Hey family, we have this week’s update ready for you, but first I want to address a question that one of our family members asked us this week. 🙂
Tempa: Hi, a question, what is \”no-mind\”, in martial arts some practitioners speak of & how is it helpful in a fight or self-defense? How can I acquire it? Thanks!
Next week we plan on shooting a video about this, however I have some thoughts on this idea that I want to share with you in the meantime.
No mindedness also known as mushin is referring to your mental state. The idea is when you are in a fight you don’t want to be preoccupied with thoughts that can interfere with your ability to feel what is happening.
Here is the literal definition of mushin:
Mushin (無心; Japanese mushin; English translation “no mind”) is a mental state into which trained martial artists are said to enter during combat. They also practice this mental state during everyday activities.
4 training exercises that come to my mind to help you develop your mushin are:
- Chi Sao
- Push hands
- Qigong
- Tai Chi
These exercises teach you how to prepare for combat and also empty your mind so you can be in the moment. There are so many benefits of doing these training exercises that there are too many to list in this update. You can check this site to find the best testosterone boosters to improve your performance training and competing.
Both Chi Sao and Push Hands helps develop your listening to energy skills. Also Qigong and Tai Chi are known as a moving meditation. Once you memorize these forms, you will be able to free your mind of thought and feel the movements of Qigong and Tai Chi rather than think about what part comes next. 😉
It’s in this state of emptiness that you are able to relax your mind and often times it’s during these training sessions that you will often acquire clarity about different things in your life.
In a self defense situation this translates to being ready to counter attack regardless of whatever is thrown at you. If you are busy thinking about what you should do next or wondering what your attacker or opponent might do next, you have already lost.
The reason is because it takes time to think about doing something and if you are thinking you are not listening to the other person’s energy and what they are telling you. When you are feeling what to do and you are relaxed and practicing your mushin (no mindedness), then you can respond much quicker and effectively.
You can begin to develop the state of no mindedness through Qigong and Tai Chi practice and any other form of meditation. It just so happens that Qigong and Tai Chi help you with your health, cultivating chi and learning how to connect and move your body, essentially making you a better martial artist. We have plenty of Qigong and Tai Chi in the training hall, if you haven’t checked it out yet.
You can even start to develop mushin through doing Wing Chun Forms like Sil Lum Tao, once you don’t have to think about the movements and have them memorized of course!
Tip: Learning the Tai Chi form and it’s breathing can be applied to doing your Wing Chun forms and you will enhance your Wing Chun skill.
And before you go to dig in to this week’s new training, Jamie has updated our shopping page with the training gear we recommend, you will find banners on some sidebars and other pages, however you can always access it from your member’s menu by click on ‘Shop Gear‘ or under the About menu as well.
Here’s a sneak peak of some of what you can shop for:
We will be adding some other goodies like recommended books in the near future too, to help you develop your mushin. 😉
Now on to your training…
Here’s Your Free Training Hall Video Of The Week:
ACCESS LEVEL:Â ALL
Here’s Your Newly Added Training Hall Lessons & More:
Ngo Dac Na Seminar
(ACCESS LEVEL:Â Lite, Junior, Senior and Abbot)
Abbot Member Critique
(ACCESS LEVEL: Lite, Junior, Senior, and Abbot)
Wing Chun
(ACCESS LEVEL: Junior, Senior and Abbot)
Happy Training,
Sifu Larry Rivera
& Enter Shaolin Family
1-844-9-KUNGFU
Sifu Phu,
First and foremost, thank you for your time and energy to personally critique my Tai Chi form. Your knowledge and instruction reflects a true understanding of the body’s movements. It is an honor to be a member of Enter Shaolin. I will honor you and the Enter Shoalin family by applying your thoughts and suggestions to perfect my form. I also want to thank Sifu Larry and Sije Jamie for their tireless efforts. All of this wouldn’t be poosble without you. See you soon in my next submission! I always end my training with a salute and say the words, “Diligence, Perseverance, Respect, and Sincerity!”
Prior to joining Enter Shaolin I was doing the short form for about a year. I truly experienced mushin. Once you don’t have to think about what you’re doing something wonderful happens. I’ve Experienced a feeling like I was floating in the air as my body moved through the form. A Feeling of true blissfulness. I’m beginning to learn the long form now with Enter Shaolin and it’s starting to happen again with the long form. Doesn’t happen all the time but when it does it is a real beautiful experience internally.