10 Questions on Dragon Strength :D

[Anton S.]

I like the Q&A so much - feel very excited to post the answers everyday

final part:

(Continued from Part 3)

I added these hand-forms and the Triangle Stance because I found them very useful, especially for dim mark. The two special skills of Dragon force and lighting speed, which can be employed for any techniques, can operate One-Finger Zen, phoenix-eye fist and Triangle Stance very well. The original hand-form for dim mark in Uncle Righteousness’s Dragon Strength Set was the dragon hand-form.

There are close connections between One-Finger Shooting Zen and Dragon force. In fact, it was because of my training in One-Finger Shooting Zen that inspired me to develop Dragon force in the Dragon Strength Set. When I first learned the set from Uncle Righteousness, it was at a physical level. My training of One-Finger Shooting Zen from Sifu Ho Fatt Nam, which enabled me to generate energy flow as well as consolidate energy (though I was not aware of these terms at that time) that galvanize me to train Dragon Strength at the mind and energy levels.

Another inspiration came from my reading of Taijiquan classics about using mind to direct energy to move form. This Taijiquan concept provides the catalyst, while the training of One-Finger Shooting Zen provided the foundation.

Another close connection is that both One-Finger Shooting Zen and Dragon force are classified as dragon training. The mind is the most important factor in the training. The dragon hand-form, which was the primary hand-form to implement Dragon force in the original Dragon Strength Set I learned from Uncle Righteousness, is sometimes called Two-Finger Zen.

A third close connection is that both One-Finger Zen in One-Finger Shooting Zen, and the dragon hand-form in Dragon force are used for dim mark. Both hand-forms are excellent for focusing on an opponent’s vital points, and acting as bridges for a flow of energy from an exponent to distort the energy system of the opponent.

A fourth connection is that both One-Finger Shooting Zen and Dragon force are also excellent for healing. I have employed them to help many people overcome pain and illness.

A fifth connection is that both One-Finger Shooting Zen and Dragon force are very versatile. Not only a practitioner can develop tremendous internal force at his fingers, his punches, palm strikes, elbows, kicks and other parts of his body are also powerful. Not only he can cause serious injury to opponents, he can also heal with his internal force. Further, the internal force derived from his training will give him good health, vitality, longevity, mental clarity, peak performance and spiritual joys.

There are, nevertheless, some differences. While both arts are versatile, One-Finger Shooting Zen focuses at the index finger but Dragon force can be manifested all over the body. While both arts are soft and flowing, Dragon force is relatively harder.

<End>

[Tim]

This is an incredibly illuminating Q&A. We are very lucky!

[Anton S.]

part 3

(Continued from Part 2)

Even when the secrets are revealed, the uninitiated would not have the skills to develop Dragon force even when they know the techniques. It is the same as in chi kung. The chi kung techniques practiced by practitioners are genuine and correct, but they lack to practice the techniques as chi kung, which is an energy art. They practice the techniques as external physical exercise.

The same principles apply to lighting speed and dim mark, the other special features of the Dragon Strength Set. There are secrets regarding the development of lighting speed and the application of dim mark, but even when the secrets are revealed, the uninitiated would still lack the necessary skills. These skills need to be taught or transmitted by a master at a course.

These training methods in the Dragon Strength Set are unique because they are specially meant to train Dragon force and lighting speed found in the Dragon Strength Set. They are not employed in other sets because Dragon force and lighting speed are not trained in these sets.

Although dim mark is also a special feature of the Dragon Strength Set, it is different from Dragon force and lighting speed. Dim mark is a technique, whereas Dragon force and lighting speed are skills. The skills of Dragon force and lighting speed can be used for the technique of dim mark, as well as for other techniques like chin-na and no-shadow kicks. On the other hand, other skills, like One-Finger Shooting Zen and triple stretch force can also be used for dim mark.

Please note that classifying dim mark as a technique is provisional. In other context it may be classified as a skill.

Certain patterns, however, are more suitable that others in operating the skills of Dragon force and lighting speed, and the technique of dim mark. In Dragon force, holding the hands in open palms and moving them in extended, circular movements are more suitable than holding the hands in close fists and moving them in short, linear movements

In lighting speed, moving about in simple stances is more suitable than moving about in complicated stances. In dim mark, striking with One-Finger Zen, dragon hand form and phoenix-eye fist is more suitable than striking with other hand forms.

These patterns, however, are not unique to the Dragon Strength Set. The open palm is also found in Baguazhang and Tantui, extended circular movements are also found in Taijiquan and Choy-Li-Fatt, and simple stances are found in Lohan Kungfu and Wuzuquan. One-Finger Zen, dragon hand form and phoenix-eye fist are found in many other kungfu styles and kungfu sets, like Hoong Ka, Flower Set and Wing Choon.

The first section of One-Finger Shooting Zen, which I learned from Sifu Ho Fatt Nam, was added by me to the Dragon Strength Set. It was not found in the original set I learned from Uncle Righteousness. Similarly, the phoenix-eye fist was added by me from the Wing Choon Kungfu I learned from Sifu Choe Hoong Choy, and the Triangle Stance (or Four-Six Stance) was added from Wuzuquan learnt from Sifu Chee Kim Thong. They were not in Uncle Righteousness’ original Dragon Strength Set.

(Part 4 follows)

[Anton S.]

here comes the second part:

(Continued from Part 1)


Another notable example, on the other end of the spectrum of internal force, is Yang Style Taijiquan. A great majority of Yang Style Taijiquan practitioners do not have internal force, and amongst the few who have, their force is different from the Yang Style Taijiquan force trained in our school. Ours is relatively “harder” than theirs. The difference is due to the influence of Dragon force training in our school, and its lack in theirs.

Nevertheless, amongst some rare Taijiquan masters in Yang as well as Chen styles, their internal force is similar to our Taijiquan force. I believe it is due to their long years of dedicated training which has transformed their “softer” force to “harder” one.

From my study of kungfu classics, I believe that Wudang Taijiquan force in the past was similar to the Wudang Taijiquan force practiced in our school, which was fast, powerful and relatively hard, suggesting the Dragon rather than the Snake. However, I have not seen in person or videos this type of Wudang Taijiquan force of the past.

This noticeable difference of the various types of internal force derived from their respective kungfu sets between our school and other schools, and some similarity in the various types of internal force to Dragon force in our school but not in other schools, are due to the strong influence, though often unconsciously, of Dragon force in my teaching.

Nevertheless, there are still two notable differences between Dragon force that will be trained in the coming Dragon Strength course, and the various other types of force we have in our school. The two differences are that Dragon force is versatile and can be manifested in any part of the body, and that it is lightingly fast and flowing.

The differences are of nature rather than of kind. In other words, students in our school can also be versatile and fast with the other types of force, but it is particularly emphasized and noticeable in Dragon force.

The differences are due to different methods of training, rather than different patterns that constitute the training methods. In other words, using the same patterns skillful practitioners can develop types of force, though particular patterns may be more suitable for certain types of force. In other words, assuming other things being equal, if we use patterns in the Iron Wire set to train Iron Wire force, we will get better and faster results than using patterns in a Taijiquan set, and vice versa.

But other things are not equal. Hence, in our Wuzuqaun and Wudang Taijiquan courses in Penang, for example, course participants employed Wuzuquan and Wudang Taijiquan patterns to develop Triple Stretch, Wing Choon and other types of force more effectively than other students of theses specific styles. This was because our course participants are more skillful. In the coming Dragon Strength course, after learning how to develop Dragon force, we shall also use Dragon Strength patterns to develop other types of force.

The secrets of Dragon force lies not in the patterns of the Dragon Strength Set but in the manner of performing the patterns of the set. Hence, even when the form of the set is revealed, the uninitiated would not know the secrets of Dragon force.

(Part 3 follows)

[Matt F.]

One of the special features of Dragon force is an ability to manifest it at any part of the body. To ensure participants have this ability, they shall try it out on one another, and I want to be present to ensure that the appropriate remedial exercise is performed to erase any injury sustained.

Another special feature is the application of Dragon force for dim mark. It would be irresponsible of me if I do not stay around when course participants try out this advanced skill on one another, and ensure that injury, which confirms that the dim mark application has been applied successfully, has been removed completely.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anton S.]

Yes! Markus! really look forward to meet you soon!


Here comes Question No. 10

Question 10

Some of the force training patterns in the Dragon Strength set are unique. What makes them so unique and why haven’t they been employed in other sets as well?

On the other side I was surprised and delighted to find the first section of One Finger Shooting Zen implemented in the Dragon Strength set. Was it already in Uncle Righteousness’ set? What are the connections and/or the differences between One Finger Shooting Zen and dragon force?

Sifu Leonard Lackinger


Answer

The training methods of Dragpm Strength, including its patterns, are quite different from those of other arts of internal force training. This is the main reason I ask those attending the Dragon Strength course not to employ the Dragon Strength Set, which is presented in video, to train internal force.

I even go a step further saying that if they do learn the set from the video, it is alright. This is because unlike in other courses, where I introduce the training methods and let the course participants to continue to practice on their own at home, in the Dragon Strength course , participants will actually practice the training methods and develop Dragon force as well as lighting speed during the course itself.

As the methods are different from what we normally practice in our school, I want to supervise the course participants in their training so that not only they won’t make mistakes, but also perform the methods correctly so that they can actually develop Dragon force and lighting speed at the course, not with the hope that if they continue to practice they will develop the required force or skills in future.

One of the special features of Dragon force is an ability to manifest it at any part of the body. To ensure participants have this ability, they shall try it out on one another, and I want to be present to ensure that the appropriate remedial exercise is performed to erase any injury sustained.

Another special feature is the application of Dragon force for dim mark. It would be irresponsible of me if I do not stay around when course participants try out this advanced skill on one another, and ensure that injury, which confirms that the dim mark application has been applied successfully, has been removed completely.

What are the special skills in Dragon Strength that are different from what we have been training in our school, and therefore may require different training methods and patterns? There are three special skills, namely Dragon force, lighting speed and dim mark.

In many ways Dragon force is quite similar to the various types of force we have trained in our school, like those found in One-Finger Shooting Zen, Wudang Taijiquan, and Flower Set. It is very different from those found in Iron Wire and Choy-Li-Fatt, and discernably different from that found in Triple Stretch. It is also different from those found in Wing Choon Kungfu and Yang Style Taijiquan.

It is worthy of note that the comparison above is based on the types of internal force of the various characteristic sets practiced in our school. In other schools where internal force is derived from the respective set, the nature of the force may be different. In many other schools, although the respective sets are practiced, they may not be any internal force.

A notable example is Iron Wire. Many Iron Wire practitioners, in my opinion, practice Iron Wire as isometric exercise. They are powerful, but their power is derived from muscular strength, as revealed in their big muscles, and not from flowing energy of internal force. The powerful internal force of some rare masters is also different from the Iron Wire force n our school. The former is “hard”, lacking the flowing nature of Dragon force, whereas ours is more flowing, indicating the strong influence of Dragon force.

(Part 2 follows)

[Markus Kahila]

Sifu, thank you for all of your answers.

Anton, thank you for posting this thread.

What an honour to have the opportunity to learn this art.


Best wishes,

[Anton S.]

and part 2

(Continued from Part 1)

We can also apply Dragon force, but in a different way, when we are at a lower level. Here "lower" relates to the situation in question, and may not refer to ones financial or social position.

I sometimes use this application at immigration counters. When an immigration officer took longer than normal time to check my passport, and started to ask me questions, I answered him in a dignified but pleasant manner, while sending a thought to him to just stamp my passport. Obviously he had more questions to ask, but after my first answer, he smiled at me, stamped my passport and wished me to have a nice stay in his country.

Once I applied Dragon force on some police officers in Moscow. A group of us were enjoying ourselves in the Red Square when Julia arrived to fetch us. But we were separated by a massive crowd and more urgently by a barricade of police officers checking everyone passing through. I just sent a thought to the police officers to let us through, and we just literally walked pass them. Julia, who knew the strictness of the Russian police very well, was utterly surprised.

There are two important questions related to these examples. Did I use Dragon force? Isn’t Dragon force some sort of internal force used in sparring? As mentioned earlier, Dragon force is very versatile. The mind is the most important factor in the development of Dragon force. Having developed the internal force aspect of Dragon force, a practitioner’s mind will be very powerful. In the above examples I used the power of my mind.

The second question is more important. Didn’t I abuse my Dragon force? No, I would never do that. Knowing the law of karma, it would be very silly of me to do so.

In the above examples, I applied Dragon force in win-win situations, benefiting myself and our group, the immigration officer and the police officers, and the queue behind us. I had my proper travel documents, and we were honorable, law-abiding people. The immigration office and the police officers would eventually let us through, though it would take much more unnecessary time and effort.

Dragon force can of course be applied when we interact with people on the same or similar level. Your views will be carried through with force but without being demanding.

When I was invited to the Congress for the Unity of Sciences, where only Nobel Prize winners and top practitioners of selected disciplines were invited, I apply my Dragon force during discussion with other delegates. The relaxed and flowing manner I presented my points, forceful but without being offending, must have impressed them.

If you are in a common room and the headmaster comes in wanting to speak to the teachers but the teachers are unaware of the situation and still talking amongst themselves, and nobody (except you) seems to know what to do. You may, unobtrusively, stand up, without using a microphone but using your Dragon force, speaking in a clear and flowing manner, “Ladies and gentlemen. The headmaster wants to speak to us. Perhaps he wants to give us a pay rise.” Your obvious joke will make everyone relaxed, cheerful and attentive.

A main aim of the Dragon Strength course is to develop Dragon force, which you can apply to enrich every level of your life.

<End>

[Anton S.]

Sean! Small Universe is a big treasure!

here comes the next Question

Question 9

How can we apply Dragon Strength in various ways when considering how we interact with people from a perspective of hierarchy, like when we are leaders of others(teacher, boss, father, mother, uncle, aunt, etc.), when we are in a group being led by one person or several people(student, employee, son, daughter, nephew, niece, etc.), or when we interact with people on the same or similar level(colleague, husband, wife, friend, etc.)?

Sifu Mark Blohm


Answer


As Dragon force from Dragon Strength is powerful and versatile, it can be applied successfully at any level. Lighting speed, which is also derived from Dragon Strength training, enables that the task at whatever the level is accomplished fast. Hence Dragon Strength training enables us to accomplish any task at any level successfully and fast.

When we are at the top level, we apply Dragon force directly and fast. I often use this application successfully in my teaching.

For example, during a curse in Switzerland a woman student asked me a question. When I started to answer the question, she asked me another question. When I wanted to answer both questions, she asked me a third question.

So I applied my Dragon force from a position of strength. I told her to keep quiet and let me finish answering her questions first. She started to argue. I applied Dragon force directly and fast. I told her that I was the authority in class, and if she did not like my authority she could leave. She and the whole class was shocked. She kept quiet and I could answer all her questions.

She turned out to be a high court judge. One might think that she would be unhappy with my application of Dragon force and lighting speed. But on the contrary, she was happy. She told Andrew, the organizer, and another instructor who later reported to me, that this was one of the best lessons she ever had.

In one of the courses in Ecuador, a male student was sitting on the floor with both feet pointing at me. I applied Dragon force from the position of strength. I told him that it was rude in chi kung culture to sit with the feet pointing at the teacher. He apologized and sat appropriately.

I later learned that he was one of the leaders in the country’s commerce. Was he unhappy with my application of Dragon force? No, as iit was indicated by his subsequent invitation to me to speak to a large organization where he was the president. As a side note, it was while arriving at the venue of this talk that I saw the biggest and most beautiful moon in the sky – without exaggeration, about five feet across in diameter!

(Part 2 follows)

[Seán Grame]

Wonderful Stuff

Truly fascinating reading about the interconnectedness of Small Universe and Dragon Strength

What a great read to be had on a Friday

This week has flown by = a week closer to the course

Looking forward to catching up too Claudio bro (hope your well

With deepest love and respect

Seán

[Mark A]

Thank You

Dear Sifu,
Thank you for answering these questions and giving us these insights

Peace

Mark

[Anton S.]

Guys, great to hear that!
See you in december

here comes part 3

(Continued from Part 2)

One special feature of Dragon force is that it can be manifested at any part of the body. As a Small Universe practitioner already has energy flowing in all his meridian all over his body, he can manifest this ability more effectively than a non-Small Universe practitioner who has energy flowing only in certain parts of his body. The Small Universe practitioner can also manifest more Dragon force as he can make us of the accumulated effect of his continuously flowing energy, like a hurricane, whereas a non-Small Universe practitioner cannot. Hence the Small Universe practitioner has faster and better result.

Most of the times my Dragon force was manifested unconsciously. Here are some random examples that come to mind.

When I visited a lion dance troupe in Sungai Petani in my early years, knowing that I practiced kungfu, the most senior member of the troupe wanted to have some friendly sparring with me. He attacked me with a low punch, like our Precious Duck Swims through Lotus. I retreated into a low sideway Horse-Riding Stance and gripped his attacking arm with my tiger-claws, using the pattern “Second Auntie Catches Crab”. That one move ended the sparring.

Much later some members of the lion dance troupe, which I later taught, reported to me that he told them my internal force penetrated into him and made his whole arm numb. I clearly remember that I did not exert any force, though through practice rather than intention, I held his vital points.

On many occasions when I sparred with other people, I did not purposely exert force, but they later complained that I was powerful. This must be an unconscious manifestation of Dragon force.

On one occasion witnessed by some of our family members, during an Intensive Taijiquan Course in Sungai Petani a former Russian karate champion who had been very rough with other participants of the course, had a sparring with me. I avoided his initial kick, and was about to apply White Snake Shoots Venom to his throat, the very pattern we were practicing then, but he bent forward after kicking and exposed his upper head.

I gently tapped on his head. My Dragon force must have penetrated his bai-hui vital point. He was dazed, and could hardly move. I had to help him with chi flow to release the chi blockage.

My conscious application of Dragon force must be quite well known in our school by now. I applied it at different times on Darryl, Michael, Mark and Robin. They held me tight in some so-called unbreakable hold. I gave a gentle shake and sent them flying many feet away. Darryl said that he felt like a locomotive hitting him. They had to perform chi flow to clear the injury.

More valuable is the application of Dragon force in everyday life. Two recent examples came readily to mind.

During the Fantasy courses in Hawaii, Emiko, Anthony, Chris and some pretty Japanese girls and I had lunch at a restaurant. The restaurant was quite full, and a waitress allotted as to separate tables. Applying my Dragon force unconsciously, I insisted on having all diners at one table, and using lighting speed which I had derived from my Dragon Strength training, I started pulling some small square tables together to make one long composite table.

The pretty Japanese girls were excellent. Although they had not learnt Dragon Strength directly yet, they had its benefits indirectly. They helped me with the table, and before others could realize what was happening, we already had a long table and we sat around it.

On another occasion some instructors had a slight mis-understanding, and harsh words were exchanged. I acted fast with Dragon force and lighting speed. I got everyone at lunch together, and even before the food arrived they became brotherly and sisterly again.

Dragon Strength is very useful not just for kungfu but for daily life. The Small Universe enhances the practice and the results tremendously.

<End>

[Jeroen]

Awesome

Excellent Thread. Totally looking forward to the course!!
Jeroen

[DarkCosmoz]

Incredible

Thank you Sigung for responding to my question and all other questions on this thread with such clarity, depth and enthusiasm. It has been truly a great joy to read. Thank you Sifu Anton for facilitating this thread.

Can't wait to read more! Looking forward to seeing everyone in December!

Best regards,
Stephen

[MaxP]

Dear Sigung and Everybody,

This is absolutely fantastic.

I feel like the course has already started!

Warmly,

Max