Sifu Wong Kiew Kit's Home Page

Questions-Answers Series

SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
JUNE 2014 PART 2

Question 1

Answer

It is because the masters of these different styles used the best methods to meet their different needs, and passed on these methods to their succeeding students.

In other words, for developing internal force the Horse-Riding Stance is the most cost-effective for Shaolin Kungfu, the Three-Circle Stance the most cost-effective for Taijiquan, and the Green Dragon Stance the most cost-effective for Baguzzhang.

(For those who may not know what the Green Dragon Stance is, a term we coined during the course “A Taste of Baguazhang” in Barcelona in May 2013, suggested by Javier himself, it is the stance used in the fundamental pattern, "Green Dragon Tests Claw".)

Shaolin Kungfu is relatively hard, known for its solid stances and consolidated force. The Horse-Riding Stance is the best choice for providing these qualities. Taijiquan is relatively soft and flowing. The three-Circle Stance is the best choice to develop the type of internal force for this type of martial art. Baguazhang is agile and often uses the Green Dragon Stance. Developing internal force using the Green Dragon Stance is the best choice for these purposes.

Of course the stances must be practiced correctly. Unfortunately today many practitioners do not practice the stances correctly and therefore do not derive the intended benefits.

Question 2

Answer

Xingyiquan is simple and direct, whereas Baguazhang is elaborated and sophisticated. Both are very effective for combat.

If you are well trained in Xingyiquan, when an opponent attacks you, irrespective of whether the attack is a strike, a kick, a throw or a chin-na technique, you just strike back! And you one strike is decisive. It puts your opponent out of action.

It is of course difficult for many people to comprehend how a Xingyiquan master can use just one Xingyiquan technique against any attack. How, for example, could a counter against a strike is also effective against a kick, or a throw or a chin-na attack? Not many people, including those who practice Xingyiquan today, understand this. It is profundity in simplicity.

If you are well trained in Baguazhang, your respond would be different. Depending on whether the attack is a strike, a kick, a throw or a chin-na technique, you will use an appropriate counter which is different from different situations. You won’t use just the same counter for different attacks. And there are many counters in Baguazhang for these different situations.

Let us take an example of a strike. You won’t just strike him back. You would deflect his attack, turn him around, fell him onto the ground, then deliver your decisive counter strike.

Nevertheless, a master of Baguazhang or of any style may just strike back as in Xingyiquan. The various approaches in the different styles meet at the master’s level.

Question 3

Answer

There is always a conflict of interest between charging $15,000 per course for a potential length of one year though it could be completed in three months.

I also have a conflict of interest between charging 1000 euros for an intensive course of three days and charging 250 euros for a regional course of four hours. The conflict is more immediate when because of time factor I often forgo regional courses in some countries for regional courses in others where I earn only about one third the money.

But we still do so for the benefit of our students, which is our school policy. In the case where I earn only one third the money, it is because of my loyalty to my students who first helped to build up our school.

In your case it is best to explain the exact situation to the student, which is for her best interest, and let her make a choice. Tell her that the best course of action is to enroll for the healing course if she thinks that paying $15,000 to overcome her health problem is more than worth it. Overcoming her problem is guaranteed. She undergoes treatment everyday for a year, but it is most likely that her problem will be overcome much earlier.

But if she prefers a cheap course of action, but it is not guaranteed that her health problem will be overcome, she can attend your regular chi kung class once a week. She has to practice on her own at home. If she practices at home, the regular chi kung class will be sufficient to overcome her problem. But experience has repeatedly shown that many students don't practice regularly at home, hence their problems are not overcome.

Question 4

Answer

Mark is correct. It is unfair to the teacher and school for you to learn only for a short time and leave. Moreover you won't learn much if you stay for just a short time. Our school is an exception, not the rule. We have so much material to teach. We want our students to learn fast, of course without sacrificing standard.

As a rule most other schools take a long time to teach their students. It is a tradition amongst many masters that kungfu training takes years. Some people even boast that after practicing for more than 10 years they are still students.

Question 5

Answer

You are still young, and you have a very good opportunity. It is not late to start now.

Traditionally kungfu masters are over 35. Before that they are not matured enough to appreciate the depth of kungfu. Of course I am referring to real kungfu, not choreography or kick-boxing using kungfu forms.

Question 6

Answer

What you imagine is an ideal kungfu school. What you usually get can be very different. More likely it will be putting on boxing gloves and hitting and kicking one another.

As you are a student, you have to follow the procedure in the school and not the way you want to train. This means you will also be punching and kicking your classmates, and being punched and kicked by them.

Question 7

Answer

As far as I know, we are also the only school that systematically teaches using kungfu skills and techniques in free sparring and transferring what we learn to enrich our daily life.

To benefit much from the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course, you should know the 16 Shaolin Combat Sequences well. Focus on this and stance training to develop internal force.

Question 8

Answer

Yes, it is your wrong view. If you can learn well just a quarter of what I have prescribed for those intending to attend my Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course, you would have done better than most practitioners in most kungfu or wushu schools today.

Understandably other people may think us boastful for the statement above, but it is true. Most kungfu and wushu practitioners today either have no sparring experience or use kick-boxing in their sparring. In both cases they cannot defend themselves.

Those who use kick-boxing can punch and kick their classmates and be punched and kicked by their classmates. Many kungfu practitioners who use kick-boxing sustain internal injury. Many wushu practitioners cannot perform after 25 years of age due to knee and back injuries.

It is just shocking why they submit themselves to such punishment by practicing kungfu or wushu as a hobby.

LINKS

Selected Reading

• The 36 Strategies for Entrepreneurs and Business People
• Pushing Hands and Striking Hands
• Kungfu Sets in Shaolin Wahnam
• Good Health is our Birthright
• Five-Animal Play and our Chi Flow

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

Google+