last couple of months, I have found that this foundation is insufficient to keep on living on. So, I chose to let everything in my life go and break down all the way to that crumbling foundation to rebuild it. Then, as if it was waiting for me, this video and hunter-gatherers survival guide crossed my path. I now have created the state of flow as my foundation with fasting and cold exposure as discipline, Bhuddistic and Hinduistic teachings and meditation as detachment and staff MMA and Airsoft as my play. Without really noticing, my life has been in a state of balance or, should I say, flow, for the last month, and I have seen the tremendous benefit to physical health and the ability to keep going and grow as a person. I wanted to tell you this and thank you because I would have never thought that some random video I encountered on youtube would have become the groundwork for the way I live my life. Thank you Tom, truly, from the bottom of my heart.

Growing up, martial arts was a means of peace for me. It went hand in hand with meditation, & music. Incredible video.

He's the Scottish Jet Lee! lol!!!!!! Either this dude needs to be an actor, write a book, or have his own show lol! He's too good at expressing not to utilize any of these gifts! His integration of his own philosophies that are genuine and relating to his own thorough experiences are SUPER refreshing! One time someone asked me what my name was at a party and I was high on mushrooms...my names Mackenzie, but for some reason something possessed me to reply " my name is flow". LMFOA! I'm not even a hippy lol! It just felt right for the moment.

Watched this again today, this time with my six year old daughter. I knew she wouldn't get the message, but she loved the fight scenes and she got the idea of 'practice makes purfect'. She was imitating your fight moves. I'd like to thank you Tom. I discovered your channel by chance when stuck at home with covid back in August. I watched all your highlander content and was inspired. Next thing, I bumped into a guy I hadn't seen for years. He was a member of an early medieval reenactment group I used to be in, "Have, you ever thought of coming back"? He asked. Because of your videos, I already had been thinking about it. I've been training with them again this past month and it's been great. I bring my daughter with me and she plays with the other children. I'm glad to give her the opportunity to grow up in such a community. Shortly before you put out this video, I'd been watching the lecture series 'Awakening from the meaning crisis ' by Canadian cognitive psychologist John Vervaeke. In his early episodes he discusses flow state at length and I was gripped by the realisation of how relevant it is and I determined to explore it. Then you published this! You explain the concepts very well and the visuals compliment it brilliantly. I shall share this with my reenactment mates. Merry Christmas Tom.

Thank you Tom, Ben and Jason. This film is a lovely calming gift to a troubled mind.

I waited with only the thumbnail teasers to keep me… and this was worth every moment - Great vibe in this vid!!

I live my life along the same lines you are videoing and believe learning from the past is a good path forward. You learn struggle and set-back not failure. The only way to fail, is to quit. A set-back simply means, this plan did not work, the goal is still there. Learn, revise and go again. I have been trying to come up with a all inclusive trail kit. Your 30" bow really caught my eye and I believe that brings me closer to my goal. Thank you for sharing.

Tom, Ben, A Great Alternative, this is top notch content. I feel I can't quite bring myself to play about with a bow and arrow, especially at 60. Or can I? I did see an advert for a local bowyer's course. "So that might be a good excuse. Making stuff. And then I'd have to try it out..." I admire you for your playfulness, as well as your discipline and whatever that other one was... ;)

Thank you so much Tom. This is easily one of your best. 👌 Truly inspiring in every way. I shall save this video in my heart to make changes to life itself for a better, new future. From an Irishman to a fellow Scot. Thank you brother. 👊

Reminds me of my great grandad in Strathpeffer who’d sit by the door and whack me on the shins “were you born in a barn boy” if the door was open for more than 3 seconds

I find myself Struggling with Anxiety a lot more Recently and this Video Calmed me right down during a pretty bad bout of it, I hope you are doing well and Having a Good time with this Content, very well done video to Everyone Involved

Please do step by step European martial arts tutorials with a staff

I got into horse archery and found the events weren’t very fun and, as a result, people didn’t do well. The most fun with archery I’ve had was when I was staying at an archery ranch and a guy asked if I wanted to go shoot discs out of the air. I went along and was amazed that I was able to hit some. Maybe even half of my shots hit, I don’t remember, but often enough that it wasn’t a fluke when I hit. We had a good time and as a result we shot well. It was a great time of learning for me.

Fantastic video. A lot of it speaks to my experiences using another ancient, primitive tool: the sling. It's one of the oldest weapons, probably older than the bow, and it's essential to use your whole body, including your mind to master it. The learning curve is steep, but so rewarding.

Thank you for making this video, it helped me sort out a lot of things that have been on my mind. And the fights were quality 👌 as always!

*The landscapes are GORGEOUS!* Beautifully reflect the calm depth of the mind, incredible choice of scenery!

Been waiting a while for this

The level of cinematography and philosophy is downright criminal. One of my favourite videos from you, Fandab. Well done

Staff fights looks so cool

Your philosophical look on life is so true. I need to listen to this again and again. To focus. And swing my staff more.

Your words make a lot of sense. Especially when factoring in my "comfort" with the people and tasks I do at work. And there is one object that stands out to me from all of this. I need to revisit my love of archery.....more focus, less stress.

Thank you Tom Ben and Jason.

Geez, everything about this is impeccable. It's both entertaining and incredibly insightful. The variety of shots kept me interested the whole time. Amazing work. And you've shared this wisdom at the perfect time for me. Thank you for this work of art.

I came for the skills, the camaraderie that I witness and the philosophy is a welcomed bonus.

I had my first tournament about 2 weeks ago and I sat there watching the finalists bout noting how happy the winner was not to win but to be there. I saw a man who had won many fights thankfully a good teacher once taught me to find joy in the success of others and it's become my form of detachment. I look back and realize I have a lot of time to find the joy and the capacity to play; I cannot know what I don't yet know, I cannot reverse time and try again, I now only hope to find the confidence to be happy in all my pursuits.

Everyone is talking about what you were saying but heck that choreography is awesome.

Fantastic video. This is very similar to the things I’m searching for or implementing in my own life. One thing I try to remember (for myself) is balance isn’t always all the things all the time, it can be cycling through them as you practice what is needed in the moment. Life is seasonal as well as constant. I’m definitely recommending this video to my friends, whether they are into bushcraft, weapon training, or just for life in general.

I still say, that this video should be recommended to every human in existence just to make the world a better place.

Such an incredible channel, I’m glad this exists.

Great job Tom! Love the never ending increase in quality of your videos!

fuck yea man. always stepping up the quality. youre a champ.

Your work is a pleasure to watch, these are the principles I have understood for years; having trained in international martial arts the best way I have learnt any technique is through disciplined repetition but maintaining a curious playfulness and open mindedness, the 'beginners mind' as they say in zen. What ties it all together is being able to detach yourself from the person doing a task so that you become the tsk yourself. You aren't a person in flow, you are flow. Thanks for all your content, cracking editing skills and charismatic demeanour that keeps us all coming back!

This is utterly incredible-the content and the message!

Incredible quality of content and a great way to think about it. It's so easy to let the mind take center stage, but hard to put it back in the toolbox it belongs to, along with other tools. You are not your mind...

Scottish Taoism. I learn my staff skills through Shintaido.

This is one of the MOST INTELLECTUAL and INTELLIGENT videos I have ever seen on RU-vid

"Fandabi Dozi lost his mind"??!? I don't think so. I needed to see this video tonight. Thank you and I really enjoy your channel.

This has gotta be one of the best videos on this platform. I find the idea of the way/flow/wu wei ect. fascinating and to see you combine it effortlessly with martial discipline and application to everyday life AS WELL AS making an incredibly entertaining video is brilliant.

Absolutely going to try out these concepts, you did a really good job!!

This was the best definition of each concept and flow that I have come across. I appreciate you putting this out for all of our benefit! Thank you.

I must say that I really appreciate and connect to this content. Thank you for sharing your experiences and understanding.

One of your best videos yet, just behind the series of videos on staffs. and put that chart on a shirt it looks amazing.

Thanks for this -- beautifully put together, and at a time when I didn't realize it was exactly what I need right now. Especially needed the reminder to get re-connected with the Why. To more frequently call forth at will this state of...sort of a clean & playful & energized tranquility...it's a worthy quest for all manner of moments large, and not so large. My profound thanks again.

Lovely to watch - especially the demonstration of play at work in the giggly battles at the end. So much chimes with the lessons I picked up from Stephen Bachelor's Buddhism Without Belief, and a (maybe obscure) little book I fondly remember called the Way of the Owl (despite stretching the owl metaphor beyond breaking point, it was my first foray into philosophy of any kind). I'll definitely be coming back for a refresher on the Way.

this might be the most underrated video on all of youtube. i genuinely cannot stress how amazing this video is enough. i will be recommending this to everyone i know and if youre reading this you should too.

A man who cannot control his own anger has no control of His situation. Great video.

I have a hard time at the moment and I think this will help me a lot. It comes at the right time. Thank you for the inspiration. I appreciate it. And it is in a great presentation, masterpiece video in my opinion. Thank you.

The content on this channel is unbelievable. Keep it up

love this you should consider selling dvds or transcribe into books you are really onto something here and i would love to see your ideas preserved for the future.

Well Done Young Man I Have Studied Martial Arts for over 40 Years. And I Looks to Me You are On the Right Path!

This video is fantastic! The timing of its arrival is almost perfect, as someone who feels like an arrow shot into thin air, I have found myself in recent weeks naturally looking for something more in life. Thank you Tom

love it

dude im fucking crying watching this beautiful work, as someone seeking enlightenment and has a love for martial arts and survival your helping me beyond anything you imagine

This really is a fabulous piece of work. I'm going to need to watch it several times just to digest a lot of it. Thanks for sharing this so freely!

I am a two time combat vet, and I never took meditation seriously. But when you describe it as a way to Detach from the chaos of the mind, for some reason I feel like I didn't get that message when I was studying the martial arts books as a child. When I look at it through your eyes, I see how it can heal ptsd. Thank you*

This is a passion of mine, combining martial arts with bushcraft. I’ve planned out a workout/training camp in a heavily forested area and all the workout equipment was to be constructed from the forest. It’s such an amazing and rewarding lifestyle.

Amazing content and philosophy! I feel and understand these concepts feom my own life and years too many decades ago when playing high school sports and hunting. thank you for the time it took to make this!

I hope you guys are proud of what you've created together here. It's impressive to me that you were able to synthesize the concepts and express them so clearly. Thank you for your sharing work and message.

My friend sent me this video telling me that you are my twin brothers from the other side of the world and after I watch all of your videos I am very impressed and appreciate to the same way of life if it’s our destiny hope to see you one day cooperate and share the experience of life☺️🙏

The triangle of contentment has three sides. I love the content, honest, raw in places, polished in others... on the way; of breathing, acting and living it. Thank you so much to all on the production team. Peace (through confidence). m

The first 5:30 should be watched by everyone. Very thoughtful, deep and poetic.

I’ve decided to listen to this video once a day, usually in the morning. This is so great

Great video, truly inspirational and has reminded me of certain joyful aspects of life that I had forgotten. Thank you

Really fantastic video Tom, I've done a few martial arts in my lifetime (mostly a passing knowledge) and having studied HEMA for a year or so now, you're definitely right with that philosophy of 'flow' so many practices point to that sweet spot of spontaneous reaction reinforced with practiced knowledge but play is definitely one I forget to 'hone', going to keep coming back to this one for a long time to come, thank you for your hard work and excellent insights.

Thank you so much for this video, it all rings so true. As an archer I fully understand what you talk about and I have felt what you call "flow", although not nearly often enough I've already watched this twice and I really think I will be applying this to my life, or trying to anyway ;)

You may not realise but what you describe at 15:44 is the biggest way OCD and anxiety disorders are approached by therapists. The idea of allowing your thoughts and emotions to be without interacting with them too much, allowing them to wash over you. This is a fantastic video.

What an excellent piece of work thank you very much

Its been a little over a year since i first watched this video, and i can say it changed my life entirely. Thank you so much!

Much respect good sir love your videos always provide me with inspiration ☺️ your staff work as improved alot and you have inspired me to take up my bow again after about 15 years been focused on my Knife-work, Sword-work & Staff-work weapons wise for along time now it is time to bring the bow back so thank you so much for everything you put out there good sir 🙇‍♂️

Amazing video, it fits really well with two things that I always liked from the moment I learned about: one is the phrase "A well rounded man should be an artist, a warrior and a philosopher" from Benvenuto Cellini and the other is the triskele as a symbol of the union in balance of the mental, physical and spiritual self that all people should have. Discipline = The Warrior = Physical self. Detachment = The Philosopher = Mental self. Play = The Artist = Spiritual self.

Everything in this is so well done! Just so good I don't even have the words. Many thanks

Very powerful line: "...It is the Process... Not the Product"

This video is the glue that I didn’t know I needed to my life’s philosophy.

Amazing video! Some great reading for those interested: Flow - by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Play - Dr. Stuart Brown Incognito - David Eagleman Nudge - Dr. Richard H. Thaler and Dr. Cass R. Sunstein And so many others :) These are all more western & academic focused, but are very enlightening in how our brains work, facilitate/process information for meaning making, and can often get in our own way.

This is a world that needs to value wisdom as much as money. And in this video is wisdom. And I value it.

I've been working on this concept in my own life without realizing it. Been building my own business and lost play. It lead to a breakdown in discipline and general motivation. Taking time for myself to wander barefoot in the woods I libe in and carve sticks has brought back my will to labor for my future. This video is a perfect summation and reiterating of what I've been learning on my own. I love your content Tom. Keep on kicking ass and good luck with all of your projects going foreward

This is what we need. Alan Watts was brilliant.

This is the way.