Mastery of Yourself
Kung fu is a term that has been abused within the world of martial arts for years, both in the east and western worlds. Actually it refers to the skill or ability to achieve a high standard through a continuous effort over a long period. This is why it has been used within the martial world for so long, as those who practise martial arts are setting out on a life long journey through which they will use kung fu to attain mastery of their art. Wing chun kung fu is an effective martial art but it really requires kung fu to achieve the skill sets necessary to become proficient in the art.
When you begin training in a martial art the novice is unaware of the standard required to arrive at the point they desire to be. This is most definitely true of ‘westerners’ who have the most common questions, “how long before I achieve…?” It is a reasonable question but impossible to answer. Since this kind of skill comes by letting go and letting the training seep into your bones, chasing the knowledge will just slow you up. My own son has been asking me for years and prodding and questing for something that he can answer for himself if he would just stop asking and letting it happen. His skill is coming but his mastery is way behind because he seeks too many answers too quickly. If you can get it quickly it’s not worth having! He needs kung fu and this is the point I think he has finally realised, hence his skill is increasing exponentially. This is a great illustration of the fact that to learn a skill, by shortening the time, by practicing harder or more often, does not, in fact, mean you will learn faster. Here, I would like to talk about a friend of mine who set out on the wing chun path years ago, he has spent the best part of three years doing stance work and he does not chase the end, only the knowledge, his stance and energy work is simply awesome, and I find it increasingly difficult to cope with him, it is only my kung fu, my years of dedicated training and testing that give me the ability to redirect his energy and maintain control. I admire his dedication and path!
Kung fu requires a certain kind of personality to achieve the price of mastery, few will achieve it because they lack the humility to continue without reward. Falling in love with the art and seeing the beauty in the style and not wishing to get to the end as quick as possible, all this requires a life time of commitment to humility and developing skills. True mastery is an endeavour, but classifying yourself as a master immediately goes against mastery itself. Let others chase belts, names and egos, rather by choosing the kung fu path, we learn mastery of ourselves and our frailties, and our personalities, we see many people come and go on the journey, very few will stick with you to the end, like a marriage, the hard work isn’t something synonymous with people’s personalities these days, and such a shame that it is like this.
Steps to Mastery
(I can’t quote the source of the below because I never recorded it, but whoever it was I thank you, I have a feeling it may even be Geoff Thompson, as I read a lot of his work)
The Downside of Fear: by indulging in fear we become consumed and controlled by it, this causes shrinking of life and experience, consequently the individual personally. Life becomes boring and mundane, by never attempting anything new or risky. Your life becomes ruled by your fears experiencing little or no growth, bearing a state of constant discontent and unhappiness.
The Upside of Fear: by transforming fear into caution and a deep respect and reverence for life, the desire to grow and enlarge yourself, indulging in the fullness of everything life has to offer and guided by caution you will expand you own experiences.
The Downside of Confidence: by indulging in confidence we become reckless, taking risks, by placing yourself in danger of injury or death.Overconfidence will result in extending yourself beyond your abilities.
The Upside of Confidence: in taking risks the individual is able to broaden their experience and polish and improve skills and abilities. Confidence tempered with caution will allow the individual to stretch his abilities without overstepping his capacity to deal with the dangers of risk taking. The deepening of skill and gaining of knowledge from these experiences allows confidence to grow into power.
The Downside of Power: by indulging in power you will be consumed and controlled by the power and pursuit thereof. This gives an arrogant disposition, anyone so consumed by power will lose their true sense of self and morality, obsessing with a lust for power and the consequential oppression of others with this power.
The Upside of Power: anyone combining skill and knowledge through confidence without indulging in power, truly becomes a man of power, a warrior. Such people live life to the full, having bounteous, rewarding experiences. His abilities extend beyond normal understanding and those abilities are perceived as magical or mysterious. Living life passionately, building personal power by creating value in everything they do. Living a zealous youthful life well into old age.
The Downside of Age: age will inevitably result in death. In obsessing about this, fear takes hold and you become lost in trying to avoid the inevitable.
The Upside of Age: culminating in the grand experience of death. A true man of knowledge and power learns that death is the constant companion of his life, and in respecting it he can make death his ally, rather than an enemy. Such a person knows that life’s path finishes with the grand experience of death. With him goes his power, knowledge and skill. The capacity to confront the unknown by taking risks will enable them to travel this path without fear, endowed with the rich experiences and tools obtained in his rich full life.
I realise this post is quite deep, but it is very useful to beginner and senior alike. I hope it helps and enables you to let go of the when and seek the path instead. It is there, it just requires a belief and patience!