In the recently released movie “The Last Airbender,” the hero Aang has a unique combination of supernatural abilities that make him the only one capable of ending war and destruction. He also happens to be a talented martial artist. Based on the success of the original cartoon, and following in the footsteps of “The Karate Kid,” “The Last Airbender” is fueling the imagination of many and keeping the public’s growing interest in martial arts. The fact that the star, Noah Ringer, is a black belt has piqued even more interest.
However, the strong presence of martial arts in “The Last Airbender” raises some questions: is there a link between mystical powers and martial arts? And can training allow you to develop these powers?
There are those who answer “yes” to both questions. It is a controversial topic and discussing it can generate more heat than light. In my experience, I think the answer to both questions is “no”.
It is no secret that the human body works with a natural energy process. For the Westerner, this energy takes the form of bioelectricity controlled by the nervous system. Orientals refer to internal energy as qi (Chinese) or ki (Japanese / Korean) and use a more holistic approach to their concept of energy flow. Regardless of your perspective, there is ample evidence that careful training can teach you to control your internal energy to some degree. Students have been training for years to be able to control their breathing, transmit more energy with their punches and kicks, etc.
However, it is impossible to use martial arts to project our internal energy outside of ourselves. The action shown in The Last Airbender implies the opposite, but we must remember that it is just a movie with a good story. Aside from Hollywood, some practitioners claim to be able to project their energy onto another human with just a light touch, or even without touching them. The claims may sound interesting, but there is ample evidence to discredit them.
In a legitimate martial arts school, you will not learn to control elements with mystical powers. However, through traditional training, you will learn to control yourself, not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. You will learn to control your environment and stay safe by projecting confidence and using awareness. And you will learn the skills necessary to control and defeat your adversary should you ever need to defend yourself.
When you decide to train in martial arts, look for a school that will help you achieve these goals. You may not be able to control the items like Aang, but it is not necessary. Disciplined martial arts training will give you all the tools you need to be successful.
When you decide to train in martial arts, look for a school that will help you achieve these goals. You may not be able to control the items like Aang, but it is not necessary. Disciplined training will give you all the tools you need to be successful.
© 2010 Spotsylvania Martial Arts
