Self training vs training together

Students who have trained with teacher Mike know that he gives us lots and lots of info alongside the exercises. Often he points us the importance of basics, other times he introduces us to movements and power very few ever heard of. What I have learned so far increases my ability to observe and to think about my own training methodology. To think about one's own methodology of training is important if one wants to improve his/her Kung Fu. Ask yourself this question: What would you like to achive for yourself in a year, two years, three years,...?

"Kung-fu is demanding. It requires the full attention and participation of mind and body. ... Another less obvious element seems to be lacking in many people's practise, however. Many practitioners don't have a clear idea of what they are trying to achieve." (Adam Hsu in The Way of Kung-Fu)

What has achievements and methodology to do with self-training and training together? Simple: because the more you know about what you really want, the clearer it become to know what you need to train in order to get there.

Achievement = finding the right methodology + training

1) Now let's say that you know you want to improve, and you train a lot by yourself:

Self-training is the first logical way to practise, when you want to improve yourself. But self-training can be very bad if one doesn't have a clear idea what he is doing. What you improve is bad habits. The first 2 years of my training, I did a lot of home exercises, however, I didn't improve, nor did I understand where I am going to. I always have the bad habit of overstretching my elbows, but no fellow students could help me because I was training by myself. In short terms, I was fooling myself with the general cliche of: "if I just train, I will get better".

Mike's note is that self training is very important, "one should always train". But he also made the remarks on the danger of students trusting only their own interpretation, and not seeing their own mistakes (Mike's corrections forgotten, mistrusting fellow students, not watched Mike's correction properly). When the student is in such narrowminded state (believing only in yourself), then self training can easily become training of "bad habits".

2) What is the benefits of training together?

Self training is easy, you just have to stand up and do it. But self training in a correct way is hard, because unlike laoshi, we don't have the understanding of what is correct and what is not. Truth is: we all know a little, and yet not the same. That is what makes Kung Fu students so unique and that is also why training Kung Fu is a combination of self discipline and being social towards eachother.

For example: I know that in our school, one can be good in Long Fist stances, then someone else is talented in linking the postures so it looks fluent as a movement or form. If those 2 students would believe in self training only, they would be good. But they will never improve beyond their own limitation, because they never meet up for training together. That is the difference between self training and training together. I believe that only by understanding that both self training and training together is equally important, that there is room for improvement.

Self-training = repetition of movements and exercises, extremely important, but with the danger of creating bad habits.

Training together = the opportunity to correct your movements by training with students of different levels.

So far, I can say that we all work very hard on self training, and the prospect of taking it further by taking advantage of training together often will make the Kung Fu only better.

Belgium training time remains

Dear Kung Fu brothers and sisters, the training time and place in Belgium for the month July remains unchanged. This is a good opportunity to practise the stuff you have learned from teacher Mike so far, either by yourself as a free training or together with other Kung Fu siblings, if you like.

The training time and place as for the month July:

Thuesday: 19.30 - 22.00 (free training, repetition of ji beng gong, drills and forms)

Thursday: 19.30 - 22.00 (tai chi, qi gong, fan) classes led by Ollie

Friday: 19.30 - 22.00 (free training, repetition of ji beng gong, drills and forms)

Place of training is Kattendijkdok, Antwerpen. (the usual mini harbour)

Note: I cannot attend Sunday training due to work. But I will check with other fellow students to see if someone has the time and interest. Sunday and Saturday evening is also an option.

As for the duration of the training, it is possible to keep training after 22.00.

Have a good journey teacher Mike!!

Today Mike Laoshi left Belgium to organize and teach at the annual Beijing Martial Arts Camp. We (his students) wish teacher Mike a save and pleasant journey, and a succesful Kung Fu camp. As part of the Chinese community in Belgium I would also like to emphasize the great job teacher Mike does every day: to cultivate and to promote true Chinese Martial Arts, not letting this beautiful art form pollute or die out. Thank you laoshi.

If any Kung Fu brother/sister out there who is joining the camp and would like to write or put some photos from the camp on this blog, you are more then welcome! Just let us know.

The straight sword as known in the movie "Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon". Wu Tan's San Cai Jian

Recently, I got my straight sword back from Ollie, my Kung Fu brother. Taking it out and holding it in my bedroom, I remember the time my grandmother bought me a plastic toy sword and got an uncle to bring it back for me in Belgium. I was a little child then but already crazy about Kung Fu movies. The Chinese straight sword, timelessly associated with Tai Chi and movies such as Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon, is a gentleman's weapon. The people wearing this type of sword in classic Chinese soaps are all either generals, taoists or intellectuals.

Unlike the broadsword, which is a tool for the battlefield, the straight sword needs a different approach to yield. I have never met anyone who has mastered the straight sword. That is of course, before I met teacher Mike. Watching teacher Mike's performance with the straight sword is like watching the light waves at a calm sea, and feel the light breeze moving the waves gently but with a consistent drive. Yet in its unmeasurable depth, you know the storm is never far away. For the untrained eye, the straight sword is like an extension of just waving the arms, legs and body... for health purpose. The chi that flows, the firm legworks, the cunning sword play and body movements are difficult to see. There is really no use to explain to the novice, how the chi could transfer to the tip of the sword. These concepts are too abstract. As teacher Mike would say, if you don't understand these things yet, or can't do it... then practise mechanics first and do it well.

After much looking, I have found a video with a clear example of how the jian is used mechanically. I believe this video from Sifu Tsou can help us, the students to understand what they are actually yielding when practising the form.

Amsterdam competition

Some of Wu Tan's students went to an annual traditional Chinese Martial Arts in Amsterdam. The competition is solely based on hand forms and weapon forms. I have to say it is not easy to perform in front of a big group of audiences, as nerves are the biggest obstacles for such performances. Our group did extremely well for they are mostly considered inexperienced competitors. Their forms are well executed and almost without mistakes. I couldn't do it better that is for sure. But as a Hong kong Chinese doing Taiwanese KungFu, I have noticed very interesting differences in the approach of KungFu during the competition.

Before I continue, I want to clearify that it is not my intention to offend any other KungFu styles nor people, especially practicioners, students and teachers. As much we are all KungFu brothers and sisters around the world promoting the good art of Kungfu. To dismiss differences would be the same as trying to respect male and female identity without acknowledging their differences. It is not only the styles that I am trying to compare, but also the training mentality and methodology due to the location where the art have develloped. My remarks are that of an idiot, an absolute beginner who doesn't know better. However, is therefor an exiting time for people like me, the beginners. As not knowing better means I have to look harder to discover and there is so much to be discovered.

OK... here are my observations:

The first thing I have noticed was this: How come there are differences between Wushu, Southern styles (Hong Kong) and Taiwanese KungFu? What I keep seeing as the identification of these styles are:

1) Wushu: acrobatic, fast, beautiful, lots of jumps and light bendy weapons (changed by the communist regime).

2) Southern styles KungFu: Hard, fast but brutal, not beautiful, unnatural and street effective (Hong Kong's way of life).

3) Taiwanese KungFu: Original Kung Fu that is not changed by the communist regime and focused on softness, agility, finesse, body alignment and soft chi power.

So far these basic observation. Most of the KungFu practitioners will have noticed the same. When taking these information to the form competition like the one in Amsterdam, I believe it is a very difficult thing to judge good Kung Fu based on all those differences.

Wushu: I love watching modern Wushu, it is pure spectacle. The athletic grace of the performers, the beauty of the moves, the speed and entertainment value. But take away the grace, the acrobacy, the accuracy, what is left over of modern wushu? Then my uncle's words comes to my mind: "Fa Kuen Sauw Theu" (flower fist thin legs), which means looks beautiful, but useless. My uncle didn't use these words to comment on wushu, actually, I bet he is a wushu fan too. But I cannot see any person using modern wushu to fight against my uncle. All I can say is, if that person wins, it surely won't be by wushu.

No, my uncle uses these words to express the bad quality of a practisioner who merely does forms to be pretty, without spending enough time to train jibeng gong (basics). Forms are only dictionaries, one has to learn the alphabet, the reading and writing before embarking on poetry. Most of us are learning forms as in reading aloud from the dictionary, without knowing the weight and usage of every word (moves) and without the skills and conditioning needed to use these words and make it into poetry (to make the form yours* *quote from teacher Mike).

However, modern Wushu is also a populist art in my eyes. It is the spectacle, we expect to see incredible jumps, high kicks, butterfly kicks, in short.... it is an entertaining art. This too, influences the audiences when observing a competition, the performer does a spin in the air and comes back with a split on the ground whilst the arms are posed as a classic warrior does many good for the audiences.... and the points. My question is: Fantastic to watch... but is it true KungFu?).

Southern KungFu:

As some of my family are Choi Lee Fut stylists, and having experience with audiences from Hong Kong, I believe if the judges are Southern stylists, the favour would go to "focus, intention and muscle power". The reason for places like Hong Kong to devellop such a hard style mentality is an understandable thing. Hong Kong has never been a place of calm. It has always been a place of flux, changes, survival and uncertainty. The Hong Kong triads are well known for its brutality. Capitalism is everything (though less after the handover) and within that environtment, children are pushed to be "seng ti!", cantonese expression for "get smarter!". Street smart of course, because if you don't, you won't survive. Hong Kong is all about trends and the faster you can follow, the better. It is a stressful environtment. Learning KungFu is not a matter of looking good or even moving natural, it is about be able to defend yourself (if the intention is right) or basically be the strongest.

Within that mentality, KungFu is effective in the eye of a Hong Kong Chinese only when it is useful, but it has to be quick to learn as well. As Hong Kong Chinese practise "time is money", Southern styles are suitable for their needs. Of course Hong Kong Chinese are aware of the true mastery of soft styles like Tai Chi Chuan, just like the movie KungFu Hustle, where Tai Chi was seen as one of the supreme styles. The truth is, a lot of the soft chi power in KungFu has been lost in Hong Kong. And the Southern styles are at best using a soft-hard chi combination to cultivate their chi. Even so, it is only comparible with Fajing from Chen Tai Chi, which is known for its exploding power. But the invisible, subtle, soft but extreme powerful chi is hard to find in a place where speed, trend and money is everything in life.

Taiwanese KungFu:

Although I have never been to Taiwan, I have some Taiwanese friends, what struck me is that they are much calmer than the Chinese friends from Hong Kong. There is more time spent on the quality of life, the appreciation of small things...

The Taiwanese culture as seems are also not changed by the communist regime. And it is within these two elements, that the KungFu has an important place to be cultivated. Not only do the Taiwanese have the original source of KungFu, but the mentality and the environtment are suitable to keep the quality training right. As one of the most important training method is relaxation of the shoulders and in order to train that, one has to embrace softness. It is however difficult for me and some of my KungFu brothers/sisters to understand the combination of being relaxed, yet being present. By training a long period of time in relaxation, a student risks to forget that a fighting form is in fact... a fighting form. Thus, the hardest thing for a student is to understand that there is a different between training methodology and the attitude when doing a competition or performance.

In training, one has to train getting rid of bad habits and cultivate good ones. In competion or demonstrations, one has to CONVINCE. It is here where the confusion starts. Learning KungFu is not only a physical matter, but also a mental training. A big mistake we often do is to copy a move or a philosophy of a teacher and take our own (limited) interpretation as the only truth. I see it when fellow-students are trying to teach eachother, unlike the teacher, who observes and reads the intention of the student in many ways, the student who tries to correct only sees it in one way without reading the situation properly. So the same "understanding the different approaches" mentality should be applied when doing form competition: Should we perform the way we practise? Of course it has to be relaxed and not dead, but would it convinced the audiences and the judges to fear you? When I watch teacher Mike performing forms from the external styles, I feel not just impressed but actually feel: it is fearsome. Same with my uncle, I rarely see him doing a move, but when he does, you know your distance.

So what happened if the judges are Southern stylists who only read power through intention and fire in a form, but the student performer takes his habit of training with relaxation in the form to the competion? Yes, it is without mistakes, yes it is graceful, but is it fearsome or convincing as a warrior?

Again, it is not my intention to offend anyone or styles. Rather, I believe part of the training is to understand different approaches as well as understanding weaknesses and strength. My observation might seem for you to be all over the place, but as I have clearly stated: It all happened on that one day of videoing the competion. I have so many questions, both about the styles, about the students, about the teachers and judges.

Summary of questions I have on watching the competition:

Towards judging:

1) How do you judge different styles?

2) What about stamina and body allignment (especially the knees and feet) Are these taken into account?

3) Can teachers of the competitors be judges (without disrespect)?

Towards KungFu brothers and sisters:

1) Should one perform a form at all if the body isn't ready for it and lacked the important basics such as allignment, strecthing, structure, finesse, power, stamina?

2) Is training the same as competition and performance? Understanding this is understanding how to avoid thinking in a rigid way.

3) What are the positive elements of other styles and are there any similarities? e.g. Choi Lee Fut uses Northen Long Fist as their armwork for real fighting, whereas in China, Long Fist is seen as a preperation for body structure and power generation. However, for me, watching Choi Lee Fut stylists perform helps me to understand my Longfist. One thing opens up the other.... 

If I am too yang in my forms, what can I do? Look at how Wushu people approach their movement and add that little which is necessary to your movement....



Taiji 13-Postures Form

Hen Hao! Very interesting: the 13 Basic Principles in Taiji, in each direction. Very good.

This is Baji Quan

Most of the Wu Tan students from Belgium know the teaching of Sifu Mike is very traditional based, with lots of Jiben gong (basics/structure/dynamic stretching/balance/etc...). Long Fist and Tan Tui being the very basic training for building up the body and mind from scratch. The advance students are practising Mantis, teacher Mike's speciality. As Sifu's mastery in other Kungfu styles is so perfect (accurate in powergeneration, body allignment, battle effective, philosophy), it is almost uncanny. One of the styles he also master is called Baji, As an absolute beginner, I have very little idea of Baji as a Kungfu style. All I know is I once had to try hitting teacher mike with a tsuki shodan (karate fist to the head). Of course I missed, but when in the collision I was realising the miss, I was already hit three times by teacher Mike. It was also scary because any one of those hit when used with chi would have send me flying and cause serious damage. That move was from Baji Quan.

So I went browsing and found a great video (to my beginner's eye) of different Baji forms. The power generation through the body, the firm stances whilst the body in motion.... remember the training from standing up (inhale) to mabu (exhale), where we were not allowed to jump but using the whole body to shift up and down instead? Well, I think these Baji Masters are doing it all the time: the changing of stances are swift, yet the feet remains sucked on the ground.

Further, hehe... do you also see small resemblance of Hsing I, Tongbei and Long Fist?

UPDATE: Thanks for the comment, Mike Laoshi. As you have said many times; training is not only a physical aspect, it involves the mind too. One can copy the moves, but this will result in shallow and weak postures. Instead one should DO the moves. Therefor one must embrace to correct teaching and get rid of bad habits in their movements and postures. In order to embrace is to see, think, accept and let go (of your own weakness), this is mental training. The next step is getting rid of bad habits by training, go over the mistakes xxx times until it is right.

Thank you for teaching us with your heart.