Many people thought about violence when martial art topics is being raised. Truthfully, it’s about peace, tranquility, self-control and respect. It has nothing to do with beating up random people around the street. I study martial arts such as Wing Chun and TaeKwonDo and I can give a little idea about them.
Martial arts is never to promote violence. NEVER! Like sports. Take rugby for instance. It’s a full on contact sport and why hasn’t anyone thought it as a violent act, but instead whoever practices them are considered ‘manly’. Same goes for martial arts, but probably much tougher. You are to learn discipline, respect and self-control.
In martial arts, regardless of what forms, the very first step is to respect. Respect your partner, your classmates and most of all, your master/teacher. Like in a regular classroom. Yeah. Before you start anything, it’s always starts with a bow. Even in sparring. Bow to your partner(s) before you start and bow once more after the session. Self-control is crucial in martial art. People always think people who study martial arts might use their fist when they are angry. NO! False. A true martial artist NEVER uses their fist to settle problems (unless they really have to; in a good way). Shaolin Monks are the biggest examples. They train all their lives but never once they use them in combat. They learn to keep their minds at peace. I have some experience to share as well; in self-control matters.
In Wing Chun, we have a practice called ‘Chi Sao’ or also known as Sticky Hands whereby we have two person’s hand sticking onto one another and move in circular motion. It is basically to train one’s sensitivity and accuracy. A hand strikes and the partner’s hand sticking on to it has to block or deflect that punch and counters it back. It starts off slow but you can go as fast as you can, just make sure you don’t hurt your partner. When I first practice that, I was put with a senior who has already learn it for about one and a half year. So basically I was ‘bullied’. I got a little pissed because I couldn’t even land a punch on him and I start to strike randomly. THAT’s the problem. When I got angry, I don’t think, I don’t feel.. I just want to land a punch and try to use force. He was quite cool and just deflects my moves easily. Strength is not the matter, it’s the skills. Months later after I ”level up”, I am too put with a junior. He just wants to take me down, but I’m in a relax state of mind. Months of practice paid off and it helps me to deflect his moves easily. Not saying that I’m good, but I FELT IT! Felt his movements and his idea where he wants to hit. That was an utterly amazing feeling. NO LIE. And that got me thinking back when I was a junior. “So, I was like that huh?”
Wing Chun is like a flow of constant movements, simultaneously.
Many people often misunderstood on the Wing Chun system, here’s a 5 minute video on it’s system:
Trust me, they’re fun to learn. Not to beat up someone, but for knowledge and self defence..
I never liked martial arts before, but a friend of mine introduce to me a class and I tried it out. Apparently I fell in love with them and I hunger for more.
This is the great grandmaster Ip Man; who trained Bruce Lee (left: Ip Man, right: Bruce Lee)
