Perceive the way of
nature and no force of man can harm you.
Do not meet a wave head on, avoid it.
You do not have to stop force, it is easier to redirect it.
Avoid rather than check.
Check
rather than hurt.
Hurt rather
than maim.
Maim rather than kill.
For all life is precious, nor can any be replaced.
(Kung Fu)
Macho
Modern culture glorifies violence.
It has been stylised on film and made to look exciting and cool.
Movies like Fight Club suggest that you can be beaten up every
night of the week and still be
healthy.
This is not the case at all; most
fighting is mutually destructive.
Both parties suffer considerable physical damage and may have
long-term
injuries
as a consequence of the encounter.
Fighting is macho and unnecessary - tai chi encourages people to avoid
conflict.
Lao Tzu wrote that the aftermath of battle
should be treated as a funeral not a victory; there is nothing impressive
about hurting someone else.
Self defence
Tai chi uses
fa jing and chin na in
self defence.
These are not skills to be employed frivolously; the risk of serious damage
is very high.
In class, we encourage students to regard the self defence training as 'play'.
This robs the exercises of any unpleasant macho connotation.
When people play, they relax and have fun - they no longer seek to
win
at all costs.
Respect
When you
respect other people, you do not want
to hurt them.
Tai chi encourages you to respect everyone, even your attacker.
Having
compassion
for people who care for you is not difficult; it is reciprocal.
Showing compassion to an enemy is another matter entirely.
Consider:
Even if somebody does attack you, do you honestly want to cripple or kill
them?
Would it trouble your conscience?
Is it worth the legal ramifications?
If you could simply deter them and walk away, would that not be enough?
Restraint
If you can walk away from conflict, you should.
Seeking
to prove something says far more about your psychology than it does about
the aggressor.
Self defence is minimalist; you only do what you have to do and nothing
more.
In class, it is vital that you put your
practice partner first and make sure
that your application does not harm them.
Be compassionate in your behaviour; be humble and reserved.
Stay calm and do not show off.
Slowly you will gain composure in the face of conflict.
A calm temperament will inevitably lead you to avoid
conflict in all aspects of your life
without crumpling or resisting.
Responsibility
Most martial arts withhold the really serious material until the
advanced syllabus
for a very good reason; it allows the student time to develop character,
integrity and restraint.
Usually after a decade of study, the student no longer wants to harm
anybody.
They are
calm and
collected,
patient and
disciplined.
The
art is not
employed carelessly or casually; it is treated with respect.
Page created 24 April 2003