The Fight in the Dog
by Philip Holder, Ph.D. Grandmaster: North American Wing Chun Association Copyright by Philip Holder
THE BEST WEAPON IS YOUR MIND
Most of the time, when we hear or read about training for combat, the articles and conversations revolve around physical techniques and applications. In actuality, the physical applications are less important than mental attitude, perception, composure, and commitment that a person has.
In looking back over the many martial artists that I have met through the years, it is evident to me that the mental state of the person is far more important than the technical abilities of that person. This is not to say that technique and conditioning are not important…they certainly are. It simply means that often we underestimate the importance of proper attitude, will, and mental conditioning.
As an example, one particular instance comes to mind. You too may have witnessed this in your martial arts background too. What I’m about to pass on to you is not uncommon.
Years ago, a friend of a friend, was doing well on the sport tournament circuit. If you were to watch him doing forms, or kicking the bag, you would assume him to be an excellent fighter. He certainly had the physical skills and the technique. One evening while walking through a nearby city, he was confronted by a couple of street hoods. A fight quickly ensued. The two untrained thugs promptly beat the tar out of this “martial artist” and put him in the hospital. How could this be you ask? The reason is simple. He had all of the physical skills and none of the emotional skills. His training, to date, had been all academic. He had never trained in a way that would give him the coping mechanisms for the stress of a real threat. The result…he froze up when the threat was real.
If asked, what would you tell a person with no martial arts training who was likely to be involved in a situation requiring personal defense. Let’s say that someone came to me and asked if I could teach them some defensive tactics, because a bully was planning to kick the tar out of them in the immediate future. In this situation I would definitely not attempt to teach them “techniques” for self defense. Any instructor, who is truthful knows that you cannot teach a novice anything that will be of use in five easy lessons. My response would be to train their mind. To train their attitude and perception of the impending events. I would address such issues as stress management, the fact that there is no such thing as a fair fight (always stack the deck in your favor), maintaining composure, looking for a window of opportunity and so forth. These are issues that too often go un-addressed…even in presumed serious martial arts training programs.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
In a real fight, most often, no one wins. One person just loses a little more than the other (unless you consider hurting someone winning). The adolescent attitude that being able to kick someone’s but makes you superior is a farce. It is the way of a coward.
It is easy to hurt people. True courage is demonstrated in one’s ability to face the more difficult tasks in life. Such goals as maximizing your potential and doing something constructive and of lasting value. This might include being a better friend, teacher, or parent. In essence, helping others. The next time you hear someone talking about how tough they are, ask yourself, ‘What is this person doing that is of positive value. What is he or she contributing to make the world a better place’.
Let wisdom, not anger or ego be your guide. The practice of ‘Kung Fu of the Mind’ can be achieved by asking the following questions when confronted with a possible threat.
If you fight, will it be for honorable reasons or simply to protect my ego (often confused with honor). Is there anything of lasting value to gain through this fight. Would this be a hill that I would be proud to die on.
The answers to these questions should give you a clearer picture about whether the fight you are contemplating has any redeeming qualities.
PREPARING THE MIND
If in fact, fighting becomes necessary, it is important that you be mentally and emotionally prepared. No matter how good you are, in battle, there is always the chance of injury or death. No matter how good you are, there is always the chance that it will be your blood that is spilled.
The two best tools for mental preparation are meditation and full contact sparring. They both prepare the mind to manage stress. As well, they both give greater insight into your ability to withstand and tolerate hardship.
Full contact sparring has an inherent advantage in training. If you have experienced defending full contact kicks and punches hundreds or times, you will be more familiar with the nature of a real attack. It will not be something new to you if someone really attempts to actually hit you. As well, you will soon find that your body can withstand more punishment than you originally thought possible with little lasting effect. This will lead to greater confidence. As well, you will be less inclined to stop and inspect your wounds in the midst of combat. Often people are hit and injured while checking to see if they are injured. Contact sparring will give you the ability to maintain your focus.
Along with this familiarity of actual attacks comes reduced stress. With a greater knowledge of what is likely to occur, stress is reduced. Stress distorts perception. When stress is effectively managed you gain greater insight into what is actually going on at each moment.
Critics of full contact say that ‘technique goes out the window’ when people fight full contact. Although I don’t agree with that statement, consider this…each training method has a specific purpose. Forms teach position and movement. Chi Sao training teaches the ability to interpret intent through touch, and so on. It is not the purpose of contact sparring to teach form. Contact sparring teaches penetration and coordinated effort. Even more importantly, it trains the ability to maintain composure under stress. That is where the true value of contact sparring is found.
Meditation helps to calm the mind and to tune into the vast reservoir of internal energy that we all possess. It provides the tools to achieve personal detachment while maintaining emotional content. It provides an additional tool in stress management. Often, it gives devoted practitioners the ability to avoid those fights that lack merit by virtue of a greater self knowledge and maturity.
HYPNOSIS
For quite a few years, I have been using hypnosis as a tool to help my students relax and to manage stress. Hypnosis is a very powerful tool for establishing perceptual changes and facilitating growth. In many ways, it is more powerful than meditation. As well, it provides faster results. Hypnosis is a tool to access the powerful subconscious mind. This is the area of the mind where habits, emotion, and personality are housed (visit our web page for additional information about hypnosis).
In the final analysis, it is you strength of character, confidence, determination, will, and your ability to remain centered that will best protect you. Having a great right jab is an asset, no doubt, but without the heart and the emotional content, you will still be at a loss when trouble comes your way. There is great truth in the old saying, “It’s not the dog in the fight, it’s the fight in the dog”.
Sincerely,
Grandmaster Philip Holder
Courtesy of Grandmaster Holder (WingChunCenter.com)
FEAR: Your Worst Enemy
by Philip Holder, Ph.D. Grandmaster: North American Wing Chun Association Copyright by Philip Holder
THE SOURCE OF FEAR
Fear is defined in Webster’s dictionary as, ‘an unpleasant, sometimes strong emotion caused by an anticipation or awareness of danger’ or ‘anxious concern’. That may be true but from my experience in my therapy practice I would modify that slightly. I think it more accurate to say that fear is an unpleasant, sometimes strong emotion caused by the anticipation of ‘loss’. It may be a loss of health (disease or damage to the body) or it may be loss of face (damage to the ego, pride, or image). It stands to reason then, that fear increases with an increased attachment to the physical world. It increases as well with a dependence on the approval of others. Fear is also more pervasive when there is a lack of faith that we have greater significance in the universe than what we own, or how others perceive us.
SIGNS OF FEAR
Fear is shown in many ways. Some show fear by withdrawing or by cowering (if you never take a chance there is no risk of loss). The most profound examples of fear are anger and hate.
Some people think that hate is the opposite of love. I disagree. Indifference is the opposite of love. Hate and love are often closely knit. Someone who can deeply affect your life can bring you loss therefore hate and love are often intertwined.
Anger is the primary sign of fear. Those who act out their insecurities as anger are the most fearful of all people. Often those who act “macho” or “bad” are perceived as brave. Look past the facade. Those who act with anger are deeply immersed in fear. When two kids get in a fight, it is fear that spurs them on. It may be fear of looking like a chicken to friends, or loosing their girlfriend (or boyfriend), or it may be fear of physical harm. It is rare that fights occur over reasonable issues. Fear is the catalyst that fuels anger.
THE EFFECTS OF FEAR
There are two areas to consider when contemplating the effects of fear on your life. The first is the physical short term effect and the second is in how fear effects your life in general.
Fear is more than a simply a mental state. If effects both the physiology of the body and the chemical balance of the brain as well. When people are afraid it generates stress. Extreme stress can manifest itself physically in a number of ways. In extreme cases it can cause tunnel vision, loss of color perception (color blindness), it can cause a distortion of both time and of depth perception.
Want a good example of this· Often when someone is involved in a serious auto accident they will describe these effects. They may say, ‘It was like everything was in slow motion’, or, ‘Everything was in black and white’. What they are describing is the effect of stress generated by fear. Fear (and the stress generated by it) will raise blood pressure. It will also deplete the immune system. Fear causes errors in judgment and prevents us from taking the most reasonable course of action.
The long-term effect of fear can be more devastating than the short term. We are all what we practice to be. If you practice baseball every day you will become a good baseball player. If you practice carpentry every day you will become a good carpenter. If you practice being happy every day, you will become happy. If you practice fear (anger) every day, you will become a fearful and angry person. People often train themselves to perpetuate these negative behaviors. There are times when this behavior has been practiced for so long that the person is unaware that they have a problem with fear and anger. It becomes their practiced behavior for dealing with any challenge.
CASTING OUT FEAR
To cast out fear one must first get past the ego. More fear has been created as a result of perceived or anticipated loss of face (ego) than was ever created out of anticipation of loss of physical well being. A great deal of this fear is a result of people as inability to prioritize. I always suggest that when someone feels himself or herself getting angry that they ask ‘is this situation really going to have any effect on the overall outcome of my life’. In most cases, the answer is no. Place you attention on what is truly valuable. Look at the bigger picture. In this life we own nothing and no one belongs to us. I don’t know who first said it but I truly believe in the old saying, ‘let go of everything and what remains is what is truly yours’. When you are angry, stop and ask yourself what you are afraid of. Only by being honest with yourself about what is causing anger can you take back control of your life from fear and anger.
When I see the mindless things that we adults often argue over, I wonder who the kids really are. Winning a meaningless and petty battle or point can cause you to lose the war. Remember never argue with an idiot. People watching can’t tell who is the idiot’. In an argument or confrontation people often lose sight of what the original disagreement was even about. Fear of loosing (or being outdone) takes total precedent over the importance or lack of importance of the original issue. People argue about whose religion is best, what martial arts style is best, who’s the toughest guy or the cutest woman. These arguments are all rooted in fear. Those who are condescending to others, or boastful, exhibit a state of perpetual fear. Someone who is truly centered, confident, and focused has no need for boasting or for petty squabbles. They are too busy doing things that are positive and constructive. The next time that you hear a person degrade or belittle another person, or criticize another martial arts style or instructor, or say destructive things about a colleague, know that it is the person doing the criticizing who is full of fear and insecurity. Anger is born out of fear. Fear is born out of a sense of inadequacy and/or the anticipation of loss. Fearful people are those who take themselves and the material things of the world far too seriously. Life is to be enjoyed by raising ourselves up to meet our personal potential. It has nothing to do with anyone else.
If you cultivate a sense of your spiritual worth, if you understand that there are greater things in this world than what we have or what others perceive us to be, then there is no reason to fear. When fear vanishes, so does anger. When anger is gone, your thoughts become clear. When your thoughts are clear, you function at your best.
Only lazy people attempt to make themselves look better by degrading others. You can practice being brave by being kind. You can practice courage by being tolerant of the beliefs of others. Accept that there is more than one way to accomplish any goal. What is the right way for one may not be the right way for others. Those who think that theirs is the only way, or that they know all of the answers have condemned themselves to ignorance. When you keep an open mind your potential for growth is unlimited. When you are free from fear, you can experience each moment to the fullest. This focused and centered state of mind will help you to excel in anything you undertake. Only by letting go of fear and casting out anger can one truly experience the joys of life.
Courtesy of Grandmaster Holder (WingChunCenter.com)
The Three Levels of Consciousness and Humanity
by Philip Holder, Ph.D. Grandmaster: North American Wing Chun Association Copyright by Philip Holder
GREAT DEEDS
The past is gone and unchangeable. The future has yet to be revealed. The present is a means of developing our future. Great things are rarely accomplished in one explosive moment in our lives. Each deed that we do, whether positive or negative, constructive or destructive will, in the final analysis, represent who we are. Each small deed we do is a link in the chain of our existence on this plain. If our deeds are positive and generous, we will exist in a positive light. If the deeds we do are negative, we will exist as petty creatures. This is an evolutionary process and not something that happens by design or in an instant. By attempting to be great, a person will become infamous rather than famous. If you seek to do positive things and have a generous heart, you will be viewed as being a great person. This is due primarily to the motivation that drives these two very different types of minds. Adolph Hitler sought to be great. Although powerful for a short time on the cosmic clock, he is viewed as infamous. Dr. Salk sought to help humanity. He gave away his polio vaccine as a way of contributing to the benefit of others…Dr. Salk is viewed as a great man. These lives are both products of the chain of deeds that each man created during his lifetime.
LEVELS OF HUMANITY
In the philosophy of the Kung Fu system that I teach, we believe that there are three levels of human consciousness and behavior. These levels are the spontaneous, the calculated, and the imposed. They each have unique characteristics.
Spontaneous – Represents the highest form of consciousness because it dwells in the here and now. This mind can respond to life as it unfolds. It asks for nothing, harbors no ill for events of the past, and does not record or expect the repayment of debt. Because it expects nothing from others it is not disappointed. It does not seek to posses and is therefore never owned. From this non-possessiveness comes freedom, love and demonstrates a receptive nature.
Calculated – Represents the second level of consciousness. It is lower that the first because it requires manipulation. This mind attempts to steer events relative to it’s perception of right and wrong. It is focused on achieving the end that it thinks should happen. This results in a constant contention between what would be, and what this mind thinks should be. This mind’s creative energy is confined by it’s need to direct others.
Imposed – Represents the third and lowest level of consciousness because it requires force. It insists that all proceed in accordance with it’s plan. This methodology is both calculated and manipulative. As well, it addresses any opposition with punishment. This is rarely successful in the short term and never successful in the long term. A person of this mind becomes both jailer and prisoner. This mind is too focused on the control of events and people to experience life’s wonders in the slightest way. It is a task oriented mentality that sheds no light on what is really occurring.
FREEDOM
From where does freedom come? It comes, ironically, from adherence to the natural order. Manipulation and imposed force are a direct contradiction to this principle. Freedom comes from being one with the energy of the universe. It comes from being part of the process of living. This can only be achieved by first knowing ourselves. People will spend 2, 4, 6, 8 or more years in college learning a subject but often spend little or no time getting to know who they are or what, they themselves, truly think and feel. Some can go through their entire life and never have an original thought. A whole life can be spent vicariously living only second hand thoughts and experiencing little. It is said that, knowing others is wisdom and knowing ourselves is enlightenment. It is also said in the philosophy that I follow that, mastering others requires force and that mastering ourselves requires strength.
THE PATH
True strength results in a giving and compassionate spirit. The need to exhibit force is a sure sign of insecurity. When we have truly overcome our own demons, we feel no need to control, condemn or punish others. If others attempt to oppress you, you can chose not to take part. You can chose to lead your life outside of the control of another. In Wing Chun we say…”If I do not resist you can not push”. We all have the ability to chose our own path. No one can take that empowerment away from us. We only give it up by choice. Don’t strive for greatness. Live a chain of positive deeds and you will find peace. If greatness comes from this, it is deserved.
Sincerely,
Grandmaster Philip Holder
Courtesy of Grandmaster Holder (WingChunCenter.com)