MARTIAL ARTS; THE FIVE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT STAGES ONE, TWO, AND THREE

 by Phillip Starr

STAGE ONE

*Excerpted from “Martial Maneuvers” by the author. If you don't already have a copy, use some of your beer money to get one now!

If you tell an untrained person to defend herself and then commence to attack her, she will respond naturally and with no thought of technique or principles. Her only consideration is staying alive and either fighting back or running away. But when she begins to study a given martial art her mind becomes obstructed by many other things.

STAGE ONE

THE STAGE OF TECHNIQUE

The beginning martial arts student concerns herself with the various techniques and stances, how to hold her eyes, how to move and execute the various forms, and so on. This is the “Stage of Technique,” a training phase through which all of us must pass. Sadly, the vast majority of students never move beyond this stage. It is extremely demanding and there is a great deal of material that must be committed to memory. The training that occurs during this phase must necessarily be very rigorous because if it is otherwise, the student's techniques will never develop and they will be of little practical value when the chips are down.

The fact is that because many martial arts instructors have never progressed beyond this stage themselves, they are incapable of taking anyone else beyond it. Their minds are focused on what their bodies are doing. When they execute a punch or a kick they are mindful that is has to be done just so – and that's correct. When they engage in a match or a fighting drill they concentrate their minds on what the opponent is doing and what they will do to respond - whether they will attack or employ defensive maneuvers. When they strike (at) the opponent they allow their minds to become attached to what they are doing. They concentrate on on how to execute their techniques correctly or they focus that they are, in fact, striking the opponent. They think, “There! I've punched/kicked him!” This is focusing the mind on the opponent and on what the body is doing. It's a necessary part of (beginning) training but if you are to truly develop a high level of skill, you must move beyond it...

STAGE TWO

THE STAGE OF PRINCIPLE

Only by practicing the most fundamental techniques many, many times can this stage be reached. Just a handful of students will make it this far. They no longer have to consciously think about how to do the myriad techniques, stances, and maneuvers; these things have become a natural part of them and they understand the underlying principles. Technique has become “no-technique.” They understand the principles taught in their forms and no longer need to concern themselves with doing the techniques correctly. Their movements and techniques, after having been practiced repeatedly, are naturally correct. All the practitioner sees are the (internal) principles rather than the external forms of the principles.

After reaching this stage, some students misunderstand what is happening in their minds and perceptions and come to believe that there is really “no technique.” However, there's a difference between “no technique” and “no-technique.”

In the case of the former, there really is no technique at all. This doesn't mean it's correct; in fact, it's grossly incorrect. One has tossed away one's training. It probably results from failure to thoroughly realize the “Stage of Technique” and practice adequately.

In the case of the latter, one has transcended external technique and come to understand the principles underlying body movement. So, the external manifestations of this understanding is correct technique, which appears as needed without conscious thought or even awareness. It goes without saying that if you have practiced incorrectly from the beginning, this stage cannot be reached. There are underlying principles regarding correct movement, per se, and you cannot possibly come to the higher level of understanding if your foundation is flawed.

STAGE THREE

THE STAGE OF NO-MIND

Passing beyond the “Stage of Principle” occurs naturally and cannot be forced. It happens when the mind is ready and you've given up aspiring to achieve it. This is why very few people ever reach it. If you try to achieve it, it will slip away and, although you may think you've got it, you actually have nothing. It's like trying to grasp the moon on the water. You may think you've captured the moon but your hand comes away wet and empty, and what you saw was just an illusion, anyway.

This stage is not so much concerned with technique as it is with how you respond to your opponent. If your previous training has been both correct and thorough your actions will not run contrary to it, so you are free to focus on the opponent rather than on yourself, as is done in the last two stages.

You mustn't allow your mind to fix itself on thoughts of winning or losing, living or dying, or even effectively defending yourself. Otherwise, your mind will be unable to move freely and spontaneously because it is fixed on something. And if you think, “I will not think of these things”, you're thinking of something and you're no better off.

Some so-called “masters” like to act and speak as though they've reached this stage but very few people ever do. It is beyond technique and beyond principle. It's the stage of “no-mind”, wherein your movements have become principles but you're no longer concerned with them. It is the stage of engaging the enemy without thought of what you will do or what you won't do. You look into his mind and act accordingly.

The mind is without form itself; it manifests itself through the body. The body is directed by the mind. If you have advanced knowledge of a general's strategy (mind), you can easily defeat his troops (his body and techniques)... but only if you keep your intentions secret until the last moment.

-More Next Time!-