A group of students from a French International school in Singapore were recently called out on by the general public for “fighting” at a open spaced public void deck area and causing a so-called nuisance. Noises that ensued, notwithstanding, the prevailing frets against fighting/sparring, and associating fights with being unthinking, childish and low-class, in Singapore, disappoints. There is just too much assumptions and negative connotations pegged to fighting.
I watched the video for myself and noticed that the boys were indeed using right techniques right down to their breathing and were doing sparring practice, so it was done safely, and, quite frankly, rather beautiful to behold.
I saw this post on Reddit a couple of weeks before the International French School boys’ incident too, and really loved the thought and techniques behind the moves by these 2 boys:
The comments to the post were far from pleasing though, with one too many low blows to the physical stature and frame of the boys, as well as suggesting their lack of maturity and possibly coming from low socioeconomic standings even. It was heartbreaking for me to read.
The beautiful art
Having been taking wing chun classes for the past few months, I have come to appreciate martial arts and bare-handed fighting as the beautiful art form of self defense that ignites carnal instincts and makes us feel human. I have always been curious about the liberating nature of bare-handed fighting after having watched Fight Club some 20 years ago now, and taking up wing chun felt like the natural next step as a salve to that curiosity. With every punch, step, kick, defensive slap, I am being more and more in tune with my body and the cadence of my movements to be present in mind and body.
It is a a very unevolved and narrow-minded view to see learning to fight as something that is “bad” or uncouth; low class and hooligan-like. A mindset held by many in Singapore, sadly. But a martial arts/MMA/BJJ etc. class is the place where one actually learns self control and discipline when you fight, and in the process, build character and learn more about oneself. Coming to terms with the extent of one’s own power and understand why it should not be used for trivialities and frivolities, is key to learning them in the first place.
Guts
Don’t flinch, don’t look away, while sparring. the whole point to wing chun being the close contact that gives you leverage in a fight. In the sparring practices we have been having in class, facing up to the attacks and daring to take the hits that I am not able to defend, were the hits that really mattered to my learning. As a wing chun teacher once told me, “the punch you don’t see coming is the one that knocks you out.”
Mindfulness
Far from being a brash activity, fighting requires a lot of mindfulness and careful application that can only come about when one is deeply in tune with one’s body, momentum and balance. When I am not relaxed or focused mindfully, I cannot maximize my training session to optimum, and my learning then takes a stifling blow. That’s why the constant practice of the steps siu nim tao is so fundamental to wing chun for inculcating the basic core principle that underly wing chun.
Concepts and techniques
As I slowly ingrain the core concepts and techniques in each lesson, I am reminded of the harm that the art form can bring about, and hence the need to be responsible with the teachings and only use them when absolutely necessary for self defense on the streets. Being able to fight well takes years of practice and drilling that I am far from right now but I am constantly reminded of the need for intentionality during each lesson, and that’s what motivates me forward. After so many years of trying to learn to meditate “properly” and failing, in meditation classes, I think I have finally found my meditation that really resonates and works for me, in wing chun. That feeling of homecoming and finding that which excites and relaxes in the same breath, is truly gold.
I do hope I live to see a day where martial arts and fighting as an art form gains more respect and perhaps more parents in Singapore can see the importance of equipping their children with this core skill that can go a long way for them in their lifetime.