Interview (Us) : The Ultimate Vision of the Martial Arts

 

Master Michel MORLON will explain us it why of its handing-over in question of the Martial Arts. Its research to lead to the creation of the KHIDO, true teaching of Knowledge and Understanding to reach the true Self-control through Oneself and not through its Master, that whatever the sport …

First of all, we are magic to see you in charge of a new School affiliated to the French Federation of KARATE and Associated Disciplines (FFKDA).

Master Michael MORLON (M.M.) : I began Martial Arts in Vietnam where I practiced Karate, Kung -fu, Taekwondo, the Judo and other Martial Arts. In 1971, I was the first competitor in France to be tried and succeed in putting K.O an adversary, on turned over kick. In the same way, I was the first to succeed in marking, on jumped kick, in competition of Karate. With my students, we would participate in all the events, whether or in Coubertin or the Pouchet Door in Paris. I also took part in numerous events such as the meeting of Full Contact FRANCE – USA in 1976 with, with the Team, Dominique VALERA. I liked the competition but, to me, it was especially a technical test. The medal did not really interest me.

After having formed a certain number of Graded Karate and of Taekwondo in France (Jean-Rene CHAPON, Thierry JOURNO, Remi MOLLET, Jean-Laurent TADDEI and others…), I came back to ask me a large number of questions about my practice, which did not satisfy me fully any more. At the bottom of me, I felt that there surely another thing and that had to be reconsidered completely all my way of doing was to be. I was not able to open out me fully. I tried to find Serenity by examining the various Religions in particular (Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Judaism…) but these practices did not bring it to me.

In 1985, I have created the KHIDO “Way of harmonious energy” in order to find me and to precisely trace a new way. To arrive until there, I decided to give up most technical forms and to seek a true feeling. During very many years, a handful of pupils continued to work in this direction. I thought that the moment had just made share this experiment and to structure more these things on a Federal plan.

What was your line of work?

M.M.: I asked myself a multitude of issues in many areas and I said myself, the Gods, the Masters, the Concepts must be put aside! I’ll look into the « Master » who I am. And I started to try to seek me, feel me, and look at the « Master » which is in me, which is potentially in each one of us.

When we say « Hello », we shake hands, this practice is Anglo-Saxon. If we had another foreign influence, maybe we would welcome otherwise. This is a shape! The position Kutsu Dachi Zen is a form that has value only if it has been felt. In the Society, there forms to comply. But there’s form and content. Regarding the background, you feel your Zen Kutsu,

                                                                                    » I must Be THE Zen Kutsu, LIVE IT « .

During an internship that I animated, a student asked me: “Master, what my position is correct?” I replied: «When you go to bed and you look your best position to fall asleep, do you wonder if your position is good?  Find your position, it’s yours! And no one in the world can say otherwise. From the moment you feel it″.

It is necessary to do ONE with the position, our position. To « BE ». That is the most important thing for me in the Martial Arts is to do ONE with the Technique, to do ONE with the Movement.

But isn’t the fact of wanting to feel the position likely to result in modifying this form to suit itself?

M.M.: That does not prevent that the Forms should be respected: In France, one roll on the right, it is a form. In certain countries, they drive on the left. I respect the form and I do not say only France or that England has wrong to choose this or that side of the roadway. The Bottom, it is to roll. The Form, it is to roll on the right or on the left. Once you controlled, mastered yourselves, you can put yourselves in such or such position.

Learning is one thing, having knowledge is another? But the best of knowledge for me is the understanding. You have a friend you know but you do not understand, in this case your friendship can not flourish.

But concretely, what is the way to know if you feel or not a position?

M.M.: You adopt a position. From there, try to move, do something.

Are you comfortable? Why?

Because it is your feeling, this is not for me to tell you if you feel or if you do not feel. The important thing is that you are comfortable that you are aware of you, your joints, and your body. Each time that you forgive in this position, it will be each time slightly different and non-stereotyped, because it is the Bottom and the Bottom has no form. Just like when you make a signature. We need the Force go into the « common sense ». Imagine even if you crawl on the highway south to Nice town, do not worry, you’ll get there one day or another. By cons, if you take Highway North, you’ll never see Nice. If you continue to repeat your whole life without feeling the movements of the Interior, at one time or another, you get tired. Because you were in a rocket very fast but you’ve never seen Nice, even Lyon.

How have I grown? First, by breaking the forms. I tried everything before the SENSATION. This should be taught as the Martial Arts pass through the body. And the Corps is unique is what is ours. We must therefore begin to feel it. There are the Martial Arts Philosophy and the Martial Arts. The philosophy back into the background and techniques fit into the forms.

According to you, for what is a position used?

M.M.: For what is used normally a position? To be stronger. One does not have comes to feel to obstruct by his posture. When somebody gets into position a Zen Kutsu, is that he feels stronger? Normally yes, because it is intended for that, if I put myself in such or such position, I would feel normally more stronger. As they say in the Army, “I took a position” is to be reinforced and not weaken.

What difference do you make between contraction and tension?

M.M.: When I practice the Martial Arts, I am constantly in tension, but of all contracted. It’s like as I tighten the hand with somebody, my arm is tense, but I am not contracted. In the same order of idea, my legs are tended and I can stand. If they are not turned on, I’m going to fall.

Most of the Masters of Martial Arts does not make all the difference between the tension and the contraction.

Take a fire hose fire-fighter. Say it is, for example, a pressure of 10 bars into the pipe. One closes the end of the hose is on the ground. Take one end; put his foot on it, you can bend the pipe without problem! Now, open the nozzle, there is less pressure in the pipe since water is ejected outside. The pressure falls. Yet no one in the world can bend the lance! Why? Because the Life fate of the lance. And it is in life that you pass the Force.

It’s all the difference between a Technique (the Shape) and the Movement, the Life (the Bottom).

Tell us more please about the blockings and strikes in your school.

M.M.:  The blocking is not there as parades. To fully and effectively implement what you learn, you must, again, feel it. Why all the obstacles they are so powerfully? In fact, there is no…

There are some Blow.

Formerly, people were hardened: their arms, their forearm, their tibiae, they was some weapons! The idea was to break the attack.

Today, there are glass arm. For this reason, when you train with blocks, you do so « quietly » so as not to hurt you, so you work become negative!

Similarly, we speak about the punch. Ask yourself honestly if you feel your fist, your arm or your shoulder! All too often, a blow of arm is given! Moreover, if you contract your arm, the shock returns towards you. It is as if you were to send a ball of gun, a missile, it must always move TOWARDS a target and not to you. However, if you contract, the impact return towards you.

When you give a « traditional » punch and it tries to twist it to you upwards or downwards, you feel a weakness. By cons, if you give the punch by having the wrist with a certain angle of inclination, you are « bizarre » stronger, contrary to all established theories on the matter. The traditional position of the wrist based on a mathematical vision; the idea that something which is perpendicular makes the material stronger. But we are not materials, we have a body joints.

When I give a punch with my « twisted» wrist, people think I’m a beginner. Similarly, for my positions are not very « academic ». Once we have self-control, we can adopt any position.

Which general advice could you give to our readers?

M.M.: In summary, LIVE! Live all your positions, all your techniques. Moreover, for all, it is necessary to live: when you work, if you have the head elsewhere, you work badly. When you eat, if you do not live your meal, for example if you are caught cold, you do not feel any more what you eat, then you do not appreciate your meal completely. The Life needs Feelings, of Understanding. On the other hand, if you are slave of a concept, you cannot be Master of yourself, whatever the concept, whether it is a physical or mental concept.

To finish, speak us about your Affiliation to the FFKDA.

M.M.: While entering with the FFKDA (French Federation of Karate), we wish to initiate a development project. The first phase will consist of a series of training courses and/or of conferences on all France. I would like to present our way of working a little everywhere. If people or Clubs interested by this opportunity to know the KHIDO do not hesitate to contact us please here or through our website:  http://www.khido.com

Thank you.