THE ESSENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS

You may have heard of wu shu in discussions about martial arts. Wu means martial, and shu means techniques. Together, the term refers to the uniquely Chinese techniques for combat and self-defense.

The true essence of martial arts is embedded in the composition of the wu character. It is made up of two radicals, each of which is a character by itself. The left half is the character for “stop,” and the right half is the character for the halberd, an ancient weapon. In this context, the weapon is a symbol for conflict in general, so when you put the two halves together, you get “stopping conflicts.” This is a deeper meaning hidden in plain sight.

Everyone who studies martial arts should demonstrate understanding of this concept as a prerequisite. Learning to fight for the purpose of inflicting pain and damage goes against the Tao. The worthy ideal of the Tao is to stop conflicts and keep the peace.

The Tao Today

The ideal holds true in every aspect of life, not just in martial arts. You approach the battlefield of life not to clash, but to bring about harmony. When people are spoiling for a fight, you speak with the voice of reason. When a situation becomes potentially explosive, you are the one to defuse it. Leverage your understanding of the Tao, and be the peacemaker.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin