One thing Ackster realized when trying to recreate the rippling punch was that he wasn't sure how it had happened. It just had. He hadn't been actively trying to do anything different. He was just striking out with his fist like he had done a million times before.
However, after thinking some more and trying to remember the sensation, Ackster realized that that was exactly it. He didn't need to do anything special since he was just using his martial art. He hadn't been trying to do something special because there was nothing special to do. He just had to follow the moves and let his body dictate the flow of his mana.
That couldn't happen if he were obsessed with his thoughts and trying to do something that counteracted what he was trying to do.
So, after completing an entire round of nolding, Ackster prepared himself to risk his life. Merely clearing his head wouldn't do.
