What is Martial Movement?

If you ask the question “How can I learn martial movement correctly?” those knowledgeable in this complicated, sophisticated, and sometimes mysterious field will probably smile and give you a less than satisfactory answer:

Go to a qualified instructor.

This solution will no doubt lead you to the next question: “Well, what qualifies a certifiable instructor to understand martial movement?” The answer in this case, will disappoint you:

It takes another instructor who understands movement to see the martial flow or otherwise known as “jing” in terms of Tai Chi

There are many practitioners who practice martial arts for years and years and are qualified as an instructor, however it doesn’t mean they necessarily understand martial movement. Jing, in which I will now call it, derives from many aspects. In order to utilize your jing, you need to understand that martial movement is much like trying to understand ch’i. For many fundamentalists, yes. Martial movement is indeed just movement. But what qualifies a movement to be martial movement? Simple. Here is my watered down definition of martial movement:

Martial movement is natural body movement or motion propelled by an internal energy

Well honestly, it’s a lot harder to actually attain this feeling rather than understanding it. What many practitioners don’t know is that combinations in any type of art is just that, combinations. Sure, your student will develop his skills and attributes for each combination but will he/she truly understand the motion behind it?

A justifiable explanation would be a cross. Many boxers teach their students to pivot on their rear foot to deliver that cross. Some might see it as extra length. Some see it as extra power and torque. But does anyone really understand the true reasoning behind actually pivoting?

Kinesiologists will suggest it drives power from the floor and in turn transmits the energy directly into the cross. This is somewhat correct but in order words, too plain and simple. The meaning behind pivoting on the cross is not only to get extra length or drive more power but in essence drive all body mechanics and energy straight from the center of your body into your cross. A cross would be considered a Li, in terms of Tai Chi once again. Li is defined as physical strength resulting from body movement.

However, what you must not mistaken is the meaning behind “jing” and “li” for they are both two different things. “Li” is the resultant export of force after a boxer executes a cross. Li in laymen terms is the concept of kinetic force. Jing, on the other hand, is martial movement. How do I explain it more clearly?

If you do not understand what I mean as of yet, then I’ll help provide a physical challenge to raise your awareness of martial movement in the next chapter.

All Motion, Ultimately Becomes Self-Motion

Bruce Lee once coined the term “all knowledge, ultimately becomes self-knowledge.” I cannot stress how true this statement is. We can adhere that motion is in fact knowledge as well. You see someone execute a jab-cross-hook, your mind registers the jab-cross-hook; therefore you now have a new combination while training. Thus, we can say that motion for the sake of this writing, is knowledge.

To carry on with my point, all motion ultimately becomes self-motion. You might learn kicking from Muy Thai and then learn kicking completely over again from Tae-Kwon-Do. But ultimately, the kicks, the techniques, is for you and you alone to absorb. You broke down two “systems” to create your own individual kick. Therefore, all motion, becomes self-motion.

A boxer’s parry would be considered a Wing Chun practitioner’s Biu-Jee to me. Once again, I believe that all motion ultimately leads to self-motion but technique always remains. No matter how far youdigest the technique, no matter how chewed up it gets, a person who’s unlocked to the idea of self-motion will be able to spot the technique down to its core. I don’t believe in the idea of one system, one way of doing things, one concept, and one technique. As long as there is motion, there will always be thousands of ways in doing things.

Do you honestly think punching is limited to only a boxer’s way? As long as you understand the technique behind the punch, there are numerous ways of punching. There is essentially no right or wrong way to punch in terms of motion. In order to truly unlock your freedom of flow, you must first decree yourself of past knowledge. Yes, forget about them for this duration. Forget about all the systems, all the names, and all the combinations. Dive into the sophistication and depth of your instincts and habits. Next time you train on the heavy bag, close your eyes, put music that you would normally lose yourself in (it doesn’t matter what genre as long as you are mentally truly engulfed by the music) and just do what comes to mind.

It is truly important that you first understand the concept behind this. You are trying to find your body mechanics in its purest form. Not in technique. Only then will you truly understand what I mean. It is important that you do not think about what you want to do, but rather act out of the motion and body flow your body is at during the session. An example would be while executing a jab-cross-hook, you suddenly feel like kicking because your body is allowing you the pathway to kick, then simply kick. There is no right or wrong way here. If you feel like kneeing right after a jab then knee. The key here is full frontal freedom in execution. It is important that you truly grasp the notion of freedom in terms of the martial way.

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Martial Movements Need No Muscles

In an attempt to debunk popular belief that martial artists need muscles in order to be better is in fact a not true.

Martial movements need more technique rather than muscles. Notice how muscular men all the time look somewhat intimidating, yes. However, when you ask them to throw a jab, it’s always either a stiff jab, or a hay-maker. Now don’t get me wrong, not all muscular people are bad, but for the majority, this is the case.

The development of muscles when it comes to weight training need not be comprised mainly for aesthetics but for functionality. See, an example here would be if you were to work solely on biceps all the time, breaking through plateaus, and lifting heavier and heavier for biceps, your arms will indeed grow. However, bigger arms will only mean slower hands and reaction time.

Technique must be key in any type of martial motion. Whether it be a jab, cross, knee, kick, etc. technique must always be stressed. Being functional is more important than being strong. It might be really tedious at first but in time, it will come like second nature.

You don’t go in thinking that you’ll build the biggest baddest wall the world’s ever seen. You say, i’ll lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid. And soon, you’ll have a wall.

-Will Smith

Ask any successful martial artist what the magic key is, and they will tell you form and technique. With form and technique comes speed and with speed comes functionality. No muscles will immediately provide you a sense of better technique. You have to continuously beat on your craft in order to get good at it. There is no shortcut. Period.

The concept that muscles are needed for more functionality is nonsense.

Martial movement consists of body mechanics and no amount of muscles will develop your body mechanics if you don’t train. You have to understand the transfer of body flow from your pivot to the snap and whip of your punch, your hips when you knee, your hips when you kick, etc. Only then will you truly understand martial movement. That there really is no such thing as a particular type of “martial arts” and that all martial arts is in, one sense, movement.