Martial Arts: A way of life

The martial arts are more than just a sport or a way to stay physically active. They are more than a gi and a belt rank. They are more than a dojo or a gym. They are more than a style or a title.

Martial arts is about becoming one with yourself, with nature, with the universe. It is about living mindfully and incorporating its virtues in day-to-day activities and interactions. And in applying philosophy to martial arts, practitioners can create and maintain balance in their training.

A virtuous life

Virtues are important in the martial arts. Showing humility and resilience, building self-confidence and having integrity are virtues that a practitioner should possess and apply to their practice and their life.

I will write a separate blog that breaks down the different virtues of martial arts and how they can be applied to practice and everyday life.

Qi: life force, energy

Qi is not a mystical superpower, as many fake martial arts practitioners like to make their students believe.

Qi (气 simplified Chinese – literally translates to “breath” or “air”) exists in everyone and everything that lives. Jesse Enkamp, aka the Karate Nerd, describes the term qi (also spelled “chi”) as energy.

Side Note:

Qi/chi is called “ki” in Korean and Japanese.

In his video titled “The TRUTH About “CHI” Force 気,” Enkamp breaks down the Chinese character for qi, explaining that it represents ‘steaming rice,’ which in turn is thermal energy.

Qi, therefore, is a ‘life force’ that everyone possesses but not everyone has a chance to master.

At an advanced rank, I started to learn how to control my breathing, my qi. With each movement, I had to know when to inhale, exhale, tense my muscles, relax. I also had to learn to breathe with my abdomen rather than my chest.

Fun Fact:

One of the first katas we learn as students is Miyagi Sanchin kata. The breathing and tension techniques are learned and applied in the advanced ranks.

It is quite a difficult technique to master, and it is all about timing and focus. But it is not something that can be practiced daily because it can impact one’s blood pressure.

Practicing this technique during meditation is helpful: breathing deeply and slowly (without tension), inhaling through the nose and exhaling out of the mouth.

Adding this technique to my routine has slowly helped me improve my breathing when I apply it to my practices.

“Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless like water. When you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

Bruce Lee

Meditation and mindfulness

Meditation is a practice that can improve one’s physical and mental health. Not all martial artists practice meditation, but I find it helpful in clearing the mind.

Focusing on the breath is a way to find balance in meditation. Feeling the breath softly and slowly enter the nose and exhale through the mouth is quite calming.

I like to have my white noise machine on in the background too to drown out the sounds that can be distracting.

Fun Fact:

I like the sound of a rainstorm or the sound of waves at the beach.

Maintaining balance

Through the combination of philosophy, martial arts, virtues and meditation, practitioners can work their way to creating spiritual, mental and physical balance. But it takes discipline and devotion to maintain this balance in one’s life and martial arts practices.

I have only just begun my journey. And I know there is a long road ahead, but with focus and determination, I am well on my way to creating and maintaining balance in my life.