Energy is neither
positive nor
negative; it is the
mind that colors it
according to our
understanding.
Topic
Responding to Attacks
Energy surrounds us. Whether we’re aware of it or not, all
of life is energy, from the moment of birth until the moment
of death. This is a fundamental principle, acknowledged by
science and religion alike. One of the great aims of martial
arts lies in training ourselves to interact with the energy we
face continually, every day.
First, let’s look at how martial arts handles energy on a basic
level of self-defense. Punches, kicks, pushes, slashes with
knives, attacks with bats and bottles, virtually any physical
attack you can imagine is simply energy coming at you. This
physical, kinetic energy may come from clean, crisp attacks
or wild, flailing attempts; it may come from one direction or
from multiple angles. The direction or quality doesn’t really
matter; it is still energy coming at you.
Of course, before any attack is physically initiated, emotional
energy must build up as well. Any attack begins first with
emotional frustration and anger. Something internally or
externally sets the attacker off. He is out of control, and
wants to strike out, expelling energy until he can regain
control. If you find yourself on the receiving end of this kind
of energy, you must know how to defend yourself and your
loved ones.
While there are plenty of people in our society that allow
emotional issues to escalate into physical confrontations,
most of us, fortunately, are not physically attacked on
a regular basis. But we all recognize states of extreme
frustration and anger. We have all have been provoked by
someone else, a situation, or by our own thoughts. And all
of us are attacked verbally, mentally and emotionally, almost
daily! These assaults are not being perpetrated by strangers
lurking in dark alleys; they come from our friends and family
members, our co workers and neighbors. So many people we
know are stressed out by their everyday lives; emotionally,
they’re on the edge and ready to lash out at the slightest
provocation. While these encounters may not lead to the
emergency room of our local hospitals, many, many people
do find themselves seeing a therapist, or filling prescriptions
for mood controlling drugs, or at least questioning their own
self-worth.
Several Options in Dealing with an Attack
It’s important to remember that attacks from our loved
ones, in the form of words, attitudes and behaviors, are also
just energy. The bottom line is, when you’re confronted by
physical or verbal attacks, there are only four things you can
do.
Option one is that you can get hit. Obviously, this is not
a good plan. Real confrontations are not like what we
see in the movies or on TV. On screen, we’re accustomed
to elaborately choreographed fight scenes, with partners
trading great looking punches and kicks, using knives and
bats and broken chairs, back and forth. Actual confrontations
in the real world don’t happen that way. A couple of strikes,
maybe a few seconds, and most fights are over.
Similarly, getting hit with verbal or emotional negative
energy means that you’ve allowed yourself to internalize
the attack and take it personally. The result is a blow to your
self-esteem and then an immediate defensive posture. So
you strike back with hurtful words and actions of your own,
The components
of speed are
recognizing
that you are
being attacked,
recognizing what
you are being
attacked with ,
and then taking the
action necessary
to neutralize or
defend against it.
or you internally crumble and shut down. In either scenario,
getting hit with energy is the least desirable option.
A second option when attacked is to block it. This means
stopping the force head on — power against power. There
are several ways to block energy physically — inside blocks,
outside blocks, cross blocks etc. Blocking a strike is certainly
better than getting hit, but to block effectively you must
have a strong stance. Some arts call it being rooted, or
having a good base, or a strong foundation. Everyone agrees
that you must have a strong stance to block well.
To block mental and emotional energy, you must also adopt
a strong stance. You must have a firm position that is well
thought out; one that you are committed to. You cannot
successfully defend your ideas and beliefs if you are willing
to change them at a whim. A hard block might mean just
sticking up for your beliefs and ideals. Emotionally, a good
block involves listening to the other point of view without
taking it too personally, regardless of how aggressive the
attack is. Stay rooted and centered in your beliefs.
A third option is to get out of the way of energy. We have
a saying, “The best block is don’t be there.” Physically, this
consists of side stepping, pivoting, slipping, ducking, jumping
or other evasive movements. This is a great option when it is
done correctly. It allows you to re-position yourself, creating
both a more difficult target to strike, while at the same time
creating multiple openings from which you can counter.
This is very valuable emotionally as well. Using this principle,
you might continuously ask questions of the other person,
probing their motivation and rationale. This gives you the
opportunity to uncover their whole agenda, before revealing
your own. We all use this technique when we change the
In blocking be hard
and rooted. When
moving be quick
and light, and when
harmonizing, blend
with the attack.
subject to avoid embarrassment or confrontation. We use it
to avoid a conversation until a more opportune time.
Harmonizing with Energy
The fourth option that you have when attacked — you can
merge, harmonize or blend with it. This is a very difficult
and advanced technique which takes great sensitivity
and awareness. It’s based on the concept that, in any
confrontation — physical, verbal or emotional — there are
three energies; your energy, their energy and the energy that
you create together. The way these energies interact make
up the shape of the encounter. The way these energies ebb
and flow creates the atmosphere around us, every day, in
every interaction, confrontational or otherwise.
By merging or blending, you take control of this interplay
of energy. Some people say that this is using their energy
against them, but that’s not quite correct. Their energy is
really only one facet of the three energies at work. If your
goal is to use their energy against them, then your focus
remains on only that facet, and your motivation remains one
of victory and defeat. You need far too much relaxation,
awareness and sensitivity to harmonize with energy, to be
concerned with victory and defeat.
When you can successfully control the energy, when you
can successfully control a situation, you take responsibility
for yourself and for the other person. At this level of
practice, you are responsible for taking them under control
without hurting them, or without getting hurt yourself.
The technique relies on circular rotation and re-direction.
In a physical confrontation the strike is thrown and, as an
extension of that energy, the attacker is thrown, locked or
controlled. Understand, when you are skilled at harmonizing
with and re-directing energy, your safety and your partner’s
The difference
between a fighter
and a martial
artist is that the
martial artist
sees his art being
implemented on
and off the mats.
The way you
respond to an
attack should be
based on your
reason, will,
the severity of
the attack and
your skill level in
comparison to the
attacker.
safety become interrelated. The degree to which you know
that the incoming negative energy cannot damage you,
is exactly the degree of responsibility you have to ensure
that the energy not damage your partner. In other words,
it’s precisely when you’re fully aware of your capability
to destroy an attacker, that you have the responsibility to
refrain from doing so.
In your day to day life, this harmonizing technique manifests
as being able to see the other person’s point of view, being
empathetic and having the skills to recognize the moment
of tension and redirect it to an outcome that is positive and
constructive for everyone. It means dealing with the egos
of co-workers or clients in ways that advance the project or
the sale without creating stress. It means taking those same
old family arguments and finding creative ways to re-direct
the negative energy so that you can focus on constructive
relationships. In this way, you’re seeing problems as the
problem, rather than seeing people as the problem.
Many Tools in Your Arsenal
Throughout our lives, at one time or another, we all practice
these four methods of dealing with energy. Everyone has
been hit (had our feelings hurt, became defensive and
upset). We all have blocked (were successful in taking a
stand and defending it through hell or high water). We
have all avoided conversations and issues by putting them
off for another day or letting them pass altogether. And
everyone has taken control of a situation, by looking for the
most constructive outcome, or dealing with a problem and
remaining in control.
The truth is, we all need more than one defense in our
arsenal. It is important to develop all four methods. Getting
hit, in practice and in life, strengthens you and helps you
to realize how much you can withstand. Blocking helps you
internalize and understand what you truly believe. Getting
out of the way teaches us that there are some things better
left unsaid, and some paths better left untraveled. And
redirecting energy develops our awareness and sensitivity to
others in a variety of situations.
Energy is everywhere, in all things and in all situations.
It comes at us at all times, sometimes directly, sometimes
unexpectedly. You can take charge of how you deal with
this energy by remaining aware of what defense you are
choosing. In this way, you can truly be a master of your
actions and not a prisoner of your reactions.
The essence
of philosophy
is that a man
should so
live that his
happiness shall
depend as little
as possible on
external things.
In Asia, centuries ago, there was a great
martial artist with thousands of students.
He was known far and wide to be one of
the greatest teachers of all time. One day a visitor asked the
master, “Who is your best student?”
The master immediately thought of four students. They were
Lee, Kichiro, Kim and Jiro. The master decided to put them to
a test. He choose a fifth student, Truong, and put him just on
the other side of a doorway. Truong was completely hidden
from sight and was armed with a big, thick stick. He was told
to strike the students as soon as they passed through the
doorway.
The master first called to Lee. Truong struck Lee without
All of the art of
living lies on a
fine mingling of
letting go and
holding on.
hesitation and Lee was knocked unconscious.
After several minutes had passed, the master called out to
Kichiro. Passing through the doorway, Kichiro noticed rapid
movement coming from his left side. Turning to face the
attack, and just before the strike landed, he was able to block
and land a reverse punch squarely in Truong’s abdomen.
After several minutes, the master called for Kim. When Kim
passed through the door, Truong swung hard at his head,
as he had done with the other students. This time, Truong
was thrown effortlessly across the room. This scene left both
Truong and the visitor in awe, and ready to name Kim as the
best student. The master just nodded and said, “Very good.
Keep practicing.”
With a wave of his hand he dismissed Kim. Several
minutes later the final student to be tested was called in.
Approaching the doorway, Jiro stopped abruptly and said
in a firm voice, “Whoever is hiding there behind the door
better come out!” A moment later a surprised Truong
appeared with his weapon.
Activity
Statement of Purpose – Primary Aim
Our life is the sum total of how we spend our energy. Many
people drift through life throwing energy (time, money,
resources, emotions) in one direction and then another. It
is often erratic and illogical. Months turn into years and
years into decades. Looking back over a lifetime, too many
people find that they have been a jack of all trades and
haven’t mastered or even dedicated very much of their lives
to anything. Some people, always believing that there will be
more time, will procrastinate to the very end. These people
are the embodiment of the saying, “If you wait too long to
discover what it is that you want to do, you will find that you
have done it.”
This month the activity is to develop a purpose statement or
primary aim for your life. It will consist of a sentence or two
that describes your deepest desires and your core values. It
is the essence of what you want your life to be dedicated
to and what you are most passionate about. Money, status,
power, winning and possessions are not the essence of this
primary aim. Don’t focus on the expectations of others, or
even on objectives that you want to accomplish. It is deeper
than that. It truly must reflect exactly what satisfies you on
the deepest level.
Be careful not to make it too spiritual; e.g. “My primary
aim is to be one with God,” or, “My life is dedicated to my
children.” Having a strong spiritual life and a wonderful
family is great. Having as much professional and financial
success as you like is fine, but this is not a primary aim.
A man is not
idle because
he is absorbed
in thought.
There is a
visible labor
and there is an
invisible labor.
First learn the
meaning of what
you say, and then
speak.
Measure your
mind’s height
by the shade it
casts.
A primary aim serves as a personal and practical tool that
assists you on a day to day basis. When making decisions
you can measure if a choice is in line with your primary aim
or not. There is not a right or a wrong primary aim. There
is only what is true for you. Make sure that it is heartfelt.
When you feel energy, enthusiasm, commitment, and a sense
of “YES!” then you will know that you have found your real
primary aim. Rarely if ever will your first draft be your final
statement. Keep working on it until you are completely
satisfied.
This is a very powerful technique that will help you give your
life direction and meaning. It will aid in keeping you inspired
and on track during confusing and difficult times.
After every
encounter take a
moment to analyze
your thoughts and
actions to see if
they were in line
with who you want
to be, and the
principles that you
want to live by.
Reminders
The 7 Ways to Becoming a Great Martial Artist
On the never-ending path of martial arts, it is important to
remember the seven ways of becoming great in the martial
arts. They never change, regardless of the style that you
practice, your geographic location, or your time and place
in history. It could be 1000 years ago somewhere in Asia,
or 1000 years into the future in the United States, but the
principles of how to become great in the martial arts remain
the same.
- You must find a good teacher. In martial arts there
is nothing more important than the student-teacher
relationship. Once the teacher is found, the student must
listen. How can you call someone your teacher and then
refuse to learn from them?
- Patience is the next step. We have all started things full
of excitement and wonder just to forsake them because
of a slow beginning. Patience is not just one of the seven
ways; it is something that we develop in ourselves through
the practice.
- Perseverance is the ability to stay the course through the
rough times. It is consistency over time that truly teaches
the student discipline.
- Practicing hard is the backbone of martial arts. Without
practice being hard physically, mentally and emotionally
at times, it doesn’t deserve the name martial arts. In fact,
it is insulting to the generations of masters before, to not
give everything that you’ve got in every class.
You cannot plan
for a fire as your
house is burning;
similarly it is too
late to have your
first thought of self
defense as you are
being attacked.
All attacks
are mental
and emotional;
fortunately
few of them
progress to
physical.
- Practice exactly what you want to perform is what
transforms a practitioner to be a student. A student
questions their technique, the application as well as the
execution. Extending this principle into everyday life, the
student is forced to ask the question, “Am I living the way
that I want to live?”
- Meditation is the foundation of the practice. To teach
a student to take control over the mind is one the most
valuable skills they will ever learn. Learning to be mindful
is carrying practice into every aspect of life. Life itself
takes on a new dimension.
- Passion teaches us that if we are not completely
immersed and committed to something it may not reveal
its deepest and most significant virtues. Being passionate
means to fall in love with the art. It is no longer a
discipline that is forced but a philosophy that is embraced.
It is the never-ending path that allows you to reach your
truest potential. There will be bumps in the road and dry
periods in your practice, but a martial artist does whatever
it takes to rekindle the excitement and enthusiasm, never
risking the loss of the practice.
Recommended Reading
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Aron Ralston
Long Walk to Freedom
Nelson Mandela
Books are true
levelers. They give
to all, who will
faithfully use them.