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The Correlation Between Meditation and Martial Arts

Do you know that some forms of meditation and martial arts have existed during ancient times? It is believed that many martial art practitioners or warriors would use various breathing techniques to calm themselves before a battle. That said, meditation only became an essential part of martial arts many centuries later. To learn more about the correlation between meditation and martial arts, please continue reading.

“In addition, if we look at most traditional martial arts, you’d often see many philosophical concepts behind them which include the concepts of improving both mental and physical capabilities of the practitioners. And in martial arts, they teach the importance of having a calm mind and gaining control over the emotions as they are essential to execute moves the proper way”

Do you know that some forms of meditation and martial arts have existed during ancient times? It is believed that many martial art practitioners or warriors would use various breathing techniques to calm themselves before a battle. That said, meditation only became an essential part of martial arts many centuries later.

In the development and rise of meditation in the East, it managed to quickly find a place in the practice of martial arts. In addition, if we look at most traditional martial arts, you’d often see many philosophical concepts behind them which include the concepts of improving both mental and physical capabilities of the practitioners.

And in martial arts, they teach the importance of having a calm mind and gaining control over the emotions as they are essential to execute moves the proper way.

And in order to do so, most martial arts incorporate various breathing techniques that can be considered as meditation where this form of meditation is often seen in martial arts such as Karate, Kung-fu and Tai Chi. At the same time, the processes and methods of meditating vary from different styles.

However, the most traditional martial arts include three ways of moving meditation:

Self-defense practice – The key is to focus on integrating techniques into one’s mind so that it becomes a subconscious response.

Breath and body control – Martial arts such as Taekwondo, breathing has a lot of meaning as it connects the body with the mind. A fighter must inhale while preparing to execute a move and exhale upon execution. Additionally, concentrating on breathing would give fighters to properly execute their moves.

Deeper meaning – Through practicing martial arts, it helps one to discover their true self and provide a better and deeper understanding of the world around him/her. It is able to help one to overcome losses, fear of death, and many other matters that may prevent the person from unleashing his/her full potential in martial arts.

Thus, there are two popular examples of meditation in martial arts:

  1. Shaolin meditation – The key to this form of meditation is to become one with nature. Upon learning how to surrender to the process, one’s mind and body will enter into the balance coherence. Other than a clear mind, one will develop high awareness as well as laser focus.
  2. Tai Chi – In Tai Chi’s form of meditation, one is able to become highly aware of their inner dynamics as he/she will learn how to continuously take deep breaths that are able to eliminate negative thoughts and the ability to control his/her emotions. Tai Chi is also a standing meditation that has added benefits which include improving one’s physical and mental strength, increasing flexibility, and heightening awareness and concentration of the practitioner.

If meditation and martial arts are something of your interest and you would like to pursue this journey, do reach out to me as I am more than willing to guide you to unleash your full potentials and to achieve a higher awareness of who you are.

Credit: Medium.com

Michael Teh, 11th February 2022.

Michael Teh is a meditation coach devoted to a personal mission of awakening more people to higher consciousness. He teaches self-realization through meditation, qigong, yoga and philosophy.

Michael Teh Signature Workshop: The Essence of Life Series explores meditation as a powerful tool to realize our true potential. Michael has designed multiple workshops in this series to support his participants’ self-realization journey. Workshop Series 1 is currently running every few months on-ground in Kuala Lumpur, titled “Knowledge of The Self and Fundamentals of Meditation.

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