Wahnam Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Set: 10 Questions to Grandmaster Wong

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 6-Part 2

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 6-Part 2:

(Continued from Part 1)


The force-method is still very important in our school, and Lohan Asks the Way is still the primary set to teach this force-method to students in Intensive Shaolin kungfu Courses. But because of the effectiveness of the flow-method, which is also used in Shaolin Kungfu, the flow-method is not as much emphasized now as before.

Yes, you are right in your reflection that the flow-method aims at the mind level. When a practitioner has attained a very high level of mind, he can use his mind to direct his chi flow. His chi flow will in turn move his body. By using his mind to direct his chi flow in certain ways, he can move his body without using muscular contraction.

When he performs a kungfu movement, for example, instead of tensing his muscles to move his form, he can direct his chi to move it. Many Taijiquan masters consider this a supreme skill. It is incredible but true that many of our students have attained this skill!

When a practitioner uses his mind to direct energy to direct form, he may attain cosmic breathing. His energy while flowing inside his body will also activate an exchange of energy between his body and the Cosmos. Hence, he may not need to breath in and out with his nose and mouth as it is normally done by ordinary people, because fresh energy from the Cosmos flows in spontaneously into his body, and stale energy from his body is spontaneously disposed off from his body into the Cosmos.

Because he does not need to breath in and out with his nose and mouth, he will not be out of breath as breathing becomes irrelevant in this case. As he does not tense his muscles to perform bodily movement, he will not be tired, as tiredness is due to excessive muscular tension. Hence he can perform vigorous action, like sparring, for hours without panting for breath and without being tired. This is a master’s skill, but again incredibly all those who have attended my Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Courses and Intensive Taijiquan Courses have this skill!

As he continues to cultivate to the highest level, the energy flow inside his body will merge with the energy of the Cosmos, achieving the supreme attainment of his personal spirit merging with the Universal Spirit. I believe the great Zhang San Feng achieved immortality in this way.

While the flow-method can lead to Cosmic Breathing and even to the highest achievement of attaining the Tao, it can also operate at a much lower level. Even without attaining Cosmic Breathing, he can still perform his movements smoothly to generate an internal energy flow. Then he can use his mind to direct his energy flow to move his body. At this relatively lower level, he needs to breathe in and out through his nose and mouth.

Hence, the process of regulating the breath, like the process of visualization, progresses in a circle. At the beginners’ level, a practitioner does not know how to regulate his breathing. At the intermediate level he regulates his breathing. At the advanced level he does not need to regulate his breathing.

On the other hand, the force-method can be use to attain Cosmic Breathing and even merging with the Cosmos too, though, if all other things were equal, it is not as cost-effective as the flow-method. At a very high level a practitioner using the force-method needs not breath in and out through his nose and mouth, as his internal energy flow, which is an essential requirement if he wishes to consolidate internal force, can enable him to exchange energy with the Cosmos.

At the supreme level his personal energy flow may merge with the Universal Energy Flow. In order to achieve this, he must not consolidate any internal force. In fact he should do the reverse; he should convert his internal force to flowing energy, and with his mind and energy as one, his personal energy and mind merge with the Supreme Reality.


<End>

[Steffen]

Simply great ! Thank you very much for the illuminating answers, dear Sitaigung. Thank you also to Sisookgung Roland and all the question askers.

I am looking forward to deepening my experience with this wonderful set at the upcoming Shaolin Mountain Retreat with Sigung Kai !

Best regards,
Steffen

[Daniel]

Thank you Sifu and Roland!

Fascinating!

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 7-Part 1

A fantastic question a marvellous answer

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 7-Part 1:

Question 7

Could you please compare and contrast the sets "White Crane Flaps Wings" and "Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow" and elaborate a little on where each set fits in to the wonderful Art of Wahnam Taijiquan?

Sifu Jeffrey Segal



Answer

A good conceptual framework for a comparison and contrast of the two sets is to use the four factors of from, force, application and philosophy. Why do we use these four factors?

It is because these four factors provide a comprehensive description of the scope and depth of any martial art. In other words, by considering these four factors we cover all the important points regarding the practice and benefits of a martial art.

The form of “White Crane Flaps Wings” is from Yang Style Taijiquan but the arrangement of the patterns is such that the set can be performed fast like Shaolin Kungfu, thus giving it an appearance of Chen Style Taijiquan.

The form of “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is also from Yang Style Taijiquan but the arrangement of the patterns is such that the set is usually performed slowly like what most people today conceptualize Taijiquan to be, which is how Yang Style Taijiquan is normally performed.

Both sets are of medium length. “White Crane Flaps Wings” has 46 patterns, whereas “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” has 56 patterns. As many of the patterns are repeated, the number of individually different patterns in “White Crane Flaps Wings” is 23, and that in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is 28.

Most of the core patterns are the same, and they are from Yang Style Taijiquan. Eight patterns in “White Crane Flaps Wings” in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”, and thirteen patterns in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” are not found in “White Crane Flaps Wings”.

The individually different patterns of both sets are listed below, with a $ sign after those patterns that are not found in the other set.

White Crane Flaps Wings

1. Cloud Hands
2. Immortal Waves Sleeves
3. Double Dragon Plays with Pearl
4. Push Boat According to Flow
5. Black Bear Sinks Hips
6. Open Window to Look at Moon
7. Fisherman Casts Net
8. Single Whip
9. White Crane Flaps Wings
10. Green Dragon Shoots Pearl
11. Play the Lute
12. Cross Hands Thrust Kick
13. Reverse Hanging of Golden Lotus
14. White Snake Shoots Venom
15. Old Eagle Catches Snake
16. Carry Tiger Back to Mountain
17. Punch Below Sleeves
18. Bow-Arrow Thrust Punch
19. Low Stance Vertical Fist
20. Side Kick
21. Fierce Dragon Across Steam
22. Strike Tiger Poise
23. Reverse Cloud Hands

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow

1. Lifting Water
2. Wild Horse Separate Mane
3. White Crane Flaps Wings
4. Green Dragon Shoots Pearl
5. Playing the Lute
6. Repulse Monkey
7. Immortal Waves Sleeves
8. Double Dragon Plays with Pearl
9. Push Boat According to Flow
10. Black Bear Sinks Hips
11. Open Window to Look at Moon
12. Fisherman Casts Net
13. Single Whip
14. Cloud Hands
15. White Snake Shoots Venom
16. Cross Hands Thrust Kick
17. Double Bees Suck Pollens
18. Low Stance Single Whip
19. Golden Cockerel Stands Solitarily
20. Jade Girl Threads Shuttle
21. Needle at Sea Bottom
22. Shoulder Strike
23. Elbow Strike
24. Dodge Extend Arm
25. Reverse Hanging of Golden Lotus
26. Punch Below Sleeves
27. Like Close Like Cover
28. Cross Hands

In “White Crane Flaps Wings” the structure of the set is a north-south movement. After performing the right and the left mode of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail, a practitioner who starts in a central position facing north, moves north, then turns around and moves south, turns around to move north diagonally, then retreats southward to compete the set. This structure is typical of Southern Shaolin sets.

In “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” the structure of the set is a east-west movement. A practitioner who starts on the right side facing north, moves from east to west, retreats from west to east, moves from east to west again, turns around to move from west to east, and again turns around to move a short space to the west to complete the set. This structure is typical of Taijiquan sets and Northern Shaolin sets.

(Part 2 follows)

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 7-Part 1

Due to some corrections I would like to re-send Q/A 7 Part 1. I appologise for that.

Question 7

Could you please compare and contrast the sets "White Crane Flaps Wings" and "Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow" and elaborate a little on where each set fits in to the wonderful Art of Wahnam Taijiquan?

Sifu Jeffrey Segal



Answer

A good conceptual framework for a comparison and contrast of the two sets is to use the four factors of from, force, application and philosophy. Why do we use these four factors?

It is because these four factors provide a comprehensive description of the scope and depth of any martial art. In other words, by considering these four factors we cover all the important points regarding the practice and benefits of a martial art.

The form of “White Crane Flaps Wings” is from Yang Style Taijiquan but the arrangement of the patterns is such that the set can be performed fast like Shaolin Kungfu, thus giving it an appearance of Chen Style Taijiquan.

The form of “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is also from Yang Style Taijiquan but the arrangement of the patterns is such that the set is usually performed slowly like what most people today conceptualize Taijiquan to be, which is how Yang Style Taijiquan is normally performed.

Both sets are of medium length. “White Crane Flaps Wings” has 46 patterns, whereas “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” has 56 patterns. As many of the patterns are repeated, the number of individually different patterns in “White Crane Flaps Wings” is 23, and that in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is 28.

Most of the core patterns are the same, and they are from Yang Style Taijiquan. Eight patterns in “White Crane Flaps Wings” are not found in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”, and thirteen patterns in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” are not found in “White Crane Flaps Wings”.

The individually different patterns of both sets are listed below, with a $ sign after those patterns that are not found in the other set.

White Crane Flaps Wings

1. Cloud Hands
2. Immortal Waves Sleeves
3. Double Dragon Plays with Pearl
4. Push Boat According to Flow
5. Black Bear Sinks Hips
6. Open Window to Look at Moon
7. Fisherman Casts Net
8. Single Whip
9. White Crane Flaps Wings
10. Green Dragon Shoots Pearl
11. Play the Lute
12. Cross Hands Thrust Kick
13. Reverse Hanging of Golden Lotus
14. White Snake Shoots Venom
15. Old Eagle Catches Snake $
16. Carry Tiger Back to Mountain $
17. Punch Below Sleeves
18. Bow-Arrow Thrust Punch $
19. Low Stance Vertical Fist $
20. Side Kick $
21. Fierce Dragon Across Steam $
22. Strike Tiger Poise $
23. Reverse Cloud Hands $

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow

1. Lifting Water $
2. Wild Horse Separate Mane $
3. White Crane Flaps Wings
4. Green Dragon Shoots Pearl
5. Playing the Lute
6. Repulse Monkey $
7. Immortal Waves Sleeves
8. Double Dragon Plays with Pearl
9. Push Boat According to Flow
10. Black Bear Sinks Hips
11. Open Window to Look at Moon
12. Fisherman Casts Net
13. Single Whip
14. Cloud Hands
15. White Snake Shoots Venom
16. Cross Hands Thrust Kick
17. Double Bees Suck Pollens $
18. Low Stance Single Whip $
19. Golden Cockerel Stands Solitarily $
20. Jade Girl Threads Shuttle $
21. Needle at Sea Bottom $
22. Shoulder Strike $
23. Elbow Strike $
24. Dodge Extend Arm $
25. Reverse Hanging of Golden Lotus
26. Punch Below Sleeves
27. Like Close Like Cover $
28. Cross Hands $

In “White Crane Flaps Wings” the structure of the set is a north-south movement. After performing the right and the left mode of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail, a practitioner who starts in a central position facing north, moves north, then turns around and moves south, turns around to move north diagonally, then retreats southward to compete the set. This structure is typical of Southern Shaolin sets.

In “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” the structure of the set is a east-west movement. A practitioner who starts on the right side facing north, moves from east to west, retreats from west to east, moves from east to west again, turns around to move from west to east, and again turns around to move a short space to the west to complete the set. This structure is typical of Taijiquan sets and Northern Shaolin sets.

(Part 2 follows)

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 7-Part 2

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 7-Part 2:

(Continued from Part 1)

In terms of form, both sets fit in very well with our Wahnam Taijiquan, though there is some difference in the purpose of our teaching and benefits for our students.

“Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is excellent for our purpose of teaching Taijiquan form. The arrangement of the patterns in this set is such that the patterns can be performed flowing and gracefully, which is typical of Yang Style Taijiquan, and which is also what many people conceptualize Taiijiquan to be. Students have a lot of practice in and therefore benefit much from important Taijiquan principles like “starting with the back leg, rotating the waist, and completing in the hands” and “no beginning no ending”.

Besides providing excellent opportunities for students to learn important Taijiquan movements, “White Crane Flaps Wings” has the added advantage of performing Taijiquan in a fast and forceful manner, as in Chen Style Taijiquan. This gives our students an opportunity to realize that the Yang Style Taijiquan that many people normally see performed in a park is not the only type of Taijiquan, and that Taijiquan can be fast and forceful. Indeed, no martial art can be effective for combat if it is not fast and forceful.

In terns of force development, both sets use the flow method, though the force method is used in some patterns in “White Crane Flaps Wings”. Relatively, “White Crane Flaps Wings” is more powerful than “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”.

Without internal force “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is like a dance, and it would be lacking in force for combat. But without internal force “White Crane Flaps Wings” can still make use of muscular strength for fighting.

If the two sets were practiced not as genuine Taijiquan but as Taiji dance, its gentle, flowing patterns make “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” more advantageous for health and longevity. The tensing of muscles to produce muscular strength in some patterns of “White Crane Flaps Wings” may cause some energy blockage.

But in terms of vitality, “White Crane Flaps Wings” is more advantageous than “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”. This is because the more vigorous movements of “White Crane Flaps Wings” are more conducive to fitness and strength.

In our school both sets are practiced as genuine Taijiquan. “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” provides a good opportunity for students to experience that gentle, graceful movements when performed correctly generate energy flow, which develops into internal force. Thus they experience “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” as an internal art. They also discover that they can also perform the techniques of “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” in a fast and forceful manner.

“White Crane Flaps Wings” enables our students to experience both the soft and the hard aspects of Taijiquan. Our students have the opportunity to experience soft force from the flow method, and hard force from the force method. This set illustrates an important philosophical teaching of our school, that all great arts are both hard and soft.

If both sets are practices as genuine Taijiquan, “White Crane Flaps Wings” is relatively more effective in bringing benefits for health, vitality and longevity. This is because while “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is relatively slow, soft and graceful, while being slow, soft and graceful too, “White Crane Flaps Wings” can also be fast, hard and powerful. This yin-yang balance gives “White Crane Flaps Wings” an advantage.

It should be noted that the comparison is relative. When practiced as genuine Taijiquan, “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” also brings good health, vitality and longevity. It can be fast, hard and powerful too.

(Part 3 follows)

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 7-Part 3

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 7-Part 3:

(Continued from Part 2)

Both sets are complete in combat application. Not only both sets can be used to defend any attack, they also incorporate all the four categories of attack, namely striking, kicking, felling and chin-na.

“Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”, known by its more common name of 24-Pattern Simplified Taijiquan, is a widely practiced set by many people all over the world. The majority of them, however, practice it like a dance, with nothing internal and nothing martial. They are unlikely to know the combat application of any pattern in the set -- not even in simple punches and kicks, like “Punch Below Sleeves” and “Cross-Hands Thrust Kick”.

If the techniques were a straight-forward punch without the vertical arm, and a straight-forward kick without simultaneously separating the palms, these Taiji dancers may know the combat application, though they would probably not be able to execute the techniques effectively.

Bu these techniques, which were straight-forward initially, had evolved over time to be sophisticated, and are more effective for combat if practitioners know their combat application and have the skills to apply them.

On the other hand, “White Crane Flaps Wings” was composed by me, and is therefore unknown outside our school. But the combat applications of some of its patterns are more easily discernable, even by Taiji dancers. “Bow-Arrow Thrust Punch’ and “Side-Kick” obviously are for punching and kicking opponents.

Hence, relatively speaking the combat application of “White Crane Flaps Wings”
Is more obvious than that of “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”.

But not many people, including martial artists frequently engaged in free sparring, can pick out the felling and chin-na techniques in either set. Indeed, many people, including Taijiquan practitioners, mistakenly think that there are no or little felling and chin-na techniques in Taijiquan.

There are many felling and chin-na techniques in Taijiquan, and also in these two sets, but they are hidden in the open. “Black Bear Sinks Hips”, “Fisherman Casts Net”, “Repulse Monkey” and “Wild Horse Separate Mane”, for example, are felling techniques. Shaolin Wahnam students would not fail to notice that “Carry Tiger Back to Mountain” is excellent for felling opponents, though many other people may not realize it is a formidable felling technique.

Examples of chin-na techniques include “Double Dragon Plays with Pearl”, “Push Boat According to flow”, “Play the Lute” and “Old Eagle Catches Snake”.

While the combat applications in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” are more refined and sophisticated, i.e. they are more complex and not easily discernable to the uninitiated, the combat applications in “White Crane Flaps Wings” are more direct.

As the level of combat today is quite simple, the more direct applications of “White Crane Flaps Wings” are relatively more useful for us in today’ combat situations, which are not complex enough to warrant the need of sophisticated applications of “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”.

“Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” provides a good opportunity for our students to progress to more advanced level in our Wahnam Taijiquan. At more advanced levels of combat, like that between masters, “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” offers more sophisticated techniques.

There is more variety of attacks in “White Crane Flaps Wings” than in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”. For example striking in “White Crane Flaps Wings” involves the three levels of top, middle and low, whereas low strikes are not found in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”. There are three different types of kicks in “White Crane Flaps Wings”, i.e. thrust-kicks, organ-kicks and side-kicks, whereas in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” only thrust-kicks are found.

Hence in Wqhnam Taijiquan, “White Crane Flaps Wings” enables our students to focus on spread, whereas “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” enables our students to focus on depth.

The felling and chin-na techniques are more obvious in “White Crane Flaps Wings”, found in “Carry Tiger Back to Mountain” and “Old Eagle Catches Snake”. In “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” felling and chin-na techniques are hidden in “Playing the Lute” and “Repulse Monkey”.

In Wahnam Taijiquan, our students first use relatively simpler and more obvious techniques from “White Crane Flaps Wings” for felling and chin-na, then progress to more sophisticated and hidden felling and chin-na techniques in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”.

(Part 4 follows)

[Jeffrey Segal]

We sometimes talk about "picture perfect form". To me, this answer, even "only" up to the end of part 3 is a "picture perfect answer", sparkling with attention to detail and a generous serving of pearls of wisdom. Wow!

[Andrew]

Couldn't have put it better myself . Fantastic answer(s).

[barrys]

Funny how it works. This perfectly answered a practical question that had just come up .

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 7-Part 4

The grande finale of Uncle Jeff's fanastic question:

(Continued from Part 3)

Both “White Crane Flaps Wings” and “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” were created to meet expedient needs. In the 1970s the Chinese government promoted kungfu, known as wushu, as a sport. There were seven categories for competition, which was based solely on demonstration. Taijiquan was one of the categories, the other six being Changquan or Long Fist, Nanquan or Southern Fist, Daoshu or Sabre Techniques, Jianshu or Sword Techniques, Gunshu or Staff Techniques, and Jiangshu or Spear Techniques.

Taijiquan masters were invited to come together to compose a set for the wushu competition, and the result was the 24-Pattern Simplified Taijiquan Set.

Although this set was initially meant for competitors to perform as solo demonstration in wushu competitions, I found it contains of all important Taijiquan patterns and philosophy. Hence, when I first taught Wahnam Taijiquan in our school in the early 2000s, I used this set as the base.

After the Tai Chi Chuan Festival in Saint Petersburg in Florida in November 2012, this set was renamed “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” as its original name, “24-Pattern Simplified Taijiquan”, might be misleading. It was called “24-Pattern” because there were 24 individually different patterns. It was called “Simplified” because it was simplified from the well known 108-Pattern Yang Style Taijiquan.

In “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” practiced by us in Wahnam Taijiquan there are 28 individually different patterns. This is because “Black Bear Sinks Hips” and “Fisherman Cast Net”, which are found in both our set and the original set, are counted as two separate patterns by us as they have important combat applications of their own, but not counted as separated patterns in the original set because they are regarded as transitional movement for “Open Window to Look at Moon” and “Single Whip” respectively. In Wahnam Taijiquan we also do not regard this set as simple as it contains some sophisticated techniques and philosophy.

In regional courses where students wished to have a taste of Taijiquan but there was insufficient time to teach it at some depth, I taught them Grasping Sparrow’s Tail. At the VIP Taijiquan Course in Villa de Leyva, Columbia in September 2005, I added a few patterns of Green Dragon Shoots Pearl and kicks to form a set called “Cloud Hands”, so that the participants had a complete set to practice.

When I formulated the 12 levels of Taijiquan for the core syllabus of our Wahnam Taijiquan training, which correspond to the 12 levels of Shaolin training, I further added a few more patterns to “Cloud Hands” so that the set was complete with all the four categories of attack and defence. The new set was called “White Crane Flaps Wings” and it became the fundamental set for Wahnam Taijiquan training, corresponding to “Lohan Asks the Way” in Shaolin Kungfu.

Both “White Crane Flaps Wings” and “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” are excellent sets in Wahnam Taijiquan. They contain all important Taijiquan patterns and provide a sound understanding of Taijiquan philosophy.

Wahnam Taijiquan students practicing either set will learn the fundamentals of Taijiquan, like basic stances, footwork, waist rotation, breath coordination, six harmonies, flowing movement and exploding force. They will also learn combat applications covering all the four categories of attack and defence, as well as important Taijiquan principles like “using mind and not using strength”, “no beginning and no ending”, “using minimum force against maximum strength”.

<End>

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 8-Part 1

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 8-Part 1:

Question 8

I just have a little appendix to Jeffrey Siheng's question:

Dear Sifu, Why is the Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow set not included in our standard syllabus?

Sifu Leonard



Answer


Although “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is an excellent set, it is not included in our standard Taijiquan syllabus because the selected set, “White Crane Flaps Wings”, is a better choice for this purpose. For other purposes, like a selective set, “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is highly recommended.

This leads us to two relevant questions, “Why is “White Crane Flaps Wings” the best choice for our standard Taijiquan syllabus?” and “Why is “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” highly recommended as a selective set?”

If we examine our standard Taijiquan syllabus, which can be accessed at http://www.shaolin.org/review/taijiquan.html we can see that there is only one foundation set, which is “White Crane Flaps Wings”. The other sets in the syllabus are combat application sets, an advanced set, and weapon sets.

A foundation set is one that lays the foundation that provides the fundamentals of the art and prepares students for future development. A combat application set is one that is composed of combat sequences used in combat application. A weapon set is one that involves a classical weapon.

A selective set is one that students (and instructors) select for some special purposes, like deepening in the art or experiencing the legacies of great masters. Some selective Taijiquan sets are “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” which provides a deeper understanding of Taijiquan, and “108-Yang Style Taijiquan” and “Wudahg Taijiquan” which provide experiencing the legacies of Yang Deng Fu and Zhang San Feng respectively.

Our Taijiquan syllabus is formulated with general aims and specific objectives in mind.

The general aims are to provide students with an understanding and practice of Taijiquan that contribute to their health, vitality, longevity, mental freshness, spiritual joys and combat efficiency.

The specific objectives, which realize the general aims, are to provide students with training in Taijiquan in all the four aspects of form, force, application and philosophy in unarmed as well as selected armed combat, against single as well as multiple opponents.

The four aspects of form, force, application and philosophy are chosen because they give a comprehensive study and practice of the art. For the weapon category, the sword is selected for training because it is Taijiquan Is most famous for its sword. The sabre is also selected because, in our opinion, it best represents other weapons. A crescent-moon spear or a three-sectional staff, for example, would not be representative.

Setting aims and objectives will make our training purposeful and cost-effective. We are proud and happy to say that judging from the results of our students, we have achieved our aims and objectives well.

It may seem unnecessary to mention, but I shall still mention it because thousands of thousands of Taijiquan and other martial art practitioners outside our school seem to be unaware of the following fact. If you practice a martial art and become more and more unhealthy, it just contradicts the stated aim that practicing the art makes you healthy. If you practice a martial art and be routinely hit and kicked in free sparring, it just contradicts the stated objective that you learn self-defence.

(Part 2 follows)

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 8-Part 2

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 8-Part 2:

(Continued from Part 1)

Before addressing the two relevant questions above, it will be helpful to have a quick look at our Taijiquan syllabus. The form category of the 12 levels of the syllabus is reproduced below.

1. Stances. Footwork and Basic Forms
2. White Crane Flaps Wings
3. White Snake Shoots Venom
4. Green Dragon Shoots Pearl
5. Black Bear Sinks Hips
6. Carry Tiger Back to Mountain
7. Flowing Water Floating Clouds
8. Wudang Sword
9. Taiji Sabre
10. Empty Hands Enter White Blade
11. Tiger Enters Herd of Sheep
12. Dodge Hit

After learning the fundamentals, students learn the basic set of “White Crane Flaps Wings”. The subsequence four levels deal with combat application involving striking, kicking, felling and chin-na. “Flowing Water Floating Clouds” is chosen for advanced study and practice, after which the sword and the sabre are learnt. The next level deals with combat against an armed opponent. The last two levels deal with multiple attacks against unarmed and armed opponents.

“Empty Hands Enter White Blade”, “Tiger Enters Herd of Sheep” and “Dodge Hit” are combat strategies. At present the skills and techniques for these strategies are taught individually. In future, to help students remember them better and practice them coherently, these skills and techniques may be linked into sets.

This was the reason – to enable practitioners to remember the skills and techniques better and practice them coherently – why sets were formed. This was the reason why all the sets in the syllabus, including “White Crane Flaps Wings”, were created.

The same philosophy underlying the Taijiquan syllabus also applies to the Shaolin syllabus, which can be accessed at http://www.shaolin.org/review/shaolin.html

The form category of the 12 levels of the Shaolin syllabus is reproduced below:

1. Basic Patterns, Stances and Footwork.
2. Lohan Asks the Way
3. Black Tiger Steals Heart
4. Fierce Tiger Speeds through Valley
5. Happy Bird Hops up Branch
6. Felling Tree with Roots
7. Cross-Roads at Four Gates
8. Flowing Water Staff
9. Plum Flower Single Sabre
10. Empty Hands Enter White Blade
11. Tiger Enters Herd of Sheep
12. Dodge Hit

With an understanding of the philosophy behind the Taijiquan syllabus we can now answer with insight why “White Crane Flaps Wings” is the best choice for the foundation set amongst the many Taijiquan sets we have in our school.

At that time we did not have many Taijiquan sets to choose from. We had “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”, which was then called “24-Pattern Simplified Taijiquan”, “108-Yang Style Taijiquan”, “Cloud Hands” and “Flowing Water Floating Clouds”.

The four combat application sets were composed from the 12 basic Taijiquan combat sequences, and thus could not be used as a foundation set. The other Taijiquan sets that we now have – “Yellow Bee Sucks Pollens”, “Old Eager Catches Snake” and “Wudang Taijiquan” – were not created yet. “Yellow Bee Sucks Pollens” and “Old Eager Catches Snake” were later composed from consolidating the 12 basic combat sequences to 8 and 4 combat sequences respectively. “Wudang Taijiquan” was recreated from classical sources.

Of the four Taijiquan sets available then, “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” was the best choice. “Cloud Hands” did not have sufficient techniques to meet the requirement of the Taijiquan syllabus. “108-Yang Style Taijiquan”, was too long, and “Flowing Water Floating Clouds” was too advanced.

Even “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” was lacking in some techniques. For example, there was no low strike, and there was only one type of kicks. Moreover, some patterns, like Repulse Monkey and Golden Cockerel Stands Solitarily, were too advanced.

Hence, I used “Cloud Hands” as a base and added some required techniques to create a new set, to be named “White Crane Flaps Wings” after a beautiful pattern. Initially I thought of naming it “Green Dragon Shoots Pearl”, as this was a prominent pattern in the set. But this name was already taken by the second combat application set.

(Part 3 follows)

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 8-Part 3

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 8-Part 3:

(Continued from Part 2)

“White Crane Flaps Wings” was excellent to function as a foundation set. The starting Cloud Hands remind practitioners of how Zhang San Feng developed Taijiquan. The two sequences of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail cover all important Taijiquan movements.

Single Whip provides training for exploding force. The many repetitions of Green Dragon Shoots Pearl provide sufficient training in waist rotation, which is very important in Taijiquan and also which is what many Taijiquan practitioners today are poor at.

The added techniques made “White Crane Flaps Wings” a complete set with all the four categories of attack and defence. The forceful execution of Fierce Dragon Across Stream reminds practitioners that Taijiquan is a martial art.

Sharp observers may notice that “White Crane Flaps Wings” is very rich as a foundation set in Taijiquan compared to “Lohan Asks the Way” in Shaolin Kungfu. A noticeable difference is that “White Crane Flaps Wings” covers all the four categories of striking, kicking, felling and chin-na, whereas “Lohan Asks the Way” covers only one category of striking.

This was due to the improvement of my teaching methodology. When I composed “Lohan Asks the Way” I was just thinking of basic Shaolin patterns. When I composed “White Crane Flaps Wings” I was thinking of not just basic Taijiquan patterns but also that the patterns should include all the four categories of combat.

There was, nevertheless, still a setback in the composition of “White Crane Flaps Wings”. Do you know what it was? There was no side attack. This setback was rectified in “Yellow Bee Sucks Pollens”, “Old Eager Catches Snake”. In fact, the name of the set, “Yellow Bee Sucks Pollens”, highlighted the rectification of this setback.

While “White Crane Flaps Wings” is an excellent foundation set, “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” is an excellent selective set.

Firstly, it is short. It is interesting to note that while most other practitioners think that the longer a set is, it is more advanced, we in Shaolin Wahnam regard a shorter set more advanced than a longer one if both produce the same result. In other words, if you need 56 moves to have the same result as another practitioner who needs 108 moves, you are more advanced.

You are much more advanced if your result is better. This in fact is the case of “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” as a selective set. By performing just 56 patterns of the set, you can develop internal force, apply the patterns for combat besides attaining good health, vitality, longevity, mental freshness and spiritual joys, whereas many other people perform longer sets only for demonstration, and often sustain knee and back injuries.

You will also have these wonderful benefits by practicing the foundation set, “White Crane Flaps Wings”. Why then should you learn “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” as a selective set?

This leads to the third reason. The skills and techniques in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” are more sophisticated than those in “White Crane Flaps Wings”. Instead of felling an opponent with Carry Tiger Back to Mountain found in “White Crane Flaps Wings”, you can use Repulse Monkey found in “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow”, which is less conspicuous but more difficult to defend against.

If an opponent attacks you, irrespective of what attach he uses, you can counter with Dodge Extend Arm, first dodging his attack, and immediately counter-striking him. This pattern, or an application of this principle, is very useful when you press into an opponent relentlessly with your combat sequence.

Fourthly, this set is very effective for practicing the flow method. As the flow method is very important in Taijiquan, this set is invaluable.

Even when a practitioner may not know the flow method, if he performs this set flowingly and gracefully in a relaxed manner, he can eventually generate an energy flow. If he persists regularly in his practice, his energy flow may develop into internal force.

Many other kungfu sets may not have this facility. It is because the arrangement of the patterns in these sets does not encourage flowing and graceful movements, or the performance of some patterns demand physical strength which impedes energy flow.

Why, then, many people who practice the “24-Pattern Simplified Taijiquan Set”, which is the same as “Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow” except for the added shoulder and elbow strikes, do not have internal force or even energy flow? It is because their performance of the set is not flowing, or not graceful, or not in a relaxed manner, though they think they do.

<End>

[Luo Lang]

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 9-Part 1

Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Q/A 9-Part 1:

Question 9

Dear Sigung,

As a beginner in our school I don't know much of the program for advanced students but I read here in the forum and in the website that advanced kungfu students make a decision about their specializations, i.e. choose an animal spirit/set to manifest in their kungfu.

If I understood well some sets and patterns can manifest the animal spirit better than others. Hence somebody specialized in Dragon Force could theoretically manifest the Dragon in any pattern and more or less so with other animals (I hope I am right despite my low understanding).

On the other side, the Dragon can be manifested best in Tajiquan. One can think that the Dragon spirit is or should be present in a good Taijiquan practitioner. Then here is my humble question:

I wonder if other animals can be manifested effectively by doing Taijiquan (Tiger, Crane, Monkey, etc.) and how that can affect the practitioner of a set like Cloud Hands or any other Taijiquan set in our school in terms of combat efficacy, energy development and spiritual joy.

Davy


Answer

For convenience, we classify kungfu sets in our school into two groups, basic sets and selective sets. Basic sets are those practiced by all kungfu students. Selective sets are those selected by some students for some special purposes.

When we first introduced the selective sets in 2005 we called them special sets, but later changed the term to selective sets for reasons which will be explained later.

In Shaolin Kungfu, Lohan Askes the Way, Black Tiger Steals Heart, Fierce Tiger Speeds through Valley, Happy Bird Hops up Branch, Fell Tree with Roots, and Four Gates are basic sets. These sets form our Shaolin syllabus, and all Shaolin practitioners in our school practice these sets.

Tiger-Crane, Dragon-Tiger, Five Animals, Dragon Form and Shaolin Monkey were the first selective sets offered in 2005. Later many more selective sets were introduced, like Shaolin Tantui, Eagle Claw, Eighteen Collection, Taming the Tiger, Iron Wire, Triple Stretch, Flower Set, Siu Lin Tou, Choy-Li-Fatt Twelve Fists, Drunken Eight Immortals, Wuzuquan San Zhan, Baguazhang Swimming Dragon, and Xingyiquan Five Element Fist. Only students who attended special courses where these sets were taught, practice these sets.

In Wahnam Taijiquan, the basic sets are White Crane Flaps Wings, White Snake Shoots Venom, Green Dragon Shoots Pearl, Black Bear Sinks Hips, Carry Tiger Back to Mountain, and Flowing Water Floating Clouds. All Taijiquan students in our school learn these sets as they form the core Taijiquan syllabus.

Selective sets in Wahnam Taijiquan are Cloud Hands, Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow, Yellow Bee Sucks Pollens, Old Eagle Catches Snake, 108-Pattern Yang Style Taijiquan, and Wudang Taijiquan. Only students who attended special courses where these selective sets were taught, learned these sets.

When the selective sets were first taught, they were called special sets because they were not taught in our normal syllabus. This led to the misconception of practicing these sets as specialization.

But specialization in the sense of choosing a special set to have a deep understanding and practice of the set to attain an expert level was not the intention when these sets were first introduced. The intension was to give our students opportunities to practice classical sets after they had learned basic sets which were composed by me to meet expedient needs. To rectify the misconception we changed the term frem “special sets” to “selective sets”.

<Part 2 follows)