Wing Chun's Combat Mentality
Putting it all Together

by
"Gau Lin" David Pangan

"No man is invincible,
and therefore no man can fully understand that which would make him invincible. "
--Musashii

The martial arts were developed for the sole purpose of defending one's self, family, beliefs, and country from aggression. Naturally, with a difference in cultures various methods and tools were developed according to fighting experiences and study. Often, people believe that victory in fighting is obtained merely through the application of proper techniques and by learning these techniques anyone should be capable of winning. So the question arises why if all techniques are basically the same and acquire their validity from universal principles is it that one man prevails over another? The answer is the fighting mentality, the mind of the warrior.

The first step in preparing one's mind for combat is to settle in the mind an acceptable reason for the violent option. In combat the outcome is simple it is a matter of life and death. Lau Tzu wrote, "It is because arms are instruments of ill omen and there are Things that detest them that one who has the way does not abide by their use ... When one is compelled to use them, it is best to do so without relish. There is no glory in victory, and to glorify it despite this is to exult in the killing of men. One who exults in the killing of men will never have his way in the empire."2 Combat is an ugly, brutal event it ends in the serious injury or death of one or more of the combatants. A person who trains for combat must ask the question, "What am I willing to kill for, and what am I willing to die for?" With the sobering reality of life and death an insult or a dirty look should be little motivation to engage in a physical confrontation. There is no room for an erroneous judgement . call and no room for an inflated ego.

Martial arts were developed to survive the reality of combat not for sport or entertainment. A true warrior does not fight for trophies, money, or recognition; to do so is a perversion of martial arts and a desecration of the honor and virtues upon which a warrior builds his character. At what price will one sell his honor?

An essential component of a warrior mind set is humility. Humility is the realization that one does not know everything and that every person has the ability to teach us something about ourselves. A great fighter realizes that there are no guarantees and that anyone can win or lose on any given day. He does not boast of his ability nor instigate a confrontation he respects everyone and degrades no one. Lau Tzu wrote, "One who excels as a warrior does not appear formidable; One who excels in fighting is never roused in anger, One who excels in defeating his enemy does not join issue; One who excels in employing others humbles himself before them."3

Additionally, one never underestimates the opponent or the nature of a confrontation. Lau Tzu wrote, "There is no disaster greater than taking on an enemy too easily. So doing nearly cost me my treasure [life]. Thus of two sides raising arms against each other, it is the one that is sorrow-stricken that wins."4 The true warrior understands that all life is precious and can't be destroyed without purpose. This principle is reciprocal in that one's own life is never risked for myriad purposes or something so petty as pride.

The fighting mentality of the warrior seems to be almost a contradiction in terms. If one is thinking only about winning or just not losing defeat is nearly unavoidable. The warrior does not try to win or lose rather he allows the fight, to create itself. He sees a fight in its totality and in the moment. He is neither concerned about the future or the past, but rather he lives in the present. The Zen philosopher Takuan Soho wrote, "Presumably, as a martial artist, I do not fight for gain or loss, am not concerned with strength or weakness, and neither advance a step nor retreat a step. The enemy does not see me. I do not see the enemy. Penetrating to a place where heaven and earth have not yet divided, where Yin and Yang have not yet arrived, I quickly and necessarily gain effect."5

There is a principle that when fighting you will be hit. The warrior understands this truth and thus prepares himself to risk everything to gain nothing, and therefore gains everything. When hit if one concentrates on the fact that he has been struck he will certainly be struck again. Conversely if one thinks only of not being hit in the ftiture he again will be struck. The only way is to perceive the moment and act on the reality. Takuan Soho wrote, "Victory is gained without stirring from where you are." 6 Your mind remains centered and focused on the moment. The warrior maintains a balanced mind.
Moreover, a warrior understands the principles of no mercy and no compassion for his opponent. Mercy is not harming the opponent physically and compassion is empathizing with the enemy's feelings. The warrior realizes that mercy or compassion will handicap his ability to survive in combat. However, it is a mentality not based on apathy but on a desire to survive. The warrior never relishes cruelty. He ends a fight as quickly and efficiently as possible, anything more is the spirit of vengeance and a defense of pride, not honor.

The mind of the warrior, or the fighting mentality can be attained by anyone. The way to insure that one does not hesitate is to fix it in the mind that you will do anything to stay alive even if it costs someone's life. A person must decide how they want to live and what they will do to defend those values and beliefs that make them who they are. To a warrior the fighting mentality molds his character and allows him to transcend the ordinary while engaged in combat. It governs a different way of thinking and becomes an essential ingredient of martial skill. In Zen one who has achieved this state of mind is called enlightened. The mind of the warrior, in the end, becomes nothing more than seeing things as they truly are and realizing the beauty hidden in that simplicity.

RETURN HOME

1. Mushashi, Miyamoto. The Book offive Rings. Charles E. Tuftle Co. Boston. 1994. P. 3

2. Lau D.C. Lau Tzu. Penguin Classics. England. 1963. P. 89

3. Lau D.C. Lau Tzu. Penguin Classics. England. 1963. P. 130

4. Lau D.C. Lau Tzu. Penguin Classics. England. 1963. P. 131

5. Soho, Takuan. The Unfettered Mind. Kodansha International. New York. 1986. P. 79

6. Ibid.

About the Author:

"Gau Lin" Pangan reciently returned from the U.S. Military where he was active Airborne. He is a student of Master Ron Heimberger and teaches Wing Chun in Provo Utah.