How Do You View Your Training ?

[nanfeishen]

I'm not sure if this should be a poll or not?

My Martial Arts, has always seemed like a bit of a journey, i started of with Kung Fu and Tai Chi, viewing them as a means to becoming stronger and fitter, i then reached a point where i decided to embrace some of the values my teacher was trying so hard to instill in us, and finally, i reached a point where i dropped Kung Fu and only continued with Tai Chi, realising that the only way for me to understand my Tai Chi better was to study and embrace the concepts of, and follow, the ideas and philosophy of Daoism.

So, my questions are:

1) Do you see your training as purely physical, striving to achieve excellence on a physical level in whichever art you partipate in, not too bothered about the "other stuff" ?

2) Do you see your training as a combination of both physical and mental, achieving exellence of both the mind and the body, and that the training is conditioning you to be better physically and to be a better person?

3) Do you see your training as achieving exellence of body and mind , but feel that a better understanding can or could be achieved by you, by a personal embrace of a philosophy from the area or a system of belief around whichever art you participate in?

4) Bits of each?

[KF Dude]

When I first started it was all about learning how to kick some butt. Over time it has evolved into so much more than techniques & exercise. I look at qi gong as a gift to myself - something only qi gong practioners would understand. My Hung-Ga training regimen is a daily part of my life just like brushing your teeth. The depth of the art is deep, layers are only revealed through dedicated practice. To keep it short, training for me is a combination of healthy physical exertion for the body & mental floss for the mind.

[Spirit At Choice]

It began as self-defense. Now it is a way of life. The code of ethics suits my personal belief system very well, and the entire concept of discipline of mind body and spirit is just plain good policy.

I find that my MA training complements my personal road.

Spirit At Choice

PS- Cape Town??? That's a rough berg. My aunt and uncle live there. She's been robbed at knife point TWICE.

[Fairfax_Uechi]

I'm not sure if this should be a poll or not?

My Martial Arts, has always seemed like a bit of a journey, i started of with Kung Fu and Tai Chi, viewing them as a means to becoming stronger and fitter, i then reached a point where i decided to embrace some of the values my teacher was trying so hard to instill in us, and finally, i reached a point where i dropped Kung Fu and only continued with Tai Chi, realising that the only way for me to understand my Tai Chi better was to study and embrace the concepts of, and follow, the ideas and philosophy of Daoism.

So, my questions are:

1) Do you see your training as purely physical, striving to achieve excellence on a physical level in whichever art you partipate in, not too bothered about the "other stuff" ??

I try to reach the best level of physical condition possible. But it is very hard with working, having a family, and trying to live a "normal life"

2) Do you see your training as a combination of both physical and mental, achieving exellence of both the mind and the body, and that the training is conditioning you to be better physically and to be a better person??

Yes, training is both mental and physical to me. And even the folks who say otherwise, whenever you work the body you affect the brain. Blood flow, body chemistry, etc. all effect how you feel, and that's just the physical side. I find that kata are more internal, the moves become just a means of creating a way to be in a medative state. Actually cardio work does this for me too. But when I lift weights, it's all about pushing the iron, can't be off in a zone the same way with a huge amount of weight hanging over you, or on your back.

3) Do you see your training as achieving exellence of body and mind , but feel that a better understanding can or could be achieved by you, by a personal embrace of a philosophy from the area or a system of belief around whichever art you participate in??

I'm not fully sure what you're asking here. My Sensei and I have many views that are similar. But also many that are different. So yes and no. I choose what works for me, and discount what doesn't. Sometimes I'll try something that I don't believe in and work it around until it either works or doesn't. For instance, meditation is something that works for me, but something that I don't do enough of. I'm currently working to add much more meditation into my life as the short time I spend is nothing compared to the benefits.

4) Bits of each?

Um, yea based on the answers above.

[nanfeishen]

For those of you that have answered so far , thank you, i really appreciate the answers, it is interesting to hear other perspectives, and especially from such a wide range of different arts, being on the tip of Africa , my contact with many other styles is often only through forums like this.

PS: Spirit

Yep , Cape Town can be rather rough, and quite unpredictable, i have been mugged twice, (both times before i began training) had my car stolen twice, and been burgled seven times in fourteen years, and dont know anybody personally who HASNT been a victim of something at least once, but for some reason i love the unpreditability of life here.

[karatekid1975]

I started for self defense. But it's leaning toward the mental side (character building, making me who I am today, ect) as the years go on. But I still like the self defense stuff. As far as "spiritual" side? I have never been in an art that went in depth with the stuff, so I'm pretty new at that other than meditating here and there.

[marie curie]

Bit of each- I really value the physical side of the arts and I like to feel myself move just so. Also, I really see a difference in my life and the way I think about it since I started practicing. The dicipline and understanding of movement are probably the two internal changes I appreciate the most.

[jaymac]

I started up in MA again ( I had trained previously in Kung Fu, then years later started in Shotokan) to gain back some self discipline and build character. I didn't care about "kicking butt". I just wanted to feel better about myself. I do. I love MA and love everything that it does for the individual who will allow it. Not alot of people "get it". They come and train for a little while and leave, but when you get that few who come in and just indulge in everything about the style, you think "wow, that guy/girl is a lifer now."

[patusai]

I see my training as achieving exellence of body and mind , but feel that a better understanding can or could be achieved by me, by a personal embrace of a philosophy from the area or a system of belief around whichever art I participate in?