The Training Room
(Article written for San Bao Zhong Ding, Sussex)
Susana del Valle translation and Javier Mesa
I have trained all over the world several different martial arts so far and although their techniques may be different the one thing they all have in common is respect for the place where she trains. The title of this article, the training room would be better changed to the Training Area since the early practitioners of the martial arts trained outdoors.
In many traditions of Chinese martial arts is still the case, and supporters of the Malaysian and Indonesian martial arts also prefer to practice outdoors. Whether the training location is a room specially made for training, or is the gym of a school, public park or a clearing in the jungle, the martial artist's attitude towards the training location is the same. This site is the arena where training occurs in the body and mind. A site to be visited on many occasions where we carry out the same ritual practice, where the martial artist and often bleed sweat and eventually the energy expanded by the practitioner creates a special energy field, so that once goes into the training area no matter how tired or sick he is, he or she will be motivated and full of vitality again.
In many martial arts used in the uniform of one sort or another, the clothing off the street and get the training further distinguishes the site is used as a place where concerns, searches, concerns, and even the patterns of daily life are left out.
In Japanese martial arts rules and regulations concerning the area of training are clearly defined and understood by all practitioners. When entering or leaving this place is greeted with a bow. At the beginning and end of classes bow indicates respect for the teachers not only present but also for the ancestors, which they could either spend an altar.
Many of the Chinese styles are less ceremonious but if there is an altar dedicated to the founder of the school or in particular deity associated with it, shows respect for individual lighting incense and bowing.
Many styles of martial arts in Indonesia and Malaysia are taught and practiced by Muslims and there are a number of special practices associated with "opening" of the training area. In this context, "openness" refers to the preparation and dedication of the area for training. The teacher or perhaps one of the advanced students praying at the center of the training area and sometimes also go out to all four corners of it to make a cleansing ritual before starting to train.
|
Private Area