In the latest issue of The Journal of Asian Martial Arts [1], an academic and literary publication, psychologist and Guang Ping [2] practitioner Richard Vogel, Ph.D. talks about intimate relationships from a new perspective in his article, “The ‘Ki’ to a Lasting Marriage––the Application of Internal Martial Arts Principles in the Marital Dojo [3].” Notions such as yielding, relaxing, and adhering can transfer easily to resolving personal conflict, explains Vogel. He also suggests that the highly attuned listening skills honed with a martial arts [3] practice partner––especially in exercises like Tai Chi’s Push Hands [4] ––are “conducive to more harmonious relationships.” And he notes that the “heightened awareness” and “enhancement of energy,” other side-effects of a practice, can also significantly reduce eruptions of emotional drama. Though Vogel doesn’t note the inherent irony, it’s fascinating how he’s applying techniques normally used for beating down your adversary to harmonizing with your mate. (Cue Pat Benatar [5]?)

To illustrate how ethereal spiritual theories land in real life, Vogel quotes Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh [6] in his recent book, Anger [7]: “Enlightenment is not separate from washing dishes or growing lettuce. To learn how to live each moment of our daily life in deep mindfulness and concentration is the practice.”