Elements of Martial Arts Training

There are many aspects to martial arts training. And while the main purpose for martial arts training has historically been for combat, the benefits go far beyond that.
The physical skills, mental discipline, emotional intelligence, and strength of spirit required for high level martial arts are also useful in all other aspects of human endeavour.

Martial arts have many training methods to cultivate mind, body, and spirit. These include qigong, basic conditioning, basic movements, forms (routines), martial applications, strategy, sanshou, tuishou, shuaijiao, qinna, ground fighting, and specialised training drills.

BASIC TRAINING and GONGFU

Martial arts training begins with simple exercises which often become more complex and profound as one progresses. It is not unusual for a students to train for many years, expanding their knowledge base to include all aspects of the art, and then come to the realisation that the most important part of their training is the exercises that they learned in the first three months.

Basic training includes the obvious development of strength, flexibility, speed, timing, distancing, co-ordination, awareness, strategy, energy, endurance, and more. Within each of these elements is a mental aspect, a physical aspect, and a spiritual aspect.

QIGONG,

Traditional martial arts of all styles have always included some type of qigong as part of their training. This special type of qigong conditions mind and body for fighting and also has a wide range of benefits for mental and physical health. A healthy mind and body are the foundation for a proficient martial artist.

The martial arts training at Cloud Mountain Martial Arts and Wellness Centre in Orillia includes "hard qigong" and "soft qigong" to strengthen and develop one's physical and mental health, develop extraordinary physical ability, and develop the ability to prevent injury and withstand attacks.

BASIC CONDITIONING

You can learn to drive. But if you don't have the use of car it won't do you much good. Basic conditioning is the way to train build your vehicle

BASIC MOVEMENTS

Some movements must be natural and automatic so that co-ordination of mind and body requires not thought.

FORMS (routines)

Forms or routines (taolu) are like encyclopaedia of martial technique. But not all movements are meant to be used in combat the same way they are performed in solo practice.
Often the movements are meant as tools for developing power, flexibility, speed or improving health. Other movements are useful as methods of understanding the psychology or philosophy of combat.

MARTIAL APPLICATIONS (techniques)

Some styles emphasise certain ranges of technique over others. Styles like taekwondo [tɛkwɒndoʊ] may emphasise long range kicking and punching techniques, while jiujitsu emphasises grappling and joint control.
Most martial arts, however, will at least give students some understanding of techniques in all ranges, including kicks, punches, striking with all parts of the body, throws, takedowns, joint control, pressure point manipulation, and ground fighting.

STRATEGY

So now you have a plethora of techniques, have developed co-ordination, awareness, power, timing, speed, agility, and the other attributes of a warrior. But now you must develop strategy. As the old saying goes, old age and treachery can beat youth and skill.

SANSHOU

Sanshou (散手) or "free hands" is commonly called Sanda (散打) or "free fighting." The term refers to hand-to-hand combat, self-defense practice, and a combat sport. Sanshou is and important component of Chinese martial arts. Sanshou was the official name by the Chinese government when the sport version was standardised. But it later reverted back to Sanda, in part due to the latter term's longer history and wider use.
Sanshou includes not only the standardised sport. It also includes a wide variety of sparring methods that vary from school to school and also vary depending on the level of skill of the student.

TUISHOU

Tuishou or "pushing hands" is a two person exercise, game, and sport most commonly identified with internal martial arts like tai chi. The practice teaches students the art of redirecting energy in such a way that enables a smaller and weaker person to defeat a much larger and stronger one.

SHUAIJIAO

Shuaijiao (摔交) means to " throw or takedown" refers to grappling and throwing techniques. Shuaijiao is practised as a separate style and as a sport. But shuaijiao techniques are also an integral part of all martial arts, although some styles emphasise shuaijiao more than others.

QINNA

Qinna (擒拿) to arrest, seize, or grab, and refers to joint control and pressure point manipulation. Qinna can be applied in many different ranges from striking and kicking range to ground fighting.

GROUND FIGHTING

Some styles emphasise one type of application over another, but almost all styles will teach some of each. Ground fighting methods are taught in most schools, although traditionally these were seen as a technique of last resort. A fight usually ends before it hits the ground, and since most traditional schools trained to fight multiple attackers, the ground was usually seen as something to avoid.

SPECIALISED TRAINING DRILLS

Every style and lineage develops unique methods for training mind, body, and spirit.

• Eagle claw students pull nails from boards to develop grip strength. Emei students may develop grip strength by tying and untying knots in hemp rope which has been soaked in cooking oil.
• Taijiquan students roll large wooden balls to develop "sticking and adhering" power, and throw rice or coins with the lower belly in order to develop explosive power.
• Baguazhang students walk on upturned bricks to develop core strength, balance, and powerful footwork.
• Some Shaolin students thrust their fingers into pots of mung beans and iron to develop strong hands, while others splash water to learn to create hydrostatic shocks.
• Yiquan students practice standing motionless in various posture for hours at a time.
• Shuaijiao student throw sandbags and swing large concrete "mallets".

The creativeness of teachers and student has, over the past many centuries, led to the development of some truly extraordinary abilities. The former abbot of the Shaolin Monastery was able to hold a handstand on one finger. Others can run 4 or 5 steps straight up a wall or punch holes in the same wall.

Training the Mind

In the practice of martial arts, mind and body are inseparable.

For every thought, no matter how subtle, there is a corresponding emotion. For every emotion there will be a physical response.

• If we are too pensive, the left side of the ribs will tighten around the spleen and pancreas, affecting our digestion and balance and causing a change in the alignment of the neck and head.
• If we are angry, the area around our liver will become tense, affecting our circulation, awareness, flexibility and control.
• If we are sad, our lungs will become week and our posture will weaken, causing us to loose power and agility.
• If we act brave (a common response to being afraid) we will project our chest, restrict our breathing, and weaken our constitution.
• If we are bitter, the heart will compress and our actions will be rash.

Just as the mind can affect the body, so too can the body affect the mind. Habitual patterns of posture and movement can lead to counterproductive and pathological thought patterns and emotional tendencies.