On Health, Fitness & Jeet Kune Do

The discussion continues  on the JKD Talk Forum.

I like the sheep-sheep dog-wolf analogy.

I agree with the belief that everyone is born with the survival
instinct but that not everyone is born with the  warrior mindset.  In
fact, I don’t believe anyone is really born with the “warrior”
mindset.  The warrior is forged from a certain kind of socialization,
experiences, and character development.  In my earlier comment I had
briefly alluded to the concept of self as potentially encompassing
something beyond our physical body.  In the case of the warrior, the
sense of self tends to encompass a much larger picture such as family,
honor, country, faith, etc.  When that sense of self is threatened, the
same survival instinct kicks in except that it may not be driven by a
need for food or shelter, but rather a need to preserve the larger
concept.

Take for instance, the example of the Todd “Let’s Roll” Beamer, that
was originally referred to.  Mr. Beamer obviously took the role of the
“sheep dog” and was most likely driven by a basic survival instinct,
however his sense of self at that moment may also have encompassed the
his fellow man or “sheep”.  On a darker note the terrorists that took
control of the plane, may not have seen themselves as “wolves” either.
Their sense of self was probably closely tied to faith and culture,
which in turn, warps their survival instinct into something rather
horrific to those that do not share their values.  It is conceivable
that they too see themselves as sheep dogs.

The concept of self and survival should be a simple matter, but people make it complex.

As for the getting the warrior mindset, I do believe it is something
that can be developed.  Some of us may have an easier time of it than
others due to our individual socialization, and the strength and
flexibility of our psyche/spirit.  At times certain things seem like an
impossibility, but I feel the concept of impossible is just an excuse.

Anyway, that’s just what I think.

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Check out my wife’s latest video, I’m so proud of her!

Please rate and comment here Martial Arts Goddess

Enjoy!

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Kicking, by its very nature is far more telegraphic than punching.

A punch is initiated with the hand before any other part of the body is set in motion, thus making it extremely non-telegraphic with virtually no preparation.

In order to throw any kicking technique however, the base must change from two feet to one and the upper body must shift to counterbalance the weight of the striking leg.  So how do you kick without giving away your intention?

Here are a few simple, concrete strategies in the executing a non-telegraphic kick:

1.  Deception

2.  Avoiding the “chamber”

3.  Low-line targets

Deception: The art of deception is perhaps the most important concept for success in the fighting arts.  When two opponents with equal physical attributes face off, it will be the more deceptive of the two who dominate. appearing to be faster, stronger and more overall less telegraphic.

In Jeet Kune Do, deceptive attacks are generally categorized under “progressive indirect” (one of the five ways of attack).  A progressive indirect attack is essentially initiating a forward movement with one attack in order to shorten the distance between you and the target, then changing the target or weapon in order to penetrate an otherwise effective defense.

For example, the “progressive” part could be a feinted eye jab (which allows the fighter to close the distance to the target) but finally change to a side kick aimed at the knee, thus completing with the “indirect” aspect of the attack.

In this picture, I land a snap kick to the inner thigh by first, feinting a jab, stealing a step, then throwing the kick.

2. Avoiding the “Chamber”: The classical method of the art of kicking generally stresses the chamber position as an important intermediate step before a kick is fired.  Although there are certain benefits to chambering the leg, the movement is extraordinarily telegraphic.  By changing the trajectory of the kick to more of an arc rather than sharp angle you will still have path clearance and excellent potential for power generation.  Kicking in an arc does not mean kicking with a straight leg, but rather that the knee and hip cocking is not severe enough to bring the foot away from the target.  As a rule of thumb in nearly any strike, make certain that the striking tool is always moving towards its target.

Difficult to capture on camera, here it can be seen that my kicking leg is traveling in a short arc from the floor rather than from a chambered midway point.

3.  Low-line targets:  Low line targets are the best targets in a self defense situation.  Bruce Lee once said that kicking the head is like punching the foot.  It’s actually not quite that severe given that the legs are much longer than the arms, but the point is generally well understood.  With this in mind, targets below the waist (ie. groin, knee, and foot) are closer to the striking tool and require less body shift to kick, thus effectivley reducing telegraph.

In the following photograph, JKD practitioner Sean Foon executes a successful low line stop kick to my knee.

These are fundamental principles to self defense oriented kicking, however “knowing is not enough” so remember to practice.

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

I recently came across this old picture of myself at four years of age during my first few months in Tang Soo Do.

Twenty five years later, it’s been an interesting and enriching journey to say the least.  I look forward to an even richer future.

Enjoy!

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

The two most common, or at least the most obvious, reasons people take martial arts classes are fitness and self defense.

The most important, most powerful, yet least understood reason, however, is the development of spirit.

So how does this happen, and how can martial art practice lead spiritual growth?

In order to answer this question, we have to first define spirit and spiritual growth.

Spirit by its very nature is not an easy concept to describe.  The simplified short explanation most relevant to this subject as I see it is essentially this:  Spirit is that ethereal element that makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts.  Similarly, spiritual growth is the strengthening and further development of this ethereal element which naturally expresses itself as a whole that is even greater than previously.

In terms of people, spirit is what makes us more than simply bags of bones and flesh.  Yet, our bodies are the ONLY means by which we can achieve spiritual development.

I’m sure this concept might ruffle some feathers but how else can one achieve greater consciousness, awareness, enlightenment, etc., if not by some process that involves utilizing our bodies (yes, the body includes the brain).

With this in mind, martial arts provide an ideal laboratory for spiritual development.  One engages the entire body and all the senses through practice.  It develops a greater attunement of self and surroundings.  It develops our physical capacity (strength, flexibility, speed, reflexes, etc.) along with our mental (scientific reasoning, concrete problem solving, philosophy, abstract thought, analysis) and emotional capacity (passion, will, control, freedom, tranquility, determination, love, ferocity, etc.)

Spiritual development through martial art is cultivated through experience and deep reflection.  Of course fitness and self defense are amazing side effects of training but it is ultimately the ethereal chemistry, so to speak, that occurs as a result of practice that is most valuable.

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Health and fitness should be interesting and enjoyable.

It always amazes me how this aura of suffering and discipline combined with large doses of blood and sweat seems to have encased the fitness industry.

There are tons of new programs out there that are upbeat, innovative, and exciting, yet the default images that come to mind still seem to be grueling and bleak where only the strong survive.

I have to admire the self discipline that the people must develop who go to the gym everyday to pump iron and run on the treadmill.  I did it for a few years until I realized that I could utilize all the time spent, on my rat on a wheel routine, to learn something and develop usable skills, or at least have fun.  So, instead of spending hours per week strapped into a machine repeating two dimensional motions, I focused on sports, martial arts, and just trying new things.

Since I made the switch, I enjoy working out much more, my body is more defined, my strength is more functional, my martial arts skill level has increased significantly, and I know a lot more about how the body works.

Now, if you’re a competitive athlete or even just a weekend warrior who wants to improve his/her game, then a sport specific conditioning routine outside of game play would be appropriate.  Keep in mind that this still does not mean hitting the gym with the old “C’mon, c’mon . . . one more rep!” routine, it should be a varied and dynamic series of holistic movements that are specifically designed to increase, your speed, strength, agility, flexibility, etc.  What I mean by holistic is multi-planar, multi-joint, and utilizing a rate of movement and control that would be needed in real life.

In any case, if you’ve reached the stage where you want to improve your game, then you have probably already incorporated a level of regularly performed exercise that you enjoy.

For those of you who are still challenged by the “regular exercise” stage, I recommend getting out there and trying something new.  Go for a Yoga or Pilates class.  Try swimming, or a team sport.  Learn Boxing.  Go hiking or rock climbing. Go kayaking or learn to surf.  Join a bootcamp (they’re tough but fun!).  Landscape your yard.  The possibilities are endless.  In my case, I like honing my martial arts and self defense skills.  I also enjoy boxing, kickboxing, and submission wrestling among other less combative things like racquetball, hiking, ocean kayaking, body surfing, mountain biking, etc.

It’s true that classes tend to be more expensive than gym memberships, but here is a little known fact that I found out as a personal trainer:  most people sign two or three year contracts at large chain gym, then quit within the first three months.  Basically, the gym is making money over the course of three years despite the fact that their facilities were only used for a few months.  If your gym offers classes, that’s great!  It has been my experience, however, that class instructors at large gyms tend to be overworked, underpaid, and rather unenthusiastic about what they are teaching.

Most fitness studios that offer classes, on the other hand, charge monthly tuition without contracts, will often times give you a degree of personal attention that is largely absent of commercial gyms, and are generally passionate about their craft.

The take home message:  If you want a change from the traditional gym routine, go shop around for an interesting class and just do it.  If you’re on a budget, just get some friends together, go to the park, and use your imagination!

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Bruce Lee, according to to Jesse Glover ( Bruce Lee’s first student), was concerned with losing speed and power with increased flexibility.

This is a common issue among martial artists who wish to have greater range of motion but do not want to sacrifice their current physical attributes to achieve it. Improper stretching regimens can lead to joint destabilization, reduced muscular strength, and injuries to the tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Yet, it is common knowledge that stretching can help reduce injuries and increase performance. So, how can you increase functional flexibility without the potential dangers and adverse effects?

The key to functional flexibility (flexibility that is actually useful in real life) is incorporating a program of strength training with stretching in the form of dynamic, active, and isometric type of stretching exercises.

Unfortunately, the common understanding of “stretching” and “flexibility” is actually “passive flexibility” which also happens to be the least useful and most dangerous. A passive stretch, for example would be trying to force yourself into the splits as you hold yourself up with your hands, or having a partner force you past your normal range of motion as you try to work past the pain. These methods are a surefire way to injury for the untrained athlete.

More constructive stretching (to train high side kicks for example) would include something like this:

1. Warm up for 5 - 10 minutes with light cardio such as skipping rope.
2. Continue the warm up with two sets of 10 straight leg side swings that take you just before you reach your range limit.
2. Perform two sets of 10 deeps squats using a wide horse stance and slow pace ( at least 5 seconds per squat)
3. Perform two sets of side lunges concentrating on using your adductors (inner thigh muscles) to help bring you back to a standing position.
4. Finish up with two sets of 10 slow motion high side kicks.

Alternate this routine with high speed/power sidekicks at a heavy bag after a warm up.

This is one of many functional strength and flexibility routines that can help you reach your desired range of motion while maintaining, or even increasing functional strength.

Happy training!

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com