IS IMPERIAL COMBAT ARTS RELIGIOUS?
SCHOOLS SYMBOLS & ARTWORK - MEDITATION - CHI - CULT?
There are many religious and spiritual groups in the world, and there are numerous martial arts schools that have linked the training of their arts to all manner of religious beliefs. Therefore it is fair to ask, what is Imperial Combat Arts viewpoint on religion, spirituality, chi, and the like. Is Imperial Combat Arts religious?
The short answer is no, Imperial Combat Arts is in no way a religious group, and no Instructors teach or emphasize their personal religion in class. This is out of respect for the very diverse group of members that train at our schools. Imperial Combat Arts classes are solely focused on the training of martial arts, and no religious or political conversation or viewpoint. With that said we do respect and welcome members from all faiths, so long as they are of good intent, and respectful of others, to train alongside us.
“'Imperial Combat Arts has members from all types of belief systems including various Christians, Taoists, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, Wiccans, Pagans, and Atheists all training together with mutual respect, as well as many members who's personal beliefs are not known to the school, and do not need to be".
TAOIST PHILOSOPHY VS. TAOIST RELIGION
TAOIST PHILOSOPHY: All Arts taught at Imperial Combat Arts are deeply integrated with Taoist Philosophy from Northern China and have been for at least over a millennia. Taoist Philosophy is a very old and non-religious study of nature and the universe applied to various concepts such as Yin Yang theory. Taoist Philosophy has no deities, magic, or real spiritual teaching except perhaps of connectedness with nature and self improvement. To the extent students are involved in this teaching is martial related, such as directions of movement, redirecting an opponents force, angles of attack and the like.
TAOIST RELIGION: Taoist religions may have numerous deities and belief in all manner of things like astral-projection, energy shielding, remote location, magical powers, etc. There is no one sect of Taoist religion, but in fact several, each with their own beliefs. While those of Taoist Religion are welcome to train at Imperial Combat Arts, and do train here, there is a distinct line when it comes to class conversation and teaching. This again is out of respect for those who have no interest in Taoist Religion and would therefore be uncomfortable in being required to be part of these things when their interest is solely the study of martial arts. Ultimately we are a martial arts school, that is our sole focus.
TAOIST RELIGION: Taoist religions may have numerous deities and belief in all manner of things like astral-projection, energy shielding, remote location, magical powers, etc. There is no one sect of Taoist religion, but in fact several, each with their own beliefs. While those of Taoist Religion are welcome to train at Imperial Combat Arts, and do train here, there is a distinct line when it comes to class conversation and teaching. This again is out of respect for those who have no interest in Taoist Religion and would therefore be uncomfortable in being required to be part of these things when their interest is solely the study of martial arts. Ultimately we are a martial arts school, that is our sole focus.
SCHOOL SYMBOLS & ARTS
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There are various symbols on the floors and walls of our schools and different schools of ours may have different color schemes. The symbols on the walls and floors are there to teach combat, distance of opponents, angles of attack, and the like. These are traditional tools of teaching our arts and are used around the world in ways similar to how a compass rose featuring 8 directions is used often to teach dance.
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YIN YANGS
The Yin Yang, also known as a Bagua symbol, is the most recognized Taoist Symbol used at the school, and its connection to Kung Fu has become well established, in much of the United States, and the world. There are still many who don't understand the meaning of balance depicted in a Baqua.
A Yin Yang simply defined describes opposite but interconnected, mutually perpetuating forces. This can be applied to many opposite forces such as complete darkness graduating into pure light or the reverse, or the transitions between the seasons of the year. The lines surrounding these symbols represent the transitions of this interplay in 8 or 64 levels. These classic lines are Trigrams and Hexagrams. In several martial arts these teaching mechanisms are used to teach the traditional interplay of opponents in battle.
A Yin Yang simply defined describes opposite but interconnected, mutually perpetuating forces. This can be applied to many opposite forces such as complete darkness graduating into pure light or the reverse, or the transitions between the seasons of the year. The lines surrounding these symbols represent the transitions of this interplay in 8 or 64 levels. These classic lines are Trigrams and Hexagrams. In several martial arts these teaching mechanisms are used to teach the traditional interplay of opponents in battle.
THE WU H'SING
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The Wu H'sing or 5 Elements is often the most misunderstood teaching symbol used in the school because its a basic geometric shape therefore shared by numerous cultures and religions. The interplay of the 5 elements is a fundamental part of Chinese Kung Fu and all manner of Chinese studies such as medicine. This symbol has nothing to do with religious Pentagrams and was developed independently of other cultures.
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USES OF PENTAGRAMS
Occasionally people will see the Wu H'sing at our school and jump to the assumption that its Satanic in some way especially with the weapons and red and black décor of the school. This is largely a result of Hollywood and movie culture and has nothing to do with Kung Fu or the Chinese Wu H'sing (WuXing).
PENTAGRAM & CHRISTIANITY
Even within the history of Christianity the Pentagram, with the tip upward, was a holy symbol that signified the 5 wounds of Christ. It is found on armor, churches, and in writings from around the world. The inversion of this symbol is sometimes seen and a disrespect of this symbolism. There are numerous cultures that use a 5 pointed star for all manner of reasons such as a countries flag. You can read more about the vast and very different meaning of this symbol through the following Wikipedia links.
History and World Use: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagram
The Chinese Wu H'sing: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuxing_(Chinese_philosophy)
PENTAGRAM & CHRISTIANITY
Even within the history of Christianity the Pentagram, with the tip upward, was a holy symbol that signified the 5 wounds of Christ. It is found on armor, churches, and in writings from around the world. The inversion of this symbol is sometimes seen and a disrespect of this symbolism. There are numerous cultures that use a 5 pointed star for all manner of reasons such as a countries flag. You can read more about the vast and very different meaning of this symbol through the following Wikipedia links.
History and World Use: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagram
The Chinese Wu H'sing: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuxing_(Chinese_philosophy)
Practitioners of many faiths over the past 64 years have trained at our schools in the U.S., some for many decades, and remained intact with their respective faiths.
CHI
Chi or Qi is a word or concept often associated with Kung Fu. This too can mean many things to different people. The literal meaning of Chi is Gas (Vapor) and associated with Liquid as the two basic bodily fluids of Chinese Medicine. In a very basic way this could be seen vital energy. To have good Chi is be healthy and strong with your body working well.
Things that disrupt this such as poor cardiovascular health, bad posture, bad diet, illnesses, inflexibility, and injury are all addressed with the study of Kung Fu. If one is healthy, aligned, active, eating healthy, and exercising they will feel their best and perform better martially. This is the primary teaching of Chi at Imperial Combat Arts. Their are members who of course have different or more expansive beliefs of Chi and that is fine if they wish to integrate that into their personal training and interpretations of Kung Fu.
Things that disrupt this such as poor cardiovascular health, bad posture, bad diet, illnesses, inflexibility, and injury are all addressed with the study of Kung Fu. If one is healthy, aligned, active, eating healthy, and exercising they will feel their best and perform better martially. This is the primary teaching of Chi at Imperial Combat Arts. Their are members who of course have different or more expansive beliefs of Chi and that is fine if they wish to integrate that into their personal training and interpretations of Kung Fu.
MEDITATION
The Martial Arts taught at Imperial Combat Arts use various mediations in their development. Why is mediation a part of training? Just like any top athlete in the world there is more to advancing your skill than just the physical, and many turn to meditation among other things, to help strengthen the mind. Combat Meditations are used to develop a mindset for battle, to give students the ability to push themselves through hours of physical training, to sharpen their senses and reflexes, and attune them with the movements of their bodies.
CULT-LIKE CONTROL
People today are understandably wary of groups that may look to exert a cult-like control over aspects of their lives. Members at Imperial Combat Arts have less requirements than most schools or even a gym like 24 Hour Fitness. Our students pay monthly dues, with no contracts to study, and no other duties or requirements.
Today when people refer to a martial arts school as a cult they're usually talking about things like, no strike chi attacks, magic shields, skin they claim can't be cut, laying hands, instructors who push other archaic beliefs or religions, may portray themselves as more than human, or may state they communicate directly with gods.
None of these types of things are taught at Imperial Combat Arts in any way, shape, or form whatsoever!
None of these types of things are taught at Imperial Combat Arts in any way, shape, or form whatsoever!
UNQUESTIONABLE LEADER: Having one leader beyond question is another aspect of cult-like control. Imperial Combat Arts has several Instructors and Masters who students can choose to train under at different locations, and students can move around as they choose. There is of course, like in all schools, a ranking system with at the top teachers who exchange their time for money, and the actual owners of the schools. This is no different than the structure of any other business or school of any kind.
The local Ballet schools are often more stern and restrictive than our schools, with very stringent attendance policies, and a much greater expense to study there. The same can be said for members of sports leagues.
Many of the Instructors and students at Imperial Combat Arts have backgrounds and hold ranks in all types of martial arts styles. We welcome questions and challenges and hold respect for all types of martial arts. We recognize that there are dedicated and powerful martial artists in many styles. Students are taught to keep perspective of their actual ability and the truth of what violent encounters are like.
LEAVING THE SCHOOL: How are students who leave the school treated? Like all schools very few people reach the highest ranks at Imperial Combat Arts, or choose to make teaching martial arts their primary career choice. There have been several hundreds of students over the last quarter century who have trained to certain levels and have left the school. People leave for all kinds of reasons; such as work schedules, moving state, joining the military, they've reached their martial goals, it's hard, or they've learned the style they wanted.
There is no right or wrong answer to how long someone should train martial arts, it is largely a personal choice. No former students, even the few who were kicked out, have ever been disrespected by the school or it's members in class or online. There are numerous former members who still follow the school, attend our functions, or one day hope to return to study when life permits.
There is no right or wrong answer to how long someone should train martial arts, it is largely a personal choice. No former students, even the few who were kicked out, have ever been disrespected by the school or it's members in class or online. There are numerous former members who still follow the school, attend our functions, or one day hope to return to study when life permits.
Leaving a school can sometimes be a big deal for the student, occasionally to some it's a really big deal. To the Instructors it's old hat, nothing they haven't seen 100 times already, with students or even Instructors. In all sincerity we wish them well, often enjoyed our time with them, and let them know they're free to return at any time with all rank and privilege. There never has been an expectation for people to reach any particular level and definitely not that they should be expected to train here forever.
Despite the fact we don't meet the criteria to be labeled a cult, there will always be those who use this term in a vague and broad sense. There are those who see all Asiatic customs, yin yangs, dragons, or the like as counter their religion by default, and there are those who don't like the fact we are inclusive and have members of many races, faiths, and cultures training together. The school has no concern with this, and these views are becoming more and more something found on the fringes of todays society in the United States.
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All classes at Imperial Combat Arts happen in one large room, students are never alone with Instructors or other students, and all classes are fully video and audio recorded for security and evidentiary purposes. Most importantly there are literally several hundreds of students that've trained at Imperial Combat Arts who speak to the character of our Instructors and to what classes are like here.
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