I was sparring with a friend last week. Nothing too hard; we were going without pads or head protection, so you could say it was fairly "live" and keeping us on our toes.
The guy I was sparring with is a guy I've known for about fifteen years and we have grown up together in the martial arts. He's about my height but I out weigh him by ten pounds or so.
We've got similar physical characteristics but due to my power lifting, calisthenics and fighting background, I tend to be more power oriented and he's more elusive.
So we're circling each other and I'm timing his footwork. I was thinking that I was going to time his footwork, catch him off balance, get him going backwards and press the attack.
In the Secrets of the Shaolin Temple Volume I, which you can check out at www.shaolinsecrets.com this is called "Drowning the Soul" - taking your opponent's space, not letting him regain his ground and making him feel as if he has nowhere to go.
So I timed my entry perfectly, scored with my first two attacks, had him on the run... and he jump side kicked me right in the old breadbasket.
Let's just say I pulled up short and broke off my attack.
Yesterday I was on my way to a workout and meeting, and as I left my house, I needed to turn left to get to the freeway. I got to the driveway...and went right.
I'd gone half a block before I realized it and started laughing at myself.
Almost every morning, I go to my favorite local coffee shop and make a donation to the retirement plan of the owner as I pay way too much for a very addicting, sugar filled coffee drink that I know isn't good for me.
So on this particular morning, my mind and body did what it was conditioned to do...turn right and go to the coffee shop.
It was automatic. I didn't even realize where I was going.
Just like my partner's jump side kick. He's blasted me with that kick I don't know how may times yet he still gets me with it.
Why.
He's conditioned himself to throw that kick when he's getting pressed. I've conditioned myself to press when I get an advantage. I've conditioned myself to go right in the morning instead of left.
What habits do you have right now.
Do you have the habit of taking immediate action when you get an idea.
If you want something, do you have the habit of selling yourself on how to do it or do you tell yourself all the reasons you can't.
You have habits because of behaviors you've repeated over and over. Your behavior comes from your emotions and your emotions come from how you think, talk and look at yourself.
Your life right now is the result of your thoughts, emotions, behaviors and habits. It only takes about three to four weeks to start a new habit and you can start new behaviors as soon as you want.
But you have to work at it.
In Secrets of the Shaolin Temple Volume I, it says that to perform something in practice is one thing, but when you get in to a real combat situation, it is only then that you see how hard you have been working, how much time you have put into your training and how good your reactions or habits are.
Pick a goal. Pick something you want.
Maybe it's a trip to China, your next rank in the martial arts or new relationship. Or maybe you want to drop a couple of pounds.
Whatever it is, see yourself achieving the goal. Give yourself the good feeling of having achieved the goal, and then get off your rear and take action towards it right now.
After you've taken action once, keep repeating it over and over until it becomes more natural.
Now you'll be on the path to creating a new habit...and a new you.
Maybe the Shaolin Monks did know a thing or two about creating new habits.
Best,
William Huff