After a corrupt system tries to seize his zendo/dojo (martial arts training academy) property, an elderly Asian kung fu master still refuses to sell. So he is put through the legal system and sent to prison, where the corrupt warden sets him up to be attacked and beaten first by paramilitary prison guards then by bribed fellow inmates. But the incarcerated innocent man refuses to bend a knee and kneel to his captors and their functionaries. He happens to be a kung fu grandmaster, who will not kowtow to authority and its system. When thugs are given free rein to enforce "prison rules" by beating him up for The Man, who keeps inmates divided and conquered, the grandmaster keeps fighting, even putting to shame an Asian prison guard who was gung-ho to belong in Occidental society. The police state then sends in its paramilitary arm to seize the kung fu academy by force. But the tiny students aren't having it. They stand their ground. It is as if they are training to be warrior monastics of the Shaolin tradition protecting the Dharma and their institution.
Maybe, instead of always fighting, I should follow the way of the old man and train my mind.
"Power comes from the ground, not from anger," so stand your ground when it's right.
Why doesn't Zen Buddhism teach a path to enlightenment like the historical Buddha did? They are of the opinion that we are "already enlightened," so there's no need to speed up the process of realizing or remembering that, as in Hindu teachings of lila ("divine play," awakening to itself). It seems the Buddha would have mentioned that if he agreed with the Brahmin priests and their Vedas; yet, he took an adversarial position and presented a superior vision of what "awakening" (bodhi) and "nirvana" (moksha, "liberation," vimutti, "freedom") are. Below are the remainder of the instructions for those not content to believe they are already awakened beings who sit shikantaza just to sit because that's what sitters (zazen practitioners) do.
If Buddhism is the marriage of wisdom and compassion, then the historical Buddha's path-of-practice is calm and insight. To gain calm, let go (no effort required). To gain insight, practice vipassana ("clear seeing") by the fourfold setting up of mindfulness (sati), a practice called satipatthana.
Insight into what? Mind-and-body to see three personally verifiable marks of existence
The historical Buddha Gautama
In Early Buddhism, the Pali term dhamma vicaya (Sanskrit धर्मविचय-) has been variously translated as "keen investigation of things" (Wisdom Quarterly), the "analysis of [various] qualities" [1], "discrimination of dhammas [phenomena]" [2, Note 1], "discrimination of states" [3], "investigation of [the] doctrine [the Dharma]," [4, Note 2], and "searching [for] the [ultimate] Truth" [5].
The meaning, which may seem tricky to translate, is clear and not ambivalent in context. In the two Four Foundations of Mindfulness sutras (MN 10, DN 22). It is the systematic investigation of physical-and-mental phenomena (dhamma, "things") -- "body and mind" in terms of their ultimate constituents, which are "form particles" (rupa kalapas) and "mind moments" (cittas).
Pa Auk student, American Shaila Catherine
It would be wonderful if scholars stop disputing and practiced instead. Why? Practitioners who read and follow the two sutras can see the meaning very easily; however, in real practice, it is far better to seek out a competent teacher who has known-and-seen these things. In that way, there is no speculation, interpretation, or arguing. The path is already known and handed down, not in books, but in meditation halls.
Meditation Master at Pa Auk
The scholar-monk and master practitioner Pa Auk Sayadaw (Ven. Bhaddanta Āciṇṇa) is all about the practical: How will one ever be able to "see" a particle (kalapa)? By purifying (visuddhi) the heart/mind, one is suddenly able to make use of all its powers. But particles move far too fast and live far too briefly to ever be discerned or analyzed by the mind's eye because the mind/heart has a speed limit due to the number of impulsions (javanas) in a mind-moment.
So here's the trick. Locate the "mind door," which is a green light near the physical heart. This door is a mirror of sorts reflecting everything in consciousness. It records. And the recording can be played back in slow-motion so as to see the life of the kalapa (form particle, which has three distinct phases that can be observed directly: arising, turning, passing). It does not stand even for a single moment, but rather passes through these three submoments.
How can anything composed of form (materiality, the mahabhuta or Four Great Elements, which are actually four qualities of matter, not matter itself, which come in pairs as outlined in Pa Auk Sayadaw's book Four Elements Meditation) be real if everything "form" is made up of is particulate matter, countless particles that are constantly arising, changing, and passing away -- always hurtling towards destruction? This is not a belief; for it to be effective, one must directly and literally know-and-see it happening all the time, everywhere, but particularly in this fathom-long body many call my "self." Most people can quickly comprehend that the body is, of course, not the "self." But nearly everyone gets stuck believing that the "self" must therefore be the mind (the watcher, the doer, the knower) or consciousness (awareness through the six senses, the interplay of cittas and cetasikas or mind-moments and mental concomitants, which is an impersonalprocess, not a thing in and of itself).
The "Four Elements"? At a Pa Auk Meditation Center, in Burma, California, Georgia, or elsewhere, discern in this very body: 1. The "earth element" as hardness, softness, roughness, smoothness, and heaviness, lightness; 2. the "water element" as flowing (saliva), cohesion (stickiness); 3. the "fire element" as heat, cold (relative temperature variations, including the burning chemical "digestive fire" of the stomach or coolness of the outbreath); 4. the "air element" as pushing, supporting (dhammawheel.com).
The Buddha searched for a self that was not be found and went into very great detail to catalogue that process masquerading as a "self" (soul, atman, atta, ego, personality, true self, higher self), which is recorded in the very dense collection of sacred texts, the Abhidhamma, and Buddhaghosa's meditation manual The Path of Purification. See A Guide Through the Abhidhamma for a comprehensive introduction to the details. It will be impossible to ever believe there is, ultimately speaking, no self until one does a systematic search of mind, of which consciousness is but one component.
Wait, why would anyone in his, her, or their right mind ever want to find out that there's no self? Surely that would mean annihilation, oblivion, falling into the void, the vast emptiness, utter destruction, the loss of everything?!
One would want to because that is the entrance into the stream that leads inevitably to full awakening, enlightenment, and liberation from all suffering here and now in this very life. It is on account of not seeing this, not comprehending Dependent Origination, that we have all been lost and wandering, life after life, through this interminable and miserable (unfulfilling) samsara, seeking for pleasure now here, now there, existence after existence, state after state, world after world until there's nothing new that we have not already experienced many times over only to be disappointed and misled yet again.
This, of course, will be impossible...until the meditative absorptions (jhanas) purify and intensify the heart/mind to make that investigation, discrimination, analysis.
In the meantime, the practice of Four Elements Meditation and the application of discernment (by wise reflection or yoniso manasikara, which includes seeing things as they really are, including their repulsive aspect or patikula-manasikara that we normally work so hard to ignore) to body-mind phenomena in the application of right effort, so as to gain entry into the first absorption (jhana, the first "meditation") if "mindfulness of in-and-out breathing meditation" (which is the first practice in the setting up of the first of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness) has failed to bring one there.
ETYMOLOGY: According to Rupert Gethin, "Dhamma-vicaya means either the 'discrimination of dhammas' or the 'discernment of dhamma'; to discriminate dhammas is precisely to discern dhamma"[6].
But, again, this is the confusion of something very simple and straightforward. One does NOT study Dharma (capital D Dhamma) during mindfulness meditation. What one DOES do is analyze, discern, and discriminate the "things" (phenomena, dhammas) the sutra specifies:
2. feelings (pleasant, unpleasant, neutral, whether corporeal or spiritual);
3. mind states (lustful or free of lust, angry or free of aversion, deluded or free of delusion, contracted or expansive, exalted or mundane, surpassable or unsurpassable, samādhi or not-samādhi [still and coherent or not], released or bound);
1. The first foundation is the body, and the body is usually known through parts of the body or more deeply by knowing the Four Great Elements in their tangible expressions as hard, soft, wet, dry, hot, cold, smooth or rough, heavy or light, and so on. (See Four Elements Meditation for details). More: dhamma vicaya (Wikipedia)
Yeah, I thought I made that pretty clear.
Rest assured, Bodhidharma has an excellent point to make. Striving, struggling, muscling, forcing, pushing, thirstily struggling is NOT the way. Let go of all that [waste]. Just be. Just observe the becoming that is going on all by itself. There is nothing to do or change for the heart/mind to come to the first absorption. It's just that we needed to stop caging ourselves in "trying" or "needing" it to be this way or that. It is far better to practice allowing and accepting, wakefulness and dispassionate mindfulness.
Aikido (Shinjitai 合気道, Kyūjitai 合氣道, aikidō) is a modern Japanese martial art that is split into many different styles including Aikikai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, and Ki Aikido.
Aikido is now practiced in 140 countries [1]. It was originally developed by Master Morihei Ueshibaas a synthesis of his martial studies, Eastern philosophy, and Shintoist religious beliefs.
AikidoFounder Morihei Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves against attacks, while also protecting the attackers from injury [2, 3].
Aikido is often translated as "the way of unifying (with) life energy" [4] or as "the way of harmonious spirit" [5]. According to the founder's philosophy, the primary goal in the practice of aikido is to overcome oneself instead of cultivating violence or aggressiveness [6].
Aikido's founder used the phrase masakatsu agatsu katsuhayabi (正勝吾勝勝速日, "true victory, final victory over oneself, here and now") to refer to this principle [7].
Aikido's fundamental principles include: irimi [8] ("entering"), atemi ("strikes") [9, 10], kokyu-ho ("breathing control"), sankaku-ho ("triangular principle"), and tenkan ("turning") movements that redirect the opponent's own attack momentum.
Aikido's curriculum is comprised of various techniques, primarily throws and joint locks [11]. It includes a weapons system encompassing the bokken, tantō, and jō.
Aikido derives mainly from the martial art of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu (a form of jujitsu) but began to diverge from it in the late 1920s, partly due to Ueshiba's involvement with the new Shinto-based Ōmoto-kyō religion (Oomoto). Ueshiba's early students' documents bear the term aiki-jūjutsu [12].
You too can learn to fight (UK)
Aikido as practiced by Ueshiba's senior students take different approaches to the art, depending partly on when they studied with the master.
Aikido today is found all over the world in a number of styles, with broad ranges of interpretation and emphasis. However, they all share techniques formulated by Ueshiba and most have concern for the well-being of the attacker. More
Jesse Enkamp(video); Editors, Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit UPDATED
Yi Long Ma (Chinese 马一龙, Pinyin yī lóng ma) was born Liu Xingjun (Chinese 刘星君, Pinyin Liú Xīngjūn) [2].
He is a Chinese martial artist, kickboxer, Wushu, and practitioner of other martial arts who competes in Super Welterweight, Welterweight, and Super Middleweight divisions. Born in Dezhou, Shandong [2], he is self-trained in Shaolin Kung Fu [3].
In 2007, he became the Guangdong Foshan International Wing Chun champion. In the summer of 2009, he began to fight in Wu Lin Fen [4]. Yi Long previously called himself the "Number 1 Shaolin Kung Fu Monk" despite the Shaolin Buddhist Temple in 2010 claiming the fighter is unaffiliated with them [5]. More
She tried Shaolin kung fu training for just 24 hours; it broke her
How hard could it be? Even pandas can do it!
(SportEye) Aug. 14, 2026: What happens when an ordinary woman spends 24 hours training like a Shaolin Buddhist monk? She arrived expecting difficult martial arts exercises.
Instead, she faced flexibility training, brutal balance drills, sprint intervals, explosive leg exercises, handstands, strength conditioning, and physical challenges designed to push both the body and mind beyond their comfort zone.
But Shaolin training isn't simply about becoming stronger. It's about learning to remain calm when the body is exhausted, controlling breathing under pressure, and continuing when the mind says to stop.
Discipline, dedication, and monastic rules all help
From painful flexibility exercises to balancing on narrow wooden posts and navigating stairs upside down, this 24-hour experience reveals why Shaolin training is about far more than flashy kung fu.
This is what happens when an outsider experiences the discipline behind one of the world's most legendary martial arts traditions. #kungfu #martialarts #shaolin #monk #training #power
Bruce Lee challenged by Thai female kickboxer undefeated 1971 — Bangkok match
I can prevail with just one well placed strike.
(Bruce Lee: The Hidden Legacy) Bangkok, November 15, 1971, underground gym. Somrak Kamsing challenged Bruce Lee. Forty-seven fights, 47 wins, 43 knockouts, she never lost.
"Come to Bangkok. Fight me. Or admit you fear women."
Bruce Lee read the challenge. Hong Kong. Filming Fist of Fury. He never fought woman before, never fought a perfect record, but he refused to decline the offer.
"She's undefeated champion. She deserves respect. She deserves fight."
He accepted. "Bangkok. November 15. Traditional Muay Thai rules. Five rounds. No cameras. No publicity. Just two martial artists."
Muay Thai or Muaythai (Thai มวยไทย, RTGS muai thai) is sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs [5], or the Science of Eight Limbs [6]. It is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and clinching techniques [7]. The name "Art of Eight Limbs" refers to the combined use of two fists, two elbows, two knees, and two shins [8].
Muay Thai went international in the late 20th-21st century, when Westernized practitioners from Thailand began competing in kickboxing, mixed-rules matches, and matches under Muay Thai rules around the world. The professional league is governed by the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand, sanctioned by the Sports Authority of Thailand.
Muay Thai is related to martial art styles of India's cultural sphere: Musti-yuddha [9, 10], Muay Chaiya, Muay Boran, Muay Lao, Lethwei, Kun Khmer, Benjang [11], and Tomoi [12].
Muay Thai practitioners are known as Nak Muay. Western practitioners are sometimes called Nak Muay Farang, meaning "foreign boxer" [13].
Muay Thaietymology: The Thai language term Muay Thai [14] that is a compound word made up of muay and Thai, the first derived from the Sanskrit root word [15] mavya [16], which means "to pull together," "to form into a single group or unit," or "unity" [16], defined as "to tie" [17] and "sport boxing" [18] in Thai. The alternative form of the Sanskrit word mavya is mavy (mavyati, Sanskrit मव्य् (मव्यति, lit. "to bind, to tie, to fasten") from its root term mav [19, 20] (Sanskrit मव). "Thai" comes from the word Tai [15], which means "free" [21] and "Tai-Kadai speakers " [Note 1]. More
Black implies white. White implies black. Swirling
Somrak Kamsing [the name of a real male fighter also known as Somluck Kamsing?] started training at age 8 disguised as a boy. Underground gyms didn't allow females.
She cut her hair, wrapped her chest to bind her bosom, and nobody knew for three years. Then one sparring session at age 11, fighting a 16-year-old boy, he hit her too hard and split her lip. She attacked, knee to body, elbow to face.
The Boy went down. The coach discovered her secret, "You're a girl?" She expected to be banned. The coach smiled, "You fight better than any boy. Stay. Become a champion."
By age 25, she was a legend. Men refused to fight her. They were too scared. "What if I lose to a woman?" She laughed. "You will lose. Question is how long you last."
I am water, I am void, I pivot to evade strikes.
November 15 arrived, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, only 50 witnesses. No media, Bruce insisted. "This is not a spectacle. This is martial arts. This is sacred."
They bowed a deep bow of mutual respect.
The bell rang.
Somrak attacked, low kick. Bruce checked it. She threw a combination. He slipped. She threw an elbow. He ducked. He countered. A backfist grazed her cheek. This was a real fight, five rounds. Both gave everything they had.
I make martial arts films.
Somrak landed solid leg kicks. Bruce countered with precision. She threw a flying knee. He sidestepped, spinning back to give her a kick to the ribs. She stumbled, the first time in 47 fights.
By Round 5, both were bloody. Bruce's eyebrow was cut. Somrak lip was split. They were still fighting, still trading strikes, no defense, just pure warrior spirit. The bell rang.
Silence. Then both bowed simultaneously, smiling.
The referee raised both hands. It was a draw by unanimous decision. It had been 48 fights, and she was still undefeated. Both remained undefeated. Nobody lost. Both won.
They hugged, "You are a real martial artist," Somrak said. "Gender doesn't matter, only heart."
I wish I'd eaten better and lived.
Bruce replied, "You taught me today. A woman can be a warrior equal to any man. Thank you."
Gifts were exchanged. Somrak gave Bruce traditional mongkhon.
Bruce gave her a Wing Chun ring.
November 15, 1971, Bangkok, five rounds, one draw, two champions. One lesson: Respect transcends gender because heart determines warrior.
All materials on this site are submitted by editors and readers. All images, unless otherwise noted, were taken from the Internet and are assumed to be in the public domain.
In the event that there is still a problem, issue, or error with copyrighted material, the break of the copyright is unintentional and noncommercial, and the material will be removed immediately upon presented proof.
Contact us by submitting a comment marked "private."
Do not follow this journal if you are under vinaya or parental restrictions. Secure protection by Sucuri.
Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at creativecommons.org/about/licenses.
.jpg)
%20greco%20buddhist%20art,%20wiki.jpeg)
_in_an_agricultural_school.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}