How many times have you been in a sparring match, be it at a tournament or in friendly bout in class, and felt that desire to "win"? With that, Have there been times where you just threw a flurry of techniques, hoping that the blitz would "jam" up your opponent so he or she could not defend against you? I've been there....its worked a few times, where I just blitzed right through my opponent and they just happened to stumble backwards enough so one of my backfists could score. But one tournament, I met against a gal whose foundation was strong and whose spirit was indomitable. I blitzed in with a kiai, she sidestepped, and I found a roundhouse kick kissing me on the side of the head. I lost that bout, but not without learning something.....something about how technique, strategy, and spirit combines to form a true warrior. Its not about how high your jump kick is, or how many boards you can break....its about really understanding your art and its strategies.

 

Let's take a hint from good handymen and mechanics......Make sure your "tools" in your "toolbag" are suitable for the job at hand. Know how to use those tools and when to use them (really, do you need a torque wrench set at 60 foot pounds to tighten the screw at the end of your Taiji sword??).  Pull out only the tools you need for any given time, depending on how the tasks change. Most importantly, know how to fix whatever needs fixing....don't tear apart that engine just yet, if you really don't know what you're getting into.

 

In short....have a strategy, but also be sure to have good sound techniques, foundation, good spirit and good knowledge of fighting lines. A good fighter need not bounce around unpredictably like a jumping bean, nor does a good fighter need to go into a fight with "the blender turn on, hoping that something will fall into the blender".

 

On the other hand....a fighter could have all sorts of great techniques and know a million drills and exercises. However, if the fighter can't make split second decisions on how to use all those techniques, then the amount of knowledge is useless. Classic case of "jack of all trades, master of none".

 

When in class or a seminar, go into the lesson with a beginner's mind......its so much easier to glean the most important concepts that the teacher has to offer. Work the material well, without overthinking it or being overly concerned if you look good or are doing it correctly.......after all, if you're making serious mistakes, the teacher will correct you. Take the corrections for what they are, leave your ego out of it and don't take corrections personally.

 

With a beginner's mind, a scholar's study skills, a scientist's willingness to test/experiment, and a master's love of the art, tactics and strategy with become second nature.

 

Okay, beginners.....get out there and LEARN! 1, 2,3 GO!!!

 

(I won't ever remember the name of that gal that defeated me in that tournament so long ago. But I want to thank her for teaching me to delve into understanding my arts and not merely doing the movements of the arts.)

In Taiji push hands, "Ting Jin", or "listening energy", is one of the concepts practiced. The idea here, is to utilize the whole body as a listening device. I guess "listening" is the wrong work to use, but I can't think of another word! As opposed to listening with only our ears, or reacting to something based on sight alone, we try to train the body to "listen" to what really is being "said", and not merely hearing what we want to hear or misunderstanding the "speech".

 

One of the hardest things to do in push hands, is to not plan our our attack or defense, but rather, to let go of preconcieved notions of our partners and to move with what is going on "right now". Easier said than done. With any martial art, "what happens in drill, happens for real". Isn't it ironic, that we have to learn pre-planned drills in order to learn how to act instinctively and with no thought?

 

A friend of mine (who does fencing) called me yesterday, and said "You know how you're always talking about having 'spirit' when practicing martial arts? I was watching my fencing class today, and now I think I get it".

 

"Its true", I said. "One should have spirit while practicing...without it, I would imagine that a fencer would only merely be holding a sword, instead of skillfully wielding it."

 

She talked about the drills they do, and how it pained her to see some students merely walking through the drills. "How is it that they're not getting it? Why can't they realize that theyre's another sword pointed at them, and their spirit and attitude should reflect that?"

 

"They're too busy talking to themselves, instead of allowing their bodies to listen to the opponent", I said. My personal philosophy, is that "ego" has no place in a fight or a duel, especially when blades are in play. Looking good or winning is one thing.....getting skewered is another! I surmise, that mindset too, is a factor. In historical fencing these days, "bird blunts" (rubber tips) are used on the ends of blades, so as to not cause severe injury to other players. Protective equipment is also used. My theory is, that with all the safety precautions, the reality of swordplay is lost with some people....hence, not learning the ability to "listen".

 

So how do we effectively "listen"? First....get your ego or pride out of the picture. Honestly, no one cares if you're a black belt or great fencer or a popular figure or celebrity. The only people that would really "care" are people associated with what you do, and that's about it. In short, if you think you're "all that", you'll carry alot of pre-conceived notions that will hinder your ability to effectively listen to people.

 

Also, pay attention to the big picture...don't just hear the words....understand them. Ask for clarification if needed. Pay attention to body language if possible....body language many times speaks louder than words.  "Feel" the conversation.

 

Understand that engaging in a physical bout or even a conversation, is a very intimate thing. Whether you're in a fight or in a heartfelt conversation, the intimacy of the situation is there. In order to win a bout, survive a self defense situation, or talk about a difficult subject, we have to keep our emotions in check yet allow ourselves to feel the emotions of not only ourselves but our opponent or partners........

 

Listen, feel, understand........see what your sense of "hearing" can allow you to gain.....

 

 

 

 

 

What motivates you? Scratch that....instead, I should ask: "What really floats your boat?"

 

Have you ever noticed, that trying to get kids (not all kids....just some!) to do their chores is like pulling teeth? "I'll do it later".....I'm busy"....yada yada. But by golly, if you say "I'll give you your allowance early", those kids just scramble to get the chores done....albeit very poorly. Then they ask "Where's my allowance?" and come up with every conceivable excuse as to why they should get their allowance "as you promised", even though the job(s) are not done to you specifications.

 

We can dangle a carrot in front of people to get them motivated.....however, its the type of carrot that gets them moving or not.

 

For most, money is a motivating factor as to why we go to work every day. Sure, we might enjoy our jobs, but its that extra perk of being paid that makes in worthwhile, does it not? I love what I do, and I'm happy that I happen to get paid doing what I love.

 

However, for me, the motivation is in the "teaching" aspect of what I do, and seeing the improvements of my students over time. I've always known that its tough to be a millionaire at teaching martial arts, but I quit a well paying corporate job to do it.....and many people still think I'm nuts! There are times when the income is great, and times where I think I need to "rob Peter to pay Paul". Would I like to make more money doing what I'm doing? Sure I do, but I don't want to put people on the backburner to do it.

 

Motivation is a great thing. It allows us to see what our priorities are, where our strengths are, where our weaknesses are, and whether or not we're using good means to reach our goals.

 

I've met many people that are so driven, that it seems that they've forgotten the "other important" things...... compassion, selflessness, and enjoyment of life. I've met people that don't think twice about being manipulative in order to get things to go their way, yet call themselves "ethical".

 

Its too bad..... I guess all my life I had a stereotype of what all martial arts masters should be like...... humble, compassionate, having the ability to know what universal love is, be "there" for their students, understanding, and willing to give their time. My first instructor was like that, and when I was a kid, I thought every "Master" was like that.

 

However, as I grew up, I learned that motivation makes or breaks a good martial artist or martial arts teacher.  Humility goes out the window for some people, when they start making big money. They'll overbook themselves for private lessons or seminars, for the money, then complain when their hotel accomodations are less than 5-star.

 

How is it that seemingly talented and gifted people, could become so self serving, self absorbed, stuck up, and thinking that everyone has to bow down to their expectations, just because they are popular? Just what exactly set them apart from the equally talented and gifted students?  Their outlook on what motivates them, that's what.

 

I remember the times where my WHKD teacher came for seminars. As famous as he is, Sifu Al only asked that a "room be clean". I'm sure he'd been offered 5 star hotels in the past, but all he asked for was a "clean room" and "a shower".  When we would balk and try to get a big hotel for his stay, he opted for the motel. When seminar day came, he'd put 100 percent into the curriculum, accept our invitation to dinner afterwards, and drive himself home. No limo, no fancy car, no entourage. He would drive himself the 4 hours back to Portland. This was a true master, in my eyes.

 

What motivated Sifu Al, was his love of the art and the proliferation of the art. Yes, he had a very successful business going on, but he never stepped on people to be successful.

 

This is actually one of my fears..... if being successful means that I have to step on people, be manipulative and coercive, then I guess I'm doomed to being unsuccessful. I don't want to be that martial arts teacher that people hiss about behind closed doors.

 

With that said....what motivates me?  Here's a few things..... 

 

-- seeing little kids smile when I say "tigers and dragons",

-- seeing students practicing on their own, so they can learn a bit more of their new form,

-- hearing the excited conversations of students after a great class....

-- seeing the improvement of a student within 1 month....

-- seeing students come to school 30 minutes early to practice before class...

-- hearing kids tell other kids how they earn their kung fu tuition money....

-- seeing students make a "newbie" feel at home and offer to be their "helper" for their 1st class.

 

I wake up, I play, I laugh, I learn......that's what makes me want to continue teaching until I can't do it anymore. That's what "floats my boat". Being paid.....is just extra icing on the cake!