FIGHTING WITH FIRE

   Think about these two quotes from these Master of Marital arts.  The first one is from Master Mabuni (1888-1952)  from 1933, the second one Is Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)  from  May 1645.

They both deal with the principle of fighting strategy.

• “To create two-person drills containing all of the techniques including each and every one of their variations is impossible. However, if one practices kata correctly, it will serve as a foundation for performing – when a crucial time comes – any of the infinite number of variations. However, even if you practice the karate kata as you should, if that is all that you do, if you do not train sufficiently in other areas, then you will not develop sufficient skills. If you do not also use other training methods to strengthen and quicken your hands and feet, as well as to ensure the sufficient study of things like body-shifting and distancing, you will be inadequately prepared when the need arises to call on your skills.” – Kenwa Mabuni 

In Miyamoto Musashi classic book “ A Book of Five rings”  he described fighting as FIRE.  While Musashi was a swordsman we can still use the same principle  for our Karate.  In the fire book of Musashi he list a number of strategies  to use so you are able to fight for your survival.  Here is a quote from the Fire Book:

 “Any man who wants to master the essence of my strategy must research diligently, training morning and evening. Thus can he polish his skill, to become free from self, and realize extraordinary ability.  He will come to possess miraculous power.   This is the practical result of strategy.”       

Think of the way a forest fire goes through a large group of trees, jumping from tree to tree moving fast and  destroying everything in its path.

Fire can start slow but once it gets going it doesn’t stop until there isn’t any fuel left.   Fire works with the amount of fuel it has. It will burn hard and fast but when the fuel (oxygen & material)  is use up it quickly dies down. This is when you start thinking you will lose.

When you are in a fight or sparring in the dojo or at a tournament, try to use the principle of Fire.  By going as hard and fast as you can, not stopping until nothing is left, leaving everything on the floor.

There will be times when it will seem like you are losing the fight, that is when you need to dig down and use the fire in you.   To go as fast as you can and knowing that the next five seconds you are going to win or lose.  The majority of the fights or encounters we will be in are only going to last a few seconds anyway ( if done correctly). The longer you fight the chances are higher you will lose or get hurt.

Fighting is fire!   And by being fire it can be a raging forest fire or a campfire to warm you, or to cook with. You should control the fire in you also, to be able to turn  it up when the need arises.  I always remember the time I was in a full contact fight when I really felt that fire kick in.  It was a bare fist, no-pad, full contact sparring match, with full on kicks to the face and hard punches to the body. Knees and elbows were permitted too.  About a minute into the match I had that feeling of losing, I was letting fear get into my head, but I pushed on.  And that is when I really felt the fire come up from my center and I went as fast and hard as I could.  I knew that five seconds is all I needed.  It was going to be get knocked out or knock him out . And with all of my hard training and body conditioning my fuel was there for finishing the fight.

The other guy must have felt it too, because I knew I was winning and I knew he knew I was winning.    That was a major turning point for me, I had felt the fire going through me… I knew what I could do and did it.  After having that feeling it is something that stays with you, it has been burned in my mind, body and spirit.   I know now, I will keep trying until the fight is over, win or lose.

But going back to the two quotes,  it’s still all about the training. Working the body, polishing your techniques, and keeping your mind open and ready.  In Master Musashi’s quote the line of “free from self”  is the all important thought. To know what you can do and to be able to just do it.  Easy to say and easy to believe just one really hard thing to get yourself  to do.   In the quotes from Master Mabuni or from Musashi, it still all goes back to your everyday training.  Let the basics be the heat to start and keep the fire burning in you.

SEE YOU IN THE DOJO