Mysticism in the Martial Arts with Forrest Asbury

Throughout the world there are different survival, warfare, and martial practices that manipulate the concept of “life energy.” In India, there is the practice of Kalaripayattu. In New Zealand, there are the practices of Mau Rākau and Mamua. In China, there are the practices of Qi gong, Ba gua, and Baji Chuan. In Japan, there are the practices of Kendo and Karate.
From the Koreas, there is the practice of Gicheon. Lastly, Angola has the practice of N’golo. Corresponding folklore from around the world indicate shared benefits. Even though they are separated by oceans and hundreds of years. There are three schools of martial arts that share the similar benefits such as include enhanced speed, strength, reduced health recovery time, increased vitality and life span. Many cultures believe that in order to improve life energy cultivation, three basic conditions must be met: a restricted or dedicated diet, regular physical training, and daily meditation or spiritual rituals.
The Belief in Life energy has not only been used in combat but has been cultivated to heal and enrich the body. Many ancient health practices such as tai chi, yoga, chi gong, acupuncture, and ayurvedic medicine all draw on the same spiritual life energy as the martial arts discussed thus far. Practices include the use of tools and natural remedies such as urut malayu massage, panchakarma cleansing, moxibustion, sage, acupuncture, and animal horn, bamboo, clay, glass cups, and coins have been used to manipulate energy flow and maintain balance within the body. Once the energy flow is balanced, the practitioner is able to increase blood flow, relieve tension, promote circulation and reduce inflammation.
Coming to the modern age, we see the advent of new medical treatments such as visualization therapy which can can be used to treat both physical and psychological trauma, cancer, as well as aid in rehabilitation. This practice while a relatively recent discovery is eerily similar to techniques found in yoga.
Forrest Asbury, ACLA member #1259, was born and raised in Los Angeles and has had a life long obsession with martial arts that started when he was 5 and his father showed him Enter the dragon since then he has studied several different schools of combat as he has doggedly pursued all avenues of research into various systems seeking to understand not just the way people fight but the people and cultures that created them.

This program was organized by Phoebe Piper #1244.