SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
February 2024 PART 3
"One-Finger Shooting Zen"
Question 1
Are other good, comprehensive, and systematic resources to study?
— Sifu Roeland Dijkema, Shaolin Wahnam Netherlands
Answer
The three books I recommend, which happen to be in Chinese, are:
1. Secret Transmission of Shaolin Internal Arts
2. Secret Transmission of Zhang San Feng in Developing the Pills of the Cosmos
3. Formulae and Secret Transmission of Baguazhang
They are very good books.
Question 2
Perhaps the most widely discussed is Jin Jing Zhong's 1934 publication "Dian Xue Shu," which describes a curriculum of learning points, striking at a mannequin or a chart with labeled points, and developing empty force. Did you use such a labeled dummy or chart? Some exercises are recommended, including an exercise named Jumping Centipede or Hopping Tiger.
Answer
Jin Jing Zhong's publication, "Dian Xue Shu", is good.
I did not use a labelled dummy or chart.
"Hopping Tiger" or "Jumping Centipede" sounds familiar. It is the art trained by Sigung Ho.
"Hopping Tiger"
Question 3
Did Sigung Ho recommend that you spend a certain amount of time on One Finger Shooting Zen?
— Frederick, USA
Answer
I would recommend "One-Finger Shooting Zen". Practicing one art instead of many is sufficient. You learn to love the art, and deepen your skills.
Question 4
I also remember that you mentioned that the Small Universe is extremely important and serves as a foundation for many forms of the 72 Arts of Shaolin, such as Cosmos Palm and Golden Bell. Is the Small Universe likewise necessary to achieve One Finger Zen?
Answer
The "Small Universe" is very important. It makes you very healthy, full of vitality, enjoy longevity, peak performance and spiritual cultivation.
It contributes to "Cosmos Palm", "Golden Bell". "One Finger Zen" and other arts.
Question 5
Sigung Ho made me also curious about the arm hardening exercises that he taught, especially grinding the arms against table edges which sound very similar to Iron Arm exercises such as Rolling Bamboo which I remember hearing was taught at the Choi Li Fatt course in Oslo, alongside Punching With Stone Locks or dumbbells in the modern case.
Answer
Regarding your question on whether there is much difference in the efficiency, efficacy or outcome on someone who focuses more on "Rolling Bamboo" versus grinding the arm against a table and striking his arms on poles, depends on many factors like time of training, his teacher, his livelihood and hobbies.
Question 6
Did Sigung Ho also recommend striking the arms on poles, or any form of hardening or conditioning or specialized force training art for the legs such as Iron Leg, or was the main art that involved striking an object many times like Iron Palm?
Answer
Internal force is significant. The best method is "One-Finger Shooting Zen". It trains both flowing force and consolidated force. Flowing force is for life, and consolidated force is for work.
"Dim mark" depends not on the size of the blow but on the size of impact. As the fingers and the phoenix-eye fist are effective, they are used for "dim mark".
Rolling a wooden rod up and down your shin not only opened up your channels in your legs, but also made your blood flow better. Hence, you rooted yourself solidly in your stances.
Hitting your body as in Golden Bell and Iron Shirt may not avoid a "dim mark" strike. As the impact does not depend on size, a finger or a phoenix-eye may cost a "dim mark" strike.
Sigung Ho did not recommend striking the arms on poles, or any form of hardening or conditioning. He recommended "One-Finger Shooting Zen".
"Flowing Water Staff"
Question 7
I focused mainly on the material from Glory of Shaolin Kung Fu, especially the Dragon Form.
Answer
The Glory of Shaolin Kungfu Course reminds me of my first sifu, who is better known as Uncle Righteousness.
In the course there were five sets, namely "Shaolin Dragon Form", "Five-Monkey Eighteen Felling Technique Set", "72-:Pattern Tiger-Crane", "Shaolin Flower Set" and "Five Elemental Continuous Fist".
The "Shaolin Dragon Form" was an exchange with my two "siheng" (or elder classmates from the same sifu), Po Lok and Pok Kai. They were keen to learn the "108-Pattern Tiger-Crane", made famous by the great master, Sifu Wong Fei Hoong. But at that time I had not learned the "108-Pattern Tiger-Crane"; I only had the "36-Pattern Tiger-Crane". But, nevertheless, they taught me the "Shaolin Dragon Form".
Question 8
I then focused on material from Becoming a Shaolin Wahnam Practitioner, especially Cross Road at Four Gates and the Plum Flower Saber, with a little time spent on the Flowing Water Staff and Art of Bamboo Man over the last few years.
Answer
I learned these sets from my third sifu, Sifu Ho Fatt Nam, who was the third generation successor from the Venerable Jiang Nan of the southern Shaolin Monastery at Quanzhou.
Becoming a Shaolin Wahnam Practitioner Course was wonderful. It is one of my best courses.
Sifu Ho Fatt Nam taught me "Cross Road at Four Gates". "Ho Family Flowing Water Staff" and "Bamboo Man". It was during the time of my third sifu, Sifu Ho Fatt Nam, that my "siheng", Po Lok and Pok Kai, taught me "Shaolin Dragon Form".
It was through "One-Finger Shooting Zen" that I developed internal force. I had been practicing kungfu for more than 20 years, but I didn't have internal force.
"One-Finger Shooting Zen" generates both flowing force and consolidated force. Flowing force is for life, and consolidated force is for work.
I learned "Plum Flower Sabre" on my own, based on principles of the sabre. At that time I was a keen follower of New Martial Hero which was a Chinese magazine. My first sifu had a few sabre sets.
"Ho Family Flowing Water Staff" is a classic. It has become one of my favourite weapons.
"Bamboo Man" is secretive. It is taught to specially selected disciples.
LINKS
Selected Reading
- The Unbelievable Intensive Chi Kung Course
- The Four Dimensions of Kungfu, Chi Kung or any Art
- A Comprision of Taijiqun (Tai Chi Chaun) and Shaolin Kungfu
- The Mechanics of Taijiquan in Overcoming Bigger, Stronger Opponents
- An Example of Chi Kung Healing