SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
MAY 2020 PART 3
If there is Form, Strike the Form
Question 1
Sifu, I was looking through the Shaolin Wahnam videos and found the Choy Li Futt video called "If there is Form, Strike the Form. If there is No Form, Chase the Shadow."
This reminded me when I was sparring with a lower-level opponent. I knew I could just over-power him easily if I was brutal but I didn't want to do that. I was mostly frustrated at my own technique and that I couldn't tie him up easily. In the end out of frustration at myself and my lack of tactics to deal with his broken rhythm and lack of form, I just roundhouse kicked him repeatedly.
Later, even though Tim is of a much higher level than me and beat me easily, I at least found it easier to exchange with him and I described to Sifu previously what a joyous and spiritually free experience it was sparring with Tim.
— John, Ireland
Answer
"If there is form, strike the form; if there is no form, chase the shadow" is a very effective tactic irrespective of at what level the opponent is.
"Form" here means any form, i.e. his movement of hands, legs and body, not just kungfu form. If there is form, strike the form. If an untrained opponent moves forward, strike his body with your "iron" arm. If a Karate opponent attacks you with a punch, move back to avoid his punch and simultaneously strike his arm. If a Taekwondo exponent kicks you, move back to avoid his kick and simultaneously strike his leg. Do not strike him just once but continuously.
"Chase the shadow" means that when an opponent withdraws his punch or kick and moves back, cover him adequately and strike his head or body with your "iron" arm. Do not strike him just once but continuously.
As in all tactics and techniques, you need to practice them. Once you know a selection of these tactics and techniques, use them effectively. If an opponent is untrained or of a lower level, it is easier to defeat him, like using round-house kicks. You may not have to use tactics.
But if the opponent is trained and of the same level or of a higher level, you may have to use tactics, such as "continuous attacks", "instance response", "sound east strike west" or "lead opponent to futility then respond with surprised attacks".
But ultimately it is skills that decide the winner. If your opponent is more skillful than you, even when you use good techniques and he doesn't know the tactics, he can defeat you. But if you use tactics, you can defeat him even when he is more skillful.
Today, many combatants do not even know techniques. They just exchange blows generously.
Question 2
The material sounds comprehensive enough to be able to start a chi kung healing practice.
— Elizabeth, USA
Answer
To be a healer has a great responsibility. There is saying that "a healer has the heart of a parent", which means that if the children of a healer were sick, he would prescript the same type of treatment to his children, or to himself, as he would to other patients.
Chi Kung Healing is very special. According to chi kung philosophy, there is no such a thing as an incurable disease; all diseases can be cured. But that does not mean that all patients can be cured. If a patient does not follow the treatment, if the disease has gone beyond a threshold, or if the disease-causing factor is more potent than the treatment, the patient may not be cured.
In chi kung, there are no incurable diseases!
Question 3
Is that the expectation you have for successful course participants?
Answer
Initially I had great expectation for chi kung healing, and hoped that successful course participants would become chi kung healers. However, not many people can live up to the expectation. Hence, the aim of the course has changed. Now it is sufficient to understand how chi kung healing works. Not many people may want to become chi kung healers.
Question 4
Could these treatments help other ailments for people who are not practicing chi kung, in the way acupuncture treatments are given?
Answer
Chi kung healing can be used for people who have not practiced chi kung, just like acupunture or Western healing. But the healer must know what he is doing.
A main difference between a chi kung healer and a chi kung practitioner is that a chi kung healer uses chi kung healing on another person, whereas a chi kung practitioner practices chi kung himself.
In Shaolin Wahnam, all chi kung healers practice chi kung (or kungfu). In other words, besides using chi kung for healing, they also practice the art itself.
People who are not practicing chi kung, like those undergoing acupuncture treatment, can benefit from chi kung healing. But people who do not practice chi kung, do not have the benefits of chi kung. For example, they are stressful and cannot be focused, are often sick, and they get old before their time.
Pushing Mountains
Question 5
I know you learned Cosmos Palm from Sigung Ho. Do you know from where Sigung learned Cosmos Palm?
Outside of Shaolin Wahnam, I have not heard of Cosmos Palm. Do you know any styles that currently practice Cosmos Palm, or styles that traditionally practiced Cosmos Palm even if it has been lost to modern practitioners?
— Sifu Matt Fenton, Shaolin Wahnam USA
Answer
I learned Cosmos Palm from my sifu, Sifu Ho Fatt Nam, but I don 't know from whom my sifu learned it. I guess he learned it from my sigung, Sigung Yang Fatt Khuen.
Cosmos Palm is a secretive art, so it is no surprise that little is heard about it.
Cosmos Palm is also called Red-Sand Palm, which is more popularly known. It is a secret art of Shaolin.As far as I know, the Venerable Hai Deng also practiced Cosmos Palm. I believe Sifu Yan Xin, who is the Venerable Hai Deng's disciple and whom I regard as the greatest chi kung master alive today, practiced Cosmos Palm too. Both the Venerable Hai Deng and Sifu Yan Xin did not want other people to know they practiced Cosmos Palm.
Sifu Yan Xin is a very great chi kung master. Under the supervision of China's leading scientists, he changed the molecular structure of liquids from a distance. Countless people overcame their so-called incurable diseases by just listening to his talks on chi kung. Sifu Yan Xin is best known for distant chi transmission.
Question 6
For best results, are there any prerequisites for Shaolin Wahnam students before training Cosmos Palm, assuming a base level of being able to enter a chi kung state of mind and experiencing Flowing Breeze Swaying Willows, though not necessarily having ever trained to develop internal force?
Answer
First and foremost he must have good character. He follows and practices the 10 Shaolin Laws.
Secondly, he must be able to let energy flow and to consolidate it.
This is a rare skill. Even masters may not know it, though they are able to let energy flow and then consolidate it due to their long years of dedication, usually without their conscious knowing.
In our Cosmos Palm course, we spent specific time to let energy flow, and then consolidate it, using "Pushing Mountains" and "Forceful Big Windmill". More significantly, our students know the skills, having performed "One-Finger Shooing Zen" or in the case of Taijiquan students, "Cloud Hands" and "Single Whip".
Forceful Big Windmill
Question 7
It seems to me that all of the different training methods include three aspects of internal force -- developing flowing energy during Pushing Mountains, turning energy into consolidated energy and building energy with Zhan Zhuang, and using/moving consolidated energy with Forceful Big Windmill. Is this a correct understanding of what is happening during each stage? If all the three stages occur during practice, is there a best order of the stages? Or is it more important that all three are trained, and order does not matter so much?
Answer
The hallmark of Cosmos Palm is not the training methods, but the softness of the palms, yet the palms can be very powerful. The palms are usually red in colour. A Cosmos Palm master can cause serious injury without leaving any external marks, in an art figurately described as "hitting a buffalo beyond a mountain".
I would say there are two main methods, instead of three, namely to generate an energy flow and to consolidate the energy. Nevertheless, generate an energy flow and then consolidate it, does not necessarily lead to Cosmos Palm. In fact, this leads to internal force, which can be in the form of Cosmos Palm, Iron Palm, Vajra Palm, Cotton Palm, and other types of internal force.
Zhan Zhuang, or stance training, develops internal force, which may not necessarily be Cosmos Palm.
There is no best order in the training of Cosmos Palm. The various stages are not trained at the same time. It is important to have energy flow before consolidating energy.
Question 8
For Zhan Zhuang, up to four postures have been noted in the various training methods -- arms straight in front with palms forward, arms straight in front with palms up, arms bent by sides with palms up, and palms straight by sides with palms rearward. Are there benefits to practicing all four postures? Are there benefits to practicing fewer postures?
Answer
What you refer to is not Zhan Zhuang, or stance training. It is standing upright.
You should practice all the four postures, though at different times and with different intention.
When the palms are forward, the focus is on consolidating energy. The bend of the palms "lock" the energy at the palms. The energy is flowing when you move the palms forward and backward.
When the palms are upward, you also focus on consolidating energy, visualizing a beautiful ball of energy supported by your arms, but the energy is still flowing as your arms are pointing forward without the "locking", but much slower than when you move your arms forward and backward.
When the arms are bent at the sides with the palms up, you focus on consolidating energy. This posture is used in motion in "Lifting Sun and Moon".
When the arms are at the sides and the palms face rearward, the focus is on flowing. You let the energy flow.
You need not be too concerned with consolidating or flowing. Just perform the postures and let nature take its course.
Editorial Note:
Sifu Matt Fenton's questions are continued at June 2020 Part 1.
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
- Cosmos Palm and Cosmos Chi Kung
- Some Exercises from 18 Jewels
- The Secrets of Internal Force Masters
- When there is Form, Strike the Form
- Enchangting Riverside at St Antonio