10 Questions on Dragon Strength :D

[MaxP]

Taijiquan and Dragon Strength

Dear Sigung,

Thank you for taking the time to provide these illuminating answers to our questions on this amazing Kung Fu. We've had a great discussion of the links between Dragon Strength and Wu Dang Tajiquan.

To continue in this line of inquiry, my question concerns the similarity between what I have seen in your demonstrations of Dragon Strength Force and the Fa Jing as demonstrated by high level Taijiquan Masters. I must admit that I am completely enthralled by this type of force.

Could you please explain the similarities and differences between the Fa Jing of Taijiquan which can blast an opponent away many feet, with what outwardly seems to be a mere flick of the arm, and the aspect of Dragon Strength Force that can explode from any part of the body? Or are these two expressions of internal force one and the same?

To illustrate the type and level of Taijiquan Fa Jing I am referring to, I've provided the following video of Master Qiao Song Mao demonstrating his Fa Jing:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2nO3CtOv_D0

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2nO3CtOv_D0

Many, many thanks, and warmest regards,

Max

P.S I really hope to practise these skills someday!

[Daniel]

Dear Sifu,

Thank you again for these wonderful answers series!

[Anton S.]

Dear brothers,

here is Sigung´s reply to Wuji&Max:

Wuji's post may suggest that I shall continue to answer questions, which isn't the case.
I would like to keep to the 10-question limit, but shall answer Wuji's questions as a bonus. As Max has also asked a question, I may answer it briefly later on.

Please note that there are no questions left on Dragon Strength.


With kindest regards,
Anton

[Anton S.]

here is part 3 of the answer to Santiago´s interesting question

(Continued from Part 2)

Nevertheless, my attempt to integrate physical form, energy and mind into one unity was inspired by reading Taijiquan classics. It was mentioned in some classics that the highest attainment in Taijiquan was to use mind to move energy, and to use energy to move form. A Taijiquan master of the highest level did not use muscles to perform his Taijiquan; he used his mind.

I applied this principle of mind moving energy moving form to Dragon Strength. The result was instantaneous and marvelous. I was amazed myself, though I was not surprised. My mind moved my energy, and my energy moved my form.

I was not surprised because I had been practicing chi kung where I could use my mind to channel my chi to various parts of the body, and where I could use my thoughts to change the speed and directions of my chi flow. I reckoned that using mind to direct energy to direct form in set performance is just the next step, and I was confident in accomplishing this next step.

It was ridiculous but true that while some masters regarded using mind to direct chi to direct form as the highest attainment in Taijiquan, I could teach some students to accomplish this advanced skill in Intensive Taijiquan Courses. The webpage at http://www.shaolin.org/video-clips-2.../chi-flow.html gives an example.

This advanced skill has become standard in our school. It is one of the main reasons why we are so cost-effective, enabling our students to achieve in one year what past masters would need ten. On a lighter note, it has contributed to a joke that those who are smart would practice Taijiquan, learning at the start what would be taught at an advanced level in Shaolin Kungfu, whereas those who wanted the best and are willing to work hard for it prefer Shaolin Kungfu.

Arriving at the pinnacle with Dragon Strength has enabled me to attain peak performance in my kungfu as well as my daily life. If I were forced against my will into a challenge match, I am confident of defeating my opponent, and injuring him quite seriously too, as soon as he makes a move!

I had an impromptu confirmation of this skill many years ago. A few Shaolin Wahnam instructors and I had tea in a coffee shop in Costa Rica. I could not remember the topic of discussion, but I asked Piti who sat next to me to attack me in any way he liked.

Piti is not only big-sized and fast, he has a lot of internal force. Once he broke a rib of Dr Juan of San Hose with a vertical fist without even touching him! As soon as Piti moved to attack, I shot out my dragon-hand form at his throat. I did not touch Piti, but he later reported that he felt dazed. He had to perform Lifting the Sky to relieve the dim mark injury. Jeffrey, who sat directly opposite, witnessed all these happenings.

More significantly, arriving at the pinnacle of Dragon Strength has enriched my daily life remarkably. Many people have expressed amazement at the speed and number of tasks I can accomplish, despite my biological age and busy schedule.

<End>

[Zhang Wuji]

First of all, I would like to apologise to all, and Sifu, in particular, for not making it clear what Sifu had communicated to me. I mentioned that Sifu will answer my questions only later, but had not added that 10 questions is the limit.

Second, I wanted to also point out that it is as if Sifu can read my mind. As I was preparing some questions, I had the feeling that Sifu would be answering them in response to the questions already asked, and sure enough, he did.

I was also a little worried I would not be able to learn the full set by December, since I am still playing catch-up with two of the sets learnt at the Uk Summer Camp. Then, I saw this on Sifu's website:

Important Note: If you have learned the set, fine. If you find it difficult to learn the set from a video, or if you are short of time, you need not learn it before attending the course.

But that's no excuse for me not to prepare. I was just so gratified to see this note from Sifu.

[Anton S.]

Above in Part3 of Question 3 is a broken link.
This is the correct link: http://www.shaolin.org/video-clips-2.../chi-flow.html

[Anton S.]

Now this is a very interesting question indeed:

Question 4

What are the main features of Dragon Strength, and how is it different from other types of force? Is Dragon force, as seen in this video from 2004, developed through the practice of Dragon Strength Set? Will this skill be taught during the course?

There are some differences between the old video of Sifu performing the Dragon Strength Set, and the new video of Sifu performing the set. How has the Dragon Strength Set changed with your personal skill development and experience?

Sifu Matt Fenton


Answer

The main features of Dragon Strength may be described under four convenient headings – from, force, application and philosophy.

The form of Dragon Strength is typically Southern Shaolin, characterized by “cheong kiew tai ma”, or “long bridges big stances”. The hand techniques are long reaching, and the stances are mainly Horse-Riding and Bow-Arrow, like Shaolin Tantui and Hoong Ka, in contrast to the short-range hand techniques of Eagle Claw and Wing Choon, and the narrow Triangle Stance of Xingyiquan and Fujian White Crane.

The main hand forms of the Dragon Strength Set were the vertical fist and the dragon hand form (sometimes called Two-Finger Zen). To facilitate better chi circulation, I have changed many patterns of the vertical fist to an open dragon palm. The dragon palm is quite different from the willow-leaf palm of Northern Shaolin, like Tantui and Seven-Star. The dragon palm is more relaxed, with the fingers slightly apart and slightly curved, which facilitates flowing force. The willow-leaf palm has the fingers straight and close, which facilitates consolidated force.

I have added the One-Finger Zen hand form and the phoenix-eye fist in a few patterns. Together with the dragon hand form, they are excellent for dim mark.

The force of Dragon Strength, i.e. Dragon force, is very special. It is flowing and very powerful. The name of the set should actually be called “Dragon Force”, but I maintain the Chinese word for strength in the translation. In Chinese (Cantonese) the set is called “Loong Lek Wan Hei Kuen”, or “Long Li Yun Qi Quan” in Mandarin, which is literally “Dragon Strength Circulating Energy Set”.

Dragon force is different from any other types of force, but can be used to train any other types of force! A main reason why we have become so cost-effective in our force training in our school is because of my training in Dragon force which consciously or unconsciously has overflowed into my teaching.

Dragon force is very different from the hard consolidated force of Iron Wire, but it can be used to train Iron Wire force! Indeed, in the Iron Wire courses in Killarney, Barcelona and Las Vegas some years ago, course participants could develop a lot of hard consolidated Iron Wire force in a very short time because I used Dragon force training methods.

On the other end of the range, Dragon force is different from the soft flowing force of Yang Style Taijiquan, but it can be used to train Taijiquan force! Course participants in my numerous Taijiquan courses could develop internal force within a very shot time because I also used Dragon force training methods.

Dragon force is so powerful and versatile that it can be used to train and enhance any type of force. In the coming Dragon Strength course in December we shall apply Dragon force to train and enhance other force training methods, like in Xingyiquan, Wuzuquan, triple stretch and Siu Lin Tou.

As a complete martial art by itself, Dragon Strength can be employed to handle any form of attack. It does not matter whether opponents attack with whatever forms of strikes, kicks, gelling and chin-na, there are techniques in the Dragon Strength Set to counter them, although many martial artists may not recognize these counters because these counters have developed to such a sophisticated level that they are not obvious to most people.

This is not a slight on other martial artists. Even for me at a time when I could readily defeat other masters in free sparring, I did not fully understand the subtle combat application of Dragon Strength, and had to use specific counters against specific attacks. In other words, when an opponent attacked me in a certain way, I had to counter in a specific manner. Now I can use any one of the many techniques in the Dragon Strength Set to counter any attack. This understanding evolved as a result my teaching.

(Part 2 follows)

[Maxime]

Thank you Sifu for all those beautiful and crystal-clear answers.

Many good questions as well!

[sancrica]

Thank you :-)

Dear Sifu,

Thank you so much for answering my question. As always, the answer is beautiful, profound and really inspiring. Your wisdom is trully incredible. Thank you for always sharing so much. It really means a lot for my life.

I want to also thank Sifu Anton for starting this wonderful thread and, of course, to all the participants. Can't wait to read the rest of the answers! :-)

With Love, Care and Shaolin Salute,

Santiago

[MaxP]

Dear Sigung and Everybody,

My apologies - I got the wrong end of the stick! I look forward to reading the rest of the answers. This is a great thread, I'm enjoying it very much.

Warmly,

Max

[Anton S.]

second part

(Continued from Part 1)

The main form of attack in the Dragon Strength Set is striking. There are only a few kicks, three chin-na techniques and no overt felling techniques, although a master may use some of the Dragon Strength patterns to fell opponents. It is a very special and advanced way of striking, dim mark.

Hence, Dragon Strength represents the pinnacle of kungfu development. The two pillars of kungfu are force training and combat application. Force training has reached its apex in Dragon force which is not only very powerful and fast, but also it can be applied to any other form of force training. Combat application has reached its apex in Dragon Strength where any a few of its simple techniques can be sued to counter any attack.

This simplicity is the result of sophistication, not the lack of it. In other words, a Dragon Strength practitioner could employ a simple, and profound, technique against any attack after he has learned and practiced numerous sophisticated techniques, not because he does not know them.

More importance than combat application is application of Dragon Strength in our daily life, which we are fully aware of but which most other martial artists are not only unaware of but actually harming themselves due to their training! The benefits of Dragon Strength training for our daily life will be explained in another answer. Here it suffices to say that we derive a lot of benefits from both its practice and philosophy.

The philosophy of Dragon Strength may be generalize into three main categories:

1. Dragon Strength gives us good health, vitality and longevity.
2. It contributes to our peak performance in both kungfu and daily life.
3. It contributes to our spiritual cultivation.

Doesn’t practicing any other kungfu or martial art set contribute to the three main categories of benefits? No, for the majority of practitioners outside our school, it does not, although many of them say so, like in their publicity!

Indeed, for all those who routinely leave their injuries sustained in free sparring unattended to, it contributes to their pain and suffering, and adversely affects all the three categories of benefits.

The primary factor that contributes to all these benefits is chi flow. Dragon Strength, being the pinnacle of force development where a lot of chi flow is required, is excellent for this purpose.

Knowing this philosophy is very important. Not only it prevents us from wasteful and deviated training, it also helps us to check how well we have benefitted from our dedicated practice. We must not only understand the philosophy intellectually; we must actually enjoy the benefits in practice. Many martial artists may say, and actually believe, that their training contribute to their good health, without realizing they are getting more and more unhealthy the longer they train.

Yes, Dragon force which gives all these benefits, and which is seen in the video is developed through the practice of the Dragon Strength Set. This skill and other beneficial skills will be taught at the course.

Not only they are taught, these Dragon Strength skills will be practiced together so that course participants will have acquired these skills, not merely know the training methods, by the end of the course. This is the reason why, unlike in other kungfu sets posted on my webpages, I have asked course participants not to practice the set in depth but merely go over the routine superficially, so that they will learn and practice these skills afresh, without interference from training methods they already know. Actually, even if initially they do not know the routine of the set, but because they have to practice the set so many times to develop the required skills, they will eventually know the set very well.

Thank you for your perceptive observation which some people may miss. Your question refers to the difference between my performance of the Dragon Strength Set in the 1980s as shown in the video at

and my performance now in 2014 as shown in the video at

and not to the initial version of the set I learned (but performed in 2014) as shown in the video at

http://www.shaolin.org/shaolin/kungfu-sets/dragon-strength/video-old-version.html

Nevertheless, I shall still briefly describe the difference of the Dragon Strength Set I first learned in the 1950s, and the Set I now practice (and will teach at the December course), before answering your question on the difference between the performance in the 1980s and in 2014.

(Part 3 follows)

[Andy]

Watching these videos brings home how fortunate I feel to have discovered the Shaolin Arts as transmitted by Sifu!

It also brings home the genius crystallised in the basic 16 Combat Sequences -- having spent many years training them I can now use them spontaneously for all categories of attack and defence, and I can appreciate the basic content and purpose of every Kungfu Set, including this most advanced Dragon Strength, thanks to that training.

Isn't it wonderful to be part of such a legacy? And to get the holistic benefits of internal Kungfu in day to day life?

With Shaolin Salute and thanks to Sifu and the past Masters,

[Guest]

Dear Sifu,

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us, I really appreciate your generosity.

Best Regards,

Sham.

[Anton S.]

wonderful comments!

here is the wonderful part 3

(Continued from Part 2)

The crucial difference is that I learned the Dragon Strength Set at a physical level, but now practice it at a mind and energy level.
The difference is more visual by comparing the video at

which shows my performance at a physical level

with the video at

which shows my performance at a mind and energy level.

More important than the visual difference shown by the videos are the benefits derived from practicing the set at a physical level and at a mind and energy level. In combat, at a physical level a practitioner has to use specific techniques against separate combat situations, and he is limited by size, age and gender. In daily life, his physical training does not contribute much to his peak performance in work and play.

Training at a mind and energy level contributes to mental clarity and internal force, which enhance both his kungfu performance and daily life. In combat, he can see his opponents movements clearly, sometimes even sense them before they are physically executed. All aspects of his work and play will be enhanced because of his improved mental clarity and internal force.

Practicing Dragon Strength at a mind and energy level is shown in both the old video of 1980s, and the new video in 2014. There are, however, some noticeable differences.

The old video of 1980s was prepared by Dan Hartwright who has now left our school. The video was edited, with many parts taken out. Like many people, Dan believed that showing a complete exclusive set was exposing its secrets. This belief is flawed. Secrets lie not in the external form of the set, but in many other aspects, like developing Dragon force and lighting speed in this case.

Hence, the new video of 2014 shows the complete set without any edition. Those who want to know its secrets would have to attend the Dragon Strength course. Even if I reveal the secrets of Dragon force and lighting speed of Dragon Strength in writing, readers will not acquire them, and many may not even understand them though they may know the dictionary meanings of all the words in the explanation. Many people outside our school, for example, will not understand what is meant by “use your mind to generate a vigorous chi flow”.

The old video showed my early practice of Dragon Strength when my mind focus and energy control were not as good as they are now. Hence, you will find that my physical movements, engendered by chi and directed by mind, were quite wild, and there were some repetitions. Indeed, when I gave that performance at the University of Science Malaysia in the old video, many people initially thought I was performing a Drunken Eight Immortals set.

The new video shows my performance of Dragon Strength when my mind focus and energy control are well established. More significantly, it is meant to show course participants the routine of the set. I purposely slow down the speed. If I were to perform the set at the speed shown in the old video, many people may not know what the movements are.

The change of the Dragon Strength Set from my early performance to what it is now is the result of my skill development and experience. The old video showed my early attempt to use mind to direct chi to direct physical movement. This was the result of my teaching chi kung and my study of kungfu classics.

I taught students to generate a chi flow. I knew from my study of the classics as well as from my own experience that attaining a chi kung state of mind, or attaining Zen, was necessary. But my control in my earlier years was not as good as it is now. So the resultant physical movements were sometimes out of form, and sometimes spontaneously repeated.

As I grew in my skills and experience, my mind and energy control became better, and the physical forms became more precise and exact. Over the years I also have learned about flowing force and consolidating force. In the old video my force just flowed freely. Now I can consolidate it whenever I want. Consolidating force makes my physical forms more solid and precise.

I also have learned from experience to relate action to purpose. The purpose of the old video was to show mind directing chi directing form, and the purpose of the new video is to show the routine of the Dragon Strength Set. The purposes were achieved quite well by the actions. We can also expect that the coming Dragon Strength course in Penang in December will also accomplish its purpose.

<End>

[Maxime]

And for those who can read between the lines, Sifu just disclosed some fantastic secrets in the last answer!