“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” 2 Timothy 2:4-5
We are currently sharing with you several “Rules of Three” that are part of training in Grace Martial Arts.
You can look at previous Rules here:
- Rule One
- Rule Two
- Rule Three
- Rule Four
- Rule Five
- Rule Six
- Rule Seven
- Rule Eight
- Rule Nine
- Rule Ten
- Rule Eleven
- Rule Twelve
Three Smarts
Your mind plays a vital role in self defense. We often refer to it as the mind/body connection. It’s the way God created us. We can gain an advantage in defending against an attacker by focusing our mind on the situation and using our eyes and hands quickly and efficiently.
In the Mind
An important aspect of being smart in the mind is being calm.
- A mind that is calm can move very quickly and effectively to defend.
- A mind that is calm can see a situation clearly and make right decisions.
In Yon Ch’uan Martial Arts we say:
“The Yon Ch’uan Martial Arts System incorporates three zones of self-defense training. The Three Zone Defense theory is a seemingly simple action, however it is loaded with subtleties that require years of practice to perform them succinctly with total relaxed mind/intent and body integration. Mind/intent is the neutral point between cause and effect. As you relax the mind and body to reduce tension, your physical body and conscious mind will find a neutral point between cause and effect so that your thoughts can cleanly and succinctly be expressed through unconscious physical action.”
Here are some other insights from The Chinese Five Word Song:
“The body moves fastest from a calm, relaxed posture or stance.” Verse 4
“Don’t mind how fierce your opponent is. Whatever moves he makes will be seen and interpreted with clarity and quickness when the mind is calm, focused and relaxed. Calmly watch your opponent with an inner stillness. (Look for nothing and see everything; look for something and see nothing). Your mind must be as calm as a mirrored lake which clearly reflects all its surroundings. Calmness and stillness of the mind will provide crystal-clear expression within the idea and timing of your movement. This calmness is needed to meet any opponent’s attack, the instant he comes into reachable space. A calm, relaxed mind is equipped with the capacity to think, calculate and be logical with immeasurable speed.” Verse 7
“One must meet attack by being calm. Being calm is to empty the mind. Being calm is to watch the conditions with clarity and perspective. If we are calm, we can observe well and foresee the attack. Calmness lends wisdom in how exactly to meet the enemy. The greater the trouble, the greater the need for being calm.” Verse 19
“When to attack or to protect is according to one’s decision. With a calm mind, you can do whatever you like to attack or to protect. During this fighting time, there should be no fear; only calm. If I can, I am quick to stop the opponent’s strength. If my opponent is quick, I yield to guide his advancing into emptiness.” Verse 30
“Our mind is made up to study by patience, meditation, slowness, calmness and circularity. It is especially important to concentrate on what we learn at first, for these are the basic movements. If they are mastered in the proper way it is easy to learn more and more.” Verse 109
The Bible is also clear about the importance of the mind for faith defense:
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
“Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” Romans 12:16
“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6
“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4
“Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11
“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:17-24
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.” Philippians 1:27-28
“Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” Philippians 3:15-17
The Eye
We also want to be smart in the eye. The smart eye feeds information to the smart mind and is able to move quickly and correctly to defend.
Insights from The Chinese Five Word Song:
“Eyes straight ahead, forward.” Verse 20
“Your eyes move about like lightning. In the T’ai Chi principles they talk about the eye being like the cat at the moment it is about to catch the mouse. The cat’s eyes are like windows through which we observe the cat’s will (intent), before the strike. Therefore, we have to pay attention and watch our own movement — here and there like the cat’s eye watching his prey. Your spirit watches in all four directions (front, back, left, right). This sentence is also talking about the eye. The Spirit of your eye watches in all directions because the enemy will come from different directions to attack you.” Verses 57 & 58
The Bible is also clear about the importance of the eyes for faith defense:
“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:15-21
The Hands
We also want to be smart in the hands. We use our hands to defend against attack including “contact, control and counter.”
Insights from The Chinese Five Word Song:
“In pushing hands we use stick-and-follow. Without anticipating your opponent’s move, you lightly stick with his every movement, at once yielding to oncoming force, while leaving him no chance to advance. In this manner we can thoroughly understand our opponent’s intentions — how he wishes to attack. Only he is never certain of where you are because your touch is so light. Because we stick to the enemy, my hand touches the enemy and knows what he wishes because you have learned by feeling.” Verse 11
“Judge the chance and take the opportunity. In pushing hands, we call this the ‘chance to follow’ and move in time. We develop good judgment by sticking, by turning with the waist, by measuring the distance. Don’t overextend. Raise up the head, straighten the spine, lower the weight, root firmly. Wait for your chance. As soon as there is a chance suitable for you to attack, attack at once.” Verse 25
“Attack as the arrow – quick and straight. This means that the inner force comes forth at once, because the arms and hands are rounded. The hand is circles, but the force moves straight ahead. The force comes from the whole body. This is good for pushing hands and self-defense. Remember to balance all sides. Your weight goes down to your abdomen. Raise your head. Lower your shoulders and elbows.” Verse 34
“The hands are 30% to the front and 70% to the rear. People do not understand. When attacking, they use all strength to go forward. But this is not our principle. In this soft exercise, we need 70% at the rear hand. If we draw our attacker to advance with 70%, the enemy will more easily lose his balance. Only 30% on the other hand is needed to attack our enemy, and the enemy will suffer double weight from our blow because his heavy attack is helped to advance by my 70%. At the time I use 30% to attack him he could be badly hurt. To protect uses 70%. To attack uses 70%. This is the principle of our exercise.” Verse 60
“Movement of legs and hands all work together. Whenever you take a step, your hands should work with it. This means your hind leg pushes forward your body and hands without delay. Legs should be well rooted into the ground. Working together is very important. The Mind’s idea goes to the kidney for movement. Now, hands and legs move together without delay.” Verse 104
The Bible is also clear about the importance of the hands for faith defense:
“But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.” 1 Corinthians 12:20-22
“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Ephesians 4:28
“But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12
“Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.” 1 Timothy 5:22
Next Time
We will look at another set of Rules of Three for Grace Martial Arts when our special series continues.
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