SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MAY 2018 PART 2
"Lifting the Sky" can be practiced as gentle physical exercise or as chi kung
Question 1
You have mentioned often in your writing that people practice gentle physical exercise but say it is qigong. What is gentle physical exercise and what is qigong?
— Nicolas, Spain
Answer
Many people today practice qigong techniques as gentle physical exercise but say that they practice qigong, spelt as "chi kung" in English. A common analogy is that many people today practice Taijiquan techniques as external form but say that they practice Taijiquan. As a rough estimate, more than 80% of practitioners all over the world today use chi kung techniques to practice gentle physical exercise.
The techniques practitioners use in their practice of gentle physical exercise are chi kung techniques. Some common techniques they use are "Lifting the Sky" and "Carrying the Moon", which are taken from the sets of chi kung called 18 Lohan Hands or from 8 Pieces of Brocade. As they do not practice chi kung, they do not derive any chi kung benefits like good health, vitality and longevity. If they have good health, vitality and longevity, it is because of other reasons, and not because of their practice.
Most of the practitioners do not know this fact, and they may indignantly say that theirs is genuine chi kung. Some of the practitioners are world-known "masters" and hold important posts in chi kung associations. Certainly, making such a statement may anger some people, but it is just the truth.
There are many reasons why genuine chi kung degenerated into gentle physical exercise. A main reason is that genuine chi kung was rare in the past, but suddenly it became popular. Much of the popular chi kung used form to generate an energy flow. In other words, practitioners practiced chi kung forms many times, and gradually generated some energy flow. Over time, the skill of generating an energy flow was lost, and only the external form remained, especially when practitioners did not differentiate between skills and techniques.
This situation of performing chi kung techniques as gentle physical exercise and not as chi kung, may cause many problems. Chi kung practitioners in general do not realize that they do not practice genuine chi kung, even though their lineages and techniques are genuine. Hence, they do not derive any chi kung benefits.
Secondly, when researchers want to conduct experiments on chi kung, they normally approach chi kung associations or national federations. These associations and federations are controlled by office bearers who practice gentle physical exercise using chi kung techniques, usually without their knowing. Hence, the result of such experiences do not reveal what genuine chi kung will do.
Question 2
How do we know we practice qigong and not gentle physical exercise?
Answer
An excellent way is to check whether we get the results practicing genuine chi kung will give. All genuine chi kung overcomes illness and gives good health, vitality and longevity. Low-level genuine chi kung gives little results after a long time, whereas high-level genuine chi kung gives a lot of results after a short time.
If after practicing chi kung techniques for some time, say about 6 months, he is still sick, he can rightly conclude that what he practices is gentle physical exercise and not genuine chi kung. If he was healthy when he started his training, but after practicing for a few months he still does not see any noticeable improvement in his vitality, he can conclude that what he practices is gentle physical exercise and not genuine chi kung.
This method of checking whether we get the result practicing an art will give, is excellent not only for chi kung but for any arts, especially arts that come from the East like kungfu and meditation. It is just shocking that many kungfu and meditation practitioners spend years practicing external forms but missing the essence.
The basic purpose of practicing kungfu, including Taijiquan, is for combat. If after practicing the art for some time and a practitioner cannot use kungfu techniques for combat, though he may lose to a better fighter, he can conclude that what he has been practicing is just the external form of kungfu and not genuine kungfu.
The basic benefit of practicing meditation is relaxation. If after practicing the art for some time and a practitioner is still stressful, he can conclude that what he has been practicing is just the external form of mediation and not genuine meditation.
If a practitioner cannot apply his kungfu techniques for combat, it cannot be said that he has practiced genuine kungfu
Question 3
I am sure that today is treating you well! Things have been going very well for me in Florida.
Every day, I get many opportunities to experience the benefits of our training, especially in the hospital and emergency department setting, where having a lot of energy and fast decision-making skills are very important.
Some days, I wonder how anyone functions in high-stake settings without the ability to relax. Learning to relax and entering a qigong state of mind feels to me as though it was the gateway to all of my successes in the past several years.
Thank you so very much again for having made it your mission to spread the Shaolin arts to the world! It is truly astounding just how much we all benefit from your work.
— Dr Frederick Chu, USA
Answer
Not only today, but everyday treats us in Shaolin Wahnam very well. It has to be so when we practice our Shaolin Wahnam arts. It is not only supported by philosophy, but by the practical experience of our Family members.
It is wonderful to spread our Shaolin Wahnam arts irrespective of race, culture and religion. Those who do not believe us, or think they are smarter, is their problem, not mine.
Question 4
I have a few questions regarding my practice and was hoping to benefit from your wisdom and advice.
At the Cosmos Palm course in New Hampshire, we finished performing Pushing Mountains and held our arms stretched out forwards with our palms facing upwards, "carrying a big beautiful ball of energy" for a period of time.
Is there a particular recommended amount of time to hold this posture? I thought I remembered Sifu mentioning that we could hold it for a short while and then build up to an hour or more, but wanted to make sure my memory was accurate.
Answer
Your memory is correct. We can hold our outstretch palms facing upward for a short while and them build up to an hour or more if we want to develop internal force. But be careful of over-training.
If we just want to be healthy, we can perform Pushing Mountains without out-stretching our palms. Our arts are versatile, like a physical mixture, not a chemical compound.
One-Finger Shooting Zen
Question 5
I also have a question about the nature of force training sessions that combine consolidation and flow.
I have been lucky enough to learn Baguazhang zhan zhuang and Cosmos Palm from you, both of which have portions which emphasize consolidation (e.g. Carrying Sun and Moon, Forceful Big Windmill, or a Baguazhang stance) as well as flowing (e.g. Pushing Mountains, Circle Walking) in the same training session.
Is there a particular advantage or difference in the order of flowing and consolidation, for example if someone were to practice a flowing pattern first and then consolidation, or vice versa?
Answer
The more important aspect is the skill, not just the technique, though the technique is also important.
It depends on whether we focus on consolidation or flow. If all other things were equal, when we want consolidation, we perform consolidation at the end and longer; when we want flow, we perform flow at the end and longer.
Relatively speaking, consolidation is for combat, and flow is for health. Needless to say, both are excellent for combat and health if we perform the skills correctly. Actually, in your and most Shaolin Wahnam members' case, it does not matter much whether you perform the flow or the consolidation first. You will have both health and combat efficiency. The difference is marginal.
Question 6
Are there long-term consequences or considerations for a practitioner's health? What about when the techniques used are the same, but the emphasis is changed between flowing and consolidation, for example in One Finger Shooting Zen when we might focus on enhancing the amount of flow and then consolidate the flow into internal force?
Answer
We may sound boastful, but in the case of Shaolin Wahnam students who have the correct skills, there are no long-term consequences or considerations for their health. They have to guard against over-training, which is our problem, if they want to consolidate for combat efficiency.
The normal procedure in One-Finger Shooting Zen is to focus on flow, and then consolidate the flow into internal force. But advance practitioners may just focus on consolidating into internal force.
Most practitioners of One-Finger Shooting Zen, if they have the correct skills, may not be aware of the philosophy of flow and consolidation. The two terms, flow and consolidation, are my inventions to help our students. The physical movement of One-Finger Shooting Zen generates the flow. When they can perform the movement correctly, they consolidate the flow into internal force.
But most people who practice One-Finger Shooting Zen do not have the correct skills. Again we sound boastful, but it is true. Notice that many people who perform One-Finger Shooting Zen in Nanquan of Wushu, for example, purposely shake their fingers, instead of letting internal force vibrates them involuntarily.
The famous Butterfly Palm
Question 7
My own paltry experience has been that starting with a consolidating pattern followed by a flowing pattern often results in the internal force developed feeling much more powerful and an extremely sharp sensation of mental clarity, while starting with a flowing pattern followed by a consolidating pattern leads to my qi flowing at a deeper, subtler level and my mind being much more calm. As I am still quite young, however, I do not have the direct experience to say if this would influence someone's long term health and longevity.
Answer
Both your performance and observation are not only correct but excellent. Right now you have health and vitality. When you grow old, you will have longevity.
Question 8
I was also hoping to ask Sifu for his advice on what he considers the most important combat applications for several sets. To be honest, I have been floundering a little bit with the sheer amount of material I have learnt over the years and want to make sure I am getting the most important lessons from the sets I have learnt.
Could Sifu give his recommendation on what he believes are the most important or characteristic applications from the following sets? Likewise, if Sifu were to pick just one combat sequence or series of applications from each of the following sets to use in a modern sparring competition, which would he recommend?
- The basic Shaolin kung fu combat sequences
- Cross Road at Four Gates
- Twelve Sequences of Tantui
- Swimming Dragon Baguazhang
- Cosmos Palm
Answer
I really don't mean to be boastful, but I defeated masters and professional fighters in free sparring. I acquired my combat efficiency the long, hard way, in more than 30 years.
At first, I fought smart. I picked opponents whom I knew I could defeat, and I practiced sequences in anticipation of how they would fight. After many years, especially after learning from Sifu Ho Fatt Nam, I could defeat opponents off-hand because I was accurate, forceful and fast. I have summarized my more than 30 years of fighting experience into the 30-opponent programme and an ever-winning strategy.
Basically, the 30-opponent programme is to line up your opponents in order of their combat efficiency where you have 95% chance of beating the first opponent, and the last opponent has 95% chance of beating you if you fight him at the start of the programme. If you fight him at the end of your programme when your combat skills have improved tremendously, you will have 95% chance of beating him.
The ever-winning strategy is to apply your learnt combat sequence relentlessly on your opponent, taking care to cover yourself adequately. This strategy is ever-winning against opponents whom you can technically beat. If your opponents are very skillful, like masters from Shaolin Wahnam, they can stop you.
But if you also practice the 30-opponent programme, by the time you meet masters and professional fighters, you will be more skillful than them. You will be more accurate, more powerful and faster. Hence, you will also be able to beat them comfortably.
You can use any combat sequences you like. Eventually, it is skills, not techniques, that are more important in combat. As you specialize in Baguazhang, choose combat sequences from Baguazhang, or compose them on your own. Baguazhang is very sophisticated. Most opponents will find it hard to fight you. Right now you can defeat most opponents, including masters.
But I shall still answer your question on the most important or characteristic applications from the following sets. I shall answer the question on the spot; my answer may change with time.
The sequence that comes to mind in the 16 Basic Shaolin Kungfu Combat Sequence is Sequence 10, which is Single Tiger, Fierce Tiger, Thrust Kick and Poisonous Snake. Many years ago I taught Douglas in about 5 minutes, and every time he applied it he drove a free sparring expert who taught combat to commandos, to a wall.
The combat sequence of Four Gates that comes to mind is the first one, which is Amithaba Palm, Fierce Tiger, Emerges Pit, Precious Duck and Black Crow. The other sequences are too sophisticated for your opponents.
The first combat sequence of Tantui is ever-winning. When you have the right skills, you can apply it no matter how your opponent responds! I learned its combat efficiency many, many years ago from a junior classmate, who later became the Grandmaster of Georgetown Chin Woo Association in Penang. A karate master was badly beaten by a senior student who just applied this sequence. The senior student did not have any sparring experience before!
There are 8 effective combat sequences in Swimming Dragon Baguazhang. Choose any one you like. The first one is excellent. It will strike an opponent by surprise.
The combat sequence in four directions of the Cosmos Palm set after force training, which consists of Single Tiger, Green Dragon, Fierce Dragon and Dark Dragon, looks simple but is very effective if you have the combat skills. The starting Single Tiger may be used to close an opponent before striking him.
If I were to pick just one pattern, I would pick the famous Shaolin Butterfly Palms in the pattern, Double Butterflies Flying Together. It strikes an opponent as soon as he makes a move! Interestingly, I have never used it in my combat. You will learn the famous Shaolin Butterfly Palms, amongst other miraculous techniques, in the coming Essence of Shaolin course. (This question was asked before the Essence of Shaolin course which took place in Dec 2017.)
If you have any questions, please e-mail them to Grandmaster Wong via his Secretary at stating your name, country and e-mail address.
LINKS
Selected Reading
- The Wonderful Benefits of Chi Kung
- Combat Efficiency
- Fundamentals of Baguazhang
- 36-Specific-Technique Set
- Please Blow Your Horn