Be your own master
Published: Fri, 04/12/19
On Wednesday night we were practising some Savate kicking at the HEMA class I attend in York. I have done the occasional Savate workshop at events such as Fightcamp but nothing on a regular basis. However, my kicking seemed to be working very well, my stamina, balance, control, coordination etc all up to scratch. On another occasion someone I had not trained with for a while complimented me on my kicking while working with a large pad and kicking full contact. So, why does this particular skill seems to be improving? Well, two likely reasons. Firstly we practice quite a lot of kicking at the Kung Fu class I go to on Tuesdays. Secondly, a few years ago I developed a simple set of exercises as a foundation for close quarter combat and two of the nine exercises emphasise balance and leg strength. I have been attending the Kung Fu classes pretty much weekly for the past 18 months and doing the foundation exercises four or five
times a week for the past five years. As a result I actually seem to be getting better at this particular skill.
I am still working on a book on martial arts which has the working title ‘Principles Based Martial Arts’. The theme will be encouraging people to discover the essential principles which work for them rather than just relying on the techniques which someone else teaches them. The more I have been thinking about it the more I have realised that there are just three fundamental principles of mastering martial arts. In fact I am pretty sure that these three principles are the basis for getting good at anything at all. The term Kung Fu, which we frequently use for describing Chinese martial arts, actually means ‘good work’ or ‘well done’, referring to any skill or discipline acquired by hard work and practice. The specific term for Chinese martial arts is actually Wu Shu. So, mastering Kung Fu, means any worthwhile accomplishment or achievement.
The first principle I have identified is: Become your own master. Nothing much happens unless you take responsibility for your path and development in life. This does not mean that you don’t need a teacher and other people to train, guide and inspire you, you can’t succeed alone. However, you are always responsible for grasping or rejecting the opportunities presented to you. It is generally your choice who you train with. It is your responsibility to turn up to classes and seminars. It is up to you to fully participate in the class while you are there. It is your choice whether or not to practice in between formal training sessions. It is also up to you to study around the subject, asking questions of knowledgeable people, reading books and articles and watching useful videos perhaps.
Even if you are a complete beginner as far as knowledge and experience is concerned, you can still be a master of your own commitment. It is those who take that responsibility who will actually master the Kung Fu that matters to them.
Which takes me back to the kicking practice I started this post with. I am by no means a beginner where martial arts generally is concerned. I have been training in one way or another for over forty five years and I have learned a lot in that time. However, the only aspect of martial arts I will claim mastery of is my willingness to commit to training and practice. I am training in two contexts at the moment where I am effectively a beginner as far as knowledge and experience is concerned, but stuff is happening because I am still willing to learn. In one sense I don’t need to learn any more martial arts for knowledge. However, principles need to be tested outside of the bubble of your own expertise and certainty. I am also having some fun and getting to to know some good people.
Question for you today. What is the Kung Fu you want to master? And what are you going to do about it? Second principle tomorrow.
regards
Graham
PS Last Saturday I was in Crewkerne for a seminar with the group I left behind when I moved to East Yorkshire in 2017. We had a good time and I was pleased with the progress they had made.
On the 18th and 19th of May I am teaching in Illinois, USA we can accommodate a couple more people if you are interested. Details at http://iceandfire.org.uk/usamay2019.html and please note that the cost is now $200