The Martial Spirit — Revelations From Martial Arts

Most pugilists think that martial arts is about fighting. It is not all about fighting. Martial art was initially designed to be a tool of life and death, for the purposes of war, for that reason it is martial. Martial art is to be used in time of contingency, to save lives, and not merely for self-preservation. A fortiori, it is an avenue of transcendental self-discovery and understanding of nature. For that, it is art, and it is philosophy.

You can see the aptitude and altitude from the combat moves a proponent makes, and you look with keen perspicacity, you see his own life — his past, present and future. It reflects his moment to moment awareness, as well as his hidden consciousness — the seed that was, and the fruit that will be.

Martial art is not about violence or fighting people. The real battle starts and ends within ourselves. It is about awareness and control — of ourselves and the situation. Life itself, not people, is the ultimate game and opponent.

“You can fight 9 men, but it is of no help to solving society’s problems”
— Son of Ip Man, Ip Chun (葉準)

1. Lessons From Wing Chun
2. Lessons From Taiji
3. Lessons From Aikido
4. Lessons From Judo
5. Lessons From Karate
6. Lessons From Baji
7. Lessons From Praying Mantis a.k.a. Tang Lang
8. Lessons From Eagle Claw Eagle Claws
9. Lessons From Chin Na a.k.a. Qínná
10. Lessons From Ba Gua Zhang
11. Lessons From Xing Yi
12. Epilogue