The fundamental rule of Kung-Fu teaches us the art of living.
Kung-Fu, the Chinese art of self-defense, is at least 1,500 years old, possibly much older. Most of us are familiar with Kung-Fu through movies. The complicated techniques and dexterity of Kung-Fu artists on screen make it seem beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.
Learning Kung-Fu in real life is not as glamorous but far more potent. The term ‘Kung-Fu’ roughly translates as ‘becoming nimble/skillful over time with great effort.’ Based on the Chinese philosophy of Taoism founded by Lao Tzu, Kung-Fu focuses on training the mind since the body moves in harmony with the mind’s movement.
Kung-Fu, like many other Eastern systems, recognizes that the mind is master. Since controlling the mind is hard – so hard that many never even try but surrender to it without making any conscious effort to steer it – the system recognizes that this happens with time and effort.
“Never forget that, at the most, the teacher can give you fifteen percent of the art. The rest you have to get for yourself through practice and hard work. I can show you the path but I can not walk it for you.” – Master Tan Soh Tin
Kung-Fu seeks harmony and balance through self-awareness, a way of life achieved through controlling the mind over body. This is not a ‘fitness routine’ or sport or method to confront opponents with force or rigidity or expending huge amounts of energy. Kung-Fu teaches the art of living, not fighting. The focus is not on extreme body development but on becoming mentally adroit and agile enough to direct your body in harmony with nature. When the mind is fit, the body becomes fit too. It is a mental art to be practiced every day of life and teaches us to flow naturally with life.
“Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.” – Lao Tzu
What is characterized as an ‘attack’? Physical or mental attacks are based on the element of surprise, aimed to traumatize and make you submissive. This is based on the assailant’s or bully’s assumption that you can be overcome with ease. If you are mentally alert, you assess the territory, where you are walking, and what your next step is. When the attack happens, you are ready for it. Removing the element of surprise equips you to handle it well.
Bullies depend on your fear of them to intimidate you. Their idea of fun is dangling carrots now and then – or pretending to – while coaxing the submissive ones with sharp prods to move their cart forward. The dangling carrot is a mirage for many, but the fearful donkey believes in it and moves forward anyway, groaning its way to old age.
If you would rather not spend a lifetime in the donkey-carrot-prod routine, you need to start preparing. Conserve your physical and mental energies. Study the system around you and consider its soundness. Is it nimble, clear, and simple or choking in a self-created labyrinth? Do expectations skew heavily towards grabbing more carrots and groupthink rather than meaningful learning and innovation? Is change given at least a tentative welcome or repulsed with fear?
Even experienced instructors can only point you in the right direction based on their awareness of the system. Once you have absorbed what you need to, ask yourself the hard questions: Is this system worth giving my life energy to? Am I ready to live with more meaning? Once you find the answers, you are ready for the ‘surprise’.
Any instructor worth their salt will emphasize the cardinal rule of Kung-Fu: When the attack comes, swing with it. Never be rigid or unbending or react with force to a bully. Follow the movement of the attacker without any resistance and keep your mind free and supple.
“The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm.” – Lao Tzu
In a physical attack, you can easily run or scale a wall if you are nimble and agile. Scaling a mental wall is no different if you have already worked out the steps in your mind. It is crucial to travel light in body and spirit. Nothing can weigh down a person like past impressions. Once you start accumulating more and more from a specific environment or exaggerate its importance, your ability to move into new learning or spaces diminishes dramatically.
When you jump down the other side, take a deep breath, and pause. What now? You wonder at the wide expanse before you. Who knew it had so many more colors? You never had time to focus on that while chasing those carrots. And who knew there were so many colors inside you? You never had time to explore or learn more about yourself while scrambling for carrots. You realize what a tiny ‘world’ you inhabited and how much more there is to explore.
“Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?” – Lao Tzu
Traveling light helps you go far and wide. You learn to move naturally, in harmony with nature, the way you are supposed to. Immense gratitude sets in and you feel humbled. With every step, realization dawns that the art of living is to become more supple and stronger within you, ready for life’s inevitable surprises.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. – Lao Tzu
