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MARTIAL ARTS, THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR (Alexo)
Posted: 2:18:08 pm on 7/16/2008 Modified: Never
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MARTIAL ARTS, THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR
By Dennis Rockwell, PhD
There are numerous martial art forms all over the world from karate and kung fu in the orient to boxing and wrestling in the United States. Basically any fighting form is a type of martial art; however, not all martial arts are fighting forms. This may sound like a contradiction, but I assure you it isn't and this will become clearer as we walk through the world of martial arts.
Probably all who become interested in the martial arts begin with the notion of being able to defend themselves against the "neighborhood bullies" and to feel confident that they can protect themselves when someone else is a threat to them. At one time or another, it usually first occurs when we are children, we have been put into a situation where we feel threatened by someone else. This is not a pleasant experience for anyone and it doesn't help our self-esteem much either, especially if we're the one that gets beat up. However, if we have the ability to turn this type of situation into an advantage, by having skills that assist us when something of this nature occurs, then our fears and doubts turn into pride and self-confidence.
Movies, books, and stories throughout the ages have had the "good guy" theme, where the one lone warrior is able to stand up to the person, or persons, who is trying to dominate others with his or her aggression. We are all thrilled and cheering for this lone warrior as he, or she, wins the battle and saves the girl. We all want to be this hero and have the bravery and skills necessary to be a winner in this type of situation. Because of this theme and the reality of this theme the martial arts have become extraordinarily popular throughout the world. Men and women of all ages have flocked to the Dojo, or school, to learn some type of martial art and become the "hero".
Various Forms of Martial Arts
As I have already said, because all the various styles and forms are so numerous it is impossible to list all of them in this article. Included in these many forms are new variations of forms cropping up every day. An advanced student will break from the master's discipline, change and add various holds, blocks, punches, kicks, etc and rename his new style. Of course, this new style will invariably show the basics from his original form, but new variations will make his form original in its own right.
Bruce Lee's form called "Jeet Kune Do" (JKD) was actually a philosophy, rather than a style. Bruce stated that every individual has his or her own original style of martial arts; depending on the various styles and forms they have learned. Also, that the individual should incorporate these into their own style. Bruce taught that a highly trained black belt could easily be beaten, because it isn't style that wins a fight but the attributes the fighter has that does. These attributes, or qualities, include: killer instinct, sensitivity, timing, reflex, power, line familiarization, sense of purpose, and technical skill. These refinements of attributes are what wins a fight and not technique or training alone (Vanuk, 1992).
THE GREATEST TECHNIQUE IN MARTIAL ARTS IS THE SKILL OF "AGGRESSION"
The Benefits of all Styles of Martial Arts
No matter which form, or style, of martial art you study you can gain mastery in self-defense, health and fitness, and self-confidence. Due to the "hero" and "good guy" roles we try to attain self-defense is the first and foremost desired skill we want to obtain, so we try to do this by practicing the martial arts. However, one of the first things learned in any good martial art is to avoid fighting whenever able and to be tolerant of others. This may appear to be a contradiction to the main reason for learning these arts, but it is actually part of the skill itself. By attempting to stay away from trouble and learning tolerance toward others we gain a self-mastery of our emotions and actions. This is essential for any good fighter to have; otherwise he or she will lose control and allow their anger to control them (Chow & Spangler, 1982).
Any good fighter can tell you that unbridled anger is a quick way to defeat. When fighting you need to be able to use your aggressive abilities as a tool and not be used by it, otherwise you will end up being beaten by your own emotions. If you aren't able to react automatically to the situation at hand, without having to think about what you are going to do, then you end up slowing down your reaction time or even worse not reacting at all. An angry fighter out of control of his emotions is a sloppy fighter out of control of his abilities; this is what it means to be beaten by your own anger. The martial artist practices his skill incessantly and repetitively. The reasoning behind practicing the same moves over and over again is so that when a martial artist is in a fight he or she will automatically respond to an attack without thinking and therefore respond faster and more accurately, due to his or her redundant practicing. It has been taught to me that a single move is not truly understood until it has been practiced at least 10,000 times and then it still needs refreshing. You will see martial arts masters practicing white belt techniques, just to keep fresh and automatic.
The health and fitness aspects of the martial arts are pretty obvious. If you have ever seen a Tai Bow video, which isn't really martial arts but the moves are taken from them, then you can imagine what hours of practice every day of true martial arts can do for a person physically. Bruce Lee would practice at least 8 hours every day and sometimes even more. He stated that no good fighter practices less than 6 hours a day.
When ever anyone practices a skill incessantly and becomes proficient at that skill they gain a sense of accomplishment, of self-confidence, and a feeling of gaining a sense of control over their environment. These feelings always follow working toward a goal and accomplishing that goal. Especially where the martial arts are concerned, the individual practitioner feels a great sense of not only accomplishment but also a sense of control over themselves and their environment. Since the martial arts student learns control over their body, emotions, mind (conscious and subconscious), and their environment this gives them something that no other sport or skill does, a sense of safety and security along with all the other aspects given by the training (Frantzis, 1998).
However, martial arts aren't that simple to learn and it takes the student many hours of practice and determination to become skilled and proficient with these arts. But if the pupil stays with it and studies hard he or she will find that the martial arts have much more to offer than just being able to ward off the bullies of the world. Exercise and self-discipline, besides the ability to fight, are just two of the many self-gratifying rewards that the martial arts practitioner gains in studying these arts. As you work through the levels of these skills you grow as an individual in ways that are not usually expected, especially in the oriental versions of these arts (Jwing-Ming, 1997).
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Re: MARTIAL ARTS, THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR (Alexo)
Posted: 2:18:40 pm on 7/16/2008 Modified: Never
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THE MARTIAL ARTS ARE MUCH MORE THAN JUST LEARNING HOW TO FIGHT AND DEFEND YOURSELF
The Ultimate Goal of Martial Arts
Chinese Kung Fu like Shaolin and Taijiquan ( Tai Chi Chuan) isn't just a martial art but a way of life (Weng, 1987). Taijiquan was originally developed by Taoist priests at the Purple Summit Temple on Wudang Mountain to expand the mind and investigate the secrets of the Cosmos. The highest form of Taijiquan training is jing-zuo or silent sitting, which is a meditational teaching with its primary aim at spiritual cultivation. The supreme objective of this meditation is the Taoist attainment of unity with the Cosmos (Fai-Wong & Hallander, 1991).
Zen, which is the highest form of training of the Shoalin temple is training of the mind. Its goal is also spiritual fulfillment, just as jing-zuo is. If you feel that this spiritual attainment is just hype, think again. The Buddhist masters in the Shaolin monastery in China explained reality in terms of subatomic particles, energy, relativity of time and space, different levels of consciousness, multi-dimensional existence, the illusion of the external world, and cosmic cycles centuries before anybody even heard of modern physics, the theory of relativity, or quantum physics. These Shaolin Buddhist masters didn't come upon these theories through scientific experiments, but by experiencing the cosmos through meditation. These are the ultimate goals of the Shaolin Buddhist and Taoist teachings of the martial arts (Kit, 1996).
Summary
The martial arts can be traced back to early China, more than 3000 years ago where Shuai Chiao (Chinese wrestling), which is also called Mongolian wrestling, came into being and was used by the Emperors and War Lords of China. The Emperors had their personal guards train in this art, due to its well-rounded and deadly capability as a fighting technique. Shuai Chiao is the national martial art (Kung Fu) of Taiwan and is required training for all police and military in Taiwan. This form includes: punches, kicking, blocking, grappling, throwing, and joint lock techniques (Weng, 1997). The martial arts then developed throughout China, being attributed to starting at the Northern Shaolin Temple and then spreading throughout China, changing in forms and techniques thereby gaining new names for the new styles.
The Japanese, at the time being invaders of China, studied the Chinese arts from a distance and took their concept of these skills back to mainland Japan, where they developed Karate, Judo, Jujitsu, and Aikido. The island of Okinawa had been subjugated by the Japanese and weapons were illegal to possess. Therefore, the people of Okinawa learned how to fight with tools such as: sticks, staffs, rice beating implements (num-chuks), and other items for working in the fields so as to ward off the Japanese with their swords and lances. They also taught themselves a form of martial art where the body can withstand tremendous pounding and abuse without being damaged or deterred during a fight.
At approximately the same time the Korean continent started developing its own version of Okinawan and Japanese Karate, with five original styles being developed. Chuck Norris learned his art form while being stationed in Korea with the U.S. army. Korea later started its own national sport martial art called Tai Kwon Do, which is now an official Olympic sport. Throughout the last few hundred years various cultures have developed their own versions of Karate and Kung Fu: Muay Thai (Thai Boxing), Philippino Sikaran, Western Boxing and wrestling, and numerous other forms attributed to their various countries of origin throughout the world.
Modern day martial arts and their tournaments vary from full-contact sports without any protection to semi-contact sport contests, where the average person competes in their various styles for trophies. No matter what the style is or where you are learning it the one thing that always makes the difference is the student themselves; even though good teachers and proficient forms are important, it is always the student's determination to improve themselves and grow as an individual that makes the difference. So, no matter what your reasons are for studying the martial arts there is always one that will have what you are looking for. My recommendation is to thoroughly research the school you are contemplating on studying at, because there are a lot of "belt mills" out there that really don't teach you anything that is usable in real life situations but will give you a black belt for a price. However, there are great schools and fabulous instructors that can and will train you in any area you wish to grow and develop yourself and your mind and body in.
Dennis Rockwell, PhD has two PhDs: one in Theocentric Counseling Psychology and one in Counseling Psychology. He also has a Masters in Social Work, was in law enforcement for 18 years which included: a local police force, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, and as a Special Agent with the DEA. Dr. Rockwell has studied 27 years in various forms of martial arts which include: Korean Hwrang Do, Japanese Washin-Ryu, Ishin-Ryu, Judo, and he holds a third degree black belt with sash in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, Shuai Chiao, Tai-Chi Chuan (Chang Style), Shaolin Chi Na, and Shaolin healing techniques. Dr. Rockwell has a full-time practice as a counseling psychologist in Boca Raton, Florida and lectures at various universities throughout the state.
References
Chow, D. & Spangler, R. 1982. "Kung Fu History,
Philosophy and Technique". Burbank: Unique Publications.
Fai-Wong, D. & hallander, J. 1991. "Tai Chi Chuan's
Internal Secrets". Burbank: Unique Publications.
Frantzis, B.K. 1998. "The Power of Internal Martial Arts".
Berkeley: North Atlantic Books.
Jwing-Ming, Y. 1997. "Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na".
Jamaica Plain: Quality Books, Inc.
Kit, W.K. 1996. "The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu". Boston:
Element Books.
Vanuk, P. 1992. "Jeet Kune Do its Concepts and
Philosophies".
Weng, C.D. 1987. "Ch'ang Style T'ai-Chi-Ch'uan".
Private Publishing.
Weng, C.D. 1997. "Fundamentals of Shuai Chiao".
Taipei: Chinese Cultural University
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