THOUGHTS ON CONNECTION

In the last three decades or so of my practice, I, and most of those whom I have practiced with have often used a word which has become a cornerstone of my understanding. Thinking about it, its meaning and how it quickly describes what most of strive for in our practice, I thought I would offer it for consideration. I offer a view of why, at least in my personal opinion, it is a good word to incorporate within our practice framework. Over the years, when cross-training with others of quite different backgrounds, this word has become a 'common denominator to evaluate something we were all striving for.

This word is 'Connection.'

On various posts I have used it. For example, when discussing the straight blast, I presented the thought, "if you have a weak back leg, hip, back, 'connection', your structure will break..." When speaking to Patrick (Strong), it occurred to me that for some, this term may not have the same meaning as it has to me. During our discussions, this word has quite naturally become a descriptive term used to indicate whether or not the body is doing what it is supposed to be doing to engage its "mechanical advantages".

Not being used in the same context as say alignment, it connotes a deeper suggestion of what the body is doing internally. If I were to explain using a strong back leg, strong hip, soft chest, to make a punch work, most practitioners know that it means you hit with the whole body. However, is it connected?

Unlike alignment which is directional, connection implies that the internal components, and all the little details which make the large motor movement of the punch work, must be 'inter-connected' with proper joint angle, joint selection, muscle engagement, disengagement, relaxation, hip rotation, feet, chest, shoulders, angle AND alignment. All of this being accomplished, you are connected. If you have all, but say your shoulder is too high, then your connection is broken at the shoulder, and that must be corrected.

Connection is not linear. It moves with, ties in, and directs the flow of Chi. From the ground up, connection interlinks the turns and twists of the body, so the chi will flow wherever it must. Whatever form or technique you choose to use, certain bio-mechanical 'connections' must be made, or the power, and strength of your structure and technique will not be there. One may say with the proper connection, the structure will be strong; or with good structure, you have good connection.

However, structure and connection are not the same. One describes a building, the other describes the internal components which interlink the movement, technique, and support the building; moreover, support the building/structure while in motion. Another example would be a boxing style rotation. You may have great connection with great power, but not have strong structure, as you must have in Chi sao, or a linear punch. Good external looking form does not mean good connection. So, when a novice sees someone looking like they're punching really strong, and is impressed by it; but the teacher says, "he's not connected," he's saying, it's not there. When someone punches really soft, but the connection is there, watch out.

The advantages of some of the traditional methods was just this, the connection could be tested with the application of pressure into the students structure. This is where I believe the SIL LIM TAO is of the greatest of importance. It incorporates all of the above. The masters of old, really knew what they were doing.

(Actually, and it has all but gotten lost, but this is what the 'form' or kata of the traditional styles were supposed to teach. But, in most systems, connection and good structure has given way to external "performance" appearance).

So this is not new, just a good word to facilitate an understanding within our practice.

PART 2

Before I wrote and posted 'Thoughts on Connection,' I considered how much I really wanted to reveal about my personal practice, which is tantamount to revealing something about myself. Evidently, there might be those who are not sure where I am coming from, so herein follows my more complete thoughts. I'll start off by simply stating that the body and mind are inseparable. To approach training any other way is doing oneself a disservice.

I have thought about Jeet Kune Do...and pondered the notion that in the context of the Asian way and mind, there is always the obvious; they will demonstrate and show us. Then there are the deeper aspects, which they expect the diligent student must find for himself, if ever. This being so, I have been considering the inner path, the "Do" character of Jeet Kune Do.

Loosely translated, 'Do' means way. But in the context of the western mind, there is no translation which can offer the layers and dimensions the Asian understanding holds in that simple little word, 'Do' or Tao. So many here are concerned with just the fighting, fighting techniques, entry’s, strikes, etc. So am I. But very few address the 'Do' of JKD. Do you think Bruce named his art Jeet Kune Do arbitrarily? Why not Jeet Kune Jitsu - The Art of the Intercepting Fist? It is this 'Do', or Tao that I am really thinking about.

I have no doubts as to the fighting ability of many of the practitioners. I am sure this art has bred, and continues to develop some of the toughest fighters in the world. This does not change the fact that there is certainly much more depth within it, than is openly obvious. To me, many are practicing on the external. One can get really, really tough just doing that. I ask again, what happened to the 'Do'?

What is the difference between a brawler, a great fighter, a martial artist, and finally, a master? The answer lies within the deeper, the inner, and finer aspects of what we do. Anyone can learn to fight. The historical difference between a martial artist, a warrior, and all others, is the dichotomy wherein the martial artist has looked within. He has harmonized the 'war arts' with his better nature as a human being. This is a critical distinction.

In my ' thoughts on connection', there is more going on than about just technique. In the context of what connection is, technique; mine, his, yours, is inconsequential. Whether he has a more simple twist of the hips, or yours and mine are more complex, makes no difference at all in the context of what I am attempting to impart. It may even be that the inferior technician wins the fight. I am not comparing ability, toughness or technique. Simply put, whatever it is you do, sometimes will work better than other times. There are times, when it can almost seem like magic. When we have those magical moments, there is something going on in our bodies, our minds, and our energies which are different. This occurs when all of the elements are in the right places. The structure, the energies, must be connected correctly, deeply, internally. Is this not worth striving for? A punch by a strong guy, may hit hard without any connection. After all, weight is motion is some kind of power. But as martial artists, who follow a 'Do', is this all we really want?

Connection takes place in all avenues of life. A surfer has it on a cellular level as he drops in on a wave, or he falls. Why, when a low level dancer raises an arm, it looks as if they are holding it up? And when a great dancer raises an arm, it looks as if it floats in the air? The answer is in how their bodies internally connect. What is relaxed, what is turned off, what is engaged.

A few months ago, I was sitting with Pat Strong having coffee, and he was commenting about the strength and weaknesses we can observe just by watching someone walk. That moment reminded me of a comment by a Japanese master, that he could tell the level of someone simply by how they walked...how their mind 'connected' to their movement!

This was the same man who pointed Bruce Lee out of a crowd in 1964 at Ed Parker's International tournament, pointing and saying as a young Bruce Lee walked by: "Him, only he can do something."

To know our structure well, we must know how it connects. To this end, we really must study ourselves. Inside of this study, is all which makes us what we ever will be as martial artists. Strange thing is, to go this deep, we will change in other ways. The old masters might say that to look deeply within, we polish our spirit with the perfection of technique. This is the Zen way to the martial arts.

Some of us want to be more than fighters, and are striving for the 'Do,' a level beyond the physical, which will take us to the end of our lives. This being so, then this thought about connection structure, its relationship to Chi flow, and how it relates to our self and our deeper practice is something to really think about. This is my personal way. I don't expect anyone else to buy it. But I know this, without the inner approach, one will never realize their highest potential.

Most sincerely,

Joel Weinberg (joel@genesistreeinc.com)