Big muscles are stupid.
I’m not talking about being muscular or fit; I’m talking about being one of those tough guys that walk around in tight-whitey shorts and t-shirts that they have cut up to expose their manly muscles.
What a crock.
I love it when Muscle Man shows up for martial arts training. He struts in, arms and lats all flared out, talking about how he already knows how to fight and just needs some cardio cross-training.
Yeah…okay tough guy – come on in.
First off, if he was any stiffer you could put wax on him and take him surfing. If he can move without pulling a hammy it’s a miracle.
They must have the gas tank of a Hot Wheels car because within seconds he’s huffin’ and puffin’ for air, tongue hanging out to his knees.
Then there’s the pain tolerance – or lack of it. All the big guys I know cry like a little girl when you barely touch him.
He wants to blast you when it’s his turn, but give him a shot in the ribs or ding his shins and he’s squeaking like a mouse.
I almost forgot – locks and submissions are almost effortless because his joints are so tight that they make noise when you crank them. You can be sinking in the lock and he’s already tapping like a woodpecker, screaming for you to let him go.
That brings me to the saying one of my Instructors taught me – “In life, your physical condition, the way you fight…you want to be smooth, like velvet. When you strike…you want to be like iron.”
I have had many great instructors and coaches in my life; four of them all had one thing in common that was part of what made them great martial artists.
All four were big for their size. One of them was about 5’6” and 180 lbs. of rock solid muscle; the other three were all around 5’8” or so and between 190 to 240 lbs – which is quite big for that height.
Every one of them is immensely talented but what makes them stand out is this: they all move effortlessly – like they’re made of water or something.
I believe one of the signs of a true master is when you cross arms with them or make contact in training…it’s like they’re not there.
Is till remember times drilling with all of them and I was the one straining and forcing things while they looked like they weren’t even trying.
One time I launched and attack, thinking I caught my Instructor at just the right moment and watching my fist make contact with his cheekbone…
Right as it made contact, he went with the blow – turning his head and rotating his hips, which took every ounce of power out of my strike – and launched me into a particularly nasty throw and takedown which almost took my arm out of the socket.
What pizzed me off was that he was laughing as he did it, telling me, “Nice one; you got me there.”
These guys weren’t muscley at all; a couple of them looked out of shape and a couple of them were as solid as an anvil; but they were all flexible, loose and fit.
That’s what proper martial arts conditioning and training can do for. Exercises for flexibility like those in the Shaolin Stretching Secrets DVD Course – http://www.shaolinstetchingsecrets.com - are designed to keep you fit and flexible.
Then when you’re warmed-up, flexible and ready to go, you can start studying the fighting principles directly out of the Shaolin Temple Scriptures at http://www.shaolinfightingsecrets.com.
That way you can take Mr. Muscles and show him why you need to be like Iron and Velvet.
Not just iron.
Best,
William Huff
P.S. – Missed a couple of days of writing to you because I was locked in my cave, working on some B-I-G projects for you. Stay tuned…by the end of the month I might have a surprise for you…