Hertao and Philosophy

State of Mind

You can learn to defend yourself against an average, similar sized, unarmed attacker without delving into the philosophy of martial arts, if there even is one such thing. But to avoid and counter a more serious threat with skillful precision, a high level of mind/body unity is required; a level where thought does not interfere with action and your entire self is completely in harmony with the present moment: no questions, no doubt, no thought.

Although practitioners of other activities may come to the same conclusions, and find the same requirements for high level performance, martial arts that are focused on self-defense will require this more than others. In most activities, there are rules to the game. Even in general social interactions there are laws, which become expectations and boundaries to the majority. In real martial arts the opposite is true. There are no rules, and in serious practice expectation will result in bodily harm. If you expect your partner's left hand in your face, or if he is able to trick you into believing his left hand will come, you will most certainly be struck with something else.

Because this state of being is essential in high level martial arts, you'll find countless books on the subject. You'd be hard-pressed to find the same books regarding football. If martial arts practice is done with a self-defense emphasis, as it was originally intended, it's highly likely that a serious practitioner will apply the state of mind necessary for self-defense during periods of time outside of physical practice. The same can hardly be said for the majority of other physical activities, as their purpose is not necessarily to support daily life, as self-defense may be.

The state of mind where there is no thought, only an awareness of what is , now, is characterized by an experience of connectedness. This state of mind is the goal of several philosophical/spiritual disciplines, particularly in Zen Buddhism , where there is no other practice. To quote D.T. Suzuki in An Introduction to Zen Buddhism , "there are in Zen no sacred books or dogmatic tenets, nor are there any symbolic formulae through which an access might be gained into the signification of Zen. If I am asked, then, what Zen teaches, I would answer, Zen teaches nothing." Furthermore, "When it is said that Zen has no philosophy, that it denies all doctrinal authority, that it casts aside all so-called sacred literature as rubbish, we must not forget that Zen is holding up in this very act of negation something quite positive and eternally affirmative."

The state of mind that is the hallmark of Zen , and required for the most skillful use of martial arts, shines light on a number of principles with potentially far reaching consequences. The first of these principles is that all things are connected. No thing can exist without a host of others, depending upon a host of others, and others, and others. In Buddhism this is called the principle of dependant origination . All things originate and are dependant on others.

The principle of dependant origination shows that all things are connected along a giant web. Just like a rock thrown into a pond sends ripples through the pond, changes the direction that fish swim, birds fly, etc., any and all action sends effects on through the web. Every action has multiple causes, and will create multiple effects. There is no one cause and no one effect. Although this can be denied, it is undeniable.

When the realization that all things are connected occurs, that every action has multiple causes, and will create multiple effects, many things can be learned. It becomes obvious that positive actions will create positive results and that negative actions will create negative results. No thing is in isolation though. A positive action may be one cause among many. Several positive actions may be required to change the course of something negative. If a man approaches you with a gun and tells you he's going to kill you, telling him that his hair looks good probably won't get you far. There is a time for self-defense. This is not negative. As Cane says in "Kung Fu", don't act because you wish to take a life, act because you wish to save your own. This is a significant distinction.

We all live connected to this web. The more negative waves you send vibrating around, the more likely you are to be hit by them yourself. The reverse is also true. Positive thoughts, words, and actions will create positive results. Positive action will never create negative results, although it may not immediately change the course of something negative. This realization can change your life, and the lives of others around you for the better. When the world becomes a better place, your world becomes a better place.

The above is all the more important in martial arts, since the result of practice has the potential to be destructive. Many people approach martial arts through violence and competition. The greatest gains will be made when the approach is through improvement of yourself and the world around you. Take this into careful consideration, and apply it to all things!

Search for the Truth

Another extremely important aspect of becoming a skillful practitioner is your own search for the truth. The best technique for me in any given situation may not be the best technique for you. Every person is different. There are differences in size, strength, flexibility, attitude, limits, etc. Many so called martial arts instructors require their students to perform the same techniques in exactly the same way, the result being that all their students look like identical robots. Not only is this ineffective for self-defense, but it also violates the principles most martial arts are based on. There are certainly laws of physics that dictate efficient lines of motion and effective methods of application. Beyond these, there is a great deal of space for personal choice in technique, training methods, and strategy.

To find your own way you must constantly ask questions. Without questioning everything, you'll have no idea what actually works and what does not, what is true, and what is not. In martial arts, without asking questions you'll end up with one dimensional skills that will fail you when the first thing goes wrong. Outside of martial arts, a person who does not question is easily mislead and likely to follow the first philosophy or "leader" that comes along. If there is only one thing you do, question everything!