BLACK BELT? HOW LONG...?

 by Yang Shuangxing

If I had a dollar for every time a prospective student asked me how long it would take him to earn a black belt, I could have retired a lot sooner. My usual knee-jerk response was that for about six bucks (belts were much cheaper back then), I could have one for him in about ten days...

Of course, that wasn't what he wanted to hear. For those who I felt were seriously interested but simply ignorant, I would explain it to them in this fashion: All things being “average”, which included his or her fitness level, coordination, intelligence...and attending class an average of three times each week, the average time was usually about 3-4 years. However, if any of the involved factors weren't average, the whole equation changed.

I have known a good many instructors who were very surprised at my answer. “Only THREE OR FOUR years? Why, in my school it usually takes about TEN years...” They were always surprised to learn that, in Japan, the average time required to reach shodan was three to four years (bear in mind that the Chinese systems, at that time, provided no ranking system at all). They misunderstood the whole concept of shodan, believing that receiving the coveted black belt indicated that one was an “expert” of some kind. This notion originated in the West and is a far cry from how the grade is considered in the East.

The idea of issuing black belts to senior students originated in judo. Dr. Kano (the founder) determined that it would be a good way to distinguish seniors from juniors and the more junior students could easily identify those who could assist them. It was never intended to indicate that anyone was an “expert”, whatever that is. In time, kyu (junior) belts of various colors came to be.

Shodan means “first grade.” That's all. Nothing fancy. It means that you have learned the fundamentals and can perform them correctly, more or less. Kind of like a high school diploma. In arts such as karate, the average time required for this (all things being average and attending class three times weekly) is about three years. In Japan the grade of shodan in arts such as iaido may be achieved after one or two years of training. Of course, no special colored belt is worn. A certificate is awarded and that's it. When I see someone who claims to be an iaido practitioner sporting a colored belt (especially if it's worn on the outside of the hakama), I strongly suspect that an overactive ego is involved. It is the first grade given to adults; kyu grades are for children. Only after iaido began to become popular in the U.S. were kyu grades given to adults. Kind of changes your perspective, doesn't it?

I have met instructors who, as part of the shodan examination, require participants to undergo extremely rigorous physical exercises...some of these would make a Navy SeAL blush. Such fanfare isn't seen in Japan as part of an examination. Students may engage in vigorous physical conditioning exercises as a part of training, but not as a part of an examination.

To keep things in proper perspective, there are minimum time requirements for grades beyond shodan. A minimum of two years after receiving shodan is required before a promotion to nidan (2^nd grade black belt). Three years after nidan before sandan (3^rd), and so on. To receive a godan (5^th grade) requires considerable time! Just do the math. In Japan, you won't find any (legitimate) twenty year-old godans... Nor will you find any shodans or nidans acting as chief instructors of schools. There was a time when one had to reach a minimum grade of yondan (4^th grade) before one would be permitted to have his or her own school.

Gong-fu has never utilized colored belt grades because they were, for the most part, originally taught within the confines of one's family and everyone knew who was who and how skilled everyone was. Times change, however, and nowadays these arts have grown far beyond the boundaries of blood kin. I feel, as do many other gong-fu instructors, that a grading system of some kind is desperately needed. The All-China Sports Federation (of mainland China) instituted upper-level grades some time ago (known as “duan”), but achieving such grades requires performances of various modern wushu routines. For traditionalists, this was (and still is) regarded as unsuitable. I agree with them.

So, many different schools of traditional gong-fu have adopted their own grading systems. I would prefer to see them somehow become standardized as has been done in the different styles of karate but I doubt it'll happen in my lifetime.

BEGINNING AGAIN

 by Phillip Starr

In 2015 at the age of 66, I had the chance to study iaido (the art of drawing and cutting with the Japanese sword). I'd wanted to learn this special art since I was very young but back in those days, there weren't many iaido teachers in the U.S. When the art gained more popularity, I was still unable to study the art; the instructors lived on the coasts and I resided in the Midwest! Just my luck...

Life goes on, despite our disappointments and I taught gong-fu for several decades before meeting the gentleman who would offer to teach me iaido. I was thrilled! NOW, after all these years, I'd get to train in this art! And I dove in head first!

I was a beginner again, and that was okay (no, I didn't give up practicing gong-fu; I just started something new in addition to my “wife” art). I thought I had some idea of how to handle a katana (Japanese sword) properly...until I took up iaido. It took me at least two years just to figure out how to grip it properly. Even now, after more than four years of practice, I still foul it up now and then. Not only that, but the footwork is considerably different as well.

The katana is employed in a manner that is very different from Chinese swords. My favorite has always been the broadsword, but decades of practice with that weapon did me no good at all when I picked up a katana.

My teacher is a very patient man and that's fortunate for me. I've never been a quick study. He gently corrects me even after I've made the same error a thousand times! And now, after six years of practice, I still haven't taken an examination. I have no interest in obtaining rank; I just want to learn. I'd like to honor my teacher and take an exam, but I can scarcely afford to travel to the big regional or national events where they're held.

Some people have asked me about beginning again, especially in an art that is so different from the ones I've been practicing for over six decades. I tell them that it's really very enjoyable being a novice again. You're never too old to start something new...

WHEN IS IT GOOD ENOUGH?

 By Yang Shuangxing

You're in class and practicing the basic reverse punch. Again. God only knows how many reverse punches you've thrown since you started learning karate/gong-fu/taekwondo and you've been doing it for several years now. WHY do you have to keep practicing this fundamental technique? You can perform it very well...so, just WHEN will it be good enough that you can dispense with this boring practice?

Never.

The legendary masters of various arts and styles were all known to practice basics every day. Moreover, they weren't simply “lobbing” them out there; their mind were wholly focused on each and every technique. Moreover, according to my teacher, Master W. C. Chen, each had to be executed as if your life depended on it. This doesn't mean that they're performed with a lot of “oomph”, however.... each one one must be sharp and precise with a feeling akin to releasing an arrow from a bow.

Don't compare yourself with others as you practice. You are training for only one person...yourself. And remember, “practicing the basics”involves more than fundamental punches and kicks. It also involves stance and footwork, methods of body shifting, breathing techniques, and elementary form(s).

WHAT DOES YOUR POSTURE SAY (and cause)?

 By Phillip Starr

The next time you or your students (if you're an instructor) practice freestyle sparring, look closely at and study their fighting stances. Remember that the mind expresses itself through the body; the BODY IS AN OUTWARD REFLECTION OF THE MIND.

 The stance can tell you important things about the person who's standing in it. For instance;

• Are his hands held in close to his body or extended outwards towards his opponent? In the former, it's a sign of fear; he's afraid he may get hit and he's unconsciously bringing his hands inward (close to him) as protection. He doesn't really want to engage his opponent. A sudden attack may well overwhelm him because both his hands AND HIS MIND AND SPIRIT are withdrawn, focused on himself rather than on the opponent.

• Look very closely at his hips. Are they straight oe even thrust very slightly forward? Or...are they slightly pulled back? Only an experiencd, seasoned instructor will see it. If the hips are withdrawn – even a little – it's a sign of fear. It's an unconscious attempt to protect the reproductive organs. Oddly enough, it happens more frequently with women than men.

• Is her chin raised up a bit? That's a sign of fear; an attempt to pull the head and face back out of range of a sudden attack.

• Is she standing straight-legged or nearly so? This is often an indication of either fear or poor instruction. In her mind, it readies her for quick “flight.” If the knees are more bent with the hips held a bit lower, it implies a willingness to fight.

  

There several other indicators, but I think you get the picture. However, it must be borne in mind that not only are these indicators signals of the condition of the mind (fear)...they also REINFORCE AND EVEN CAUSE THE MENTAL CONDITION, which, in this case is fear. And if the opponent is fearful, he is in a condition known as “kyo” in Japanese (“ko” in Chinese); there's a chink in his armor...a flaw/weaknee that can be exploited. A sudden, explosive attack may well overwhelm him. His mind and spirit are in disarray and withdrawn.

And because his mind is withdrawn, which includes his “yi”, or intention. Because qi follows yi, his qi – his vital energy – is also withdrawn, making him that much weaker.

Just as your posture affects your mind, so also does your mind affect your posture! Remember - “body and mind are inseparably united.” Why? Because they are the same and one reflects and expresses the other.

“So”, you might ask, “If that's true, can fear be reduced by correcting the posture?” The answer is YES! Correcting the mind is largely useless if the body isn't also corrected. So, correct the body first and the mind (and spirit) will follow.

THE RIGHT MINDSET

 by Phillip Starr

The young karate student stood still, his fist chambered at his hip, staring at the board that he was supposed to break. An older student dutifully held it up in front of him, waiting. The novice did his best to remember what his instructor had told him, “Think PAST the board! Punch at something behind it!” Alright, then...he'd aim at his partner's chest. He closed his eyes as he took a breath, and then with a loud shout, he fired his punch. And the board split in half as if it were just papier-mache! The young man's spirit soared! He felt as if he'd just achieved the impossible.

And so he had achieved the impossible; impossible for him, anyway. But more than that, he had unconsciously learned an invaluable lesson – one that even his instructor may not have considered; that he can do whatever he genuinely BELIEVES he can do. And that goes way beyond breaking an inch-thick piece of pine!

If instead, the student had focused on the surface of the board, or is he was fearful of hitting it (because it might hurt a bit), or if he doubted his ability to break it, he would certainly have failed.

This lesson applies to life, not just to breaking pieces of wood.

THE ENDGAME?

 By Yang Shuangxing

I have been practicing gong-fu now for more than 65 years, and iaido for about 7....and yet, even after training for so long (although 6 years isn't long at all in iaido), I still haven't perfected anything; in any given practice session, I still find small flaws in my technique! More so since returning from China after suffering a stroke! So I continue to practice and polish my skill, enduring periodic setbacks that occur more frequently with the onset of age. However, such things are to be expected – “bumps in the road” – and I am not dissuaded from my continued regular practice. At least the flaws aren't as glaringly obvious as they used to be. They're getting smaller, but they're still there.

I recall discussing this topic with a student some time ago. He seemed a bit disappointed in the fact that after more than two decades of practice, he hadn't really “perfected” anything. He kept finding small flaws. I told him that he had indeed made significant improvement; after all, now he could finally recognize and acknowledge the flaws! I have had students whose arrogance prevented them from acknowledging their glitches and hence, their ability to improve.

At the same time, we must remember that although we seek and strive for perfection, it cannot be achieved in this life. There just isn't enough time. Many of our friends and associates surely regard us as odd indeed! We chase after something that we KNOW cannot be achieved and yet, we refuse to give up. Why don't we do something more “productive?”

And therein lies a good part of the rub; it is this continual striving (for something that we'll never reach) that makes the whole process “productive”! It is what makes us what and who we are!

STRIKING POSTS IN THE NEIJIA?

 By Yang Shuangxing

All too often, I have come across neijia (internal Chinese martial arts; taijiquan, baguazhang, xingyiquan) stylists who pride themselves on not having to use any kind of striking post, which they consider rather barbaric. The truth, however, is a bit different.

Back in the early days, taijiquan enthusiasts practiced striking crude heavy bags as well as wooden posts (which were really just posts that had been stuck in the ground). The idea was to strengthen and toughen the bodily striking surfaces, and to increase the density of the bones. No callousing...just strengthening and toughening.

The same thing holds true for practitioners of xingyiquan and baguazhang. Bagua stylists would plant several poles in the ground and then practice routines that involved manneuvering around them while “sliding” their arms against them (many current devotee still do this). They would also strike the posts in a variety of ways.

Most Chinese striking posts are bare wood. I think this is a problem. Striking bare wood is, if the blow has any “guts” to it, rather painful. Your subconscious mind will not permit you to strike with much power. It's protecting you from doing something that it regards as harmful (and probably very foolish). Don't believe me? Walk up to a solid post of some kind and give it a good whack...not a homerun punch, but a strong one. Just 50 reps. Odds are you'll barely be tapping it when you get to 50...if you even make it that far. Even if you place a pad on the immovable post, it won't help much.

When you strike a solid post or anything else that doesn't “give”, YOU will absorb almost all of the power of your own blow! That's because your target is more stable than you are. I have seen photos of well-known gong-fu and karate teachers punching a pad that has been affixed to a tree. Such practice is harmful and foolish. Period. The same thing goes for beating the hands against large rocks and concrete or steel pillars.

In my opinion, for what it's worth, there is no better striking post than the old Okinawan version. It is padded and “gives” a bit when struck. And that's a critical issue. The object in using this device is NOT to build callouses on the hands, but to increase the density of the bones in the hands and, to a lesser extent, in the arms. It also teaches, albeit sometimes painfully, how to execute technique correctly.

Striking a proper striking post should not be especially painful. Initially the padding (which is traditionally made of a type of rope derived from rice stalks) is a bit stiff, but with regular practice it gets much softer...kind of like using a new baseball mitt. Striking it then isn't painful at all and your subconscious will allow you to deliver strong blows because there is no fear of pain.

If you want to develop genuine martial skill with your taijiquan, baguazhang, or xingyiquan, make it a part of your regular daily practice.

STREET READY?

 By Phillip Starr

As practitioners of percussive martial arts such as gong-fu, karate, and taekwondo, there's a serious issue that we should all consider; in our practice of 1-step fight routines as well as the applications of parts of various forms, we are usually not being realistic at all. And that can cost us (and our students) dearly...

The problem is that we have the uke (person acting as the aggressor) attack with nice, straight lunging or reverse punches, and so on...strikes and movements that would be used by persons practicing our form of martial art. What we'll encounter on the street is considerably different, however.

This has resulted in many traditional martial art students and instructors believing that the traditional forms/techniques don't work “on the street.” I would answer by saying that that's rather shallow thinking. The truth is that they do, in fact, work – but just HOW they work may be a little different from what one might think (or have been taught).

The various forms created by our martial arts ancestors are extremely effective against various forms of attack – but the forms of attack against which they're intended to be applied and HOW they're meant to be applied may be rather different than what you think. Let's be realistic; “street fighting” hasn't changed much over the eons...and nobody probably attacked someone with a crisp lunging punch. As is the case today, haymakers were common and often preceded by a grab or push. Years ago, the FBI listed the most common forms of simple physical assault///#1 was the grab, and #2 was a push. Both were followed by a punch. And our traditional forms were designed to enable us to deal with these kinds of common “street attacks” rather than preparing us to fight other martial-arts trained people.

Moreover, the techniques may often work considerably differently from what you expect. For instance, your inside forearm block probably won't work well against a haymaker, and that low-level side kick works better as a leg throw! In breaking down your forms, work to see how movements work against street attacks instead of other martial arts techniques. You'll likely find numerous joint-twisting techniques, take-downs, and strikes you didn't even know were there. But you're going to have to work at it.

Bear in mind that disciplines such as karate were never used on the battlefield. Soldiers back in the day were attired in full armor (to go into battle without it would be tantamount to suicide), and performing karate techniques and body shifting would have been very awkward, right? Our percussive martial forms were intended for CIVILIAN self-defense (the revered martial arts historian and author, Donn Draeger, noted this). And the types of attacks that civilians encounter are a bit different than those experienced on the battlefield; the aggressor was rarely armed with a sword or spear…and attacks occur at very close quarters. Consider these things when you analyze and practice applications of your forms…