The principles of practice

Every martial art comes with a set of exercises tailored for training. However, more important than these specific exercises are the underlying principles of practice. These principles extend beyond martial arts and can be applied to various physical and mental exercises practiced by athletes from different disciplines.

It’s essential to understand that there’s no absolute right or wrong when it comes to the correctness of body positions during training. What matters is the sense of progress and personal well-being.

It’s a misconception that exercise should be continued until it becomes painful. Physiologically, this is not beneficial, and it doesn’t toughen the mind either. The principles of practice are not a quick fix; instead, they require effort and discipline. Engaging with these principles involves a significant amount of discipline and perseverance to bring about real changes in both body and mind.

Developing positive changes through practice doesn’t require adherence to specific spiritual beliefs. The principles of practice are designed to cater to the mental and physical needs of individuals and have been refined over thousands of years, with applications in various forms such as Taichichuan, Qigong, Baguazhang, yoga, and different martial arts.

1. Relaxation, calm, naturalness – effort ruins everything!

Shuto uchi with the sword – that means just letting the sword fall because it knows the way. So why lead it on a leash? You only risk disrupting its straight path. The principle of naturalness means thinking from the goal (the goal is magnetic and attracts the sword), i.e. asking yourself where do I want to go.

The „cause and effect“ principle is applicable to physics, but not necessarily where people are involved. Everything that happens in a tense manner does not work properly.

If naturalness is not present, you also lose perception and thus the goal of your action. If naturalness is present, calm and relaxation come about automatically. If you stand unnaturally, you are putting your body in an unsuitable position and tension before performing the exercise, which will hinder the execution itself – any student who, after half a year of training, has tried to emulate the masters and stand as low as them in the horseback stance will know this – the kick required from a standing position will not have been quick, powerful or precise.

2. Imagination and Qi

The imagination controls the energies, the Qi. If you have a goal, imagine that you are already there. This is of course a question of practice and attitude. Until you get there, it is a matter of work, work, work. Everything we do requires the use of energy. The energy that must be imagined as a stream that connects the parts of the body and can be directed and bundled in order to carry out movements and thoughts.

But how does the energy get to where it should go?

First of all, the path must be clear – this brings us back to naturalness because only in relaxed calm is the body permeable to the flow of energy. But then the energy must be directed. Something must go before it and show it the way: Flow there! This is the imagination that directs the Qi where it should go. Incidentally, this even works if you don’t believe in Qi.

If the paths are clear – that is, if the body is in a position that allows the energy to flow – and you just think about what you want to accomplish, such as bringing the force of a punch into a makiwara, the Qi will move accordingly. However, the intensity of this movement depends on hard practice. Rites are a good way to support energy work. It is important that you are with yourself and the matter at hand, and rites mark exactly this being with yourself.

3. Movement and rest

Movement and rest create a balance. You are experiencing one or the other at any given time. Although „polarity“ might suggest conflict, movement and rest actually complement each other, both physically and mentally.

Rest alone is static and cannot accomplish anything on its own. Movement is only meaningful if it arises from a period of planning and can be evaluated during rest after the movement has occurred. Rest provides the energy for movement, and that energy is futile if it remains stagnant. In everyday life, this means having a strategic plan in place, followed by its execution.

Finding the right timing and remaining flexible, with energy ready for an alternative plan, is crucial because initial resistance can derail the original plan. Recognizing the interdependence of rest and movement may be straightforward, but knowing when and how to apply them, as well as maintaining flexibility, comes with extensive practical experience.

4. Light at the top, firm at the bottom

Without a reasonable basis, no action is possible; a secure footing is the basis for all actions, on which everything stands – or falls. Even if the analogies of rooted bamboo, which no wind can uproot, or of similar plants or animals may seem worn out, this does not change the fact that the principle applies, both in the physical and mental sense.

Because in questions of feeling, in questions of reasoning and knowledge, and of course in all sporting, and physical endeavors, every success starts from a firm basis and is achieved by means of flexible, overlying organs. You can only develop love for others if you love yourself, i.e. if you have a firm basis below, in the ego. But you have to be flexible towards others – i.e. light at the top – only in this way can you endure the combination of misunderstanding, differences, consideration, and preservation of your interests that characterize interpersonal relationships, and learn to love others. Or at least learn not to hate them. The intellect and its rational capacities must draw on the solid basis of as deep and broad a knowledge as possible to arrive at appropriate conclusions and decisions.

However, if the intellect does not want to fall into dogmatism and intractability, it needs a great deal of flexibility in order to be able to absorb and weigh up new influences. It goes without saying that in (combat) sports you have to stand on a secure basis to be able to move effectively.

5. The right measure

The grass doesn’t grow any faster if you pull on it. But everyone can only find the right measure for themselves. This is again a question of experience because everyday life shows that the less experienced (the young) usually get themselves into trouble more quickly than the more experienced. Nevertheless, everyone can start paying attention to the right measures right away.

You have to listen honestly to yourself to sense: Where am I overburdened? But also: What more could I have done? Because you must never stop looking for challenges, otherwise it will come to a standstill. But since life never comes to a standstill, but everything is subject to change, those who stand still lose the opportunity to influence the direction of movement of the changes and are simply swept away.

6. Development

Development takes place anyway because life is changing. But in which direction does development take place? You can influence that if you are aware of yourself without illusions. A big danger in self-development is that you only build on your strengths and avoid your weaknesses.

That is easier, of course, but what is more beneficial? – being able to pull off the Yoko Geri one or two-hundredths of a second faster, or finally getting to grips with the blocking techniques, which are always a bit messy? Kicking may be more fun, but good blocks prevent you from being hit by kicks.

7. What is good about not being able to do something?

That you can still learn it! If you only win, you learn nothing. In other words, that means knowing: what are my real skills, talents and abilities.

That you can still learn it! If you only win, you learn nothing. In other words, that means knowing: what are my real skills, talents and abilities.
First you learn to stand – the principle of „light at the top, firm at the bottom“ – but then you have to walk, learn to run and – maybe – fly. How do you become aware of your real skills? Invite yourself to a „conference of your skills“ to discover the difference between vision and skills! Ask your skills what they need to grow. And that is what they need from YOU.

Self-analysis without illusions is necessary. And even if you don’t necessarily like what comes out of it and you would have assessed some things differently, it means not denying the analysis and using its results everywhere. You always have to ask yourself: How can I use my skills for this purpose? And to do this, I have to approach it from the goal – the principles of relaxation and imagination prove their usefulness. And all actions are linked to the skills.e chance to influence the direction of change and simply get swept away.