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…

RELAX!

 By Phillip Starr

You probably hear your instructor say it repeatedly...”Relax! You've got to relax!” What exactly does he/she mean and WHY is it so important? Isn't a little tension normal? Or maybe even a good thing? Let's take a look at the subject because if you're ever to have any hope of acquiring a high level of skill, you're going to have to understand and consequently, be able to do it!

First off, the correct word for this condition in Chinese is “song” (松), which translates roughly as “loose.” It doesn't imply that one should become “wet rag” relaxed or flaccid; rather, one should be loose, flexible, and elastic, and use no more muscular effort (to accomplish a given task) than is absolutely necessary. There is no residual tension stored anywhere.

Of course, it also applies to your mind. Remember that your body is but an outward expression of your mind; if your mind is tense, so your body will also be tense. The mind is relaxed because it isn't attached to anything. Deep, rhythmical abdominal breathing helps foster a relaxed mind.

Tensed muscles don't move very fast. In fact, they're an impediment to quick, smooth movement. This is one reason why, in punching for instance, the fist is NOT squeezed tightly at all. To do so creates unnecessary tension in the hand, wrist, forearm, and even the shoulder. In so far as handling various weapons is concerned, it's the same; the weapon shouldn't be gripped tightly at all. The hand(s) should maintain a proper grip (all of the fingers grip the weapon, none of them hang loose) at all times but prior to delivery of a strike/cut, the grip isn't tightened because that impedes proper handling of the weapon and hence, correct, precise technique. If the grip or any part of the body is tense, too many unnecessary muscles become involved. This results in flawed technique (although it may LOOK good, it's wrong) as well as fatigue.

Coaches and instructors in all activities – from baseball to combat shooting – constantly remind players and participants to RELAX...both body and mind. Relaxed (song...remember song?) muscles REACT FASTER than tensed muscles. If you watch (a video) of an experienced, well-trained group of special forces operators or SeALS clear a “shooting house”, you'll notice that they're not tensed up at all...in fact, they're very relaxed. That's one of the reasons why they can respond so efficiently to threats. If your reaction time is giving you problems, unnecessary tension may very well be the culprit.

Learning to relax when standing still, performing basic techniques, and performing your set is one thing...but doing it under pressure is another. By “pressure”, I mean the very real possibility that you might catch a punch in your mouth... It's more a mental exercise than physical. If your body tightens up under pressure, it's because your mind is fearful and has caused it. This is where two-person routines are most helpful but they should be practiced only AFTER you have learned:

1. To stay relaxed in a static pocture. Completely relaxed.

2. To perform basic techniques while maintaining a relaxed condition.

3. To perform your forms while being relaxed. NO tension!

And that's going to take a while...maybe 2-3 years at least.

Once you can do those things and maintain a relaxed condition throughout, ONLY THEN should you attempt the tw-person routines. Each one should be practiced regularly until you can do it and stay relaxed at all times:

1. 3-Step Fight

2. 1-Step Fight

3. Freestyle 1-Step Fight

You're looking at several years of practice... especially if your training partner attacks powerfully, doing his best to strike you! Then the threat is REAL and your mind darned well knows it. Teaching it (and consequently, your body) to remain relaxed under this very real pressure is going to take some time. Don't try to hurry it. Ever. This is one reason why SeALS and other special operators train constantly, regardless of how much experience they have.

This is the key to understanding what the famous lawman of the Old West, Wyatt Earp, meant when he explained how to survive a gunfight...

“You have to take your time...in a hurry.”

THE REALITIES OF SELF-DEFENSE

 by Phillip Starr

Real-life self-defense scenarios are usually considerably different from those that are presented in our martial arts classes as well as self-defense courses. You may need to adjust your self-defense training:

*Nowadays, people don't “square off” in fighting stances before the fight ensues. Fights generally begin at very close range...

*Punches (from your opponent) come in flurries. No one throws a single punch and then just stands there, looking at you like a lost dog. And grabs are ALWAYS followed or combined with a strike of some kind. Nobody is going to simply come up, grab your wrist or lapel, and then just look longingly into your eyes...

*Don't rely on a single blow to end the fight. We may train for that skill, but there are too many variables involved to rely totally on it. See Murphy's Law*...

*DO NOT attempt kicking to the head (unless the opponent is on the ground), NEVER try some kind of cute jumping kick...these will get you killed. Anyone who says different has never been in a real fight. Joint-twisting techniques MAY work, but only if they're preceded by an effective strike. The same is true for throws. And once he's down, don't let up on your attack! This isn't a schoolyard fistfight; there are no rules and nobody is coming to help you.

*Be prepared to get hit – because you very likely will, and you've got to understand that a punch in the face isn't the end of the world. You must be able to take a blow and keep going.

*Always assume that the enemy has a weapon that he may use...because there's almost a 100% chance that he does. You must train to defend yourself against weapons such as knives, handguns, and the like.

When it comes to self-defense, I have only two modes. If the opponent isn't threatening my life, he'll just spend some quality time in a local hospital for some time. If he threatens my life, I will take his life without a second thought. Period. I don't believe in landing a punch and then calling it good and having a beer with the guy. Saturday night fights for fun are out.

*Murphy's Law: If anything can go wrong, it will..and at the worst possible moment.

PAYING YOUR BILLS

 by Phillip Starr

You know the story; you get your paycheck and before you can feel all cozy with your wallet adequately stuffed, you have to pay the bills... so much for electricity, water, and so on. And by the time the smoke clears, you barely have enough money left over to buy yourself a couple of beers. Well, that's kind of what happens when you hit your target with your best punch or kick...

Basic Newtonian physics confirms that it's simply not possible to unload 100% of your striking power on any given target (this is discussed in my book, MARTIAL MECHANICS). Even if your technique is letter-perfect, you're going to lose chunks of power. Through constant training, you strive to make those chunks as small as possible (no, you'll never eliminate them completely). You don't want to pay out any more than you have to...after all, you'll only be able to strike your target with whatever is left over.

Energy (power) is naturally lost due to Newton's 3^rd law; this is unavoidable. However, just as you strive to avoid paying too much on your bills and wasting money, so you must do your best to prevent – as best you can – to avoid unnecessarily losing energy (power). Most of the loss of energy occurs at the joints, which act something like links in a chain. If they're not precisely aligned at the moment of impact, it's going to cost you...a lot.

Incorrect breathing, lack of spirit and yi (your will) will also negatively affect your technique. Flawed timing, loss of balance or an unstable base (stance) at the moment of impact will result in loss of power and effectiveness; so will failure to utilize adequate body mass or a reduction in velocity.

And of course, there's proper alignment of the body; your structure (as outlined in my book, MARTIAL STRUCTURE). If your structure is flawed, your technique's power will be seriously affected.

I hope you can see the importance of every small detail in performing proper technique. Not only must you first be made aware of them; you have to practice incessantly until they become unconscious habits (if you have to “think” about how to perform correctly, you're likely going to foul it up). That's going to take time. And (correct) repetition. Lots of it.

THAT OLD-TIME TRAINING

 by Yang Shuangxing

Many aspiring black belts express a desire for “real, old-time” training. Although most of them really have no idea what this involves, it does show that they (think that they) have a strong will and spirit. Training in the “old days” was considerably different from what we often see nowadays... Most contemporary martial arts practitioners couldn't or wouldn't stand it.

To begin, those who go to the training hall as a kind of social interaction with friends wouldn't last for more than one or two classes. Training in the old days was very rugged; there was no time or even interest in “having fun with friends.” At all.

You would arrive early for class and your uniform would be clean and sharp. There was no playing around...you used the time to get warmed up and maybe review what you'd learned in the last class. In those days, the “training hall” was often in the teacher's garage or basement, or even outside. There was no ventilation and the lighting was often rather poor. We always prayed for good weather...

You learned by rote...by imitating your classmates or the teacher. Detailed instruction was all but non-existant. You might get corrected if you made a very obvious error. Or maybe not. Or your instructor might suddenly swat you with a stick (or his hand or foot) on the offending arm or leg as he bellowed at you. And you would repeat the same fundamental techniques and movements over and over. I recall beginning class with 500 punches and 100 front kicks...and that was just to get warmed up. God help the student who just “lobbed” the punches into the air; they were to be deliberate, focused techniques...crisp and strong! Always.

You learned forms by rote. You did not ask questions. Ever. And God help you if you forgot part of the form you'd been shown in the last class. Form practice was gruelling. It was common to practice a given set for nearly an hour, over and over...until the teacher was satisfied with the group's performance (which was something I never witnessed) or he told the group to stop (probably because he was afraid one or two students might die from the exertion).

You DID NOT sit down to rest or grab a quick drink of water. Ever. If you did, you'd be told never to return and shown to the door. If you felt faint, you gutted it out and tried to keep up. If you fainted, fine. Maybe the teacher would notice your distress and tell you to sit down. But you'd never do so on your own or ask for a rest.

When practicing with a partner, injuries were common and expected. Just as in training for or playing football, injuries are expected and accepted – everyone accepts the fact that they're going to get “scuffed up” a bit – so it was for us. But football is just a game; we were training to survive combat.

Bruises, strawberries, bloody noses, split lips...were all expected and considered normal. If there was free-flowing blood or an obvious broken bone, the teacher would probably have you sit down while he administered first-aid or allowed you to leave to seek medical attention. There were no pads of any kind. Learning to control one's technique was of paramount importance and many hours were spent punching and kicking at a brick wall to develop that unique skill.

Sometimes, I could barely lift my arms after practice and I imagine my parents wondered what I kept bumping into...considering the constant bruises I bore. I'm pretty sure my Father knew, but he never spoke of it; his wayward son certainly needed the discipline!

Practice of standing postures was akin to entering the gates of hell. Our legs and shoulders would burn while sweat streamed down our necks. But nobody dared shift around or even look anywhere but straight ahead.

In time, our bodies (and minds and spirits) became tougher and stronger. And as we gained more confidence and endurance, so our training escalated. But we could bear it more easily. We were getting tougher and we knew it. So, our teacher would find ways to keep us from becoming overly proud; as the old saying goes, “If a nail sticks up, pound it down!” Thus, we learned humility and didn't become arrogant.

Training in those days wasn't easy at all but then, instructors didn't make a living by teaching martial arts. They didn't care if they had many students at all. When instructors began teaching professionally, the training became much gentler and accomodating. In some respects, it has been improved (for instance, more detailed instruction is usually provided nowadays) but in some ways, it has deteriorated.

Now we have better facilities, better equipment, and overall, better instruction (no more learning by imitation). But...students aren't “pushed” physically or mentally anymore, there's no emphasis on “toughening” their bodies and spirits. There's too much importance placed on everyone “having fun” rather than on developing real technique and understanding what they're doing and why. The use of “protective” pads led almost immediately to lack of control; it isn't taught anymore and more injuries are suffered as a result (WITH pads).

Because students are anxious to do it, fresstyle sparring is introduced much too early. I remember that we didn't engage in it for the first year! Instead, we spent a lot of time developing a fine sense of distance and timing as well as technique. These are things that even most contemporary instructors don't understand. As a result, their students don't understand them, either. This is one of the reasons that I began writing books on different aspects of the traditional martial arts.