On Health, Fitness & Jeet Kune Do

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

When is the last time you took a moment to objectively listen to and evaluate that ever-present voice in your head?

We all have it. For some of us, it is louder and more obnoxious than for others. Sometimes the voice helps us make difficult decisions, but in general, it tends to be rather negative, cynical, and often cruelly chastising.

It’s called self talk, and for some reason the great majority of people tend to beat themselves up with it, and it is perhaps a student’s greatest challenge to advancement.

I see students punishing themselves far too often for making mistakes.  There are no mistakes!  There is always a better way of doing things, and we can always strive to be better.  Reminding and encouraging ourselves to excel is far more productive that convincing ourselves of how poorly we performed.

Martial arts, or any holistically engaging activity, can be used as a powerful tool to quiet and/or control self talk, but like most skills, turning the mental chatterbox into a trained and supportive ally takes time and diligence.

Focusing on a union of mind and body creates a certain synergy leading to ease of movement and physical expression. Bruce Lee saw the power of developing spiritual and mental strength, especially after that fateful day in 1970 when he injured his back, told he would never kick again, and subsequently bedridden for six months. Lee turned to books about philosophy, psychology, spirituality and personal growth. He also reinforced his mental/spiritual/emotional training via copious writing.

Reading and watching videos or listening to audios are also powerful ways to control mental chatter and retrain our self talk, just be certain that the material is engaging and positive. Follow up by practicing what you have learned, writing about it, and using positive language during self talk.

One thing that all martial artists and aspiring martial artists should remember is that the non-physical aspect of training is far more powerful than the physical. As Bruce Lee said, “JKD, ultimately is not a matter of petty techniques but of highly developed spirituality and physique.”

In Health,

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

When Bruce Lee injured his back in 1970, he was bedridden for months and told by his doctors that he would never be able to kick again.

This could have been the end of the Little Dragon and of Jeet Kune Do, but it was during this time of trial that Bruce Lee created what is now arguably his biggest martial arts legacy — the Tao of Jeet Kune Do and the additional volumes of notes he hand wrote on the martial way. It is also during this time that he ceased physical training and immersed himself if inner work or rather spiritual training and personal growth. Bruce Lee studied and quoted the works of the Buddha, Alan Watts, Carl Rogers, Lao Tzu, Fritz Perls, Daicet Suziki, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Helen Keller, and many more.

It is important to remember the power of the mind, our perceptions, beliefs, and spirit. The world really is what we make of it.

We, as individuals, have a greater potential for greatness if we live as though everything that happens in our lives is a direct result of our thoughts and actions.

On this thought, here is a tremendous blog post from Ross Enamait at RossTraining.com on the power of positive thinking.

http://rosstraining.com/blog/2008/05/15/life-is-tough-deal-with-it

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