Awareness – Attention – Intention

Physical movement is a big part of martial arts training however 90% of high level skill in martial arts is determined by mental acuity and perception. High level martial arts skill is attained through strengthening and increasing the connection between the mind and the body. There are three aspects to mental training in the martial arts and it is important to be aware of these aspects as well as being able to distinguish between the three. These three aspects are awareness, attention, and intention; let’s see if we can come up with some working definition for these terms.

Let’s start with awareness, we can define awareness as the quantity and quality of information that we can absorb both internally and externally through observation. A good way to experience this is to try and notice how aware you are of yourself. How much muscle tension do you carry with you without being aware of it? Do you hold your breath when you exert yourself without realizing it?

Next we have attention, the ability to focus on a specific stream of information within your awareness. Attention can be described as selective awareness and it is an acquired skill although many of us may display aspects of selective awareness unknowingly or unintentionally. Not hearing what someone is saying to you because you are watching television is more an illustration of distraction than of attention. The ability to attend to various aspects of energy, structure, and balance is a high level skill in the martial arts.

Lastly we have intention which for the purposes of this discussion we will define as the ability to modify the quality of physical movement by changing the way in which you think about that movement. A good way to experience this is to have your training partner hold a focus mitt and allow you to give it your best punch. Next, throw that exact same punch but focus on striking a target somewhere directly behind the focus mitt. Notice how the quality of your punch changes with just a simple change in how you thought about punching. A good teacher can help you think about things in a way that qualitatively changes your performance.

These mental aspects of training go hand in hand with the physical aspects. Beyond kicking and punching, fine-tuned perception and mental acuity can open the door to sublime levels of skill and personal transformation.

 

A sip of tea...

I have some tea and I want to share it. If you like I will pour you some tea. It is a strong tea with a distinctive taste, so strong that you will never forget it. The taste is so strong and so unique that if you tasted it again you would immediately recognize it. I only have enough tea for 10 people, and cannot make more right now, I simply don’t have the time. I could add some water to the tea so that more of you could have some, but then it wouldn’t be as strong or distinctive. You would not get the pure taste, only a semblance.

If you would like to share this special tea with others then I can show you how the tea is made, which leaves to pick, what part of the leaf to use, how to dry the leaves. I can also show you how to prepare the tea to get the best taste. This requires time, effort, and patience. If you enjoy a good tea then the effort is worth it. Will you have some tea with me?

Sifu Bryant K. Feld (Moy Bah Yan) – www.vtkfsystem.com

Elements of Mastery

In the martial arts one hears the term master quite a bit, maybe even too much. In the west the term has been cheapened and commercialized to a certain degree (possibly in the east as well). For the right price there are people who will give you the title of master in the time it takes you to write them a check. For those of us who are serious about martial arts what does the title master really mean?

Typically we think of anyone who can display a sublime level of skill in their chosen discipline as a master. As martial artist I think we should add a few more criteria, with physical skill simply being an entry level requirement. In addition to displaying a high level of skill a master should be able to articulate in an easy to understand manner the principles on which his or her art is based, giving his students a pathway to reach the same level of skill if they are willing to put forth the same level of effort, thought, and reflection.

Also a master of the martial arts should be an example of health and vitality. Not necessarily an Olympic level athlete but also not a professional donut taster. A master should demonstrate a healthy lifestyle and should be able to share with his or her students how they may also lead a healthier lifestyle.

Lastly, masters should have a deep level of understanding that is reflected in how they live their lives. They should have quality relationships and strive to make a difference in the lives of others. People value the relationship they have with a true master for how much it enriches their lives. They are not preachy, over bearing, or cryptic they simply speak and relate with honesty and integrity and a desire to help us discover and express our best selves.

Martial Arts Training Methods

Martial arts systems use a variety of training methods. Some stick to one or two methods while others use a variety. It is important to understand the various training methods and what can be gained by utilizing them. It is also important to consider this information in choosing a martial art to study. Your personal preference and physical limitations may have some bearing on what training methods you would favor.

Forms Training

Forms training is usually the starting point in most traditional martial arts systems. Forms are a series a choreographed movements designed to teach the student the basic principles, concepts, and movements of a particular system.

Technique Training

In learning a technique you are learning a specific response to a specific attack. This method of training is good for beginners and people who have no prior martial arts training. It develops some degree of mind body connection and definitely improves things such as coordination and balance. However it will take a long time before any real martial skill is developed using this method alone.

Sparring

Sparring is an excellent training method but it must be structured and introduced in levels of difficulty and intensity. The student must already have a good basic foundation before any sparring is done otherwise the risk of injuries is very high. Sparring develops stamina and mental toughness, it will also give the student the opportunity to see at what level they are able to make their skills work against an uncooperative adversary.

Training using an apparatus

The Wooden Dummy from Wing Chun Kung Fu, a punching bag, a speed bag, a makiwara, a sao bao, all of these are considered training apparatus. Using an apparatus functions as supplementary training usually to develop one or more martial attributes such as speed, power, coordination etc. The proper use of any apparatus normally requires expert instruction in order to reap the full benefits of this mode of training.

Using Pads and Shields

These could also be considered training apparatus however with boxing, kick boxing, MMA, and JKD as well as several other systems there is very intricate pad and shield work that can only be provided by a skilled trainer. You can simply use pads and shields to get accustomed to hitting something but higher level skill development can only be achieved with an instructor.

Sensitivity Training

What I mean by sensitivity training is the ability to glean significant information from any limb to limb or body to body contact concerning intent, direction, force, and balance. There are many systems that utilize sensitivity training, the depth of the skills acquired and the manner in which they are used vary from system to system. It is not an easy skill to acquire but it is one of those skills that distinguishes someone who is just a good fighter from someone who is a master.

Consider that any decent martial arts system will use at least three of these 6 training methods. Any one method by itself will produce a limited skill set with shallow depth. Ideally if you are training for self-defense you want a solid and broad skill set that is easily adaptable to any situation you are likely to face on the street. Being an expert within a very limited set of skills can be detrimental.

 

Do you not know that I kill at will?

The Baht Jahm Do is the last and most advanced skill set learned in the Ving Tsun Kung Fu system. The Ving Tsun practitioner’s hands become ten times more deadly as his hands have now become blades. When learning to use these weapons one must also learn to consider and incorporate a certain state of mind. A state of mind that will allow you to do what is necessary in a life or death situation even if it involves killing. This is a lot to consider and should not be taken lightly. One has to ask themselves the following questions, are my skills sharp enough that I could kill if necessary. Do I possess the mental fortitude necessary to kill if needed? Under what circumstances would I be willing to take a life? Under what circumstances is a lethal response legally justifiable? This is not our natural state, in our everyday lives we do not contemplate killing on a regular basis, but it is important to have the ability to instantly access this frame of mind if the need arises.

We are not speaking of a psychopathic mindset, more akin to resolute single-mindedness; being fully in the present moment and 100% committed to doing what must be done. It is not rooted in emotions like anger or fear, it is rooted in awareness and clarity. As regular people living our everyday day lives we rarely if ever encounter a set of circumstances that would make this state of mind necessary. However it is important to know what your mental, physical, and spiritual limitations are and to be able act fully and efficiently within those parameters. Spend some time with these ideas and take an honest assessment of yourself, better now than in a moment of crisis.

 

Elements of engagement

1.       Get off the line of attack
 As your opponent initiates his attack, get out of the way. Do your best to get off of the line of attack. The manner in which you do this is very important it is not a dodge or a retreat. You should move just enough so that you do not get hit and there should be a forward component to your movement but we’ll get into that more a little later.

 

2.       Occupy Centerline
As you are moving in reference to your adversary you must forcefully occupy your centerline. Punches, kicks, and deflections must be employed with energy and commitment as you break critical distance. Halfhearted attempts will cause you to lose the opportunity to gain superior position and put you in danger.

 

3.       Move Forward
There are only four ways you can be physically attacked with a punch or kick as defined by the type of energy being used in the attack (long or short) and the path that the attack takes through space (linear or circular). For linear attacks you want to move ever so slightly off the line and then move forward while occupying centerline. For circular attacks you can move outside the arc of the attack and deflect it or move inside the arc of the attack to receive and dissipate it. In either case it is important to create the opportunity to move forward to engage and land a finishing blow. Use your sensitivity to problem solve if your attempts to strike are thwarted. Engage, bridge, and finish as quickly as possible. The longer you take the higher the probability something can go wrong.

Five Martial Arts Misconceptions

1.       It’s all Karate

      Many people use the term Karate as a generic term for martial arts. This is incorrect, Karate is a specific term for a specific martial art. Karate is a Japanese form of unarmed combat specializing in various punches and kicks. There are also several different styles of Karate each with unique methods and tactics. It really irritates serious martial artist when Karate is used as a generic term for all martial arts, so try not to do that.

2.       You have to register your hands as deadly weapons

There is a very popular urban legend that trained fighters must register their hands as deadly weapons. This is not true in any way shape or form. However a trained fighter does have to consider any legal ramifications if he uses his training on the street. Any use of force that is greater than what would be necessary to neutralize a perceived threat could be grounds for prosecution.

       3.       It’s just for kids

When many people think about martial arts they think of it as character building and exercise for young children. As if there aren’t adults that could use some exercise and character building. Seriously speaking, martial arts practice is a worthy pursuit for anyone from age 8 to 80. There are hundreds if not thousands of different martial arts that one could learn. All you have to do is find something that suits your physicality, level of fitness, and your personality and then get started. It is by no means just for kids!

4.        I want to learn the ultimate martial art

There is no one martial art that rules them all. There is no one system that you can learn that will make you invincible. The effectiveness of any given martial arts depends a great deal on the individual practitioner. There are some people who are so talented they can make something that seems totally impractical work every time. There are people who are so challenged that even the simplest most straight forward technique may not work for them.

       5.       UFC/MMA is like street fighting

MMA is a wonderful sport that requires talent, skill, dedication and many many hours of training. MMA has rules and regulations meant to insure the safety of its participants and give them the opportunity to showcase their very impressive skills. It is in no way nor does it intend to be an approximation of a street fight. Street fights have no rules, no rounds, often there are no winners, and many losers. Street fighting is not fair, it is often not one on one mutual combat and very likely involves weapons. If your primary interest in martial arts is to become a successful street fighter then there are some other issues you may want to address prior to beginning your martial arts study.

This movie had nothing to do with Karate...