Chris Santillo

It’s More than Punches and Kicks, it’s a Way of Life

by Sensei Gary Covington

Running a dojo or martial arts school is just fun! My students vary in age from 4 to 64 and I enjoy working with them all.

It is often said — and sometimes even understood — that the Circle Beats the Line and the Line Beats the Circle but it merits discussion what this really means.

Linear and Circular Movements

If we consider power we know that linear movements radiating from our center are the most powerful category of movements. However, if our target is not on a line from our center a linear movement will not be able to reach it. Thus a circular movement will be the most powerful way of reaching it by default.

Similarly, we know that a linear movement will always be the fastest way to get from one point to another. But we must consider the all too common case where our limb is already extended from its previous use. At this moment, retracting our limb and extending it again may take much longer than simply utilizing a circular movement from the position we are in. Thus a circular movement may actually be the the quickest movement.

We could do this all day. The point is that all pros and cons are not only relative, they are situationally dependent.

The Circle Beats the Line

So, let us consider the case of a linear attack. It is possible to block each strike with a linear block, but the attacks will continue. Each punch will be fast and followed immediately by another. We may be able to block each one — maybe even counter some of them — but in the end the conflict will go to the person who is faster and more powerful.

Let us consider instead, countering this linear attack with a circular defense. Now, as a hard linear attack comes at us we use a circle to redirect it to the side. Depending on the direction this will cross their limb across their body or open their center. In either case it will help to forestall the next attack. This break in the rhythm of the conflict can be leveraged to advantage.

The Line Beats the Circle

Alternately, let us consider a circular attack. A well articulated circular attack will strike to various spots from a thousand angles. Blocking all of the angles will require an equally skilled series of circular defenses, each one positioned to deflect the attacks at just the right angle. Instead we could utilize a linear defense and strike to the core of their attacks. The speed and power generated from a classic linear attack will be hard to counter with their circular movements.

The Circle Beats the Line and the Line Beats the Circle

And thus we see the line beating the circle and the circle beating the line. It is important not to overstate either case or the self-contradictory nature of the argument will come to the surface. A perfectly executed linear attack can not be repulsed by a mediocre circular defense any more than a perfect circular attack can be defeated by a poor linear defense. It is in the case where opponents are evenly matched that an advantage is gained by utilizing a different strategy.

It should also be noted that combining the two strategies is the best of all possible worlds. None of us are wholly Yin or Yang, nor should we be. A linear block followed by a circular counter and vice versa will have the best results of all. As we have said, all pros and cons are relative and situationally dependent.

Maximizing Linear Effectiveness

The benefits of linear movements are rooted in their power and speed. In order to maximize the effectiveness of any linear movement we much maximize power and speed.

Maximizing Circular Effectiveness

Circular movements require excellent accuracy and timing. Though not as self-explanatory as the notes about linear movement, theses points are no less important. In order for a circular block to deflect a linear attack it must strike the attacking limb very precisely and at exactly the right time. Likewise, a circular attack — lacking the brutish power of a linear attack — must strike to a sensitive area very precisely and — because it has no hope of powering through a block — it much be timed to avoid all blocks. Thus we see that circular movement require the height of accuracy and timing.

The Circle and the Line

So what is better? Neither, of course. What should I employ? Both, of course. Victory is gained through the proper selection of tactics and their superior execution. Good luck!

The Pillars of Kempo explain how we got here and – at the very least – try to explain where here is:

• Learning – We yearn to become more than we are.
• Integrity – We prove ourselves worthy of it, either intrinsically or through ordeal.
• Service We pass it on, sharing with the next generation so that they might have the benefit of our experiences.

Isn’t this how everything that is was developed? Why, then, is this interesting?

The Pillars act not only as a filter but as a forge. The process of becoming a student of Shaolin Kempo is a self-selection process — a filter. In order for an individual to become a student they must first express a desire to learn and they must take action on that desire. They must be deemed of sufficient Integrity by their instructor. Finally, they must reciprocally engage in a Service-based exchange of information and experience with their fellow students.

This means that all students already model the Pillars of Kempo as proven by their status as students. Right? Well, yes and no. Learning, Integrity, and Service are no more bimodal than strength or knowledge. There are many strong and knowledge people in the world, but they have not stopped striving to be stronger and more knowledgable. In fact, by and large, the strongest and the most knowledgeable are the most likely to be pursuing greater strength and knowledge.

In the same way, we, as practitioners of Shaolin Kempo, must daily strive to be the apotheosis of Learning, Integrity, and Service. We should be continually on the lookout for new and interesting things to learn about Kempo and everything else. We should guard ourselves continually to be sure we are people of unsurpassed Integrity in all that we do. We should work to find new and exciting ways to Serve others and help them reach their goals.

Being great people got us where we are. Now it is time to become ever better.

It is in Service to our fellow man, while continuing to Learn and conduct ourselves with Integrity, that we reach the pinnacles of Kempo and of Life.

As with the other Pillars, Service is built into Kempo both in its propagation as well as in its implementation. It is true that Shaolin Kempo would not exist today if it were not for the Service — in the form of teaching — of untold generations of instructors. But it is perhaps more interesting that Kempo would not be what it is without the active Service of its participants. As each student enters a Dojo for the first time they enter into a reciprocal Service-based relationship, not only with the instructor but with every other member of the studio.
There is an old saying that, “You are only as good as the people you train with.” and it plays out in every Dojo. Seniors students initially help a new student get acquainted with the studio and all students — very literally — offer their bodies to their fellow students for experimentation and the Learning of new techniques.
To learn Kempo a student must practice each movement against a wide assortment of people. Each student takes a turn serving their fellows by offering their body for use as a practice bag. In this way each student is able to practice and learn. Further, they are able to share their accumulated experience directly with each partner.
This practice of Service, both by the instructors and the students, engenders a culture of Service. It creates untold opportunities for people to experience the gratification of helping others to achieve their goals. This encourages people to find more ways, in more settings, to help others achieve their goals.
Life is a shared experience. There are seven billion of us on this planet and we are all connected together. We can — and should — serve each other in countless ways. From a kind work spoken to the offer of a warm meal. From building a house to teaching someone how to tie their belt for the first time. Learning Kempo alone would not be fruitful or enjoyable. Nor would a life be fruitful or enjoyable that was not lived in connection to those around us.

Pay it forward.

In the distant past, hand-to-hand combat was the basis for military power. Knowing a more effective way of blocking was akin to a state secret and was guarded just as tightly. In some settings only immediate family members were taught the family martial art so as to prevent an outsider from learning defensive secrets. In other environments it was taught more broadly but never to one who might be expected to misuse the information or share it where it should not be shared.

It is from this origin that Integrity became rooted in Shaolin Kempo. Being a person of Integrity means being honest and abiding by moral principles. As such, it was only a person of Integrity who could be trusted to not use martial techniques against his teacher or his teacher’s family. It was a person of Integrity who could be trusted to guard martial secrets with the care that his instructor wished. And it was only a person of Integrity who could be trusted to not misuse Kempo to hurt an innocent person.

Many things have changed since that era. Modern weapons have brought about the near obsolescence of hand to hand combat and the internet shares secrets so widely and quickly there may soon be no secrets left of any kind. These changes call into question the necessity and efficacy of screening students for integrity. However, even as this shift has taken place a more important underlying motivation for the study and exercise of Integrity has only grown in clarity — that the use of physical force must be morally justified.

In order to be acceptable, the use of physical force must be justified morally. This is true whether one is using advanced modern weapons or a fist. Though it is no longer likely that a ‘rogue’ student could do damage to an instructor or that they could share ‘secret’ information, anyone with knowledge in the martial arts is capable of harming others. As such, a right-minded instructor will never teach martial arts to an individual that can reasonably be expected to misuse that information.

From past to present, the expectation of Integrity is inextricably linked with the learning of the art. Being allowed to train is not the only reward, however. The greatest reward is one’s relationship with oneself. A life of Integrity is lived for its own sake and is its own reward.

Further, there are many societal benefits to being a person of Integrity. One of the core aspects of Integrity is honesty, and a person who is consistently honest will develop a trustworthy reputation. This will improve their relationships with neighbors and engender reciprocal honesty. Further, a person of Integrity can be expected to fulfill their obligations, and as such people will be willing to enter into contracts and partnerships with them.

That said, and it bears repeating — a person should not choose moral behavior for societal benefits, but because it is the right thing to do.

The study of Shaolin Kempo and the accompanying cultivation of Integrity help to elevate individuals to their highest potential. It is hard to imagine that when the first teacher taught the first student how to block and punch they saw the cultivation of self as the highest goal. However, through time and generations we have found that Kempo not only offers an opportunity for screening new learners for Integrity but also acts as a crucible for its development.

Do what is right.