Loose plaster and hard concrete
Published: Fri, 11/14/14
I recently prepared a wall for decorating where everything seemed
reasonably sound until the paper came off. Then so did the old lime
plaster and in half an hour two thirds of the wall was back to
brick. The rest would have come off quite easily but I couldn't
just lift if off with my fingers so it was decided to leave it. On
another job we installed ten metres or so of drainage channel to
keep a garage from being flooded. Preparation required a slot to be
cut in solid concrete which did not yield easily, lots of noise and
lots of dust. In common for both jobs was that stuff had to go
before the intended result could be achieved. In the first case the
plaster could practically be removed by the power of thought alone
but it did mean a lot of mess and some significant replastering,
something the client would have preferred not to have had to deal
with. In the second case the client did want the concrete removed
since this was the only way of installing the much needed drainage
system. So a petrol powered disc cutter (which sounded just like a
F1 racing car) and an sds drill were put to work along with a good
old fashioned lump hammer and chisel. In both cases the client
eventually got what they wanted and were very pleased with the end
result, but also in both cases they hadn't expected quite so
much mess to be involved. I will admit that I hadn't realised
quite what would be involved in each case either. But you often
don't know what is underneath until you scratch the surface.
What I have described above is common on building jobs but the same
principle of clearing away in preparation for the real work applies
to all aspects of life. Sometimes we have to let go of possessions,
relationships, thoughts and ideas which we wanted to keep but no
longer benefit us. Other times we have to remove something hard and
stubborn which, until it is gone, we cannot put something more
useful in its place. I know that for myself chipping out hard
concrete is a piece of cake compared to getting rid of detrimental
thoughts and feelings.
Bruce Lee said that martial arts is not constantly adding techniques
and complexity but a process of chipping away the unnecessary, like
a sculptor revealing a statue until you have only the essentials
left. Ivar has always said that techniques are only useful for
learning and practicing principles. Again a process of removing the
unnecessary until you are left with the essentials.
On Saturday I will be teaching a Close Quarter Combat seminar where
the emphasis will be on getting out of your own way so that your
power can come through. The hardest part about teaching really
powerful strikes is that they seem effortless. We look for
difficulty to give us feedback that we are trying hard enough. All
that means is that we are blocking our energy and power and not
being really effective. We all do it in some aspect of our lives.
Stav training makes us conscious of the principle then we can see
how it affects all aspects of our lives. Or maybe you would rather
not know, after all, until you commit to redecorating the room you
don't need to know how loose the plaster is.
Course in Salisbury, starting 10 am to 1 pm details at
http://www.iceandfire.org.uk
regards
Graham