We have two arms, two legs and we are limited by what two arms and two legs can do.
There are other kinds of limitations that are self-imposed – holding back in a fight, for example – and that, like most self-imposed limitations, can be self-defeating.
The point is, unlike having only two arms and two legs, self-imposed limits are of our own doing and if we “Do” them then we can “Un-do” them.
So let’s not underestimate our self-imposed limits.
That is what a self-imposed obstacle is: immovable – unless you are willing to meditate continuously on it for nine years! And that’s not going to be too easy, especially if you have to earn a living at the same time! There has to be a better way, and there is… Let’s take a simple punch, the very simplest punch you can think of.
If you are not a child, but an adult, you will definitely be doing it wrong because by the time you reach even young adulthood you will have all sorts of self-imposed limitations, both mental and physical, in operation.
These will interfere with your punch, even if your teacher is telling you you are doing it right! Now there are a number of things you should know about self-imposed limitations.
Which poses a real problem: how do we get rid of these limitations if we don’t even know what they are? OK. Here is the method, and… please note that it is a very simple method, but no less effective for that.
Do not underestimate it: it is powerful! OK, so let’s work with that punch you are working on.
Step number three, and this is the crucial step… set aside some time, a long period of time, when you are unlikely to be disturbed by outside sources and then do that punch over and over and over, thousands and thousands of times, non-stop.
All your self-imposed limitations and blocks are in place but you don’t see them as such and in fact you are not even aware of them, but they are interfering with the efficient delivery of your punch.
Now understand this: it takes effort to maintain these blocks and limitations.
They are self-imposed, it is true, but that means they are self-maintained – which means effort! In other words, your blocks and limitations stifle your technique in two ways: one, it will mean you are using some part of your body incorrectly, which interferes with the delivery of the punch and two, it takes effort to maintain the blocks and limitations and that means less energy is left over to put into your punch.
Now, back to the “Secret” technique… if you practice your punch mercilessly, hour after hour, thousands and thousands of times, non-stop, something will happen.
Which means you will have less and less energy to expend on this exercise – until you get to the point where you have only enough energy to do the punch.
“You will have only enough energy for the punch and no more!” At this point you have no extra energy to keep “Doing” your blocks and resistances and limitations and, temporarily, until you regain your energy later, your blocks and limitations and resistances, not to mention your fears and doubts, will drop away.
You will now be doing the punch as perfectly as is possible for your body, because there is nothing left over for all that other stuff that interferes with your punch.
You MUST take special note of how this new-found punch FEELS. If you don’t, then tomorrow you will be back to your old habits, and you will have gained nothing.
So take note of how the new punch feels, how your body feels, how you breathe, your state of mind and yes, tomorrow you will be back to your old habits, but you will REMEMBER. You will now understand your self-imposed limitations and you will whittle away at them mercilessly and ceaselessly – until you can reproduce that perfect punch every time! Addendum: let me draw a parallel.
Likewise when practising your punch: you will find that you do a lot more than you need to, and this is not only a waste of energy, but it is often counterproductive.
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