I began training before Mike did, as I worked 5 minutes from Dr. Heru's house while Mike was working over 1 hour away. After about 3 weeks though, we were always training together, and loving every minute of it.
Never believe anyone if they tell you Merpati Putih training is easy. It isn't easy. In fact, it is probably the most intensive activity anyone can do, but it's definitely worth it. After the first month I was feeling better than I had for years, and it continues to this day.
Our training was very intensive and grueling, and it was quite obvious to us that there is no way to learn this without proper instruction. There are health risks in performing the breathing exercises incorrectly, so having a person who can monitor your energy while you train, as well as knowing the exact sequences and timing of the breathing exercises is an absolute must.
"Thank you Mas Heru for guiding us and ensuring our safety"
Push 'em Hard!
The curriculum for Merpati Putih Testing is 6 months for each of the first 4 levels, and 1 year or more for levels after that. We had 3 months to learn all of the basic movements and build sufficient Inner Power to test. On December 31, 1999 we tested and became the FIRST Americans to ever undergo Merpati Putih testing and thus we became officially recognized American Merpati Putih Members, and our tests were administered every 4 months thereafter. We had to learn everything in 2/3 the time most people get. Many Thanks again to Mas Heru for keeping us movitaved, training us right and torturing us when necessary to help us become better and better.
On our first test, we performed our movement alright, but our breaking was very sad. Sore, bruised, happy yet confused (about why we didn't do better breaking), we entered into this new millennium with two goals..... Help every blind person that medicine can't yet help, and to help bring about greater peace and acceptance within all people through the realization of our highest abilities and potential.
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The real training...
After passing our first test and officially becoming certified Merpati Putih members, we began training in the powerful energy management techniques of Merpati Putih. The first level is a conditioning phase as well as a basic orientation. Level 2 and above are similar, but exponentially more powerful.
We would train with Dr. Heru in the evenings at his house for roughly 5 hours each time, between 2 or 3 times per week. To say that our training is difficult is an understatement of monumental proportions. It is very hard, but worth every drop of sweat or tear shed. It's actually impossible to put into words what one feels like during and after MP training. Words haven't been invented yet to describe those feelings.
Without Dr. Heru, there is absolutely NO WAY that we would have been able to learn this art, nor open our kolat (school.)
Without him, none of what we are doing now would have been possible and we owe all that we now have, as well as everything in our future to him and his hard work in helping to protect us from any language barrier problems, school structuring (since MP is different than other Martial Arts), Contract Negotiation with the MP Grand Council, of course our Training as well as many other things too numerous to list.
To this day, he continues to train us exactly as our brothers and sisters are trained in Indonesia and we LOVE IT! Thank you Mas Heru!
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