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Questions-Answers Series

SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
OCTOBER 2011 PART 2

Question 1

Answer

Wing Choon Kungfu is actually a branch of Shaolin Kungfu. Its full name is Shaolin Wing Choon Kungfu. Taijiquan was also a branch of Shaolin Kungfu! It was first called Wudang Shaolin Kungfu, to differentiate it from the Henan Shaolin Kungfu at the northern Shaolin Temple. It was much later that it came to be called Taijiquan.

But in this answer I shall use the terms "Shaolin", "Wing Choon" and "Taijiquan" as the public generally understand them today.

Their difference may be described under the following four headings: form, force, application and philosophy.

The form of Wing Choon Kungfu is distinctly different from that of Taijiquan. Wing Choon form is straight and direct, whereas Taijiquan form is circular and flowing. Shaolin form is somewhere in between.

The Wing Choon tan sau, or mirror hand, comes from the shoulder, whereas the Taijiquan peng, or ward off, comes from the waist. The Shaolin leaning hand, as in Single Tiger Emerges from Cave, also comes from the shoulder but it is more circular than the Wing Choon tan sau.

A Wing Choon strike, like the phew chee or thrusting fingers, is short and direct, coming from the shoulder or even from the elbow. A Taijiquan strike, like Green Dragon Shoots Pearl, is longer and circular, coming from the back leg, executed by the rotation of the waist. A Shaolin strike, like Black Tiger Steals Hearts, comes from the dan tian, executed by the rotation of the waist, but the waist rotation is often minimized that it is hardly noticeable.

Wing Choon Kungfu is basically external, though some Wing Choon masters have tremendous internal force. (But the Wing Choon Kungfu practiced in our school is internal. This is due to our emphasis on chi kung, and the influence from Shaolin and Taijiquan.) Even without internal force, by using mechanics only, Wing Choon Kungfu can be very formidable. A Wing Choon strike without internal force can still cause serious injury.

On the other hand, internal force is essential in Taijiquan. Without internal force, Taijiquan would not be combat efficient. A Taijiquan strike causes serious damage not because of its physical impact, but because of the internal force channeled into an opponent.

Shaolin Kungfu is both external and internal, but most of the Shaolin Kungfu practiced today is external. The Shaolin Kungfu practiced in our school is, of course, very internal. One can be combat efficient in Shaolin Kungfu without having internal force, but if he has internal force too, his combat efficiency is greatly enhanced.

The internal force training methodologies in these three arts are characteristically different. In Wing Choon Kungfu, the approach is form-force-flow, or the force method. Chi, or energy, is consolidated into jing, or internal force. In Taijiquan the approach is form-flow-force, or the flow method. Chi is made to flow vigorously to become flowing force. Shaolin Kungfu uses both the force method and the flow method, but the emphasis is on the force method. Only advanced practitioners and masters have the opportunity to proceed to the flow method.

In combat application, both Wing Choon Kungfu and Taijiquan are well known for the small-sized against bigger, stronger opponents, but their methodologies are vastly different. Indeed, it is illuminating to compare them. Both Wing Choon Kungfu and Taijiquan make excellent use of waist rotation to neutralize an opponent's bigger force. But while the waist rotation of Wing Choon Kungfu operates more on a vertical axis, that of Taijiquan is more horizontal. Shaolin Kungfu uses footwork.

Suppose a powerful punch is ramming into you. If you use Wing Choon Kungfu, a typical counter is to rotate your waist anti-clockwise, with your left tan sau or mirror hand deflecting the punch, and simultaneously you strike your phew chee or thrusting fingers into the opponent's throat. You do not shift your body back, but you deflect the powerful strike by rotating like a wheel.

If you use Taijiquan, a typical counter is to shift your body back, without moving your feet, to neutralize the full force of the punch. Simultaneously, with the rotation of your waist, your brush away the punch with your left hand and strike him with your right palm, using the pattern Green Dragon Shoots Pearl. The Taijiquan movement is circular and longer; the Wing Choon movement is fast and straight.

A typical Shaolin counter is to shift the front leg back into a False-Leg stance to neutralize the force of the powerful punch, while leaning one hand using Single Tiger Emerges from Cave on the punch, then move forward the same front leg into a Bow-Arrow Stance and strike the opponent with the other hand using Black Tiger Steals Heart. Here, the Shaolin application is technically slower than that of Taijiquan, and uses two Shaolin patterns whereas only one Taijiquan pattern is used. The Shaolin tactic in the counter is "first defence, then counter", whereas that of Taijiquan is "defence-cum-counter".

Of the three counters, that of Wing Choon Kungfu is the fastest and uses the least movement, which are characteristic of Wing Choon Kungfu. Both Wing Choon Kungfu and Taijiquan use only one pattern in their counter, but there is considerable less movement as well as less space to be covered in the Wing Choon counter. In Taijiquan, you have to sink back your body, and move both your hand in big circles starting from your back leg, besides rotating your waist. In Wing Choon Kungfu, besides rotating your body you only shoots out your right hand from your elbow.

All this does not mean that Shaolin Kungfu is the least effective as it uses two patterns, Taijiquan more effective as it uses only one pattern, and Wing Choon the most effective as it uses the least movement. There may be situations in combat where using two patterns to counter is preferable to using just one pattern, like when you wish to ascertain that an opponent's initial attack is not a feign, or using more movement is preferable to using less movement, like when you wish to slow down a fast opponent. Moreover, the Shaolin counter here represents its basic level. At higher levels, Shaolin Kungfu also employs only one pattern or short movement in "defence-cum-counter" and "no defence direct counter".

These different ways of counters not only enrich our performance in combat but also in our daily life, like in the art of negotiation, for which you are an expert. In some situations you may want to use the Wing Choon approach, direct and fast, cutting down a competitor or distractor in one stroke. In other situations you may want to give him some space but controlling him so that you can strike him decisively when the time is appropriate. There are also situations where you want to play safe, you just make contact and observe, striking only when it is timely. Isn't it interesting that by widening our scope in kungfu, we not only add depth but also make our life more rewarding?

Regarding philosophy, Wing Choon Kungfu is basically a fighting art. There are no special provisions for health promotion and spiritual cultivation. But our Wing Choon is different. Our Wing Choon training, like that in Shaolin and Taijiquan, gives us good health and contributes to our spiritual growth. Shaolin Kungfu and Taijiquan are a class above all other martial arts. Both Shaolin Kungfu and Taijiquan originated not for combat, not even for health, but for spiritual cultivation. Bodhidharma taught the Eighteen Lohan Hands, which later became Shaolin Kungfu, to help Shaolin monks to attain Enlightenment. Zhang San Feng practice Wudang Kungfu, which later evolved into Taijiquan, to attain the Tao.

The combat philosophy of Wing Choon Kungfu can be summed up as direct, fast and vicious. When a Wing Choon practitioner can finish off an opponent in one move, he won't use two, and his attacks are aimed at deadly spots like eyes, throat, solar plexus, ribs, spine and groin. He does not give an opponent a chance. In contrast, Taijiquan is circular, graceful and friendly. Instead of striking and harming an opponent, a Taijiquan exponent often just pushes him away. Shaolin Kungfu is in between, showing mercy but at the same time indicating that much harm can be done if an opponent does not submit. A Shaolin exponent, for example, would subdue an opponent with chin-na, threatening but not really to break his joints, or pinning an opponent on the ground with two fingers at his eyes, indicating that they could be gored out if necessary.

Question 2

Answer

Many people have told me that the Intensive Chi Kung Course has changed their lives. I am sure you will find it rewarding. It is an amazing course where you will learn chi kung skills ranging from basic to masters' levels.

Question 3

Answer

If you continue to practice at home what you learn at the course, there is a good chance that you will throw away your spectacles. Many students have done that. You will greatly enhance your chance if you add "Shaolin Eight Eye Techniques" to your daily practice.

Please do a search in my Question-Answer Series to find our more about these wonderful eye techniques. Go to my home page. In the box at the top of the page where you can find "Search this website using Google", type in whatever topic you wish to search. Then click the "Search" button.

Question 4

Answer

Over the years I have improved the teaching of the Intensive Chi Kung Course. One of the methods newly added to the course is to use mental clarity to solve problems. Many students have reported that this has enabled them to see their problems clearly and solve them more efficiently.

Question 5

Answer

To be relaxed and focused at the same time is the first skill taught in the Intensive Chi Kung Course. This skill is extremely important in chi kung, as without this skill, a practitioner cannot enter into a chi kung state of mind, and without entering into chi kung state of mind he cannot practice chi kung correctly even when he may be performing the techniques and the breathing correctly.

This is a secret many chi kung students do not realize, and as a result they do not get any chi kung benefits even when they have practiced chi kung for years. More than 80% of people practicing chi kung today make this mistake, usually without realizing it. That is the reason why they are still weak or sick although they have performed chi kung exercises for years. Without entering into a chi kung state of mind, they merely perform chi kung techniques as gentle physical exercise.

On the other hand, if you are focused and relaxed at the same time, no matter what you do, you will do better. If you have practiced genuine chi kung for six months, you have trained yourself to be focused and relaxed for six months, which will enable you to be more cost-efficient in your work and play. This is one of many benefits we get from practicing genuine chi kung.

Question 6

Answer

If your chi if powerful, another person may not be able to move you.

I recalled that years ago a chi kung master well known for moving people tried to move me. But he couldn't. He told me that my chi just repulsed his.

If your chi is more powerful than the person receiving it, you may move him. All you need is a little technique to do so. Most of the students who have attended my Intensive Chi Kung Course can do this demonstration, though we do not pay much attention to it. We regard it like a show with no real practical benefits. We are more interested in using our chi for good health, vitality and longevity. Nevertheless, we can try out this demonstration for fun during the Intensive Chi Kung Course.

Moving someone with chi is like pushing someone physically. If you are stronger than the other person, you can push him quite easily. In the case of chi, the person being pushed should be relaxed and follow the movement, otherwise he may be harmed by the tremendous amount of chi pushed at him.

Question 7

Answer

We encourage husband and wife to practice chi kung together. This will bring a lot of benefits and joys to both. It is great if both you and your wife attend the same Intensive Chi Kung Course.

One of the many benefits of practicing high-level is developing mental clarity. You will have a chance to test your mental clarity acquired from chi kung to solve problems at the course.

Question 8

Answer

If you had not practiced genuine chi kung, you would not have generating energy flow nor cosmic shower. You would have practiced "Carrying the Moon", which is a chi kung technique, as gentle physical exercise. If you had practiced well, you would have benefits like loosening of muscles and joints, and being relaxed.

In fact more than 80% of people who practice chi kung today do this. They practice chi kung techniques as gentle physical exercise, not as chi kung. No matter how well or for how long they have practiced, they will not have chi kung benefits like overcoming illness, having a lot of energy, attaining mental clarity and experiencing spiritual joys. They only have benefits of gentle physical exercise, like balance and elegance.

If you had practiced genuine chi kung, but without specifically learning the skills of generating an energy flow or a cosmic shower, your "Carrying the Moon" would result in some energy flow, but it would take a longer time.

In your case, you have practiced genuine chi kung, and have learned the skills of both generating energy flow and cosmic shower. So when you perform "Carrying the Moon", when you think of generating energy flow, your practice will result in generating energy flow. If you think of cosmic shower, your practice will result in cosmic shower.

Now, what would happen if you don't think of anything? You just perform "Carrying the Moon". Your practice will probably result in generating energy flow, because it is basic. It happens naturally when you practice genuine chi kung, whereas cosmic shower has to be activated.

LINKS

Selected Reading

• Interesting Background of Shaolin Wahnam Kungfu Sets
• Taiji originares from Wuji
• Is it Necessary to Attend Special Courses?
• Abstinence from Sex?
• The Use of Internal Force

Courses and Classes

• Intensive Chi Kung Course
• Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course
• Intensive Taijiquan Course

• List of Certified Shaolin Wahnam Instructors
• List of Shaolin Wahnam Chi Kung Healers

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