Beyond the System

To look only at the system is to look at only one paragraph in the book. There is more to be discovered about a style after its completion than there is during the training process.

That process (journey) being totally necessary is only the beginning not the end. For instance after studying Wing Chun and Jun Fan Kung Fu for 15 years. I realized the skill and knowledge (fighting ability) were only the very tip of the iceberg. I had not yet even begun to understand the art.

Now after 6 years of studying the art. I have come to realize how little I had understood. Physical skill aside, I had not developed within myself as much as I had thought. It is simple to develop skill if one trains properly, for instance to develop timing there are drills, to develop endurance you run, skip rope, to develop accuracy there are focus gloves, for flow you drill and spar, etc.

But to really develop ones self, one must reach a lot deeper into the art. Beyond what is common.

Far beyond what you might consider the extent of normal training. To where passion and heart lie, beyond the surface and into the depth of the art, into your mind and spirit deep down into your being.

Lets use for example the Form of Wing Chun Kung Fu, Siu Nim Tao or A Little Imagination.

There are many levels on which one can practice this form. First as a matter of course is the physical level, which include learning the stance, hand positions, sequence, and so on. Second are breathing and the isometric properties. Third is awareness of self and relationship to outside world. And finally is to achieve the Imagination level. To look inward while performing the outward to perfection while no conscious effort is being spent on the former three aspects.

Thus a state of super-consciousness is attained, a seemingly out of body experience. This state can also occur while doing high repetition drills such as Siniwali drills of some Filipino martial arts. After the practitioner is able to perform these drills at a high level and the timing and co-ordination become instinctive. The mind begins to flow this state of Wu Hsin or no-mindedness is truly the ultimate goal of all forms practice and all drill alike. All exercises, drills, forms are meant to bring a student to a place where the mind no longer has to work for the student to perform the desired task. Unfortunately most students stop the practice of these tools once the physical skills are attained. They can ever reach the next level as long as they feel the need to do something new. While this is the need of our ego, as martial artists we should put the ego aside and look a little deeper into our art's roots. Why do I do this, not just how.

This is truly a sad thing because many students never experience this state of mind where the body and mind are together yet free of the other and the spirit is in charge. Some instructors will try to force their students by making them drill constantly (myself included), but this only works if the students apply them selves. I personally require my students to perform Siu Nim Tao before I allow them to go on to the second Wing Chun form Chum Kiu even if they are already tested on the former. By doing this I hope to bring them to this place, this state of mind, or Wu Hsin. (The Japanese call it Mu Hsin). However if the students do not apply themselves it is not effective.

In my Filipino martial arts class I drill constantly the skill development exercises i.e. distance awareness, timing, accuracy, flow, etc. These skills once perfected should still be done regularly or even combined, add footwork and other aspects to the basic drills to constantly test the student and make them perform on the fly so to speak. Drills in the air I consider to be homework again if the student does not do them they will not manifest themselves in high stress situations.

Some of my students ask me why we don't do more situation response scenarios. While these are often more fun and also part of the art, they are the least effective means of developing ability and are only a small part of the whole. They should be used to teach the concept so that the student can understand the training they have undergone better. I will teach you to fish, not give you fish every day. This is where the students responsibility comes in. They must bring the art to its fruition themselves by drilling and training beyond the hand-eye co-ordination, beyond the "this is happening - so I do that". To a place where the are no limits of the style or system where there is no grappler, or boxer, or kicker, or Wing Chun guy, or whatever -- there is only what is. Then and only then the situation response drills are no longer necessary because of the limitless possibility of attacks and situations one must learn only to fish.

If the student and teacher understand this they will use the form, drill and application to their maximum. And teach the concepts while attaining the skill necessary, to pull off the technology and tactics they have learned. Now the student acts and does not re-act, thus he has the advantage of not needing a technique for this situation and another for that situation. His response is natural and appropriate to the situation because the skill and knowledge are part of him. Tactics and strategy are applied to the fluid environment. The simple advice I offer is look beyond the style, beyond the art, beyond the man into the spirit look inward. To fully understand the art you must look beyond yourself.

About the author Jon Rister is a practicing Instructor and student of Wing Chun Kung Fu, Filipino martial arts and Jun Fan Gung Fu under the guidance of Sifu Francis Fong and Guro Dan Inosanto. He is the head instructor of the Wu Hsin Kuen international martial arts association.