masterwordsmith-unplugged

-by Adam Willis-

Bear with me for just a bit while I try to get you to consider a new way of looking at Wing Chun - an art that many consider to be old or classical. However, I hold firm that Wing Chun is anything but classical.

Please understand that there will be many of those that will disagree with what I'm about to state. In fact, many may rather me just keep my thoughts to myself. To these people. I offer no apologies.

Who will be able to give this short article a chance? Only those that can be open-minded enough to let go of their pre-concieved notions, if even for a short time. This article is targeted at those that won't allow themselves to be bound by confining limits. Whether those limits stem from noble purposes or not, isn't relevant. Just let go for just a minute and consider my take on Wing Chun - something that may help you to look at Wing Chun in a new light.

First and foremost, don't think of Wing Chun as a style. Think of Wing Chun as a concept-based process of efficiency and simplification. It really is limitless. Think of Wing Chun as a guide that takes you through a never-ending pursuit of an ideal. Its a process of learning how to move your body scientifically while adhering to certain guiding principles.

Secondly, forget about the idea of Wing Chun techniques. Recognizable techniques define other martial arts. Recognizable techniques aren't what defines Wing Chun. Wing Chun is its concepts and principles. In Wing Chun, unlike other martial arts, concepts are the reason behind its movements. Trying to define Wing Chun to techniques (as most styles define a martial art) limits the very essence of what Wing Chun attempts to free you from.

Next, Wing Chun can look like anything. Do away with what your idea of what Wing Chun should look like. Concepts are what defines Wing Chun. It doesn't need to be bound by a predefined shape. Like techniques, set forms and shapes define other martial arts, not Wing Chun. Founded on principles from taoist philosophy, Wing Chun's elusive nature reveals itself in many ways.

What's more, there are no traditional blocks in Wing Chun. Defensive movements usually aren't seen. The best defense in Wing Chun is offense. Wing Chun strikes flow through subtle defensive positions on their way to an attack. Movements move forward intercepting an opponent's energy and then deflect it while on the way to a strike.

Simply free your mind from any fixed ideas of Wing Chun. The entire idea of Wing Chun is much more elusive and undefinable. It takes more of an esoteric philosophical approach to training founded in taoist philosophical thought.

Yet Wing Chun does have a general strategy. Wing Chun practioners are generally pressure fighters. Wing Chun believes in moving forward at every chance, sticking to an opponent, seeking the opponent's center while simultaneously attacking and defending. Believing that offense is the best defense, a Wing Chun practioner aims at putting the opponent on the defensive. The strategy holds to the belief that if your opponent is too busy defending, they won't have time to attack.

Hopefully this article has given you a new take on an art that seems to constantly be labeled and filed under the wrong place. If nothing else, I hope you've been able to see how elusive an art like Wing Chun can be to define.

Author's Bio
Adam Williss has made it his mission to empower individuals and help them get access to the same simple and effective self-defense concepts used by world-reknowned experts. He delivers on his mission as the editor behind Wing Chun Magazine and as the owner of Adam Williss Martial Arts San Clemente, which provides highly functional close-quarters self-defense concepts for everyone - from everyday people to the most experienced martial artists.

Adam Williss has educated, empowered and entertained individuals through his seminars, websites, articles, publications and speaking engagements. An educator and speaker to groups ranging from employees of large corporations to military and law enforcement agencies, Adam and his work has been featured in several publications both online and in print. As an executive self-defense trainer, he has trained numerous professionals, corporate executives and high-profile VIPs.

Adam serves in top positions of several associations such as President of the California Wing Chun Association and as a Director and State Representative of California for the World Ving Tsun Athletic Association. He was approved for induction in the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, is an Associate Member of the International Kung Fu Federation, member of the International Combat Martial Arts Unions Association, the United States Kuo Shu Federation, Wing Chun Kung-Fu Association, Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association, National Qigong Association and many more.

There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit.

"Such bad luck," they said sympathetically.

"We'll see," the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses.

"How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed.

"We'll see," replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

"We'll see," answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

"We'll see," said the farmer.

Today I had my own personal experience of the old Zen master story. I was flying from Los Angeles back home to Denver. My flight was scheduled to leave LAX at 5:30 p.m. Having completed things early and realizing it was only noon, I decided to see if there was an earlier flight.

I logged on to the Frontier website, found my 5:30 p.m. flight and decided to check in and print my boarding pass while online. I then called Frontier, as they had an earlier flight leaving LAX at 3:10 p.m. They had plenty of space still available. Good news, lucky me!

Then the agent told me that since I had checked in online she was unable to change my reservation and book me on the earlier flight. Bad news.

She went on to say that I could drive to the airport and do it there. Okay, good news.

Traffic was heavy and what could have been a quick shot to the airport now looked like a daunting task. It looked like I would miss the earlier flight. Bad news.

Then the traffic broke, and I was able to sail at 65 mph the rest of the way to the airport! Very good news. At this point, recognizing the ups and downs of this situation and my judgment and attachment to it, I could hear the Zen master in my head laughing, saying, "We'll see."

I stopped for fuel, only to find the credit card machine was broken. Spent my last twenty dollars cash on gas for the rental car.

I made great time on the freeway and now knew I'd make the 3:10 p.m. flight.

I returned the car and took the shuttle to the terminal. The Frontier line was incredibly long and wasn't moving. I stood in the same spot for 30 minutes and now doubted if I would make the 3:10 p.m. flight. Bummer, bad news (or was it?).

After about 40 minutes the desk agent came and told us that due to weather in another area, our connecting plane was very late and the 3:10pm flight was delayed at least 8 hours, if it went out at all today. A lot of people were not going to get out of L.A. until the next day. Very bad news. My inner Zen master was chuckling.

When I finally got to the counter the agent told me that I was still confirmed on the 5:30 p.m. flight which was leaving on time. Woohoo! Lucky me. "We'll see" was still playing in my head.

The airport was already crazed with pre-Thanksgiving holiday travel, and everyone was anxious to get to his or her destination. The plane was oversold, and every seat was packed. I was assigned to seat 23F-- the most uncomfortable seat on the place-- the window seat in the very last row, which doesn't recline.

Got a message from my husband that he was flying in early tomorrow, asking if I'd pick him up at the airport at 9 a.m. I decided to take the shuttle home so that I could save driving tonight and also save a round trip to/from the airport in the morning. I figured he'd like having the car there when he arrived, and it would save me about 3 hours on the road. Good decision, right?

Raced to the shuttle bus, which comes once an hour, only to realize I was $0.20 short on cash for the $11 cash only fare! Inner Zen master was now laughing.

A kind couple gave me a quarter, and I got on the bus.

I was so grateful to be going home, when I realized that the remote to get in the house was in the car parked at the airport. Bad news.

At that point I laughed out loud. Writing this blog in my head, I figured that in the worst case I could always crawl through the doggie door into our home if I had to. I know it's below freezing and I'm only wearing a light sweater. I just wasn't going to worry about it.

Looking back over the day, I smiled at how the day unfolded. Once I realized the parallel to the Zen master story I experienced the drama with amusement and with no attachment to the outcome. Things seemed good or bad, when they were neither -- they just were. By taking the later flight, I got home earlier. By catching the bus I left without the keys to the house. What seemed to be good wasn't. What seemed to be bad wasn't. It just was.

So many times in the past this experience would have made me crazy. I'm not sure why today was so easy. I had to write this blog for me -- as a reminder to read on days when I am attached to the outcome of whatever I'm doing, when I'm able to catch myself in the moment and appreciate life for what it is; without the expectations of what I think it should be, life is so much sweeter.

Will it be good news or bad news? It will be what it, will be and my expectation or judgment of the situation doesn't change anything except the level of my stress. And even if we have to go through the doggie door, life is still beautiful. Good news? Bad news? We'll see.

About the Author:

Gail Lynne Goodwin, known as the Ambassador of Inspiration, has been lifting people's spirits for years. She was motivated by, and now features, mentors like Jack Canfield, Wayne Dyer, and others in daily inspiration on http://www.inspiremetoday.com. Visit today for your FREE Today's Brilliance eBook!

- By Melissa Zollo

I recently met a client to discuss their dreams for greater success. Within moments a mouse ran by the table. It triggered old feelings in her that seemed to emerge from out of nowhere. Within seconds an old mental state of mind superimposed itself on the present moment. I witnessed the intrusion of old unresolved emotions seeking to be resolved. I watched as the healing process was trying to help her heal some old pain. Within her was a longing for fulfillment, but she wasn't paying attention. She did not recognize the gift nor was she listening to the language of her feelings. Instead, she was allowing her old conditioning and fearful feelings to sabotage the moment. Within seconds, her past memory was in control.

Success involves focus. Distraction is the loser's companion.

I knew she felt tempted to give up and accept unhappiness and failure. I certainly know how it feels to have been conditioned to feeling unworthy or to wonder where I went wrong, but I also know that berating myself reinforces error patterns. We all have a "mouse" or a "boogie monster" that triggers old tapes. But there comes a time when our desire to break through and proclaim victory demands that we pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and proceed.

Most people are enslaved to their fears and the negative suggestions of others. They will step back into the safety of their comfort zone (emotional stress) rather then proceed to break through to think and choose for themselves. They are tortured by the content of their own mind. They live in bondage, even though they have the key to their freedom.

I am routinely asked, "Why does the imaging process fail?" We are the reason the process fails or succeeds. We short-circuit our connection to the Life Force when we allow fear to rule our mind. By refusing to self-adjust in the moment we remain past-a-holics. We want results but decline to take off our blinders.

Emotional illness is a memory illness. We suffer because we fall into emotional debt. We allow blocked feelings to act as a defense. Self-deception opens the door to emotional damage.

We all need reminders that we are meant to be healthy, loving, joyous, and creative. Healing is not a game of punishment and reward. It is a matter of connecting to the Healer Within and restoring one's memory.

What do you do when uncomfortable feelings arise? Do you allow them to superimpose themselves onto the present moment?

* Are you afraid to tell the truth about your feelings and deal in order to heal and succeed?
* Are you guilty of toxic nostalgia for a painful past?
* Do you want to remain a past-a-holic or move into a new present memory and a successful, healthy, wise, and aware self-image?
* Are you willing to use energy creatively and proceed?

Your Feelings Are Worth a Fortune!

You have the power to conquer fear and transform doubt. You have the ability to retrain your imagination, but it is up to you to exercise this power.

If the plug to your air conditioner fell out of the wall, would you feel punished, wounded, or betrayed, or would you use your intelligence and restore the connection? It takes courage to think and restore our connection to the Life Force so that it remains unbroken. With understanding and practice you can rise up in consciousness and break any fixation spell. You can begin to release the spiritual riches within you and let the current flow freely.

You are the Ruler of Your Thoughts -- Not the Servant!

Your thoughts are creative. Success is a state of mind. Healthy people are life-minded people. That there is a relationship between our beliefs and moods is being accepted by more and more people. No matter what happened to you in the past, you can make a decision to saturate your deeper mind with new mental images fueled from acceptance, joy, and love today.

Love dissolves emotional poisons, and imagining creates reality.

Your dominant beliefs and feelings cause your subconscious mind to respond to the nature of your ideas. It will create lack and limitation if you dwell on the poverty of the past as easily as it will attract prosperity, harmonious relationships, and success when you emotionalize thought forms along these lines.

Remember:

* Imagination rules, so keep your imagination on a success track.
* Strengthen your relationship with your imagination and your capacity to imagine new results will increase.
* Use challenges to reveal what needs to be healed in your memory box.
* Let go of limiting beliefs that caused you to break your connection with your creative power and rebuild belief where there is none.
* Make the connection between your mental blueprint/images and the healing breakthrough that you seek.
* Practice the Art of Concentration. Focus is the winner's companion.

Let your mouse be free of the past, and you will be free of the mouse.

Never close a door on a dream -- your dreams are calling you!

About the Author:
Melissa Zollo, law of attraction and self-motivation specialist, is the author of "Discover the Power of Imagination" and "How to Unleash the Power Within and Attract Money" CD programs. Free newsletter at http://www.presentmemory.com