Ancient Wisdom for Modern Healers
In the ancient period some of the best doctors, and especially, the best massage therapists, were also masters of martial arts. Why did this occur? What do martial arts mastery and therapeutic massage have in common? What does the massage therapist gain from martial arts? What does the martial artist gain from learning massage therapy? Let’s dive in!
Martial artists have three qualities that make them well suited to becoming great massage therapists. First, martial artists have developed a well-coordinated body method that allows them to develop and use physical force with precision. Second, martial artists become strong and healthy, with a balanced body and healthy joints and abundant Qi giving them insight into what being healthy, athletic, and fit feels like. Third, the martial artist is familiar with touching other people’s bodies using sensitivity in addition to strength. All three of these qualities give a therapeutic massage practitioner an edge and increase their skill and the effectiveness of their treatments.
When we say a martial artist has developed a good body method, we are referring to how skillfully they use the different parts of their body synergistically. Someone who does not have a skillful body method will use the strength of their hands, forearms, and outer shoulder muscles to perform most of the massage techniques. This is perfectly acceptable and the common method of performing a massage.
When giving a massage sometimes people derive great benefit from a soothing or gentle touch. Other times a much firmer touch, sometimes involving substantial pressure, or force, is required therapeutically. The necessity to develop and apply force with precision is one of the things that martial arts and massage therapy have in common. To develop this force the martial artist will use their entire body. The strength or pressure required will be developed deep in the shoulders, through turning the waist, and by shifting the weight. Because the actual force required is being developed by the shoulders, waist and weight shift it is possible to keep one’s hands, forearms, and surface shoulder muscles relaxed. Because the hands have plenty of force from the rest of the body they can stay relaxed and be much more sensitive and precise.
This method of developing force is much less fatiguing for the practitioner. Interestingly, it also feels better for the massage recipient. The reason it feels better is because not only can the techniques be applied more precisely because the practitioner is more relaxed and sensitive, but the actual techniques also become somewhat different. The reason they are different is because the vector or trajectory of the force developed can be different and more complex. When force is developed in the surface muscles of the shoulder, forearms and hands the force that can be applied tends to a simpler vertical pressing. When using the whole body skillfully to generate the force the vectors of movement can be more complex involving horizontal and angles and combinations of different vectors and movements together. This allows the practitioner to more effectively penetrate tensely layered, stagnant muscle groups or serious scar tissue and relieve these conditions. Because the practitioner is both more relaxed and stronger, more sensitive, and can use a greater variety of angles and more complex movements, excellent results can be created.
In our next article, part 2 of 3, we’ll explore how the ancient martial art of Xingyi Quan influenced Traditional Chinese Therapeutic Massage, and how specific martial arts techniques translate directly to massage therapy practices. Stay tuned!