I am glad this section is here because I am a believer and a practitioner of the philosophy and spirituality that can be discovered through the Martial Arts.

I want to start this section off which a simple angle.

The focus of mind and spirit can prove to make a strike or technique more powerful. For example if someone was to resist an immobalisation, this lock can become more powerful buy commiting your thought to it. What I mean is, as someone tries to stand up, you can settle yourself and basically say NO in your mind and project this intent into the other person.

The same applies with striking, the commitment of your self and spirit when striking and drawing the energy up from the floor through your body and project it out into the opponent (not holding onto this energy but releasing) focusing with your mind and spirit. This is done in a 'quiet mind' state almost like meditation, but this projection of spirit and energy allows you to be powerful and soft so using less effort.

Like the un-bendable arm, its a focus that makes this work and I believe we project an energy through it, this allows us to resist strength with little effort.

So people what have you got to say about all that??
What focus and energy projection methods do you practise and why??

I'm not so hot on the projection of spirit/energy but i think i can apply what you're saying to psychological terms about mental will power, focus, concentration and Fighting Spirit. These terms feel easier for me as i'm not a particularly spiritual person.

I do believe that it plays a big part in combat but more due to its effect on the body. A more mentally focused punch is more powerful than an unfocussed one. Fighting Spirit is what keeps some boxers on their feet to the end of the bell even though they may be battered and weary. Indomitable spirit.

So people what have you got to say about all that??
What focus and energy projection methods do you practise and why??

Well I'm not sure but I think what I've been doing for the last few years in a bid to strengthen my weakened left side may be described as focus and energy projection methods quite similar to what you're suggesting Ryusui Ryu - I've spent hour, upon hour, upon hour, visualising, focusing and projecting "energy" out through my neurons to all the various nerve endings in my foot, leg, thigh, fingers, arm and shoulder muscles, trying to bring them "alive" again, so to speak, and trying to mentally pour strength and flexibility back into them.

Incidentally the method I use when giving a massage to someone, particularly if it's a healing deep tissue massage, is also very similar, except that on those occasions I'm obviously pouring strength and energy into the massagee instead of my own body.

Hope this isn't too off the point of this discussion

Hi Ryusui_Ryu, good topic!
Ok...

Ryusui_Ryu wrote:
The focus of mind and spirit can prove to make a strike or technique more powerful. For example if someone was to resist an immobalisation, this lock can become more powerful buy commiting your thought to it. What I mean is, as someone tries to stand up, you can settle yourself and basically say NO in your mind and project this intent into the other person.

The same applies with striking, the commitment of your self and spirit when striking and drawing the energy up from the floor through your body and project it out into the opponent (not holding onto this energy but releasing) focusing with your mind and spirit. This is done in a 'quiet mind' state almost like meditation, but this projection of spirit and energy allows you to be powerful and soft so using less effort.

Like the un-bendable arm, its a focus that makes this work and I believe we project an energy through it, this allows us to resist strength with little effort.

So people what have you got to say about all that??
What focus and energy projection methods do you practise and why??

Absolutely - this is having "intention". More than physically "doing" a technique, we fully focus the mind onto the task at hand, be that breaking the bridge, striking, controlling the opponents limbs etc. Everything is done with intention, and backed up with Jin.
Jin is the power, and intention defines how that power is expressed, and is vital in ensuring the success of a technique.

Personally, in order to build intention, I use Xing Yi Quan's "Santi Shi" training. Although my main styles are Taiji and Bagua, Xing Yi's training is the most effective I have found for developing strong intent.
Of course, practicing form and applications should be done with intention as well, however, for training intention, Santi Shi is perfect, in my opinion.

A great topic!

I use a lot of different ways to build intention/will/spirit. Meditation is the most effective form to build spirit, whereas (in a generalization) MA tend to build up will/intention (not saying meditation does not, but MA is "safer" to do so).

Though, we have to differentiate the difference between will/intention and spirit. These two things combine and intertwine but are not always the same. For example you may cultivate a peaceful spirit (buddhist ideas etc.) however you have the -will- or -intention- to survive despite the peace loving of your spirit. To an extent when you are training will or intention you are essentially training "Force". Thus sometimes as some of you may have exp. MAs maybe a battle of "Wills" as well.

In a gross over generalization: Mind tends to be will/intention (no doubt in my mind that I will win)
By combining the mind (as I mentioned in the other philosophy post) you will be training the mind to fight and training instincts.


It is an entirely new realm when you combine, Mind, body, spirit.

BT- what is Santi Shi??

Has anyone done any breaking?? Not to be macho but I am wondering if this focus and projection needs to be practised in order to achieve this breaking method? i.e. wood, brick?
I mean I have broke bits of wood before, not mega think but when I did it I just commited myself to going through it and not hesitating or doubting.

About 80-90% of breaking needs none of these. Breaking is typically more akin to "parlor tricks" If you know how to set up the grains and spacers etc. almost anyone can break anything with enough strength and follow thru. Look at youtube, there are plenty of examples of this.

Examples of using Spirit/Mind/Body for breaking is this (imo):

Using NO spacers between wood or concrete and going through mulitple boards etc. This does not just require the first break, with spacers if you make the first break the rest falls under the pressure of boards breaking as you continue down with the breaks from the board above building on the board below.

w/o spacers this does not happen, I have seen this break before.

One break my master did was with spacers, but his setup was different it was as follows:

3 boards set up 1 foot apart (so a larger space between them)
Boiling water in a pot underneath the bricks
The boards set on fire
A small pearl thrown in the boiling water

The object was to go through all three boards and grab the pearl out of the boiling water in one smooth motion. The fire served as a distraction to the mind (and body) so he could not see the pearl, the boiling water was a deterrent to the body etc. Thus requiring you to overcome the break with Spirit. I witnessed this, as it was our "Master's" test. I suggest not trying this method

These though are examples -I- can think of where the full utilization of Mind/body/Spirit come into play during breaking. With these ideas it is easy to see the potential power, of using this for fighting. Where as typical breaking (show breaking) does not necessarily show fighting. No breaking can show true fighting skills for the simple fact that:
"Boards no, hit back" :)

Ryusui_Ryu wrote:
BT- what is Santi Shi??


Essentially, holding this posture in a relaxed manner for an extended period (usually half an hour on each side)...



However, there is so much more going on internally - it's nearly impossible to describe it in text (although, a few truely skilled practitioners have done so). There are many books instructing on how to assume the posture - and many believe that this is santi shi. However, without the "little pieces" you never get the full picture.

Thanks BT I think I know what you mean

I actually practise this kind of thing with my Kata forms, finding my center and settling for long periods of time, trying to remain relaxed using the mind... very good practise for spirit!

How much time a week do you guys put into this stuff and what benefits DO you feel you are getting?

PeteMills wrote:
How much time a week do you guys put into this stuff and what benefits DO you feel you are getting?

Hi Pete,
Personally, I practice this stuff every day. Usually for about half an hour to an hour at a time.
The main benefits are:
A relaxed body
A calm mind
A focused mind

And, I just find it fun
Even if I can't practice anything else, I always make time to do this work, even if just for 10 minutes.

I practise this focus everyday aswell. I meditate, I search myself for insight to everything, journey to know myself, to understand my existance and place in this world. It's keeps the mind calm and I learn how to glide through life, spotting oppertunities, and remaining true to my faith that I am here to do something important, and that whatever happens, will happen because it needs to.

It funny because all this practise gives me far more than martial art skills, to be honest they are a bonus in my training, for I am training myself to learn and understand life and the universe more than learning how to defend myself.