ANALYSIS PARALYSIS
These series of post are mainly
my own LIMITED thoughts and experience from practicing Yiquan and should be
taken with a HUGE DOSE OF SALT.
Are you one of the type of
person who likes to do extensive research and due diligence before deciding on
something? Do you read articles and books extensively on a topic before
deciding to learn an internal art? Perhaps browse the forums, watch Youtube
videos and other materials on that subject matter?
All these are perfectly valid
and even exemplary behavior before you decide on embarking to take up any
internal art. As with any discipline, there are pros and cons to all martial
arts and it’s best to find one that suits oneself. And even after making a
decision, there’s still a probation period of say, 3-6 months where you can
still decide to back away for whatever reason.
However, if you have committed
yourself to learning an Internal Art after say a period of 6 months under a
trainer, you must be willing to set aside this ‘bookish’ knowledge and focus
more on experiential or practical experience. Even though you may be reading a
well written and great martial arts book, the issue is that this knowledge is
so condensed and deep that it’s difficult to gain even a sliver of
understanding from it. To grasp even a single phrase like “Four ounces moves a
thousand pounds” (四两拨千斤), requires a lifetime of practice and experience.
Never forget that videos, books
and discussions are merely the fingers pointing to the moon, they are merely a
means to the end, not an end in itself. A fondness of discussion, empty talk, over
philosophizing and sophistry will not get you where you want to go. Read the
classics in dribs and drabs. Focus intently on what is being written slowly as
if sipping an expensive wine. Do not gulp down that bottle of wine as if it’s
water. Then maybe, you can appreciate the true essence within the classics.
Another common issue that may
happen is the fondness of playing the Devil’s Advocate. The is often exhibited
by continuously challenging the instructions given in the practice of Internal
Arts. Why should I practice in this manner? Why can’t I do it MY way? Is this
really necessary? Can’t we just skip all this bullshit and get straight to the ‘real’
stuff? If it’s money, you want, I can give you a princely sum and you just
teach me the essence of the Art instead of prolonging the lessons needlessly.
The problem here is there’s a
lack of trust in the instructor or the Internal Art. The learning of an
Internal Art is more akin to the apprenticeship system of old. It takes time
for the Master to impart his skills to the Apprentice. In these modern times,
the instructions are more straightforward and there is less time spent. But it
still takes time to impart these skills.
The reason is because in
Internal Arts, both the body and mind needs to be trained. We are performing
neuromuscular training. And the both the body and mind needs time to acclimatize
to these training. Unlike weight training, training in Yiquan needs a great
deal more discernment, mindfulness and concentration to do this right. All
these skills cannot be imparted quickly, if indeed at all. If you are afraid of
being conned, do your due diligence proper on the instructor teaching you
before joining. Or at the very minimum, during the probationary period.