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| Looking after yourself | ||
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Remember where you are
When learning a martial art it is crucial to remember that
combat can be
dangerous.
There is a risk of injury.
This is why discipline is important in class.
Condition
Training daily at home between lessons is the best way to avoid injury in or
out of class.
A gentle daily workout will significantly strengthen your body.
Stronger muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments - combined with mobile joints
- will enable your body to respond to adversity in a better way.
The higher your grade, the more necessary home training becomes.
Not training at home?
When a student fails to train at home, they should commit a reasonable
period of time before the lesson to preparing their body.
Loosen the joints, lengthen the muscles, improve flexibility.
Do not simply rush into combat.
Avoid a cursory workout; the time you commit to sensible training is an
investment in your own wellbeing.
Tensing-up
It is common for students in a martial arts class to tense-up.
This bad habit is often acquired at a young age.
The problem with tensing is that it locks the joints and stops the skeleton
from moving freely.
Instead of falling to the floor in an organic, natural way... the body is
stiff, brittle and rigid, and falls like a plank of wood.
Taoist story
There is a Chuang Tzu story about a drunken man falling out of a cart.
His inebriated state meant that he did not realise that he was falling, nor
did he tense-up.
Consequently, he was not injured by the fall.
This is not promoting drunkenness or 'spacing-out'; but rather:
relaxation
and not anticipating/getting ready.
The drunken man simply went with what was happening - without resistance -
and was unharmed.
Fear
Everybody feels fear.
It can be an overwhelming, overpowering experience, or merely
anxiety.
This is normal and natural.
The main thing is to be present, in the moment.
Relax.
Place your mind on what is happening, rather than what you are anticipating.
Have faith in what you are learning, and avoid resisting.
Good attitude
It is easy to get carried away during combat training. It is easy to be
injured or cause injury.
By remaining composed, loose and friendly - safety can be encouraged.
Play, rather than fight.
Aggression has no place in our class.
Rehab
If you pull a muscle or hurt yourself during martial arts training, it is
important to rehabilitate slowly and carefully.
Combine rest with gentle exercise.
'Constructive rest' (performed twice daily) is ideal.
Work through your qigong and stretching exercises cautiously; avoiding any
extremes or discomfort.
Pain is a warning; do not ignore it.
Fluids
It is quite common for students to neglect their fluid intake.
Dehydration is very bad for you.
Ideally, you should be drinking well over a litre of water during a training
session.
If you do not drink this much in class, be sure to re-hydrate when you get
home.
Rest
Relaxation is not the same as rest.
Rest means stopping, and doing nothing.
Watching TV does not qualify as rest.
Taken literally, rest means either lying on the ground and undertaking
'constructive rest', or actually going to bed and getting some
sleep.
Looking after yourself
The best way to prepare your body for class is to:
Show restraint
Warm-up thoroughly
Be playful, not macho
Stay loose and relaxed
Do not get caught-up in fear
Prepare your body for combat
Respect your practice partner
Exercise your body gently every day
Keep your mind on what you are doing
Take some time to bring the mind 'home'
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
04 May 2023
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