Shadow boxing

What is shadow boxing?

Shadow boxing is one of two things. In general, it is a solo boxing routine that boxers use to warm up and and prepare. In doing so, you are preparing to spar with an opponent and envisage how it might be. In the philosophical sense, it is about knowing your opponent. But if you've never met you opponent, how would you know? Shadow boxing is a good to have in your training routine. It loosens and work your muscles, but also helps burn calories. In our style of Tai Chi, we have running thunder hands, which is system of repeating punches, not unlike chain punches in Wing Chun. But there's more to just punching, you have to incorporate other techniques and methods too. Running thunder hands is a good conditioning exercise, which also trains repetition and stamina. Some people do it with hand weights, it's recommended but it is not essential for everybody to do it in this manner.

The other meaning of shadow boxing is Tai Chi. Before Tai Chi was popular, people thought practitioners they were fighting their own shadow. However, what they saw is a form routine and traditionally, form work is the core of most styles of Chinese martial arts. The term is rarely used these days, but occasionally still comes up.

A deeper meaning of shadow boxing

Like most things Chinese, there are always more than one meaning. The obvious and the not so obvious. So there it is no different here. So what do I mean? Well as people say, you are your own worst enemy. We often blame others for our problems and we focus negatively that it is the other side is at fault. Had we governed ourselves better and be mindful of the situation, we problem won't be in the mess we're in. In reality, if both sides exercised this speck of wisdom, they wouldn't be fighting and we'd all co-exist peacefully. In training, we're often told to punch at face height, why? Because we are focusing on yourself. Who is your enemy? Yourself and who else? In reality, the opponent may be taller and bigger than yourself, but all that is secondary. However, in training we are concerned with cultivating yourself. Managing your anger, desires and letting go. Here's an ancient Chinese saying that is relevant here.

知己知彼, 百战不殆

zhī jǐ zhī bǐ, bǎi zhàn bù dài

Meaning to know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated, which is from Sun Tsu's "The Art of War". Sun Tsu (孫子, 544 to 496 BC) was a philosopher from China's Spring-Autumn period (approximately 771 to 476 BC), who's writing is profound and still read by generals and leaders up to the modern day.

There's little point in fighting or engaging in any form of conflict, if you are not prepared. But, once you are prepared, is it worth it? Regarding the outcome, was it really worth it? The wǔ (武) in wǔshù, which means the martial in martial art is made up of two characters. They being zhǐ (止) meaning stop and gē (戈) meaning lance. The combined meaning is to stop armed conflict. If people actually trained and cultivated wisdom, then there would be less conflicts in this world. A lot of people don't consider this aspect of martial arts to be training, but it is and your training doesn't lie.