Matrix-fu

I thought I'd invented the term "matrix-fu", but a quick google on the word shows that it's been around for a while. What I'd like to do, though, is give it a slightly more specific meaning: the application to martial arts, not of outrageous special effects (Chinese cinema has been doing that for ages anyway), but of the idea that if you believe that you can do something, you can do it (or at least stand a better chance).

Of course, this idea is already present in traditional martial arts. My hapkido teacher's teacher's favourite word was "possible" (except that, since he was Korean, it was "possibur"). "Jump over sword - possibur!" "Break ten board - possibur!" (that reminds me - despite all the pain, fear and exhaustion involved, I'm starting to miss hapkido). Or as the t'ai chi saying puts it: "Mind is the King."

From my rather limited experience of teaching martial arts, the main obstacle I've noticed is students' idea that they can't do something. This was not such a problem when I was teaching t'ai chi, since at least in the early stages, you aren't required to do anything spectacular anyway, but it was very obvious in the self-defence class I co-taught. There were all these teenagers, mainly girls, who were utterly convinced they couldn't hit someone. Even getting them to hit or kick a pad with any force was difficult (one tactic that worked was to say "Think of the teacher you hate the most - that's the pad").

I would never dare to start a new school of martial arts before going to the Far East, studying for several years under some real martial arts masters, and beating a few others. However, if I were going to create my own style, I'd call it "matrix-fu", and it would start with training to overcome the limitations of the mind. "Free your mind, Neo."

Or in other words: "Matrix-fu - possibur!"