Kata training gets a lot of bad press by folks that don't understand it. Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate stated that "if you don't put yourself in the Kata, then you'll only be moving around like a dancer with no purpose."
Funakoshi Sensei was a very smart man.
There's a three principle approach to Kata training in three Japanese words, Shu, Ha and Ri.
Shu is the first phase of training. This phase a person is "polishing" or practicing the movements exactly over and over again. Muscle memory type stuff.
The Ha phase is where you break those movements down and completely take them apart. It's like a student learning to build a car engine (Shu) over and over again, and then in the Ha phase, the student rips the engine apart over and over, looking at different ways to put the engine back in ways that would make it more effective.
The Ri phase is one of understanding why the engine was designed like it was and why it is applicable to your use. Also, there's an appreciation of why the designers of the engine did things they way they did. It's doesn't mean that you can't design your own engine at this phase, it means that you have appreciation and respect for the designers that came before you that taught you about engine design through your study.
Good training,
Joe
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
2010 - It's about time
2009 wasn't one of my "better" years. Professionally, I had to take a pay cut to save others within the Corporation from being let go. Philosophically, I have mixed emotions about what happened to my salary in helping others retain their jobs. I can argue both sides of the situation. Capitalism vs Socialism, Wall Street getting big payouts, all of the news headlines we all read during 2009 effected me in some way or another.
I'm glad it is a new year. I'm glad it is a new decade.
My priorities have shifted significantly.
I'm getting back to basics, keeping everything simple going forward.
I'm excited from a Martial Arts perspective as I will be more involved with the IUKF and George Mattson. George has been a pioneer in the Uechi-ryu world for a long time. Love him or hate him, George Sensei is one of those guys that put Uechi on the map and continues to do so.
I've heard from my friends in the larger Uechi-ryu Karate-do community that the Okikukai organization is going through another split. It's too bad. I question advanced stages of Karate study with ego, money and political power. Exactly what good Budo should not be.
I'm looking forward to working with my Coach Jake Steinmann this year in Muay Thai. I miss that guy. I miss having him yell at me too.
I'm grateful for Nate and Pat at MassBJJ letting me be part of the Academy there and look forward to seeing Professor Roberto Maia more this year too.
My small group of guys that work with me on Thursday nights are simply awesome. What a great work ethic and really an outstanding group of people. I want to say thank you to them for the inspiration they've given me through 2009.
I'm looking forward to working hard and seeing everyone.
There's a new Macaco fino in the house. He's hungry again!
Good training,
Joe
I'm glad it is a new year. I'm glad it is a new decade.
My priorities have shifted significantly.
I'm getting back to basics, keeping everything simple going forward.
I'm excited from a Martial Arts perspective as I will be more involved with the IUKF and George Mattson. George has been a pioneer in the Uechi-ryu world for a long time. Love him or hate him, George Sensei is one of those guys that put Uechi on the map and continues to do so.
I've heard from my friends in the larger Uechi-ryu Karate-do community that the Okikukai organization is going through another split. It's too bad. I question advanced stages of Karate study with ego, money and political power. Exactly what good Budo should not be.
I'm looking forward to working with my Coach Jake Steinmann this year in Muay Thai. I miss that guy. I miss having him yell at me too.
I'm grateful for Nate and Pat at MassBJJ letting me be part of the Academy there and look forward to seeing Professor Roberto Maia more this year too.
My small group of guys that work with me on Thursday nights are simply awesome. What a great work ethic and really an outstanding group of people. I want to say thank you to them for the inspiration they've given me through 2009.
I'm looking forward to working hard and seeing everyone.
There's a new Macaco fino in the house. He's hungry again!
Good training,
Joe
Friday, September 11, 2009
Styles make fights...what's your style?
"Styles make fights" is a famous saying in combat sports. A couple of questions pop into my head when I hear that phrase:
What is style?
How does a person know what his style is?
How do you work and develop your style?
How can you work your style when you are fighting?
How does a person's personality affect his style of fighting?
How should someone use his personality to develop his style?
Fighting is a physical game. However, fighting is a mental game too. There's a lot of psychology that goes on in the prep before the fight, the fight itself and after.
What is interesting, is many fighters do not take the time to self analyze what is their style of fighting. A lot of fighters don't know what their strengths and weaknesses are when it comes to their fighting skill. Maybe it comes from a need for the fighter to be confident. Maybe it comes from them just doing what they were told to do and not to question what was said to them. I don't know. There could be a lot of reasons.
What I do know is that it is important for the fighter to think about these questions and talk with their trainer and training partners about them. Your trainer can be a great help if he is objective in looking at you as a complete fighter. He also should know a little bit of what goes on in your head and not just how you can throw shots or tap someone out. It's a two way street that you and your trainer have to walk down together. You, as a fighter might not see things too clearly and think you should be doing something that just isn't going to be effective for you. It's your trainer's job to get you back on track and working with you so you can fully develop "your style" and be the best you can be. These questions help get both parties to start the dialogue and help with the fighters future growth.
Good training.
What is style?
How does a person know what his style is?
How do you work and develop your style?
How can you work your style when you are fighting?
How does a person's personality affect his style of fighting?
How should someone use his personality to develop his style?
Fighting is a physical game. However, fighting is a mental game too. There's a lot of psychology that goes on in the prep before the fight, the fight itself and after.
What is interesting, is many fighters do not take the time to self analyze what is their style of fighting. A lot of fighters don't know what their strengths and weaknesses are when it comes to their fighting skill. Maybe it comes from a need for the fighter to be confident. Maybe it comes from them just doing what they were told to do and not to question what was said to them. I don't know. There could be a lot of reasons.
What I do know is that it is important for the fighter to think about these questions and talk with their trainer and training partners about them. Your trainer can be a great help if he is objective in looking at you as a complete fighter. He also should know a little bit of what goes on in your head and not just how you can throw shots or tap someone out. It's a two way street that you and your trainer have to walk down together. You, as a fighter might not see things too clearly and think you should be doing something that just isn't going to be effective for you. It's your trainer's job to get you back on track and working with you so you can fully develop "your style" and be the best you can be. These questions help get both parties to start the dialogue and help with the fighters future growth.
Good training.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Overcoming your Fears...
From Stacia...
I am terrfied of deep water. That's right. Can't watch 'Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel...can't watch "The Abyss." I've even started to hyperventilate during the aforementioned film.
This summer, with the help of my outdoor-savvy little brother, I decided to conquer my fear of what lies beneath. So, with our sea kayak strapped to the top of his Jeep, we awoke at sunrise to launch into the mighty Atlantic. Initially, there was no opportunity to "showboat"...I did have to inform my brother that I was dreadfully close to vomiting. As time went on, however, not only did I overcome my fear of deep water, I came ashore to the high-fives and hoots of accomplishment from my brother.
That said, you'll still never find me on a Princess cruise. Not ever.
Fear takes many forms. Fear may overcome you the night before a big competition. It might envelop you the day you begin with a new trainer. Your fear might come in the form of a classroom full of new students or it might come in the form of walking out the front door of your house each morning.
Conquering your fear...no matter what it is...rewards you with a sense of empowerment, of invincibility, of vindication.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Honestly looking at yourself
One of the toughest things to do is to self assess your fighting skills. In the same light, self assessing anything that you do in life is difficult. Coaches, teachers and training partners can give you their objective perspective on what you need to do to improve but you don't have to take their advice. In fact, you can rationalize that their advice is not accurate because they don't really know what you are capabile of as an individual.
A lot of combat athletes do this type of rationalization.
One of the ways to self assess is to use the mirror. Look at yourself. Whether you are shadow boxing, shadow wrestling (Dan Gable did shadow wrestling) or practicing traditional Kata, the mirror can be a great training tool IF you use it honestly. Once you understand the correct body mechanics of the movement, you can self assess. A video camera is another great tool to assess your movement. The challenge is not to get caught up in "looking at yourself" but to study yourself as you would if you were someone else being objectively critical.
Improvement comes through hard work and effort, however that diligence has to be correct technically. The mirror and video camera are great resource in which to begin.
Good luck.
PS I just finished Joe Frazier's book, Box Like the Pros This book was fantastic. It was straightforward and easy to read and understand. The ideas he outlines in the book are easy to incorporate into your everyday workouts. Next time I'm in Philadelphia, I can't wait to get over to his gym and hit those bags!
A lot of combat athletes do this type of rationalization.
One of the ways to self assess is to use the mirror. Look at yourself. Whether you are shadow boxing, shadow wrestling (Dan Gable did shadow wrestling) or practicing traditional Kata, the mirror can be a great training tool IF you use it honestly. Once you understand the correct body mechanics of the movement, you can self assess. A video camera is another great tool to assess your movement. The challenge is not to get caught up in "looking at yourself" but to study yourself as you would if you were someone else being objectively critical.
Improvement comes through hard work and effort, however that diligence has to be correct technically. The mirror and video camera are great resource in which to begin.
Good luck.
PS I just finished Joe Frazier's book, Box Like the Pros This book was fantastic. It was straightforward and easy to read and understand. The ideas he outlines in the book are easy to incorporate into your everyday workouts. Next time I'm in Philadelphia, I can't wait to get over to his gym and hit those bags!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
It's a New Year!
The last several months have been very busy but very productive. We took some time to re-evaluate and start some new things. The Holidays were busy but they were great. We had some time to get away from our hectic schedules and to spend some time with the important people in our lives.
I've started to do a lot more cardio as of late. It's really been challenging but satisying. I can honestly admit that I don't enjoy the cardio as much as my martial arts training, but cardio really is extremely important if you want to be serious in your training.
Stacia has been doing a lot of Yoga. She's always practiced Yoga, however she's getting her Ashtanga Yoga certification this Spring. She'll be teaching Yoga classes in Lowell once she begins the process.
The room we practice in at Gary Card's Karate in Lowell has been remodeled. Gary Card has done an outstanding job in putting down a great floor and mirrors along the walls and we're very grateful for his enthusiasm. We're very excited to show our new students the space. It has a great feel.
I've started to do a lot more cardio as of late. It's really been challenging but satisying. I can honestly admit that I don't enjoy the cardio as much as my martial arts training, but cardio really is extremely important if you want to be serious in your training.
Stacia has been doing a lot of Yoga. She's always practiced Yoga, however she's getting her Ashtanga Yoga certification this Spring. She'll be teaching Yoga classes in Lowell once she begins the process.
The room we practice in at Gary Card's Karate in Lowell has been remodeled. Gary Card has done an outstanding job in putting down a great floor and mirrors along the walls and we're very grateful for his enthusiasm. We're very excited to show our new students the space. It has a great feel.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Back Straight - that's all
"Keep your back straight" is so important and so simple that I take it for granted a lot of the time:
My mom used to tell me to stand up straight.
Master Takara of the Shoehei/Uechi-ryu school Stated the importance of keeping your back straight during Kata. He emphasised this directly when speaking to us once at my dojo in Lowell, MA about the Kata SanSeiRyu. He stated that there were 8 directions you moved in but your spine being straight was the connection between heaven and earth.
Tim Cartmell taught me the importance of body mechanics and the importance of your spine, using it as a great lever.
The great Brazilian Jiu Jitsu folks I've had the opportunity to train with always have told me to "posture up."
Sometimes, the most simple thing to do is the hardest to do.
Just keep your spine straight, that's all...
Good training,
Joe
My mom used to tell me to stand up straight.
Master Takara of the Shoehei/Uechi-ryu school Stated the importance of keeping your back straight during Kata. He emphasised this directly when speaking to us once at my dojo in Lowell, MA about the Kata SanSeiRyu. He stated that there were 8 directions you moved in but your spine being straight was the connection between heaven and earth.
Tim Cartmell taught me the importance of body mechanics and the importance of your spine, using it as a great lever.
The great Brazilian Jiu Jitsu folks I've had the opportunity to train with always have told me to "posture up."
Sometimes, the most simple thing to do is the hardest to do.
Just keep your spine straight, that's all...
Good training,
Joe
Monday, October 6, 2008
What's in a freakin' name?
I guess I should have named my website, "do you have the balls to do this???"
The name the study within is too soft for most people. I don't do therapy. Although, the training I give the guys can be theraputic.
The guys that train with me, don't rub their navel and chant.
They work hard on mixing it up. They push themselves. For a lot of them, they're doing things they never thought they could do. They want to do Burpees every workout as part of the warm ups. They are freakin' nuts.
So, I'm going to keep the blog the same name. However, I'm trying to come up with a new name for the website. Something that people can sink their teeth into and not be embarassed about the name. Enough with the esoterical and more with the meat and potatoes.
Maybe it will be "Step up you sissy mary martial arts and killer arts"
Stay tuned...
To study the way is to study the self,
To study the self is to forget the self,
To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things...
- Zen Master Dogen
The name the study within is too soft for most people. I don't do therapy. Although, the training I give the guys can be theraputic.
The guys that train with me, don't rub their navel and chant.
They work hard on mixing it up. They push themselves. For a lot of them, they're doing things they never thought they could do. They want to do Burpees every workout as part of the warm ups. They are freakin' nuts.
So, I'm going to keep the blog the same name. However, I'm trying to come up with a new name for the website. Something that people can sink their teeth into and not be embarassed about the name. Enough with the esoterical and more with the meat and potatoes.
Maybe it will be "Step up you sissy mary martial arts and killer arts"
Stay tuned...
To study the way is to study the self,
To study the self is to forget the self,
To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things...
- Zen Master Dogen
Thursday, October 2, 2008
You have to want it
Mindset.
It's the first tool you need to be successful in fighting or competing.
If you don't want it, you won't get it.
You have to want it.
Other tools are necessary too, but if you don't have the right mindset and want it, pack it in because all those other tools are useless.
That's why I named the site the study within. Your toughest opponent is yourself. You fight your own laziness, fear, guilt, busy schedule all the time.
You have to want it.
See you on the mat tonight...If you want it.
It's the first tool you need to be successful in fighting or competing.
If you don't want it, you won't get it.
You have to want it.
Other tools are necessary too, but if you don't have the right mindset and want it, pack it in because all those other tools are useless.
That's why I named the site the study within. Your toughest opponent is yourself. You fight your own laziness, fear, guilt, busy schedule all the time.
You have to want it.
See you on the mat tonight...If you want it.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Is it the picture or the frame?
All I can say is "wow." I had a conversation with a very dedicated martial artist who's practiced a traditional art for many years.
He did everything and believed everything the style stated. He never ever doubted the system. Until he had an encounter that made him almost loose everything. He was lucky...He only lost his confidence in his art after the incident. I told him it wasn't his art that let him down, it was him working with his art. It was as if he never saw the picture in the frame, he only saw at the frame around the picture.
I was really suprised that he never thought about other aspects of martial art training. I guess I shouldn't be all that suprised. He never thought he had to look at his study and pull the concepts and training practices apart to self inspect. He simply thought that he didn't have too.
I think a lot of people are like this too.
I think most martial artists either want to blindly believe and don't want to have to think. All they have to do is do what the "Sensei" says, while others believe that if they get tattoo's and hit each other hard, all is good.
That martial artist was lucky. His ego was bruised but he's not dead.
Where's the fight, inside yourself or out?
He did everything and believed everything the style stated. He never ever doubted the system. Until he had an encounter that made him almost loose everything. He was lucky...He only lost his confidence in his art after the incident. I told him it wasn't his art that let him down, it was him working with his art. It was as if he never saw the picture in the frame, he only saw at the frame around the picture.
I was really suprised that he never thought about other aspects of martial art training. I guess I shouldn't be all that suprised. He never thought he had to look at his study and pull the concepts and training practices apart to self inspect. He simply thought that he didn't have too.
I think a lot of people are like this too.
I think most martial artists either want to blindly believe and don't want to have to think. All they have to do is do what the "Sensei" says, while others believe that if they get tattoo's and hit each other hard, all is good.
That martial artist was lucky. His ego was bruised but he's not dead.
Where's the fight, inside yourself or out?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
"Take what is useful"
"Take what is useful" is a famous quote from Bruce Lee. It is a great piece of advice. In fact, many martial artists these days are taking pieces of useful techniques and using them. The "take what is useful" quote is a direct attack on another phrase Bruce Lee coined. That phrase was "classical mess."
Now, "classical mess" to me means, blindly following a process and protocol. Tens of thousands of martial artists do this continually. Why? Because it is easy to do. The martial artist doesn't have to think. Many martial artists don't want to self inspect, they are looking for the next best parlor trick.
So, "taking what is useful" is a very good thing, but if you want to go deeper into your art you must self inspect. You, as a martial artist must understand your strengths and weaknesses and build around them accordingly. This means understanding your physical attributes and your martial mindset. It's hard to self inspect. However, if you don't, just pulling useful techniques off the shelf will only get you partially complete in your art.
My concept of Martial Arts Fusion, the class I teach is built around:
- A solid use of technical martial skills, drawing from a variety of disciplines.
- The skill sets developed by my students will be different in each of my students, based upon their physical attributes and martial mindset.
- The concept of flow and proper body mechanics in chaining become vital to continued development.
I look forward to sharing these with you and look forward to seeing you on thursday nights. All are welcome.
Now, "classical mess" to me means, blindly following a process and protocol. Tens of thousands of martial artists do this continually. Why? Because it is easy to do. The martial artist doesn't have to think. Many martial artists don't want to self inspect, they are looking for the next best parlor trick.
So, "taking what is useful" is a very good thing, but if you want to go deeper into your art you must self inspect. You, as a martial artist must understand your strengths and weaknesses and build around them accordingly. This means understanding your physical attributes and your martial mindset. It's hard to self inspect. However, if you don't, just pulling useful techniques off the shelf will only get you partially complete in your art.
My concept of Martial Arts Fusion, the class I teach is built around:
- A solid use of technical martial skills, drawing from a variety of disciplines.
- The skill sets developed by my students will be different in each of my students, based upon their physical attributes and martial mindset.
- The concept of flow and proper body mechanics in chaining become vital to continued development.
I look forward to sharing these with you and look forward to seeing you on thursday nights. All are welcome.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Some videos you might find interesting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2VGqi-6W9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2tsG5H0v7s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7ImMi2DCGs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2tsG5H0v7s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7ImMi2DCGs
Real Tough Guys...
Yesterday was a great training day at Sityodtong. My coach, Jake Steinmann, really pushed me hard. I wanted to quit during the last couple of rounds. I had no gas, my legs felt like lead and I was struggling with all my might to get all the air I could between the bells. Jake was constantly encouraging me, being positive, and passionately motivating me when my tenacity started to fail.
There's something gained in a relationship when you work through a physical challenge and someone helps you get through it. In the fighting arts, there's a bond that is created that is difficult to describe. The person experiencing the challenge exposes their vunerability and indicates, to his or her trainer, a need for help. The other person, because he is dedicated to his student, helps him or her to overcome the obstacle. In the fight game, this obstacle is usually a physical one, like getting through the last 30 seconds of a round. However, the impact of the comraderie developed often lasts far longer than the physical exercise. Often, it lasts a lifetime.
Yesterday, I watched Patrick Cote go through his conditioning exercises at Sityodtong. He ran sweating from station to station to complete his circuit. Patrick is fighting for the UFC middleweight championship in October against current champ Anderson Silva. With each circuit becoming harder and harder, Patrick kept up the pace and sprinted in the later rounds of circuits. While no one yesterday morning was helping him complete each circuit, every single person there was pulling for him. I spoke with him briefly after he completed his workout. Patrick is a sincerely genuine person and I wish him all the best. I'll be pulling for him for his middleweight title shot. BTW...for those of you that are interested, Stacia says he is WAY more handsome in person.
Kenny Florian came by to give Stacia a poster for her classroom. He didn't have to swing by Sityodtong and drop it off to her. It was an off-training day for Kenny and he was going to fly out to LA to do a promotional signing for the UFC later that afternoon. He is pressed for time these days. Kenny and I will be friends when he is no longer a UFC star. He was my friend before that and he'll be my friend after too.
That's the way it is when you share an experience with someone and there is genuine sincerity between the two people. Tim Cartmell once told me that we'll always be friends, even if we never did martial arts together again.
Those are the true tough guys. People that sincerely give something of themselves like Jake, Kenny, and Tim.
Last but certainly not least...Jake has a fight in NY on October 3rd. He's been training very hard for it, and I want to wish him the best of luck.
Kenny Florian is fighting on the UFC 91 card against Joe Stevenson. Best of luck, my friend. "Get his neck!"
There's something gained in a relationship when you work through a physical challenge and someone helps you get through it. In the fighting arts, there's a bond that is created that is difficult to describe. The person experiencing the challenge exposes their vunerability and indicates, to his or her trainer, a need for help. The other person, because he is dedicated to his student, helps him or her to overcome the obstacle. In the fight game, this obstacle is usually a physical one, like getting through the last 30 seconds of a round. However, the impact of the comraderie developed often lasts far longer than the physical exercise. Often, it lasts a lifetime.
Yesterday, I watched Patrick Cote go through his conditioning exercises at Sityodtong. He ran sweating from station to station to complete his circuit. Patrick is fighting for the UFC middleweight championship in October against current champ Anderson Silva. With each circuit becoming harder and harder, Patrick kept up the pace and sprinted in the later rounds of circuits. While no one yesterday morning was helping him complete each circuit, every single person there was pulling for him. I spoke with him briefly after he completed his workout. Patrick is a sincerely genuine person and I wish him all the best. I'll be pulling for him for his middleweight title shot. BTW...for those of you that are interested, Stacia says he is WAY more handsome in person.
Kenny Florian came by to give Stacia a poster for her classroom. He didn't have to swing by Sityodtong and drop it off to her. It was an off-training day for Kenny and he was going to fly out to LA to do a promotional signing for the UFC later that afternoon. He is pressed for time these days. Kenny and I will be friends when he is no longer a UFC star. He was my friend before that and he'll be my friend after too.
That's the way it is when you share an experience with someone and there is genuine sincerity between the two people. Tim Cartmell once told me that we'll always be friends, even if we never did martial arts together again.
Those are the true tough guys. People that sincerely give something of themselves like Jake, Kenny, and Tim.
Last but certainly not least...Jake has a fight in NY on October 3rd. He's been training very hard for it, and I want to wish him the best of luck.
Kenny Florian is fighting on the UFC 91 card against Joe Stevenson. Best of luck, my friend. "Get his neck!"
Monday, September 8, 2008
"Game"
There is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi manufacturer named Gameness. Gameness is an interesting word. I never really thought about or understood the significance of the word until recently. Gameness is usually an expression referred to the tenacity of a dog in a fight.
For the record, I am absolutely against any type of activity such as dog fighting. I believe that if you want to train something to fight, you should have the balls to train yourself and step up and YOU fight. Otherwise, for someone to train an animal to fight just so they can live vicariously through them as a "tough guy" is a disgrace...that type of person is just a coward to me.
But gameness or tenacity and determination is a huge attribute in any endeavor for success. As I tell my folks in class, you have to keep working the technique and push through, don't give up after the first try if it doesn't work. In life, most things don't work in the first shot.
It's too easy for people to give up on things these days. It's hard for kids to develop "game" when everyone gets a trophy. In a lot of ways, the school of hard knocks that teaches some folks gameness is the best lesson those folks can learn.
For the record, I am absolutely against any type of activity such as dog fighting. I believe that if you want to train something to fight, you should have the balls to train yourself and step up and YOU fight. Otherwise, for someone to train an animal to fight just so they can live vicariously through them as a "tough guy" is a disgrace...that type of person is just a coward to me.
But gameness or tenacity and determination is a huge attribute in any endeavor for success. As I tell my folks in class, you have to keep working the technique and push through, don't give up after the first try if it doesn't work. In life, most things don't work in the first shot.
It's too easy for people to give up on things these days. It's hard for kids to develop "game" when everyone gets a trophy. In a lot of ways, the school of hard knocks that teaches some folks gameness is the best lesson those folks can learn.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Without the pressure it is easy
I've been watching both political conventions here in the States. I actually enjoy the carnival antics of the overall show. I love to see the passion and the conviction that is displayed by the folks speaking.
Speaking at a convention is easy. This is what politicians do, they speak. The only pressure the politicians might feel is speaking in front of a large crowd. But, any good politician lives for that very thing, speaking in front of a huge audience. The real pressure will come for them when those politicians have to "do" what they said they will do before their next re-election. Up until that time it's just words politicians say - really no pressure.
Same can be said about a personal relationship. Things are usually great in the beginning of a relationship. There's very little pressure. The pressure you might feel is how good do you look, or am I saying the right things to impress the other person. Where the rubber hits the road is how does the relationship manage when there is tension between the two people involved and how do they react to each other when that happens? That's where you see the real side of the other person involved in the relationship.
Feeling pressure is interesting. In a grappling situation, pressure feels like someone is squeezing you, you feel their heaviness or tightness, maybe making it difficult for you to breath. In a life situation, pressure might make you short of breath, a tightness in your chest and possibly make you react in ways that you might not want to react in (anger, outburst, frustration, desperation or worse etc).
Many people train in martial arts but never feel pressure. They think they do, but really, they don't. This is a huge unfair mistake by their instructors.
Life without pressure, is impossible. Everyone has pressure in one way or another.
In life, you see how people really are and really will really react when things don't go easy and they feel pressure.
Train in your art with pressure. Be reasonable and push yourself a little bit every time. You'll learn something physically and learn something about how you can deal with things mentally.
The next two months here in the States will be a floor show of political rhetoric. This for the politicians is the easy part - just words, just words...
Speaking at a convention is easy. This is what politicians do, they speak. The only pressure the politicians might feel is speaking in front of a large crowd. But, any good politician lives for that very thing, speaking in front of a huge audience. The real pressure will come for them when those politicians have to "do" what they said they will do before their next re-election. Up until that time it's just words politicians say - really no pressure.
Same can be said about a personal relationship. Things are usually great in the beginning of a relationship. There's very little pressure. The pressure you might feel is how good do you look, or am I saying the right things to impress the other person. Where the rubber hits the road is how does the relationship manage when there is tension between the two people involved and how do they react to each other when that happens? That's where you see the real side of the other person involved in the relationship.
Feeling pressure is interesting. In a grappling situation, pressure feels like someone is squeezing you, you feel their heaviness or tightness, maybe making it difficult for you to breath. In a life situation, pressure might make you short of breath, a tightness in your chest and possibly make you react in ways that you might not want to react in (anger, outburst, frustration, desperation or worse etc).
Many people train in martial arts but never feel pressure. They think they do, but really, they don't. This is a huge unfair mistake by their instructors.
Life without pressure, is impossible. Everyone has pressure in one way or another.
In life, you see how people really are and really will really react when things don't go easy and they feel pressure.
Train in your art with pressure. Be reasonable and push yourself a little bit every time. You'll learn something physically and learn something about how you can deal with things mentally.
The next two months here in the States will be a floor show of political rhetoric. This for the politicians is the easy part - just words, just words...
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
"Music is the silence between the notes"
I don't remember where I heard that phrase. However, it had a profound effect on how I view things. The phrase made me stop in my tracks and think about what does that sentence exactly mean? How does it apply to other aspects of my life?
Where I work, people concentrate on the end result. We call it the bottom line. The bottom line is the only thing that matters. Everyone rejoices when we achieve it. Everyone becomes concerned when we fall short of it. In fact, everyone drives to meeting the goal so hard, that we don't pay attention to what is going on around us during this drive. If the bottom line was a song, we would just focus on the end of the song. Nothing else within the song would be as important, as long as the end was played correctly.
Last week in class, I taught the rear naked choke. It was important that my students understood that the "choke" or end result (bottom line) is not the sole thing to focus on. To achieve success with the technique, you have to pay attention to all the little things that contribute to a successful completion of the technique. Only focusing on the end result will produce a shortsightedness in your growth in your martial arts development. To get better and continue growing, you have to pay attention to the silence between the notes.
It's September and I look forward to new students coming to class. It's a time to start to do something for yourself.
Where I work, people concentrate on the end result. We call it the bottom line. The bottom line is the only thing that matters. Everyone rejoices when we achieve it. Everyone becomes concerned when we fall short of it. In fact, everyone drives to meeting the goal so hard, that we don't pay attention to what is going on around us during this drive. If the bottom line was a song, we would just focus on the end of the song. Nothing else within the song would be as important, as long as the end was played correctly.
Last week in class, I taught the rear naked choke. It was important that my students understood that the "choke" or end result (bottom line) is not the sole thing to focus on. To achieve success with the technique, you have to pay attention to all the little things that contribute to a successful completion of the technique. Only focusing on the end result will produce a shortsightedness in your growth in your martial arts development. To get better and continue growing, you have to pay attention to the silence between the notes.
It's September and I look forward to new students coming to class. It's a time to start to do something for yourself.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Everything Old is New Again...
Last year, I lost Piggy, my 17 year old Staffordshire Terrier, after a courageous battle with mast cell tumors. This week, I rescued "Chicken" on the 1st anniversary of Piggy's death. His exuberance and unconditional love serve as a reminder not only of the dog I lost, but of the opportunities and new adventures that the future holds.
Chicken, in the past few days, has been making many friends and changing the perception of his breed. Yesterday at Sityodtong, Mark Dellagrotte graciously offered him gym space to play with his Cane Corso, Ducati. Kru Toy, whose father is the renowned leader of Sityodtong in Thailand and Mark's teacher, has spent the past month in the US, cornering Kenny Florian in his fight against Roger Huerta and spreading awareness of Muay Thai. After his last client, he spent ten minutes trying to teach Chicken how to give him his paw.
This brief interaction got me thinking about how the impact of something so small, like a new puppy or the kindness of others, can serve as a catalyst for motivation and renewed energy. I begin teaching this week and will be charged with inspiring the love of literature and writing in 150 young adult minds.
Fall also brings the excitement of a new season for thestudywithin and the prospect of educating new students and advancing the progress of our founding members.
Whatever your goals are for the upcoming months, I hope you too approach them with positivity and a renewed sense of interest. Be open to acts of kindness...perform them and receive them. You can never underestimate the effect they will have on your overall outlook and well-being.
Stacia
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
An honest interview...
I pulled this off of Tim Cartmell's discussion board. I find it absolutely refreshing that a great Chinese martial artist like Mr. Zhao is so candid. Enjoy. - Joe
Tim Cartmell:
Thanks to Tom Campbell for sending me this, it's a very interesting interview. Zhao Daoxin was a student of Zhang Zhaodong, one of the most capable Xingyiquan fighters of the early 20th century, and Wang Xiangzhai, the founder of Yiquan, one of the only "Internal" martial arts experts with a verifiable fighting record.
I have often discussed the situation of "challenge matches" in China back in the last century and before. They were rarely full fights and had many more "rules" than modern MMA matches. Mr. Zhao has some relevant remarks.
INTERVIEW WITH ZHAO DAOXIN
Recorded by Huang Jitao
Translated from chinese by Andrzej Kalisz
Zhao Enqing originally was disciple of Zhang Zhankui (Zhang Zhaodong). Later he learned from the founder of yiquan – Wang Xiangzhai and became one of his best students, receiving from Wang a honorary name Daoxin.
The original interview was made by Huang Jitao in 4 sessions over 4 days and is quite long. Here is only a translation of small part.
Huang:
So also traditional wushu is not efficient in fighting?
Zhao:
People from traditional styles say that the modern wushu from national institutes is just „flowery forms". But it still doesn't mean that themselves they possess „true gongfu". The wushu from institutes neglects fighting side, while traditional wushu is talking about fighting. But it doesn't mean that it really got it... Contemporary traditional wushu, just like the wushu from institutes is mainly about training forms. Moreover there is a lot of symbolic or ritual gestures, with no relation to fighting. Looking from point of view of training – they still use old methods of low efficiency. In theory they should help to develop practical skills, but in fact are more like kind of praying, method of developing patience, and just a lot of useless efort. I don't know how many dozens of thousands of people practice traditional wushu in China. But I also don't know about any of them, who could prove their abilities in fighting on international stage.
Huang:
But in times when foreign fighting experts and strong men kept coming to China, Chinese masters of that generation defeated them many times...
Zhao:
If there are so many examples of Chinese master defeating foreigners, why we can only hear about it from our side, and they don't mention this? Maybe they don't want to talk about being defeated. But on the other side how many Chinese were defeated, but we didn't talk about it, because it would be humiliating. Anyway we don't know what were the proportions between victories and defeats. And if Wu Song had fought not a tiger, but just a cat, there wouldn't be reason to praise him for centuries. And what kind of opponents were those foreigners, who were defeated by our masters? My teacher (Zhang Zhankui) met Russian „strong man", I met Danish „boxer". Other friends had similiar situations. But our opponents were defeated after just one action, there was no real fight. But this was only because traditional Chinese wushu didn't meet real tigers. In those times you could easily became famous because of „defeating" some foreigner, but it was only because they were not any real experts.
More challenging was fighting with other Chinese at that time. No foreigners signed up for the leitai tournaments in Hangzhou or Shanghai. And the people from traditional styles, no matter if they were some monks or great masters famous in some place, they either became injured in fights or were not brave enough to fight. And the winners, although they signed up as representatives of some traditional systems, instead of forms and other methods of those systems, they were using completely different methods preparing for fighting.
Huang:
Could you tell us your opinion and views about chinese martial arts?
Zhao:
There is not much time. So I will only outline some issues. This will not be very systematic disscussion. And because people all the time talk a lot about advantages, I will say rather about problems.
Huang:
First tell us, what you think about the internal and external division, and division based on territory.
Zhao:
If we want Chinese martial arts develop, we must reject such divisions. It doesn't mean that there is no meaning in them at all. But they only partially describe way of demonstration, and they don't really say anything about way of fighting. Divisions in martial art should be based on effect in fighting, and not the way of practice, and they should not be effect of swindle. They should express human body and developing technique, and not sect-like customs nourished for hundreds and thousands years. The division for Shaolin, Wudang, Emei and Zhongnan arts is only expressing fact, that communication was difficult in old times. But it is past. And the internal-external division was made up by literatti fascinated by the style which they practiced, so they started calling it internal family art – skillfull writers created flowery descriptions. But in fact nobody would talk about himself being representative of external family art. In fact, in real fighting there are no styles.
Huang:
But the internal-external division is at least representing the real division for soft and hard.
Zhao:
This division is even more muddled. Some just use it to criticize other schools. But when they talk about their own school, they stress that „soft and hard supplement each other", that „internal and external are trained together". They maintain that it's only them who keep right balance between soft and hard, while others tend to much toward softness or hardness.
Huang:
But the concepts of internal-external, soft-hard, at least led to developing sophisticated theories of internal training – concept „from yi to qi to jin".
Zhao:
„Yi, qi, li", „jing, qi, shen" - those concepts related to internal training are hard to express with normal language. We could say that it is about using self-suggestion to induce feeling of comfort and strength. There are new concepts, at least evenly useful, and even more efficient in practical use.
Huang:
What are the shortcomings of Chinese martial arts if we are talking about way of fighting?
Zhao:
There is a lot of shortcomings and taboos. Apart from those which are common for all Chinese martial arts, there are other, specific for some school. For example everybody fears that his style will resemble some other, so they try hard to make it look different. If you tell some person doing baguazhang, that his movements resemble taijiquan, he will hardly accept such opinion. If you tell some xingyiquan practitioner that you notice some similarities to western boxing he will feel bad about it. But actually the differences between styles are more in ritual gestures than in the way of figthing. But those gestures are usefull only for demonstration or meeting, in fight they are useless and stupid.
There is also taboo of falling down. In challenges there was an unwritten rule, that touching ground with part of body different than feet meant defeat. So in the south they stress „ma", and in the north „zhuang". In many styles long, low postures and centered torso are stressed. But what is real value of those stable techniques? The principle „when leg is raised, half body is empty" results in loosing opportunity of efficient kicks and hitting with knee. And the force which can be generated from non-balance is not used conciously yet. Constant talking about „not loosing center" disturbs developing agile body work and fast footwork. What is rejected in Chinese martial arts, is exactly what is most valuable on the international martial arts stage. Traditional Chinese martial arts are old men arts. Old is seen as equal to saint, authority, deep knowledge. But for old man it's hard to raise leg for kick, and each falling down can be dangerous. So this hidden weakness of old master, in teaching process becomes taboo of „not loosing balance". But fighting is not limited to shuaijiao competitions. In many cases loosing balance or even falling down is not big price for getting opportunity of executing efficient action.
Huang:
Let's now talk about training methods.
Zhao:
Our martial arts teachers like to seek for differences in techniques and to hide „secrets" in techniques. But in fact, where can be real differences, and where could be secrets is training methods. Combat efficiency is decided by way of training. And methods of traditional training have low efficiency. You need a lot of time, and even after long time you are not sure if you will be able to use your skills in fighting. Training is a complex science – on border of many disciplines. Just repeating some exercises for dozens of years is not enough. I will not talk much, I will only mention several discrepancies.
First there is discrepancy between training and use. No matter which style, the problem is lack of actual fighting training. In which traditional school most time is spend on fighting training? Traditional teachers make two funny mistakes. First – they say that fighting training can only be the last part of training process, that only when you have gongli, you can start testing it in fight. Second – they think that when you become proficient in tui shou and other exercises with partner which resemble fighting, it means that you developed fighting skill. Of course it is difficult to introduce hard fighting during training. Martial arts hobbysts don't want to go to work next day with swollen face, and bruised legs. But if you want to achieve high level in martial art, you must make it. From the beginning you should train like you will fight.
Next is discrepancy between fatigue and intensity of training. Traditional teachers talk about practicing many hours a day. This is long time training but with low intensity. Muscles and nervous system are not activated in a way which is necessary for fighting. Those teacher hate using modern training equipment, and will not ask other person to train together. They prefer to hide in dark place, keep repeating some movements and pondering over theory.
Then there is also discrepancy between theory and practice, between technique and physical attributes, between what is practiced in public and behind closed door. These are only some examples.
Huang:
We were talking about Chinese martial arts in general. Would you care to talk about specific styles?
Zhao:
Let's start from xingyiquan and baguazhang...
...first xingyiquan. In 1920s and 1930s there were many representatives of xingyiquan among winners of leitai tournaments. But today „power" of xingyiquan decreased. The reason is that apart from problems common for all chinese martial arts, this one which stresses harmony-unity has many aspects where there is lack of such harmony.
For example there is lack of harmony between technique and force. In xingyiquan hitting technique is powered by pushing force. Fists or palms mainly push opponent, in small part causing damage. But it also doesn't allow pushing opponent far away in pushing hands. Actually, it seems as if xingyiquan people have not decided whether their technique is for san shou or for tui shou.
And lack of harmony between form and intention. All are talking about form and intention both being important, but actually they go close toward one of the extremes... There is also lack of harmony between fighting methods and exercises.
People like comparing xingyiquan to western boxing. But they also fear this comparing. They think that Chinese „thing" should be pure. So when there is even coincidencal similarity, they prefer to get rid of it. But I think, that as for training methods and competition, xingyiquan should learn from boxing.
Huang:
Was creation of xingyibagua a result of trying to fill shortcomings of xingyiquan by using baguazhang?
Zhao:
Mutual supplementing started from friendly contacts between Dong Haichuang and Guo Yunshen and between their students. Then Zhan Zhankui linked them together into one system. But shortcomings of xingyi cannot be filled by using bagua. Bagua also has a lot of shortcomings, and they cannot be filled by using xingyi. Baguazhang has a thick outside layers through which it is difficult to see anything. If you look from outside, there is only impression of complexness and mystery. Big part of first layer are legends about Dong Haichuan and his students. Second layer is the unnecessary and forced use of the theory of eight trigrams. Baguazhang teachers always talked about „Book of changes", but nobody could explain at least one necessary link between this martial art and that classic book. Third layer is not distinguishing between basic exercises and fighting. Even teachers think „how to use this change", „how to move around opponent with tangnibu steps", „how to move behind opponent and attack his back" - that's just illusory thoughts. And beyond the third layer – practitioners expand their arms and move around, like people starting to learn skating, and sometimes they make some change into extremely twisted position. So this is mix of legends, old saint books and strange techniques.
Huang:
Taijiquan is attracting a lot of people, because of theory and health benefits. But many people doubt that such soft and slow method could work against explosive power...
Zhao:
Layman has not developed prejudice, so his first impression can be quite right. Taijiquan has its own form of comparing skill – tui shou. Why not be happy with just this? Not every martial art must be good for real figthing. I remember as in period of Republic of China taijiquan experts explained that the reason for no taijiquan people being able to prove their fighting skill at leitai tournaments is because taijiquan is too profund and it's difficult to master it. Was this some kind of excuse or sincere statement? Taijiquan theory looks great and could be a model for other classical theories of martial art. The main idea is relation between yin and yang. You want to be hard? So start from being as soft as possible, because ultimate softness changes into hardness. You want to be fast? Then start from slowness. This philosophy, that after achieving extreme some attribute changes into its opposite is attracting many people. But did anyone test it? No, if you see what those taijiquan masters, who can demonstrate issuing power are practicing in secret, you will understand what I'm talking about.
Huang:
So you say that those young people who want to develop fighting skills are in some part misled by taijiquan concepts. If so, then maybe Shaolin is more sincere? They stress hard, fast, fierce, using both hands and legs. People think that Shaolin monks are the last kings of real fighting.
Zhao:
Ming dynasty generals went to Shaolin temple, having such opinion, and they became disappointed. Today many young people leave school and go to Shaolin. With the same effect – their faith in Shaolin becomes ashes. They come with thought of developing incredible fighting skill, not available for normal people. But in fact they just learn some acrobatics tricks. Training methods which they learn are outdated and not useful for developing real fighting skills. Breaking stones, standing upside-down on fingers, taking hits, when you make such demonstrations, with addition of some tricks typical for illusionists – public will be delighted. Ma Liang's new wushu (Ma Liang published book „New Chinese wushu" in 1918) and modern wushu, despised even by representatives of traditional systems, are based on Shaolin. And I remember as in 1920s and 1930s those „last kings of real fighting" kept loosing at leitai tournaments and were going away like rats, one after another.
Huang:
And what you think about southern systems.
Zhao:
When we look at southern styles, we can see that they have their own, quite different character. But I cannot say much, as I didn't study them. But from what I saw at the tournaments at end of 1920s „southern wind is not making you freeze".
Huang:
Finally, please tell us about the martial art created by yourself.
Zhao:
My „thing" comes from mistakes and losts. When I was young I liked to fight with famous experts. I had no respect for them, and when I defeated them, I didn't care about some good things they had anyway. It not only disturbed exchange of knowledge, but also hurt feelings. And because disputing and maintaining different views from the main stream of Chinese martial arts, I kept some distance from the martial arts circles. Until now people call me excentric and stubborn.
At beginning I created xinhuizhang, in order to explain traditional methods of using force, but actually this is just a form, and cannot efficiently improve practitioner's combat abilities. Only now I'm working on summarizing all those training methods and fighting methods which I benefited from, with thought of supplementing xinhuizhang. But the way of competitive fighting on international scene is constantly changing. So my „things" are constantly being outmached by others. If will not work on improving it, there will be no progress. Lately I'm worried about xinhuizhang explosive issuing power with legs, so far I have not resolved this problem. And I hope that younger will criticize me.
Tim Cartmell:
Thanks to Tom Campbell for sending me this, it's a very interesting interview. Zhao Daoxin was a student of Zhang Zhaodong, one of the most capable Xingyiquan fighters of the early 20th century, and Wang Xiangzhai, the founder of Yiquan, one of the only "Internal" martial arts experts with a verifiable fighting record.
I have often discussed the situation of "challenge matches" in China back in the last century and before. They were rarely full fights and had many more "rules" than modern MMA matches. Mr. Zhao has some relevant remarks.
INTERVIEW WITH ZHAO DAOXIN
Recorded by Huang Jitao
Translated from chinese by Andrzej Kalisz
Zhao Enqing originally was disciple of Zhang Zhankui (Zhang Zhaodong). Later he learned from the founder of yiquan – Wang Xiangzhai and became one of his best students, receiving from Wang a honorary name Daoxin.
The original interview was made by Huang Jitao in 4 sessions over 4 days and is quite long. Here is only a translation of small part.
Huang:
So also traditional wushu is not efficient in fighting?
Zhao:
People from traditional styles say that the modern wushu from national institutes is just „flowery forms". But it still doesn't mean that themselves they possess „true gongfu". The wushu from institutes neglects fighting side, while traditional wushu is talking about fighting. But it doesn't mean that it really got it... Contemporary traditional wushu, just like the wushu from institutes is mainly about training forms. Moreover there is a lot of symbolic or ritual gestures, with no relation to fighting. Looking from point of view of training – they still use old methods of low efficiency. In theory they should help to develop practical skills, but in fact are more like kind of praying, method of developing patience, and just a lot of useless efort. I don't know how many dozens of thousands of people practice traditional wushu in China. But I also don't know about any of them, who could prove their abilities in fighting on international stage.
Huang:
But in times when foreign fighting experts and strong men kept coming to China, Chinese masters of that generation defeated them many times...
Zhao:
If there are so many examples of Chinese master defeating foreigners, why we can only hear about it from our side, and they don't mention this? Maybe they don't want to talk about being defeated. But on the other side how many Chinese were defeated, but we didn't talk about it, because it would be humiliating. Anyway we don't know what were the proportions between victories and defeats. And if Wu Song had fought not a tiger, but just a cat, there wouldn't be reason to praise him for centuries. And what kind of opponents were those foreigners, who were defeated by our masters? My teacher (Zhang Zhankui) met Russian „strong man", I met Danish „boxer". Other friends had similiar situations. But our opponents were defeated after just one action, there was no real fight. But this was only because traditional Chinese wushu didn't meet real tigers. In those times you could easily became famous because of „defeating" some foreigner, but it was only because they were not any real experts.
More challenging was fighting with other Chinese at that time. No foreigners signed up for the leitai tournaments in Hangzhou or Shanghai. And the people from traditional styles, no matter if they were some monks or great masters famous in some place, they either became injured in fights or were not brave enough to fight. And the winners, although they signed up as representatives of some traditional systems, instead of forms and other methods of those systems, they were using completely different methods preparing for fighting.
Huang:
Could you tell us your opinion and views about chinese martial arts?
Zhao:
There is not much time. So I will only outline some issues. This will not be very systematic disscussion. And because people all the time talk a lot about advantages, I will say rather about problems.
Huang:
First tell us, what you think about the internal and external division, and division based on territory.
Zhao:
If we want Chinese martial arts develop, we must reject such divisions. It doesn't mean that there is no meaning in them at all. But they only partially describe way of demonstration, and they don't really say anything about way of fighting. Divisions in martial art should be based on effect in fighting, and not the way of practice, and they should not be effect of swindle. They should express human body and developing technique, and not sect-like customs nourished for hundreds and thousands years. The division for Shaolin, Wudang, Emei and Zhongnan arts is only expressing fact, that communication was difficult in old times. But it is past. And the internal-external division was made up by literatti fascinated by the style which they practiced, so they started calling it internal family art – skillfull writers created flowery descriptions. But in fact nobody would talk about himself being representative of external family art. In fact, in real fighting there are no styles.
Huang:
But the internal-external division is at least representing the real division for soft and hard.
Zhao:
This division is even more muddled. Some just use it to criticize other schools. But when they talk about their own school, they stress that „soft and hard supplement each other", that „internal and external are trained together". They maintain that it's only them who keep right balance between soft and hard, while others tend to much toward softness or hardness.
Huang:
But the concepts of internal-external, soft-hard, at least led to developing sophisticated theories of internal training – concept „from yi to qi to jin".
Zhao:
„Yi, qi, li", „jing, qi, shen" - those concepts related to internal training are hard to express with normal language. We could say that it is about using self-suggestion to induce feeling of comfort and strength. There are new concepts, at least evenly useful, and even more efficient in practical use.
Huang:
What are the shortcomings of Chinese martial arts if we are talking about way of fighting?
Zhao:
There is a lot of shortcomings and taboos. Apart from those which are common for all Chinese martial arts, there are other, specific for some school. For example everybody fears that his style will resemble some other, so they try hard to make it look different. If you tell some person doing baguazhang, that his movements resemble taijiquan, he will hardly accept such opinion. If you tell some xingyiquan practitioner that you notice some similarities to western boxing he will feel bad about it. But actually the differences between styles are more in ritual gestures than in the way of figthing. But those gestures are usefull only for demonstration or meeting, in fight they are useless and stupid.
There is also taboo of falling down. In challenges there was an unwritten rule, that touching ground with part of body different than feet meant defeat. So in the south they stress „ma", and in the north „zhuang". In many styles long, low postures and centered torso are stressed. But what is real value of those stable techniques? The principle „when leg is raised, half body is empty" results in loosing opportunity of efficient kicks and hitting with knee. And the force which can be generated from non-balance is not used conciously yet. Constant talking about „not loosing center" disturbs developing agile body work and fast footwork. What is rejected in Chinese martial arts, is exactly what is most valuable on the international martial arts stage. Traditional Chinese martial arts are old men arts. Old is seen as equal to saint, authority, deep knowledge. But for old man it's hard to raise leg for kick, and each falling down can be dangerous. So this hidden weakness of old master, in teaching process becomes taboo of „not loosing balance". But fighting is not limited to shuaijiao competitions. In many cases loosing balance or even falling down is not big price for getting opportunity of executing efficient action.
Huang:
Let's now talk about training methods.
Zhao:
Our martial arts teachers like to seek for differences in techniques and to hide „secrets" in techniques. But in fact, where can be real differences, and where could be secrets is training methods. Combat efficiency is decided by way of training. And methods of traditional training have low efficiency. You need a lot of time, and even after long time you are not sure if you will be able to use your skills in fighting. Training is a complex science – on border of many disciplines. Just repeating some exercises for dozens of years is not enough. I will not talk much, I will only mention several discrepancies.
First there is discrepancy between training and use. No matter which style, the problem is lack of actual fighting training. In which traditional school most time is spend on fighting training? Traditional teachers make two funny mistakes. First – they say that fighting training can only be the last part of training process, that only when you have gongli, you can start testing it in fight. Second – they think that when you become proficient in tui shou and other exercises with partner which resemble fighting, it means that you developed fighting skill. Of course it is difficult to introduce hard fighting during training. Martial arts hobbysts don't want to go to work next day with swollen face, and bruised legs. But if you want to achieve high level in martial art, you must make it. From the beginning you should train like you will fight.
Next is discrepancy between fatigue and intensity of training. Traditional teachers talk about practicing many hours a day. This is long time training but with low intensity. Muscles and nervous system are not activated in a way which is necessary for fighting. Those teacher hate using modern training equipment, and will not ask other person to train together. They prefer to hide in dark place, keep repeating some movements and pondering over theory.
Then there is also discrepancy between theory and practice, between technique and physical attributes, between what is practiced in public and behind closed door. These are only some examples.
Huang:
We were talking about Chinese martial arts in general. Would you care to talk about specific styles?
Zhao:
Let's start from xingyiquan and baguazhang...
...first xingyiquan. In 1920s and 1930s there were many representatives of xingyiquan among winners of leitai tournaments. But today „power" of xingyiquan decreased. The reason is that apart from problems common for all chinese martial arts, this one which stresses harmony-unity has many aspects where there is lack of such harmony.
For example there is lack of harmony between technique and force. In xingyiquan hitting technique is powered by pushing force. Fists or palms mainly push opponent, in small part causing damage. But it also doesn't allow pushing opponent far away in pushing hands. Actually, it seems as if xingyiquan people have not decided whether their technique is for san shou or for tui shou.
And lack of harmony between form and intention. All are talking about form and intention both being important, but actually they go close toward one of the extremes... There is also lack of harmony between fighting methods and exercises.
People like comparing xingyiquan to western boxing. But they also fear this comparing. They think that Chinese „thing" should be pure. So when there is even coincidencal similarity, they prefer to get rid of it. But I think, that as for training methods and competition, xingyiquan should learn from boxing.
Huang:
Was creation of xingyibagua a result of trying to fill shortcomings of xingyiquan by using baguazhang?
Zhao:
Mutual supplementing started from friendly contacts between Dong Haichuang and Guo Yunshen and between their students. Then Zhan Zhankui linked them together into one system. But shortcomings of xingyi cannot be filled by using bagua. Bagua also has a lot of shortcomings, and they cannot be filled by using xingyi. Baguazhang has a thick outside layers through which it is difficult to see anything. If you look from outside, there is only impression of complexness and mystery. Big part of first layer are legends about Dong Haichuan and his students. Second layer is the unnecessary and forced use of the theory of eight trigrams. Baguazhang teachers always talked about „Book of changes", but nobody could explain at least one necessary link between this martial art and that classic book. Third layer is not distinguishing between basic exercises and fighting. Even teachers think „how to use this change", „how to move around opponent with tangnibu steps", „how to move behind opponent and attack his back" - that's just illusory thoughts. And beyond the third layer – practitioners expand their arms and move around, like people starting to learn skating, and sometimes they make some change into extremely twisted position. So this is mix of legends, old saint books and strange techniques.
Huang:
Taijiquan is attracting a lot of people, because of theory and health benefits. But many people doubt that such soft and slow method could work against explosive power...
Zhao:
Layman has not developed prejudice, so his first impression can be quite right. Taijiquan has its own form of comparing skill – tui shou. Why not be happy with just this? Not every martial art must be good for real figthing. I remember as in period of Republic of China taijiquan experts explained that the reason for no taijiquan people being able to prove their fighting skill at leitai tournaments is because taijiquan is too profund and it's difficult to master it. Was this some kind of excuse or sincere statement? Taijiquan theory looks great and could be a model for other classical theories of martial art. The main idea is relation between yin and yang. You want to be hard? So start from being as soft as possible, because ultimate softness changes into hardness. You want to be fast? Then start from slowness. This philosophy, that after achieving extreme some attribute changes into its opposite is attracting many people. But did anyone test it? No, if you see what those taijiquan masters, who can demonstrate issuing power are practicing in secret, you will understand what I'm talking about.
Huang:
So you say that those young people who want to develop fighting skills are in some part misled by taijiquan concepts. If so, then maybe Shaolin is more sincere? They stress hard, fast, fierce, using both hands and legs. People think that Shaolin monks are the last kings of real fighting.
Zhao:
Ming dynasty generals went to Shaolin temple, having such opinion, and they became disappointed. Today many young people leave school and go to Shaolin. With the same effect – their faith in Shaolin becomes ashes. They come with thought of developing incredible fighting skill, not available for normal people. But in fact they just learn some acrobatics tricks. Training methods which they learn are outdated and not useful for developing real fighting skills. Breaking stones, standing upside-down on fingers, taking hits, when you make such demonstrations, with addition of some tricks typical for illusionists – public will be delighted. Ma Liang's new wushu (Ma Liang published book „New Chinese wushu" in 1918) and modern wushu, despised even by representatives of traditional systems, are based on Shaolin. And I remember as in 1920s and 1930s those „last kings of real fighting" kept loosing at leitai tournaments and were going away like rats, one after another.
Huang:
And what you think about southern systems.
Zhao:
When we look at southern styles, we can see that they have their own, quite different character. But I cannot say much, as I didn't study them. But from what I saw at the tournaments at end of 1920s „southern wind is not making you freeze".
Huang:
Finally, please tell us about the martial art created by yourself.
Zhao:
My „thing" comes from mistakes and losts. When I was young I liked to fight with famous experts. I had no respect for them, and when I defeated them, I didn't care about some good things they had anyway. It not only disturbed exchange of knowledge, but also hurt feelings. And because disputing and maintaining different views from the main stream of Chinese martial arts, I kept some distance from the martial arts circles. Until now people call me excentric and stubborn.
At beginning I created xinhuizhang, in order to explain traditional methods of using force, but actually this is just a form, and cannot efficiently improve practitioner's combat abilities. Only now I'm working on summarizing all those training methods and fighting methods which I benefited from, with thought of supplementing xinhuizhang. But the way of competitive fighting on international scene is constantly changing. So my „things" are constantly being outmached by others. If will not work on improving it, there will be no progress. Lately I'm worried about xinhuizhang explosive issuing power with legs, so far I have not resolved this problem. And I hope that younger will criticize me.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Winning and Losing, Success and Failure
When you win, you lose.
When you lose, you win.
When you fail, you succeed.
When you succeed, you fail.
These simple four sentences appear to be, as my mother would state, "crazy talk, Joseph." On the surface, the words have opposite meaning from the other, win/lose, succeed/fail. In reality, they are two sides of one coin.
What is important is that you should learn something about yourself. Personal and emotional sacrifices that accompany successes and wins can be viewed as failures and losses. It depends on the perspective of the observer. Failures and losses that occur can be viewed as great motivators and teaching mechanisms, acting as catalysts for self-improvement.
Be mindful of your attitude and how it relates to your physical training. Be open to the notion that training is both winning and losing, succeeding and failing. It is just one coin with two perspectives. On which side it finally lands is up to you.
N.B. If you want to do an exercise that will really tax your anaerobic system, do Burpees in your training. They will improve your fitness and if done sincerely, will kick your butt.
When you lose, you win.
When you fail, you succeed.
When you succeed, you fail.
These simple four sentences appear to be, as my mother would state, "crazy talk, Joseph." On the surface, the words have opposite meaning from the other, win/lose, succeed/fail. In reality, they are two sides of one coin.
What is important is that you should learn something about yourself. Personal and emotional sacrifices that accompany successes and wins can be viewed as failures and losses. It depends on the perspective of the observer. Failures and losses that occur can be viewed as great motivators and teaching mechanisms, acting as catalysts for self-improvement.
Be mindful of your attitude and how it relates to your physical training. Be open to the notion that training is both winning and losing, succeeding and failing. It is just one coin with two perspectives. On which side it finally lands is up to you.
N.B. If you want to do an exercise that will really tax your anaerobic system, do Burpees in your training. They will improve your fitness and if done sincerely, will kick your butt.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Small Victories...
Recently, I ran into a former classmate from graduate school. She had just finished teaching summer school and apparently used an anecdote about me in her classroom. "The kids still can't get over why you left a job in New York City with [an haute couture designer] to become a teacher. They think you're nuts." It's not the first time I've heard this sentiment, from kids and overly superficial adults alike, but it hits me like a round kick in the stomach on every occasion. Are children and their educations viewed with such aloofness and apathy that a career in fashion is seen as more appealing and rewarding than that of an educator?
Maybe you're wondering where I'm going with this...it all ties in with my strong belief in leaving one's comfort zone and taking risks. Sure...it would have been easy to keep running a boutique where $200,000 gowns and $1,400 shoes were effortlessly sold to celebrities and socialites, but my heart and my mind were someplace else.
The same sentiment is true of my foray into the martial arts. I practice an hour of vinyasa yoga each day and hone my Muay Thai skills with Jake at Sityodtong. The seeming dichotomy that one might assume exists between a serene discipline like yoga and a faster paced punching and kicking sport like Muay Thai does not exist for me. Instead, both compliment each other. While yoga strengthens my mind and body, Muay Thai allows me to do the same through a different vehicle. The two arts meld into feelings of empowerment, strength, mindfulness, and tranquility that, for me, are essential to how well I live my life.
Had I resisted Joe's invitation to meet and train with Jake, it would have been because I was afraid of the unknown and leery of expressing myself in a way with which I was not familiar. Had I stopped to think about it, maybe I would have been imtimidated by the fact that I had never seen much less attempted the Muay Thai style of boxing and, quite often, I am the only woman in the gym. Thankfully, I jumped in with both feet. And it has been one of the best blind leaps of faith I have ever made.
Often, when we are faced with changes or opportunities that are unfamiliar, we are impeded by a lack of motivation or self-assuredness about how we will perform. Turns out that I'm pretty good at Muay Thai, really good at yoga, and aspire to be one of the teachers my kids will remember at the end of their academic careers and throughout their adult lives.
Martial arts has become one of the vehicles through which I have found confidence and purpose in my chosen pursuits. No matter what your pursuits are, should they include martial arts or not, have your own vehicles through which you can build your physical, spiritual, and emotional foundations. Have the courage and conviction to try something new. What my younger brother calls "small victories" soon add up to major achievement.
Stacia
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