My Style pt.2, Non-combatives and Philosophy

Overview-
Above all, I believe in Balance in all things. Ferocity is tempered with compassion, justice with mercy, hurting with healing. I have studied natural medicine and energy healing techniques for as long as I have martial arts, if not longer. I practice qi gong daily, and yoga as well, not only for my own health, but also to help me harness that "mystical" energy for use in healing others through touch, massage, and acupressure coupled with energy techniques. I put "mystical" in quotes because I find nothing supernatural about it, rather I believe it is an exceptionally natural thing we have gotten away from as our world has become inundated with the UN-natural. Energy techniques, such as those used in martial arts and healing, represent an organic technology we, as a species, were born to use, yet the cultural norms of today favor synthetic technologies like computers and manufactured chemicals put into convenient pills and syringes, thus making our natural, organic technology look like "hocus pocus". Harnessing and sensing chi, both in the body and in the world around you (including other people) is a fundamental aspect of my art. Visualization and meditation train us to tap into those (now) latent parts of our brain that have awareness and control of the subtle energy field. Physical practices like qi gong, taiji, and yoga help to cultivate that energy in the body while bringing it into balance and sync with the physical. Breath control is important too. I use the breath in all aspects of my practice. It is surprising how much something as simple as inhaling or exhaling can change the effectiveness of a technique or exercise. Remembering to breath out as you deepen a stretch allows you to go about twice as far as you would if you were inhaling or holding your breath. Exhaling sharply at the moment of contact with a strike or push has an outstanding impact on both speed and strength while inhaling and exhaling slowly before a technique can build up chi to be used in application. Pranayama, or "breath yoga" can be used even while standing in line or setting at a desk to energize, calm, or build internal power. I use it in conjunction with meditation, as well as to help manage panic attacks from PTSD. Energizing pranayama can be as effective as a cup of coffee in the morning, and without the side effects...

Once you have learned to sense, cultivate, and move chi energy within yourself, the next step is learning to sense and blend with things outside yourself. Plants, animals and stones are places to start. You will notice that each has a unique energy, and may have a different influence on you when you attempt to merge or bring some of its energy into yourself. Even without trying, after practicing internal chi exercises for a while, you will begin to become aware of the thoughts and emotions of people. "Seeing auras" is really just a bridge created by your mind to give your conscious mind a way of explaining and expressing what your sub-conscious (or supra-conscious, depending on how you look at it) mind is sensing. People expect this to be very dramatic, like some kind of psychedelic experience, or to have their aura "come out" so that other people see it without knowing how. In truth, auras are not always visual. It depends on your psychic strengths, but you may sense auras as feelings, shapes, even scents or sounds. Some people "just know" and that, too, is a result of sensing the aura. It is a natural thing that many people learn to do even though they are skeptical about all of this "subtle energy" stuff. The fact is, we are all beacons of energy, and that energy is ALWAYS broadcasting and interacting with other energy fields. It isn't something we start doing after developing this practice, but something we become aware of through this practice.

Sensing the energy of a person can give you an edge when there is a potential threat. Getting out BEFORE something goes down is always better than being caught in it and forced to defend yourself. Trust your instincts, especially after you have begun cultivating chi and sensing auras. Better safe than sorry. There is more to it than that though. Blending your chi with that of others not only gives you deeper insights into who they are and what their intentions may be, but can even allow you to influence their energy field through projecting and manipulating your own. You can give a person the impression you are a greater or lesser threat than you actually are (I have done it) or make yourself "invisible" by simply lowering your "broadcast signal" so as to pass by unnoticed (again, I have DONE it). You can also use this "blending" technique to help promote healing and remove blocks in the energy field of another which may be the source of a physical, mental, or emotional dis-ease. Connecting with another through the subtle energy field has many benefits and applications. Just as we focus on blending the physical energy in our techniques in order to successfully execute throws and deflections, we also learn to blend chi energy to exert greater force, or rob the opponent of theirs. At the same time, we learn to give energy back, to have compassion and understanding for seemingly "negative" energies of another because we can better relate to them and "feel" where they are coming from. In this way, we may resolve a conflict before it even begins, or escape before the danger even presents itself.

Methods of movement-
Crescent step; or "Indian walking" as my dad and grandad called it. This step is performed by walking on the balls of the feet, lifting the knee first in an upward-forward motion, then letting the foot softly droop down as you trace a small "c" shape just above the ground before placing your foot and shifting your weight for the next step. This method of walking minimizes noise and allows you to feel for debris on the ground without having to look where you are stepping to avoid sticks or branches that may snap or trip you. It makes moving in the dark much safer, allows you to keep your eyes fixed on a target you are stalking (we used this a lot while hunting and trying to line up a shot) and trains you for balance, controlled movement, and full body awareness.
Mantis step; There may be another name for this... and it is difficult to describe without pictures (I hope to add some later) but it is a very low stance, nearly sitting on the ground, with the legs crossed at the ankles and feet pointing in opposite directions forming a sort of "zig-zag" shape. Each step crosses the following leg over the other in this configuration, and the body is kept low, with the knees deeply bent. This reminds me of the way a mantis walks along a thin stick or blade of grass. In similar fashion, the arms are kept up, at the ready and guarding the face, while the knees serve to protect the groin. This position can allow you to quickly turn to either side by pivoting on the balls of the feet and ending up in the same stance facing the other direction. It helps to train leg strength, balance, and rooting oneself in position. It is also away to walk while remaining low as in the "hunter's stance" to follow.
Hunter's stance; I call it this because it is a position I used a lot while hunting. It is simply a flat-footed squat with the head low, eyes up and alert, and weapon at the ready. It is a good at-rest position that allows you to quickly spring into action while remaining less visible when still. You can put your back against a tree to take some of your weight while also giving yourself some cover and camouflage, but you can just as easily use it with your back to a bush or other surface which would not support your weight. You can stand, turn, or roll from this position as well, moving in any direction you need to in order to avoid or initiate attack, or to seek better cover and avoid detection- This last one I have actually used in multiple real-life threatening situations. By staying low, I saw them before they saw me, and by rolling and sliding, I made it to cover of dense kudzu vines or escaped through ditches.
Frog stroke; Swimming out to collect and place jugs for fishing, I discovered that I disturbed the water less when swimming with just my head above water while bringing my legs and arms slowly forward and out to the sides, then down/back in a reverse movement- like the way a frog swims. I also realized that this made me harder to see in the water. People have actually lost track of me when I was swimming this way even though they were quite near and looked away only for a moment. Never had to use it in combat or infiltration, but it seemed worth noting anyway.

The dance of light and shadow-
When you are in the light, all you see is what is clearly visible and what is shaded. When you are in the shadows, however, you see varying layers of shadow, all that is hidden is revealed, and the light is a place of blinding. -Just meditate on that for a bit, pondering all its possible implications-
Leaving the esoteric to the side for the moment, lets analyze the material uses of this principle. Most people stick to the light, so will only see what is in the light, and just outside of it. That region of light shadow is called the "penumbra" and it is where, to someone who's eyes are accustomed to the light, things seem a little blurry, but still detectable. The deepest shadow, the "umbra" is clearly visible from within the shadow itself, but virtually invisible from the light. When moving in shadow, you want to stick close to the umbra, remembering that light cuts angles like a blade's edge and that venturing close to the penumbra, your body may be exposed though your feet seem to still be within the umbra. Step your foot at the edge of a tree's shadow any time other than noon and see whether your body is shaded or still in the sun. You have to be WITHIN the umbra to be covered by it. Shadow will not make you disappear completely, and movement, no matter how silent, will always make you easier to detect. For that reason, it is always best to move from cover to cover, and it is in this that we find our next trick, the use of light. I discovered this while squirrel hunting. Quite often, in the morning or afternoon when the sun was closer to eye-level, the little buggers would spot me and run right in front of me rather than away and toward another tree or hole to hide in because there was a closer and better source of cover- the sun. By positioning the body between the source of light and the one you are trying to evade, you force them to look at the light and be temporarily blinded. You, for a brief moment, are a slip of blackness against a blinding back drop which grows in size. Taking this moment to then duck into cover I would completely lose my quarry, and that is how I learned to hide in the light. If you are found in shadow, quickly make them look into the light, then vanish before their vision recovers. We see this tactic in a figurative sense all the time, when someone of supposedly high moral standing is caught doing something unscrupulous and attempts to shield themselves with righteousness. I say all the time "light is about what you see, darkness is about what you FEEL" for it is my belief that people are far too enthralled by principles of "light" and they ignore the obvious faults of that path. Light abhors ugliness, it is harsh and judgmental, amplifying superficial flaws while lauding superficial "beauty". In the dark, you are forced to suspend judgement and move past the superficial. You must know by listening, feeling, smelling and tasting, all of your other senses are heightened and expanded. They say "seeing is believing" yet, scientifically, sight is our most limited sense and the easiest to fool, I mean, street magicians do it for pete's sake so how trustworthy can "seeing" ACTUALLY be?!?! Darkness is far more sensual. She brings out the best in all our senses, and, I believe, in ourselves. Love for mother darkness has been the one thing that saved me when it seemed all else had failed. Walk in shadow, not just at the edge, but enveloped in the depths of the umbra, where that which was hazy becomes clear as day and the light is revealed for its harshness. Yet still, know when to use that harsh light to your advantage as you seek refuge, but do not linger in it. Let the foolish and fearful flock to the light as moths do to their fiery doom. Stick to the cool comfort of darkness' embrace and let yourself be guided not only by what you see, but all you sense. That's a bit of the philosophy behind this principle. Just a few final notes on the physical uses of this tactic- whether moving in the night or day, try to keep your eyes trained on dark areas. Not only will you see more that is hidden (detecting potential threats before they can make their move, for instance) but you will preserve your dark-vision. This is particularly important at night where most people tend to automatically look toward the brightest spots and walk in them as much as possible. This means every time you move out of the aura of light and into shadow, you are effectively blind, and there is a lot more shadow around you at night. Staying trained on the dark will make you able to see much, much more than those who instinctively look to the light. Resist this urge as much as possible. Lastly, twilight is another good place to be. Many animals are most active at dawn and dusk. That in-between time of dreamlike purplish light is very difficult for our predatory eyes to deal with. Yes, it is harder for you to see as well, but it is a good time to cover ground before having to go into hiding again.

Additional knowledge and skills-
Reading clouds, winds and animal signs; I learned to identify the different kinds of clouds and what they mean for the weather when I was very young. I was also taught to know what shifts in the winds may indicate, and to feel and smell the wind to sense for moisture, human or animal scents, etc. There was some esoteric stuff too, like west winds mean gradual change or transition, east winds mean clarity and revelation, north winds are stagnation or perpetuation while south winds are violence or dramatic and sudden change. "Asking the wind" was an early form of divination for me. Spirits were said to reside in the place from whence the winds came. The ancestors live in the west, the spirits of nature- keepers of the plants and trees, animals and stones- live in the east, the spirits of the north are aloof but just, and those of the south are passionate but chaotic. A question asked to the wind could be answered by the myriad ideas evoked by the associated concepts of the wind's place of origin. Animals, too, have meanings. Crows and ravens are the "lookouts" of the forest, and tend to cry out or flee when an intruder approaches, depending on the level of perceived threat. Being able to hunt in proximity to a crow without being "told on" was an achievement worthy of note. I was also taught to call crows and understand the basic meanings of their calls. For instance, one drawn out call followed by 5 short is a searching call, while one drawn call followed by 3 short is the response. Several extremely rapid calls in succession told of a threat, but a few moderately paced ones, usually while gliding, meant "this area is clear". There is an old rhyme about numbers of crows and their associated meaning. We spent a lot of time observing animals when I was a kid. I like to pass along this kind of knowledge as part of my art because it teaches both connection and adaptability.
Knowledge of plants and trees and terrain; foraging for food and medicine is something literally everyone can benefit from. It is ridiculous the amount of beneficial plant life that is murdered each year for the sake of useless grass and cosmetically "pleasing" lawns. People trample right over things that could heal them on their way to the pharmacy to spend their hard earned money on pills. Healthy food comes from nature, not wrapped in plastic and styrofoam. Natural food has more chi energy, especially if it is eaten fresh, only minutes after being killed. Respect for sacrifice is another big thing, by the way. I don't see any difference in plant, animal or human life. A life is a life, and death is part of it, but that is no reason to flippantly disregard the death of another species just because it does not speak our language. Killing plants for food and killing animals for food is killing either way. I don't believe in the virtues of a vegan diet, I believe in the virtues of respect for all life. Knowing how to feed and heal yourself in the field is an invaluable combat skill, or skill for life in general. Likewise, knowing trees has become a lost art I would see recovered. Knowing which trees give us food is only part of it. Knowing what woods are strongest for building tools, shelters, or weapons is also useful. Did you know all woods burn differently? Some woods, like elder, actually create noxious black smoke that hurts the eye and lungs. A brush fire of green elder could be used as a weapon. Pine burns bright, hot and fast. It will not sustain warmth, but it will start the slower burning logs like oak and elm. Sometimes you want bright flame to see by, other times, you want to keep it low-key. Knowing which woods are ideal to your purpose and how to source them is another valuable skill. Some trees like water, so standing on a hill and looking down (the direction in which water always flows) to find water loving trees can help guide you to the most likely place for this source of life. After all, you can go weeks without food, but only days without water, and, in the wilderness, water and food are always close to one another. Using areas where water flows is also a good way to cover your tracks while covering good distance, because flowing water will have cleared your path and cut a trench in which to hide. Knowing when rain is coming is another part of using this tactic, because you could end up just leaving a trail of tracks to be followed in the damp earth, or get yourself killed in a flash flood if your timing and weather predictions are off. Trees can tell you other things about the area they grow in too. For instance, pine trees make the soil very acidic. Between that and the litter of pine straw from falling needles, it makes it hard for many other plants to grow. The pine straw does make the ground soft, and having less growing on the forest floor means less for you to step and make noise on, but it also means there is less cover. This can work to your advantage or disadvantage, depending on the situation, so knowing these things ahead of time can help you to formulate a better plan.
Bushcraft; A general term which may encompass the previous two entries, but, in this case, refers specifically to using natural and salvaged materials to make tools and other items. Various ways of building fire forms the most basic of bushcraft skills. Building basic tools, traps and fishing equipment comes next. A variety of ranged weapons, such as the atlatl and survival bow (a temporary bow, of which there are several designs), javelins (spears are technically not meant to be thrown, javelins are), slings, bolas, and blowguns can also be made using bushcraft and may help to feed you. Some would say these would also be used for defense, but I wouldn't recommend it. By all means, if you are attacked, use whatever you have at hand, but there are better weapons for taking on humans and large predators. Staffs, spears, clubs, flails, and blade smithing are also covered. Temporary shelter making is another bushcraft skill I find valuable. I never really got into permanent shelters because my needs required me to remain mobile and undetected. Small, temporary shelters can also serve as blinds from which to hunt... or spring an ambush.

Symbolism-
If I had to pick a symbol or "totem" for my art, it would be shadow. People fear what they do not understand, but by pushing past that fear we come to see and understand things on a whole other level. Shadow causes things to merge and blur together. In our fighting technique, we merge our energy with the opponent, the lines between bodies become blurred as we become one form, then seize control of them through control of ourselves. However, there are no winners in a fight, and the best place to be in a violent situation is away from the situation. We can achieve this is through camouflage and evasion. The ability to appear as something else, or to "disappear" is also found in the nature of shadow. It retreats from the harsh forcefulness of light, seeking curves, corners and crevices in which it may be preserved. This also describes the way we redirect force while simultaneously seeking weak points at which to strike- concealing the attack within the defense. No matter how much light tries to impose itself on the world, there are always shadows. Lying in wait, they sit still and silent, creeping in and growing larger and stronger as the light naturally recedes, burning itself out as lights always do eventually. Light requires fuel to burn, but shadow will always prevail. Its strength is in its perseverance. Even though light may shine from all sides, there will still be one shadow, one point of darkness, right in the center. That shadow is you, the shadow within. People associate shadow and darkness with evil, but that is only the product of fear. By embracing the shadow, you overcome fear, you understand what can never be known from a place of light, you become the thing that is frightful, but you also become the nurturing and restful night wherein the natural miracle of renewal takes place. This is the essence of my art.

Next to that would be a circle. Circles are used so much in my practice. Force is absorbed and re-directed back at itself, like the ouroboros serpent biting its own tail. We step in circles, constantly shifting the center or line of aggression. Even our strikes and holds incorporate invisible circles... When I strike with a fist I drive in and twist my wrist downward ever so slightly, drawing a vertical circle... When I execute a pressure point lock, my thumbs or fingers are continually tracing tiny circles on their targets, keeping the pressure variable and thus preventing the body from adjusting to the pain before I execute my finisher... I favor curved blades, which use circular slashing and hooking motions... Even my favored stick weapon, the "dan bong", is swung with a snap of the wrist, causing the tip of this small, straight rod to move in a circle. This is the key to its bone-shattering capabilities. You see, the circle is the natural shape of the universe. Planets and stars are spheres in space. Galaxies are circular, spiraling, or elliptical masses of many spheres. Even the atom, the building block of all things, is but a collection of sub-atomic particles constantly circling, held in place by invisible forces. We use invisible force (chi) to engage with the natural, circular movement of energies within and around us. This is not only a principle of combat, but of how we think, live, and carry ourselves. The individual is meaningless. A life is but a barely perceptible blip in the vastness of time and space. We must not think in terms of I and ME because that is just one finite and limited being with a finite and limited existence. Time is an illusion, a construct used to measure points of causality within a limited scope. Have you ever stopped to think that the universe was here immeasurably long before you were born, and will remain immeasurably longer after you die? Do you think the universe measures time? If anything, seconds, hours, minutes, days, months, years, are all just a way of measuring the space between your birth and your death. By recognizing time as an illusion and dissolving the lines between self and not-self, we may expand beyond these limiting concepts and understand that time and existence, like atoms and galaxies, also move in circles. Does the tree mourn when it loses its leaves and lament the long sleep of winter? No. It simply goes dormant only to be renewed by spring's warmth and moisture. The body must die as all bodies eventually decay, even celestial ones, but through our practice we become aware of ENERGY, and energy is eternal. In training we dance along the boundaries between ourselves and our partners.We work to transfer energy from one to the other and back again. We work to harness the energy in ourselves, and sense the energies in nature. The more we become aware of this, the more we move beyond the self and into the infinite. The simple circle reminds us of this fundamental principle, not just of our art, but of the universe itself, everything is cyclical.