Hope by now you’ve checked out the very solid and informative Martial Development blog (see my links). He’s having a martial arts haiku writing contest. My entry sprang from the heart immediately. Herewith:
A blade is a tool
That can do more than the rock.
This is my true goal.
June 18, 2007 at 6:25 am
In the realm of Zen
The true sword is not the hand
But the mind of no-intent
June 18, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Hmmm… I saw something on the Web recently about how do you beat someone whose Intention skills are highly developed…
But here I take your meaning (no-meaning?) to be that the Zen gongfu man has only one goal which is not a goal but rather is Being and not-doing. Thus the sword may admire the rock, that is at one with nature.
June 20, 2007 at 9:20 am
easy!!! run!!!
if you can’t touch me, you can’t beat me no matter how skilful you are……..
June 20, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Hi ZMS, your comment reminded me of something from the martial arts Classics… this being an episode of “Kung Fu” starring David Carradine…
This scene is one of the “flashbacks” to where Kwai Chang Caine and the other novices are being trained in the Shaolin temple in things like fighting multiple assailants, dodging spears, throwing shirikins, etc.; and also practicing Chan Buddhism. So during a Q&A session with one of the Masters (not Master Po or Master Kan) Caine asks seriously, “Master, what is the proper course when confronted by someone who wishes to contend?”
Master, who like the other masters can whup ass like nobody’s business, replies with quiet emphasis: “Because we value peace and quiet above all else, there is a very simple and easy answer: run away”.
Since taijiquan doesn’t actually train running but seems to emphasize a stand-and-fight mentality, I like to note that we learn to “run away” without leaving. And then there’s the more ego-satisfying part
where one works on “running” into the opponent at precisely the right moment, and the opponent, amazingly, politely gets out of our way and takes a time out. 
June 24, 2007 at 9:59 pm
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