With the recent uncertainty facing us, the work of the immediate future is to make sure we can train alone as we would as part of the group. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying we can do the same things alone as we could when physically part of a team or group. No, it is the mentality and attitude which is important. So, what I am saying is that we need to draw upon the same commitment and enthusiasm when training training alone as we do when others are spurring us on and challenging us, if we want to progress further under the restrictions of recent months.
It can be hugely encouraging to view people around the world taking the initiative and getting creative in their training, even when no one is there to encourage them or set them exercises. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think its at all important what technical proficiency they might be demonstrating, or how polished the content is, this doesn’t bother me. If they have some wisdom to give, I am inspired to hear them out. To me it is the attitude that is important, the spirit of a community of ideas and developing those ideas with the help of others who share a common goal.
When people are motivated just by arrogance and lust for views, it becomes apparent that it is all about their personality rather than say, art or contributing to something greater. It is as if something inside warns me that just be associating with such a person I run the risk of becoming less focused on important things, because the individual is made the centre of attention, and so a barrier is put up between myself and such a person. I keep them at a distance and I find it impossible to learn anything. Personally I just engage with something less egotistical to ensure my progress is not distracted, because in my experience when people want to be of service they rarely behave like this.
In my view, that is what is often missing from the Martial arts community today – this inner community of individuals linked together for a common cause, each one of them on the outposts somewhere holding their fortress. Even if you have nothing much in common with others, or they aren’t physically present, this is no reason to feel separate. People can always relate on the basis of some uniting cause, where they forget who they otherwise are. For example, in a traditional Martial arts club you might be a black belt, but outside you are a shop assistant. Similarly, you might be the King of England outside, but inside you are a beginner. This shows us that how we relate to others is situational, and that, in my opinion, it is better to relate to people according to the high ideal of seriously committed work and action in the wider sphere1, not just the little group.
I would go as far as to say that the vital thing is to feel connected to the great ideas and inspirations of others, past and present, and to live in harmony with the spirit of this community. To draw on this source of inspiration, and contribute to it to the best of your abilities, however small, is the best way of relating to this. The more this is practiced the more naturally it will come to you. At first, it might seem like a waste of time and of little benefit, humiliating even. But just like breathing this seemingly insignificant act, this innate tendency, can be brought to the level of consciousness and trained so that it becomes a source of great strength.
It is not so much that some authority should do all the work for us, this would just impoverish us inwardly. However, in being expected to actively contribute, in whatever capacity that might be, we are practicing the qualities and abilities which must be cultivated in order to be productive and useful.
It is a shame that people often feel obliged to leave the community spirit once they have gotten to a certain stage of development. They feel it limits them, and in many ways they are often right because the aims of the group are often too narrow minded. It is true that political considerations, such as turf wars over who is in charge, or differences of opinion often get in the way the group, when instead they would be better of growing and becoming more powerful. In such a situation it is understandable to leave for elsewhere, because when you are obliged to absorb yourselves in the petty squabbling’s and tensions of the group it is difficult to focus on outgrowing the situation.
Many people suppose that the best way to encourage community is to foster inter group conflicts. For example, it is common within Martial Arts circles to only train at one club, or to discuss the short comings of other groups. The idea that training with others inside a like minded community encourages improvement is no doubt correct, however it isn’t enough when there is a negativity in the air which promotes separatism and ill feeling, however well intended. Under this kind of influence, you will at best see only part of the whole picture. It is usually the case that leaders within Martial Arts circles fight with competing groups not because they are superior, but because they feel inwardly limited.
Already this situation is different from the remote past where everybody lived within their own little sectarian bubble. And nowadays practice is much more informed because of work in this direction of evolved thought. But there is still a lot to be done, particularly with the potential for the online community. The best way to communicate and link up to others is by contemplating their ideas. To feel unified with the great minds and the ennobling ideas of others, all of this appeals and stimulates the Hara centre, or the solar plexus2. Yes, this centre can’t be deceived. It’s activity is best stimulated by thinking the best of others, and relating to them through all that is good. This can have a beneficial impact on the brain, and everything else.
“Don’t think, feel” said Bruce Lee. It is then possible for the body to influence the mind, by linking up with the community of ideas as the source of inspiration. Because, when we think only of personal gain, we aren’t working at full capacity. Under such narrow mindedness, we can have all the instruction in the world and it will be of little value. It is often best to cultivate certain feelings and thoughts before attempting further practice. Viewed this way, the brain is a screen for bodily states to be imprinted on, which manifest as mental representations in the minds eye. In other words, the feeling comes first in order to manifest powerful thoughts which lead to progress and clarity of vision3. When the brain thinks first, it often comes out with all sorts of insufficient intellectual theories and transposes them onto an unbalanced body. This is often the case.
So feelings of the right quality should be developed fundamentally. And what more powerful feeling than to be part of a great cause in order to surpass yourself? Surely this is better than merely surviving and considering yourself alone and isolated, unless of course you dominate others. This attitude is prevalent among many leaders. A certain level of short term success can be achieved by dominating others, but one day when those who have been trampled on feel that the situation has gone too far, they take the first opportunity to fight back. Then the poor leader becomes the victim, perhaps when he is dried up and weathered from all the disorder and chaos he has sown, and then he is the first to complain about how he has been betrayed.
Just as warfare has two sides, building and destroying, so too must the community aspect of Martial Arts. It is simply not true that you must force your ideas on others for them to listen, as you would say, force someone to back off by physical means. Fostering and attitude of cooperation, even onto aggressors, is a form of combat in itself and requires other tactics. I am not so naïve as to think this is always possible, but it is worth considering.
It is true that every Martial Art has its form based on principles. Boxing is based on the principles of punching. However, every attitude, feeling and desire also has its own form, which although different from physical combative Martial Arts, is actually complimentary. For example, helping others to surpass themselves requires an affectionate attitude and certain humility and warmth, even if you are being rough with them. This kind of behaviour has certain influences which are curative of bad attitudes, such as selfishness. In turn, this tends to nourish not only us but those around us. It is then possible to turn a cold and indifferent relationship of exchange into a vibrant and expressive one. You may not feel like doing this at first, but this is the true are of fighting without fighting, in other words turning what would be an enemy into an ally4.
Martial Arts teaching can produce results and evolution within somebody by way of the soft, in the same way that hard intensive training improves physical technique. If somebody imagines they are engaged in meaningful work which helps others (once of course they have overcome their own helplessness), then they set off impulses within them which increase their will power instantly. This is an exercise to do often, even if you don’t actually materialise such help, it is the desire, the will in action that’s important. If you stay there, with that felt sense of the will acting, then you can remain in a state of high motivation. It is simply a form of practice, as you would practice say, a punch in isolation from the real life context. Instead of physical practice, it is an exercise of the will, which requires dedication and work.
Before we have even helped anybody, it is often the case that we can sense we will do good for others, or even that we have done so just by thinking. Though is all powerful. And in return we get the sustained feeling and thought of surpassing ourselves through our contributions to others. This is a whole science in itself, and will empower you more than any physical practice. In a sense, the truly selfish person, if he knows what’s good for him knows his true interest lies in acting less selfishly.
When there is this unity to a common struggle, peoples attentiveness opens up and they are receptive to each others ideas and innovations, instead of on the guard for being manipulated. And then you cannot help but be inspired by others under this spirit of relatedness, and you improve having been under this collective influence. It is entirely up to you whether you enter into this state. For example, watching someone’s example in an online instructional video, you can get the impression of having been offered pearls of wisdom. Sometimes, you feel as though it is not about them showing off, but for the benefit of those watching.
There is still a lot of work to do here, because a great deal of the content viewable online has the effect of making you feel like you are being manipulated or “influenced”. People then sit there and wait for others to approve of their content before they do anything. But when you are working for a high ideal, a great cause, you cannot let the derision of others deter you, because of course criticism will arise.
Bad ideas are inevitable, but instead of influencing others with such mediocrity, wouldn’t it be better to swallow them up, work on them, digest them, eliminate them, etc., and only present them when they were a genuine help to others? This is the way to develop the best ideas individually before presenting them. And then you can inspire feelings in others that unite or reinforce them to a common cause, rather than repel them.
Yes, everyone must clamour to be heard, but an arrogant attitude aimed at others, as if they were simply supplicants to be sold a sales pitch, should only be used against enemies, not potential friends. Indeed, I would say that the true meaning of training in hostile environments, that is fighting others in sparring or otherwise, is to discern this negative attitude in others so that you are not taken by surprise in real life. When you have developed this in built detection device, you are then ready to go out and avoid trouble safely. You can them avoid petty squabbles and compete with others cooperatively to do the best work. Because competition cannot be avoided, it should only be properly directed. And because your perceptions have changed within, you are in a position to do some real work on yourself to project positivity on others, work which is sorely needed.
References
1 See The High Ideal https://harmanater.com/2020/07/26/the-high-ideal/
2 See The Hara Centre https://harmanater.com/2020/10/25/the-hara-centre/
3 See The imagination https://harmanater.com/2020/10/04/the-imagination/
4 See The True Meaning of Martial arts https://harmanater.com/2020/05/18/the-true-meaning-of-martial-arts/