In Dim Mak Martial Arts Pressure Points Training, Is it OK to Take Shortcuts?

In 1965, a despondent Bruce Lee developed jeet kune do. At the time, he had lost faith in classic Chinese martial arts. He considered the wing chun style 'the product of dry land swimming'. He said jeet kune do had more to offer in terms of efficiency. He said to be bound by a traditional martial arts styles 'is the way of the mindless, enslaved martial artists'. He said rehearsed routines lacked flexibility to adapt. And so, he developed 'a Way that is not a Way'. He said a conventional Way creates limitations. He sought to eliminate limitations.

Very few martial artists have the ability or insight into martial arts to espouse such lofty ideals. Phenomenally adept as he was in the wing chun style, he nevertheless recognised its shortcomings and sought to extend the physical and philosophical parameters of martial arts. He did so by creating jeet kune do. Interestingly, he disavowed creating or inventing it, saying that jeet kune do was derived from what he had learned plus his evaluation of it (see 'The Dao of Jeet Kune Do' by Bruce Lee).

Bruce Lee was able to develop jeet kune do only after he had acquired an unparalleled mastery of wing chun kung fu. In jeet kune do he eliminated what he described as the rigidity and undue complexity of conventional kung fu. Ironically, in jeet kune do he developed a complex arsenal of blocks, strikes, kicks, locks and other strategies said to simplify his fighting art. But he was only able to do that with the benefit of an incredibly sophisticated knowledge of kung fu.

Herein lies our point. The way of the intercepting fist, as Bruce Lee coined his jeet kune do, was said to simplify martial arts. The so-called simplicity was achieved only after the complexity of conventional martial arts was mastered. Thus, the shortcut given by jeet kune do was learned only after the long way around was well and truly paved by conventional classic kung fu.

We all know that the pursuit of excellence in kung fu is time consuming and demanding. Prowess is achieved only by years and years of diligent application. There is no such thing as instant gratification when it comes to dim mak kung fu. You either put in, and learn, or you don't.

And so, when the dim mak kung fu student learns the basics or the intermediate or the advanced kung fu, the student is learning the complex way of kung fu. Admittedly it is step by step. But the student is learning the purest martial art with all its splendour, rich in diversity. There is no such thing as a 'get rich quick' style by the teaching of techniques which will turn you into some overnight martial arts superstar.

So when it comes to training in dim mak pressure points, try to recognise that you will probably practise the cat, horse and dragon stances for many years to come. Try to understand that the theory of the centreline, its dim mak pressure points and its protection is as applicable to a novice as it is to a black belt. Acknowledge that the cross step, the side step, the twisting stances and an array of footwork has a very real role to play: both for beginner and advanced students. Accept that with fast footwork comes fast handwork. Perceive that some of the most efficient defence work (aggressive and passive) is gained by simply positioning your body out of your opponent's advance. Learn that advanced blocks such as the crane, scissor and cross blocks are advanced emanations of the humble outside, lower, mid section and upper blocks. Appreciate how animal forms all have a profound relevance both in the mimicry of the animal’s movement as well as in the attainment of the animal’s essential spirit.

In truth, there is no such thing as a shortcut. If anything, the shortcut is gained by understanding the long way around. Only with an understanding of the long way around will you have any real guidance into ways to improve your efficiency. The fact remains that certain techniques work better for some than for others. Some kung fu martial artists are excellent kickers. They rely heavily on an array of front, side, roundhouse, jumping, moving and spinning kicks. Those martial artists are content to leave the conflict at legs length, seldom employing strikes involving hands, fists or elbows. Conversely, some kung fu martial artists are outstanding with their fists. Strikes involving straight, hook or corkscrew punches, palm strikes, knife-hand, finger jabs, back fists, heel palm strikes and gouges work wonders. Those martial artists are content to get in close leaving kicks aside. Others still have seemingly impenetrable guards where nothing gets past them. Others still display the speed and agility of an Olympic athlete: their acrobatic techniques look like they come straight from the vaults of a Run Run Shaw movie house.

Whatever may be your forte, the point remains: cut corners only when you have an understanding of the big picture. Eliminate the ineffective techniques from your arsenal only when you know those techniques, when you have practised them and when you can do them well. Be critical of forms, punches, kicks or blocks only when you can do them and understand them so that you can fill the gaps they leave when you discard them.

If you were to ask a master of dim mak or hung kuen kung fu for his or her opinion on the most distinguishing feature of that style, you will be readily met with one of three answers the hallmark tiger claw, the centreline and its protection and probably the cross step. If you felt stouthearted enough to ask the next question, namely, which of those three can be discarded in the interests of efficiency, you will be met with a very real conundrum. Each is so basic as to be irreplaceable. None can be discarded.

At times, repetitious training can be irksome if not plain boring. Steps you thought you had mastered a long time ago somehow seem to keep coming back. You ask why. You ask whether some other style acknowledges the basics as foregone conclusions and moves on bypassing the repetition. True, those moves can be bypassed but only when you know them. When the basics are so indelibly impressed on your subconscious that you can do them in your sleep, then you can take shortcuts. But in dim mak, a shortcut is only ever useful if you know the long way around.

Contribution by Grandmaster Pier Tsui-Po and Joshua D Wilson

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