Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Essentials...


ACHIEVING BALANCE & INTEGRATION IN A MARTIAL ART SYSTEM
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By Salvatore Canzonieri, New Jersey

An integrated view of a martial art is one where a practitioner is in the center of a balanced interconnection of
essential elements. These essentials are:

1) Conditioning (stretching, body development);
2) Footwork (stepping and stances);
3) Physical Technique (Punching, Kicking, Grappling, Joint-Locking);
4) Chi & Nei Gung (internal training, proper breathing);
5) Forms (traditional juxtapositioning of postures and movements);
6) Meditation (spiritual development);
7) Self Defense (strategy); and
8) History (cultural development and context).
Only with the existence of these essential elements is a martial art system complete.

Each of these essentials unfolds from the other and exists in a harmonious balance in relationship to each other. When these eight essentials are integrated together (experienced as a whole chain), they form a synergistic network that can be experienced as more than just the sum of its parts. The feedback generated between the elements gives rise to an intelligence that speaks directly to the practitioner. He/she can measure his/her performance, development, and growth in the system by measuring the degree to which there is over or under emphasis on each of the elements. When balance is achieved, one finds his/herself in the optimal center and is at one with the system. The practitioner becomes the embodiment of the essential elements and thus able to directly transmit the systemþs ways and rules.

Thus, the essential elements that compose this integrated system work together with the practitioner to both reinforce and effect each other so as to form a complete and intelligent system that is able to promote physical, mental, and spiritual growth and well-being. The system acts like a "transformation" machine that changes it's user for the better. It is in the expression of this positive change that causes one to be a true martial artist, for an artist is someone who can express his/her environment in a unique way by creating a work of art that in turn effects other people experiencing the work.

These eight elements combine to describe both the rules (structure) and the ways (process flow) by which a martial art system operates. By forming its structure, the elements create the organizing dimension of a system, allowing one to know how to do what and (by interacting with the process flow) where. By forming its process flow, the elements create the planning dimension of a system, allowing one to know when to do what and (by interacting with the structure) why. Together, they let one operate successfully during a situation.

Furthermore, these eight elements are indeed essential to a martial art system because by overemphasizing planning (process flow), a system disintegrates due to lack of rules and by overemphasizing organizing (structure), a system stagnates due to lack of a variety of ways. Without a balance, a martial art system is both ineffective and inefficient, its rules being too cumbersome and its ways being too confusing. For the practitioner, eventual disinterest or even harm is the result.

Without proper Conditioning, one lacks strength, stamina, and limberness, leading to debilitating wear. Without proper Footwork, one lacks stability, grace, and mobility, making balance and maneuverability difficult. Without proper Physical Technique, one lacks power, speed, and skill, leading to defeat. Without Chi/Nei Gung, one lacks internal energy, health, and spirit, making for improper breathing and weakening of the organs. Without proper Forms, one lacks beauty, agility, and ability, leading to waste. Without Meditation, one lacks serenity, vision, and insight, making doubt and confusion. Without proper Self Deense, one lacks protection, confidence, and drive, leading to fear. Without History, one lacks purpose, instruction, knowledge, and culture, making ignorance.

So, each element must be present in a martial art system or else it is not complete. One should examine his/her martial art practice and observe whether he/she is at the center of a balanced network. It is rare today to find a school that encompasses all these eight essentials. Without them, a martial art style is neither a true art nor a complete system. Traditional Chinese martial arts has all these essentials to offer. It has enabled Traditional Chinese martial arts to exist for some 5,000 years, spreading throughout the world, changing to adapt to its environment, and influencing almost every other martial art style known today. The continual survival and success of Traditional Chinese martial art can only be due to its integrity in balancing the eight essential elements and thereby giving its practitioners a living, complete, and intelligent
training.

* Salvatore Canzonieri is a freelance artist & writer for various publications (Wushu Kungfu, Han Wei's Wushu, Seconds, EXIT, and others), with experience in Taiji, Southern Shaolin, Northern Shaolin, Qigong and various other Traditional Chinese Kungfu styles. He is currently researching material for a future Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Kungfu History and Forms *

(c) 1995 / 2007 BGT ENT / Sal Canzonieri