Lift Hands Volume 22 June 2022 - The Multi-Award Winning Martial Arts Magazine

volume 22

June 2022

Everything Is Vibration:

Victims of Spouse Abuse Authentic Ninjutsu Embracing the Blade

The Importance of Sound Therapy The Essence of Martial Arts

Kaizen 2022 Composure Under Pressure

Understanding The Language of Taijiquan

20 Questions: Dr Jon Xue Zhang Editor Nasser Butt

perception realization activation action

Lift Hands

The Internal Arts Magazine Volume 22 June 2022

Editor

Nasser Butt

L’orso Solitario

Published by L’orso Solitario Books, Leicester, United Kingdom Lift Hands The Internal Arts Magazine Volume 22 June 2022 Editor Nasser Butt Copyright © by Nasser Butt, 2022 & Fa-jing Ch’uan Internal Chinese Boxing Schools Nasser Butt asserts the moral right to be identified as the editor & owner of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the editor.

Waiver of Liability: The publisher assumes no liability for the use or misuse of information contained within this book. By purchasing or electronically downloading this publication, the reader hereby, waives any and all claims he or she may have now or in the future against Nasser Butt and Fa-Jing Ch’uan Internal Chinese Boxing Schools or its affiliates.

The points of view represented here are solely those of the authors’ concerned. You do not have to subscribe to them if you do not wish. Nor is their inclusion here necessarily an endorsement by Fa-jing Ch’uan Internal Chinese Boxing School or its affiliates.

Cover Photo [Main]: Dr. Jon Xue Zhang — Photo Credit: Nasser Butt; Copyright©Nasser Butt 2022 Cover Design © Nasser Butt, 2022 Back Design: Copyright © Nasser Butt 2022

lift hands

June 2022

Celebrating 5 Years of the Multi-Award Winning Internal Martial Arts Magazine

contents

Editor’s Note

Page 9

The House of Mouse The Art of Amy Faulkner

Page 12

Everything Is Vibration: The Importance of Sound Therapy Karolina Kozera

Page 14

Kaizen 2022 — A Review with Lucci Del-Gaudio

Page 20

Embracing The Blade Dr Gregory T. Lawton

Page 38

Camp 2022 Details

Page 55

Victims of Spouse Abuse Katherine Loukopoulos

Page 59

Authentic NinJutsu Dave Giddings

Page 68

20 Questions with Dr Jon Xue Zhang

Page 75

Composure Under Pressure Dr Jon Xue Zhang

Page 87

The Blessing of Wind Dr Gregory T. Lawton

Page 91

Understanding The Language of Taijiquan Nasser Butt

Page 93

The Essence of Martial Arts Ramakrishna Pillay

Page 107

Peasant Talk

Page 120

Useful Contacts

Page 122

The Art of Louiseneige Be

Page 123

6

English Edition Link Italian Edition Link

9

T

ees

available now £14.99 Each + P&P

Sales Enquiries (for colour/ style/size availability): move2survive@gmail.com Enter code LH22 in subject heading to claim 33% off your first order!

Please Note: Colour of print & text may vary depending upon the colour of the t-shirt chosen.

8

W

elcome to Volume 22 of Lift Hands Magazine 2022!

Again, first and foremost my apologies for the slightly delayed issue.

editor’s Note

Nasser Butt

I knew June was going to be an extremely busy month, having said that, life — as always — also threw a few curve balls just to keep things a bit more chaotic and to keep me on my toes! But, hey… that’s just one of the reasons why we train in the martial arts — to deal with the unexpected!

Anyhow, here we are and once again I thank everybody who has contributed to this issue. As always, it would be impossible to do so without your time, efforts and generosity.

June saw the return of Kaizen after a 3 year absence and it was great to be back on the mats and mingling with folk from around the country and overseas. We have an exclusive report and interview in this issue with Lucci Del-Gaudio, who critically reviews his work.

I’d like to welcome Dave Giddings — a new addition to our family of contributors, who writes about Authentic Ninjutsu. I’m sure we will see further contributions from him.

Once again we have a couple of brilliant articles from two of our leviathan contributors, Dr Greg Lawton and Katherine Loukopoulos Sensei.

Greg gives us a brilliant insight into ‘Embracing the Blade’ and Katherine Sensei gives us a timely reminder of the darkness that surrounds some lives in her excellent ‘Victims of Spouse Abuse’ — from a lecture she delivered in Japan in 1999.

It humbles me to call both these amazing souls my friends — their knowledge and experience is something I would require multiple lifetimes to achieve, and both share it with us all freely!

Their was a considerable ‘earthquake’ in British martial arts a couple of months ago, which made headlines both nationally and internationally. We will be dealing with that in a separate ‘extra’ of Lift Hands due to the subject matter, which will appear in a few weeks.

After consultation, we decided that it was the best approach — that way folk could choose to read it or simply ignore it.

I am looking into making a digital download version of the magazine available after receiving requests from several folk, who prefer to read it at their own leisure and keep a copy. Of course, there will be a cost involved for making the download available, however, they are happy to pay and I shall endeavour to keep the costs reasonable based upon our digital hosts. However, the magazine in its entirety will remain free to read on our digital platform — no changes there!

Further, I have launched a ‘Support Us’ donations appeal to help with the day to day running and costs involved in publishing the magazine. Please donate if you can and I thank you all in advance, and also those who have already helped and continue to help behind the scenes.

I hope you all have a fantastic summer wherever you happen to be in the world. Stay safe and well, and see you in September with Volume 23.

9

105 Countries 28.2K Readers Albania Algeria Argentina Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Bolivia Bosnia & Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria Cambodia Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Cote D’lvoire Croatia

Cuba Cyprus Czechia Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Estonia Fiji Finland France French Guyana Gambia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Hungary Iceland India Indonesia

Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Madagascar Malaysia Malta Mauritania Mexico Moldova

10

Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Serbia Slovakia

South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey Ukraine UAE United Kingdom USA Uruguay Venezuela Vietnam Zimbabwe

11

Needle Sea Bottom

12

“E

verything in Life is Vibration” — said Albert Einstein. Everything in our universe is always moving and vibrating. Even objects that appear to be motionless vibrate, oscillate, and resonate at different frequencies, including every part and system within the human body — vital organs, glands, tissues, bones, nervous system, etc. Certain vibrations trigger a response in anything with a comparable frequency, thanks to the idea of sympathetic resonance. When the 'energy flow' - Qi from Chinese Medicine or Prana from Indian Philosophy, is blocked or restricted, its resonant frequency is no longer in a state of harmony leading to stress and illnesses. The body's resonance frequencies or patterns change when it's in a state of sickness. The body-mind may adjust and re-align itself to a state of harmony by using sound resonance.

Sound healing has been used in various forms for thousands of years to enhance well-being, through making music, chanting mantras, singing, drumming, using the gong, singing bowls and other types of sound instruments. The benefits of sound healing therapy include: Physical and emotional healing; restored energy circulation, improved self confidence and self esteem; improved sleep and relaxation; increased focus and productivity.

We can heal through the powerful vibration of sound and it affects us all in different ways, because we are all made up of different energy frequencies. The frequencies interact, attempting to rebalance the body's energy to restore healthy vibrations to the body. Sound has enormous power. According to ancient Indian belief, it has the power to create an entire universe. In the beginning there was sound, which reverberated as Om (Aum), and from that sound everything came into existence. Aum is actually the shortest, albeit the most important mantra. The humming sound is a gateway to the energy. When we chant Om we plug this energy into our body. In conclusion, the voice is a powerful instrument and fantastic tool in sound therapy and regular chanting plus voice toning practices will open up the energetic points in our body (chakras) and create natural vibrational healing.

As a sound therapist I'm using lots of different instruments (mentioned above) to restore healthy vibrations to the body, but the Gong has the most powerful impact. The gong bath is becoming extremely popular as a form of therapy and I'm personally amazed by its healing abilities. What is the Gong bath and what are the benefits?

Gong baths are sonic journeys and a type of inactive meditation where you bathe in vibrations washing over you.

The deep sound and the vibration of the gong is able to penetrate all areas of the body. It is used to treat the energy related to depression, anxiety and negative thinking patterns that affect the life as a whole.

15

16

Let’s look a bit closer. The well played gong becomes an instrument of profound healing on all levels:

• Physical – the gongs have a rejuvenating effect

on the physical body, which resonates with sound during the gong bath. It is a deep massage on the cellular level. Sound waves produce a relaxing response by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, restoring body balance through sympathetic resonance.

The gong's vibration can release physical pain and has a detoxifying effect on our body.

• Mental – the sound of the gong can lower the brain waves and has an ability to entrain theta waves associated with meditation allowing the mind to rest and relax and connect to the present moment.

• Emotional/feelings — the gong's rich layers of overtones has a clearing effect on emotional issues which have been suppressed in the body and the sound vibration can break up limiting thought patterns. The gong's sound has a huge effect on our heart chakra (4th energetic centre in the body) It is a very powerful tool to open the heart, allowing us to experience a true love. The gong sounds can draw out negative emotions. After a gong bath we might feel: peace, calm, contentment, deep silence insight, acceptance and no judgement.

• Spiritual - the sound healing with the gong can help us to realise the true essence of who we really are through the connection with our energy. The chakras and energetic lines in the body (nadis – Indian philosophy, meridians – Chinese medicine) are balanced. Gongs can also be used to stimulate an altered state of consciousness, this form of deep relaxation can feel similar to a trance like state.

'Sound is the medicine of the future' — said Edgar Cayce. Sound healing is a big alternative to traditional medicine and its approach to heal through pharmacology, which we cannot avoid sometimes. We can use the sound as a prevention offering a natural way to treat pain and illness. The body will receive sonic vitamins which can improve our health or balance deficiencies caused by stressful living and regular sound baths will allow us to raise happiness within ourselves.

Karolina Kozera Sound Therapist and Yoga teacher

Resources: 'Gong Consciousness. Self Healing Through the Power of Sound’; Jain Wells, Ph.D. 'Sound Healing with Gongs. A Gong Book for Beginners’; Sheila Whittaker 'Vibrational Sound Healing: Take Your Sonic Vitamins with Tuning Forks, Singing Bowls, Chakra Chants, Angelic Vibrations, and Other Sound Therapies'. Erica Longdon

17

18

19

K

aizen Martial Arts Expo returned to Nottingham after a 3 year hiatus due to the global Covid pandemic. It was once again an honour to have been invited to participate at the event in a dual role — teaching and representing the Erle Montaigue System [Old Yang Style Taijiquan Combatives] on the mats, as well as reporting on behalf of the magazine.

The event was held at the Clifton Leisure centre and you knew it was a sellout as soon as you arrived at the car park — there was simply no room! I literally had to leave my car in the middle of the car park in a lane blocking 6 other vehicles after having spent 20 minutes trying to find a space!

Inside, the hall was already jam packed with people watching the opening demonstrations mixed in with a cacophony of sound. Folk were excitedly looking at the schedules to see who was teaching when on the mats so that they could join in — and once again, as in the previous years, all the zones very fully supported by keen participants packing the mats.

I, myself, was the opening act in zone one, followed by the legend that is Simon Oliver, then we had the tag team of Redah Madouri and Peter Mogridge before the Ed Sheeran of martial arts — Tommy Joe Moore hit the mats with a few shopping bags in his own imitable style!

Having chosen to go first on the mats was perfect, it meant that I could spend the rest of the day photographing and interviewing folk.

As per norm, Kaizen brought the best of the most experienced martial artists in the UK and Europe, as well as becoming the platform for up and coming talent.

I had wanted to interview Lucci Del-Gaudio — Mr Kaizen himself — on the day, but it simply became impossible due to the level of activity and noise in the hall… we were literally having to shout to make ourselves heard. In the end, I decided to leave it until after the event and finally I managed to get Lucci down to my place in Leicester and ask him how he had thought the day had gone?

20

21

22

LH: So, Lucci, thanks for popping down to Leicester and sharing your thoughts on Kaizen with our readers.

Well, we had Kaizen earlier in June and it was a massive success! We literally had hundreds of people go through the doors and it wasn’t just the martial artists who were participating, there were whole families there — mums and dads with their kids, and it wasn’t just a case of leaving the kids there alone, the parents joined in and made it a great day for everyone. It had a community feel. What did you make of it?

Lucci: Well, yes, exactly that! It has always been organic right from the start, from day one! I mean you’ve been there from the beginning yourself, and it wasn’t planned that way — it happened naturally and that’s what has made it special in many ways, and it has carried on!

Admittedly, I was worried after lockdown. The last event which we did in 2019, I thought that that was the peak… it was a larger venue and we had almost a thousand people walk through the doors and I thought how are we going to come back from that, especially after covid? I mean, we had done nothing for 3 years! No massive events, nothing! We had done the Japanese Martial Arts show in October last year, but that was a small event nothing on the scale of Kaizen.

LH: Yes, I was there for that one too. I guess that was almost a dry run, kind of getting back into the water and preparing for the big event?

Lucci: Exactly, exactly! It was just that, but it was also a different show, a different concept to Kaizen. And, I was like, how are we going to bounce back? I guess in the end it was just a case of doing it. So, that’s what I did.

Unfortunately, our regular venue over the previous years had their roof fall through, so that was unavailable, so there was more pressure — finding a new suitable venue. I ended up at the Nottingham Council offices in search of a venue and they asked if I had thought about using the Clifton Leisure Centre? Funnily enough, I hadn’t even

thought about that and I literally live in a village opposite the centre, just down the road! To put you in the picture, I walked here, I didn’t even have to drive, so it was really good. And, I remember Nas, around 10 am, I looked around and thought, I don’t want anymore people coming here! As I turned around and looked at the door, I saw a queue and thought, where am I going to put these people?

LH: Yeah, I mean when I got there the place was already heaving, there was no place to park. I literally left my car in the middle of the car park and rushed inside, and I had got there early!

23

24

25

Lucci: Well, yeah, I saw you walk onto the mats and it was packed, I mean how many people did you have there waiting to train with you?

LH: To be honest, I couldn’t count! My mat was full and there were also people standing on the edges training in the aisles!

Lucci: Yeah, with the parking — it wasn’t just the car park which was full, also the side streets had no parking left!

LH: Yeah, so it was a fantastic comeback — a brilliant comeback and hats off to you, you deserve the credit and congratulations and one of the questions I wanted to ask you was how did you feel seeing all those folk?

Lucci: I was really overwhelmed! I mean, I felt great, but I kept thinking in my head… no more now! All the mats and zones are full! The vendors were happy. Everyone is selling, the people are happy and I’m like — they just kept on coming in! It was constant all day. The good thing about Clifton is that we have a good tram service, so that made travelling easier for a lot of the locals and those coming by train.

So, yeah, it was a brilliant comeback and when I saw the venue originally, I thought this is plenty big enough.

However, on Saturday night when we were laying down the mats and marking out the zones, I said to one of my

coaches… I think we should’ve got a bigger boat! He’s like, no, no… it’ll be all right! And I’m like, seriously, you need to look at this from my perspective! I mean, we had built a weapons area and we had to make it smaller to fit the other guys in! I need to put more mats down… seriously, we need a bigger boat! Nah! You’ll be fine, this is huge! I’m like, it’s not big enough! I’ve dropped a clanger here, and I were right! There was room and people could move. We got away with it! However, I did need it to be at least two more seminar spaces bigger!

LH: Yeah, certainly the weapons area needed to be much bigger!

Lucci: I agree! I mean there were all sorts going off in that area… nunchakus, escrima, swords and what not! I’ve learnt from it though. Each event I’ve done, I take something from it and learn from it!

LH: Well, the brilliant thing about it was — like in previous years at Kaizen — not only did you have your experienced heads there, there was also a lot of new up and coming talent and that has been Kaizen’s hallmark!

26

27

28

Lucci: Yes, that is true! What I enjoy doing Nasser is looking for tomorrow’s heroes, the future martial artists, and giving them a platform. I mean, even looking back from the first Kaizen in 2017, there were instructors who were just starting out and they have gone on to do great things already! You, yourself, again have seen that! And we have many new faces for next year too!

LH: Well let’s come on to that, Kaizen Adrenaline — that’s 2023!

Lucci: Yeah, yeah, I was just going to call it Adrenaline, but people didn’t want me to take the Kaizen name away!

LH: Kaizen Adrenaline… and as I understand it, there will be new disciplines?

Lucci: Well, it’s a new venue. A bigger boat and a new concept! I think it might be a little too big , but we will grow into it!

LH: Well, can it be too big? I mean you’re going to add much more stuff to it!

Lucci: It’s called Adrenaline for a reason. I mean when you walk through those doors I want everything to hit folk and their adrenaline raised to the rooftop! I want people to complain that there was so much stuff there, I didn’t know where to start! I want that kind of feeling!

LH: So, is it going to stay all under wraps or are you going to give a glimpse to folk of what to expect?

Lucci: Well, there will be lots of surprises, let’s just put it that way!

LH: That’s great and in terms of the venue… are we still in Nottingham?

Lucci: Yes, we are still in Nottingham. We are in a lovely part called West Bridgeford. It’s only a couple of miles from the main city centre, but there is also plenty nearby. Lots of hotels and places to stay. It’s called the Rushcliffe Arena, it’s pretty new. It’s an absolutely huge place and it ticks all the boxes. It’s got places to eat and an absolutely huge car park which can accommodate 1000 vehicles easily!

LH: Well that’s great! I mean choice of food is important — especially for those who are not training! I loved the cake stall at Kaizen this year.

Lucci: Yeah, well you know I like to do things different. I mean, I brought Sword Punk in this year for just that reason. I want Kaizen to be different… not just another expo following the usual format! Next year we’re going to have kettle bells, cross fit, fitness and all sorts!

LH: So, you’re going to have a fitness zone?

Lucci: No, not a fitness Zone! It’ll be all mixed in with everything! I mean we may have someone give a Karate seminar and immediately someone else follows them up with a kettle bells session!

LH: Ok, so now we have many other events coming up — would it be fair to say that Kaizen is becoming an events promoter?

Lucci: Yes, that’s right. Kaizen is becoming Ltd! LH: So then, under the Kaizen banner we will see things like the Asian Martial Arts Show coming up later in the year, and of course the Japanese Martial Arts Show which you held last year, and I believe there is another one of those coming up too?

Lucci: Yes, these are smaller niche events which will happen under the Kaizen banner. They will be smaller in comparison. More specialist and of course everyone will still be welcome to attend. I mean, take the Japanese Martial Arts Show which we did last year… it was just that — Japanese based arts. However, do to the politics which you find in all martial arts, it took a lot of hard work to bring the various organisations and their breakaways all into the same room. But, we did it and it was a great success! We managed to get the two biggest Jujitsu groups, who had separated over 20 years ago into the same room for the first time. That was no mean feat!

29

30

31

32

LH: But that is great! You are helping break down barriers — so it’s a positive!

Lucci: Yeah! Look… there’s a lot of things going on behind the scenes, but I tend to stay away from the politics!

LH: That’s always going to be there!

Lucci: Well, another one of the signs of our success was also that people were trying to sell forged tickets to Kaizen on the black-market!

LH: That’s a compliment — I’m sure. When folk are trying forgery, it means you have something of value!

Lucci: As you know, each year we give a lot of tickets away — especially to charities and groups and individuals with needs. This has been always Kaizen’s spirit. I mean we have worked with groups like Adaptive Martial Arts, led by Neil Kirkland and the gang down in Cambridge, who do a brilliant job and well will continue to stand alongside them and other groups, but we do keep a database for our tickets and who they are allocated too… so sorry forgers, you’re not pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes!

LH: Yes, it’s absolutely great what you do for charities and I know Kaizen helps quite a few.

Lucci: Yes, we had the Air Ambulance this year, as well as Adaptive Martial Arts, whom we have already mentioned along with a few others.

LH: Excellent! So, the next one is in Wolverhampton in October — The Asian Martial Arts Show?

Lucci: Yes, but prior to that there will be a lowkey Japanese Martial Arts Show as well. As for the AMS — we have Mark Stas coming over, and it will be his first appearance in the UK at any martial arts event!

LH: Well that’s great! I’m looking forward to that… and once again congratulations for pulling of what you did after a 3 year break.

Lucci: Yeah, well you know I was prepared for all sorts, but everything came out right and I even got back home for six!

LH: So, you’re going to put up all the information for the upcoming events on the Kaizen social media pages?

Lucci: Yes, it will be all up there and folk need to move fast — 75% of the sponsorship spots have been taken up already! This was within 48 hours of us announcing the 2023 event. And as you know, we help clubs, instructors etc, so we have wholesale prices for tickets and we just released the first 300 and they have already all been snapped up!

LH: Well that’s just brilliant! As I’ve said, Im looking forwards to the Asian Martial Arts Show…

Lucci: Yes, and we’ll have a meal after too, along with a small presentation — they are not awards… I want to make that clear — just a Thank you and appreciation for some of the hard work that folk put in! There will be some entertainment and a curry!

LH: Brilliant! Listen, I enjoyed myself on the mats in Kaizen and I don’t think I saw one empty mat at any time.

Lucci: No, there wasn’t!

LH: I mean, credit and respect to all the instructors who stepped onto the mats — each mat was heaving and that showed their quality! There was so much talent there and folk wanted to train with so many, but of course they couldn’t.

Lucci: Yeah, and there was absolutely nothing we can do about that. I mean we set a timetable and then it’s just a case of bad luck if 3 of the people you plan on training with happen to be teaching at the same time! We introduced Combatives this time… I mean it was huge risk but one which I was happy to take. I mean you saw those guys…huge, with big beards and going at it!

33

34

35

36

LH: Reminded me of the big hairy bikers! But, they were great!

Lucci: Yeah! Proper gents too!

LH: And it was great seeing kids trying with them too.

Lucci: We also had Systema and the Doncaster Sambo guys. And you know, Redah drove all the way from France and back against for the day!

LH: Well it sounds exciting for next year and can’t wait!

Lucci: Yes, it’s going to be great, but I’ll see you first at the Asian Martial Arts Show — I’ve got you on the main mats for that along with Jon Xue… he’s filming at the moment, for Netflix — that’s why he couldn’t make it to Kaizen. I mean, he had the choice between Kaizen and filming for Netflix — he chose Netflix… I’d have chosen Kaizen [laughs]!

LH: I know, I spoke to him He’s filming alongside Michelle Yeoh! I mean to be fair Lucci… Michelle Yeoh?

Kaizen? I’d have opted for filming with the legend too!

Lucci: I can’t believe he turned us down for her! [Laughs] No, seriously… he’s doing wonderfully well and we’re all proud of him and looking forward to having him back for the Asian Martial Arts Show.

LH: Well, Jon features in this issue of Lift Hands! Lucci… it’s been a pleasure chatting to you and looking forwards to the coming events. Thanks for taking the time out and chatting to us about Kaizen and what’s to come.

Lucci: Can’t wait to read it and looking forwards to your 20 Questions with Simon Oliver too in the next issue. It’s been great being here too. Onwards!

Photography by Nasser Butt ©2021

37

Introduction

T

raining in the use of bladed weapons and their use in combat and self-protection has been a central component of the fighting arts of indigenous peoples since the beginning of recorded history. It is only within the last 100 years, due to the invention of modern firearms and the evolution of competitive fighting sports, that some contemporary martial artists have forgotten the important role that bladed weapons hold in the combat fighting arts.

This article is intended to introduce the serious student of the martial arts to the combat use of bladed weapons.

Combat training in bladed weapons involves practical contemporary training and application of short, medium, and long bladed weapons. In this article I describe and advocate for anatomy focused martial training using a variety of bladed weapons. The use of a bladed weapon, or any potentially lethal weapon, is only be used for the preservation and protection of human life. Lethal force is only to be used when you fear for your life or the life of a loved one.

The many advantages of carrying a legal knife are addressed in this article. The knife might be considered to be an “equalizer” that erases the physical advantages of a bigger, stronger, faster opponent. Even a child can injure an adult with a razor or sharp knife. Knives are especially beneficial for women, older adults, and adults of smaller stature. The knife is a self-protection tool that can provide valuable psychological benefits to those that embrace the blade. While a bladed weapon will provide psychological benefits to those that carry a knife and know how to use one, the converse is true of violent predators and assailants. Most people have a natural fear of sharp blades and being cut and will retreat from a defender with a knife.

Hopefully, the reader of this article, Embracing the Blade, will have read my previous Lift Hands magazine articles on legal self-protection and understands the basic ground rules including situational awareness, the avoidance of violence, the psychological de-escalation of conflict, and the legal consequences of inflicting injury on another human being. I have written extensively about these concepts and practices in my other articles and books.

Hopefully this article will be of benefit to you and at the very least set you on the path to effective and practical training in bladed weapons. Any value that this article has is a gift passed to me from my teachers, and their teachers before them.

38

“No sword cuts as keenly, no spear pierces so deeply, as a spirit centered and surrendered to God.”

Embracing the Blade, The beginning My first teacher of the Asian martial arts was a remarkable man. He was not only an Army Ranger, but he was also an Army Ranger instructor at the Ranger school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He had also trained in Japan at the famous Kodokan Institute in Tokyo, Japan where he had witnessed demonstrations of Aikido by the founder of Aikido Ueshiba Morihei.

My training in the Asian martial arts, following training and competition in boxing and wrestling, occurred during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and my instructor’s combination of traditional martial arts and military combat training was to influence and characterize my martial arts training for the next 60 years.

During the 1950s and 1960s there were very few organized martial arts schools in the United States and most martial arts training was informal and often taught by military veterans who received their training in Japan, Okinawa, or Korea. Some veterans bought into the esoteric mystique of the traditional martial arts and others, perhaps more combat experienced, did not. My teacher did not. My teacher believed that a punch was a punch, and a kick was a kick and that the most effective fighting techniques maimed or killed an attacker by whatever means necessary, with an empty hand, a stick, or with a bladed weapon.

In the town that I lived in, the only formal Asian martial arts classes involved training in Judo and were taught at the local YMCA. My training in Kosho Ryu Kenpo Jujitsu and Karate was either on the beach, in the woods, or at the Merit Shoe Store in downtown Benton Harbor, Michigan. I worked at the shoe store as a salesclerk while I attended classes at Saint Joseph High School.

My Kenpo Karate lessons occurred at the shoe store because the store manager was also my martial arts instructor. The pace of selling shoes was often slow and that led to many hours of martial art storytelling and training. My instructor was known for his bad temper and had a reputation for injuring his students. It was my observation in the 1960s that many of the former military martial arts instructors were often violent men, perhaps suffering from PTSD from military service. Regardless of the cause, serious injuries, including broken bones, were common.

39

Training with the knife, short, bladed weapons Many systems of martial arts withhold training in bladed weapons until the upper levels of belt rank in a martial art system are achieved, or in systems without belt rank, a certain level of martial arts competency is realized.

This was not true in the first system of Kenpo that I studied, weapon proficiency was one of the very first aspects of Kenpo that I was taught and especially bladed weapons of various types and lengths. Bladed weapon training incorporated folding knives, fixed blade hunting or military knives, and longer bladed weapons like a machete.

Bladed weapons were a “tool” that extended the attacking range of the fighter and their lethality. When I entered the U.S. military in 1965 my hand-to-hand combat and bladed weapon ability was far superior to my Army basic training peers at Fort Knox in Kentucky.

My Kenpo and military training in the combat use of the knife were very similar and since my knife instructor had also been a U.S. Army Ranger instructor, perhaps his military knife applications had been influenced by Kenpo knife techniques which themselves had been derived from Arnis, Kali, and Escrima.

My first lessons in combat knife techniques were largely based upon the study of human anatomy and physiology.

The focus was on where to stab or slash with the knife, the underlying anatomy of the target area, and what kind of physiological damage would result from a stab or slash. These anatomical areas involved the softer areas of the body, those not protected by large amounts of overlying bone, such as the inner arm, the armpit, the neck/ throat, the eye, the abdominal area, the groin, the kidney’s, the inner thigh, the posterior thigh, and the posterior leg, including the hamstring tendons to the Achilles tendon.

I was taught that there was no such thing as a knife “fight” and that real combat knife techniques were a form of assassination.

There are four central elements to the use of the combat knife, and these are: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Attack the most lethal areas of the body Keep the knife concealed until engaged Apply rapid instantaneous attacks Attack continuously and repeatedly

Let’s examine each of these four central elements.

Lethal areas of attack I have already mentioned the main body regions and targets of combat knife application and they include:

The inner arm The armpit The neck/throat The eye The abdominal area The groin The kidneys The inner thigh The posterior thigh The posterior leg The hamstring tendons The Achilles tendon

In general key knife targets are located by major tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and vital organs.

40

Concealment The second central concept in combat knife training and application is concealment. The knife should be held in such a way that it is not seen by the attacker until after the first stab or slash is made. There is no broadcasting, display, or brandishing of the knife. This is an essential aspect of using a knife as a weapon, keep the knife concealed. This concept, however, leads to a discussion regarding varying laws regarding carrying a knife.

For example, where I live you can carry a folding knife in your pocket or on your person that is 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) or less in blade length. If you carried a larger bladed folding knife, it would be considered illegal and carrying a concealed weapon. Also, where I reside you can wear any size fixed blade hunting or utility knife on your belt if it is not concealed. Where I live you may not own or carry a double-edged knife, only single edged blades are allowed. Wherever you live you should know the laws and comply with them.

My go to everyday carry knife is an Emerson Raven with a tanto styled blade.

Emerson Knives was founded by Ernest Emerson who got his start by making custom knives in his garage. Note the black textured handle with an elegant and subtle guard design. The Raven has been out of production for many years, but a 25-year anniversary Raven will soon be available.

Instantaneous attack Another important concept in the use of the knife is that of the instantaneous attack. Many movies show two men pulling knives and beginning to circle each other in preparation for a knife fight. If you have time to pull your knife and begin posturing for a knife fight you probably also have time and space to run away. Do that! Using a knife to protect or defend yourself should only be the result of the realization that your life is being threatened and you are at serious risk of being maimed or killed. Once you have come to the realization that your life is in danger draw and use your knife from concealment and attack instantaneously with intention and focus.

In addition, many martial artists either do not understand the fight, flight, or freeze reaction or their training has not conditioned them to not momentarily hesitate or freeze before engaging an attacker. Martial artists who engage in sports fighting have all received training and conditioning through sanctioned competition rules of engagement to hesitate or to wait for a signal, perhaps from a referee, to start fighting. Obviously, in real life there is no signal as to when to engage an attacker. It is also common in sports fighting competitions to “feel” out your opponent for several seconds before launching an attack. Effective blade, stick, or empty hand attacks are not a competition or a dual and you should train to launch instantaneous attacks without mental or physical hesitation.

41

The Gerber Ghoststrike fixed blade knife with a blade length of 7.62 centimeters (3 inches) is an ideal knife for rapid deployment. The Ghoststrike is an example of how knives do not have to be expensive to be effective. This knife is well designed to be deployed from the provided belt sheath and worn as “belly” knife. Practice fast drawing of this knife and slashing or stabbing against a solid wooden target.

One of my everyday carry (EDC) knives is a SOG fixed blade Instinct Boot Knife. This knife has a 6.35-centimeter blade and an overall length of 15 centimeters or 5.9 inches. I have rigged this knife with paracord so that I can draw the knife with one hand, quickly, smoothly, and efficiently. Check your local laws regarding legal carry.

42

In this photograph you can see the SOG Instinct lying flat against the stomach and tucked in behind the jeans and belt. When the knife is deployed with a quick sudden jerk on the handle the knife leaves the protective sheath, and the sheath falls down the leg where it remains attached by the paracord to the belt (See the next photograph). The paracord rig can be easily attached to any kind of belt and is also attached to a belt loop behind the back. In this photograph take note of the handle of the Emerson Raven poking out of the side pocket of the jeans.

This photograph shows the SOG Instinct deployed and the protective sheath hanging from the leather belt. This paracord rig allows for a fast and smooth draw of the knife.

43

Continuous attack One of the central principles of Kosho Ryu Kenpo is the concept of the “continuously returning fist” or the idea of multiple attacks or strikes delivered in a rapid series. A similar concept is embodied by several other martial art systems including Kali, Arnis, and Escrima stick and blade attacks. The same concept is utilized in combat knife applications. Some combat knife systems have adopted “patterns” or “angles”. Angles of attack usually are designed around a pattern such as a clock or vertical, horizontal, and oblique lines of attack. I recommend the practice and application of attacks involving stabbing or slashing based upon anatomical targeting of the most vulnerable targets on the human body. Refer above to the section on lethal areas of attack.

The four central concepts cited above apply to the use of all types of bladed weapons regardless of their length, whether short, medium, or long.

There is a commonly repeated adage that says, “Never bring a knife to a gun fight” but that is not always true.

There are many reasons to train with and to routinely carry a bladed weapon for self-protection and defense purposes. In close quarter combat a knife can be more effective than a handgun. In firearms training there is a “rule” called the “21-foot rule”. Basically, the 21-foot rule, which is not rule at all but is more of a consideration, defines the distance or outer boundary within which an individual armed with a gun is vulnerable to physical attack, especially from an attacker with a knife. Any distance from an attacker to a defender 21 feet or less is the danger zone.

I have performed demonstrations against highly trained firearm instructors where at a distance of 30 feet the firearm instructor was unable to deploy their gun before I was on them, blocked the draw of their firearm and had shown my ability to inflict a maiming or lethal technique. Frankly, at 21 feet I would rather face a firearm than a knife.

Twenty benefits of training with bladed weapons 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Bladed weapons are easy to acquire.

Bladed weapons can be inexpensive.

Appropriately sized bladed weapons can be carried in most environments.

Bladed weapons can be easily concealed.

Bladed weapons do not require a registration, a permit, or license.

More than one bladed weapon can be carried on a person at once.

We are familiar with bladed weapons and use them for many purposes.

Many common tools, like a screwdriver, can be used like a bladed weapon.

Improvised tools or similar objects, including sticks, can be used like a bladed weapon.

A bladed weapon can also be a work or utility tool.

Bladed weapon use involves gross motor skills and does not require the fine motor control of a firearm.

A bladed weapon can be carried covertly and more easily than a firearm.

Bladed weapons involve close quarter combat and do not have the risk of injuring bystanders.

A bladed weapon can be quicker and easier to access than a firearm.

Bladed weapons are easy to integrate with other self-protection skill sets.

Bladed weapon techniques can be simple and easy to execute.

Bladed weapons are a perfect weapon for women because bladed skills are not dependent upon strength or size.

A bladed weapon can be just as effective, or more effective, than a gun at close range and for close quarter combat.

Many people, opposed to firearms, unfamiliar with firearms, or unable to obtain a firearm can easily obtain a bladed weapon.

In even the worst of circumstances common tools, objects, or items from the natural environment can be shaped or adapted into a bladed weapon.

General training in bladed weapons There are certain general concepts in bladed weapon training and application that are shared by most close quarter combat instructors and these general concepts include the following list.

44

First and foremost be safe and do no harm. Beginners should use training knives rather than train with sharp knives, there are many styles available, or follow my advice and craft your own training weapons from wood.

Focus your training drills on knife attacks to the most anatomically vulnerable areas of the human body.

Use practice drills against the most anatomically vulnerable areas of the human body that are simple and direct.

Practice bladed weapon drills against hard targets, or target that provide resistance to penetration and that mimic the structure and density of the human body.

Train for accuracy.

Train for penetration.

Train for speed.

When practicing drills use a target or a partner that is moving.

Train with the knife or knives that you carry every day.

Carry two knives and practice deploying each of them as smoothly, efficiently, and quickly as you can.

When practicing or applying bladed weapon techniques intersperse blade techniques with empty hand techniques including head butts, elbows, knees, and kicks.

Learn to modify your blade attacks according to the circumstances of the situation and environment between lethal attacks and maiming but non-lethal attacks.

Two of my favorite knives are made by SOG Specialty Knives. The original SOG knife was designed by Benjamin Baker and used in Vietnam, where members of a highly classified US special ops unit known as MACV-SOG carried a unique combat knife into the jungle on covert missions. In 1986 Spencer Frazer founded SOG Specialty Knives and he went on to reproduce the original SOG Bowie knife. Note the non-reflective blade coating, the grippy textured handle, and the curved shape of the guard and brace.

Training with a medium length bladed weapon There is no exact definition of what constitutes a weapon of medium length. I everyday carry a tactical folding knife with a blade length of 3 inches or 7.62 centimeters, but I also have tactical knives with blade lengths from 5 inches or 12.7 centimeters up to 19 inches or 48.26 centimeters in my vehicle and on my backpack. I generally, consider any blade length over 12 inches or 30.48 centimeters as a medium length blade but this designation by me is arbitrary. I regularly train with 2 military machetes with a blade length of 19 inches.

45

As was previously cited in this article there are many legal considerations when carrying or transporting bladed weapons. Not previously mentioned is that in some parts of the world, including U.S. states, you cannot have a bladed weapon other than a folding knife of a legal length within reach in a car or other vehicle. For example, a bladed weapon other than a legal folding knife would have to be in the back of a vehicle, packed away, or in the trunk of a car.

This means that transporting a medium bladed weapon would require that it is not immediately accessible to you in a vehicle.

I recommend regular training with bladed weapons of various lengths from short folders to medium length weapons such as a machete and longer bladed weapons such as a sword or spear. If you have read any of my previous articles in Lift Hands magazine you probably understand that I am of a practical mindset when it comes to martial arts training, if a technique will not work in the street or is too complicated to be practical, I do not have any use for it. The same is true with knives which I simply view as a tool. I am not a knife collector and I do not care about the appearance of a knife or sword; I am only interested in the quality of the steel and other factors such as length, balance, blade strength, and sharpness.

In our martial art classes I primarily teach beginners knife techniques as part of our Kosho Ryu Kenpo Jujitsu and Karate classes. We have a specialized Kenpo knife kata that teaches the primary vulnerable targets on the human body and angles of attack as were previously cited and listed in this article. However, we also teach the use of bladed weapons with our Tai Chi Chuan and Pakua Chang forms. Rather than learn different forms for each weapon, we teach our students how to incorporate bladed weapons, short, medium, and long lengths, into the forms that they either already know or are learning.

Training with a long length bladed weapon I previously mentioned that my first knife lessons began around 1962 in a shoe store. My first sword lesson was taught during that same time period in a semi wooded area punctuated by sand dunes and close to the Lake Michigan shoreline. Obviously, before you can train with a sword you must first possess a sword and in the early 1960’s in Michigan a sword was not easy to come by. The object of my first sword lesson was to go into the woods and find a tree suitable for the construction of a wooden training sword.

I remember trailing behind my teacher as his eyes appraised the thin oak trees around us. I had no idea at the time what qualities he was looking for in a suitable tree, but over the years I have come to recognize and appreciate his knowledge. He selected a young tree about 4 to 5 inches in diameter and he hacked away at its base until he had cut it down. Then we sat together while he stripped away its branches and its bark. As he worked on my “sword” he talked about the history of the sword in Japan and told me amazing stories about Ueshiba Morihei and a famous Japanese swordsman and cultural hero by the name of Miyamoto Musashi. I would later come to study the lives and writings of both men. In the late 1500’s a teenage Miyamoto Musashi killed his first man, with a broomstick. I was about the same age when I began my sword training. Our similarities stop there!

The thin oak tree my instructor selected was cut down to about 5 feet in length. A handle or tsuka that was about 9 or 10 inches in length was carved into the base end. The tsuka was measured by the width of my two hands as they comfortably encircled the handle. The bark was stripped from the “blade” end of my sword and a wedgeshape was carved into the point or kissaki. I am using Japanese katana terminology because my first sword training was within the Kosho Ryu Kenpo Jujitsu and Karate system. However, I prefer a straight sword of the Chinese style or what is called a Dao. So, began my first sword lesson as I sat at the feet of my teacher as he carved me a sword, taught me the parts of the sword, and inflamed my imagination with tales of old warriors and their valor. It was a perfect beginning and one that I have since many times “gifted” to my own sword students. I always begin and conduct sword lessons in the woods. As I reflect backward over half a century, I realize that that moment was a moment of awakening, a rite of passage, and a step along the path of manhood.

After we had “freed” my sword from its tree came my first lessons in the use of the sword which included the basics of how to hold the sword correctly, how to place my feet, how to assume a proper “cutting” stance, and how to move forward, backward, right, and left. But most importantly, how to properly cut through any object placed before me. The bottom-line in the use of any bladed weapon is how to correctly stab and cut.

46

The stance When I start training a beginning student in the martial arts, a common starting point is simply how to assume a defensive/offensive stance. These stances have different names in the various martial arts but in kenpo the basic stance is called the fighting horse or the horse stance. Beginners often find basic martial art stances and movements awkward, but an effective stance and correct movement should be natural. If a student assumes a basic martial arts stance, such as the fighting horse stance, and is asked to move from point A to point B their movements are often slow, stiff, and unbalanced. I teach a more natural method of movement that is more like a boxing stance and that allows easy movement in any direction. Avoid the traditional deep and wide stances.

They were designed for use on wet or uneven terrain and are not needed on concrete or asphalt sidewalks or streets.

The hold Your grip on the handle or hilt of the sword should be firm but relaxed. Don’t squeeze the handle to death but also don’t hold the handle so softly that the sword can be easily knocked from your hands. I hold a sword using a double handed grip, I use fighting sticks for stick fighting styles such as Arnis, Kali, and Escrima with a singlehanded grip. I use short and medium bladed weapons such as a knife or machete with a single-handed grip. I use a machete to practice cutting through wood limbs that are 2 or 3 inches or 5.08 to 7.62 centimeters in thickness with a single cut. If you practice full power cuts on solid objects you will learn how to hold the sword firmly and securely.

The breath Your breathing should be slow and relaxed. Breathe in when you are moving the sword toward your body or away from your opponent and breathe outward when you are striking, or you are moving the sword away from your body. Do not exaggerate your breathing but breathe in a natural manner. Do not make loud breath sounds when you are striking as the rhythm of these sounds can give away your timing and intent to strike. Use the abdominal breath technique for normal movement but when you are striking with great force you may wish to employ the reverse breath and to direct your explosive energy (fa jing) through the sword.

47

Over the years as I have picked up my sword and practiced the skills that I was taught that day in the dunes of Michigan, I have continued to hear the voice of my teacher whispering to me and guiding me in my practice. I continue to practice with a hand cut and carved wooden sword and I have learned how to seek out and find the perfect tree willing to sacrifice itself for the sake of my art and advancement.

A living tree will provide you with a sword that is strong and pliable and that is able to handle full power cuts and strokes with some resistance to breaking. When I have attempted full power cuts and strikes with manufactured wooden swords made from dried hard woods or even rattan they have broken after only a few strikes. This gets tedious and expensive. I have snapped wooden swords in half and in fact I once completely severed a rattan staff with one strike and the break was so clean that it looked like it had been sawed into 2 parts.

I have come to understand what my teacher was looking for in a tree, a sword, and a student; strong but not hardened to the breaking point, resilient and pliable, and able to be shaped and crafted to the task at hand. My first sword lesson provided me with more than just a sword, it made me the sword.

My sword and spear are symbols of my power and strength, of my resolve and determination to stand firm, to hold my ground and never waver from my duty or my destiny.

There are many ways to learn a skill. You can become skilled with a remarkable and highly competent teacher, through diligent practice and self-study, through reading literature on the subject, through scholarly research, through teaching others, through fighting and combat, through real life experience, and through prayer, meditation and communion with your soul. Over the years I have utilized all these methods.

In the early days of my sword training my teacher directed me to cut wood and over the years I became a proficient woodcutter. Whenever the opportunity arose to go into the woods with my axe, I would locate a fallen tree and begin to cut it into cords of wood which I would leave neatly stacked for someone else to put to good use.

On one occasion a new homeowner needed a large stand of trees in a woodlot behind their home cut down and removed. In stepped the “woodcutter”, not with a chainsaw, but with his trusty axe and the woodlot slowly but steadily went from a crisscross of fallen trees to multiple stacks of wood ready for the fireplace.

For my tools I had my axe, a fine file and sharpening stone, a machete, and a Swedish saw. In my frequent backpacking and camping trips these “loyal friends” were always strapped to my pack or tucked in a canvas bag laying on the bottom of my canoe.

So, you may be asking yourself, how does woodcutting relate to sword training? Many of the earliest swordsmen were farmers clearing land for their crops or woodcutters and the cutting movements used to fell a tree were like those used to fell men on a field of battle. An actual sword fight is a brutal endeavor and is far from the sanitized versions seen in most Hollywood movies. Rarely, was an opponent dispatched with a single blow. Real sword fights typically involved two men sweating, struggling, and bleeding from multiple wounds and fighting until one of both died from a loss of blood. Real sword fights are ugly and brutal.

Most students today that study the sword do so under controlled conditions and as an art form or competitive sport. The use of a foil with an electronic sensor is a far cry from a vicious cut to a major muscle or artery.

Because the intention of artistic or sport sword play is so different from the violent brutality of actual sword combat the similarities might be the same as comparing modern sword play to a domestic cat and an African lion, or a poodle and a timber wolf.

Woodcutting and using an axe properly mimics the full power cutting stokes of the sword and requires that the correct body ergonomics be employed by the woodcutter. For example, woodcutting, like the use of the sword, requires the coordinated use of the entire body. Of course, the hands must be strong to hold the axe, the arms and shoulders and upper back muscles are all important, but the power needed to cut wood or to use a sword comes first from the feet and legs, is moved through the waist and core muscles of the trunk, and lastly is directed and delivered by the muscles of the upper extremities.

When you are cutting wood, such as when you are cutting down a large tree with an axe you must know how to cut through the tree. This ability is called focus. When you swing your axe you are not aiming at the outside of the tree, you are aiming either deep into the tree or entirely through the tree. The same cutting principle applies to the use of the sword. My favorite cutting tool is a military style machete. I learned how to properly sharpen a

48

machete from sugarcane harvesters in Jamaica. While vacationing in Jamaica I happened across a group of sugarcane workers having lunch and I sat with them for a while and asked them how they got their machetes so sharp. They were happy to show me how to sharpen a blade, and I still use their sharpening technique to sharpen my own blades. I also learned to always have a sharpened blade at the ready. This way I always have 2 blades, one that I am using and the other at the ready should I need it. I was taught this concept, “Always have a backup” from a retired mercenary.

Based upon a proper cutting principle, the development of my sword “style” and technique became the ability to cut through my opponent’s sword or weapon, and to move through the opponent’s defenses as quickly as a hot knife through soft butter. I can remember the surprised look on my training partners faces as their swords were knocked downward or completely flew out of their hands from the power of a single stroke. This method of cutting through an opponent’s weapon and focusing through the opponent is not only difficult to defend against, but also dangerous to employ in sport or training environments, which is why I practice full power cuts on dead trees.

When training with my sword, I train using either a heavy bag or a large log at least 12 inches thick. I practice repeated cuts against the log until the wooden sword breaks and it is time to make a new one. Because of their strength and resistance to breaking, I have used old oak boat oars for my swords. The ones that have been weathered by the sun and water for many years are the best, but eventually even they will shatter.

With faith in God there is no need to draw your sword.

With knowledge of God there is nothing to be learned.

With the love of God, the impossible is child’s play.

In a modern world how relevant is sword training? I believe that this question can be answered two ways; not very and very. The “not very” answer relates to how impracticable and illegal it is to walk around town with a sword hanging from your belt. The “very” answer relates to several essential concepts that are associated with traditional and modern sword training.

In the traditional martial arts, the sword has been prized as the supreme weapon. This is certainly true within the Japanese culture. The sword, in some cultures, has risen to mystical significance. In some Asian traditions the sword became a symbol for the human spirit or soul. Sword training in certain countries became a method (way) by which a person could train and purify their soul.

I obviously, I fall into the “very” category in terms of belief of the value of sword training and for me the sword is a symbol and a metaphor for personal growth and obtainment. However, for the practical minded martial artist I would recommend sword training simply as a training method to improve concentration and focus, to enhance the ability to attack and to enter an opponent’s “space”, and to improve striking, penetration, and the characteristic of “pung”. Pung is the ability to hit into an opponent and could be described as penetration, but the word pung represents more than simple penetration because it also embodies elements of energy and vibration and therefore does not translate well into English equivalents. But again, in a practical real-world sense are there direct benefits from sword training (other than physical conditioning) and do these benefits translate into personal self-defense?

I can only answer this question based upon my personal experience.

In 1975 on Main Street in Evanston, Illinois, while walking past a small health food store a salesclerk in the store frantically attempted to get my attention. I assumed he had some urgent need to talk to me, so I entered the store to find that an armed robbery was occurring. A man had entered the store and had demanded the contents of the cash register. In his right hand he was holding a 10-inch chef’s knife that the store used to cut vegetables at its juice bar.

As I stepped into the store I began to chat amicably with the clerk and the robber as if nothing was wrong. I maintained a respectful distance from the robber and the large intimidating knife. As I had entered the store, I noticed that by the front door there was a mop and a galvanized bucket full of dirty water. I took the mop from the bucket, and I began to mop the floor and as I mopped the floor, and while acting as if I could care less about the knife, I began to mop in front of the armed robber and I forced him to step back away from the sales counter and the clerk. I “accidently” splashed water on the robber’s shoes and while keeping direct eye contact with him I smiled and apologized for my sloppiness.

Please keep in mind that while I am describing this scenario lightly, there was nothing “light” about my attitude during this dangerous encounter. I learned long ago how to project a calm and pleasant demeanor while internally

49

evaluating life or death decisions. In my hands the mop was far more than a domestic tool for cleaning floors, if needed I planned on literally “mopping up the floor” with the robber.

Consider my humble weapon. A mop full of dirty water, a wet string mop head that could act as a bludgeon, and a 5-foot wooden handle, just the kind of weapon that I had spent years training with (except for the mop part). As part of my early training with a wooden sword I was required to demolish concrete blocks. Human bones, the skull, collar bone, and humerus, ulna, and radius are no match for a strike from a well-placed “mop” sword.

All such potentially violent encounters have a significant psychological component where a perpetrator is making quick decisions (called an interview) regarding his or her chosen victim and whether to attack or to move on to easier prey. From the moment that I walked into that store I was engaged in a mental exchange with the robber and attempting to keep him mentally off balance. Apparently, I gave off the right (or wrong) signals because the robber put the knife down and began talking like nothing out of the ordinary had occurred and then left the store.

It was only after he had left that I returned the mop to its bucket. The police were called, and the robber was caught attempting to rob another store just up the street. My “cleaning” chores completed I walked to my apartment.

This was not the only encounter that I have had where access to a walking stick, a shovel, or a garden rake was needed to prevent an aggressive challenge from becoming a violent encounter. From my personal experience and perspective my training in the way of the sword has been a valuable component of my overall training as a martial artist. Of course, I would not take a mop to a gun fight…

The foolish have usurped the swords of valor and courage and laid claim to the warrior craft, but the heart of error can never prevail. Stand strong within your circle, Red Lions, Black Dragons are we!

Have you not heard that the poor shall inherit In both my opinion and experience training with the sword, as is presented by several different systems and styles of martial arts, has been made overly complicated. I would also observe that the more complicated a move or a technique is the less likely it is to be remembered, used, or to be effective. Especially when a person is fearful or under pressure or experiencing high stress and duress.

Offensive sword techniques can be organized into two categories. In category one are the cutting strokes and in category two are the thrusting techniques. If you add to these two categories defensive techniques for blocking, deflecting, and redirecting attacks you pretty much have summed up the kinds of things that you can do with a tool such as a sword. However, I prefer to skip the defensive techniques and move right to the attack, or to make the defense and attack a single movement. If you think that you have a reason to use a weapon you probably do, so use it offensively.

I feel that the most important sword technique that you can learn is how to cut or strike. Second to this is how to close the distance on an opponent and to get within striking range. I will concede that these two qualities are equal in importance. For my style of training the cut is everything. What I train to obtain is the ability to defeat an opponent with one powerful single stroke. A cut or strike that moves through the opponent’s weapon, their defenses, and that penetrates into the opponent’s body in a manner that is both devastating and unanswerable.

To train to do this you cannot simply perform sword forms or kata in the empty air. You must learn how to execute full power strokes against solid objects. Solid objects may include dead trees, concrete blocks, and punching bags. But you should learn what it feels like to strike something and to hit it correctly. There are many reasons for recommending this kind of practice. If you have never actually executed a full power stroke, into and through an object, then you do not know how to use a sword and your practice is more like dancing than actual sword training. When you hit various objects and depending upon their mass and water content you will experience and feel different reactions from the sword including rebound. Rebound is when the sword might hit a solid object and bounce back at you. You need to experience this rebound energy and learn how to use it to redirect your attack.

Many martial artists study complete sword forms or kata and these forms and kata contain many complicated and even acrobatic movements. Such movements are rarely effective in using a weapon like a sword. What is effective is to keep your techniques as few and as simple as possible. I keep my sword practice techniques limited to a single powerful cut aimed at the skull, the clavicles, the acromion processes on the top of the shoulders, the upper and lower arm bones, and the wrist and the hands. I direct sword thrusts to the eyes and throat.

50

I have known many martial artists who have trained with the sword for personal health and physical conditioning and even for the sword’s esthetic beauty, and I applaud this. My path, perhaps because of my earliest training with the sword and other bladed weapons, and because I approach the martial arts as combat, has been different.

When I hold a sword, I hear my teacher telling me, “Never face an opponent unless you are willing to kill or to die. But do neither.” For me my intent is simple, make the cut.

There is one thing that up until this point I have neglected to mention, the sword is just a tool, you are the weapon. In one encounter with a knife, I did the unthinkable and broke all the rules by pitching my knife into the face of an attacker, using that moment of surprise to close the distance, and to incapacitate the attacker.

Test yourself by the two-edged sword of heaven and earth for you are the physical manifestation of the divine.

The wooden blade and the ritual In this article I have shared with you some of my training “secrets”. Whenever possible I train in nature, and in nature, I find my weapons. From nature I select and carve my own training weapons whether I need a set of fighting sticks, a staff, a knife or a medium or longer bladed weapon. When I do this, I am limited to the location in which I am searching and the kinds of trees that grow there. On one trip to Maui my search led me to a beautiful stand of bamboo trees and although less than ideal for full power sword strokes, I had an amazing time training with a bamboo sword and using it to strike against the flexible bamboo trees standing in this bamboo forest. Each kind of wood and sword brings its own lessons.

The author working on a wooden training weapon and using a smooth stone to “sand” out the rough edges.

Most hardwoods are good sword woods. Avoid softer woods like conifers, poplars, and willows, unless you have no other choice. Maple, oak, beech, hickory, sycamore, cherry, and my favorite when I can find it ironwood, are good choices. Each of these types of woods have strengths and weaknesses. For example, maple is prone to cracking and chipping.

51

Once you have selected wood to work with you need to sit quietly and to begin to release the weapon within it.

This is where I become a mystic because I thank the tree and the earth for its gift, and I begin to talk to the weapon to coax it from its wooden cocoon. Once released and fully awakened to its potential it becomes the butterfly that finds its flight in your hands.

Once I have my “butterfly” sword my training begins again but like every butterfly this swords life is limited and will end. When your butterfly sword becomes tattered and worn it is time to set it free again. In the case of the bamboo sword that I used in Maui I burned it on the beach to release its spirit to the sky. If fire is not an option, I suggest giving your old sword a good burial. Remember, your sword has been a conduit and a receptacle for your spirit, and it deserves to be treated with respect.

The beginning strokes of carving a wooden training knife for practice.

The knives seen in this, and the previous photograph, are strictly used for making wooden weapons. The crafting of wooden knives, swords, kali sticks, and staffs for training purposes is a regular part of my training of students in the use of bladed weapons.

52

Anatomy of the knife

Embrace the blade To become proficient in the use of bladed weapons you must “embrace the blade” which simply means that whatever the weapon you select and train with you must become a part of the weapon and the weapon must become part of you. When I taught my young daughters how to use a knife, I taught them to treat the knife like a “pet”, to have the knife with them constantly, and to even sleep with it. The blade becomes an appendage of your body like an extra finger and works in harmony with the rest of your body.

Dawn to dawn, day to day seek to forge the sword of your soul in the heat and cold of constant training. Strive to polish the blade to a mirror like finish with the burnish of daily life. When you feel dull and blunted return to your center, train harder, and raise a mighty cry to summon divine assistance to your aid.

About the Author Gregory T. Lawton, D.C., D.N., D.Ac. is a chiropractor, naprapath, and acupuncturist. He is the founder of the Blue Heron Academy of Healing Arts and Sciences where he teaches biomedicine, medical manual therapy, and Asian medicine. Dr. Lawton is nationally board certified in radiology, physiotherapy, manual medicine, and acupuncture. He was the vice president of the Physical and Athletic Rehabilitation Center which provided physical therapy for professional athletes, Olympians, and victims of closed head and spinal cord injuries.

Since the early 1960’s Dr. Gregory T. Lawton has studied and trained in Asian religion, philosophy, and martial arts such as Aikido, Jujitsu, Kenpo/kempo, and Tai Chi Chuan. Dr. Lawton served in the U.S. Army between 1965 and 1968 achieving the rank of Sergeant E-5.

Dr. Lawton’s most noted Asian martial art instructor was Professor Huo Chi-Kwang who was a student of Yang Shao Hou. Authors Note: All the quotes used in this article are from my small book entitled, Scent of a Forgotten Flower.

53

54

55

A

the internal aspects of the element — “very powerful, often slow and flowing, often very explosive.”

ugust 2022 will see us return with an explosive Camp 2022 with ‘The River’ — one of the four ‘Cornerstones of Dim-mak’.

For those who are unable to travel due to restrictions, like last year, we will be offering them the opportunity to follow and participate in the entire camp online.

Camp 2022 will continue inline with the previous camps and the themes explored as a continuous progression. Last year we studied the ‘Wudang Spiral Form’ and this year we will continue with the idea of ‘snaking’ and ‘weaving’ through our opponent’s defence.

Cost: £240 Training Times: Friday 3pm - 7.00pm Saturday 9.30am - 6.00pm Sunday 9.30am - 5.30pm Lunch 12pm - 1.30pm

Although these Cornerstones [not to be confused with the four Cornerstones of Taijiquan] were usually given at the end of one’s physical training and are based upon the four Earth elements of Water [River], Air [Wind], Valleys and Mountains — we will be using them to further develop our skills of rolling, reeling releasing and sealing whilst rooting.

Venue: Fa-jing Ch’uan Internal Chinese Boxing Schools Top Floor Unit 36 Faircharm Trading Estate Evelyn Drive Leicester LE3 2BU Early bird discount £210 extended for those who book their place by June 30, 2022, with 50% deposit.

All deposits are non-refundable.

Leicester is served by many airports nearby: Luton 74 miles; 120 km; 1 1/2 hours by car and less than 1 hour by train.

Birmingham 43 miles; 69 km; 1 hour by car and less than 1 hour by train.

For those needing accommodation — there are many hotels and B&Bs both near the venue and on the outskirts of the city for those wanting a quieter and more serene surrounding.

Wu Yu-hsiang, in his ‘Expositions of Insights into the Practice of the Thirteen Postures’, tells us to: “Be as still as a mountain, move like a great river.”

For information on these or any other matters, please contact Nasser Butt.

The “great river” in this instance has been interpreted by many as the mighty Yangtze, itself and the first Cornerstone lives up to its name teaching us

explosivefist@gmail.com

56

57

58

59

Image Source: Adobe Stock; Nina Malyna: Domestic Violence Conceptual Image

For a minute let’s close our eyes and try to imagine ‘The Primitive Man’.

How did he live?

Victims of Spouse Abuse Second Asian Post Graduate Course Tokiwa University Ibaraki Ken, Japan Lecture delivered on September 6, 1999 Katherine Loukopoulos, Forensic Psychologist Cultural Perspective

I

think we can all agree that the ‘Primitive Man’ must have been occupied with daily struggles to find adequate food, shelter from natural elements and protection from dangerous animals. We can imagine ‘survival of the fittest’ at its greatest. And this must have been true for both males and females. As Mankind survived through the eons, Man became a better hunter, he domesticated animals and plants, and he better protected his domain. To imagine the living conditions in those early years we can also imagine females who were strong, and the strongest of them, born children and lived long enough to raise them.

So, what happened? We have conquered our environment, we have domesticated and caged the most dangerous of animals, we conquered Space, cured diseases, conducted transplant medical operations, and have conquered the weather. Yet, we have not been able to conquer our anger and criminal behavior.

Since ancient times Man was not able to live peacefully with his neighbours. For this reason, laws to govern his behavior came into being.

The earliest code of Laws, The Code of Hammurabi, was developed in order to control such human behavior. The Laws were clearly written, were immediately enforced and very little was left to debate. The Code of Hammurabi consisted of 282 Laws concerning property, animals and women. Women were the property of their fathers and later of their husbands.

If a woman, for example, did not give birth to sons, the husband could send her with her dowry back to her family.

If a woman complained against her husband she was formally judged. If she was found guilty, her hands were tied and she was thrown into deep water. If the woman did not drown and she survived the ordeal, then she was considered innocent and could take her dowry and return to her father’s house. And so, women’s destinies have been decided by the Great Books such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Torah, The Bible, The Quran, and the opinions and contributions of many great Sages like The Apostles, Confucius and Lao – Tsu. I have first-hand experience growing up in a strict traditional home. I can tell you that little girls as soon as they could walk and talk were systematically conditioned to believe that the greatest moment in their lives would be the moment they would marry. All girls were protected and strictly chaperoned to ensure their purity was maintained until the wedding night. If they were found not to be virgins, they were considered ‘damaged goods’ were returned to their homes and their marriages were nullified.

Nowadays we marry ‘for better or for worse, in sickness or in health, till death do us part’. In reality we are expected ‘to love, to honor and to obey’. These vows were imbedded deep into our souls. To divorce would be to fail. The burden of success lied solely on women’s shoulders. She was the keeper of a successful marriage, the mentor of good children and the caretaker of a clean and orderly home. Anything that went wrong, traditionally, was her fault, and so, she silently endured. After all, her mother and all the women in her family before her had done the same. Therefore, on the wedding day, on the height of the happiest day of her life, the family and guests ‘congratulated’ the groom and wished the bride ‘good luck’. If she is lucky indeed, her husband will not become alcoholic, unemployed, a gambler, a womanizer, verbally and / or physically abusive, nor would at some point abandon her for some younger and more vibrant woman.

60

Every nation, every city, every town, down to the smallest tribe, people are bound by their customs and traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation solidified by writings and teachings of Sages, Rulers and Holy Men. Most of us are creatures of habit, and as such, we follow the rules of the land even though we do not agree with all of them. We find ourselves bound by the ropes of culture. It is ironic to hold on to tradition and culture, while on the other hand, we push forward with science and technology.

With DNA testing we can force the courts to pay child support by a man who refuses to acknowledge that he is the father. When the evidence has not been destroyed or contaminated we can also prove rape and place rapists and child molesters behind bars. Inevitably, scientific advances gave us the power to break loose from the ropes of helplessness.

Legal Perspective We are living in a time when great changes are taking place, and in some aspects, are emancipating our humanity. It began in the United States with the 1950s Human Rights movement and followed by the 1960s and 1970s Feminist Movement, and jointly began to kick open the doors of discrimination and inequality. All kind of ethnic minorities, African-Americans, women, the elderly, the handicapped, lesbians and gay voiced injustices and discriminations, and demanded humane and civilized treatment, equal pay for equal work, and to work in fields traditionally were exclusively held by white males, or by males in general.

We have recognized classified and defined types of victims and victimization. We have defined Spouse Abuse and realized there are many aspects of abuse which overlap. Social workers, family therapists, feminists, psychologists, criminologists, victimologists, police officers, prosecutors, judges, doctors and nurses, have tried to what constitutes abusive behavior.

Partner abuse arises from intimate relationships. Spouse abuse includes male and female victims who are legally married.

Domestic disturbance is a police expression that describes abuse by members of same household. Domestic violence may also involve children, siblings, elders and other relatives living in the same household. Wife abuse refers to only the married female and the term woman battering includes all female victims. We also include and recognize husband abuse and husband battery, as men are victims of abuse as frequently as women.

In romantic relationships many people tolerate and often approve some level of fighting and quarrelling. Although there is no standard definition, we need to consider the seriousness of the assault, the assailant’s intentions, the actual physical injury inflicted, the depth of psychological trauma and specific acts.

These acts can be pushing, shoving, pulling, dragging, shaking, ripping clothes, hitting with an open hand, punching with a closed fist, choking, biting, kicking and stomping, throwing an object, threatening and even using a weapon. Physical injuries may vary from bruises, swellings, cuts and scratches, dizziness, sprains, burns, loss of vision, loss of hearing, fractures, concussions, and other more serious wounds which require hospitalization, and those most serious which result in death.

‘We don’t know how often partners mentally and physically abuse each other. The data accumulated from Police Records is inaccurate because females do not report each abusive attack, and males almost never report such incidents.’

Image Source: Adobe Stock; Image by the_lightwriter

We cannot so easily characterize the emotional pain and we cannot envision the long-term effects of emotional pain caused by the abuse of a loved one. (Loseke, 1989; Rhodes, 1992).

Abuse may even start at the dating stage. The cycle of violence begins at home from early childhood. Children imitate actions of their parents and other adults living in their household. As I was growing up, many times I said that I would never do this and I would never do that, but now that I am fully grown, I find myself doing things and being very much like my own mother, and other times very much like my own father.

61

We also know that external forces affect a fetus, for example, the physical and mental state of the mother. Children are like sponges and they absorb everything they see adults do and say. Our behaviors further become moulded and shaped by our educators and by our peers.

We don’t know how often partners mentally and physically abuse each other. The data accumulated from Police Records is inaccurate because females do not report each abusive attack, and males almost never report such incidents. Abuse takes place in all economic strata, all races and religions. The causes may be brought up most frequently by poverty, unemployment and by feelings of helplessness which lead to frustration, and therefore, to lash out to the closest person present.

The female may be young, unemployed, poorly educated and lives together, although not married, with a man of a different religious and ethnic background. The male may also be rather young, have a blue collar job, and may or may not have graduated from High School, beats his children, abuses alcohol and (maybe) other drugs and may even own a gun. She on the other hand, needs attention, affection and approval. She may be in danger for her life. This is the stereotypic scenario.

Then how do we explain the mental and physical abuse suffered by the wealthy, well-educated and elite professional families? Welleducated spouses may not lash out at each other as often as their poverty stricken counterparts, but abuse clearly does occur on all levels of society. The wealthy and the well to do, even the daughter of a former United States President, Maureen Reagan became a victim of spouse abuse. Her father, President Reagan, never knew the real causes of his daughter’s bruises until he read her book. (Bruni, 1989) We can imagine the stress and shame felt by Ms. Maureen Reagan, daughter of a president of one of the most powerful countries in the free world, who for a long time silently endured her husband’s abuse. Surely, if a president’s daughter finds the strength to eventually write about it in her book, other abused persons can speak out also.

Image Source: Adobe Stock; Image by Paul

The United States FBI’s Uniform Crime Report Data is of no assistance to us because assaults between intimates are not recorded in a separate category from other type of assaults. The National Crime Victimization Survey data indicate that women who report being assaulted by a mate one year are likely to report being physically abused again in later years. Police files reveal that the cycle of violence tends to escalate in frequency and severity over time. (Langan and Innes, 1986).

As of May 1998, the United States Army Military Police Report has been revised and a detailed reporting process has helped in more accurate data collection. Even improved Military Police Report procedures are useless if victims do not report domestic violence to the police.

Despite difficulties of data collection, domestic violence and spouse abuse is a serious problem. In the United States alone at least 6 million women are physically abused one or more times each year using the criterion of even being slapped just once. If we use the criterion of aggravated assaults by their partners it is estimated that 1.8 million women in the United States today are attacked each year. (Straus, 1991) In reality the numbers are much higher.

About one million women each year seek medical attention for wounds inflicted by their husbands and male partners. Domestic violence poses the single greatest threat of injury to women between the ages of fifteen and forty-four. (Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 1993; Gibbs, 1993b) These statistics are greater than injuries incurred from automobile accidents.

The question remains, why does she stay? Traditionally there is the feeling of guilt having failed in her most important task of her life: her marriage. She may stay because she has become a victim, has been victimized repeatedly and has developed a ‘victim’s mentality’. She may be afraid: She has been intimidated, terrorized and she is afraid for her life. She may not know where to go to seek help. Often times her own mother who is very much aware of her daughter’s abuse will continue to press her daughter to stay in the marriage. She has been hurt over and over again, and she is aware of her husband or partner’s temper who has already threatened her with ‘she belongs to him, and if he cannot have her, no one else can have her either’.

62

She may not have skills for adequate employment and she is at a loss on how to get away, how to start over and how to support herself and her children. Legal issues such as pressing charges, obtaining court order protection, legal aspects of divorce, child custody, alimony, educational matters such as returning to school, retraining for some type of work, writing a resume, searching for a job, dressing appropriately for a corporate world, seeking shelters to house them and protect them right after the abuse, all these things seem tantamount.

Following United Kingdom’s example in 1974, the first shelter for battered women was established in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America. Since then, shelters have sprung throughout the United States and in other countries. (Martin, 1976) In these shelters the abused wife or the battered girlfriend may find safety, clothes and transportation. There are shelters that provide an array of services to include professional counseling and even legal advice free of charge. In some shelters, there are basic courses on how to write a resume and how to start looking for employment.

Most important and most essential is that there are professional people at the shelter who are there to listen and even escort the abused to the emergency room.

While very much is done for the abused female, there is still very little done to take care of abused males. The abused husband often suffers in silence. He has been taught to ‘take it like a man,' and is ashamed to report his wife to the police. Police officers may laugh and ridicule when a domestic violence call results in finding that the abused is a male. Cultures expect males to be strong and be able to take care of matters in their own household. Very few facilities are designed for men who want to run away from their abusive wives. In California, there is only one facility run by the Community United against Violence in San Francisco, an organization that assists gay men.

Image Source: Adobe Stock; Image by nevodka.com

Safety Measures

• Leave enough money and an extra set of car keys hidden outside your house or at a neighbor’s house.

• Keep important documents such as birth certificates, passports, identification cards, medical records, marriage license and an extra set of clothes at a friend’s house.

• Try to develop friendship with neighbors, telling those you can trust about the violence. Ask them to call the police if they hear suspicious noises coming from your house or apartment.

• Develop a code word with two friends and let them know you need to get out NOW! Decide where you will go • • • • • • • • • •

and how you will get there the next time your spouse becomes violent. Do this even if you don’t believe there will be a ‘next time’.

Avoid telling your partner you will leave if he/she ever hits you again, as this may be interpreted as permission to hit you just one more time.

Avoid arguments in the bathroom, garage, and kitchen, near weapons or other place with sharp objects and heavy equipment.

Take notice of expressions, body movements or anything your spouse says before an attack so you’ll know when to get away.

If you can sense tension is building up and you cannot safely leave try to keep your back toward an open space and not in a corner.

Always remember that you do not deserve to be hit. The violence tends to get worse without counseling and the danger is real.

Seek Family Counseling.

Leave the abusive spouse.

Call the police and make an official complaint. In the event of injuries a Police Report is necessary to file for Victim Compensation.

Set up your own bank account without the knowledge of your abusive spouse.

Develop better communication with your abusive spouse. Tell him/her how you feel. Ask him/her to attend counseling together.

63

• Give up drinking alcohol. Alcohol is a contributing factor to domestic violence.

• Plan and rehearse an escape route.

• Improve your work skills. If you are not able to leave your home, take Correspondence and Distance Education Courses to improve your chances of finding suitable employment.

• Do away with all weapons in the home.

• If you sense a possible argument draw the window curtains. A passer by could witness the violence and call the police.

• Become physically fit.

‘Take notice of expressions, body movements or anything your spouse says before an attack so you’ll know when to get away.’

Original Image Source: Best-Wallpaper.net; Modified by Nasser Butt 2022

Bibliography Bruni, F., “Maureen Reagan reveals husband beat her.” New York Post, 1989, April 3, p. 9.

Gibbs, N., “Til death do us part.” Time, 1993b, January 18, pp. 38 – 45.

Karmen, A., Crime Victims, An Introduction to Victimology, third edition, Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1996.

Langan, P., and Innes, C., BJS Special Report: Preventing domestic violence against women. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 1986.

Loseke, D., “Violence is ‘violence’…or is it? The social construction of ‘wife abuse’ and public policy.” In J. Best (Ed.), Images of issues: Typifying contemporary social problems, New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1989, pp. 191 – 206.

Martin, D., Battered Wives. San Francisco: Glide, 1976.

Rhodes, N., “The assessment of spousal abuse: An alternative to the conflict tactics scale.” In E. Viano (Ed.), Intimate Violence: Interdisciplinary perspectives, Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing, 1992, pp. 27 – 36.

Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Report: The Violence against Women Act 1993. Washington, DC: U.S. Senate, 1993.

Straus, M., “Conceptualization and Measurement of Battering: Implications for Public Policy.” In M. Steinman (Ed.), Woman Battering Policy Responses, Cincinnati: Anderson, 1991, pp. 19 – 42.

64

65

19

68

W

hat is authentic ninjutsu? Is it just fantasy martial arts based on a hugely exaggerated urban myth? It is interesting to see sometimes the reception ninjutsu practitioners get with other martial arts. It seems to vary from wry amusement to dismissiveness. So how can we present a true or authentic view of this art — and should we?

So, to answer the last question first, should we? Well, there are tens of thousands if not more practitioners of Bujinkan budo taijutsu around the globe, so maybe we should. But wait, we said ninjutsu, not budo taijutsu, so why the change in terms? Well, for this there’s a bit of history needed. When Hatsumi sensei first brought the art to the public, through people like Stephen Hayes, Brian McCarthy, Bo Munthe it was focused on ninjutsu — particularly Togakure Ryu ninjutsu, a 1000 year old tradition. But when this was hijacked by the Hollywood ninja boom of the 80’s it skewed peoples perspective. So, to distance the art from this over-the-top superficial celluloid presentation, the term Budo Taijutsu was used to represent what the Bujinkan trained in.

Does that change what we are talking about? Not at all! The Bujinkan is an organisation that has roots in authentic ninjutsu practice. A bit of a bold claim, but there are some simple tests or meters this can be measured against.

Firstly: is there a lineage that can be traced to the time in Japan that ninjutsu was used? Well, Togakure Ryu was developed in the area that is now known as Togakushi. There have been historical documents that show this was the region where the ryu originated from. Japanese history professors who delve into military history all agree that the “Kami” or deity of the Iga and Koka Shinobi came from the Togakushi and Iizuna Mountains. The roots of all ninjutsu are tied to Togakushi and the shugendo known as Izuna no Ho that was practiced there. The Nagano prefectural government acknowledges that the Togakushi Mountain was a hot bed of Shinobi recruiting activity, all through the Kamakura era and Muromachi era (1185 to 1573).

Secondly: does the art reflect forms that promote escape, evasion and survival? The Bujinkan is the only ‘ninja’ art that has techniques specific to the use of metsubishi (blinding powders). It also has techniques and practice that emphasises evasion. It is interesting to note when Hatsumi sensei shows techniques he finishes a lot of the time by walking away from the opponent — emphasising escape from the conflict. One of the big differences in this art and others is its never about ‘winning’ a fight, its more about survival from the encounter.

Thirdly: the dynamics of techniques, can they be applied to any weapon or tool used without a completely new system needing to be learned? The taijutsu in the Kihon Happo and San Shin no Kata are the foundations or building blocks that is used in all applications, whether armed or unarmed. The footwork builds the principle of avoidance, distancing and opening avenues of escape. The strikes, locks and throws are similarly adaptable. A lot of the individual locks, throws and strikes are found in other arts — the difference is in the application. That comes from the principle of the second meter — escape, evasion and survival.

Same stance — different weapon

69

How the Bujinkan trains does therefore reflect principles of ninjutsu.

So why do people see it as less than authentic? Some of that will be down to the individuals pre-existing bias. They may feel that it is not as effective as their own art; or be unable to look at it without the mass media / film images colouring their perception. It also needs to be acknowledged that a lot of reputable Bujinkan teachers (the author included) will use almost stereotypical ‘ninja’ imagery to promote classes, raise profile and, sometimes, just for fun. This can be used as a reason to dismiss the effectiveness or authenticity of the art, but it should be more seen in the spirit intended.

How do we tell ‘true’ ninjutsu from unrealistic or ‘Hollywood’ ninjutsu then? I mean all the above seems well and good but making a call on what is real and what is imitation is harder. Some simple measures to use: • Does it look like karate or kick boxing in its movements, but in black gi (with or without masks) = not ninjutsu; • Does it talk about winning one on one fights = not ninjutsu; • Is there a lot of rigidity in the postures, a lot of shouting (kiai-ish) when striking = not ninjutsu; • Do they use (don’t get me started) straight swords = not ninjutsu; • Do they use nunchaku, Sai, chain whip = not ninjutsu; • Do they promote grappling on the ground one-on-one, passing guard, etc = not ninjutsu

Traditional stance dokkou

So, what is ninjutsu?

They promote having the right distance from the opponent to avoid strikes while being able to strike; they use the Ten Chi Jin as a syllabus; they emphasise being relaxed when striking; weapons work is related to the unarmed dynamic; when holding a lock or restraint there is emphasis on being aware of other opponents; use of natural obstacles to impede opponents; escape using distraction and disabling non-lethal techniques. To be honest defining what ninjutsu is can be a lot harder than what it is not, but hopefully this gives some indications on what to look for.

Above: training ; Below: Togakushi Shrine

The final point to make on authentic ninjutsu — does it need to prove itself to the martial art community as an effective art? No! Just as with many martial arts, it will suit some, and not others. But this is more about what is authentic ninjutsu, and hopefully this has discussion has illustrated this.

About the Author: Dave Giddings has studied Ninjutsu since 1987, training in Germany, the UK and in Japan as part of the Bujinkan. He has organised and led demonstrations at national shows and written articles on this subject for national martial arts publications.

70

D

r Jon Xue Zhang is a man of many talents — not only is he a highly skilled martial artist, he holds a Phd [more about that later], a musician, stuntman, actor and author, but above all… he is simply a thoroughly nice guy!

I had the pleasure of meeting Jon in 2021 at The Japanese Martial Arts show, held in Wolverhampton and was introduced to him by our mutual friend Lucci Del-Gaudio, who was hosting the event and had co-organised it.

Some souls you take an instant liking to and Jon is such a soul. Softly spoken, he is immensely knowledgable, highly skilful without a bone of boastfulness or ego, and always eager to muck in with the rest. We had a brief chat and spent a few minutes together on stage handing out certificates during the evening event. I had to leave a little early, so we exchanged numbers and promised to keep in touch — I had already told Jon, that I would love to feature him in Lift Hands and he was happy to oblige.

We stayed in touch and I sent a few back issues of Lift Hands to Jon over the Christmas period and finally managed to catch up with him in Cambridge in April, where our friend Neil Kirkland from Adaptive Martial Arts had organised a workshop with the man himself!

75

Post an highly energetic and informative workshop [and many, many photo ops later], I finally managed to prize Jon away from the crowd of enthusiastic participants along with my sidekick and videographer — Christine Batcheler — and began our 20 Questions…

LH: Are you ready for this? So, we are here with Dr Jon Xue Zhang… did I pronounce that right?

DJXG: Fantastic, not bad at all!

LH: [Laughing] Just wanted to make sure and confirm that you are not Master Wong? [Both laughing hysterically] DJXZ: Thank you! Thank you, for getting that right!

LH: Right, 20 Questions Jon! The idea is you say whatever you want to — whatever comes to mind. There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s simply what comes to mind. However, just before we begin, a little bit about your

background — please tell us.

DJZX: I’m a martial arts and self-defence practitioner and instructor. I’ve been training since I was five. I have cross-trained in multiple disciplines such as various forms of KungFu, Karate, Aikido, JiuJitsu, Hapkido, Arnis and Silat. I have spent over 26 years training under an SAS Instructor, who I consider my main teacher. I’m also an actor and stunt person.

LH: And your Phd is in?

DJXZ: Metaphysics!

LH: Exactly! That is something out there! Now the question that I wanted to ask you was, and this has nothing to do with the 20 Questions — Has your Phd, the subject… Metaphysics, has it had any influence upon your martial arts?

76

DJXZ: Absolutely, it has! Especially with the meditation aspect of my training! Also, it helped when I worked as the psychologist with the Saudi Arabian National Tae Kwon Do team and with their training as well.

LH: Wow! That’s fantastic! Ok, so here we go, your 20 Questions. If you could have personally witnessed anything, what would you want to have seen?

DJXZ: The signing of the Declaration of Independence… I saw Nicholas Cage steal it in National treasure!

[Laughs] LH: That’s interesting! I don’t think we have had that one before. All right…What would you do if you were invisible for a day?

DJXZ: [Laughs]… Either solve crime or commit crime! Banks it is… head over to the jewel bank!

LH: [Laughing hysterically] Why not, why not indeed — a modern day Robin Hood! I think you are the second

person now to have said that! As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?

DJXZ: A superhero!

LH: A superhero? Any particular one?

DJXZ: No, I just wanted to be a superhero! And if I couldn’t be a real life superhero then I would settle for playing one in a film.

LH: Okay, which you have!

DJXZ: Yeah! Dreams do come true!

77

78

Photography ; Nasser Butt

79

Photography : Nasser Butt

LH: Absolutely, absolutely! Ok… What animal best represents you and why?

DJXZ: A Panda!

LH: Why? DJXZ: I’m built like a Panda, not as hairy! I’m just as pale! I’m very clumsy and I roll off objects!

LH: Okay! What is your greatest strength or weakness?

DJXZ: Greatest strength… erm, it has to be my leg press. I can press over 620 kilos, fifty reps! Yeah, and as for my weaknesses — ha, ha… I’m a big softy!

LH: [Laughing] You know what, I think most martial artists tend to be… we are, we are big softies. We tend to be tough on the outside but inside — it’s all mush! This is one of my favourite questions… What is your favourite memory of any one of your grandparents?

DJXZ: Holding hands with my grandpa as we walked down the stairs in this restaurant. Yeah, he was still coherent at the time and I remember just feeling the strength of his hands. Yes, it is something I will always remember.

LH: Nice! How do you want to be remembered?

DJXZ: As a nice person! A kind person who helped other people and hopefully that kindness extends to other people as well… anything that I did for them, I’d like them to pass to others as well.

LH: Fantastic! What have you always wanted and did you ever get it?

DJXZ: I wanted to be at peace with myself! These days anxiety is a hell of a thing… and I wanted to be at peace with myself. So, I spent years working on myself and everything. Anything I didn’t like about myself, anything I felt needed changing, I’ve had to do the groundwork to be able to do that. And these days, especially having done that before the lockdown, I was very happy and content with myself, and just being kind to myself a bit more!

LH: You know what, that is a very important point because a lot of people don’t take time out for themselves!

We mot our cars but we don’t mot ourselves!

DJXZ: It’s true! You know, it’s like erm, I can only donate money if I have money. I can only give you myself if first I have myself! So, if I want to help a lot of people, I need to know that this is ok first [touches his head and chest].

80

81

Photography ; Nasser Butt

LH: Absolutely brilliant! I couldn’t agree more. Moving on… Do you know your heritage?

DJXZ: Yes, yes… Parents are from Taiwan and of course from China beyond that!

LH: Are you still learning who you are?

DJXZ: Absolutely! So, my name Xue, which is my middle name literally means ‘to learn’ — I am always learning. I’m a student for life! The more I learn, the more I realise there is to learn!

LH: Absolutely! What, if anything, are you afraid of and why?

DJXZ: I’m terrified from getting 10 missed calls from my mum! I mean who wouldn’t be? I’m like [panicking]… mum, what’s up? She’s like, “Oh, nothing! I’m just calling to see what you are up to?”

LH: I know that feeling! It’s something I understand! What is the most memorable class you have ever taken?

That can be either as a student or as a teacher.

DJXZ: So, I took a seminar, I won’t say where — it was a few years ago. It was a seminar for fighters and if you were demonstrating a technique, they were not overly compliant, so, I had to prove it and push came to shove — more than it should have — and yeah, I had proof of concept and I could show in a live environment that the techniques I was teaching could work… especially when they had their gloves on and were coming at me! So, yeah, I think that that was one that definitely stands out!

LH: Well that’s one way to show that you know your stuff! Ok, onwards… What book has influenced you the most?

DJXZ: Erm… ‘SubQuantum Kinetics’! That’s an area of research I am interested in and it’s by Paul LaViolette, and it’s something I feel is a huge paradigm that seems to understand every other paradigm!

82

54

Photography ; Nasser Butt

10 missed calls from mum!

Wow! Ok, it’s something I’ll have to check out! What ridiculous thing has someone tricked you into doing or believing?

DJXZ: My friend told me that the Energiser bunny — he mentioned the Duracell bunny and I said, what about the Energiser bunny? — Was a part of the Mandela Effect and it doesn’t really exist! I was like… what? [See below] It really messed with my mind… I’m like what? My whole life I have known the Energiser bunny! And it turns out, I was vulnerable!

LH: [Disbelief]! Right, ok… Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life?

DJXZ: Probably my martial arts instructor! He trained the SAS and he trained me from a very young age and he’s still my instructor to this day — 27 years on!

84

LH: Wow! DJXZ: So, with him… he has never shown me the same technique twice! So, if I didn’t learn it the first time around then I didn’t learn it at all! He’s a wealth of knowledge and he has been very generous to give my that knowledge.

LH: Excellent! Ok… What is the craziest thing one of your teachers has done or made you do?

DJXZ: Trying to throw him I suppose! He asked me to demonstrate on him… something I knew wouldn’t work on him — Especially in sparring and no it didn’t work at all! [Laughs] LH: Right… We are nearing the end… When did you screw everything up, but no one ever found out it was you? Now remember… this is going out there!

DJXZ: [Laughs hysterically] Ok, the last night I was working on a set, it was in another country, I was doing laundry in a public launderette. All the other washing machines were empty and I decided to not only wash my own clothes but also pay for and start all the other machines — empty! When other crew members came in they were like… “Oh no! Why would somebody do this?” I’m like shaking my head… yeah what bastards! Ok… It’s out there!

LH: [Laughing] It is indeed!

DJXZ: It was hilarious! It inconveniences everyone for 45 minutes!

LH: Absolutely brilliant! Ok… If someone made a movie of your life would it be a drama, a comedy, a romantic-comedy, action film or science fiction?

DJXZ: Comedy! Comedy… absolutely, for sure! I’d get Nick Cage to play me!

LH: I’m glad you said him and not Master Wong! [Both laugh hysterically] If you could select one person from history and ask them one question, who would you select and what would the question be?

DJXZ: It’d be Bruce Lee and the question would be… “Dude, do you know where I put the remote?” — Just to see his face!

85

LH: Brilliant! I like that one! Last question. How would you describe your art in ten words or less?

DJXZ: Creative, varied, improvised and effective!

LH: Fabulous! Well, that was your 20 questions with Dr Jon Xue Zhang! Thank you so much! It’s been a pleasure and fun Jon, and I know we will be seeing more of you in the coming issues.

DJXZ: Thank you!

My thanks to Christine for once again helping record the interview and for her superb videography which allowed me to capture and edit stills from the video.

All images edited and copyrighted © Nasser Butt 2022 Videography: Christine Batcheler.

86

W

hat is meant by this term? How does it apply to a Martial Arts context? Simply put, composure under pressure means being able to remain calm and retain one’s faculties when faced with a difficult situation.

A Martial Artist can be defined as an individual who has mastery of himself in terms of his physical and mental faculties, someone who is able to act under pressure calmly and morally. However, sometimes in times of fear, an individual may inadvertently and unintentionally kill another in self defence because they did not know when to stop, whereas another example would be an individual who crumbles under the sheer pressure and freeze.

There are many practitioners who are excellent at what they do in training and in training only. For some reason, they are unable to translate their skills to real life situations, which may be due to aspects discussed in previous articles (Traditional to Modern Parts 1 and 2) of having a limited skill set. Many may be able to analytically describe how they are able to defend themselves theoretically and therefore write cheques that their bodies simply cannot cash, where they are unable to apply what they know when they are under pressure.

We have all been there; it does not need to be a situation involving physical confrontation, it could be an argument or dispute with someone else or almost anything of that nature. So what happens when we are under pressure? Generally, we freeze, clench up and we do not breathe properly; with the surge of adrenalin pumping through us, we are unable to act appropriately despite our training. Of course, having ample training does help; it is absolutely advisable to learn as much as you can to be able to contain and effectively deal with situations as best as possible (Whilst this may sound vague, the purpose of this is for you to be able to apply this to almost every situation you could face); you will simply not come into possession of new knowledge in times of pressure and stress.

It is all to do with your fight or flight response; when we are suddenly faced with danger, our bodies automatically make a switch to allow for us to deal with the situation in preparation for defending ourselves.

The Sympathetic Nervous System activates when we are under threat, where those changes are made. Many of us crumble under the fear as we freeze up also. Our minds often concentrate on what might happen as opposed to what is actually happening, which contributes towards our powerlessness. This is something that will be discussed in another article.

87

If you are to examine your breathing right now, it is safe to assume that your breathing is not laboured, relaxed and slower than what it would be if you were afraid. The body engages the Parasympathetic Nervous System when relaxed. When we are in a situation, it is essential to return your breathing, which by now would be laboured, back to what is it when you are relaxed and thus, disengaging the Sympathetic Nervous System in order to for us to reengage the Parasympathetic Nervous System. To do this, you must take very deep breaths and fill your lungs with oxygen. It is important to do this as your lungs will have opened up more due to the nature of the SNS. Once you are able to do this effectively, your physical and mental faculties will return to you so that you are able to overcome the freezing and the fear. This can be applied to every situation that compels you to be afraid, from physical confrontations to job interviews and driving tests, so that you are able to relax and perform to your maximum capability.

Knowing how to breathe and apply it to such a situation can be a Martial Artist’s best tool so that he can act and react accordingly. Nervous individuals about to go in for their driving test go through similar if not the same processes as competitive fighters who have nerves before a fight. Though, it is not just the Martial Artist who can benefit from this.

88

89

90

The Blessing of Wind Dr Gregory T. Lawton Eons ago you were carved from the bones of the earth And you stood alone, resolute, and exposed to the elements.

Time is a constant moment That ends only when forgotten.

Like watching a leaf lifted by the wind And carried away until you can't see it any longer.

You were clothed in solitude And you held your memories cupped in your hands As you patiently awaited the blessing of wind.

You were delicately chiseled from stone As the wind found the weakness in you, And hollowed you out and shaped you, Leaving only virgin stone And wearing away the rotten stone.

You have eroded to the truth within you.

Now the wind caresses the scrim That drapes across your skin And rubs along the folds And curves of your body.

In the face of this eternal wind You are just a breath, or a whisper.

In time, you are nothing more than grit and dust...

This is the blessing of wind.

About the authorKindly reprinted with permission from:

Dr. Gregory T. Lawton is an author of many books, most of them in the area of health science, but also in the genre of Asian martial arts, philosophy, poetry, and prose. Dr. Lawton is a passionate award winning artist and photographer who finds his artistic and creative inspiration in nature, and who frequently attributes the source of his images and writing to the 19th century Persian Prophet, Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, and the 13th century Persian poet and Sufi Mystic Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī. Dr. Lawton has been a member of the Baha’i Faith since 1970 and embraces the Faith’s principles related to the promotion of world unity and peace.

The Silence Between Words 2016, Revised 2019 Dr. Gregory T. Lawton 2040 Raybrook Street, SE Suite 104 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546 616-285-9999

91

Lift Hands would like to thank Katherine Loukopoulos Sensei for providing this exclusive book free of charge to our readers. To get your download link please visit and join our group page on FaceBook: Lift Hands: The Internal Arts Magazine

Photography by David Pratt; Concept and Design by Nasser Butt Copyright©2021

I

f Taijiquan is compared to a language then the Thirteen Dynamics1 are its alphabet! They are the ‘key’ — the ‘Rosetta Stone’ — with which to unlock its speak.

There are no ‘postures’ per se, there are only the ‘Dynamics’ threaded together by interim motions or transitions.

These 13 ‘letters’ can produce thousands of ‘words’, just like the English alphabet with its 26 letters [the Oxford English Dictionary website states that they cover over 600,000 terms as of 2021, with 171,146 words currently in use in the English language and 47,156 obsolete words].

A typical native speaker knows around 15,000 to 20,000 word families — or lemmas.

A word family or lemma is simply a root word and all its inflections, where the word inflection represents a change in the form of a wording [typically the ending] to express a grammatical function or attribute — for example blue, bluer, bluest, etc.

Taijiquan is no different [and this applies to all martial arts] — it functions in exactly the same way!

According to Taiji Fa Shuo — attributed to Yang Ban-hou — circa 1875, we are told: The positions of the eight gates are based on the principle of the passive and active aspects inverting each other, cycling round and round, following each other in their process. All of the four primary techniques [corresponding to the cardinal directions] and four secondary techniques [corresponding to the corner directions] must be understood.

The four primary Dynamics are: P’eng — Ward Off Lu — Rolling Backwards Ji — Squeeze An — Press As a general rule, P’eng jing is the major jing used in all of the above and is considered as ‘moving Qi’, while Lu is ‘collecting Qi’. Chee is ‘receiving Qi’, while Arn is ‘striking Qi’.

The four secondary Dynamics are: Cai/Tsai — To Pluck/To Pick Lie/Lieh — To Split/Rend/Divide Zhou/Chou — Elbow K’ao — Shoulder Stroke/Bumping The Five Directions are: Move Forward (Fire) Move Backward (Water) Look Right (Metal) Gaze Left (Wood) Central Equilibrium (Earth)

***** 1. For a full description of the 13 Dynamics please refer to my articles, Moving with Awareness: The 13 Dynamics, The Cornerstones and their Significance — Lift Hands Volume 1, and The Energies of Taijiquan Part 1 — Lift Hands Volume 13

94

It is not my aim to go through the detailed explanations and meanings behind these Dynamics [see footnote on previous page], rather the aim is to give a brief introduction to the practitioner in explaining the root and lemmas, nouns verbs etc, so that they are able to speak and understand the language. Also, it is not enough just being able to speak the language, one must be able to read and write the language too, and the more proficient you become, the more your vocabulary and word power improves, and the better you are able to express yourself — it is that simple!

Just like a child learns to speak first and only later goes to school to learn to read and write, and understand the rules of grammar along with other fundamentals of the language, such as the meaning of words, their synonyms etc, Taiji also follows a similar path — however, sadly in most instances, the practitioners remain ‘illiterate’ or are ‘poorly literate’! Some may consider this a bold statement, they may be upset by my suggestion, but ask yourself the question — why? I stand by my words and will clarify what I mean.

As already stated, P’eng is considered the major jing — the jing used to make up all of the primary Dynamics [and by default is also present in every other dynamic]. It can be considered the ‘root word’ of Taiji!

The root of a word is defined as ‘the core of a word that is irreducible into more meaningful elements.’

In Taiji, P’eng is irreducible!

Words are created from root words by simply adding prefixes or suffixes to the beginning or ending of a root, or both, ie: Aud: to hear Auditory, audible, audiology, audiotape, audiovisual, audition, auditorium2 In the above example we have simply added suffixes to the Latin root Aud — to hear.

Or:

Dic or dict: to say, tell Dictate, dictator, predict, diction, dictation, contradict, contradictory, edict, indicate, indict, indictment3

In the above example, words have been created by either adding a suffix, a prefix or both to the Latin root Dic or Dict — to say, tell.

Another method used is referred to as the Greek Combining Forms4: Beginning: auto, phono, photo, biblio, hydro, hyper, hypo, tele, chrom, arch, phys, psych, micro, peri, bi, semi, hemi, mono, metro, demo Examples: automobile, phonograph, bibliography, hydroelectric, hyperactive, telephone, telegraphy, chromosome, physical, periodontal, semicircle, demonstration Ending: *graph, gram, meter, *ology, sphere, scope, crat, cracy, polis Examples: photograph, microscope, hemisphere, telegram, chronometer, physiology, metropolis, perimeter, archeology, bibliography, democracy, autocrat Taiji also uses the concept of Combining Forms — P’eng to ‘create’ the other Dynamics [See next page. For further details see article; The Hand Patterns of Old Yang Style Taijiquan, Lift Hands Volume 19, September 2021].

P’eng jing is the key to understanding the Thirteen Dynamics and learning how to separate the subsequent energies. Without understanding that the so-called eight energies are all manifestations of p’eng and that we only call them by different names because of the ‘difference in appearance,’ students will fail to even grasp the basics of Taiji — p’eng jing is and always remains the root!

In all dynamics and in every transition, p’eng jing is the foundation to drawing out the internal power.

95

P’eng — The ‘Root’

Lu

Ji

Arn

***** 2,3,4 [from previous page] — Common Root Words; Echevarria, J., Vogt, M.E., & Short, D. (2013). Making content comprehensible for English learners: The SIOP Model (4th Ed.). Boston: Pearson, pp. 72-73.

Compiled by M.K. Henry, 1990. https://www.mville.edu

96

Now that we have established the root, let us examine creating words, lemmas and synonyms etc, using a few ‘postures’ from the Old Yang Style of Taijiquan as simple examples.

Ward Off [P’eng] The primary dynamic of ‘Ward Off’ in the opening sequence of Long Boxing is made up of two basic components — the hands and the feet. Both components are roots in their own right [I am deliberately trying to keep things simple by referring to the irreducible element only!].

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 2

Photo 1

The roots are: 1. Hands — P’eng 2. Feet — Break Taiji Step [An entering forward step] The Break Taiji Step is one of the main stepping methods of Taijiquan [there are 14 methods in total which are divided up amongst the five methods of stepping — Forward, Backward, Look Left, Gaze Right and Central equilibrium]. In fact, it is the most commonly used step consisting of the front foot being placed down on its heel, then as the body moves forward, the toes are placed down with the weight not going past the middle of the foot [See sequence above and front view left]. The thighs and knees are curved and collecting, with the rear thigh being less curved then the front. The rear foot controls the waist in yielding, we rely on it for both, power and evasiveness without moving backwards — in other words we never retreat, giving rise to the classic: Photo 5

"To enter is to be born while to retreat is to die.”

From Block Right [Photo 1] in the Old Yang, as we step with the break step and our weight shifts forward [70%] to the left leg, the left hand rises with your wrist centred on the chest as your waist turns to the front [North] and the right hands moves downwards to just in front of the hip [I am not teaching how to do the form here, I’m simply trying to give a brief description of the transition]. Both arms are P’eng… with the left hand giving us the classic root P’eng — most commonly translated simply as ward off, however, its more fuller description would be to ward off slantingly upwards at an angle of 45º. The arm is held rounded like a crescent moon, slanting upwards, however, it is the angle of the wrist which is the key to its success — lifting the energy of the attacker and causing them to feel like they are ‘floating’! It is a Yin defence and is sometimes likened to the antennae of an insect — a sensor — which can rapidly be turned into a yang attack.

Remember, earlier we defined a word family or lemma as a root word and all its inflections [see above]. So, if we take the ‘posture’ of Ward off as the root word representing ‘blue’ in the earlier example, then the inflections are represented as follows:

97

Photo 6: Ward off = Root = ‘Blue’

Photo 7: Wild Horse Veers Its Mane = Inflection = ‘Bluer’

Photo 8: Slant Flying = Inflection = ‘Bluest’

It should be obvious to the practitioner that Slant Flying [SF] and Wild Horse Veers Its Mane [WHVIM] are themselves Ward off [however, martially speaking, each are different in application, since the dynamic involved is different — we have started to create nouns, verbs, adverbs, pronouns — giving us names, traits qualities, functions etc]. So, the three form a word family or lemma! Equally, we could say that both SF and WHVIM are also synonyms of Ward off [a word of caution, these are not the only inflections or synonyms of Ward off — I have used the above examples purely for visual simplicity].

Once we understand the base ideas of root words [created from the ‘alphabet’ of the 13 Dynamics], the practitioner will quickly discover that Taijiquan Long Boxing is simply made up of nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, anagrams, combining forms, synonyms etc, where the root is always P’eng [in the English language a mere 14 roots provide the clues to over 100,000 words]. Further, Long Boxing is usually split into 3 parts or ‘thirds’. It is the first third which contains all the critical ideas — the rules per se — such as ‘Seize The Sparrow By The Tail,’ the remaining two-thirds are simply a repetition of the same ideas showing understanding and command of the language of Taiji at higher levels, and the more one practices, the more fluent one becomes.

Returning back to our dynamic or posture of Ward off and Break Taiji Step, we understand that in this stepping method it makes it easier to revolve, as the toes slightly break connection with the ground, the revolving is done upon the heel, and contracting and issuing force happen as the toes are placed upon the ground. An example of this dynamic is the ‘posture’ of Brush Knee & Obstinate-Twist Step5.

On the following page you can see both front and side views of Ward off and Brush Knee & Obstinate-Twist Step. It shouldn’t require rocket science to work out from the visual images alone that we are essentially looking at a variant of the same posture. The p’eng hand in ward-off is now on the opposite side to the lead leg with the palm turned away [Arn] giving the ‘posture’ a totally different dynamic and function — thus creating a new word!

The theme continues — still using Ward off and now Brush Knee & Obstinate-Twist Step as the base words we not only produce further ‘new’ words, we also change their form and function — yet, the root of P’eng remains regardless! ***** 5. Brush Knee & Obstinate-Twist Step was originally practiced as a weighted turn in order to develop martial power in the leg and is still practiced in this way in the Old Yang Style as opposed to rocking back in the modern styles. For a full description see Lift Hands Volume 6, June 2018 — Peasant Talk

98

Photo 9: Ward off [Front View]

Photo 10: Brush Knee Obstinate Twist Step [Front View]

Photo 11: Ward off [Side View]

Photo 12: Brush Knee Obstinate Twist Step [Side View]

In the Old Yang, the ‘posture’ or dynamic known as ‘Step Back & Repulse Monkey [Tripping],’ performed three times — is essentially the three Brush Knee Obstinate Twist Steps being done in reverse from the first third! The dynamic, its function and detail have, of course now changed in meaning, but it is born out of the Brush Knee

Photo 13: Starting from of Fist Under Elbow

Photo 14

Photo 15

Photo 16

[see from left to right photos 13—17 and compare photos 12 & 17] and once more, P’eng remains the irreducible core!

Continuing with the theme of the monkey, when we observe Natural Repulse Monkey [found in both Yang Cheng-fu’s Form and the Old Yang], we quickly realise that it is essentially the counterpart to Ward off and the Break Taiji Step called Backward Break Taiji Step! Natural Repulse Monkey is the only dynamic which uses this step where the toes settle first followed by the heel with the waist being controlled this time by the front leg [see photos 18 and 19].

This stepping should not be confused with the step back from the Tripping Monkey shown above, which is totally different since the foot there lands flat.

Photo 17: End Posture for Tripping Monkey

99

Photo 18: Natural Repulse Monkey

Both Ward off and Repulse Monkey finish in the ‘natural’ position — ie same leg and hand forward. If you compare Photos 11 and 19, you’ll see that the posture has simply reversed for both the hands and the feet. Yet again, the dynamic leading you there is different, as is the resultant principle application.

So why is this all necessary to understand and know?

Taijiquan is not a set of techniques, nor fixed applications — it is an art based upon innateness and moving with awareness in order to understand and recognise the source of movement! If we are able to identify this in ourselves, then we will be able to identify it in others too, without this we will fail!

Yang Ban-hou leaves us in no doubt in the text attributed to him: Photo 19: Natural repulse Monkey end posture

From birth, our eyes can see, ears can hear, nose can smell, mouth can taste. Sights and sounds, smells and tastes – all innate senses. Dance of hands, prance of feet – the abilities of our limbs are all innate forms of movement. Pondering upon this, we find it is our random experience – “Our natures make us the same, but our experiences make us unique.” [Lun Yu, 17.2] – that makes us lose touch with what is innate. If we want to return to our innate qualities, there will be no martial aspect unless we seek the source of movement, and there will be no civil aspect unless we grasp the basis of awareness. With these things, then there will be moving with awareness.

If there is activation and perception, there will be action and realization.

If there is no activation or perception, there will be no action or realization. When activation is at its height, action is initiated. When perception is fully lucid, there is realization. Action and realization are the easy part. Activation and perception are tricky.

First strive to move with awareness for yourself, grasping it within your own body, then naturally you will be able to spot it in the opponent. If on the other hand you try to find it in opponents first, you will probably never find it in yourself. You have to be able to understand this concept in order to be able to identify energies.

The purpose of understanding the language of Taijiquan, I repeat, is simple… to be able to identify the source of movement within ourselves. In order to do that we must understand the 13 Dynamics and through this Long Boxing. Taiji develops this concept through progressional principles — there is no fixed technique. There are only fixed principles! The fixed principles do not limit or hinder us — rather they give us unlimited possibilities. Again, Ban-hou is clear on the matter: The Thirteen Dynamics solo set flows on and on ceaselessly, and hence is called Long Boxing. [“It is like a long river flowing into the wide ocean...”]

You may spread out and gather in as you will, but by no means allow yourself to stray from the taiji concept.

When folk talk about change and changing things in forms or ‘techniques’ — they have missed the point all together! The change happens in ourselves through study, it is we who expand, each to our own abilities and according to the effort we have put in to our practice and development.

Staying with our language analogy — the English language is the most commonly spoken language throughout the world. However, regardless of where you go, the general rules and function studied are always the same, yet each country, region and people have developed their own dialects, accents and mannerisms of speech! There still remain the same 26 letters in the alphabet regardless of whether you are reading a Shakespearean sonnet, an American Classic, or even using text speech! Further, the vocabulary of each individual will also be unique and of varying degrees. And just as no one person knows or uses the entire dictionary, so is true in the martial arts in general and Taiji specifically. The art was deliberately taught in abstract, so practitioners didn’t get hooked on a technique. What they were shown was the base template from where many techniques could emerge providing

100

the practitioner had understood the principle — the root of movement! Also, and I have mentioned this several times before in many of my previous articles, martial arts are based upon two fighting methods — the big man’s fighting method and the small man’s fighting method. Each uses its own ideas to engage the opponent depending upon the size of the practitioner and his opponent. Combat is no different to having a conversation with someone… we respond to what the other is saying with the appropriate words.

Above and overleaf — Variations of Natural Repulse Monkey I have deliberately kept the movements large and in keeping with the form for simplicity’s sake indicating only hand strikes and throws through destabilisation of the head and kinking of the brainstem. The possibilities, including kicks etc, are endless since no attack happens the same way twice!

101

Below: A few simple variations of Brush Knee & Obstinate-Twist Step including strikes, throws and smashing the head into the ground! Again, only a handful of variations are shown. The applications have been shown from static postures for illustrative purposes only.

102

Above: Step Back & Repulse Monkey [Tripping] from Old Yang — A reversal of Brush Knee & Obstinate-Twist Step!

Below: Classical P’eng variations from Small San-sau

103

Once we have started to understand the language and realise that P’eng sits at the root of Taiji and transmutes through the 13 Dynamics, allowing us to communicate within and without, then Ban-hou states: A mere thirteen dynamics is not a lot.

But however many there might be, if their standard is not maintained and if the position of your waist and headtop is misplaced, you will end up sighing with woe.

The key to their being no division lies in but two words: the “sovereign” and “subject” roles of the mind and body — ponder them carefully. Your skill should have no division between internal and external, and then there will be not any mistakes however many contenders you fight.

What comes out of you during a fight should be natural, coming from such interactions as between the realms of ground and sky. When you no longer have a problem with letting go of yourself, there will never be hesitation as you go upward or downward, forward or back.

And… The body makes its steps according to the five elements, bracing in all directions. The five elements are: advance (fire), retreat (water), step to the left (wood), step to the right (metal), and stay in the center (earth). Advancing and retreating are the steppings of water and fire, left and right are the steppings of metal and wood, and the central earth is the axis for all of them.

Embrace the eight trigrams as you step through the five elements…

According to Wang T’sung-yeuh of Shanxi, once the source of movement and the role of passive and active aspects are understood, ‘This then is understanding power.’6 He continues: Its root is to discard self and follow men: Many mistakenly discard the near and seek afar. This is known as being out by a hair’s breadth And going wrong by a thousand miles. Students cannot but carefully distinguish.

This is the theory...7 The lines above are a reminder and a rebuke by Wang... he lays it out in a most simple manner in that the most basic of ideas is to forget your own plans [assumptions/preemptions] and simply respond to what your opponent is doing! Don’t second guess or get ahead of yourself! Often folk make the mistake of ignoring what is right there in front of them by focusing on something which has nothing to do with their immediate circumstances [in other words — they fail to live and act in the present], thereby missing by an inch and loosing by a mile, and that students must study and understand this clearly, and this is why this has been written down for everyone!

Both, Wang and Ban-hou are in perfect harmony… once you understand the principles and the language then What comes out of you during a fight should be natural… bracing in all directions. However, Without long application of effort One cannot thoroughly penetrate it.8 ***** 6,7,8 — The Treatise of Wang T’sung-yeuh of Shanxi, Great Pole Boxing: The Theory [Late 18th Century]

104

105

I

t’s a lofty title I know, but the longer I practice my art I have found that even the most complicated principles and highest philosophies can be condensed down into the simplest of things.

Let's take a human being, the most complex of all living creatures, able to think independently of its instincts, as distinct from other creatures, capable of living into the triple digits but humbly created from a single cell zygote. All the intelligence and information to create us is contained within something of a handful of cells. Planet Earth, able to support the entire human race and we find that the under pining principle for its existence is gravity. Particles that attract other particles to form a solid body in space, which attract other, which in turn form their own gravity. Simplicity in complexity, complexity in simplicity!

When asking what is the essence of Martial Arts, let's first ask, what's in a name? 'Martial' and 'Art'? Let's look at the word 'Art.' The word art refers to refinement of skill over time. Anything can be an art, from making tea to sitting at a computer writing a program to run in the most efficient way. When we traditionally think of art we think of a beautiful painting. There is no 'reason' behind it, yet we hold art in such high esteem, and it creates so much emotion in us. But why? I would say it is life refined down to its finest, most essential expression. There is huge unexplainable value in that. Even living itself can be an art, and a life well lived is a beautiful work of art.

Now for the word ‘Martial'; Martial means associated with war. On a base level Martial Arts keep the body healthy and strong which gives us the ability to fight off disease and external pathogens, but the same could be said for any exercise. The added advantage of a martial art is that it gives us the ability to fight the average person if, god forbid, we ever had to use our skills. However now days if someone really wanted to hurt us a single bullet will suffice and little skill is needed to pull a trigger. Then what gives martial arts its enduring appeal even today?

Look deeper and we find that the whole of life is a struggle, a battle. From the day we are born we struggle to breath. Everything in life, including the human body, follows the path of least resistance. It is called entropy and without constant maintenance all falls into disrepair. As we age, even time itself seems to be our enemy.

Although the earth is plentiful, to make cotton into cloth and food from seeds requires a huge amount of resources, effort, care and attention. Even though she provides for us, Mother nature herself is as brutally withholding as she is giving. Animals would eat us given half the chance, fellow humans would exploit or kill us to get our resources. To live is to struggle.

In my opinion, the ‘Martial’ in ‘Martial Arts’ is an acceptance of the inherent struggle of life and its contradictions. Life is a paradox, we know deep down that the odds are stacked against us yet we feel we deserve happiness and never stop seeking it.

The essence of Martial Arts is as a ritual, where we acknowledge, regularly, the difficulties of being, accepting that while working to live artfully; refining our body, mind and soul. We accept that birth includes death and choose to meet that inevitability with compassion, strength and determination. Observe the line from the Great Pole Boxing Theory.

‘If my enemy advances, press in closer.’

As we move forward in life, there will only be more things that come to trouble us. It’s the way we manage these trails and the elegance that we navigate them that gives us a measure of ourselves.

107

How to order your copy: Click on the link provided, or copy and paste into your browser. https:// www.peecho.com/ print/en/677092 The website takes you directly to the page to order the book.

1. Which size do you like? Select the size.

Next…

2. Would you like color? Select the color. Next…

3. How many copies would you like?

Discount and Pricing. Next…

(There is a discount pending on the number of copies.)

4. Where can we ship your order?

Next…

74

112

The Oldest Established School of The Erle Montaigue System In The UK

Ammanford Scouts Hall Monday 7.30 - 9.15pm Wednesday 7.00 - 9.00pm Sunday Full Day (Monthly)

Peter Jones Chief Instructor Taiji Pa-Kua Internal Fighting Arts

taijipakua@gmail.com

Gaku Shi Juku Kendo Kai www.leicesterkendo.com

Selected Yang Family Quotes

“

In boxing arts, what is taught or not taught is entirely up to the student rather than the teacher.

The reason is simply this:

Everyone these days understands that Taiji is worthwhile and they have a mind to learn it, but they worry the teacher might not have the real stuff and before they have even made it through the door, they are already doubting a third of it. And so even if a teacher wants to pass it down, how would he be able to? Most students only go halfway and quit anyway, then only think to blame their teacher for not teaching and never imagine a need to examine their own neglect of learning. Yes, for those of you who claim your teacher did not teach you, this is an admonishment. It is like Liu Bei wanting to hire Zhuge Liang before asking if he was willing to leave his mountain or not. Liu Bei invited him, then pressed him a second time, and a third time. If Zhuge Liang really did not want to leave, what could Liu Bei have done to obtain his services? This is what students are like. I am hoping that fellow practitioners who are spreading Taiji Boxing will consider this point.”

“

Yang Chengfu will teach boxing to anyone and teaches everyone the same. So why do some turn out better than others? Because everyone has a different nature, a different degree of intelligence, a different capacity to understand the principles. Also because Taiji theory is rather deep and takes more than one lesson to grasp. Since progress is a step-by-step process, Yang teaches in a step-by-step manner. If you only go halfway and quit before learning the essence of it, to proclaim that the teacher does not have the real stuff is truly an absurd assertion. If you put hardly any time or work into it and then demand it pay off with glittering results, you simply do not understand. By gradually and continuously advancing in your learning, there will not be a notion of neglect in the teaching.”

“

Taiji is fundamentally an internal boxing style. If you are doing the postures correctly and understand the internal principles, it qualifies as Taiji Boxing. If you are not doing the postures correctly and do not understand the internal principles, then although it may look like Taiji, it is no better than an external style.”

“

When any of you train in boxing arts, be it Wudang or Shaolin, after you have succeeded in it, be sure not to forget about other people and become presumptuously proud. It is often said that, “There’s always somebody better” and “after every skilled person you meet, there’s another one”. This truth is simply the way of things.”

Yang Cheng-fu Methods of Applying Taiji Boxing1 Circa 1931

120

“

There are acupoints that save and acupoints that kill. They cannot be learned without personal instruction. Here are three reasons why: because of how difficult they are to learn, the fact that they are a matter of life and death, and the degree of a person’s talent. There are eight kinds of people not to be taught:

1. the disloyal and unfilial, 2. those who are fundamentally unkind, 3. those with crooked intentions, 4. those who are rude and reckless, 5. those who think themselves superior to others, 6. those who care more about rules than they do about people, 7. those who are fickle, 8. those who will have an easy time picking it up and then just as easily discard it.

It must be understood that these eight people are not to be taught. Criminals of course do not deserve to be considered at all. As for those who may be taught, they are eligible to be given personal instruction in its secrets. There are five kinds who may be taught: 1 those who are loyal, filial, and gracious, 2 those with a mild temperament, 3 those who will hold to the method and not discard it, 4 those who will be true to the teacher, 5 those who will complete the study as ardent as when they started.

These types will be resolved to complete the study without having doubts and can be shown the whole thing, and what will be given to the pupil is illumination. It goes from those who already know it to those who will know it, the torch being passed down through generations, always by this process. But what a shame it is that of those who know martial arts, some turn out to be criminals.”

Yang Ban-hou Explaining Taiji Principles2 Circa 1875

1, 2 — Brennan Translations; https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com

121

Regular Contributors:

U C

Tony Bailey Louiseneige Be Gemma Burman Nasser Butt Amy Faulkner Andy Haynes Peter Jones Dr. Gregory T. Lawton Katherine Loukopoulos Alan R. Ludmer Tommy Joe Moore Gavin Mulholland Krish Pillay Colin Power Gavin Richardson

seful

ontacts

Editor: Nasser Butt Email: lifthandsmagazine@gmail.com Peter Jones - Chief Instructor Taiji Pa-Kua Internal Fighting Arts taijipakua@gmail.com The Guild of Internal Martial & Healing Arts Email: theguildofinternalarts@gmail.com

122

The Art of Louiseneige Be

123

124

126

127

128

129

130