As I have mentioned before, I started yoga out of curiosity but also as a way to improve my kung fu. The two have synergized really nicely and seem to go hand in hand for me.
However, something happened recently which really made me aware of how different the two disciplines are. I was teaching a mixed age kung fu class, and one of the students asked me about some ground techniques, namely, how to choke someone on the floor with your legs. I asked a newly minted instructor for some help demonstrating and so we got on the floor to explain the "triangle choke". For some reason, this other instructor (who is about 18) decided to turn the quick instructional demo into a wrestling match (what a hothead!) and so he picked me up and dropped me on my neck a few times. This only succeeded in really pissing me off, so we grappled some more until he gave up. My neck hurt for days afterwards, including during my manju workshop.
This made me pretty angry. He shouldn't have engaged in free sparring of any kind in that context. Children were running around and could have been hurt! Also, I hate having to deal with unnecessary injury. Aches and pains are part of the deal when practicing martial arts, but I try to protect myself to minimize such things. I vowed revenge.
Sure enough, an opportunity arose for me to exact retribution for his misdeeds. We were holding controlled sparring sessions, so I got in line and just happened to be paired up with the hothead who injured me. I am ten years his senior but still well within my prime and easily defeated him. I finished the fight with a nice jab to the stomach which left him bent over gasping for breath. I went home feeling satisfied that we were even and regaled my friends with a tale of domination over my opponents.
The very next morning I woke up early and went to yoga. As soon as I started on my standing postures, I realized that my mind was struggling to adjust to the change in pace and attitude. My practice was really unfocused as my aggressive mindstate sharply contrasted with the peaceful yoga practice.
I don't feel bad about what happened in kung fu. While I am a vegetarian and try to practice ahimsa in regards to all living creatures great and small, I think that the violence of kung fu is primarily a method of sharpening and controlling the mind. Kung fu is a practice for pacifists, and learning to use your body as a tool of violence is ultimately a meditation on the nature of peace. In essence, I think some of the goals of yoga and kung fu are identical - we all strive to cease the vibrations of the mind. But the path to that goal is so different in many respects, and sometimes I find it jarring to practice both.
PS. after i beat his ass earlier this week, he and i have cooled things out and are once again friendly colleagues. it's like in elementary school where you fight with your friend and then ten minutes later it's back on the bikes.
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