Gongfu, Dao & Life

In the modern context, classical martial arts can be a very effective method for teaching a student the skills of self-defense, given that the practitioner trains in an appropriate and realistic manner. However, since martial art is no longer appropriate for warfare, there are other, even more impactful and compelling reasons to spend our finite time and energy cultivating these ancient practices and methodologies.

Classical martial arts connect us to a long and rich human cultural tradition. They can also enhance our health and wellness contributing to and supporting an overall active lifestyle. Additionally, with the correct perspective and mindset, they can help us to connect to a deeper experience of ourselves and our lives.

The first step is to attend to the body. We often talk about the mind and body being linked, however, it is deeper than this. The mind and body are not simply two separate, isolated entities that are joined. They come together to function as a whole, forming our human experience. The human experience is not just one or the other, physical or mental, it is both simultaneously, all the time. The mind cannot be truly content, happy and peaceful when the body is suffering, and the body will not be healthy, comfortable and vital if the mind is experiencing turmoil. Therefore, we start with the most tangible aspect of our being, the physical form, since it is the easiest (relatively speaking) to shape and change, and a place where we can easily see, and feel results.

If we seek to improve our health and vitality, of course, we first have to change our physical body. Many people come into the practice of the Chinese “internal” martial arts and health practices wanting to begin on the deep level immediately. We cannot simply come in at the beginning and talk about the internal levels. This is too complicated. We must start on the surface and develop the body’s soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, organs, etc.) to receive the changes in structure and movement inherent in the internal martial arts practice.

For a longer discussion on the division of “internal” and “external” in Chinese martial arts, and why I view this as a false and sometimes harmful separation, see my previous essay: Internal Versus External Chinese Martial Arts Practice

The Chinese word Dào (道) can mean many things: it can mean a road, path, principle, truth, morality, reason, a skill or method, or to say, to speak, or to talk. But, beyond these simple interpretations, it is a very deep and profound concept that runs throughout the history of Chinese philosophy. Therefore, it is far beyond the few words here, and my own shallow understanding, to accurately describe the meaning of Dao. 

Dao is a philosophical concept, which has many facets and can be interpreted in many different ways. The Cosmic Dao refers to the Way of the cosmos, which is evident in nature all around us. It is the deep mystery of life as it unfolds. It is always present and always emerging. It is not any one, particular, individual thing in the universe but rather the totality of all things as well as the matrix within which they come into and pass out of being. It is the primordial ground of being from which all things and circumstances arise and play themselves out.

The temptation here might be to conceive of Dao as being something complex, but this is not true. The Dao is simple. We do not have to look for it because it is not hidden. Dao is everywhere. It makes up everything. Therefore it can be found in “internal” practice and “external” practice. Just like mind and body, internal and external are not separate things, just labels and classifications for the ease of our own human conception. 

Therefore, we start on the simple level of cultivating the physical body. We cultivate and balance the strength and flexibility of the body. Many of our physical pains and discomfort come not so much because we lack strength or flexibility, but because we lack a balance (a harmonious relationship) between strength and flexibility, or because there is an imbalance between left and right, front and back, top and bottom, etc. When we become strong and flexible through training, the structure, soft tissue, organs, meridians, etc. also change, relax and realign.

Since the state of the body directly relates to the state of the mind, when the body becomes relaxed, comfortable, and smooth, then your emotions and mental state also become more smooth and even. Even your thoughts become more clear and the heart quieter.

Since the mind is an extension of the body (and vice versa), we don’t simply want to continually go faster and stronger in our practice. Everything must have a balance. There is nothing wrong with training fast or training hard, these are necessary methods when training martial arts. However, when we continually emphasize always becoming faster and always becoming stronger, over time, we actually wear the body down, and in turn, the mind and heart will also eventually be worn down. When this begins to occur, the methods we are training wholeheartedly to build ourselves up can actually be turned against us to harm our own bodies. This is why internal Chinese martial arts focus their physical aspect of training on cultivating the connective tissues and fascia, which essentially tether the entire body together.

Training that wears out the body and causes injuries over time is not enjoyable. Certainly, there are times we do not want to train and need to exercise our own personal discipline. This is part of personal cultivation as well. However, if we are constantly avoiding or resisting the training then it is no longer enjoyable. You have to enjoy training or it will not be very beneficial to you. Training that breaks down the body and hurts you is simply not enjoyable.

With proper practice principles and methodologies, which are in line with natural principles and the structure and function of our own bodies, one can begin to really make profound progress in our practice. With time, our bodies begin to improve significantly. When the body begins to improve, you enjoy and look forward to training. The training then makes you happy and joyful, and you look forward to it. This is a tangible positive and pure energy being cultivated in our lives.

When we have a mind and an attitude of relationship of always looking, always bouncing our attention from one interest to another, this is called the “monkey mind” in many schools meditation. Many martial arts practitioners also have this kind of attitude in their studies. The monkey mind practitioner is always looking for the “best” gongfu, the best method, or the best teacher. They are constantly searching everywhere. But you will never find it because there is no “best”, there is no perfect practice or teacher.

Don’t mistake this for thinking that I’m saying we should not always be questioning and investigating our practices. This too is part of the cultivation. It is an important part of how we deepen our practice. We should always be looking honestly and truthfully at ourselves and the activities we engage in. There will never be a time when we lack things to improve upon. 

However, no methodology is perfect because it was created by humans. No matter how accomplished our founding teachers were, they were still flawed, because they were people. If we simply follow a person, without question, they too will let us down or fall short in some way, at some point. An old Zen poet once wrote that we should not seek to follow people of great achievement, but rather seek that which they themselves sought. Some people may spend their whole life searching for Dao in books, media, the Internet, or from accomplished teachers of one type or another. However, the wise person stops seeking and looks at all experiences around them to reveal Dao!

Therefore, if you find a teacher and method that is helpful for you and speaks to you at that particular time and place in our cultivation, then this is the best for you. This quality of what is the correct fit is not something inherent in the external thing. It is a quality that comes from us.

This is the same attitude we want to have in our martial arts training. We want to be diligent and consistent in our training, this is the best way to progress. We want to train sincerely, to the best of our own personal understanding. However, if we want to change the body and cultivate the mind and spirit, we can’t force it. It will happen in its own time when appropriate, just like we can’t force the seasons to change when we want. Nor can we force the flower to bloom when we expect it to. If you want to cultivate a beautiful flower all you can do is give it the appropriate care and nutrients (the required conditions), but the bud will grow when it is ready. In our practice, we just follow the training. This is the simple way, the natural way, the way of Dao.

A person who can live their life from this type of relationship is a person of true accomplishment. In Chinese, they could be called zhēn rén (真人). Today, this term is often used to refer specifically to a Daoist spiritual master. However, in its original usage, it was not quite so narrow. Zhen means “real”, “true”, “genuine”, and ren is a “person.” A Zhen ren is a “real/genuine person.” The important thing to remember is that this person is smooth and flexible in body and mind, free and unhindered in their engagement with life. This is a pretty good example to set for ourselves, even if we never fully reach it.

This type of stage is the culmination of our training. Of course, no one ever begins from here. Beginners start their physical practice often strong and stiff in incorrect ways. Through training in principle-based practice, they are taught to be soft and supple. Here, softer does not mean weak or limp, but flexible. A flexible body means a softer body. Then we can be taught to become strong again in a new way.

The best time for opening the body and stretching intensely is in the summer when the body is hot. In this condition, our tendons and joints are more open and receptive to the training process. In the cold weather of winter time we are tighter.

When we train, the body heats up from the inside to the outside as well. The movements of blood and fluid heat up the insides of the body. Circulating the blood and qi to all the parts of the body is the most simple and natural type of medicine. Through training in this way is how we become soft. Blood and other internal body fluids act as a type of lubricant for the body and joints.

If we are going to engage in stretching training, this should not be included as part of our warm-up. The best type of warm-up to get the body prepared for physical activity is simply a low-intensity version of whatever our intended activity or sport is going to be. The best time to stretch actively is after training when the body is really warmed up from the inside.

“Internal” training does not mean there is never any difficulty, and that there isn’t any hard work involved, or that we will never have some suffering in our cultivation. Difficulty, and even suffering, are also natural parts of the cycles of our life at times. But again, you must have enjoyment in your practice, otherwise, why are we bothering to do it all? Training should be focused but also adaptive and responsive to the particular mind and body state present. This state changes year-to-year, month-to-month, day-to-day and even moment to moment.

With long-term internal practice, the body will feel full and “swollen”. The tissues get thicker and physical pains resolve as the body strengthens its weak areas, balances out its strength and flexibility, and the body structure realigns itself.

In the end, the true strength we talk about is strength inside and outside. You can beat others when you are strong physically, but the person who is truly a self-possessed master of themselves is a superman. Outside strength is easy; train and get strong. But even if you are very strong you can get hurt inside. If a loved one dies or says they don’t love you anymore, you are hurt even though they did not beat you in a fight. You may be hurt for one year, three years, or it may be a whole life. The true value of our training lies not in being able to meet another person in combat but to fully inhabit our own life and meet its challenges and triumphs with wisdom and joy. This type of person is the true warrior of life.