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 A sudden attack may well overwhelm him because both his hands AND HIS MIND AND SPIRIT are withdrawn, focused on himself rather than on the opponent.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 If the hips are withdrawn – even a little – it's a sign of fear.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 His mind and spirit are in disarray and withdrawn.

And because his mind is withdrawn, which includes his “yi”, or intention. Because qi follows yi, his qi – his vital energy – is also withdrawn, making him that much weaker.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

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.