SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MAY 2020 PART 1
Paz and Angel at an Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course
Question 1
Can we send blessings to evil people of the planet so that they can recuperate or cure and eventually be better people?
— Paz, Spain
Answer
Yes, you can send blessings to evil people to help them recuperate and eventually be better people. Indeed, many religious people do that.
On the other hand, whether the sender of blessings will succeed, depends on a number of factors. If their hearts are closed, they are unlikely to succeed.
Question 2
I also understand that sometimes it is better not to intervene in the free will of each person because it is their right to choose.
Answer
In our free world, everyone has the right to choose. Often it is better not to intervene in the free will of each person if he chooses otherwise. For example, we know from experience that practicing chi kung is good, but if a person does not want to practice chi kung, it is against free will to impose the practice on him.
On the other hand, hitting one's parent is morally bad. I will stop someone hitting his parent even if it is against free will.
Chuojiao, taken from http://www.taipinginstitute.com/courses/northern-central-plains/chuojiaoone-finger
Question 3
Some people can get the support of others in seeing things in a different way and then choose differently as well?
Answer
If something is good, we can give support to others and help them. For example, practicing chi kung is good. We can give support in practicing chi kung, and help others to practice it.
If something is bad, we do not give support. However, whether something is good or bad, we must guard against "heaven's secrets".
Editorial Note: Paz' questions will be continued at May 2020 Part 2 issue of the Questions-Answers Series.
Question 4
You have said in your writings that high kicks tend to be discouraged in Shaolin Kung Fu, as they expose the kicker's groin to the opponent, making it easy for the opponent to counter-attack.
However, I was watching some video demonstrations of Northern Kung Fu styles, and I noticed some of the masters using high kicks. Especially, the style called Chuojiao used them very often.
How can this be? If high kicks are indeed risky, wouldn't this make Chuojiao ineffective for actual fighting?
— Reinhardt, USA
Answer
High kicks are discouraged in Shaolin Kungfu. If a Shaolin exponent wishes to kick high, like kicking the opponent's throat, the exponent would jump up with the non-kicking leg protecting his groin.
I clearly remember that when I was learning Shaolin Kungfu from my first sifu, Uncle Righteousness, I saw advertisments displaying some Taekwondo masters showing high kicks with their groins exposed. I was a small boy then and didn't know much about combat philosophy, but I knew that they were dangerously exposed. In Uncle Righteousness' class, we were told to always cover ourselves well.
Later I sparred with many Taekwondo exponents. I asked them that if they used high kicks they would be exposed. Their answer shocked me. They said, "See who is faster." We never did that in Shaolin Kungfu. We also expected our opponents to be knowledgeable and fast, and could exploit our innate weakness. If he couldn't, it would be to our advantage.
I may add that if we kick high and expose our groin, it is an innate weakness. An opponent just attacks the groin without doing anything extra. As said earlier, if he is slow or does not know how to attack the groin, it is to our advantage. If the groin is covered, an opponent has to "open" it before he can attack the groin.
Taekwondo is actually a sport governed by safety rules. In Taekwondo sparring, you cannot attack the groin of your opponents. But in a real fight, a fighter may not follow safety rules.
There is a Shaolin kick called "Kicking the Sky". It is a high kick with the groin exposed. But it is used only when the situation warrants it, like when you are on the ground flood and someone jumps from the first floor (called the second floor in the United States) to attack you with no chance of striking your groin.
Chuojiao is a famous kungfu style. If a Chujiao master shows a weakness, be aware. It may be a trick.
Except its typical "Back Reverse Kick", where an exponent turns around and kicks with the sole in a reverse sweeping manner, Chuojiao kicks are generally low. The jumping kick to the throat which I mentioned earlier with the non-kicking leg protecting the groin, is also found in Chuojiao.
A skillful Chuojiao exponent would know how to respond when he uses the "Back Reverse Kick". Indeed if you use a technique often, you must know how to respond when an opponent exploits that technique.
Chuojiao is a beautiful, effective martial art where both the hands and the feet are used. In our Western societies where fighting seldom occurs, Chuojiao gives good health, vitality, longevity, agility and flexibility.
One-Finger Shooting Zen
Question 5
I would like to ask a question regarding One Finger Shooting Zen. The more I advance in force training, the more I appreciate this fantastic exercise. I would therefore like to emphasize it more in my training.
— Steffen, Germany
Answer
One-Finger Shooting Zen is a treasure of Shaolin Wahnam. As we have many force training methods, it must be very special to call it a treasure.
One main reason was historical. Although I had much kungfu experience, and having trained with my second sifu, Sifu Chee Kim Thong who was famous for internal force, I had no internal force (except on the receiving end) until I trained with my third sifu, Sifu Ho Fatt Nam. Sifu Ho Fatt Nam taught me One-Finger Shooting Zen. Imagine my surprise when I broke my first bricks after training One-Finger Shooting Zen for a few months.
On hindsight, one of the special features of One-Finger Shooting Zen which makes it a treasure in our school, is that it trains both flowing force and consolidated force. San Zhan, which I trained for more than 2 years with Sifu Chee Kim Thong, emphasizes flowing force, while the Iron Wire Set, which I caused an "earthquake" in Taiwan as reported by many people, emphasizes consolidated force.
We in Shaolin Wahnam may convert flowing force to consolidated force, and vice versa, but it is a rare ability. Even masters -- genuine ones -- may not have this skill. That is a main reason why many masters train only one type of force at a time; if they train more, the different types of force may cancel one another. However, because of our conversion from flowing force to consolidated force, and vice versa, we in Shaolin Wahnam may train more than one type of force at a time, and have better result.
Question 6
Right now I practise three repetitions of One Finger Zen and Single Tiger Claw on each side every day like we did in the Chin Na Course in China.
My long term goal is to develop the force for effective Dim Mark and Tiger Claw. What would be the best procedure to reach that goal? How many repetitions of One Finger Zen and Single Tiger Claw should I aim for?
Answer
It is actually not the number of repetitions, but how you train internal force for each repetition. A person may perform 10 repetitions of either One-finger Shooting Zen or Fierce Tiger Cleanses Claw leisurely, but he may be tired after 3 repetitions of intense training of either art.
Three repetitions on either side is the norm. I remember that when I trained Fierce Tiger Cleanses Claw about 50 years ago, I did only 3 repetitions on either side, and I felt very tired.
Although you can be good at both, you need to choose between Dim Mark and Tiger Claw to specialize in. Both Dim Mark and Chin-Na, which often employs Tiger-Claw, are the Ultimates of Shaolin. The third Ultimate is Neigong, or internal arts, like Sinew Metamorphosis.
If you choose Dim Mark, a choice training method is One-Finger Shooting Zen. If you choose Chin-Na, a choice training method is Fierce Tiger Cleanses Claw.
Both One-Finger Shooting Zen and Fierce Tiger Cleanses Claw are rare skills. Those who practice Wushu, especially Nanquan, and Hoong Ka Kungfu may know the form of One-Finger Shooting Zen, but it is obvious that they don't have the skills. Fierce Tiger Cleanses Claw is kept as top secret. It was incredible that I taught it at the Chin-Na course in China.
You can gradually increase the number of repetitions of training One-Finger Shooting Zen or Fierce Tiger Cleanses Claw. If you can perform 5 repetitions intensely you are good, and be able to apply Dim Mark or Tiger Claw. If you can perform 10 repetitions intensely, you will become a rare master.
The Small Universe
Question 7
I would like to ask a fun question concerning the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine. Qi Bo mentions a qi gong practice that helps acupuncturists not to succumb to epidemic diseases.
The practice is as follows: This worker should visualize a strong liver with green energy emanating from it to the east and producing vibrant vegetation; a white energy emanating from robust lungs to the west turning into metal armor and weapons; a red energy emanating from an active heart to the south creating radiant light; a deep blue energy emanating from solid kidneys to the north forming a formidable sea; and a yellow energy emanating from a sturdy spleen in the middle manifesting the substantial earth.
— Michael, Netherlands
Answer
The method mentioned by Qi Bo shows how important visualization is. However, when people visualize, they intellectualize, or think intellectually. When people intellectualize, they will succumb to epidemic diseases.
Visualization is a Western concept. In chi kung concept, it is having a thought. It should be performed with a Zen mind.
Question 8
Could we apply our Chi Kung skills to practice the Yellow Emperor's method? Additionally, what would be our Shaolin Wahnam equivalent of a specific qigong exercise that could further help prevent epidemic diseases? Cosmic Shower? Small Universe? Turning Head? Visualising a protective field around yourself?
Answer
We could apply our chi kung skills to practice the Yellow Emperor's method. Indeed, we can use the chi kung skills for any methods.
The main skills in chi kung is to enter into a chi kung state of mind, i.e. to be relaxed and to think of nothing at the same time. If we think of nothing, then how do we visualize?
As mentioned earlier. visualization is a Western concept. In chi kung concept it is having a thought. We should have the thought intuitively. First we think of nothing. Then we have an intuitive thought.
There are different levels of entering into a chi kung state of mind. In Cosmic Shower, we enter more deeply.
If we practice chi kung regularly, we will be free of illness when others suffer from epidemic diseases.
Of the chi kung skills you mentioned, Small Universe is the most advanced. Next is Cosmic Shower.
Visualizing a protective field around yourself is third, but you need a Zen mind to visualize. Turning Head is last, and may not prevent epidemic diseases.
Nevertheless, a master can use Turning Head to overcome neurological and psychological problem. But if he is a master, which means he has high levels of skills, he will not have neurological and psychological problems.
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
- How Shaolin Kungfu Came to our School
- How would Zhang San Feng View the Legacy Course
- Cobo da Roca, the Westernmost Point in Europe
- Some Fun with Names
- Monk or President