The Academy Of Martial Arts Philosophy - WAY OF ALL WAYS
Tao-I Li Liang (pronounced dow-ee lee lee ong) is literally translated in the Chinese classical old romanization as “the supreme way” or “way of all ways.”
Many martial arts include “the way” in their particular style for example: Karate Do (the way of empty hand), Tae Kwon Do (the way of hand and foot), Kendo (the way of the sword), Aikido (the way of harmony) etc . . . So “Do” pronounced “dough” as in cooking flour dough means “the way” or the path in Japanese and Korean and the Chinese equivalent to “Do” is “Tao.”
The Tao is the way. It is an idea that the ultimate reality of life is following the path of the natural laws of the universe versus the forced or artificial. It is believed that if one understands these laws and regulates one’s actions in conformity with them, one can then turn everything to one’s advantage.
In martial arts one must then understand all ways therefore not limiting oneself. For instance, if one were to practice Right Hook Punch Do (the hypothetical style of a right hook punch) one would maximize his or her technique to a finite point and then be limited. How do you think this would fair against a violent Glock Do practitioner (the hypothetical style of using a Glock gun)? Within close quarters the first practitioner may have a very good chance of a favorable outcome against the second but at a medium range or longer the first practitioner would probably have 100% unfavorable results without knowing or having some persuasive psychology, distracting tactics, nonrhythmic mind interrupt techniques, smoke screens, chemical agents, Jujitsu, Chin-Na, Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Judo and oh . . . of course . . . some Glock Do.
This is why it is necessary to understand “the way of all ways.”