The Soft or the Hard roads - choose

When I was in my teens, I was influenced to some extent, like many my age, by martial arts movies from the East and West.

Of course, the more interesting ones were from Hong Kong, with a sprinkling few from Taiwan. At first, it was those sword-and-spear films that caught my attention. Soon, the top draw was unarmed combat.

Martial arts began to be the all-encompassing interest in my youthful years. I couldn't get enough of them. I sourced out a lengthy jute rope and tied it tightly around the trunk of the guava tree in my backyard.

I would spend hours hitting and punching the rope to toughen up my knuckles, and my elbows and wrists. In the process I also earned some visible calluses and unsightly bruises.

One of my so-called "gym equipment" was a thick plastic bag loaded with coarse sand which acted as a punching bag. After a day of rain, followed by a scorching sun, the bag began hard as a rock.

But that didn't stop me from hammering it to a softer stage. And so it went on for months, perhaps years. But clearly, I have forgotten. I was young, impetuous and eager to join the ranks of the super martial arts who could kill with a jab of their fingers.

Soon, I graduated to cracking roof tiles with a mighty punch, or so I thought. I believe in my unwarranted enthusiasm to breach that "killer level", I must have cracked a bone in my hand because it ached for weeks.

When it healed, it was not its normal shape. The years passed, I had attained adequate strength to foolishly believe that I could take an opponent down with a single blow.

I believe I could to because I used to test my knuckles on hardwood they called doors. In the realm of martial arts, I trotted down avenues of rope-skipping, running, push-ups and deep-breathing.

I did the whole routine and more. It is definitely an ego-boosting exercise as well. What young man wouldn't relish the thought of rescuing a damsel in distress with some well-timed moves of unbelievable agility.

Alas, no such opportunity came my way. I wasn't accosted by some silly, misguided muggers who were foolish enough to block my path. All those hundreds of hours of hard training gone to waste, I thought.

Yes, I truly believe I could easily crack some ribs and break a leg or two with a little effort. However, I was one of the lucky few not to be selected to undergone the street gladiator test.

Then, I entered adulthood. I began to see martial arts in a different light. It was all about heart, mind and compassion. Mainly, it was all about health and spiritual enlightenment.

I read books written by masters of the various martial arts disciplines. These were by men who could easily dispose of 10 men in a single round of combat. I began to wonder why such men would talk of peace and tranquillity when they were men of war and combat.

While trudging down the alleyways of wisdom and practical experience, some slivers of light found their way into my heart and soul. Unarmed combat, martial arts and various self-defence systems were more than just taking down an opponent.

They were also about self-discovery, promoting good health and adopting common sense approaches to life and of course, making friends as well.

Somewhere along the way, I stumbled onto Qigong. Finally, I have arrived at the right destination terminal. I found all the answers I was looking for my whole lifte.
Qigong embodies all that I have believed it. It has all the right ingredients for a peaceful existence.

It generates power and exudes mercy and love at the same time. Strength doesn't lie in my powerful arms or strong legs and hands but in the resilience that was resident in my heart, mind and soul.

In my teenage years, I sought the hardness that eluded me and in my adulthood, I encountered the softness that was waiting for me on the other sight of the martial arts domain.

Now in my more mature years, I understand what I didn't understand in my young, fiery years. Now I know that I had known less decades ago. It comes with wisdom and through patience.

Longevity is meaningless if you don't know how to live the moment. Martial arts is but an avenue towards spiritual awakening and perhaps finally enlightenment.

The journey may seemingly be long but it is ever so enjoyable. It had taken me decades but what a wonderful expedition, it is turning out to be.