Drawing Angry: A Martial Arts Parable
A Parable About How Big Emotions Can Affect Our Sparring
During the time of the Murim—the old martial arts world, there lived a martial artist named Chun Dongmu. She was known for her skills but haunted by persistent ruminations. Dongmu possessed an artful hand, capable of crafting meticulous lines and graceful strokes. However, when her emotions swelled, the lines on her canvas ceased to be straight, instead morphing into chaotic swirls reflecting her inner turmoil.
One day, her wise master, Han Tiger, observed this struggle and decided to impart a valuable lesson. "Dongmu," they began, "the path to mastery is not only in physical precision but also in mastering the canvas of your emotions."
They handed her a brush and urged her to draw a straight line. As her emotions surged, the line twisted and turned. Dongmu's attempts to draw a calm line were thwarted by the turbulence within her heart. The master then asked Dongmu to sketch a face. An angry image emerged, etched with deep, heavy lines, bearing the weight of her emotions and reflecting the emotions on her face.
A serene smile graced the master's lips. "The face is where we often project our emotions," they said. "When your heart is stirred, your hand mirrors that chaos. But the essence of true mastery lies in mastery of the self."
Dongmu looked puzzled.
The master tapped their heart, "Regulating our hearts," then tapped their temple, "and managing our thoughts."
To illustrate their point, they led Dongmu into a sparring session with a fellow disciple. "Observe," they counseled, "how your strikes echo your emotional state. Big emotions compel big strikes. By attacking the face, you project your inner turmoil onto your opponent."
As Dongmu sparred, she realized the truth in their words. Straight punches, the most effective and efficient attacks, eluded her when her emotions ran high. Her strikes were unsteady and inconsistent, lacking the precision of a quiet mind.
The master continued, "In the ebb and flow of combat, the best target is where your opponent is open. When emotions cloud your vision, you only see your antagonist's face. This disregards your opponent and robs them of their personhood. You are projecting onto them something they do not own—your interior life. You also no longer concern yourself with their safety. You are no longer other-centered but self-centered. But this also makes you predictable and easy to perceive. Your intentions are as clear as spring water. Thus, fighters who stir emotions in their opponents gain an advantage."
Dongmu began to grasp the message—that gamesmanship aimed to agitate opponents, making them susceptible to predictable moves born of heightened emotions.
The lesson reached its climax when the master guided her gaze to the horizon. "See far and absorb the expanse." They pointed to a nearby tree. "See close and absorb every detail. Now, close your eyes and inhale deeply. Absorb your breath. Exhale and absorb the emptiness left behind. With nothing left, take your next breath and start brand new with no remnants of the past."
By clearing her eyes, breath, and heart, Dongmu found her footing. "De-escalation starts within," Dongmu remembered. This was her master's first lesson. By taking command of our automatic functions, we can begin to command our automatic reactions.
"A calm mind allows you to be dynamic," the master said. "Only in tranquility can you draw the straight line, execute precise strikes, and find the openings your opponent unwittingly reveals."
From that day forward, Dongmu embraced the art of de-escalation. She learned that the canvas of her emotions need not dictate the lines she drew in combat. Composure became her ally, granting her access to the most effective attacks and unclouded judgment.
Under the guidance of her master, Chun Dongmu, eventually known as the Heavenly Demon, discovered that the true martial artist masters not only physical techniques but also the art of emotional regulation. They go hand in hand. There is no other way. Only then will the canvas remain clear for precise strokes and unhindered actions. Only when the canvas is empty can anything be drawn at all.
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