Nothing like ‘now’ for a martial artist

John Lennon said ‘Life happens when you are busy making other plans’… this is one of those proverbs which people read and say, ‘how true,’ and again get busy in making other plans. Most people are busy deciding what their future should be like or is going to be like; so they are either very hopeful and happy or really fearful or scared… depending on what they project. Well, if not the future, most of the time and energy is spent in remembering past events.

There are over 100 trillion cells in our body and each one is an energy generator, and our body is probably the most eco-friendly engine in the world, where glucose is converted to water and carbon dioxide! And this amazing source of energy produced used up in thinking about the past or the future. This inner energy field present in our body is meant to be used for the present moment, but our thoughts of the past and the future consume what is there of the energy in our cells.

For most people being in the present moment seems like the most difficult task assigned onto them! Many people confuse planning to projection of the future, one can plan and decide what one wants in a stipulated period of time, and planning involves immediate action. In projection of the future, one is either fearful or hopeful. An individual feels fear when they see a future that is not good or planned- for example; getting fired, breaking up etc. and when one sees a very happy future- new job, promotion, marriage etc then they become hopeful.

So now here are these two extreme emotions, acting like same sides of the coin, that an individual experiences… which, in turn are highly energy consuming… using up what is meant to be for the present moment! If one were to focus on the present and take action accordingly, then there is just so much energy that you could achieve most of your aspirations sooner and better than you ever imagined!

But then again how does all of this help in martial arts? How do martial artists benefit from this? Martial arts and the martial artists need to use energy efficiently. For a martial artist, there is no less or excessive of anything, including energy and emotions. For a martial artist, planning is a singular process, done in the present moment followed by the execution of the plan.

Says Ashwin, “A fight is a short summary, a capsule of your life! In a fight it is very important that one concentrates on the moment in hand. Though, one plans their attack in a fight, at that moment it is very important that you work with what is given, feel the energy of your opponent and work accordingly.”

Projection of the future result, be it positive or negative does not keep one’s mind open to the windows of the present, therefore a lot of opportunities and moments are missed, cause we are blind in the present. In a fight situation, everything happens as if in a fast-forward mode, if one is not present… you need to understand what is going to be hurled at you abuses, punches, strikes, weapons and take things as they come… and work out your options accordingly.

So, if you hear Ashwin say ” Don’t get into the story of my life, concentrate on your inner energy fields…” you should snap back and get back to being present,. “Being present begins with the immediate moment, it is not something one can do tomorrow or after three days. Start now, this minute. There are a few methods of being present, one would be concentration on your breathing. You cannot concentrate on your breathing and think of the future. The other would be going inside and feeling the buzz of energy within you. Yet another method would be listening to all the sounds around you, including your own breathing… all these techniques, help in creating a space within yourself. This space helps in understanding and accepting whatever form the present moment takes. ” Says Ashwin.

As a martial artist or  a student of martial arts, its important to understand the intricacies of the mind, and make it work in an effective and efficient manner.