Secrets of Building Internal Force: 10 Questions to the Grandmaster

[DarkCosmoz]

I can't wait for Sigung's responses in this thread and all the other threads!

As a side note, I've been on this forum since 2003. Over the past decade, it's wonderful to see the discussion on this forum grow from "can you prove chi is real?" to "please explain the cyclical nature of cleansing, building and nourishing."

Best regards,
Stephen

[barrys]

And so the fun begins

I have received a three part answer from Sifu for the first question and will begin posting tomorrow

[barrys]

Hi Jacek,

Well we will have to keep our fingers crossed that Sifu has the time as it came after the first 10 questions.

Best,

Barry

[Jacek Kaleta]

After 60 years of experience, what would you say are the most important "secrets" of building internal force

Many people reading this won't be Martial Artists and could dismiss the idea of "building internal force" as being not for them. Could you explain:

• what the benefits of building internal force are for someone who isn't planning or wanting to practice a martial art
• what are the most cost-effective ways of building internal force for someone like this

Thanks for asking these questions Sifu Barry, as both of them resonate quite strongly with me!

I'm looking forward to read Sigung's answers to these, and all other questions.

With best wishes
Jacek

[Nessa]

Dear Barry,

Thank you for this opportunity to ask questions.


Sifu,

last year at the Intensive Taijiquan course you taught that after internal force practice, such as Lifting Water or Three Circle Stance, one can choose to let chi flow freely, or first let the chi flow be quite still and then let go more, or let the chi flow be calm.
How does this affect on building force?


Thank you.

Best regards,

Nessa

[barrys]

Dear Sifu,

In case you decide to answer an extra question or two:

After 60 years of experience, what would you say are the most important "secrets" of building internal force

Many people reading this won't be Martial Artists and could dismiss the idea of "building internal force" as being not for them. Could you explain:

• what the benefits of building internal force are for someone who isn't planning or wanting to practice a martial art
• what are the most cost-effective ways of building internal force for someone like this

With gratitude,

Barry

[Emiko H]

Dear Barry,

Thank you for facilitating this exciting thread.

Dear Sifu,

Thank you for receiving our questions.

I would like to ask:

From past experience crossing hands with some of my seniors within our school, I have had the privilege to receive some glimpses of differing manifestations of force:

a) a sensation of 'prickly needles' entering the body
b) electric burning entering the body
c) an impenetrable tube with a core of iron that cannot be properly grasped by the hand, i.e. the hand does not feel it has made contact with the other exponent's skin
d) the exterior feels physical and muscular, but deep inside there is something solid and impenetrable
e) something 'alive' (without mercy) that is being held tightly on a leash, ready to attack if released
f) solid, soft, gentle, absorbing in a way that drains one's power and stamina

Which of the two categories of 'consolidated' and 'flowing' force do these descriptions fall under?

Why are there so many varying manifestations of force?

Which is better to use to manage the above manifestations, consolidated or flowing force?

Thank you very much.

Shaolin salute - with gratitude, love and respect,

Emiko

[barrys]

I have just been reviewing the questions in the five currently open Q&As on the forum:

Wing Choon Kung Fu
Huato Five Animal Play
Legacy of Wong Fei Hoong
Zen Intensive in Hawaii
and this one.

Crikey ... I don't know what else to say. Any one of them might take someone ages to prepare and collate the answers - let alone having built the direct experience to do so. And Sifu is answering five of them at the same time. Crikey (a wholly inadequate english colloquialism )

[barrys]

More excellent questions .

And congratulations to David on getting involved. Maybe you would like to bring people up to date with your training and progression on the thread you started when you said Hello. Sharing this is invaluable for new people who are thinking of beginning to practise Chi Kung or wondering how they might progress once they have discovered how to 'let go' and experience the wonders of chi flow.

With metta,

Barry

[djsershall]

Dear Sigung,

My question is, what are the signs that indicate that you are successfully building internal force?

I am very much looking forward to the UK Summer Camp

Shaolin Salute

[Matthew]

Another priceless opportunity!

Thank you Barry Sisook for the chance.

Dear Sigung,

Please could you explain what internal force actually is in its various forms and how these forms are similar or different? I would be very grateful to understand how these forms may feel to the practitioner and what their respective benefits are?

Thank you so much. I am super excited to be attending this year's Summer Camp.

With love and Shaolin salute.

[Andy]

^^Good Question!

Dear Sihing,

Thanks for this opportunity amongst opportunities. I hope many people take advantage of all these free question times with a Grandmaster!

Dear Sifu,

There is a lot of misinformation in the world about internal force, for example both the Sanchin of Karate and the San Zhan of Wuzuquan from which it was derived have both been described as "dynamic tension" exercises by sources claiming to be authoritative.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_tension

Iron Wire has been described as "qigong" meaning "meditative breathing" combined with isometric exercise/dynamic tension:

The Iron Wire form is essentially a combination of Hei Gung (Chinese: 气功; pinyin: qigong) or meditative breathing with isometric exercise, particularly dynamic tension, although weights were also used in traditional practice in the form of iron rings worn on the wrists. If properly practiced, it can increase strength considerably and promote a stable root. However as with both most forms of qigong and most forms of isometric exercise, it must be practiced regularly or the benefits are quickly lost.

Source: Wikipedia (as of 29/Mar/14) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hung_Ga

• Please can you define the difference between dynamic tension and internal force?
• Please can you describe the difference in benefits a practitioner will gain from attending this course, vs. a course on dynamic tension?

Many thanks once again!
Please

[Matt F.]

Dear Sifu,

My experience with building internal force has clearly demonstrated the fact that internal force has benefitted my physical/external body - health, endurance, strength. I have also noticed that when I maintain a moderate level of external stimulus (physical labor/construction job, cycling, rock climbing, heavy yard work - moving rocks, etc), there seems to be a cross over benefit to my internal training (i.e. stance training is more relaxed and at a deeper level, condensing force feels more powerful, etc). I have experienced the opposite to also be true, and if my lifestyle is too sedentary, it seems to have a negative impact on my internal training.

Is there a link between external stimulus and building internal force? Typically, Water Buffalo methods are used to build external strength, but can they also be used as an adjunct to internal force training, for even more benefit?

-Matt

[barrys]

Some great questions already. Five still available

Dear Sifu,

Thank you for offering an opportunity to ask you questions on building internal force.

You mentioned on your website that you believed past masters like the Venerable Ng Mui and Zhang San Feng were all rounders. And how their general level in terms of arm sensitivity or Iron Arm was of a higher level than masters who were particularly known for those arts(like Yim Wing Choon).

My question's are:

How did the Venerable Ng Mui and Zhang San Feng achieve this?

Was it from practicing many force training methods as opposed to only one or two methods?

Is it unfavorable to practice only one or two methods as opposed to many over one's Kungfu career?

Thank you in advance,

Sham.