General knowledge
Most people are on a path with a dead end. They train ten years and they end up with nothing.
(Paul Gale)
Vague
Sun Tzu pointed out that vagueness is easy to dispel.
He indicated that focussing was the optimal approach to combat. Let others
spread themselves thinly.
The more widespread something becomes, the less potency and
depth
it has. The less strength.
In self defence, you must be very intense. You cannot be vague and flamboyant.
There will be no slack, no second chances.
Knowledge
Knowledge is merely information. Facts,
figures, memories, experiences, perceptions.
Possessing data does not make you wise.
It does not guarantee
insight.
General knowledge is about having a little bit of knowledge concerning a lot
of different topics.
This may sound alright in theory, but in practice it is largely useless.
To be functional in any given area of focus, you need specialism. You need a lot
of knowledge about a single thing.
This is the polar opposite of general knowledge.
Form collectors
A lot of beginners seek to
collect forms.
Is it possible to possess great insights concerning a wide spectrum of different
topics?
People are limited by how far afield they
stretch their knowledge.
Consider also how much time is being committed to the study and practice of
each art, form or system.
Unadulterated
If a beginner claims to be studying tai chi, baguazhang and xingyiquan - it is
important to ask how much an individual can know about three
separate disciplines.
The arts are not the same, and treating them as if they were the same is only
going to blur the unique arts and create a mulch.
Some beginners claim to be learning tai chi and
kickboxing.
Why?
An external stylist cannot conceivably train internal and external
simultaneously.
The tension and attitude of the external art will pollute the exponent's
mind and body.
It is impossible to achieve the level of
softness and
sensitivity required for the correct practice of tai chi unless you
cease to train the external art.
Although the student may attend both tai chi and kickboxing classes, it is
the habits of kickboxing that will predominate.
Thorough
Thoroughness is the key to understanding.
Only by knowing something through and through can you really comes to terms with
it.
To comprehend tai chi you must explore not only the form and the drills, but
also taoism, zen, self defence and the physics of movement.
Partial understanding is no understanding.
You need to make connections and associations, see patterns and themes,
strategies, variations, similarities and differences.
This will not be possible unless you commit considerable long-term effort to
this
enterprise.
The more forms, arts and systems you undertake, the less you can study them.
And therefore, the less you know.
The more you do, the less you know. Can you appreciate the irony?
Page created 14 January 1999