For starters, I will say that in martial arts, and in everything, there are Laws, Rules and Purity. However, when we look at each one individually, we find that they don't always equal each other.
For the sake of this exploration, I will define what I perceive each of these to be and how they play in martial arts study.
By Laws, I am referring to those things that pertain to Natural Laws. What I mean is that gravity is a Natural Law. Time is a Natural Law (actual time, not the perception of it or the timing of things). Relativity is a Natural Law. You get the idea. These Laws simply are what they are. We can try to work against them, but eventually they win. The more we operate within those Laws, the more effective we are. At the same time, by having an innate understanding of them, we also can freely operate around them, and have that sense of predictability in what will happen next.
For example, if my uke throws a punch, projecting themselves forward onto a lead foot, I know that without the support of that lead leg or foot, the Law of Gravity will win. I can then choose to take away that support (attack the leg), change the direction of the strike away from the support of the leg (attack the arm), interrupt the attack so that the leg continues but the body stays behind (enter or jam the space), and so on. I 'know' that if the uke's movement isn't supported, then their balance will be sucked down by gravity. I also know that if their movement is inadequate, unbalanced, etc, then the line of gravity will pull them that direction. I can predict it and operate effectively within the effects of that Law.
Another example is when I move out of the way or receive my uke's strike. I know both our bodies will move relatively the same. Their strike will likely be faster, by nature, because my body takes time to recognize the incoming danger and react. As I move back, my rear leg is going to load up with my body weight and momentum. I have to either put force against my momentum to stop the movement or keep stepping with the other leg to catch and redirect the momentum to avoid tipping past my support base (leg) and falling victim to the Law of Gravity. At the same time, I have to redirect my momentum in time with moving my support (legs) to keep balance. If I can guide this momentum back around without having to load up my leg (resist the momentum and then push back), I find that suddenly my time shortens between receive and counter. For the uke, they are loading their lead leg as they project their strike, but they are easily able to keep tipping past the support of it and step forward again with the other side for a second strike. This gives them the advantage of doing more within a frame of time. This is where people get jammed up.
The Law of Time is consistent. A second is a second. A minute is a minute. Within that Law, we can operate in such a way that we are able to do more within that second or minute. However, if we spend our time trying to unload and push against the momentum we generated to get out of the way of the uke's strike, then when we start to move again, then next strike is already upon us. We have to learn how to guide our momentum so that we don't do this, to cut out the wasted time in fighting our own action. You can't change time, but you can change your timing.
Ok, you get where I'm going with that. So, now let's look at Rules. What I mean by Rules is simply the dictates of a technique or martial art. Sports have rules. They are there for a reason (safety and fairness). In techniques, Rules are there in how a technique is performed. It's practiced a certain way for a certain reason. Sometimes it is to work with a particular Law. Sometimes it's to fit a certain context (armored combat, for instance). Sometimes it is fitting with the philosophy of the ryuha or teacher (such as Aikido). Whatever the reason, Rules are there for people to follow, period. If they aren't, it doesn't mean the technique isn't efficient or follows the Natural Laws. It just didn't adhere to what the specific technique or kata dictates, or isn't fitting with the context presented, or possibly goes against the philosophy of the ryuha or teacher. An example can be from our own Gyokko Ryu. In this tradition, there are Rules that actually are written in the old densho documents. One of them refers to taking away the opponent's power, but sparing their life. This has to do with a philosophy or spiritual/religious belief. So, you would be going against it if you did a technique where you cut the head off your opponent. Or maybe you do a technique that involves killing an innocent person. That would probably go against most people's "rules", I'm sure! But, the technique itself could be efficient and effective and follow all the Natural Laws. Unless, of course, you find it violates Moral Law (killing of innocents, etc). But, that's another topic.
Lastly, I want to take a moment to discuss Purity. By Purity, I am simply referring to stripping away that which is unnecessary, which interferes, that which makes movement inefficient. For some, Purity is the pursuit of mastering the Rules of a technique, so that it confines to what the ryuha or master teaches (Purity of Form). This is what most martial arts are like. However, there is a different Purity. We have heard it described as being Zero, breaking the form, etc. However, in the pursuit of Purity, we can't confuse our breaking Rules with trying to break Laws. In fact, my opinion simply is that the pursuit of Purity is to clear the vision so that we see less of the Rules and more of the Laws. We understand movement on that level, because it follows naturalness. We don't resist, but yield to the Natural Laws and operate accordingly. By doing so, we discover a new world of possibilities that are not confined by Rules. We don't just do things because 'that's the way it's taught'. We understand why because it follows certain Laws (gravity, time, etc). We start to see how we can operate within those Laws and know when we've violated them (loss of balance, too much time lapse, lack of patience, etc). We can also manipulate circumstances so our uke also fights or violates these Laws (break their balance, cause them to take too much time, cause them to have to hurry, create panic and distraction, etc). When we are in accordance with Natural Law, and either allow or cause our uke to have to fall out of compliance with Natural Law, we gain immediate advantage. We can relax. We can adapt. We are free. We become Pure, in my opinion.
There's more to this that I can write, but I think this is something best left for introspection and self-discovery.
Happy training!
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