SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
JANUARY 2024 PART 3

My father, my mother and me more than 60 years ago

My father, my mother and me more than 60 years ago

Question 1

One of those trainers in the martial arts says something about being filial to our parents. What exactly does that mean? Like obey and respect?

— Brandon, USA

Answer

We should be filial to our parents like obeying, respecting and honouring them even when there may be differences.

One of my regrets is that I did not honour my parents more. I did honour my parents, but I could have honoured them more.

If your parents are around, obey, respect and honour them. If they are not around, be kind and respectful to the elderlies.

Question 2

April is a month for blossoming good luck. May all businesses reopen and be at full capacity soon.

— Sifu Lee Wei Joo, Shaolin Wahnam Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Answer

Indeed, April is the month of good luck. May the lockdown be over soon and business be open.

There will also be an increase of people taking chi kung, as health is the greatest wealth.

chi flow

Chi flow

Question 3

I am happy to say that I have started sparring again to finish the 30 opponents programme. I was able to defeat the first (actually the 17th) sparring match quite easily.


Editorial Note: Sifu Roeland Dikema's questions are continued from here.

— Roeland Dijkema, Shaolin Wahnam Netherlands

Answer

You have started sparring and you can easily defeat the 17th sparring opponent.

You are easily more than 10 times better than I during my students' days.

I was quite well known in kungfu circles, taught by some of the best teachers, and a fast learner.

Question 4

I sent this email some days ago, but I may have included too many attachments from the patterns.

Answer

I am here to answer questions.

the famous tiger-tail kick

The famous tiger-tail kick

Question 5

I have recently been working on my own book on Shaolin and I am doing research on kungfu techniques for that purpose. I was astounded to find, from just during 1 day's research that kungfu has at least 75 kicking techniques!

— Charlie, USA

Answer

First we need to know the difference between a pattern and a method of kicking.

A pattern is an arrangement of kungfu movement, and a method is a particular way of kicking. For example, if you hold someone's hand and kick at his groin, it is a pattern. If you kick this groin using your knee as pivot, it is a method.

There are more than 75 kicking patterns in kungfu.

Take, for example, the famous snap kick, or organ-seeking kick. There are "Hui Sing Kicks the Bushel", "Little Bird Kicks in the Air", "Kicking the Shuttle" and "Yellow Bird Drinks Water'". These are patterns, and they are found in Shaolin Kungfu.

We have Taijiquan, Xingyiquan and Baguazhang, and many more.

Then there are methods, like snap kicks, side-body kicks, thrust kicks and others.

If you bend your body and kick, that is a side-body kick. There are many methods of kicking, like "Happy Bird Hops up Branch" and "Lazy Buffalo Kicks".

Traditionally, there are 36 common kicks. They refer to patterns.

If we refer to methods, there are certainly more than 36 kicks. There are many patterns in a particular way of kicking.

Question 6

Is there any possibility now or in the future of you discussing the Shaolin throws with which you are familiar in the same format that you discussed the 36 kicks?

Answer

Referring to throws, which are called felling techniques in English, there are more throws in a particular way of felling. There are more patterns than methods.

Traditionally, there are 18 common felling techniques. Some authors put the number of felling techniques to 36.

When I was teaching felling techniques, I counted more than 18 felling techniques. Methods are more than patterns.

It will be great if you can attain my Intensive Chi Kung Course. If you find the course useful, you can attend my Intensive Shaolin Kungfu or Intensive Taijiquan Course.

Because of the world lockdown, I don't know when I can offer these courses, but they will be mentioned in my website.

thrust kick

Thrust kick

Question 7

How do I know that I can enter into a chi kung state of mind, and generate a chi flow?

— Chen, Hong Kong

Answer

You know you can enter into a chi kung state of mind and generate a chi (or energy) flow by personal experience, i.e. you know by doing them yourself.

Most people cannot enter a chi kung state of mind, or a higher level of consciousness. They only practice gentle, physical exercise, and they do not realize it. Gentle, physical exercise does not contribute to good health, vitality and longevity, the reason why they practice chi kung.

Master Yan Xin was the first person to coin the phrase "to enter a chi kung state of mind", or a higher level of consciousness. He is a great chi kung master from China, known for distant chi transmission, and reputed to redirect missiles.

He is a disciple of the famous Venerable Hai Teng, the master who taught at the Shaolin Monastery at Henen Province. It was because a Japanese master said that Shorinji Kempo back-flowed from Japan to China. The Venerable Hai Teng left the Monastery because of policy difference.

Students generally follow their masters every year, but I have more than 100 classes a year. Hence, I have a lot of opportunities. Besides, I differentiate between skills and techniques, and transfer the skills from heart to heart.

At my Intensive Chi Kung Course and my Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course or Intensive Taijiquan Course, my students enter a chi kung state of mind and generate a chi (or energy) flow within the first hour of the Intensive Course. If they do not, they do not have to pay the course fee.

Question 8

How do I practice chi kung?

Answer

"To practice chi kung from Shaolin is better than changing stones to gold by touch" says a proverb. At first this was poetic, but later I realized it was true.

It was from a lady who suffered from cancer. She was so bad that she wanted to die. Of course, she overcame her cancer.

To practice chi kung, one must enter a chi kung state of mind. Master Yan Xin realized that chi (or energy) is very important, but the most important is mind. It takes most people to enter into a chi kung state of mind.

It takes most people many years, if they are lucky, to have a chi (or energy) flow. Students in my intensive courses can enter a chi kung state of mind and generate a chi (or energy) flow within the first hour, or else they do not have to pay the course fee.

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