The Way of the Internal Gate: Living Principles

By Ade Finch

The message of The Way of the Internal Gate Martial Art is to find one’s expression and follow their heart. This book’s purpose is to expose the philosophy and training of Ade Finch who will lead you to your own expression in martial arts, regardless of your chosen study. This first volume is dedicated to the ‘Living Principles’ of The Way of the Internal Gate, rather than specific training methods which will be the subject of the next volume in this series. Inside, you will take a journey of self-discovery and learn the principles to help you answer “What does martial arts mean to me?” For the individual who does not want to ponder so deeply, there are interesting and fresh ideas on how to train to catapult and aide your martial art prowess. The Way of the Internal Gate’s concern is with the cultivation and faith of the human spirit through martial arts training. This book explores avenues you can take, in order to succeed in your martial art journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Dec 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781728380421

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© 2018 Ade Finch. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/05/2018

ISBN: 978-1-7283-8086-5 (sc)

          978-1-7283-8042-1 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed

since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not

necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to the one true love of my life Alicia.

Finding my wife confirmed to me, that what seemed the impossible could be achieved with commitment, patience and keeping the faith. Her continued support and loving heart are the reason this book is now in your hand.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Living Principles

Short Biography of The Way of the Internal Gate

Chapter 1 -   Root of a Martial Artist

The Journey Is Individual

Experience in Sharing

Looking as a Whole

Through Self-Defence to Self-Discovery

Ultimate Meaning

Spirit of Endurance

Spirit of Learning

Cultivate a Flexible Mind

Honesty in Oneself

Only Better or Worse

Express Freely, Express Sincerely

Core Stability: Part 1 - Physical Exploration

Chapter 2 -   Martial Arts Prowess

Beginning the Path

Physical Maintenance

Master of One

The IG Tools

On Your Guard

Footwork

The Way It Is Done: Cultivation

Refining Your Skills

Harmonising with the Opponent(s)

Reality of Fighting – Conflict

Simple and Effective

The Subject of Anatomy

The Game of Distance

Accuracy Implies Intention

Become the Weapon, Become Alive

There Is No Limit

What About Qi, Energy?

What Is Possible?

Weapons

Chapter 3 -   Beyond the Physical - Mental Prowess

The Main Ingredient: The Mind

Intent: The Deciding Factor

Balance

Mental Climate

Core Stability: Part 2 – Mind Exploration

Quality of the Mind

Awareness

Do It with Feeling!

Opening the Emotional Gates

The Mind Creates, the Body Expresses

Psychologies Part

Quality of Life

Experience

About the Author

Acknowledgements

I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the following people who were imperative in the creation of this publication; my wife Alicia, for her encouragement and input. The practitioners of The Way of the Internal Gate; Gavin, Janette, Phil, Jennifer and Darren who made working on this publication so much fun, as we always have when we train. To my friend behind the lens Doug, who provided the photography to express The Way of the Internal Gate in pictures. This revision would not be nearly as polished if it were not for my friend Ian, editors and publisher who provided a great service and advice.

Living Principles

The intention behind this book is to provide you with an overview and universal perspective on the key core ‘living principles’ that will act as a catalyst to enhance your martial art prowess. This is the practice of The Way of the Internal Gate martial art, or IG for short. My hope is that exposure to this art will introduce you to its unique approach and expression. This will focus and concentrate on the enrichment of your self-understanding to cultivate the heart of the martial artist, where not only do you benefit but humanity as a whole.

By its own nature, IG is a quick and succinct approach to self-preservation. Therefore, you may find that there are short paragraphs in some of the content. However, I urge you to return and reread the material often. As your own awareness and martial art prowess improves, you will gain further insight and benefit from these passages.

I am optimistic and hopeful that a wide range of experienced individuals will be willing to read this material, from the beginner or novice to the expert or master. With this wide audience in mind, I have started with a foundation of IG’s perspective, which moves on to the principles of one’s journey along the way and application to training with a feeling of continuous growth.

So, here are my personal thoughts and feelings on my philosophy of the totality of martial arts: The Way of the Internal Gate. I hope you enjoy this material and gain great benefit, as I believe this book to be paramount to anyone beginning their martial art voyage and for those already on their way. This material could provide the necessary ingredients to fill in the blanks to your own questions in martial arts and complement your personal voyage of evolution. Either way, this book has been written for you not only to show some of my own personal realisation, but to help you discover some of your own.

Regardless of your martial arts background or current training, IG is not just for the individual who wants another method or path to train. It is based on the principles of the human being and not bound by any other restrictions. As such, it can help you improve and upgrade your martial art prowess and self-understanding whether or not training has already been undertaken.

So, to make my intentions clear, this book and future volumes are for the individual who chooses martial arts for its practical life-saving applications and life improvement, with an idea eventually to harness and encourage an altruistic step up in humanity. The Way of the Internal Gate Martial Arts’ sole aim and mission is ultimately to elevate, enhance and upgrade the human being to a higher level of expression and self-awareness, and achieving this through the ascension of martial arts prowess.

Ade Finch

Founder of The Way of the Internal Gate

Short Biography of The Way of the Internal Gate

The Way of the Internal Gate originated from a vast amount of research into the possibilities of the human being at all levels in an attempt to get to the root of what martial arts truly meant to me.

Although I began my martial arts training in the traditional methods of Japanese Jujutsu, Karate and Bujutsu weaponry, Korean Taekwondo, Chinese boxing, Muay Thai from Thailand and many of the arts that involved striking, locking and grappling natures, I would spend time considering a great variety of methods comparing with other martial artists and discovering all that I could to further my knowledge.

I enjoyed cross-training with anyone who practised any martial art and those that I had studied to understand if there were any differences, which more often than not there were. I was on a quest to find all that was possible with my own means; I was drawn in with intensity into the world of martial arts and what it involved, how it was used and its place in the world.

Questions arose throughout my training: What was this fascination inside of me? Why did it mean so much? And many more to help me explore my mental approach. These questions became quintessential to my personal growth, not only as a martial artist but as a human being.

I always sensed a feeling whilst training that I could not express in words. From the beginning of my martial arts journey, there was a gradual welling up inside of me that led to such a diverse curriculum of training and an obsession with martial arts. I questioned all I did and why, such as why am I learning a particular method of martial arts right now? I didn’t realise this straight away, but eventually after years of self-reflection I came to understand that I was after the reason and root of what martial arts meant to me. Why did I learn to defend myself in more than one art? Why was I learning to hurt another human in different ways? How did these questions impact me on a psychological level?

My questions became deeper or harder to find the answers as I