Learning any martial art and learning everything you can from that study takes a lifetime. Many martial arts’ masters have made similar statements throughout the history of martial arts. In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [1], his ninth principle is “Karate is a Lifetime Pursuit”. Funakoshi states, “There is no single point that marks the completion of karate training; there is always a higher level.”
There are many facets to why this is a true statement. Let’s take hyung for an example. In the beginning you learn the basic mechanics and it takes months or years to perfect the pattern and the mechanics so it is perfect or near- perfect; every technique performed exactly as it should, every technique ends precisely in the right spot, techniques on the left and right sides are exactly the same, stance lengths are identical, the motion is linear and smooth, etc. Once you have learned the mechanical movements well you start to add force and speed to the techniques. It takes time to add more and more speed and force keeping the mechanics near perfect. During this time you also start working on being grounded throughout every motion and technique. Once you are able to maintain full speed and force with perfect mechanics, and can maintain ground, then you start applying energy to the techniques. One can spend years mastering the energy so it is focused, consistent, linear, etc with every technique and movement.
During all of this as well, you start studying the application of the techniques within the hyung and how to use them in a self-defense situation. And the more you experiment with various applications, additional applications become apparent. You can spend years trying to understand all the potential applications of every motion, transition, and technique within a hyung. For this reason, years ago, some masters only focused on learning one or two forms; because it took a lifetime to truly master every facet of the forms.
In addition, I have written in several blogs how studying martial arts improves one not only physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. In essence, martial arts are about improving one and in the context there is no end. Many martial arts masters and philosophers have made similar statements. Funakoshi writes “Walking this endless road, becoming better today, than yesterday, and then better tomorrow than today –throughout one life-is a true image of the Way of Karate” [1]. Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, wrote “Victory over oneself is the primary goal of our training. We focus on the spirit rather than the form, the kernel rather than the shell” [2]. Lao Tzu, 6th century BC philosopher of ancient China and author of the Tao Te Ching is quoted as saying “Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”
I encourage you to continue your martial arts studies; there is much to learn.
Regards,
Kelly
“It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.”
~ Jigoro Kano (1860 –1938), founder of judo
References
1. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
2. The Art of Peace by Morihei Ueshiba
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
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