Learn KUNG FU OnlineI teach The Way Of Fighting Without Fighting. We have Bruce Lee to thank for popularising this style, or at least this name for it. This is actually the greatest martial art of them all. It’s a form of Wu Wei (doing without doing) – an ancient Daoist concept. No physical kung fu needed. But knowing you can get physical if you need to – this may give you the confidence required to clear your mind and find a better way. To avoid the fight before it starts, and to de-escalate anything that may have started. Creativity welcomed – feel free to think outside the box, just as Bruce did in Enter The Dragon.
The Art of De-escalation
The art of de-escalation is a vital part of the way of fighting without fighting. How to avoid conflict before it happens, and how to de-escalate to minimise violence. It’s easily overlooked, but it’s actually more important than any physical kung fu skill.
There are two languages in the violent streets:
- Acting High & Mighty. Thinking “I’m harder than you, so don’t mess with me”. This mentality dictates the hierarchy in the dog-eat-dog world of poverty-stricken inner-city streets. It’s also a prevalent mentality in the animal kingdom. Every player is trying to climb to the best spot they can defend. But it’s a hard act to maintain, because there’s always someone harder out there, and you’ll constantly be challenged to prove yourself.
- Acting Low & Humble. Thinking “I’m no threat, I’m on your side, how can I help you”. This also requires great discipline, as you’ll still be teased and bullied a bit. You’ll need to completely discard your ego, and consider every bit of eye contact and body language as a potential request for your attention, but don’t assume you’re being spoken to if you’re unsure – usually they just want their presence respectfully acknowledged – but don’t stick your nose in beyond your welcome, because anything you do too much could be misinterpreted as cheeky.
Of course you may live in a less violent neighbourhood – in this case, well done, you’ve already solved the problem. This in itself is successful execution of The Way Of Fighting Without Fighting. But it’s still always useful to know how to handle conflict in case it comes your way. Even quiet villages sometimes have troublemakers visiting from out of town. When trouble eventually comes along, you’re always going to need to make that decision – to act hard or harmless. When you’re really confident, you’ll be comfortable acting harmless, in the interest of de-escalation, knowing you can switch it on at any moment, and knowing you’ve got the element of surprise up your sleeve, which is key to a great attack.