Your ego can be a crippling thing paying less attention to it is the first step in mastering your wing chun training or any martial art
Behind our ego lies a subtle intelligence or a basic human emotion that is primal in nature. It’s is part of our DNA
If sensing we re in a losing situation it will quietly rationalise why we should not even try. It will guarantee that t we will never fail by not even attempting it in the first place. That’s why paying less attention to your ego is the first step in towards the path of greater learning and understanding.
That’s why having the credo in your kung fu training or any new endeavor should be: Leave your ego at the door.
This can be quite difficult for the beginner martial artist as it is not a natural instinct but something worth striving for. Our ego wants to win and want to be right. That why it will squirm, turn your insides in knots and come up with excuses when in a position where there is a likelihood that we will fail. It will come up with different situations to avoid us to do this. The corrosive interference of your ego will prevent you from doing anything. Hence overcoming your ego is one of he most important hurdles if you want to experience growth & learning as human beings.
There are some schools that are very challenging to the ego ..whether its kung fu training, karate, ju jitsu, aikido techniques or any martial art… There is no place for the ego to hide as it is constantly assaulted. This is a good thing!
As it ultimately allows us to live in a state of peace and bliss where our ego does not have to be fed and nourished for us to live in this state of contentment. Learning to develop this flexibility is important in all aspects of our lives. We don’t know what’s around the corner and what wont kill us will make us stronger as they say. If we are to attempt things that no one else is willing to do – we must do the things that most people don’t want to do. Be it wing chun training starting a new venture, or even asking out that cute girl you see at the bus stop.
Most people don’t even consider doing any martial art so the simple act of beginning is an indication of your path to excellence that remains out of reach to most people. The achievement of the extraordinary requires people to do extraordinary things. Who would settle for anything less. EVERYONE!
Look at most people who lead their lives it is mostly a mundane existence where they go about their day to day 9-5 jobs and go home to dinner than retire to the couch only to relive the same day again and again. This is an incessant trap. By Friday they are at their wits end and the thought of change briefly crosses their mind only to have the weekend come and like a drug hit they have their release of stress, forgetting their troubles. At last the weekend comes just at the right time to have them forget about their troubles and wanting that change only to have Monday come again, starting the cycle again.
Sorry, but I don’t want to contribute further to this society. I want to live an extraordinary life. I want to do extraordinary things. We should not need to settle. Each uncomfortable step we take will lead us to the destination we desire. It will be hard, you will trip but you can get through it. Don’t worry if you graze your knee on the way down. Expect to have your pitfalls and much more, just know that you are able to achieve your goal.
As hard as it may sound you need to not have an emotional attachment to the outcome. Really it’s a test result– if you are learning a new technique or even attempting something new,, no doubt you will fail at first. Don’t take it personally your ego will have all these things running through your mind saying you cant do this, that etc etc.
Don’t worry about what others say and try living by other peoples guidelines..they don’t live your life, they don’t pay your bills, let go.. And by letting go of your current conventional thinking you allow your mind to be more innovative , and the more you let your ego go , the more innovative you will be.
The more willing you will be to try new things. This goes back to the crux of this article. The more you let go, the less you will need to win, the less you will need to be right or needing to be safe all the time- then the more risks you will take and the more you will discover.
It is a process that should frighten anyone, for there is great joy in discovering new things-even if they reveal our shortcomings- or perhaps more so because they do.
June 18th, 2010 at 5:06 am
I came across your article, i think your blog is interesting, keep working !
June 18th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
thanks for your comments — Skull tattoo! glad you like it .. I work hard to try and make it enjoyable..Wing chun is a great system-its philosophy extends beyond martial arts– even to the tattoo design world! Your designs look awesome..