Level 3 – TDDS

Work Ethic

Students often ask or make suggestions to the Instructor(s) to alter their training regime in regards to their training not going as fast paced, or, in the direction they would like. It is just human nature to want everything given to one on a platter, or personalised. One of the biggest quandaries for instructors is how to explain to a student that x amount of forms (more is better) doesn't really count for one correct body alignment and further, get the student to believe in this ethic? It is suggested for students at this somewhat more advanced position, to stop worrying about this aspect and concentrate more on convincing technique, flexibility and stamina. We (as martial artists) are trying to release energy in the most efficient, effective and explosive manner and there has to be correct technique to release the seemingly contradictory forces of speed & power simultaneously. Learning more moves won't necessarily help this.

The whole approach of Kung Fu is ancient, Chinese, based on Yin & Yang and utilises the two hemispheres of ones mind simultaneously theory. More than likely one has attempted endeavours that utilises one or the other hemisphere and some endeavours that combine and borrow into with (approx.) 75/25% ratios. However, the 50/50% ratios required with this style of Kung Fu have more than likely never been practiced and is totally different to what we in the west have learnt and been taught. This approach is an unknown area and westerners tend not to know how to handle it and consequently, default back to their physical. The easiest way to achieve this level is train with other people (of the same style!), listen, demonstrate good technique and always aim for Red Zone training (Keelan P, 2003). One knows when they're working in red zone as the student feels as if they are almost out of control both physically and psychologically.

The typical western approach just doesn't work here (Lord knows most have tried and failed and this is where they do fail). This is why most people who seemingly get through life okay at differing endeavours can flounder badly here. Kung Fu requires both hemispheres of the brain, this is because it is utilising the two hemispheres on the go and, increasing the bandwidth of the corpus callosum (The hemispheres connecting fiber). The left brain controls the right side of the body (except for the left handed) and in essence, is the logical, the analytical, the judgmental and the verbal. It is interested in the bottom line and being efficient. The right brain controls the left side of the body (except for…) and leans more to the creative, the intuitive. It is concerned more with the visual and emotional side of things.

Our culture nowadays mainly deals with the left hand side of the brain (academia) and how very nicely over time we (civilisation) have lost touch with our right side. It is suggested that "Neanderthal Man" would've predominately utilised his right side and if one aggress with this hypothesis, one will acknowledge how much we have changed. It is fully acknowledged that we as humans now live longer and healthier in our present climate. This is purely a point that attempts to demonstrate how we have adapted. Probably the best and easiest analogy of utilising both hemispheres evenly is by comparing the playing of a guitar and a piano. The guitar requires dexterity between the mind (reading music) and hands (Interdependently between left and right hand) whilst a description of playing a piano is: hands and feet operating interdependently, (creative right side), whilst one is keeping track of the sheet music (theoretical left side), this skill requires a ratio of 1:1 between brain & action, a very resource hungry on the go (live) operation over the comfortable 'norm' or usual tasks. We as humans have all our signals (reactions/actions) travel through a circuit *process*. Kung Fu is similar to the piano playing analogy; it requires all the precision and dexterity of the body, whilst the brain is planning and processing all the tactical moves very, very quickly as well as the respiratory system working very hard to boot and, not helping the body as a whole by the lack of oxygen, red zone training.

When it is all said and done, martial artists are at a more heightened mental state than a lot of other endeavours ever reach. This is because the two combined perspectives (mental & physical) are being performed simultaneously. Another issue is the primal factor, nothing gets the adrenalin going and throws plans out the window like sparring and fighting. Sounds like a lot and it is, this is why Kung Fu teaches the fundamentals first, so this is burnt to memory (made reflexive/habit) and then when L3 is attempted, the technique resources are not drawing on the system. A student trying to operate in L3 mode (a common occurrence) whilst ranked L1 — L2, is in fact running above themselves (Black Zone), and when defaulting to Black Zone training, the student is just prolonging their improvement in training, literally *wasting* their time. Eventually albeit from peer group observations or issues and techniques sinking in, the student starts to change their ways. This is continuously reiterated as the instructors realise it is difficult theory to grasp and, it takes a long time to teach and change ones inherent ways.