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Toni Bro! Thank you. What an answer to a fantastic question!
Meanwhile after all those years of training Kungfu I think I can say well yes I got some of it. Our Sifu though never stops to inspire us.
"From formless to form, from form to formless"
26.08.17-28.08.17: Qi Gong Festival with 6 courses in Bern:
Qiflow-Triple Stretch Method-12 Sinewmetamorphisis-Bone Marrow Cleansing-Zen Mind in Qi Gong
1. Different style content has different skill features. What are the special skill features of the Dragon style kungfu?
2. You generously explained to me once that Dragon patterns like Swimming Dragon Plays with Water are the most suitable ones for emphasizing the training on the mind level though we could if we wish choose any pattern from any other animal as well. Why are Dragon patterns most suitable for emphasizing the training in the mind dimension
3. How can the Dragon Strength set contribute to our Zen or mind training and vice versa?
Sifu Roland Mastel
Answer
Yes, different style content has different skill features. For example, Monkey Style Kungfu with patterns like Spiritual Monkey Emerges from Cave and Brush Leaves Search Fruit has skill features of agility and surprise, whereas Xingxiquan with techniques like pi-quan and bao-quan has skill features of tremendous force and profundity in simplicity.
As Dragon Style Kungfu has different content, it has different skill features. It is worthwhile to note that there are different types of Dragon Style Kungfu. They may be broadly classified into two main categories – broad, open Dragon Style like that of dragon forms in Shaolin Kungfu, and narrow, close Dragon Style like that of Dragon Style Kungfu founded by Pak Mei. The Dragon Strength Set and the Dragon Form Set practiced in our school belong to the first category. Examples of kungfu sets of the second category include Sixteen Moves and Dragon Form Connect Bridge.
As the content of these two broad categories is different, their skill features are different too. The skill features of the first category are long bridge, wide stance and swerving movement, whereas those of the second category are short bridge, narrow stance and coiling movement. Interestingly, the first category is softer and more flowing, whereas the second category is harder and more linear.
A common feature is that both emphasize on the training of mind, as befitting of a Dragon style. Another common feature is that both employ a lot of internal force, though the nature and the application of the force are quite different.
Dragon patterns, like Swimming Dragon Plays with Water, are excellent for mind training. The pattern, Swimming Dragon Plays with Water, is the one I use to illustrate an ultimate technique, which you can read at http://www.shaolin.org/general-2/ult...technique.html Dragon patterns are most suitable to train the mind level because a strong presence of mind is required outwardly to perform the form correctly and inwardly to generate the skills effectively.
Of course, every pattern should be performed with correct form and effective skills, summarized as the six harmonies, including the harmony of mind, but it is in Dragon patterns that the requirement of mind is most urgent.
The six harmonies are the three external harmonies of hands, body and feet, which constitute form, and the three internal harmonies of elegance, energy and mind, which constitute skills. Let us take an example of responding to a common attack, the thrust punch.
(Part 2 follows)
Engage and maintain joyful practice!
May all of you get the best benefits from what you do.
Hi family, I've been off the radar for a bit lately so missed out on these fantastic questions and answers reg the coming Dragon Strength course in Dec.
Nice one in setting this thread up Brother Anton, hope your well my friend
Loooving the first answer to the first question that our beloved Sifu has addressed, it has filled in some of the gaps around a few questions I had reg Wudang Set vs Dragon Strength from a deeper more spiritual perspective.
I get a GIGANTICUS amount out of the Wudang Set on a more inner and personal level (which is what I have always been looking for) and was wondering how or if the Dragon Strength Set would be similar / different.
The set itself has kind of stumped me as to its true benefits, I sit with the notion that Sifu's Specialist Set might be for powerful Chi Kung and Force Training purposes.
I also have a funny feeling that if day 1 of this course is anything like day 1 of the Wudang Course last Dec, then we are all going to have a very interesting first day ))))))))
Very much looking forward to the rest of Sifu's answers.
I share your excitement! The course is coming very soon!
Sean, Brother! I am good and happy that you are enjoying the Q&A just as much!
The course will be fantastic!
here comes the next Part of Q&A No. 2
(Continued from Part 1)
As an opponent executes a thrust punch, a responder may ward off using Single Tiger Emerges from Cave, then follow with Black Tiger Steaks Heart. Even when his hand position is not exact in his warding off, his foot position not exact in retreating to avoid the punch, and his body not relaxed, he can still ward off the punch. Even when his movement is not elegant, his energy blocked, and his mind stressful, he can still ram his close fist onto his opponent.
But if he employs Swimming Dragon Plays with Water, he needs to be perfect in his six harmonies. If his hand position, body position and footwork are not in perfect harmony, he would be unable to perform the form well. He must circulate his arm over and brush off the opponent’s attack, slightly rotate his waist to avoid the full force of his opponent, and place his feet far enough to be safe and near enough to strike his opponent.
His three internal harmonies must also be perfect. His movement must be flowing and precise, his energy flow smoothly from his dan tian to his fingers to strike the opponent, and his mind must be relaxed and clear to executes all these features. The most important of course is his mind. If his mind is stressful, distracted or full of irrelevant thoughts, he would fail to execute the precise form and skills even if he knows the response. Thus, Dragon patterns are excellent to train the mind.
I find the Dragon Strength Set not only the best amongst all Dragon style sets but also in all kungfu in mind training or Zen. Mind training or Zen is not only emphasized in its combat application, an example of which is explained above, but also in solo performance of the set.
Two very special features of the set, which are not normally found in other sets, are developing Dragon force and developing lighting speed. Besides the need to have a focused and relaxed mind at the same time, a practitioner also needs to use his mind to generate a vigorous energy flow and consolidate the energy when required to develop Dragon force. He also needs a focused and relaxed mind to direct his energy flow to move his forms spontaneously at will and at lighting speed.
If a practitioner’s mind is stressful or distracted, he will be unable to perform the forms of Dragon Strength correctly. When he has achieved this basic requirement of mental clarity and relaxation, he has to use his mind to generate Dragon force and develop lighting speed. He will test out his abilities first in solo set practice, then in combat application.
Reversely, when a practitioner is well trained in Zen or mind training, he will be able to progress better and faster in his Dragon Strength, both in solo practice and in combat application.
This is particularly helpful to those who study Zen instead of practice Zen. Many people may read about Zen history and philosophy, attend Zen retreats regularly, and be able to discuss Zen intellectually, but often without their own realization they do not practice Zen.
In my early years teaching in Spain, an elderly student, Don Pedro of Cuenca, told me that attending just one chi kung course taught by me gave him more Zen benefits than all he special Zen retreats he had attended every year! He experienced what mental clarity was, and he started to smile. He suddenly realized that all the participants at the many Zen retreats he had attended were dull and stressful, and never smiled.
Those who are dull and stressful will have a chance to train mental relaxation and mental clarity at the Dragon Strength course. Only when they have attained this basic requirement, can they develop Dragon force and lighting speed. They will have a chance to test whether they succeed in developing these admirable skills at the course. Then they can employ their mental clarity and presence of mind to enhance their daily life.
<End>
Engage and maintain joyful practice!
May all of you get the best benefits from what you do.
If I am not mistaken I heard you mentioning in the Valentines Courses that: "Wudang Taijiquan represents the pinnacle of Shaolin Kungfu but Dragon Strength is my pinnacle". I would kindly ask if you could please explain, why Dragon Strength is your pinnacle?
Santiago
Answer
Firstly, I shall explain why Wudang Taijiquan represents the pinnacle of Shaolin Kungfu. Then I shall explain why Dragon Strength is my pinnacle.
Shaolin Kungfu was, and still is, practiced at three stages. At the first stage, students learned the physical forms of Shaolin Kungfu. This would take at least a few years. Then, if they were selected they would be taught energy cultivation, known as nei kung or internal art. After another few years, if they were lucky they would be taught mind cultivation, or meditation. Not many students, of course, had the opportunity to reach energy cultivation even if they practice for a long time. Fewer still had he chance to practice mind cultivation.
When Zhang San Feng practiced Shaolin Kungfu on Wudang Mountain after he had graduated from the Shaolin Temple in Henan, in the 13th century, he integrated all the three stages into one. In other words, instead of practicing the physical movements of kungfu, energy cultivation and mind cultivation separately, he practiced all of them together at the same time. As he performed physical movements of kungfu, he simultaneously cultivated energy and mind. He also modified the hard and linear aspects of Shaolin Kungfu into softer and circular movements.
The style of kungfu Zhang San Feng practiced was called Wudang Shaolin Kungfu, to differentiate it from Henan Shaolin Kungfu at the Shaolin Temple. Later it was shortened to Wudang Kungfu. A few centuries later it was called Taijiquan, or Taiji Kungfu, when Chen Wang Ting employed Taiji concepts to explain the philosophy of this martial art. The style of Taijiquan practiced on Wudang Mountain , which was previously called Wudang Kungfu, is now called Wudang Taijiquan, to differentiate it from other styles of Taijiquan like Chen Style and Yang Style that developed later.
Zhang San Feng is honoured as the First Patriarch of internal martial arts, as he was the one to integrate internal cultivation into external martial arts. Before him, martial arts were practiced at a physical level. Advanced martial art masters might pursue internal cultivation, but they did so separately from their martial art training.
Hence today practitioners of Taijiquan and other internal martial arts like Baguazhang and Xingyiquan cultivate energy and mind as soon as they learn the physical forms of their martial arts, if their arts are genuine. This is different from the many styles of Shaolin Kungfu, like Hoong Ka, Wing Choon, Choy-Li-Fatt, Praying Mantis and Eagle Claw, which are generally described as external martial arts, where practitioners perform their arts at a physical level, and have to practice separately if they wish to add any internal dimensions.
However, most of the internal arts today have lost their internal aspects; they are practiced as external forms. On the other hand, some external martial art masters have developed internal force from their external methods, often without their conscious knowing, due to their long years of dedicated practice. So, today we have an interesting situation where internal art masters have no internal force though they may talk about it, and external art masters possess remarkable internal force thought they may not know any internal training methods.
The integration of the physical, energy and mind into one unity represents the pinnacle of kungfu development. Kungfu was not just for combat, but also for health and spiritual cultivation.
The rise of kungfu development to its pinnacle was not just based on the cultivation of energy and mind. Even at a physical combative level, one can witness, if he is initiated into some depth in martial art, the development from straight-forward techniques of punching, kicking and blocking to sophisticated techniques of felling and chin-na.
(Part 2 follows)
Last edited by Anton S.; 12 October 2014, 09:03 AM.
Engage and maintain joyful practice!
May all of you get the best benefits from what you do.
Thank You so much for these amazing answers. They touch me in profound ways that are beyond words.
Dear Brother Anton,
Thanks a lot for facilitating this amazing thread
Blessing to you all,
Claude
Love is wonderful, because anyone with love in his heart wants to see everyone in bliss, everyone healthy and everyone availing freedom. This is the state of a man who considers the world as his family. Such are the wise man, the great souls. (Shri Shantananda Saraswati)
(At last, I can access the forum again. Andrew had helped me resolve my connectivity issues).
Thank you, Sifu, for these wonderful issues. These answers set a new bar in an already towering level of kungfu philosophy. As so many have already said, these answers fill gaps that were unanswered. While it is true that practice is more important than knowledge, these 10 Questions & answers series have helped my practice tremendously.
I am going to be cheeky and ask if there is any room for more questions. Yes, the 10 questions have been asked, but as Sifu is answering these questions differently from the usual way - that is, answering them as soon as they are asked - I was wondering if we can also depart from the usual 10 questions limitation, and ask more (either new questions or follow-up questions).
After all, the 10 questions series began as 20 questions (see the Winter Camp and the Choy-Li-Fatt course). Also, unlike other courses, the Dragon Strength Course has two consecutive runs. So, perhaps we can also have a second run of questions
Dear brothers!
good to read about your excitement!
I love this Q&A
here comes the next part:
(Continued from Part 1)
For convenience, the development of Shaolin Kungfu may be divided into three stages – the beginning, the middle and the advanced. The beginning stage of Shaolin Kungfu development may be represented by Four Gates, where the combat functions of its patterns are quite obvious. The middle stage may be represented by Tantui, where its felling techniques may not be obvious to some martial artists. The advanced stage can be represented by Wudang Taijiquan, where even seasoned martial artists may think its effective combat techniques are flowery decorations just for show.
In combat, size, age and gender are decisive factors if one uses Shaolin Kungfu at its beginning stage of development, like using techniques from Four Gates, or even at its middle stage, like using techniques form Tantui. If you are muscular, young and male, you have a clear advantage when you ram a Black Tiger into a fragile, elderly woman, or use a waist-throw in Tantui to fell her. Reversely, if you are fragile, elderly and female, you would have difficulty to defend against
But size, age and gender are not decisive factors if one uses Shaolin Kungfu at its advanced stage of development, like using techniques from Wudang Taijiquan. If you have internal force, which is a hallmark of Shaolin Kungfu at its advanced stage, it does not matter whether your opponent is muscular, young and male. But even without internal force, by just employing the mechanics of physical movements of this stage, a fragile, elderly woman can defeat a stronger, younger male opponent.
Instead of blocking his powerful punch head-on, she can gently brush off his attack by rotating her waist in the pattern, Shift Horse Ask Way, and plucking his peaches if she wants to. Instead of physically resist his throw, she can elegantly escapes to his back using Dark Dragon Wraps Body, striking the back of his head if she wishes.
Nevertheless, for me the pinnacle of my kungfu development was Dragon Strength. In fact, it was because of Dragon Strength that I was able to integrate physical movements in kungfu with energy cultivation and mind cultivation into one unity. All family members of Shaolin Wahnam Institute benefited much from this development. As a result of my integration of the physical, energy and mind in my Dragon Strength practice that all those who learned from me in Shaolin Wahnam could develop internal force and attained a one-pointed mind the very moment they learned kungfu or chi kung from me.
This did not happen when I taught in Shaolin Wahnam Association, the fore-runner of Shaolin Wahnam Institute. This was because my integration of physical forms, energy and mind happened after I started teaching in Shaolin Wahnam Association and before in Shaolin Wahnam Institute.
Students at Shaolin Wahnam Association, like students in all other kungfu schools including today’s so-called internal schools, first learned the physical forms of kungfu, then learned internal methods like One-Finger Shooting Zen, and later learned mind training in sitting meditation. Most students in other kungfu schools did not have any chance to learn internal force and mind cultivation, even when they practiced so-called internal arts.
When students of Shaolin Wahnam Association practiced Four Gates, the first kungfu set I taught to all students in the Association, they performed it at a physical level. They practiced One-Finger Shooting Zen separately. Before concluding the training session they practice sitting meditation for mind training. There was no conscious effort to integrate the three aspects of physical forms, energy and mind into one unity.
When students of Shaolin Wahnam Institutue practiced Lohan Asks the Way, the first kungfu set I taught to all Shaolin students of our school, they performed it at all the three levels of the physical, energy and mind at the same time. Even if they had not train other methods of energy cultivation and mind cultivation, they would have internal force and mental clarity, the two desired results of energy cultivation and mind cultivation, by just practicing Lohan Asks the Way.
(Part 3 follows)
Engage and maintain joyful practice!
May all of you get the best benefits from what you do.
I am going to be cheeky and ask if there is any room for more questions.
Dear all,
I am pleased to report that Sifu has kindly agreed to answer a couple of bonus questions! However, these questions and Sifu's answers will only be posted later. We are already delirious with all these wonderful answers from Sifu. And now there are even more to come. Thank you, Sifu!
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