That Something More Found in Martial Arts
By Adam Williss
What is that "something more" that practicing martial arts can provide? Isn't martial arts just about getting in shape and learning to fight?
When I began in martial arts around 18 years ago, I just thought the one-inch punch was cool and liked that I was learning how to fight. I was young and really didn't know much about martial arts other than what I had experienced when I was a kid in karate. Beyond that, I liked Jean Claude Van Dam and Steven Seagual movies. But I didn't really know anything other than it I thought I assumed a class sounded kind of dumb.
When I began in martial arts around 18 years ago, I just thought the one-inch punch was cool and liked that I was learning how to fight. I was young and really didn't know much about martial arts other than what I had experienced when I was a kid in karate. Beyond that, I liked Jean Claude Van Dam and Steven Seagual movies. But I didn't really know anything other than it I thought I assumed a class sounded kind of dumb.
I wanted to try to change some of the things I had been doing. I was young (about 18) and I was hanging out with the wrong crowd pretending I was Bob Marley everyday. I had a friend bring me to a local martial arts studio and decided to give it a shot. Needless to say, it was one of the most important decisions of my life.
If you're one of those people that writes martial arts off as people just learning how to fight, you're missing the most important thing there is in martial arts.
The latest thing in martial arts doesn't help the perception of martial arts either. What you see on TV with the Ultimate Fighting Championships can be entertaining, but make no mistake - it is really a combat sport. The distinction between that and the "something more" in martial arts I am referring to is important to understand.
Although having the ability to handle yourself when you get into a real life situation is important, traditional martial arts goes way beyond that.
The most important part is that 'something more' that martial arts offers. And you don't find it many other places. Its really a world unknown to most of people that aren't familiar with the eastern arts.
Many of these Eastern martial arts are intertwined with centuries of Asian philosophy, medical knowledge and mind/body transformation. These same martial arts follow ideas found within the fabric of the eastern way of life. Asian principles of energy and medicine go hand-in-hand with the principles of many martial arts.
Advanced martial artists come to find that combat skills aren't the ultimate goal of the arts. Studying martial arts takes you to a higher level of awareness about yourself and the world around you. That "something more" in martial arts opens new windows of understanding as you discover more about yourself.
Martial arts teaches you to think outside of the box. It shows you that there are no limits other than the ones you place upon yourself. Self-knowledge transcends and you begin to understand that life is best to be lived in the present while learning to appreciate the flow of the unknown. Every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery. You learn to treasure the memory of your past misfortunes as they add more to your bank of fortitude.
Martial arts also develops your instinctive urge for expansion and growth. It teaches sincere and honest development of your full potential. By humbling yourself and dedicating yourself to being a student of the martial arts for life you begin to understand that the power of the journey is more important than the destination.
Martial arts lessons are holistic. They can be directly applied both in your work and your personal life. In the end, the most important fight you'll ever have is the one to find out more about yourself. That's that something more that martial arts does extraordinarily.
Sifu Adam Williss is a US Martial Arts Hall of Fame member and founder of The Dragon Institute, an internationally acclaimed martial arts academy in Orange County, California. His school has been recognized as offering one of the highest quality Wing Chun programs in the world.
© The Dragon Institute | Orange County Wing Chun | ocwingchun.com |
The latest thing in martial arts doesn't help the perception of martial arts either. What you see on TV with the Ultimate Fighting Championships can be entertaining, but make no mistake - it is really a combat sport. The distinction between that and the "something more" in martial arts I am referring to is important to understand.
Although having the ability to handle yourself when you get into a real life situation is important, traditional martial arts goes way beyond that.
The most important part is that 'something more' that martial arts offers. And you don't find it many other places. Its really a world unknown to most of people that aren't familiar with the eastern arts.
Many of these Eastern martial arts are intertwined with centuries of Asian philosophy, medical knowledge and mind/body transformation. These same martial arts follow ideas found within the fabric of the eastern way of life. Asian principles of energy and medicine go hand-in-hand with the principles of many martial arts.
Advanced martial artists come to find that combat skills aren't the ultimate goal of the arts. Studying martial arts takes you to a higher level of awareness about yourself and the world around you. That "something more" in martial arts opens new windows of understanding as you discover more about yourself.
Martial arts teaches you to think outside of the box. It shows you that there are no limits other than the ones you place upon yourself. Self-knowledge transcends and you begin to understand that life is best to be lived in the present while learning to appreciate the flow of the unknown. Every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery. You learn to treasure the memory of your past misfortunes as they add more to your bank of fortitude.
Martial arts also develops your instinctive urge for expansion and growth. It teaches sincere and honest development of your full potential. By humbling yourself and dedicating yourself to being a student of the martial arts for life you begin to understand that the power of the journey is more important than the destination.
Martial arts lessons are holistic. They can be directly applied both in your work and your personal life. In the end, the most important fight you'll ever have is the one to find out more about yourself. That's that something more that martial arts does extraordinarily.
Sifu Adam Williss is a US Martial Arts Hall of Fame member and founder of The Dragon Institute, an internationally acclaimed martial arts academy in Orange County, California. His school has been recognized as offering one of the highest quality Wing Chun programs in the world.
© The Dragon Institute | Orange County Wing Chun | ocwingchun.com |
