How do I relate yin-n-yang to western philosophy? One's and zero's, the language of computers. Why? Simply because we are now a technological society that relies heavily on one's and zero's, the language underlying all computers in every form.
In reality all the wonderful technological advancements we enjoy in today's techno-society are actually run by one's and zero's. Every single language and every single architecture that runs the languages is based some where, some how on those one's and zero's. Our advancement appears to be far beyond these mere one's and zero's but in reality they are just layers upon layers fooling us into thinking we have control of the techno-society.
Techno-society has control of us. We are so consumed with the ability to receive instant gratification through technologies that the micro-second we are presented with some new bell and whistle we line up like cattle going to slaughter to purchase the latest and greatest. We think we need it but do we?
How does this apply to martial arts. The martial arts are based on some concepts beginning with yin-n-yang or yin-yang since they intertwine and exist as one. The yin is the zero's and the yang is the one's. Things are either off or on, action or inaction, right or wrong, up or down, left or right, and in a nutshell all of it can be extrapolated down to either yin or yang or various levels and combinations between the extremes.
Take a look at multi-tasking. Multi-tasking of human efforts is similar to the perception of a computer having an ability to perform multiple tasks. In reality both simply rely on the ability to do one thing very very quickly and then simply switching, very quickly, to another task and so on. We fool ourselves into believing we can accomplish more in tandem with other tasks but what is occurring is we are simply switching quickly between many task but in any one single moment we are actually working on one thing at a time. Is this effective, efficient and productive? No!
It is proven that such things while appearing to be productive have been proven to be less productive and less efficient. Maybe this is why so many new young persons want to work on high level aspects of tasks so that the specifics are not addressed, hidden from view and hidden from inspection and analysis.
In martial arts we tend to think that the complexity of a thing means we are knowledgable and of expert levels. Our complexity of martial arts is another veil we pull down over our eyes to achieve comfort, security and confidence in what we do. In reality it hides us from the true underlying needs or foundation of martial arts or any physical skill used in conflicts.
Basics are boring. Fundamental principles of martial systems are boring. Constant continuous diligent practice of simpler strategies and tactics are boring. But, it is that practice and training when done based on reality that tend to program our minds to achieve proficiency and expertise. Concentrating on the one's and zero's are closer to what our instinct and lizard brain can use effectively than all the complex chains of techniques and actions you see in most dojo or training halls.
We as humans seem to think that we must fill up our time, minds and effort with things that will remove the boring aspects of training and practice so we may achieve instant gratification repeatedly. It reminds me of an addictions, they seem euphoric but when you go down to reality it pushes the right buttons to go for the euphoric again and again. Almost like we can't live in the real world and we have to get to the glory of a fictional world. Kind of like being in a Matrix.
Time and again I come across the teachings of experts that speak to the need to keep it simple but fun. It is actually up to us to achieve variety in the mundane, the simple and then provide our own excitement, or fun, while continually and diligently practicing over and over again those things we need to be efficient, proficient and productive in martial arts.
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