Interviewer:
Sifu, you often demonstrate an unmistakeable martial spirit. Could I ask you to chat about this?
Sifu Zopa:
Most certainly! Yes, martial spirit is very important - vital, I think - for those who wish to master a martial art. You know, my senior students know, that I often speak of “the spirit of the dragon”. The dragon is my favourite gung fu animal. No other animal better symbolises Chinese gung fu. The snake, of course, of our Wing Chun, is considered a small dragon by the Chinese.
Sometimes I will talk of a tiger and a dragon. I speak of tiger and dragon because traditionally these two animals were associated with this ferocious and dominating martial spirit. Sil Lum is said to have held these two in high esteem. Of course they represent yum and yeung, as you probably know.
Interviewer:
Yes, you mentioned that. Sifu, in connection with martial spirit, you say the art should dwell in three places. Can you explain this?
Sifu Zopa:
OK. This martial spirit is essential to understand and to acquire. It’s a mindset and it is manifest and explicit in one’s demeanour. The mind and the spirit must be developed as well as the body. I will often say to my students that they must have the art “dwell here” and point to my fist, my heart and my head. Of course this means that the true martial artist must have an art of body, mind and spirit. Martial art is only about technique in part. There is, obviously, much more. Essential and all as good technique is, it is not enough. It’s perhaps a little difficult to verbalise exactly what is martial spirit though it can clearly be seen when a martial artist has it, or lacks it. In fact, in most martial arts a good fighting spirit aligned with mediocre technique can overcome poor spirit aligned to excellent technique! For the complete martial artist we ought to see their art in their mind, their body and their heart. They have to be calm, ruthless, exhibit correct body structures and express their power appropriately with courage and confidence.
Interviewer:
You often demonstrate by your demeanour and your general body posture that you totally dominate your opponent both physically and psychologically, sifu. Is this what you mean?
Sifu Zopa:
Yes, you could say so. It’s posture and mindset. “Dominating” is a good word. Posture, demeanour expressing mindset, I think. Your indomitable mindset is important. You stand straight and are securely rooted and dynamically balanced and poised. You seem like a tiger crouched to spring or launching itself onto its prey. The observer can see it; the attacker can both see and feel it. It’s a tsunami-like effect. You sweep over your opponent, utterly engulfing them. It’s not flustered or loud but it’s very decisive. Even in those arts that scream as they attack it needn’t be overly loud but it needs to be crisp and penetrating, sharp and clear. Wing Chun, of course, doesn’t do that, doesn’t shout. The mind must understand calm aggression untainted by anger. Anger can defeat you.
Often I see martial artists trying to achieve this appearance of martial spirit - which they must have seen demonstrated by a master somewhere. Yet, they don’t have it right - they look as if they’re play acting. They scowl, shout loudly and try to appear fierce yet they don’t have the cold flame of the genuine thing. It’s show. You don’t get it just by scowling and shouting louder. It has to come from the mind, the intent. Many martial artists who exhibit or compete at tournaments you see in this category. They go through motions - often good technique - but they show no true spirit. Then, every now and then - it’s not the norm though - you see a top martial artist who has this martial spirit exhibit it - and it’s unmistakeable. Their being - body and spirit takes on an animal-like ferocity. I’ve seen a lot of gung fu practitioners who’ve performed animal sets yet only a few have this quality. Likewise with the karate practitioners - some of the old masters exhibit it. It can be called the spirit of budo or Yamato damashii for karateka. It’s an indomitable spirit on display. I once saw a practitioner demonstrate a crane set and at the outset he cried out just like a crane. It was uncanny, it was about thirty years ago yet I recall it very clearly. He was dressed in white and looked and sounded exactly like a crane. He was very good! It was unforgettable. Impeccable posture and amazing spirit! Unfortunately he passed away - not at an old age either, sadly. I think he died in a car crash.
Interviewer:
Your focus on this seems to derive both from your experience with both Chinese sifus and Japanese senseis sifu, is this correct?
Sifu Zopa:
Correct. As you know whilst I definitely don’t mix the arts or their philosophies or powering methods, I do draw on various sources for mind training - modern Western psychology; the old Chinese Taoist and Buddhist noi gung; Tibetan mind training; Japanese Zen; and, the teachings of Japanese warriors. I draw on martial art! Sure, it’d be mad not to. Well, genuine martial art, anyway! It’s not so much eclectic my way of approaching this - in fact I think it’s really a seamless thing - it’s all one.
I think I’ve said more than once before in fact that whilst the Chinese have the edge in hei (or “chi”) development the Japanese, with teachers like Takuan and Musashi and others most people would not know, lead the way in mind training for martial arts. Texts like Go Rin No Sho by Musashi, properly understood, are invaluable. The Tao Te Ching contains a lot of useful information too, of course. As does Sun Tzu’s “Art of War”, for that matter.
The Tibetans, of course, lead the way in moral development and overall mind control. The samurai were possibly the group of warriors with the most advanced mind training methods. Having said that, there were a few notable (and possibly rare, I tend to think) Chinese martial artists who had an exemplary fighting spirit along the samurai lines - Wang Xiang Xhia was one I know of. Sum Num, of course, had a very focused fighting spirit. Many Chinese sifu have good technical skill but don’t seem to exhibit the same fighting spirit as the Japanese masters. They might not like this observation but it’s been my experience.
Interviewer:
The eyes, the gaze forms a part of this martial spirit apparently sifu?
Sifu Zopa:
Yes indeed! The gaze need not be angry as such but it needs to be focused and fiercely intent, like an eagle eyeing its prey. It can’t be bland or passive. The gaze needs to be intense. It is almost as if you want to hit the person with your gaze. It’s not in the facial expression as much as the intensity of the gaze from the eyes. The Japanese have an expression - “metsuke no bushi” - the gaze of the warrior. What it means is “the warrior hitting with his eyes” or “the strike of the eyes of the warrior”. Like a fierce tiger. The eye of the tiger, eh? (Laughs) Look into their eyes and you can see cold death looking back at you. Go around and watch the famous gung fu animals - the tiger, the snake, the leopard, the crane - you can watch the lizards and crocodiles and alligators to get some idea of the mythical dragon - mix in their ferocity with the agility of the snake. Watch the lion too. They’re quite martial. Go to a zoo and see. I did.
Interviewer:
This was when you tell us you handled the snake?
Sifu Zopa:
No, different time, different zoo. Actually, it was a snake place - just snakes. I observed a tiger at a zoo recently. I handled the snake to improve the feel of my sae ying sau. I won’t be handling a tiger - unless it’s a cub! (Laughs) I have stared down lions in Africa, though. Caged ones, I will readily admit. It’s said you ought not look into the eyes of the lion in Africa as they take it as a challenge. I’d believe that. The ones I stared at didn’t appreciate it I’m sure - they looked quite angry! I was very glad for their cage I can tell you! It was an interesting experience though, for sure! They really entered into the staring down contest. I could almost imagine they were thinking how dare I! I find it interesting watching animals move and fight. But, we must remember we’re human and not try to unrealistically copy animal moves. Their nature or spirit is a different thing, of course. We can learn from that.
Interviewer:
What aspects of modern Western psychology do you draw on, sifu?
Sifu Zopa:
Whatever is required. Principally, some of the sport psychology material, some of which stems from more general therapeutic or clinical psychology. Aspects involving anxiety management; motivation - organisational psychology, which I studied extensively, has a good coverage of motivation - focus; relaxation; pain management; and, use of imagery. These topics are well covered in most sports psychology texts.
Interviewer:
People ask you now and then how you reconcile your Buddhist beliefs and martial arts you tell us, sifu. Can you relate any aspects of this to martial spirit?
Sifu Zopa:
Oh yes! Definitely! I believe that if you have to defend yourself it’s OK if it can’t be avoided. Even the Dalai Lama says this. We ought to try, within reason, to do the minimal harm to our attacker consistent with his attack. By this I mean if a silly old drunk attacks you, you need not hurt him. If a violently aggressive young strong drunk attacks you and there is the prospect of you being hurt you can, and probably must, retaliate with more force. If someone tries to kill you, you may have to kill him. If multiple attackers with serious deadly intent attack you then you must also probably use force consistent with stopping their attacks and ensuring there is no prospect of re-attack. They will have to be rendered incapable of further attack by whatever means is required. This might require serious injury to them, unfortunately. In terms of martial spirit we ought not be angry - this clouds and poisons the mind. Aggression can occur without anger, the mind can - and I’d argue should, be calm when you attack. It ought to be focused, intent, ferocious in appearance and action but also calm. This is not a contradiction when properly understood. I’m sure the samurai understood this. A good Wing Chun practitioner ought also.
Interviewer:
Thank you, sifu.