The Connection Between Wing Tsun Kung Fu and Negotiation

With my Wing Tsun Kung Fu School being a martial arts based school we promote the development of skills that help students be their best both inside and outside the ring. The thing that most people don’t understand about Wing Tsun Kung Fu, is that it is not a one size fits all solution to martial arts, nor is it a one size fits all approach to self-defense. It is fundamentally built on principles that can be applied to scenarios ranging from negotiations to martial arts combat.

So how about this example, the comprehensive knock out rule contracts. What does it have to do with Wing Tsun Kung Fu (WTK)?

The knock out rule is part of the process of understanding how parties may negotiate and ultimately arrive at a contract. Now, I am not a contract attorney nor do I have any background other than my observation of the phrase. A knockout rule indicates that the result of any negotiation must reach some point, at which time the offer becomes void. So why should Wing Tsun students or anyone for that matter care about this?

Because the development of WTK leads to the ability to see and understand the tactic of knock out. Although you won’t render an opponent unconscious in a negotiation setting, you may be able to take them out by recognizing and applying the understanding of that scenario to your advantage.

It is true. The quick phase, “adapt”, for many martial artists, particularly those under stress and in the face of an opponent is key to survival. Just as martial artists must adapt to their opponent’s techniques and strategies to find their own individual responses, they must also adapt to opponents in negotiations.

Could you relate this to the concept of being taken out in defense of a negotiation? Absolutely.

Wing Chun Kung Fu is ultimately about response. Response to threats, plans and even the possibility of potential outcomes. The more an opponent believes that the two parties are working together for a common good; the more likely the possibility that you may lose a negotiation is.

However, if you can direct an opponent, if you can corner their response to a certain possible outcome to your advantage, then you may ultimately be able to translate a conflict, commentary and concern over issue into a favorable controlled zone for you.

How is WTK like contracts? They are both about strategies and learning how to achieve a goal. In martial arts, the goal is usually to defeat the opponent or escape a situation, however when it comes to contracts and negotiation, the goal is to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement. Learn how to do this and the future is yours.

When it comes to contact negotiations, just as in martial arts, always try to find the floor. The floor is the linebacker that won’t get you past the goal. Instead, think, look and summarize this in your defense. An understanding of your opponents moves will help you see the opening that you need.

The question you have to ask yourself is what would happen if you are “knocked out” in the middle of negotiation? Will you be blamed as a result, pay a fine or lose something? Probably not, however in martial arts, you probably will.

In both instances the critical component is knowledge. Know your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses; know how to strategize smartly and you will see the outcome you need.

At Giza Wing Tsun Kung Fu, we believe in the saying: it’s not about the instant victory; it’s about the long term war.

That’s right. Being smart in a negotiation or in a fight means you have to plan your strategy accordingly. Think of martial arts techniques and the target areas that martial artists will generally focus on. The ribs are open in a fight, what appears to be the corner or edge in a fight and that kind of strategy is important in a negotiation. Why?

In a negotiation, the more you learn, the better you will be. From verbalizations to social cues and body language, martial arts and negotiations have some interesting similarities. Perhaps that’s why there are so many lawyers who are martial artists or students of Giza Wing Tsun Kung Fu.

Then there are the issues that continue.

Could you learn how to create a knock out defense against your opponent? Absolutely. Think of it as the complement to your initial response. Every time that you place a punch or a kick in martial arts you are creating a new dialog with the opponent, in negotiations, the same is true.

There is much that a negotiation can learn from a martial artist. The education in martial arts can be applied in so many other areas of your life. Not just within the confines of the ring but also the legal arena. The options are limitless. In Wing Tsun Kung Fu, we believe in helping you find them.

In a negotiation or even a fight, smart martial artists know that every scenario has its own timeline. Some negotiations may move quickly, some slowly but whatever the case you want to make sure that the timing is right for you.

It’s Likely the Same with Contracts.

So what’s the point of this?

We feel that the not only can martial arts be applied in self-defense situations, they can also be applied in so many other arenas. The legal field is just one example. Now, we are not saying go out and find a fight with a client however we are saying that as a martial artist there are some things that you should absolutely keep in mind. Then again, there are some things that an officer of the court, a judge and a jury will never understand about why a martial artist should be able to do that.

In the end, the concept of the knock out rule contracts should intrigue you a little. Maybe you should dig a little deeper and see what you can discover. Or you can simply enroll into a martial arts training course like Wing Tsun Kung Fu. They are your options.