by Muad'dib on Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:58 pm
I am wondering...
My recent discussion with Mut has gotten me considering. It is extremely common for people to neglect the basics in practice. This in my mind includes stancework (how is standing in one place gonna help me?), flexibility (I am fine, just a little old...), strength (It's all about softness), qi gong ("Qi" is a myth...) or other forms of what I believe is referred to in Chinese as Jibengong.
I think part of this, other than laziness, or the above comments [which were exaggerated to prove an point], is tied to the idea of these as "basics". Maybe its the western idea of just wanting to move ahead (What, you mean I have to practice these three moves for a month before I can learn the next one? For two hours a day?!?!), or just the idea that, well they are basic, as in simple, and therefore not needed for me...
An old friend of mine, an older chinese gent who did some translations at various times once referred to these as the bases. (Plural of basis). I thought he was just being idiosyncratic at the time, but looking back, I wonder if the translation is more accurate (chinese native speaker?). Even if linguistically it is not, I think from a thought method approach, it is a better way to view these exercises. These exercises, these bases, are the things upon which all future skill and development is built. A poor foundation makes a poor house. Neglected flexibility hinders power transferal. Weakness of certain muscles prevents flow of movement.
Conditioning, strength or cardio is something, most people will not argue against, though not all do them. A health body is after all fundamental to being able to fight/perform well, or for prolonged periods of time. Aren't the bases the same?
Anyway, maybe I am just blowing smoke, but I wanted to get this idea out. Thanks to Mut to bringing it to the fore.
I am no longer allowed to make statements regarding international politics in a public forum.