You've reached the Omaha Blue Waves Marital Arts website Blog. You'll find copyrighted articles, thoughts, and ruminations by Master Jeff Helaney and other Omaha Blue Waves Staff on this blog.
My first introduction to the martial arts came through movies. Iconic stories like “Enter the Dragon” and “Billy Jack” had helped bring martial arts into mainstream American culture and fueled my imagination with possibilities. I wanted to learn how to do all the amazing things I saw at the theaters. Unfortunately for my youthful self reality wasn’t nearly as glamorous as the films had made it out to be.
The first time I walked into a Dojang, I was startled by the contrasts. The smells, the sounds, and quick whirling movements burned into my brain and I was hooked. I was nervous and excited all at the same time. I soon found out that the road to competence was paved with a lot of hard work, sweat, bruises, and dedication. My story and my progression through the ranks were uniquely my own.
The 1970’s were volatile time and the martial arts market was on fire. Martial arts schools came and went faster than potential students could blink. Martial arts movies were feeding the cash cow and people were jumping on board trying to ride the wave as long as they could. After a number of different missed starts, I found what I was looking to learn. Ironically, it wasn’t at a commercial school but at the home of a friend whose father had studied TaeKwon-Do in Korea while in the service. Twice a week I would join his two sons and one other student for intense classes. It was nothing like what I had learned at the different commercial schools I attended. Rank was a byproduct of learning, not an end goal. There was no push to advance because there was no money to be had. It was great time in my life, but like all good things it eventually came to an end. My instructor stopped teaching and I moved on.
I was growing up. I had bills to pay, a new job, and I had started college. Through those early college years I kept training. I picked up TaeKwon-Do and Hapkido classes at the University and even joined a sports karate club for a time. Although nothing I found quite equaled the fun I had growing up, martial arts was no less a part of my life.
As a young man, I entered law enforcement. It was a profession that I spent over 20 years working in. Through three different police departments in two different states, I kept martial arts part of my life. Eventually, I opened my first school in a Fraternal Order of Police hall offering free classes to police officers and their families. The popularity of the classes was overwhelming. To handle the demand, I had to move the classes into a building of my own and start a non-profit to pay for the expenses. It was a labor of love and it allowed me to pass on the values that I had learned when I was younger.
Word of the school had spread quickly throughout the community. It wasn’t long until I was overwhelmed again. There wasn’t enough room to teach everyone who wanted classes. I was fortunate that due to a supportive city administration and a local school district I was allowed to try an experiment. I began a ‘free’ after school martial arts drug education program at one of the local elementary schools. Within three years the program had expanded to three different site locations and was open to students of all ages from two different school districts. The program eventually received a commendation from the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Board of Education. One of the highlights of my long career was watching children in the program grow up and continue to teach martial arts with the same values I held dear.
After retiring from police work due to long neglected work injuries I found myself returning hometown. At first I missed my students and I missed the ability to practice martial arts the way that I did when I was younger. I found it inexcusable that my body had started to betray me on a lot of different levels. Still the desire to continue teaching was extremely strong. Fortunately, my wife and daughter had absorbed my love of martial arts through osmosis and they wouldn’t let the dream die.
We weren’t home long before we had opened another school. This time I wasn’t the primary teacher, but rather a mentor. I did what I could, but what I couldn’t I entrusted to those I loved. Today they are passing on gift that was given to me to the next generation. If there is a moral to take away from this long learned lesson is that if we open ourselves to opportunities life will find a way to make them happen. The only codicil is that the opportunities may not have been the ones we expected. Thank goodness my plan hasn’t always been my plan.
My daughter is a basket case today. She is preparing for her 2nd Dan test in TaeKwon-Do this evening. The test is difficult, but certainly not impossible. It is something that she has been focusing on and preparing for in earnest for the last six months… or nine years depending on your point of view. Nothing is left for her to do except test.
She finds little comfort in knowing that there are only two possible outcomes; she will either pass or she will fail. In the absolute worst case scenario she may be required to retest again in six months. Nothing can possibly be lost but a small amount of time and a stripe on a belt. She can’t see that the outcome of the test does not define her as a person or as a martial artist. It is simply an artificially created road block and a marker on her journey.
In a way, her trepidation mimics the way many of us spend our lives. We fear difficult times we know will come and focus on the things we want to achieve. We try to control every facet of our lives to produce specific outcomes. It doesn’t matter if it is a job, a relationship, or a goal. We must reach it ‘our way’ and in ‘our time’ at all costs.
The humorous part of the problem is we rarely can control any of it. Think about that last promotion you had to have. You worked for it and put in all the extra hours you the boss wanted. In the end, it still wasn’t your choice. It was up to someone else to decide if you could be the head Umpa Lumpa at the chocolate factory. What about that amazing girl (guy) you knew you just couldn’t live without. From the minute you saw them they were center of your life; the problem is they didn’t feel the same way about you. (Yes, Marge married Homer and moved away, but they ended up with rotten kids.)
Whether or not we get our dream job or have a relationship with a particular yellow, three fingered person isn’t really important in the end. Nor is winning a trophy at a martial arts tournament or getting that next black belt. We (as people) generally tend to spend too much time looking at the roadblocks and markers in our lives when we should be focusing on the journey.
We have all been given a wonderful gift. Instead of measuring our successes and failures from the outside, we need to look inward. Have we been the person we should be? Have we helped where we could? Did we make a difference in someone else’s life when it was within our power? Did we speak out even when it was hard? Did we take the path less traveled? In the end all we have to measure ourselves is ourselves.
There is absolutely nothing mystical about pressure points or motor nerve points. They are part and parcel of the human condition. Everyone has them and they affect everyone to a greater or lesser degree based upon their own unique physiology. Although we can track the use of pressure points in the martial arts back thousands of years and through numerous cultures, it has only been in the last few decades that western science has begun to intensively study and document the effects of applied pressure point and motor nerve point techniques on human physiology.
Not surprisingly leading of research into this area came from the law enforcement and military sectors. Pioneers such as Bruce Siddle, Mike Kerby, Aubrey Futrell, Paul Whitesell, Steel Parsons, and James Lindell have done more to quantify and lend understanding to the use of pressure points and motor nerve points than almost any other researchers in modern western history. Their studies dissected martial arts techniques, looked their application scientifically, and created a methodology to apply these techniques with consistent results. Their research has lead to the development of practical combat and defensive tactics programs that are used world wide by law enforcement and specialized military units.
As martial artists we have been exposed plethora of information about technique development and personal training. Some of it is very good and some of it is so bad that it can actually be harmful. In this article we are going to examine some basic concepts of applied pressure-motor nerve point techniques in an effort to explain how and why they work in an easy to understand format.
The Sympathetic Nervous System:
A key to understanding the concepts behind applied pressure point and motor nerve point techniques lies in understanding the physiological changes a person goes through during stressful situations. These changes will affect the way we apply and react to almost all techniques.
Most of us were introduced to the psychological concept of the “Fight or Flight” response when we were in high school or college. Basically, we were told that when a person encounters stressful situations they either actively face it or avoid it. This premise was correct as far as it went. There is now a greater understanding of what this type stress can do to our physical state.
We know that when we are faced with a severely stressful situation that the body’s sympathetic nervous system (SNS) can take over. This response is common to all mammalian species and allows them to focus on all their resources on a situation during a time of crisis. Unfortunately, this process is automatic and can virtually take over all voluntary and involuntary physiological systems until the threat is eliminated.
The problems that can be created by this type of stress are varied and significant. We can expect an increased heart rate, hearing loss, vision problems, increased reaction time, and a deterioration of motor skills. It is important that we understand that both the defender and the aggressor are feeling the affects of sympathetic nervous system activation. Although we can limit some of these problems through training, we can not totally eliminate them. Therefore, our training regime has to take into account how our body will be reacting during a time of crisis. We, also, need to understand what changes are taking place in our opponent.
A very important consideration for in the consideration of technique application is Hick’s Law. This states that reaction time increases proportionately to the reaction options in a defensive system.
Most martial arts styles have a significant selection of techniques to choose from. To progress in our arts we learn more techniques and hone existing skills. While these criteria are important in evaluating the progress of a student in a particular martial arts style, they may pose a problem for practitioners in real life encounters. This is especially true for the beginning martial artist that has not yet done enough technique repetitions to create muscle memory.
Additionally, fine and complex motor skills deteriorate as the heart rate increases. Many joint manipulation and balance displacement techniques that require the use of these skills can become problematic at best. It is important to find techniques within your style that do not require a great deal of effort to perform and begin working on with them. These techniques should include blocks, strikes, and a method of controlled pressure application.
Methods of Application:
Specific targets and techniques will be discussed in greater detail later, but common to the application of any technique are the concepts of full power delivery and kinetic energy transfer. To maximize the effectiveness of your strikes and blocks the techniques must be delivered at full power. By delivering your technique at full power you lessen the chance that you will need to repeat the technique and that you will create unnecessary injury in your opponent. Additionally, by briefly increasing the time of contact on your target area you will increase the amount of kinetic energy transfer into your opponents muscle mass creating a shock wave that increases the effectiveness of the technique on a pressure or motor nerve point.
Most of your blocking and striking techniques should be directed at the pressure and motor nerve points that are located on the trunk and limbs of the body. The large muscle masses surrounding these points make an effective medium transferring kinetic energy and for causing a temporary dysfunction of the muscles. According to a study done by Mike Kirby, the length of energy transfer must exceed 30 milliseconds to achieve motor dysfunction. This is the amount of ‘stick time’ that the technique requires to stop forward momentum and retract to a defensive position.
Although reactions can include a loss of consciousness, it is more common to see a reaction that is somewhat less dramatic. Strikes or blocks to the pressure or motor nerve points in the arms and legs are prone to something called a flex-reflex response. The effected limb experiences acute, temporary pain and may shut down. The possibility that an unaffected limb may experience a sympathetic nerve reflex also exists. This means that the other limb may also ‘shut down’ for a short period of time due to the overload of sensory input.
It is important to remember that although everyone has the same motor-nerve and pressure points, they do not affect everyone the same way. An example of this is can be found by striking the brachial plexus (a combination of three nerve bundles the median, the radial, and the ulnar nerves) on the side of the neck. In about one out of ten people, a full power strike to this area may cause a short loss of consciousness. Four or five people will probably experience a temporary loss of motor control throughout their body and some will experience some level of disorientation. An equal number of people will experience severe pain and very mild disorientation. About two percent of people this technique is used on will have no reaction to the strike.
Multiple strikes to pressure and motor nerve points can increase the effectiveness of technique, but also increase the chance that last injury will occur in your opponent. It is important to gage the need for repeated technique application versus the risk it can create.
The danger can be illustrated using a strike to the common peroneal nerve. This particular nerve plexus branches off of the sciatic nerve and runs behind the knee. The actual motor-nerve point is located about three inches above and slightly to the rear of the knee. Striking this point multiple times carries the increased risk of causing damage permanent damage. A miscalculation could cause the strike to impact the knee joint and shatter it. Some estimates indicate that a knee will break with as little as 75 to 90 pounds of pressure (PSI). An average adult can generate over a 1000 pounds of pressure with a standard kick. Depending on the actual nerves injured, a misplaced strike can cause drop foot.
While an injury by product of a defensive technique may not be of immediate concern in a use of force encounter, it may prove to be of great importance during any subsequent civil litigation. Courts can take days and weeks to decide what you may have to decide in a matter of seconds. Specifically, did you use the appropriate amount of force to defend yourself? Self-defense concepts should include a basic understanding of use of force issues.
Another method of application includes the use of applied pressure specific targets. Usually this type of technique will take the form of digital manipulation of nerves or nerve clusters located on the head or neck of an opponent. Often this type of technique is referred to as pain compliance.
Essential techniques are applied to an area of ever increasing pressure until the aggressor yields to the pain that is being created by the technique. Sensitivity levels differ greatly in individuals and these techniques do not always work. They are most often used to control behavior and to obtain voluntary submission.
When using a pain compliance technique it is important to remember to ease up on the pressure once compliance is achieved. Continuing the pressure can result in an adrenal dump and cause more resistance.
Summing it Up…
Pressure points and motor nerve points are excellent additions in any martial artist’s arsenal of techniques; however, they should only be one component of a well rounded system. Everyone has pressure points and motor nerve points but they do not affect everyone the same way. Individual physiology and tolerance varies from person to person. Reactions to pressure points can be either very minor or extreme and can range from mild discomfort to temporary loss of consciousness. Most of the pressure points and motor nerve points discussed in this article focus on the trunk and extremities of the body, they are designed to increase technique effectiveness through directed targeting. When incorporating pressure points into a self defense system, the number of techniques should be limited and involve gross body movements to improve reaction time and application effectiveness.
While learning about pressure points isn’t difficult, it can be difficult to find accurate information about them. Martial artists seeking to learn about pressure points should carefully check out an instructor’s credentials. Unfortunately, there are more than a few people out there that are less than truthful about their backgrounds. Regardless of whether the information comes from eastern or western sources, the instructor needs to have a better than average working knowledge of what he or she is teaching.
Copyright 2003 by Jeffrey W. Helaney
The development of Chinese Qigong can be viewed by looking at four different periods. The first period probably started around the time the "Yi Jing" (Book of Changes) was introduced in the area 1122 B.C., and lasted until the Han dynasty (206 B.C.). At this time Qigong practice entered into the second period, which was sometimes called the religious Qigong era and it most probably lasted until the Liang dynasty (502-557 A.D.). It was during this period that Qigong began to be developed for martial purposes. This began the third period Qigong, that of martial Qigong. A number of different martial Qigong styles were created based on Buddhist and Daoist Qigong. This era of development extended until the Qing dynasty was overthrown in 1911; after that point Chinese Qigong training became intermixed with Qigong practices from many other countries.
Most resources cite the "Yi Jing" (Book of Changes; 1122 B.C.) as the first Chinese book related to Qi. The Yi Jing introduced the concept of three natural energies (San Cai): Tian (Heaven), Di (Earth), and Ren (Man). The study of these concepts was the first step in the development of what would later come to be known as Qigong.
During the Zhou dynasty, between 1122 and 934 B.C., Lao Zi (Li Er) spoke about breathing techniques in the "Dao De Jing" (or Tao Te Ching). The book stressed the way to obtain good health was to meditate on Qi to achieve softness. Later in the "Shi Ji" (or Historical Record) of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770-221 B.C.) described more complete methods of breath training.
Somewhere around 300 B.C. the Daoist philosopher, Zhuang Zi, discussed the relationship between health and the breathing in the book "Nan Hua Jing." The book indicates that a breathing method for Qi circulation was being used by some Daoist at that time. There are several medical references to Qigong during the Qin and Han dynasties (221 B.C.-220 A.D.) in books like the "Nan Jing" (Classic on Disorders) by Bian Queth. The Nan Jing describes how to use breathing to increase Qi circulation. Also, the book "Jin Kui Yao Lue" (Prescriptions from the Golden Chamber) by Zhang Zhong-Jing describes how to use breathing and acupuncture to maintain Qi.
During the Eastern Han dynasty (c. 58 A.D) Buddhism was entered China from India. Many Buddhist meditation and Qigong practices, which had been practiced in India for thousands of years, were absorbed into the Chinese culture. Unfortunately much of the training was directed at attaining Buddhahood and the techniques were kept secret. For hundreds of years religious Qigong training was not taught to laymen. It was only during this period Qigong practice became available to the general population.
It was during this period that the traditional Daoist principles were combined with Buddhism and a religion called Dao Jiao was created. A number of the meditation methods combined the principles and training methods of both sources. Additionally, Tibet had developed its own branch of Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhists were also invited to China to teach. The Tibetan practices were also absorbed into Chinese culture.
Documents from this time show that the religious practitioners trained their Qi to a deep level, working on the internal functions of the body to obtain control of their bodies, minds, and spirits. Qigong practices and meditations were being passed down secretly within the monasteries, while traditional scholars and physicians continued their Qigong research.
The Jin dynasty, 3rd century A.D., the Daoist Jun Qian used the movements of animals to create the Wu Qin Xi (Five Animal Sports), that taught people how to increase Qi circulation through movement. Additionally, a physician named Ge Hong wrote a book called Bao Pu Zi that spoke of using the mind to lead and increase Qi
During the Liang dynasty a Buddist monk named Da Mow wrote two classics while in seclusion at a Shaolin Monastery, the books were called: "Yi Jin Jing" (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) and "Xi Sui Jing" (Marrow/Brain Washing Classic). The Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic taught the principles of how to gain health and change physical bodies from weak to strong. The Marrow/Brain Washing Classic taught the principles of how to use Qi to clean the bone marrow and strengthen the blood and immune system, and how to energize the brain.
This training was integrated into the martial arts forms, and it increased technique effectiveness. In addition to martial Qigong training, the Shaolin priests also created five animal styles of Kung Fu that imitated the way different animals fight. The animals were the tiger, leopard, dragon, snake, and crane.
Around this time a book called the "Qian Jin Fang" (Thousand Gold Prescriptions) was written by Sun Si-Mao which described the method of leading Qi, and also described the use of the Six Sounds. Buddhists and Daoists had already been using the Six Sounds to regulate Qi in the internal organs. During the Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties (960-1368 A.D.), "Yang Shen Jue" (Life Nourishing Secrets) by Zhang An-Dao discussed several Qigong practices. "Ru Men Shi Shi" (The Confucian Point of View) by Zhang Zi-He describes the use of Qigong to cure external injuries such as cuts and sprains. "Lan Shi Mi Cang" (Secret Library of the Orchid Room) by Li Guo describes using Qigong and herbal remedies for internal disorders. "Ge Zhi Yu Lun" (A Further Thesis of Complete Study) by Zhu Dan-Xi provided a theoretical explanation for the use of Qigong in curing disease.
In the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.), Marshal Yue Fei was believed to have created several internal Qigong exercises and martial arts. It is alleged he created the Eight Pieces of Brocade system to improve the health of his soldiers. Fei is, also, credited as the creator of the internal martial style Xing Yi.
The overthrow of the Qing dynasty in 1911 and the founding of the Chinese Republic caused significant changes in Chinese society. With these changes in culture, Qigong practice has entered a completely new era. Qigong is just one area where the western world has had on a significant impact on a previously closed society, by allowing a freer exchange of ideas.
Since the cultural revolution in China during the 1970’s a number of previously closed doors have opened and Qigong has become a both a wide spread health art and form of medicine through out the world. Today it is not unusual to see large businesses and hospitals all over the world offering Tai Chi or Qigong classes as part of a preventative health program. Although the types of art practiced vary, the goal of naturally boosting health is being met.
Currently, significant research is being made into the practice and art of Qigong on preventative health and as a treatment for even aggressive maladies such as cancer. Although our ‘science’ has yet to be able to adequately define how Qigong works, there is preliminary data to indicate that the practice of Qigong does have an effect on certain diseases.
There are thousands of different forms of Qigong in China and most of them are not designed for healing purposes, but for preventive health. It is important for us to differentiate these styles and to understand why their function and forms are so different. We have learned that historically, Qigong can be roughly divided into five major traditions: the Confucian, the Buddhism, the Taoism, medicine and martial arts. Each discipline has its own set of goals, methods and forms. Although most Qigong may bring health benefits to some degree, medical Qigong (a small portion of Qigong) was the only one specially developed for treating and curing disease.
Medical Qigong refers to the Qigong forms used by TCM practitioners with emphasis on how to use vital energy (Qi) to take control of illnesses or get rid of diseases, as well as how to prevent them. Although Qigong is considered mainly a self-training method, the Qi emission (or external Qigong) has always been part of the medical qigong practice in the attempt to help others to regain health. Therefore, there are differences between internal Qigong training and external Qigong therapy in the history and development of medical Qigong.
An example of the difference between medical and non-medical can be found in the Ling Gar form of Qigong and in Zhi Neng Qigong. Lin Gar is a form of Qigong that encourages Qi through movement and positioning, much as Tai Chi does. The health benefits of this art are directed towards preventative health. The flowing movements of this art support joint and muscular health while breath control and moving meditation focus on the more esoteric aspects of the art. Internal energy is created and harnessed through movement and focus. The energy is then focused and distributed throughout the body through the meridians.
Zhi Neng Qigong (Intellectual Qigong) is a form of medical Qigong where the focus is using limited movement to clear the mind and draw in ambient energy. The energy is directed towards ailing systems through meditation and imagery. Through the use of La Qi (Fa Chi) energy can be directed either inward to the practitioner or outward towards a patient. Unlike many forms of Qigong, the energy is not produced internally from the practitioner, but rather barrowed from nature.
Understanding the Place and Practice of Qigong in Today’s Society
Qigong is an integration of physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intentions. Although Qigong has strong roots into mystical and philosophical ground, the practical healing and stress management applications are the most popular aspects of the tradition today. Both the health and spiritual applications are rapidly gaining in popularity as people realize that disease and stress are relieved by peace of mind.
Qigong is one of the four main components of traditional Chinese medicine: Acupuncture, Massage (Tunia/Anima), Herbal Medicines and Qigong. Of these modalities, Qigong is the one that can be most easily self initiated. Both massage and herbal remedies can also be done as self care, however, Qigong is a core component of TCM self healing. Traditionally, people who use Qigong faithfully need less medication, less acupuncture and heal faster.
Qigong practice is classified as martial, medical, or spiritual. All the different styles have three main things in common: they all involve a posture, (whether moving or stationary), breathing techniques, and mental focus. Some practices increase the Qi; others circulate it, use it to cleanse and heal the body, store it, or emit Qi to help heal others. Practices vary from the soft internal styles such as Tai Chi; to the external, vigorous styles such as Kung Fu. However, the slow gentle movements of most Qigong forms can be easily adapted, even for the physically challenged and can be practiced by all age groups.
In common usage Qigong is defined in this way: Qi = vitality, energy, life force, Gong = practice, cultivate, refine; Qigong = to cultivate and refine through practice one's vitality or life force. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the primary mechanism triggered by the practice of Qigong is a spontaneous balancing and enhancing of the natural healing resources in the human system. For thousands of years people have benefited from these practices believing that improving the function of the Qi maintains health and heals disease.
Qigong creates an awareness of and influences our well being in ways that are not traditionally part of exercise programs. Most non-medical Qigong forms do not involve the meridian system used in acupuncture nor do they emphasize the importance of adding mind intent and breathing techniques to physical movements. When these dimensions are added, the benefits of exercise increase exponentially.
Even allopathic medicine is now beginning to recognize health benefits associated with the practice of Qigong. Qigong is believed to trigger a wide array of physiological mechanisms which have profound healing benefits. It increases the delivery of oxygen to the tissues. It enhances the elimination of waste products as well as the transportation of immune cells through the lymph system. And it shifts the chemistry of the brain and the nervous system.
People do Qigong to maintain health, heal their bodies, calm their minds, and reconnect with their spirit. Qigong is not a panacea, but it is certainly a highly effective health care practice. Many health care professionals recommend Qigong as an important form of alternative complementary medicine. The gentle, rhythmic movements of Qigong have been known to reduce stress, build stamina, increase vitality, and enhance the immune system. It has also been found to improve cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic and digestive functions.
Those who maintain a consistent practice of Qigong find that it helps one regain a youthful vitality, maintain health even into old age and helps speed recovery from illness. Western scientific research indicates that Qigong may reduce hypertension and the incidence of falling in the aged population. One of the more important long-term effects is that Qigong reestablishes the body/mind/soul connection.
Jeffrey W. Helaney 9/2005
One of the most important aspects of healthy living is learning to age well. This might sound like an odd piece of advice, but the truth is we all get older and unless we learn to recognize our body’s changing needs we end up doing more harm than good. As we grow older our bodies begins to change. For each of us the change is a little different and the age of onset may occur at different points in our life.
As young martial artists we are invincible. We work out for untold hours on complicated forms, flashy high kicks, and spar until we can’t move any longer. The next day we wake up with some slight aches and pains then we do it again. What seems like punishment to others seems fun to us. Unfortunately, youth is truly fleeting.
One day we wake up and the aches and pains don’t go away as quickly. Our kicks aren’t quite as high or as fast as they used to be and working on forms seems more like ‘work’. It can be frustrating, but it is all part of our body maturing. Often as young as the late thirties or early forties we begin to lose more muscle mass each year than is created, muscle elasticity lessens, and our joints begin to show signs of wear. This doesn’t mean it is time to hang up the black belt or even the white belt, but it does mean that more attention needs to be paid to what your body tells you.
It is important at any age to watch your diet, exercise regularly, and to keep your mind agile. It becomes even more important as you enter middle age and old age. Most of us tend to lead sedentary life styles during the work week and play warrior on the weekend or evenings. After only a couple of martial arts classes each week we wonder why our body hurts.
One of the easiest ways to avoid this cycle of pain is to take a few moments each morning to focus on your physical and mental well being. Qigong (Ki Gong) or Tai Chi exercises can be used to loosen and strengthen your muscles, as well as, help center your mind for a busy day at work. The slow deliberate movements promote health by breathing appropriately and by channeling internal energy. Moreover, most workouts can be completed in under 20 minutes.
As we age it is important to eat healthier. An easy way to start taking control of your diet is to take your lunch to work with you when you can. Monitor what type of foods you are eating and even pay attention to the amount. Most of us say we would like to eat healthier, but we live in a busy world that demands every thing now and fast food is easy. Unfortunately, that same need for instant gratification has caused us to become one of the most obese countries in the world.
Finally, stop trying to be the person you were when you were 20 years old. Embrace that age that you are at this moment. It will never come again. Make your workouts age appropriate and take the time you need to warm up before beginning a class. You may not kick as high as you did when you were younger, but that isn’t what being a martial artist is about. When take a class for the first time we start a journey that, if we are lucky, will last our entire lives. There is no race to get to the end first; there is only the path we take on that journey. What matters is that you recognize the obstacles along the way and compensate for them.
Copyright 2008 Master Jeffrey Helaney
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There is no light without darkness. There is no man with out woman. There is no hard without soft. It is a basic philosophical construct that can be traced back thousands of years to ancient China and a book called the Yi Jing or book of changes written in the Zhou Dynasty.
Yin and Yang symbolism has taken a role in all facets of eastern civilization from religion to politics to medicine and to the martial arts. Use of this symbolic paradox was a way for ancient cultures explain the natural world and to understand their role within it. The theory of Yin-Yang postulates that the world is material and that this material world is constantly evolving as the result of the mutual action of two opposing material forces. There has been a significant body of work written on the “dark side of mountain and the on the light side of the mountain”, however; for our purposes we’ll focus on understanding these concepts in relation to oriental martial and medical sciences.
According to Traditional Oriental Medicine, the body is divided into parts that are either Yin or Yang. The upper part of the body is Yang, while the lower part is Yin. The exterior is of the body Yang while the interior is Yin, etc. The body, also, contains 11 paired major systems represented on the body by meridian lines. Five of these meridians are Yin and six are Yang.
Yin and Yang systems are paired representing two aspects of energy flow through the body. In the body’s internal organ system, the five Zang organs, (i.e. heart, lung, liver, spleen and kidney) are Yin, because they function to preserve the body’s vital substances and tend to be stable. The six Fu organs, (i.e. the gallbladder, stomach, large intestine, small intestine, bladder and San Jiao) are Yang, because they are involved in transmitting and digesting water and food. The functions of Yang systems tend to be active. Our understanding of the relationship between the flow of Qi through the body is further enhanced using another philosophical construct called the Five Elements Theory which pairs organ systems (1) based on the aspect of Yin and Yang and the ‘elemental’ purposes they serve.
The interconnectivity of these systems allows our body to remain in homeostasis. When any part of this system is disrupted, the body loses balance. It is this concept that forms the basis of both oriental medicine and martial art target specific techniques. (2) Oriental medicine seeks to help the body heal itself by removing imbalance. Conversely, martial arts techniques are designed to disrupt the body and cause injury.
Oriental medical practitioners rely heavily on observationally based techniques to understand the causes of imbalances in the body and unlike western allopathic medicine, treatment is not symptomatically based. Rather the practitioner looks at the underlying causes of problem and treats the patient holistically. Very little is done in isolation, since every system of the body is interrelated.
This theory of treatment postulates that the imbalance of Yin and Yang is one of the basic pathogeneses of a disease. As an example, too much Yang energy in the body will lead to the hyper function of the organism or endogenous heat manifestations. On the other hand an overabundance of Yin energy will cause hypo function of the organism or the endogenous cold. Too little Yin energy due to exhausted vital essence may lead to the endogenous heat. If either system is severely damaged then both systems will be damaged. As an example, extremely strong Yin energy (hypo function) may show Yang (hyper function) symptoms and signs, while overly strong Yang energy (hyper function) will give rise to Yin (hypo function) symptoms and signs.
This concept translates well into martial arts practice. If certain techniques can be used to help the body heal itself then they can also be used to cause disruption. Certain techniques may have limited long term effects due to the body’s ability to heal naturally. Other techniques are specifically designed to cause injury to the body and can have significant long term ill health effects.
As an example if a martial artist were to correctly perform a very specific strike to the lower part of the abdomen, the possibility exists that this injury could cause blood stasis and Qi stagnation. The damage would be the result of trauma to an area where seven meridians pass in close proximity to each other on the Yin side of the body. The long term result might manifest as a hyper function of Yang energy and cause damage to both systems.
Just as volumes have been written about relationship of Yin and Yang to Oriental Medical Theory, so has it in relation to martial arts. Books such as the Bubishi are critical to our understanding of traditional oriental thought on martial arts and vital attacks on the human body. It is one of the reasons that many arts have required that high ranking practitioners be skilled in the healing arts as well as the martial arts.
Whether the focus of your art is internal (Yin) or external (Yang) it is important to develop your knowledge of the history of your art and your understanding of the human anatomy from both a western and eastern perspective. After all without the light of knowledge to illuminate your darkness there is no progress and no evolution.
(1) Organ systems can be thought of as energy conduits controlling specific bodily function. Complex relationships between the different systems keep the body healthy.
(2) Techniques designed to cause injury by striking a specific point on the human anatomy.
Copyright 2006 Jeffrey W. Helaney
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Life and martial arts never stops changing. In 1970 I took my first martial arts class in a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska. At the time, children at the school were not allowed to attend TaeKwon-Do classes and Judo was my only option. While I thoroughly enjoyed the classes, I wanted to do the exotic looking kicks and punches I saw the older students doing in the classes across the floor.
Imported martial arts movies were just coming into their heyday and shows like Kung Fu, Longstreet, and the Green Hornet were blazing across my television screen. Like most of my generation, the newly developing martial arts movie genre affected my initial perception of the martial arts. I was sure that somewhere down the road (if I kept taking classes), I would be imbued with secrets that would result in superhuman abilities.
As I grew up, my attitudes about the marital arts grew with me. I had good teachers that left me with realistic expectations about my training and what I could expect from them. When I was old enough I made the jump from Judo to TaeKwon-Do. This is ‘love affair’ has lasted to the present day.
Like all love affairs it has had its ups and downs. I watched teachers that were friends pull away from each other. Some rose to great heights and others withered away in obscurity. I watched instructors I respected become role models and others make choices that would shame their students. In the end, I learned what I already knew, everyone was only human.
As a young adult, I left the martial arts for a short time. I started college, and entered police work. It was a new direction in my life, but it wasn’t long before martial arts took over the ‘recreational’ side of my life again. Hapkido and Pentjak-Silat became new interests. I was fascinated by the techniques that would allow me to control aggression without harming others. It was a period new growth and experimentation. I had moved to a different state and became immersed in my avocation
In my early thirties I became the teacher and opened my own martial arts school part-time. It was moderately successful, but ultimately unfulfilling. Something was missing from the mix. I was continually worried that my students didn’t hold ‘my values’ and love of the art. When I realized that it was more about what I wanted than what they wanted, it was time to make a change.
I began to informally study oriental medicine, western physiology, history, and philosophy. I knew the how of my arts, but I wanted to know the why. For me to become a better teacher, I had to find the right balance for myself. These changes were helpful to my growth as a martial artist and as person.
My river changed again when I started a program for ‘at risk’ children through the police department where I worked and the local school districts. I was able to teach the arts I loved with a positive message. The program helped a number of children learn to make good life decisions, although there were some failures. When it was finally time for me to retire from the police department, I was able to pass on the program to the next generation. I felt that had built something that was lasting.
Shortly thereafter, time had come for me to go home. I ended up moving to no more than ten miles from where I had grown up and reconnecting with old cohorts. It was interesting to see who was still involved in the martial arts and who had moved on. Something had happened, all my friends hair had started to turn grey. No one looked exactly the same as when I had left so many odd years before.
Physical restrictions due to old injuries had taken their toll and I was no longer able teach on a daily basis without severe pain. I was limited to teaching classes once in awhile and doing seminars. It was humbling to realize that my body had betrayed me and that I was no longer same person (on the outside) who watched the adult class and longed to participate.
It hit me that I was midstream in my life and in my martial arts path. I was not an invalid, but I knew I would no longer be as quick, strong, or agile as I once was. In fact, I guessed that my body would most likely keep getting worse as I grew older. It was sobering and I was bemoaning this cruel twist of fate. I had finally matured in my art and my body wasn’t cooperating. Was youth really wasted on the young?
As I pondered these great questions and walked down the stairs to my basement, I heard a blood curdling scream. It was my daughter preparing for a black belt test. Feeling a bit chagrined, I sat down and spoke with her. She told me of her desire to learn and how much she wanted to teach. I heard my words coming from her mouth. A smile crossed my face and time slipped backwards for me. My daughter taught me something and I became the student again.
There is an old adage that as much as things change they still remain the same. My daughter Paige, who at the time of this writing is just now hitting her teen years, has spent most of her childhood involved in the martial arts. She has studied four different martial art styles, not all of which are the same as mine. She sees martial arts as a journey not a destination. An extremely healthy attitude for someone who is normally influenced by every fashion fad that comes along.
I fully expect to watch her grow and develop as a martial artist and as an individual for many years in to the future. For me, I realize the future still holds some surprises. I have learned that the path you seek might not be the one you were meant to take. It is okay to allow life to happen and to continue on roads that have no maps. I may not be doing as many jump spin kicks as I used to, but that doesn’t mean that a session of Qi Gong is out of the question.
The moral of the story is that everything changes. It doesn’t necessary become better or worse. Change is and life is. How we deal with those changes define us. I will always love the martial arts and find ways to stay involved because that is my passion. It doesn’t mean that I need to be the same person I was at twenty. It does mean that I need to find new ways of expressing that passion.
The future is for our children and our students. If we give them good ethical and moral backgrounds to go with the physical skills we teach them, the future of our arts will take care of themselves.
Copyright 2007 Jeffrey W. Helaney
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Times Change
I started in the martial arts in 1970 taking Judo classes from a gentleman named Suk Ki Shin at the
Respect, maturity, and wisdom were words everyone associated with earning a black belt. No one would have ever dreamed there would be 6 year old black belts running around martial arts schools.
Today, it isn’t unusual to walk into martial arts schools and see children as young as three training as ‘junior martial artists’ or ‘young dragons’. Schools abound offering “Black Belt” packages of all types. Marketing has changed the way that the business of martial arts is being run.
Change is neither good, nor bad in itself. The ethical strength of the instructor is the driving force behind any program. If there is a true desire by the instructor to pass on more than a black piece of cloth, he or she will find a way.
It’s not the Size of the Ad…
One thing you should consider before you begin looking for a martial arts school is, “What is my ultimate goal?” Are you looking for a traditional martial arts school, a sports martial arts school, a school with health club benefits, a school that specializes in self-defense or perhaps some combination thereof? Your goals will help determine what style or type of martial arts class is right for you.
Don’t allow yourself to be pressured by anyone else. In order to be successful in the martial arts you need to find something that ‘fits’ with your goals and your personality. Your instructor’s philosophy about the martial arts should be in line with your own. If your ideas don’t mesh with each other then chances are you will find out in short order that you aren’t happy with your decision.
There are a lot of genuinely good instructors working to keep integrity an interregnal part of the martial arts and they will make sure their class is right for you before allowing you to enroll. There are a few great instructors that devote their lives to their art and students. If you are very fortunate you may find such a person. Unfortunately, there are even a few teachers of questionable abilities who put their students at risk to make a few bucks. The trick is knowing the difference between a good and a bad instructor when you see it.
It isn’t the size of the sign or the ad in the local phone book that should impress you. It is the willingness of the instructor (not a salesman) to sit down and talk with you before he or she signs you up for that 12 or 24 month contract. Are you getting straight answers to your questions? Are you being asked as many questions as your asking? Is the instructor interested in what you have to say? Are realistic goals being set and discussed from the outset?
A good instructor realizes that it is important to communicate with students and potential students on more than just financial level. Knowing what a student’s goals and expectations are help an instructor learn what is important to him or her. Conversely, it is just as important for the instructor to communicate what his or her style involves and what he or she expects from the student. Like any good relationship both sides need to have an understanding of the other side desires.
Part of the reason there is such a high drop out rate in the martial arts is due unreasonable expectations and a perceived lack of fulfillment on the part of many beginning students. Some children actually believe that after one or two classes they will have the skill of a ‘Power Ranger’. I even remember one young child asking me when he would learn how to fly. Often times an in depth conversation prior to starting a martial arts program will avoid problems down the road
Don’t be afraid to ask about your teachers qualifications. If instructor is genuine, then he or she will be happy to discuss their background. They will be able to provide you with referrals and the names of their instructors for verification. Even though it isn’t necessary, certification from a recognized national or international organization may be a good sign for a potential instructor.
Most martial arts schools aren’t free to students and the goal isn’t to break even. Martial arts instructors, like everyone else, need to make money to pay their bills. Different types of schools use different types of marketing strategies. Some induce students with reduced rates for family participation, some have programs designed to get your ‘black belt’ within a specified period of time, and still others provide a plethora of related services such as weight training or cardio kick boxing to bring you in.
In and of themselves marketing strategies don’t tell you a lot about the instructional integrity of the school. For instance, a ‘black belt’ program can be as or more difficult than traditional programs were and with more restrictions. It can, also, be little more than a diploma factory in the hands of greedy ‘martial arts instructors.’ The same can be said about almost any type of program. Don’t assume as school is good or bad simply because of their programs or prices.
One final thought to use during a conversation with a potential instructor, many people consider health issues a taboo subject but an instructor who genuinely cares about the well- being of his or her students will inquire about their health. A strong suggestion to watch a class and see their family physician before starting a training class is definitely a good sign.
“My Student’s Are My Trophies”
I remember a little boy coming to me once after a tournament and asking, “Trophies mean you are good don’t they?” The inference is that since he didn’t win, he must not have been any good. This fallacy has carried over to a lot of adults. For some reason many people think that if a school or an instructor has a lot of trophies displayed, it means they are better than the instructor down the street that has none. I have heard stories of teachers requiring their students turn their trophies over to the school for display. I have even heard it alleged that there are instructors who buy old trophies to decorate their schools with. Trophies, like belt ranks, are only significant if they are earned. Don’t be fooled by window dressings.
I was in
He looked at them and said, “I am no one. I have never won or even competed in a tournament. I never felt the need. I would have never fought Bruce Lee because he did nothing to try and harm me.” His candor must have taken them back a bit and he continued to speak, “See that young boy over there. He is my student and he wanted to come to this event. I came to support him. He and his fellow students are what is important to me. They are my trophies.” They laughed and walked away from him. They missed the point.
I don’t know whether the boy did well or not in his competition. It didn’t matter. I didn’t need to see his style or his form. Hearing the old man talk, I knew the boy had already won. He had a great teacher.
Copyright 2005 Jeffrey W. Helaney
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