The Three Levels of Martial Arts Training: Jing, Qi, and Shen

The Three Levels of Martial Arts Training: Jing, Qi, and Shen

In traditional martial arts, true mastery lies not in learning more techniques but in refining one’s understanding of three interconnected levels of training: Jing (Body)Qi (Energy), and Shen (Mind). These stages represent the progression from external movement to internal awareness, and finally, to strategic mind training. Understanding this layered approach is essential for anyone seeking real, applicable skill in martial arts.


Level One: Jing – Physical Training and External Movement

The first stage of martial training is purely physical. This includes the external movements: kicks, punches, throws, grapples, and joint locks that define each martial arts system. This stage—called Jing—lays the foundation of correct body mechanics. Without this base, nothing meaningful can be built.

Take, for example, a basic front kick. At first, training is mimetic—monkey see, monkey do. You lift the leg, maintain balance, drive the foot forward, retract it, and then choose to step down. Initially awkward, this becomes fluid with repetition. Over time, correct positioning, stance transitions, and balance are refined.

This first level is about learning to move with accuracy. Without this grounding in correct physical form, deeper training is ineffective.


Level Two: Qi – Internal Relationships and Energy Development

Once the physical structure is in place, we move to Qi—the energetic and internal phase. This level develops relationships within the body: between breath and movement, between joints and muscles, between structure and intention. Here, the body becomes a unified system, producing greater power and efficiency.

Qi is not some mystical force, but rather a term for functional relationships of energy—chemical, physical, and psychological. For example, to generate power in a pushing-style front kick, the rear leg must root into the ground while the kicking leg extends. This opposition creates internal balance. You’ll feel this especially when kicking a heavy bag—your structure must absorb and respond to impact to avoid being knocked backward.

With deeper training, the hips engage, spiraling power through the dantian and into the strike. Breath connects with movement—exhaling upon impact adds force through muscular contraction. Each refinement is another layer of internal relationship building.

Importantly, this phase never ends. There's always a more precise alignment, a more efficient internal cascade to discover.


Level Three: Shen – Mind Training and Strategic Awareness

The final stage of traditional martial training is the cultivation of Shen—mind, intention, and perception. A strong mind becomes a tool to manipulate not just your own body but the external relationships with your opponent and environment.

Here, strategy and tactics are introduced. Understanding an opponent’s intent, posture, and psychology becomes key. Shen involves willpower, intellect, emotional discipline, and the capacity to shift perception—both yours and your opponent’s.

For example, consider the psychological strategy of appearing weak or compliant—dropping the chest, turning slightly, opening the palms. These postures can cause the opponent to underestimate you. When used purposefully, they create an opening for decisive action. This is psychological warfare—not fair play, but often necessary in real violence.

“Only thing you want is to make it back home to your wife and kids. Nothing will prevent that.” – Ma Shifu

Training Shen begins with authentic instruction and mental discipline, such as meditation. Focus on a mantra, a breath, or a visualization. Strengthen concentration. A strong mind can be directed like a weapon.


From Movement to Mastery: A Complete Martial Arts Training Method

Let’s return to our front kick example. On the Jing level, we build structure and repetition. On the Qi level, we explore internal mechanics: grounding, spiraling, timing with breath. At the Shen level, we examine application: strategy, timing, terrain, and perception.

For instance, the strategic use of a front kick might be to maintain distance against a shorter opponent. Tactically, this involves reading their movement and intercepting with a push kick. If your strategy is to end the fight in one strike, then the kick becomes a bladed strike to a vital point—like the groin, throat, or solar plexus.


Application in Combat: Terrain, Deception, and Environment

The deeper mind training of Shen also includes awareness of the combat environment. Master Sun Tzu advised:

“Keep the sun over your left shoulder.”

Simple, but powerful. Blinding your opponent, manipulating light, or using obstacles and terrain all become part of your combat strategy.

Another example from my own training: my teacher Ma Shifu once taught a 100-day season focused on injury. We would warm up, and then he’d assign us a single wrist or ankle weight. The goal: simulate injury and learn to adapt.

We trained with these weights, sparred with them, switched them mid-fight. Over time, we learned:

  1. How to adapt with a "dead" limb
  2. How to use the limb as a hidden weapon
  3. How to fake an injury convincingly

This training emphasized adaptability, deception, and psychological control. By feigning fatigue, crying out, or limping—even when unharmed—we could trigger emotional responses in opponents and gain the upper hand.


Conclusion: The Martial Path of Jing, Qi, and Shen

Real martial skill develops through a progressive layering of training. First, the physical movements (Jing) must be correct. Then the internal energy and mechanical relationships (Qi) must be refined. Finally, the mind (Shen) becomes the dominant tool—observing, influencing, and changing the combat dynamic.

Every technique, from a basic kick to complex strategies of deception, is built on these foundations. Whether you're a beginner learning to balance or an advanced practitioner studying mind manipulation, the path remains the same: deepen your understanding of relationship, awareness, and intention.

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The Drunken Boxing Project: Semester 1  course

The Drunken Boxing Project: Semester 1

The foundations of the Drunken Fist style (_Zuiquan_). This ten week semester covers the eight secret power generation exercises of the style (_Fu Zhu Gong Fa_) in depth. The first Drunken fist form is also covered including applications over the course of ten classes. - Drunken Hand Form One - The Eight Secret Exercises - Wash the Barrel - Roll the Barrel - Snake Body - Shake the Body - Spitting Wine - Three Cannons - Lotus Stepping - Lotus Palms

Beginner
The Drunken Boxing Project: Semester 2  course

The Drunken Boxing Project: Semester 2

These ten weeks are devoted to two training methods. A second secret section of the Drunken form taught only to disciples of Ma Qinglong. The form is a study of the eight secret exercises with combative applications and Qigong. In an effort to preserve the entire style this is being shared publicly for the first time. Secondly the internal Iron Palm system Daoist Heavy Hands is taught with detail. The system is not a typical body hardening type of iron palm but a method for releasing the bodies own weight through the hands. No toughening of the hands is done. The system includes three methods: 12 posture qigong, Light-as-air exercises, and the Five Elements Iron Palm (bean) bag striking. This qigong helps to build the intangible heavy force of Drunken boxing

Intermediate
The Drunken Boxing Project: Semester 3 STAFF course

The Drunken Boxing Project: Semester 3 STAFF

The Drunken systems first weapon is the staff. This ten week session covers three different sets: - The Dragon Pole (Long Pole Fighting) Form - Dragon on the Lotus (Dragon Pole on Lotus Steps) - The rare Drunken Guan Dao. Guan Dao is an ancient Chinese calvary weapon. A six foot staff with a two foot blade on one end and a spear head on the other. Traditionally a heavy weapon and difficult to train with the form creates body connectivity as well as teaching the use of the weapon. The form is done with a simple six foot staff (or broomstick!) teaching the 'Heaven and Earth' double ended staff system. The staffs 'Secret exercises' are also covered outside the forms. Dragon pole: Nine Directions/18 Strikes, Row the Boat, 'Sun' Character circles, The moon has Three Rings, Black Dragon wags Tail... Double Ended Staff: Single and Double Hua (Flowers), Sweep the Floor, Dragon whips Tail, 'The Box'...

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