Shen Men Tao

[Sifu Stier]

Becoming One With Your Art!

The power of the deeper subconscious mind must be employed, in my humble opinion, in order to develop the full potential of any authentic kung-fu style. It is in reprogramming your unconscious mind that principles and practices become automatic reactions and spontaneous responses.......the 'Prime Mover' in your life......at all times.....everywhere you go......in everything you do!

Only in this way can you saturate your perception of yourself and the world you live in with the principles of your art to such a degree that you become the art.....and the art becomes you.....without distinction or separation. You teach yourself the art initially.....then identify yourself with the principles of the art through contemplative thought and concentrated meditation.....progressively allowing the art to teach you about itself..... and manifest itself in behalf of your greatest good in every circumstance.

The results are well worth the efforts!

[Sifu Stier]

With Fear and Trembling.....or Cool as a Cucumber?

The Shen Men Tao psychology of dealing with potential self-defense situations is quite simple. We acknowledge the fact that each of us are likely to encounter individuals in this life who are willing to use aggressive intimidation tactics and threats of physical violence in an effort to victimize us in one way or another. These individuals are essentially human predators.

Like predators of all kinds...human or otherwise...they are very discriminating in selecting their prey. They single out those who identify themselves as potential prey victims.....the elderly and infirmed...the very young and inexperienced...the weak or disabled...and any others who appear unable or unwilling to offer any resistance to an assault.....i.e. those who seem to guarantee minimal risk of injury to the predator!

Their aggression is encouraged by those who avoid direct eye contact...who nervously look around for an escape route...who physically tremble with fear...whose breathing is audibly uncontrolled...and those who are timid in their verbal responses to the predator. These are all signs of prey behavior.....and demonstrate an already defeated attitude from the outset!

Whenever the predator encounters someone who does not display these prey traits.....a fearful doubt arises in their mind. They wonder why it is that this particular person isn't responding either physically or mentally to their intimidation tactics and threats like past victims did. The possible reasons are threatening to the predator...and present a potential risk to them.

Is the intended victim carrying a concealed gun or knife? Are they an expert fighter.....even though they don't look like they are? Or is the intended victim merely crazy and psychotic.....unafraid of being hurt.....but therefore perhaps unafraid to hurt their attacker as well? Most predators will be unwilling to press the confrontation far enough to find out which of these factors are resposible for the intended victim's appearance of confidence and apparent absence of fear. Why should they run such a risk when it is easier to move on to a different and obviously intimidated victim.

Remember that most of these predators are cowards! That's why they often run in groups or gangs...and look for easy victims!

My Master told us to stand up straight and tall when facing such situations.....to align our bodies as we would when practicing Form Sets.....to 'center' ourselves.....to regulate and control our breathing to be slower and deeper.....and to look directly at the predator's neck and throat rather than directly into their eyes...thereby projecting a powerful personal energy which seems to look through the predator...rather than looking at him. This manner of presenting yourself implies overt personal strength...fitness...self-confidence...focused awareness of your immediate environment...an apparent lack of fear.....and a readiness to defend yourself.

My Sifu also said that we should be like a duck...calmly present on the surface...even when paddling like hell below the surface! This is what the Chinese refer to as maintaining 'inscrutability'.....i.e. difficult or impossible for others to easily read physically.....and uncertainty about your emotional reactions to their tactics. This works every time.....regardless of your age...gender...or physical size! Even though I am physically small and non-threatening in appearance.....I have energetically repulsed potential trouble makers.....and emptied rooms of undesireable people many times in the past.....without ever verbally speaking to... arguing with... or physically confronting the offending people present. You can do this, too! It's all about generating a 'Presence'.

So.....the next time you face a threatening situation.....will you cower with fear and trembling.....or will you appear as cool as a cucumber?

[Charles David]

Nicely Put

Cool as a cucumber
Hot like tamale
Crazy like a monkey

[Zhang Wuji]

Their aggression is encouraged by those who avoid direct eye contact...who nervously look around for an escape route...who physically tremble with fear...whose breathing is audibly uncontrolled...and those who are timid in their verbal responses to the predator. These are all signs of prey behavior.....and demonstrate an already defeated attitude from the outset!

Whenever the predator encounters someone who does not display these prey traits.....a fearful doubt arises in their mind. They wonder why it is that this particular person isn't responding either physically or mentally to their intimidation tactics and threats like past victims did. The possible reasons are threatening to the predator...and present a potential risk to them.

Very cool post, StierSifu. I also like what you said about the Chinese "inscrutable" expression. Those in the UK may have read the series "Biggles", whose protaganist spends a lot of time in India and the East (these books were published way back in the 50s and earlier). I was always amused when the writer talks about the inscrutable Oriental. Back in the 50s, the Chinese have not proliferated as now, so we must have seemed odd to a Westerner. But what was really hilarious was how most Westerners in the past would hold the view that "all Chinese look alike".

I have no doubts about projecting a presence so that you are not regarded as a soft target. However, there is this female self-defence instructor called Meredith Gold who once said by looking tough or taking a poise pattern, you alert the potential attacker as to your abilities.

My own take on this is that in a real-life situation, one does not "act tough" and adopt a blustering or showy attitude. Instead, one simply "acts". Following Taijiquan philosophy, once the enemy's evil intention is sensed, it is already time to move (If the enemy does not move, I do not. If he moves only a little, I have already moved) Why wait for the threat to fully materialise and the first blow/knife strike to land before acting? I don't think this is a case of being aggressive. If a fight can be resolved with a single pre-emptive strike (after the enemy is prepared to attack), it would be better than a case where the attacker has begun attacking violently and you have to use more deadly force to counter-attack.

At the same time, taking action without correctly sensing the enemy's intentions may well escalate what could have been a single verbal dispute into a violent fight. I guess it comes down to "dong jing" (sensing force) to know whether it is time to strike or to just let the matter blow over.

I would love to hear about Shen Men Tao's philosophy on this, as well as from my Shaolin Wahnam brethren.

[Sifu Stier]

Salutation of the Day!

Hello to All!

Thank you to cha muir and Zhang Wuji for your responses to my last post. Your participation is greatly appreciated!

It is true that a single pre-emptive strike could end what looks.....and feels like an inevitable fight. Right now! When your 'gut instinct' tells you that this is the case.....that you are about to be attacked.....perhaps it is time to act.....to take the initiative by throwing the first blow. Since 'assault' can be verbal and emotional as well as physical...responding with a physical reaction to verbal threats and emotional intimidation is still legally self-defense...so long as the injuries you give in defense do not exceed those which you would have received from your assailant.

Doing so...however...requires the assumption that such a course of action will be successful.....that your opponent will be unable to effectively defend against it. Shen Men Tao teachings see this as a dangerous assumption. If you can train yourself to use the initiative of others to defeat them...which we do...then logic would suggest that others can train themselves to do the same to you as the initiator of the fight.

In Shen Men Tao...you are taught that every opponent should be expected to be at least as skilled as you are.....perhaps more skilled! In this way...you will never underestimate the potential abilities of any opponent...or overestimate your own. Sifu Lee always said..."It's better to be a magnet...than a pin".

Speaking of whom.....I wish to end this day with heart-filled Salutation to my Master, Lee Wing-Wah Sifu, who celebrates his 105th Birthday...born May 25, 1900 in Kwangtung, China.

Happy Birthday, Lee Sifu!

[Zhang Wuji]

I join you in wishing your Master a happy birthday. I only feel sad for him that he does not have his son Bob, and your friend, to celebrate with him on this joyous occasion. Allow me then to wish him: 年年有今日, 岁岁有今朝

Perhaps if it is permissible, we could have the privilege of knowing how Lee Sifu learnt his art, since Guangdong is quite far from where the Taijiquan and other masters were. I would have expected him to be a Shaolin master instead, given the geography.

Doing so...however...requires the assumption that such a course of action will be successful.....that your opponent will be unable to effectively defend against it. Shen Men Tao teachings see this as a dangerous assumption. If you can train yourself to use the initiative of others to defeat them...which we do...then logic would suggest that others can train themselves to do the same to you as the initiator of the fight.

In Shen Men Tao...you are taught that every opponent should be expected to be at least as skilled as you are.....perhaps more skilled! In this way...you will never underestimate the potential abilities of any opponent...or overestimate your own.

I was delighted to read the above, which mirrors what my Sifu has always taught us - that we must never underestimate the enemy, and that safety always comes first. Charging into a counter-attack without assessing the attacker is foolish. Better to let the opportunity to attack pass if not sure, rather than rush into a trap.

I have a question on the above post which I hope you can enlighten me. You have mentioned in an earlier posts that the Taijiquan form has the tendency to move forward because of the spiral movements. If that is so, is it the case that a Taijiquan exponent will tend to move into a opponent as he attacks rather than retreat. Does that mean that the form may unconsciously teach you to underestimate your foe? (I think that is a big and dangerous assumption too )

[Sifu Stier]

Re: Underestimation!

Hello Wuji:

Thank you for your warm Birthday greetings to Lee Sifu. He is the oldest living person I know personally.....and the single most influential person in my life to date. His personal demonstration of knowledge...skills...and wisdom is definitely first class!

Unfortunately...I don't know many details of his personal learning history.....except that he traveled as a young man in order to seek out those with whom he wished to study the Internal Arts...notably Sun Lu-Tang Sifu. Most of his other great learning opportunities apparently resulted from introductions to other teachers by way of Sun Sifu's association and friendship with them.

In answer to your question.....the forward moving preference of Tai-Chi Chuan and the other Internal Arts does not condition practitioners to underestimate any opponent. Standing in place in front of an opponent..... or moving straight back away from him... leaves the opponent at arms length or greater distance.....and forces a contest of individual strength...speed...and technique which may be difficult or impossible to win.

Thus.....moving forward to intercept the attack shows the highest respect for....and estimation of....the opponents potential skill. To respond otherwise would be to underestimate him!

[Ovidius]

Other side of the coin

Sifu Lee Wing-Wah really is old, 105 years! I don't know what is the world record, but that must be near it. I wish he had a nice birthday.

About looking tough when in danger. We have to think also about the other side of the coin: some people look for challenge, just like people who have ambushed you, Sifu Stier. I know couple of martial artists in Finland and both of them are quite smart people (they do their best to stay out of trouble I mean), and they look, well, martial artists with high self esteem. But still, the troubles at street seem to attract them like magnet. I know many stories. One time my friend got ambused by a lady (he didn't even know her) who hit him with a mobile phone to head. Just like that, with no warning. My friend has wondered what is the thing that attracts this kind of situations everywhere he goes. Usually it is totally irrational violence towards him. I know he can handle himself in these situations quite well -- he has plenty of experience in competitions and streets. What do you think? Could also the self confidence and skills attract certain people to "try their luck"?

[haramitsu]

Attackers

One thing that changes the rules is missing completely in this discussion. That is whether your attacker is influenced by drugs or alcohol. This, I think drastically changes everything in a combat/self defense situation.

This topic would probably be best discussed in new thread considering all of the factors involved. (eg. location, type of drug user, circumstance etc.)
From my own experience and what I've learned more often than not an attacker would be on some sort of drug including alcohol. Where I live that would be the case roughly 80-90% of the time.

Some drugs make poeple completely fearless or feel no pain etc. so I think that this is worth taking into consideration when pondering the topic of self-defence as this is often the case in the "real world".


Curtis

[Michael Udel]

Syncopating the opponent

syncopation: a temporary displacement of the regular metrical accent in music caused typically by stressing the weak beat.

Panu,

I would like to offer an explanation of why your martial arts friend was hit in the head by a woman for no apparent reason, and also why he seems to experience these kinds of events frequently for a person who appears physically capable, as opposed to appearing weak, and who is not looking for trouble, which I believe he isn't.

As Sifu Stier mentioned, attacks can come at all three levels: physical, emotional, and mental. There can be counter-attacks, and so there can be fighting at all three levels independently or in any combination. Having a woman hit you in the head is an example of a physical attack, but we shouldn't dismiss her as disturbed or plain crazy. According to my explanation, it's your friend who has the "problem," even though he is not looking for trouble or aware he is playing a part in the attacks.

In the Tai Chi classics it says, "If my opponent does not move, I do not move. If he moves slightly, I have already moved." The first part describes a synchronization between two people, albeit in stillness. If the meaning here were simply to stand still while your opponent decides whether to hit you in the head or kick you in the knee, there would be no need for people to practice Tai-Chi Chuan. The meaning involves developing a rhythm with your opponent on all three levels: physical, emotional, and mental. To get the rhythm, you have to learn his "beat" and then duplicate it. After you have assimilated and duplicated your opponent's "energetic beat", you can predict his next "note", anticipate his strike against you, and move before him. Assimilate, duplicate, anticipate.

My own experience, and my observations of my Tai-Chi Chuan teacher, have shown me that learning and being able to duplicate the "energetic beat" of another person is a highly effective and advanced skill that can be applied to fighting at all three levels. The technique upon which I often rely is to establish a rhythm with the other person and then dramatically and unexpectedly disrupt the rhythm. I syncopate my opponent. If you've never experienced this, and you would remember if you had, let me try to describe it. It's like riding your bike on a sunny day along a serene country road, listening to the birds sing and watching the flowers roll by quietly, and then BAM!, you unexpectedly hit a curb and go flying over your handle bars. You sit up, rubbing your scraped knees, and wondering what the ?!@#$ just happened. Depending upon what level(s) you were syncopated, it is intensely disruptive to the physical, emotional, and mental processes.

Somewhere along the line, whether because of his martial arts practice, a bad luck streak in dancing school*, and/or because of being around people who did this to him when he was young enough to absorb the behaviors of people unconsciously, your friend developed the ability to syncopate his opponent primarily at the physical level. Because he is not aware of why so much trouble is attracted to him, I would say he learned this skill unconsciously in an abusive environment when he was young and his martial arts practice enhanced it over time. He is unaware of the fact that he is unconsciously learning the rhythms and energy patterns of the people around him, even while just walking down the street, and he is syncopating people nearby, mostly at the physical level by the way he is walking close to them, making small adjustments to his step that interfere with these other people's intentions, and interrupting their normal walking patterns. When he interrupts the physical movements of someone nearby, it creates a feedback to the person's energetic patterns primarily at the emotional level, resulting in an angry or violent response. If your friend does this to a person who is particularly agitated because someone just gave them bad news on their cell phone, they may react by hitting him up side his head.

If your friend had learned how to syncopate an opponent in a methodical way in a martial arts system, he would likely be able to sense the incoming attack. I think your friend cannot interpret other people's rhythm's once they are emotionally enraged because he can only interpret patterns and rhythms at the physical level, and the effect of the syncopation on the other person is to make their chi rise to the emotional extreme, taking them off your friend's radar screen, so he is blind to the continuation of the "fight" he unwittingly instigated when it escalates from the physical to the emotional level.

If nothing else, I can sure throw around some metaphors.

Best,
Michael

*Warren Zevon album title

[Sifu Stier]

The Unknown 'X' Factors!

Hello Everyone!

Thank you Ovidius and Curtis for your observations and comments. You present some worthy considerations indeed.

These Unknown 'X' Factors encompass a wide range of unpredictable variables which no defensive fighter can possibly control. There is simply no way to know with absolute certainty what someone else may decide to say or do in a personal confrontation situation.....especially someone who is speaking and acting under the influence of alcohol...cocaine...'speed'...or any number of other addictive substances. Such individuals may very well be totally uninhibited and unafraid of being hurt. I have personally encountered a few who were this way. They are definitely out there!

Similarly.....if you are known as a martial arts practitioner or teacher.....you may find yourself targeted by those who wish to discredit you and/or your style or method. It is difficult to say who may decide to challenge you or...ambush you... in order to make a 'name' for themselves by establishing a reputation as a fighter.

Both of these scenarios have come my way many times in the past 40+ years.....so I know from personal experience that it does in fact happen. These are both excellent points!

And so.....given these facts.....the likelihood of predicting an opponent's probable state of mind.....or physical condition.....is no easier than predicting his actions.....unless of course you are confronted by someone whom you already know quite well...and whose lifestyle preferences you are already aware of. Most often however.....you will have no control over these factors whatsoever! Does it even really matter? If anything.....an enemy who is 'higher than a kite'....sloppy drunk....or blinded by ego driven agenda priorities when approaching you.....is in each case less in control of their own body and mind than they would be without these influences....and are therefore much more vulnerable to having these factors used against them.

Should you feel more fear if it apppears that your enemy feels absolutely no fear? Should you feel more inhibited if it becomes clear to you that they are completely uninhibited? Is it necessary for you to think...feel...or respond any differently when facing such attackers than you would if your assailant is not drunk...not drugged...or not crazy? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding.....NO! To do so is to allow your mind...your energy...and your physical actions to be controlled by someone who is OUT OF CONTROL! That doesn't make any sense.....does it?

It is far better to remain as alert and calm as possible in the midst of these unpredictable conditions.....like the quiet calmness in the 'eye' of a hurricane! In this manner.....you can avoid tense resistance to whatever the enemy says or does.....and equally important.....avoid generating any hard resisitance to whatever you do. You can thereby join and follow your opponent's energy.....then lead...redirect...and control it to the final conclusion of the encounter. Of course.....this can also be done mentally...emotionally...and psychically.....as well as physically!

Don't waste any time worrying about special strategies to use against the weirdos of the world. Nothing will blow your pre-fight plan out of the water faster than an Unknown 'X' Factor.....since you can't really adequately plan for the unpredictable! It's 'Murphy's Law'....."If anything can possibly go wrong...it definitely will...and will do so when you least want or expect it to". And I am told that Murphy was an optimist!

So.....don't worry.....just let it go and let it flow!

[Sifu Stier]

Matching Pictures!

Hey Michael!

I was writing my last post when yours came on board.....so I didn't see it until I finished posting. You made some great points.....and ones that are directly applicable to many different situations in which we may find ourselves in 'energetic agreement' with the 'matching pictures' of others.

Good stuff! Even the Metaphor Sling...or Singapore Fling...or whatever...it's all good!

[barrys]

I am really enjoying the way this thread is developing. It seems to fit with things that are happening for me and the way things seem to be making sense to me.

Michael,

I like your metaphor of syncopation. It fits in with my experience of both receiving and providing psychological therapy - which also takes place at the physical, emotional and mental levels. We talk about attunement, which seems similar to your "duplication of the energetic beat" or being in tune with someone else. People have their own "way", which by the time they come to see me obviously isn't working. Part of my job is to introduce them to their "way". To do this I need to get in tune. Another part of my job at times is to "shock" them into the possibility of a new way. Depending on the situation sometimes that is done gently, at others it probably does feel grazed knees out of nowhere. Either way it is the shock of the new. Seems like this idea can be used in combat and in healing. The interesting thing is that I am sometimes "shocked" with clients. It helps wake me up

Sifu Stier,

I also am grateful to you for your encouragement over the last few months. In therapy a pre-planned strategy can provide some reduction in anxiety for both me and the patient but in the end there is always the unexpected, the creative, the instinctive act. A wise therapist, Neville Symington, talks about this. That all of the theory, or even practice, in the world can't make a truly great therapist. In the end it is the "true self" of the therapist responding to an act of the "true self" of the patient. Sounds grand but when it happens it is simple magic. Means fear has to be put down.

Enjoying learning and practising,

Barry

[Michael Udel]

Time zones and the Gordian Knot

Sifu Stier,

We must have been writing simultaneously, but from different time zones. I didn't see your post until after I finished mine. Been a while since I had a Singapore Sling. Okay, I've never had one, but maybe Dra9on or ZhangWuji will fix me up with one next time I'm in town


Barry,

I think there's a lot of evidence to show that the methods in martial arts for learning how to fight at advanced levels by manipulating chi can be directly transferred to efforts at healing. It seems that almost all high-level martial artists have extensive backgrounds, or even careers, as healers.

The reason I sought out Shaolin Kungfu was to learn a martial arts system so I could systematically learn how to fight and gain conscious control of the fighting skills I learned unconsciously/sub-consciously from my environment. Presently, they're autonomic. I syncopate my "opponents" 24x7x365 without the ability to turn it off any more than I could stop breathing. It's a drag.

I believe martial arts taps into the depths of human potential and utilizes things like the survival instinct to develop conscious control over sub-conscious abilties we all have, but most of us never realize. I hope that other abilities that have surfaced over the years during my non-stop fighting will be transferable to my pursuit as a healer and teacher. We'll see.

My Tai-Chi Chuan teacher was the first person I met who, quite unconscisously, showed me my "energetic beat" and allowed me to examine myself without having the distraction of being able to struggle with or "syncopate" my teacher. In spite of my being on my best behavior while learning Tai-Chi and trying to "hold my breath", the sub-conscious is not subject to prior restraint by the conscious. Against a Tai-Chi Chuan master the results were refeshing: nothing to grab onto. Everything I did just slid off him and eventually found its way back to me. Not a pretty picture. In order for me to learn just the beginning 3 moves of the 24 move Beijing Simplified Tai-Chi, I had to examine myself. What a fascinatingly complicated mess! Nearly everything I do is connected to fighting. Now I'm just working hard every day to loosen the knots. I'm making progress

Michael

[Sifu Stier]

Hi everybody!

Just a brief post here to extend my sincerely heartfelt thanks and grateful appreciation to Barry...Michael...Wuji...Curtis...Panu...and all others who have so generously offered their recent comments in this thread.....as well as to those who have followed the topics discussed here in viewing that which has been posted. Special thanks and appreciation.....however....go out to Jeffrey Segal for starting this thread...and to Darryl and Anthony for their repeated assistance along the way.....and for allowing this thread to continue growing and developing as it has.

My warmest Salutations to you all!