It is a common teaching that the martial arts are 90% mental and 10% physical. I concur with this assessment. Yet I would add something to this teaching of the martial arts. The martial arts are 90% mental, 10% physical and 100% spiritual. Whether Karate, Taekwondo, Jiu Jitsu, Hapkido, Kung Fu, Tai Chi or even the arts of the Shaolin, though physical are highly rooted spiritually. This makes the martial arts to the serious enthusiast a very important part of their life.
This lesson is physically centered around the spine. Regarding the 10% it is vitally important to keep your spine straight and when possible upright. Remember this - most people's excitement revolves around Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris style kicks. That's great and it is fulfilling to learn these techniques. However, in a defensive situation it is highly unlikely that any kicks would be necessary. True, many kicks turn the upper body almost parallel to the ground countering my edict to keep upright. Yet, since kicks are actually secondary in defensive strategy your spine should most always remain upright and straight. I love the kicks, but in a practical sense it is good skills to know as a backup in a threatening situation - not the priority. Remember the spine.
Humans are receptive to visual comparisons. For some reason a picture sticks to the mind better than reading text. When I picture how a spine should be in a highly physical situation I think of a carousel horse. Notice in the picture below the pole running straight down the horse. It does not move in angles. It's only motion is up or down. That is how your spine should be. There are upper body techniques that require extending the body low or high yet remaining the spine sure and strong. Just remember the carousel horse and you'll do just fine. Also like the carousel your spine is your stand. It is where you are. It is where you resolve to be immovable.
The mental and spiritual side are intertwined and this is where my final point will stand. All my teachings of Taekwondo also have a relative application to life. Your spine, that pole establishing the horse, is your foundation. It is the thing which you are built upon. It is the substance that makes you who you are in times of war and peace. It is that sponge which absorbs all your words, deeds and actions. It is the litmus test that gauges your level of honor. This is the mental and spiritual side.
Increasingly, this modern world supports the compromising of personal principles and precepts. It does so until the one is utterly left destitute and destroyed. This may sound extreme but I've seen it hundreds of times. If your house is not built upon firm ground then it has no sure footing. It is only a surety that when the winds and the waves verge upon you the structure will fail and be left in ruin. In comparison, when you are in a physical altercation you must pay special attention to your spine. It is the foundation of every movement. Sloppy technique without the proper use of the spine can leave you injured or subjected to the will of your opponent. The firm passion to not compromise your principles and precepts will help ensure your well being and survival.
This lesson is physically centered around the spine. Regarding the 10% it is vitally important to keep your spine straight and when possible upright. Remember this - most people's excitement revolves around Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris style kicks. That's great and it is fulfilling to learn these techniques. However, in a defensive situation it is highly unlikely that any kicks would be necessary. True, many kicks turn the upper body almost parallel to the ground countering my edict to keep upright. Yet, since kicks are actually secondary in defensive strategy your spine should most always remain upright and straight. I love the kicks, but in a practical sense it is good skills to know as a backup in a threatening situation - not the priority. Remember the spine.
Humans are receptive to visual comparisons. For some reason a picture sticks to the mind better than reading text. When I picture how a spine should be in a highly physical situation I think of a carousel horse. Notice in the picture below the pole running straight down the horse. It does not move in angles. It's only motion is up or down. That is how your spine should be. There are upper body techniques that require extending the body low or high yet remaining the spine sure and strong. Just remember the carousel horse and you'll do just fine. Also like the carousel your spine is your stand. It is where you are. It is where you resolve to be immovable.
The mental and spiritual side are intertwined and this is where my final point will stand. All my teachings of Taekwondo also have a relative application to life. Your spine, that pole establishing the horse, is your foundation. It is the thing which you are built upon. It is the substance that makes you who you are in times of war and peace. It is that sponge which absorbs all your words, deeds and actions. It is the litmus test that gauges your level of honor. This is the mental and spiritual side.
Increasingly, this modern world supports the compromising of personal principles and precepts. It does so until the one is utterly left destitute and destroyed. This may sound extreme but I've seen it hundreds of times. If your house is not built upon firm ground then it has no sure footing. It is only a surety that when the winds and the waves verge upon you the structure will fail and be left in ruin. In comparison, when you are in a physical altercation you must pay special attention to your spine. It is the foundation of every movement. Sloppy technique without the proper use of the spine can leave you injured or subjected to the will of your opponent. The firm passion to not compromise your principles and precepts will help ensure your well being and survival.
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