danfaggella

do such styles emphisize use of Chi and inner power more?

do they meditate more (if so, why.... is it to get connnected to go? become a better fighter?)

do they have more of a passive aproach to fighting, not being as agressive and pushy as some other styles?

thanks!

shaolin-warrior

dan,
I sometimes tend to get a little deep, but i'll try to stick to the point so please bear with me.
I have a good background in shaolin style kung - fu, I enjoy that style because of the meditation and the passive agressiveness. But like most guys that I know in that style, we've augmented our training with a more agressive type of martial art that is more suitable for self defense. At first I thought that SKF was shrouded in mysticism but once I became a higher rank and started to realy be able to meditate and not just sit quietly, I began to see that my focus and attention was improved. Reflex time and awareness or being able to spot an opponents weakness or bad habits in the ring became easier to me, and it showed. My sparing ( and we spar with contact , but with respect) improved greatly. Also I realized that the more I (practiced ) meditation, the easier it was for me to get to that place of calmness.
then I realized that in a confrontation, be it sparring or the adrenal stress drills that we do in class, i could recall that calmness and be able to clear my head of panic or fear and subdue my flight or fight reaction to the situation. This left me better able to defend myself. It might not make me a better fighter, but it gives me a psychological edge,(not over my opponent but over myself) wich I feel is more important.
This allows me to be more confident and or passive and to wait for my opponents attack. Not to be beaten before I defend my self, but to let him feel that he is the agressor and I am the opportunist.

danfaggella

thanks, i need to try to learn to meditate, it seems like a good ability and a good skill to develope off the mat.

Oraenor

1.Both internal and external styles have emphasis on chi and the emphasis is the same but used differently.

2. Meditation doesnt make you a better fighter, no offence but I have not seen a good sub continental martial artist yet they have some of the best meditation techniques.

3. In my opinion internal styles push more than external, since externals punch more. Being passive is up to the person, not the art itself.

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Tom Yum

I'm sure I could google meditation, but from your own personal experience how has meditation helped in your daily life?

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Oraenor

Meditation's just a cheap way to get high Its a lame excuse to wear sweat pants and momos fashionably, not to mention undies.

seriously speaking, meditation is just one way to calm the mind and to focus, there are many more ways to do that than just through meditation.

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danfaggella

i'm not planning on being some 'mystical' meditative white trash guy. I just see the mind-over-matter practices of some arts and i wonder how it doesn't affect thier ability to think clearly. Does it not allow you to respond faster? isn't keeping a steady mind durring a fight a valid and useful skill?

oppinions/facts/whatever please.

thanks!

Tom Yum

Yeah, but there are people who swear that meditation has medical benefits. Just thought I'd poll someone.

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Tai Chi Fighter

I have found that through meditation that my awareness has gone up, both on a physical and mental level. I didn't think it was possible to fight multiple opponents blind-folded and win.

Oraenor

Hmm let me see here:
Change in diet- medicinal and mental benifits
regular exercise- medicinal and mental benifits
living in a clean environment- medicinal and mental benifits
enjoying 20 minuites under the sun- medicinal and mental benifits

and the list goes on.

As you can tell, you dont need meditation to fulfill the medicinal and mental criteria!

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shaolin-warrior

Originally Posted by Oraenor
. Meditation doesnt make you a better fighter,









.....................................................

ddrive

My personal experiences from a little bit of zen [and I do mean a little bit] has helped me in fights and sparring. One thing I used to do during a spar was try to anticipate my opponents attacks, which only slowed down my reaction time to his or her's actual attacks. A bit of meditation helped me to not concentrate on "what could happen", but how to live/react in the moment. Good meditation help drops ones preconceived notions about a situation, and help deal with it "as is".

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Shard

No one here said: "I was cured from cancer by meditation." or "Meditation made me win that MT champion."

Yes, there may be many many ways to destress, cleanse your mind, or refresh oneself mentally. But it all works on the same basis as meditation. Claming the body, allow the mind to rest, induce proper breathing techniques.
Meditation does not mean you just sit there and go Ommmmmmm........ Ommmmmm.......
Yoga is a form of meditation. A Warm quiet Jacuzzi(sp?) soak is a form meditation. A enjoying good foot massage is a form of meditation.
While there are some medical benefits from meditation, most are limited or very vauge at most.

Yes, meditation does help. It clears your mind, focuses your attention and makes you alert. It does not mean however, that by doing lots of meditation and being a sloppy fighter will make you fight well. Its more of a booster than the main course. Something like a Cherry on a Sundae, The cherry by itself isn't really what you want, but its makes a Sundae that much more delicious.

fwtaichi

I will say that meditation will improve everything you do and by god it could possibly cure cancer and help you to win championships.

There have been several studies on the place of mental imagery in sports performance. They seem to indicate positive results. For more information see this link it will be a good starting point.
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/coach...6/rushall4.htm

In my own experience meditating has helped me to learn concentration, concentration aided my ability to visualize or image movement and performance. Once I have reached a place of feeling like I know the technique then I find it far easier to learn it and perform it with a greater degree of accuracy. I can tell you from experience as well that when I go into the ring if I do not feel like I have already won then I will lose. What the mind imagines is the same as what is "real" to the body. If you disbelieve me then try imagining biting into a slice of lemon.

Meditation quiets the channel and removes static from the mind.
Imagery creates the feeling of the desired outcome.
The feeling then helps the muscles do their job free of stresses over outcome of the activity.

Garland

What type of charmed life do you live? Throw in some drinks, add a beach and a boat, and you've got a cornona commercial!

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