"Drunken Eight Immortals" Kung Fu

[Mark Blohm]

Flowing force and flowing mind,
Take not for granted he so kind.
Transmit skills, take not praise,
And lock ye to the Master's gaze.
This course for what? We need not know.
But probably some seeds to sow.
8 Immortals, drank our fill.
Enraptured in the Master's will!

[AlexBaranosky]

Ahhh, home at last from the beautiful southern coast of England.

Wow. What a great week!

First, The People:

It can't be overstated how much fun I always have with my fellow Wahnam brothers and sisters. Seeing chikung novices experience chi flow for the first time, or seeing them get teary when they feel the amazing cosmic love for the first time; that is always priceless.

Sparring with my Wahnam kungfu brothers between classes was great, and we also enjoyed great times on the town. Please stay in touch and if you are in the Boston area I would love to show any of my Wahnam family around town.

The Course Itself

Day 1, Generating Energy Flow:

Returning to the core of our practice. Relaxing, smiling from the heart, without a care in the world. The more I relaxed the more energy I had. I enjoyed taking my sense of relaxation to a deeper level, feeling relaxation ripple down my body as I practiced Lifting the Sky.

Day 2, Cosmic Breathing and Sinew Metamorphosis:

I had some amazing chi flows this day. Such simple exercises made me feel like I was charged with internal force; chi flows like I was possessed with a powerful invisible warrior. Again, the more I relaxed the more the warrior within grew in power. Felt alternately like a tiger on fire or a battering ram.

Day 3, Drunken Eight Immortals (morning), 18 Lohan Arts (evening):

Morning - Went through the set learning it in greater detail than I could via the videos. Nice.

Evening - Learned the first 6. This day was really amazing. Each of the exercises was amazing in its own unique fashion.

Lohan Worships Buddha made me feel like my heart was at peace. It sounds simple, but the level of peace was remarkable. It made me realize (again) how precious these arts are.

Reverse Hanging of Double Hooks and Double Hooks Hanging on Wall made me feel charged with energy down to my bones, charging my 'hooks' with energy.

Shake Head Wag Tail and Rhinoceros Looks at Tail both were remarkable exercises that charged my spine with cosmic energy. In the chi flows following these I felt my spine charged with white energy; I felt energy from the cosmos flowing in from above, filling the spine region and flowing throughout my body into the bones and teeth. I could actually "see" in my mind's eye the energy going from the cosmos, filling my spine area, and flowing smoothly through my bones and charging deeply into the bones as well. This was very cool

Big Boss Lifts Bronze Vessel left me very much charged with internal force, more in the muscles than the previous exercises.

Day 4, Drunken Eight Immortals (morning), 18 Lohan Arts (evening):

Morning - Today we learned to apply the flow method to parts of the set. First we got picture perfect form, then linked the patterns together so that they flowed together as one long pattern. Then we used the mind to direct the movements, and finally we used the mind to increase the flow many times over, which increased the force.

Amazing. It felt like I could move like the wind with great force, yet getting less tired than I did when we practiced the set slower, without using the flow technique! This feels like the number one secret taught in this course - if I master this one technique I will be very quick, very powerful, and have amazing stamina from the ever-flowing chi. So I plan to spend much time with this skill.

Evening - we learned six great patterns for exploding force in different ways. Amazing. Let's just say these patterns had me punching the concrete walls.

Day 5, Drunken Eight Immortals (morning), 18 Lohan Arts (evening):

Morning - we went over tons of applications from the set together in groups of four. This was fun and informative. I learned a lot. I have soooooooooo much to practice. These applications are serious business.

Evening - The final six patterns taught were for agility and flexibility. What I experienced personally was a little more wall-punching and a great feeling of softness. Interestingly, I was punching walls, and yet feeling 'softer'.

Chi flow right after Hungry Tiger Charges at Prey had me make the most ferocious tiger claw sound as the force rushed into my claws one at a time. Amazing.

Night Guard Tests Sea created a wonderful joyful peace in my heart.

Old Monk Takes off Shoes and Swallow Flies through Clouds both stimulated the 5 gates and really gave me a great feeling of soft solidity. Hard to describe, but my feet sort of felt like they were walking on pillows for a few hours after the course ended.

Day 6, Drunken Eight Immortals (morning & evening):

Morning & Evening - many many patterns applied to both kungfu as well as toward other martial arts. I felt abnormally tired and grumpy on this day, and felt like the pattern applications were a little over my head - I have a lot of applications to practice here. A LOT. But when I get good at them, well WHOA watch out!

Post-Course Changes:

Since the courses ended I've noticed my arms have become very light, and I can move them much faster than ever before. I don't use any muscular force and they can move very very quickly continuously through patterns like Beauty Looks in Mirror and Low Hand Sweep, Horizontally Sweeping a Thousand Armies, Poisonous Snake Emerges from Pit, Offering Wine, and Hang Lotus (back fist). Maybe it came from the cloud hands-like parts of the Immortals Set, or maybe it was simply a transmission from Sifu! It is remarkable either way really.

Also, my girlfriend has remarked already that I seem different. She can't quite place it, saying I feel more assertive in a good way.

I also feel different. I feel like my priorities have shifted. I feel a greater need to enjoy my life, and to help all sentient beings have good lives; like I can't really have a good life without all of us having good lives. I am reflecting on the teaching "Goodness begets goodness" which is resonating inside of me.

Thank You Sifu.
Alex

[Michael Agar]

Hey Alex
Thank you for sharing your detailed impressions of what looks like a wonderful week in Brighton. It's the next best thing to being there.
Best wishes from your brother who couldn't go this time,
Michael

[Guest]

Hello everyone,

The Course was amazing!!! The transmition from our Great Grandmaster was once again the highest of the high. We are all very blessed.
I had so much fun hanging out in town, training together, meeting new faces and catching up with old ones.

What can I say about the Course? To quote a passage about the Monk Sagacious Lu from The Chinese Classic "The Water Margin", or "Outlaws of the Marsh" :

"He feinted east and struck west, He feinted south and thumped north"



Thank you for sharing that great poem Siheng Mark, and thank you for sharing your great account Siheng Alex, it was great meeting you all.

My gratitude to Sifu, to The Eight Immortals, and to all my Brothers and Sisters for being such an inspiration.

Thank you,
Tim

[Steffen]

I am very happy that the participants could enjoy such a wonderful course. Thank you for sharing your experiences!

Thank you Sitaigung for preserving and teaching these wonderful arts.

May you all be happy .

With metta,
Steffen

[GreggH]

Wow....
It is great to read all you amazing experiences for which sounds like an amazing week.
Hope ye all had a great week training and didnt get too drunk ha ha ha

Gregg

[Mark Blohm]

for Course Participants

What's your favorite pattern from the set?

or

Which Immortal's Kung Fu do you like the most?

[ChristinaB]

Oh glorious dawn
Shining down on us
We soak up your love

His command so sure
Strong signal reaching heart-mind
Advancing with ease

Smiling hearts open
With great praise we sing his name
Oh Sifu, Sifu!

Gifts freely given
If only one should look up
Open to the dawn

free free free at last
sailing past the endless sea
at once I am Thee!

Thank you Sifu and Thank you to all my brothers and sisters who made these courses truly amazing. It seems impossible that each course could get better and better and yet each time it is true.

Thank you Sifu for teaching us how to enjoy our lives more and more and more!!!

Thank you Robin for organizing such a tremendous course with absolutely terrific course pairings! Thank you to all of you from Britain who showed how to take care of our wonderful Sifu and all our brothers and sisters with top notch care and compassion! I will be looking forward to the next Summer Camp with incredible joy!

Thank you for everyone at the Ten Tigers courses for revitalizing my excitement for the excellent art that is Shaolin kung Fu. I will be looking forward to seeing all of you next year!

Most importantly thank you to Quan Yin and all the Immortals who were so generous to come and shine through our Sifu so that we might be able to bask in the glory of what this universe has to offer and to learn just a bit more of the truth that is our original face. May we all shine forth in our own lives with such compassion and joy.

Blessings to all !

Oh and Mark - the lady immortal - OF Course!

[Mark CH]

Thank you all for sharing.

Best wishes
Mark

[Guest]

What's your favorite pattern from the set?
or
Which Immortal's Kung Fu do you like the most?

Immortal Li and the leg work

[Andrea]

Dear Shaolin Wahnam Family

What a course! Challenging, inspiring, surprising, incredibly rich, profound, blessed, flowing ...

Back home I had the feeling I have been away on a very long journey...
I also found that my Chi Flow has changed - not so much the form, but the quality ... both in spontaneous Chi Flow and when performing a set. It feels very different, completely flowing, playful, and yes often very drunken *smile.
As for the skills and techniques - there was so much in this course and I am sure during revision more will "pop up". But for now I think it's especially in the area of felling and Chinna techniques and skills, where I made some progress. BTW the course felt like the perfect continuation from the "Tai Chi Chuan against other martial arts" course in February in Ireland. Isn't it interesting that "normal" regional courses and "special" regional courses are not exclusive but complementary? I am looking forward to the September course in Bern, which with Grasping Sparrow's Tail, a pattern from the Dragon Strength set and defenses against MA such Aikido should nicely fit in .

Thank you Sigung for your teachings and transmissions. Thank you and Sifu for preparing me to take part in such a course.
My thanks also goes to all the course participants for the good time together, the patience and sharing of skills. It was lovely to meet you all.
And to Guan Shi Yin Pusa and the Eight Immortals for their blessings and presence.

Andrea

[Anthony S]

I'm like Tim, I'm most impressed by Immortal Li's legwork. Of course, there is a lot to be amazed at and, with so much depth in the set, favorites may change over time.

[Nick_R]

re: The Drunken Eight Immortals!!!!

I really love this set.

I am still learning it, and I'm lacking in the level of footwork, force and general awareness required to make a lot of this high level Kung Fu 'work', however I really enjoy performing the parts I know.

Before I went to summer camp I found set practice the most difficult area of my daily practice.

I found it particularly hard to maintain a clear mind, and not attach to mistakes I was making. Often I would miss set practice out, in favor of more force training, chi flow or pattern/ application practice.

I found learning Kung Fu sets from videos very hard work, and not something I would choose to do for fun.

To my surprise, on return from camp, I am really enjoying breaking down the set and learning the sections which I found most difficult. I feel a sense of freedom and joy when I'm performing the movements of the Immortals.. and a sense of child like intrigue and amazement at the patterns, their application and their execution.

My favorite pattern at the moment is 'Gold Coin On Ground'.

I also really like the Kung Fu of Immortal Cao Guo Jiu, and Immortal Han Xiang Zi. Though I find performing these sections the most difficult. The footwork is really beautiful..and I really want to move like that!

The Clutch Kicks of Immortal Li are fantastic..

I was wondering about rigging some sort of mechanical contraption to help develop agility, coordination and skill with this leg work, assuming a suitable partner was not available. Anyone have any ideas there?!

The whole week was magical. Really special.

Thank you very much to all the lovely people who took part. It was an honor spending time with you.

Thank you to Sisook Robin, and Sifu Fleur for the fantastic organization.

Thank you Sigung, for traveling so far to teach us.

I am really speechless every time I try and rationalise all you have done for me. It is such a lot.

Thank you.

Thank you to the Eight Immortals. And to the past masters.

Best wishes to everyone.

Whoooo HOooooooo.

Nick

[Luo Lang]

Dear all,
I would like to add my deepest gratidude and thanks to Sifu for sharing his wisdom and experience and teaching this wonderful course!

The transmission was once again mind blowing.

A personal highlight of mine was observing Sifu seemengly effortless gliding onto the floor applying Reverse Kicking of purple Bell, when Robin applied a double kick.

Thanks for the organisation cometee Robin and Fleur for this wonderful opportunity.

Thanks to Tim driving us to the course venue and for the nice laughs.

Thanks for my roommates for having so much familyfun!

Best regards,

Roland

[Robin]

Thank you!!!!

Dear family,

I have internet connection yay


Just a quick post to say Thank you!!!

Thank you Sifu!!

Thank you to all the instructors that attended and helped out it massive ways.

Thank you to all of those who attended and made a truly mind blowing Drunken Eight Immortals course!

I have to admit it, for me it was the best course at any Summer Camp so far, though I understand we all have our individual preferences.

I'll post some Drunken pictures here in the near future.

best

Robin