My journey into body-mind training kicked off with Martial Arts, not Yoga. I was 16 at the time and enrolled in a Kung-fu semi-weekly program, with an emphasis on Qi-Gongand Tai-Chi-Chuan. Three months in of zealous physical and mental practice, and I was hooked for more than five years. We would start with a gentle warm-up lubricating all the joints, stretching the tendons and cultivating balance, as we mastered the art of subtle weight shift. We would then practice a variety of kicks, runs, squats and leaps in a circle to harness dynamic flexibility and proceeded into strength training in the center to tone the muscles and prep the body for executing a variety of forms that recalled the moves of different animals. Gliding through the forms with elegance, precision and internal power we danced in unison and appreciation of our collective spirit. We would then break in pairs and practice combat techniques, in a friendly ambiance. The three hour session usually ended with a brief meditation and a bow to the teacher, the space and our buddies.
It was a true celebration of conscious physicality and the benefits we would reap for life would be priceless. I had a very low self-esteem at that time and the regular Martial Arts sessions not only improved my overall coordination, health and focus, but also gave me a confidence boost that directly manifested in my performance level and grades at school. Somehow the right and left brain had teamed up and I experienced a sense of self-integrity and self-respect. My body got stronger and suppler. I mastered the craft of “timing” and knowing when to push for something and when to pull out and wait. The endurance I attained in the dojo translated into an accepting resilience in life. Things started flowing in the right direction, and I felt comfortable in my own skin.
Twenty-four years later, I still cherish the benefits of my dojo experience. Perhaps, fostering self-discipline and structure and cultivating of patience and humbleness are the most beneficial lessons derived from a dedicated Martial Arts training. I still remember my mindset changing gradually as I adopted a more holistic and compassionate view for the world. I realized that the conquering of the virtual enemy in a combat was in fact a conquest of the self. Our combatant being our shadow self reflecting the hues of our nature like a moving mirror.
When I immersed myself into Yoga five years later, I found the same truth expounded in the Hindu epic Bhagavatgita and the seminal dialogue between Lord Krishna and his charioteer Arjuna, contemplating the battle of personal conquest. I realized that Martial Arts is about encouraging non-violent conflict resolution, developing teamwork skills, boosting socialization skills and venerating every person, incident and experience as a learning opportunity. There are so many tangents where Yoga and Martial Arts actually meet, so many ways in which we can incorporate both art forms into bettering our lifestyle. Whether we are on our mats or in the dojo or studio, in or outdoors, we are in a playfield of possibilities. Every inhale affords a new opportunity, every exhale results in a deeper grounding and acceptance of everything that surrounds us. Every movement is a conscious act of sharing, every pause – a plunge into the soul. At this playfield we have a fluid structure, but are free to improvise, to decide how to glide from one pose to the next, when to engage and when to retreat. This liberty allows our mind to open into wider horizons, our heart to melt into deeper compassion and grace. As we learn to coordinate mindful breath and movement we take charge of our destiny and leave room for higher guidance and serendipity.
All these years I have jealously guarded the Martial Arts Traditions by incorporating them into my Yoga practice. I kept the fluid warm up we did in the dojo as a gentle way to wake up the joints prior to the asana practice. But in days when the schedule is tight and my asana time is limited, I just do the Martial Arts warm-up and feel ready to dive into the day with abandon and control. Because it blends moves from Qi-Gong and Tai-Chi, stretches from Martial Arts and postures from Yoga it is a well-rounded practice that will give you a healthy boost of strength, flexibility – cultivating a sense of right timing and relaxed balance.
Like my Martial Arts master Li A-Jun used to say: “Harness internal strength, in the same you reel silk. Silk- reeling happens when you cultivate force that yields and mind that floats like a lotus in a pond – rooted, yet tranquil.”
Yogea Meets Martial Arts Practice: Silky Force
This Yogea practice fuses Martial Arts, Yoga and Qi-Gong as it provides a sense of grounding, a general awakening of the joints, and spaciousness in the mind. Fluid breaths ignite the arms to recall a cascading waterfall. The nature-induced imagery follows with moves like “stirring a wheel”; “hopping praying mantis”; “gazing behind the dragon’s tail”; “cloud arms”; “bow-shooting”; “caressing the lion’s mane”; “hand-kissing the Earth and Sky”; “willow branches drooping” and “thunderbolt lightening”. The visual references to natural phenomena create an opportunity for the body to depict a moving canvas and to physically, side bend, twist, forward bend, roll up and down, arch, balance and invert. The energy centers are awakened as the movements happen from within and unfold without. Every joint gets a proper treat, while coordination enhances. The practice trains subtle weight-shifting, teaching students to yield and advance. The few yoga poses provide a healthy contrast between kinetic meditation and static oppositional pull. The pulsing and repetitive execution of the movements on either sides helps refine the quality of weight transfer and articulation through the extremities. A Qi-Gong longevity series concludes the practice, introducing techniques of tapping, pounding and magnetizing breath to boost vitality, stimulate the glands and harness internal power. Due to its universal benefits this practice is suited for all purposes and can be done at any time of the day.
Wow! I never thought of this that way. Thank you for this information. Yoga and martial arts are really some of the great lifestyle contributions of our oriental brothers and sisters. It advocates non-violence and a desire to live a healthy and rightful way. It also enables our bodies to explore its deepest potentials, which makes it a temple among each of us.
Ritchie Yip
Dear Ritchie,
Thank you for putting it so beautifully, yes these ancient practices is allow us to tap our creative reservoir, reminding us that our body is a temple of light and love. Sharing this energy we heal the world and ourselves. How beautiful is that! Thank you for the train of thought!