Safety Tip - Train Today So You Can Train Tomorrow

Whenever we train in martial arts, we have this image in our minds to become super effective and super proficient.

But what happens many times is we go so hard that we either:
A. Injure ourselves
B. Injure our partners

None of that does anyone any good.

What is required is the ability to hold back and do enough to be effective, but not so much that it is damaging.

This is very much a mindset. It is not so much if you have the ability to do it. It is entirely based on if you are willing to do it.

The ability to control oneself is the greatest attributes that martial arts training can provide.

The true process of mastery involves slowing down and developing sharp awareness of what your body is doing, and self-correcting along the way.

Once you know how to give plenty of energy without damaging yourself or your partner, you are on the path to mastery.

The Mindset Can Change EVERYTHING!

I've always loved the Yin and Yang philosophy in Kung-Fu. It is all about understanding the mix of hard and soft energy, and being able to adapt to changing circumstances. 

In many ways, it is because of the Yin and Yang philosophy that has led me onto the path of expanding my studies to include Jiu Jitsu. After constantly seeing how effective of a self defense system it is, and how easily it can be learned, I decided to open my mind to it. 

One of the key philosophies of Jiu Jitsu that hits a strong chord with me is that to stay calm in worst case scenarios.

This is a mindset. It is a specific way of viewing the world. It is indeed a specific mental strategy. 
It is also extremely pragmatic.

So, how does one stay calm during worst case scenarios? Well first, we have to explore the physical realm. The way we do that is we are exposed to a common problematic situation. We then learn the technique to deal with that situation. Then we practice that until we become proficient with dealing with that common problematic situation. 

We do this with many, many different situations, so we are learning a lot of different techniques and principles to overcome those common problematic situations. After some time, you develop great proficiency in dealing with those common problematic situations.

You then find more problems and more solutions. You do this so much, your confidence in your ability to deal with these problematic situations becomes very high!

So there is a lot of discipline involved - you have to be in a regular practice of the techniques, of these problematic situations. This regular practice creates the mindset. I'll say that again: This regular practice creates the mindset.

And now, you're ready to extrapolate to every day life, with this developed mindset...

Keeping a cool head is the first step of solving a problem. Don't panic. That is the real trick: DO NOT PANIC. 

You have to believe there is a solution. You have to believe that, "Somehow, I'm going to figure out how to solve this." You have to have faith and not lose hope. 

You then get to a point where you say, "I know it's going to happen. I might not know how, but it will. Thus, don't panic, and stay relaxed."

You eventually get to a point where you become accustomed to trust that things will work right, that something good is going to happen.

What you don't do is worry. You find that worrying about things makes no difference, and does not help. Often times, it makes things worse.

Life will always be testing us. It doesn't matter how much you have, or how much you don't have. Life will present a lot of problems, and the difference in the outcome has everything to do with your mindset.

The Yin and Yang philosophy of adaptation in my Kung-Fu training led me to keep an open mind to Jiu Jitsu, which led to me to the philosophy of staying calm in worst case scenarios and always believing that there will be a solution. 

It's all in the mind! =)

How To Make Kung-Fu and Jiu Jitsu Work Together

By now, it is no secret. We have incorporated Jiu Jitsu into Austin Kung-Fu Academy. 

It's actually a thing of beauty.

Let's look at this a little closer by asking a few questions. The first one, being, WHY?

Good question. Jiu Jitsu (and specifically, Gracie Jiu Jitsu) has been proven to be the most effective self defense system on the planet. Time and time again. It is scalable. No requirements of strength or athletic physical attributes, no age restrictions, and very energy efficient, so you don't need to be in amazing cardiovascular shape to be able to properly defend yourself using Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
It is also a comparatively non-violent self defense system, where you don't need to rely on aggressive punches or kicks to debilitate the opponent. 

OK, fine, but we're a Kung-Fu school, so are we abandoning all things Kung-Fu, then?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!! We are very much still doing all the stuff we've been doing with our Choy Lay Fut Kung-Fu style. With our Kung-Fu, we are learning good body mechanic principles, and developing a SENSE of combat. What I mean by that, is that we are striking at things, and blocking incoming attacks. That very idea gets us in the mindframe of how to deal with combat. We do it with pads, so it is all very safe, cooperative, and most of all, super fun! 
Developing the SENSE for combat is very important, because it puts you in the mindset of self defense, but in a self-directed, calm way.

Ummm, OK, so then why not just stay with Kung-Fu and not bother with Jiu Jitsu at all?

Fair question. Jiu Jitsu has a BETTER STRATEGY for self defense than Kung-Fu. Kung-Fu's strategy is one that is on the aggressive side, with striking, Sure, there are joint locks and takedowns, but those are all underlined in the aggressive mindset. The Jiu Jitsu mindset is to NEUTRALIZE FIRST!! Then CONTROL, and if it calls for it, then you submit them with a joint lock or choke. The mindset of Jiu Jitsu is radically different than Kung-Fu, and it's technical execution and curriculum reflect it in a very pure way. 
So while we do our punches and kicks in Kung-Fu to get a SENSE of combat, we do Jiu Jitsu to have the perfect strategy for self defense.

OK, then let's flip this around - why do Kung-Fu at all, and just focus on Jiu Jitsu 100% of the time? 

Well, you could do that at our school, if you wanted to, nothing wrong with that. However, learning how to strike properly with Punches and Kicks gives you a well rounded knowledge base for combat. And in Jiu Jitsu, we partner up, and have to emulate a street attacker, who's main purpose is to strike at you. So in order to make the Jiu Jitsu techniques effective, it's good to know how to punch and kick properly so that you can be a great, controlled partner for someone, because you understand how striking works.

Additionally, the Kung-Fu training process teaches you to train your ability to visualize your application. The ability to visualize is an aspect of training that can enhance your overall skill and effectiveness.

So the two arts, Kung-Fu and Jiu Jitsu can really complement each other, particularly if you are clear with our objectives for both. Kung-Fu teaches you about the principles of how to strike properly and develop a sense of combat, and Jiu Jitsu gives us the mindset and strategy we need for virtually all street self defense situations. 

Why Bother?

Martial Arts first and foremost is a form of self defense. But if it is not very likely that you will ever get into a physical altercation, why bother learning it, and training in it?

First of all, you don't have as much control over that situation as you might think. It is an unfortunate daily occurrence - bad things happen to good people. 

You never know. It is insurance. You might not ever need it. But just in case, you have it, because you never know. Another way of saying it, in regards to self defense - it is better to know it and not need it, than it is to need it and not know it. 

One apprehension you might have is hearing stories that martial arts classes has you getting beaten up. Thus, it becomes a formalized way to receiving a beat down! This may very well be true at some martial arts schools. NOT OURS.

We work very cooperatively, slowly, and safely with each other. Our mantra is, "Just because we are learning to fight, doesn't mean we have to fight to learn." 

We are learning principles, concepts, strategies, positions of leverage that are universal and scalable to anybody of virtually any physical stature. The work has been done for us. Fighting situations have been studied, dissected, and analyzed. Technical curriculums have been developed based on the most common behaviors in altercations. 

Studying and training in this will give you the confidence to feel that regardless of who a potential opponent might be, you'll be okay. It is not a "get yourself all hyped up and be ready to explode" type of feeling. It's the opposite. It is a very calm and relaxed confidence, because what we teach is not aggressive. You learn to neutralize aggressive energy. You learn to gain control of aggressive energy without anyone getting hurt. And, you learn to defeat the opponent mentally, through a submission technique, where they are forced to give up.

So, why bother? Mainly because the more you do martial arts with us, you actually become even less inclined to get into an altercation than  you previously were!