Martialworks

The Yellow Emperors Classic of Medicine or Nei Ching clearly states: “To preserve health in Winter, do not exercise excessively; because this will cause the yang qi to come to the surface, instead of naturally going inward.” Follows some training advice for students of Kung Fu (martial artists), to complement the current training regime:

Mind

• Rest, meditate deeply, refine the spiritual essence, and store physical energy.

Body

• Use salt with care; eat bitter foods in small regular amounts, this will nurture deep experiences and preserve joy in the heart.

Spirit in Practice

• Practice sessions should incorporate meditation.
• The physical exercise of martial skill, places emphasis on skill.
• Focus in training is placed upon “keeping the Chi, in the bones.”
• Strategy in training brings the student closer to martial arts.

Training in a seasonal manner, or following the law of natural timing, must be important for any athlete; and especially so a martial artist. After all in the training of critical ability (martial arts), a sure outcome must be movement of the practitioner toward ‘the basic metronome of life’; where the development of greater skill can be accomplished at a more natural rate.

As we head into this coldest and darkest part of the year:

“be like water my friend, seek the low point!”