The expression "走火入魔 Zou Huo Ru Mo" or in literal translation "Walk the fire, enter the devil" is often used to describe those martial artists that have left the "real" world and entered into a world of being possessed by fantasy and the power of myth and legend.Recently, I was reading an article about Wang Peisheng where he described his single minded approach to training that lasted for a five year period, "I probably was a little crazy back then", he remembered, "everyday, every waking moment, my mind was on martial arts. When I walked down the street, I imagined myself as the Xia Ke 俠客 (Knight-errant) of old, walking alone on a big mountain. If anyone came towards me, I would imagine from his posture the various ways he could attack me at any given time, and what I would do in response."
"To really reach high level", he would later say, "you probably need to go through something like this, to have this level of intensity."
We have to acknowledge that self-belief is the key to success in any human venture, elements of doubt in a practitioner's mind will reflect in their performance. Confidence built on solid training under a good instructor will enable a practitioner's ability to shine through and allow him or her to work at their best.
But, with the Chinese martial arts we are drawn into a strange world full of mythology and fantasy and that is a large part of the attraction for most; it is a form of escapism.
The practice of martial arts provides us with some time out from reality and allows us to exercise our imaginations as well as our bodies.
And so goes the old adage (probably quite relevant when it comes to the practice of martial arts)
"You don’t have to be crazy...but it helps!"
"Wang Peisheng comments sourced from this Site"
