How do we write a single post that both celebrates St. Patrick’s Day and combines TanDao fight science? Hmmm? Toni came up with a great idea that bridges that old east/west dichotomy: kung fu fighting to an Irish tune, Rocky Road To Dublin. And to add to that, her solution was to use one of the most creative fight scenes in recent film history (tip of the hat to Celtic warriors). It is a Hollywood updating of Hong Kong chop socky fights with The Dubliners singing the in the background.

This gritty encounter from Sherlock Holmes is one of our favorites, because it employs our TanDao Fight Lab format of showing a fight sequence twice: one, to see the movements and second, to analyze hidden tactics and strategies. In this underground fight club, the cerebral detective employs baritsu (a term used by for Japanese combat). But, Evolving Martial Artists will recognize the rapid fire punches and techniques of JKD and Wing Chun (Robert Downey Jr., playing Holmes, is a practitioner.)

Holme’s fight is, more importantly, an execution of TanDao’s Triad Principle, Destructive Speed Strike. TanDao strategy is based on relentless multiple strikes designed to Surprise, Stun and Subdue. These three components are part of a single motion. Holmes initiates his final encounter by throwing the handkerchief (surprise), followed by a flurry of strikes (stun) and finishes off his opponent with a front kick (subdue).

It’s a great fight. It perfectly demonstrates but one of TanDao Triad Principles. How can we take this further? It is still not the zenith of TanDao fighting. Watch again. Think about it.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all our friends celebrating.
Special shout out to Eileen In NY & Eileen in Ireland…Sample some of Eileen O’Toole’s music

Lawrence Tan
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Our friend Neil R. Hall, Author and Chief Instructor at the London Chinatown Tae Kwon Do School, recently used his martial art skills to deal with a man attacking a woman while riding a London train.  In his blog he recounts his thought provoking tale.

First, Neil chose to be a Good Samaritan martial artist – might for right  – instead of displaying the urban indifference or “let’s not get involved” attitude. The couple’s arguing intensified, and then the man began to strike the woman. Second, instead of indiscriminately unleashing his martial powers, he displayed a higher skill level: he consciously chose to restrain and not incapacitate, by utilizing a manipulation technique rather than injuring the violent man with a strike. This is control and moral conscience. And third, as a thoughtful teacher, Neil shares this encounter as a lesson to teach his students the difference between training and the real thing. For example, the difference between practicing in an open dojang, with mats and space, and the reality of fighting in close quarters. He also shows a concerned awareness on how other by standers may be affected by the confrontation.

Skillful. Mature. Moral. Yes, sounds like an Evolving Martial Artist.

A bow to you Neil.

Read the full story.
First Steps In Martial Arts by Neil R. Hall

Lawrence  Tan
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At TanDao, we coined the phrase the Evolving Martial Artist (EMA) to designate an advanced practitioner (warrior/scholar/monk) seeking deeper levels of awareness, skill, knowledge and wisdom on a lifetime journey to mastery. Of course, this is a vague definition so from time to time, our posts will clarify this.

The Evolving Martial Artist seeks a comprehensive overview of the martial way by deeply exploring these core questions:

1. How do traditional and modern martial arts differ?
2. What are the universal principles underlying all styles and systems?
3. What is genuine mastery as opposed to the popular notion of mastery?
4. Are there hidden “secrets”?
5. Is the key to martial arts qi power or the science of biomechanics?
6. Is a martial art an authentic spiritual path?

One intention at TanDao is to continue to examine these six questions with you to redefine martial arts and to discover new possibilities created by the online journey into the world of martial arts.

What do you think characterizes the Evolving Martial Artist? Tell us.

Keep practicing,
Lawrence Tan
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August 8, 2009 was my 60th birthday. This is an auspicious day according to Chinese tradition since it is the completion of a single 60 year lunar calendar cycle. Sixty years of life. A special day to reflect and commemorate my status on becoming a martial arts “old master”.

Sadly, on this same day, a helicopter carrying a pilot and five Italian tourists collided with a piper plane carrying three. All perished. Disasters occur everyday yet this tragedy had a profound affect on me. To commemorate my “big six zero,” Toni – always with creative surprises – arranged something distinctive: a helicopter tour of Manhattan. Imagine a bird’s eye view of the Empire State building, Central Park and Ground Zero.

But flights were rescheduled. No matter, we would go a day after my birthday. It was spectacular as Toni anticipated. It was also haunting. We took off from the same heliport as the unfortunate tourists. Hovering above the Statue of Liberty in the harbor, we enjoyed the same breathtaking sights that they experienced – before fate intervened. Fortunately, we landed safely.

Because our celebration was tinged with this tragedy, my 60th year reflections concerned life and death. And fate. What if we had been on the helicopter on my birthday as initially planned? Why does fate decree that one helicopter crash today and not another? Or as a martial artist, who will be victorious in battle? In pursuit of mastery, I’ve endeavored to develop the warrior’s skilled body, the scholar’s insightful mind and the monk’s peaceful heart, to protect my life against an unknown opponent.

In the end, was I unconsciously aspiring to take control, to squeeze to the minimum the element of chance, to master the unknowns of fate itself? I believe that through a lifetime of self discipline, I have created miracles in my life. We attempt to control destiny by choosing to take a helicopter ride today or reschedule tomorrow. But who knows?

As I approach the inevitable unknown that all are fated to encounter, I become sensitive that no matter how many push ups, how much meditation, vitamins, and positive thoughts I do to prepare, ultimately, fate – not I – prevails. So do we throw up our hands in resignation? Absolutely not. Wisdom teaches we cannot control what happens to us, but we can learn to control how we respond. Let’s awaken that spiritual awareness underlying the martial way that savors the ordinary moments of daily living. So the parting thoughts of an old master: live today and prepare for tomorrow.

Lawrence Tan

Join us in wishing Lawrence a Happy Birthday –

Watch Sixty and Still Kicking Video http://www.tandao.com/videos/

In Act One of Shakespeare’s Richard III, the future king says “Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this son of York…” It is a statement of celebration, difficulty has turned a corner. On Feb 2, 2009 in Pennysylvania, the grand groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow. The tradition tells us this means six more weeks of winter. This is the harshest season in the cycle. It may have a feeling of stagnation, coldness, isolation – with no imminent sign of spring.

Set in cold and snowy Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, we almost all know the film Groundhog Day has a hidden message. An egotistical weatherman trapped in time relives the same day for years until he is liberated by his own awareness. It is an endless winter, a time of seeing his shadow. This is an allegory of our spiritual journey.

We may see something of ourselves in the Groundhog Day protaganist Phil Connors. Inside of us are the moments of self loathing or self absorption. We are the grandiose or the world weary. This is a time to take a good look — do you see your shadow? Where are you in your martial art practice? In your life? Our path is one of process, flow, progress. The story of the warrior always has at its core the apprentice finding his way along the road to mastery. It is learning from mistakes, preparation, practice, meditation, growth. For us at TanDao, the orientation is always the martial way, though the philosophy applies to anything you endeavor. It is the cycle of the Evolving Martial Artist: the warrior, the scholar and the monk. In the first stage, there is youthful arrogance, egocentric attitudes, a stumbling yet flexible growth. Second, a time for refinement and responsibility as focus shifts away from the self. Last, awareness beyond the self — compassion, as knowledge flows into serenity and wisdom. The total integration is the soul of the quiet master.

There is salvation. And redemption. If you are mired on your path, work to break the loop. Like Phil, in Groundhog Day, learn to practice for the joy of practice and the love of the journey. When you look, may you find no shadow there – as your long winter makes its way into the sun.

Toni Josephson