ecently awarded the Taiwanese GuoShu (Wushu) medal of achievement for his work in Chinese martial arts, Mike Martello has been studying and teaching martial arts for over twenty five years. Mike grew up in New York, where street fighting was a regular occurrence. "In New York City, kids had to be tough and know how to defend themselves; otherwise you'd just get clobbered."

Following years of training in gymnastics and sports, he began to learn martial arts for practical reasons. "First, it was to learn how to fight, but it really saved me when I was a teenager. It taught me both discipline and respect." Twenty years later, Mike Martello appreciates not only the practical aspects of martial arts, but also the beauty of the art form and culture.

Mike began his early training with classical boxing from his father, then at the age of 11 was introduced to kung fu by Teacher Teddy Wong (New York City). He later became a disciple under the tutelage of Master Su Yu-Chang, specializing in all styles of Tanglang (Praying Mantis), Baji Chuan, Bagua Zhang, Pigua Zhang, Hsing-I Chuan , Tai Chi Chuan and Weapons. Mike also co-teaches with the Wu Tan Organization in Taipei Taiwan. In 2001 he was appointed by Mrs. Liu Yun-Chiao and the Taiwanese Wu Tan Organiztion as a Wu Tan Director.

Today still, Mike continues to travel and study Chinese Martial Arts in Taiwan with Grandmaster Wang Chieh, specializing in Yue Jia San Shou (Yue Family Style), Ba Bu Tanglang (Praying Mantis), Bai He Chuan (White Crane), Joint Locking (Chin-Na), Tai Chi, Push Hands (Tuei Shou) and Shuai Jiao (Chinese Wrestling). Mike has taught and still performs martial arts in Europe, Canada, South America, Taiwan and across the U.S. He is a nationally and internationally ranked competitor in Chinese martial arts (gold, silver, bronze medalists, 86-88, 90-92 and 94-2000 U.S. Nationals and International Competitions).

People write and speak a lot about internal processes, but few understand the depth. Can you explain what inner cultivation means and what the right way is to develop it?
Internal cultivation is a very profound and difficult subject to explain, but I can give it a try. Like martial arts, the art of singing trains the practitioner to develop his or her body as an instrument.

During singing lessons, the teacher would often tell students to relax, breathe naturally and let their bodies sink into their natural structure. It differs not much from the teachings of internal styles of kungfu. In order to produce the right sounds, to have correct breathing ( from the abdominal, Dantian in Chinese), the body of a singer must function as a cello or violin (bottle gourd shape). It must have the right form, structure and curves in order to let the energy flow freely.

But in martial arts training, we go a few steps further after having acquired the free flow of energy. Basically in external training, one tries to reach stillness through motion, while in internal training one aims to reach motion through stillness. While doing very dynamic actions like, doing a form or preset movements, using maximum speed and power, the practitioner aims to reach a stage in which his or her mind, breathing, blood flow and coordination become one and reach a second level stage of being at ease. Although the movements are powerful and difficult, inwardly everything is calm; it has become a second nature. In Qigong and meditation, although outwardly everything seems calm, internal dynamics should be in constant motion. The intention guides the Qi and the Dantian must erupt like a volcano. According to Taoist inner alchemy, the human body consists of mainly Fire energy which is centered around the Heart area, and Water energy in the Kidneys. If the internal body is not connected, then the Fire energy will make the body burn out, while the Water will make the body go weak. The whole idea is to reverse this process, to have Water quell Fire when necessary, and to have Fire burn below Water to create steam (Qi). Once the connection within can be made, great health and longevity can be achieved. This is the idea of internal cultivation for the understanding through western mindset...

Can you tell us something about your personal development at the moment? What goes on in body and mind?

"To nourish one's skills through real combat, to complete one's teachings through a masters' guidance..."
Wang Chieh

Personal development is a process that should never end, everyone should strive everyday to better understand one small thing about themselves or something in there lives like, a problem or an idea or a movement of Taiji. So that by a little understanding on a daily dose in the end one can and will make changes, these changes extend to the mind, body and spirit connections. Everyone lives in there bodies for their whole life but do they really know themselves? Everyday everyone looks through their eyes outwardly, but how many look inwardly to better understand their bodies and essence. Through practicing one can find themselves and better understand their body and mind. To sum it up this is what and how I live and breathe.

Mike, I know you met a lot of teachers abroad. Is there something remarkable? Is there a connection? For example the mistakes people make al over the world or processes that can be generated faster by a different kind of practice.

"One must enjoy the practice of Chinese martial arts and be humble, as we are not Masters but students forever practicing."
Wang Cheih

I have met many teachers during my career and have studied many different styles. I now realize that a style is merely a vessel to allow a person to learn principles and to provide certain tools for his/her training. It's like climbing a mountain. You might take this road, I might take another. Once we both arrive at the top, everything is clear. You can see where I was coming from and vice versa. A style is just that, a possible route. Each style is equally rich, once you reach a very high level, you will just know.

Basically, the remarkable thing about martial arts training is that two persons who lived in different parts of the world and have never met each other, can produce exactly the same martial arts power and knowledge, provided that they have gone through correct type of training and research. Stylistically there might be differences, but the principles can be, no SHOULD BE exactly the same. That's what I'm interested in now, the common ground which all Chinese martial arts share.

Can you tell us something about your teacher in Taiwan? Who is he and what makes him special?
My teacher, Master Wang Chieh, is really something else. He is 80's years old and still healthy and strong. There are few people who have this level of health at his age, and fewer still who can maintain martial power. He is a living proof of kungfu, an example of how to train correctly. Most people, no matter how good they are, once they reach old age, it's gone. In his case, although his body grows older, his energy just becomes more and more refined. It's incredible to see how an eighty-year-old grandpa can subdue big strong young guys just by a seemingly gentle touch. Master Wang has reached a great level of mastery, but he does not consider himself a master, "just forever a student of martial arts who likes to practice".

If you had a magical scepter, what would you change in the taiji world?
I always tell my students that the power of Chinese martial arts lies in its ability to gain health and longevity. Fighting skills are just a by-product. Any martial art can teach you how to fight, that's what martial arts are for. But Chinese kungfu, when taught and trained correctly, can bestow onto the practitioner the gift of great health, both mentally and physically, and also provide good means to defend themselves.

Having said that, in the Taiji circles nowadays many practitioners are looking for the health aspects, which is great... BUT to gain health through Taiji, one has to train it as a martial art. If one is to train Taiji as a mere health exercise or dance, then I can assure you that the health benefits will remain minimal. Taiji as a martial art makes one aware of the subtle energies within the body and can transform the practitioner from weak into strong, from disconnected into harmonious. Taiji as a dance for health and fitness is not Taiji. On the other extreme, Taiji push hands in which people try outwrestle each other is not Taiji.

If I had a magic scepter, I would like to change this mentality in the Taiji world. Taiji is a great martial art, and can create many opportunities for health and growth. But it has to be taught and trained correctly, and to do so, the mentality of the people must change first.

e-mail: info@wutang.be
website: www.wutang.be