The Way of Martial Arts MONTHLY INTERACTIVE LESSONS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR DAILY LIFE B Y M A S T E R E R I C S B A R G E Lesson 18 You ve Got Rhythm Music, dance, poetry, stand-up comedy, you name it, if it lacks rhythm it falls flat and we usually don t like it. Why this is so is hard to say, but I would venture to guess it is because our brains are wired to recognize and appreciate rhythm and any lack of rhythm therefore feels unnatural and unsatisfying. The reason a lack of rhythm feels unnatural is likely because nature itself is expressed with rhythm. And we, of course, are part of nature. The Taoists have long extolled the importance of living in accord with nature. To live out of sync with nature creates disharmony and disequilibrium. To live in harmony with nature means to recognize and tune in to the rhythm and cycles of nature. The purpose of this lesson is to examine some of nature s cycles and rhythms that we must follow to maximize our health, well being and martial arts skills. CYCLES BIG AND SMALL Music becomes louder or softer, faster or slower, more staccato or more drawn out. Literature mixes climactic buildup with denouement, action with introspection, joy with sadness. A single musical composition or novel or kung fu form for that matter has dozens if not hundreds of rhythmic mini-cycles within
that collectively give rise to the big arcing cycle of beginning, middle and end. Our individual lives are much the same way. We are born, grow up, get old, and then die that s the big arc. But even a big arc is but a small arc in context. When we finish a novel we soon want to read another novel. When our whole life is finished, another newborn takes our place. Rhythm can be defined by our familiar model of yin and yang. The subject at hand is either waxing or waning, becoming more yang or more yin. Excess in either direction is disturbing, and the principles of nature demand that direction be reversed to regain equanimity. Big and small are relative terms, just as yin and yang are relative terms. With that said, the following are some of the rhythmic cycles within nature that we can study starting with the bigger ones and going to smaller ones. First, as mentioned above, our cycle of birth and death. It happens whether we like it or not, so the best we can do is learn to accept it and live in congruence with it. If you are young, you are in the growing part of the cycle of life. Your rhythm should be very active, which requires good nourishment and a healthy lifestyle that balances exercise and exploration with rest. If you are older, don t fear the end of the cycle but rather cultivate your spirit and appreciate the opportunities each day affords you. Conserve your chi and use it for positive and rewarding activities, and don t waste a moment of life on negative thoughts or behaviors. The next cycle to examine is the seasonal cycle. Spring and summer bring growth, fall and winter bring dormancy. Are you matching your lifestyle habits to the changing seasons? Eating, sleeping, exercise, play, and sexual activity are all examples of habits that should rhythmically change with the seasons. The spring and summer are yang, meaning it is a time for growth and building. The fall and winter are yin, a time for scaling back and conserving. Which foods are best for yang seasons, and which for yin? What kinds of exercise are best for each season? How should we be regulating sexual and other activities? Of course the answer can be found in Taoist texts, or you can go right to the source where the Taoists got their answers: Observe nature. Then we have the monthly cycle. Traditional farmers who are finely attuned to nature know how important the moon s cycles are for growth and -2-
harvest. Traditional doctors are also aware of the impact of monthly cycles on our bodies and even our emotions. Become familiar with your body s cycles each month and you can be most productive during your up cycles, and be least debilitated by your down cycles. Next is the daily cycle. The same variables that impact our seasonal well-being impact our daily well-being: Food, sleep, exercise, and so on. Is it better to eat more in the early part of the day or later at night? Is it healthier to rise early or late? If you intuitively know the answers, that s not by accident. We all have a huge capacity to make the right choices if we follow our natural intuition. EXERCISE ONE Taoists assert that we are young up to the age of 40, middle-aged up to 80, and old up to 120. Wherever you are in this cycle, ask yourself what kinds of actions and thoughts are most appropriate for you to maximize your potential at this point in your life? What habits might you have acquired that inhibit your well-being or aren t beneficial at this stage of your life? EXERCISE TWO Analyze your eating habits. Are they in accord with the seasonal cycles? You should primarily eat what comes out of the LOCAL earth at the time you are eating it: Dark greens and peas in the early spring; cooling fruits and vegetables in the summer; grains, squashes and related fruits and vegetables in the late fall and winter. If you eat meat and dairy products, these are ok for the body s long-term storage needs but should be minimized during the most active growth seasons of spring and summer. Growing your own organic garden even if it is a tiny patio garden is one of the best things you can do to re-introduce yourself to nature s laws and cycles. You will discover that the principles for growing a healthy fruit or vegetable are identical in most respects to the principles for maintaining your own health and well-being! -3-
ASSIGNMENT In the above lesson I used music and literature as examples to help portray rhythm, and I mentioned that even kung fu forms have dozens if not hundreds of rhythmic cycles within. Describe what you think some of the most important rhythmic cycles are in one of the following two choices: The practice of a martial arts form, or engaging in a physical fight. Send your thoughts to Master Sbarge at lessons@thepeacefuldragon.com. Please put Lesson 17 in the subject line. RECOMMENDED READING The Yellow Emperor s Classic of Medicine Translated by Maoshing Ni, Phd You may have noticed that I have interchanged some modern books with ancient classics in my recommended reading list so far. I hope by now you have read and periodically will re-read these essential ancient classics: Tao Te Ching, Tai Chi Classics, and Art of War. This month I am adding another essential Chinese classic, The Yellow Emperor s Classic of Medicine. This book dates back at least 2500 years, yet is still studied as a primary text by acupuncturists and traditional Chinese doctors today. Though the text gives more detail on medical theory than is relevant for most of us who aren t in the medical field, there is so much information on nature s cycles and man s relationship with those cycles that this book remains extremely relevant and useful. SSSS Every month a book or article will be suggested by Master Sbarge. Reading about topics related to the arts you are training in will help you get the most out of your practice. Just remember that reading can never replace your practice! Each month s recommended reading is purely optional, though Master Sbarge may on rare occasion ask that you do read a particular book. For additional reading suggestions by Master Sbarge, go to -4-
http://www.thepeacefuldragon.com/books.shtml. For any book or other item you purchase through The Peaceful Dragon website s link to Amazon.com, a percentage is automatically sent to The Peaceful Dragon. We appreciate your support of our school. Note: All Peaceful Dragon students are urged to complete monthly assignments because they are important for you to fully benefit from your training. -5-