10 Questions On Sinew Metamorphosis

[Tim]

Bonus question and answer on its way!

This is the 2nd part of question 10. But much to my surprise and delight I received a bonus question number 11. Which I'll post this week before the summer camp starts.

(Continued from Part 1)

It was many years later that I realized what my sifu taught me was the highest meditation. It was Zen meditation. It aimed directly at Enlightenment. But I was not ready for Enlightenment, so I had many glimpses of Cosmic Reality.

Cosmic Reality is transcendental. Other types of meditation I thought was more advanced (but by themselves they were very advanced) were phenomenal. One may be so advanced that he could choose the heaven he would go to, or materialize a god to serve him, but all these are still in the phenomenal realm. In Zen meditation, an aspirant, when he is ready, attains the supreme transcendentality where there is perfectly no differentiation in infinity and eternity.

Yes, all the techniques and skills my sifu taught me, and what I am now teaching to students in Shaolin Wahnam, ranging from the most simple to the most advanced, are actually a combination of Taoist and Shaolin chi kung. But neither my sifu nor I made any differentiation between Taoist and Shaolin chi kung. I just learned what my sifu taught me, and he taught me whatever he felt was for my best interest.

But on hindsight, I now know that much of what he taught me was from Shaolin chi kung, and a bit was from Taoist chi kung, but it was the best of Taoist chi kung. This was no surprise as I learned Shaolin Kungfu, and my sifu was a well-known Taoist master.

Lifting the Sky, the first exercise my sifu taught me, was from Shaolin chi kung. However, it was also the first of the exercises from the Eight Pieces of Brocade which was a well known set of Taoist chi kung exercises. One-finger Shooting Zen, which my sifu taught me next, was also from Shaolin chi kung.

The outstanding Taoist chi kung my sifu taught me was the Small Universe. But I remember clearly that at the time my sifu taught me this famous Taoist chi kung exercise, it was never specified as Taoist chi kung. In fact I regarded it as a continuation of my Shaolin training.

As part of the Small Universe training, my sifu also taught me Reversed Breathing after I had spent quite some time on Abdominal Breathing. Abdominal Breathing is generally regarded as Taoist chi kung. On the other hand, Reversed Breathing is generally regarded as Shaolin chi kung, though it is also found in Taoist chi kung.

My sifu did not teach me the Big Universe, which was also from Taoist chi kung. I attained the Big Universe as a progression from my Small Universe training.

But when my sifu taught me selections from the Drunken Eight Immortals, he specifically told me that this was Taoist kungfu. I did not ask him the source of this kungfu as I knew he had learned from many masters besides his main lineage from Shaolin.

<End>

[sancrica]

Thank you :-)

Dear Sifu,

Thank you so much for answering my question. I really value the help, patience and compassion that you are offering me. Thanks for always guiding me towards the best version of me.

I know that I wouldn't be able to progress if it weren't for you. Specially at this stage. Thanks for always keep my practice safe and meaningful.

Thanks to Tim Siheng for starting another amazing Thread and to all the participants for formulating great questions.

With Love, Care and Shaolin Salute,

Santiago

[Luo Lang]

A great enlightening answer of a great question indeed!

[Tim]

Bonus Question 11!

We are very lucky indeed. Not only do we have an opportunity to ask a Grandmaster questions on specialist subjects, which should not be taken for granted, but we also have the opportunity to save ourselves a lot of time in our training by asking the questions.

This may surprise you but there are some students of our school who believe they don’t have time to look at the forum, that it is a distraction in their busy schedule. This is a great pity as they are missing so many gems. They are doing themselves and the art a great disservice by not participating in the forum. Or at least reading the posts.

Some of the information in these Q&A’s are great secrets and insights into the arts. information that people would have killed for in the past. Yet now it appears to be given out freely with our Grandmasters generosity. I guess like in the past it actually only reaches and is realised by deserving students!

But hey, you guys are here reading this, so you are very privileged indeed. A bonus question...

Question 11

I love both Flicking Fingers and Reverse Hanging of Double Hooks. Both are powerful and flowing and make me feel great in a similar way. It made me think: that Sinew Metamorphosis was already taught in the Northern Shaolin Monastery. Why was there a need to develop the 18 Lohan Arts? In particular why was there a need to develop such exercises as Reverse Hanging of Double Hooks, which uses the same approach as Sinew Metamorphosis? Are there big differences between these two?

If I may, one more: if all things were equal, would a kungfu practitioner exclusively training Sinew Metamorphosis or a kungfu practitioner exclusively training Golden Bridge have an advantage in combat?

Sifu Roeland Dijkema



Answer

Flicking Fingers is a typical exercise in Sinew Metamorphosis. Reverse Handing of Double Hooks is a very powerful exercise in 18-Lohan Art that develops a lot of internal force. Of the exercises in 19-Lohan Art, Reverse Hanging of Double Hooks is closest to Sinew Metamorphosis exercises.

Sinew Metamorphosis was actually taught in the northern Shaolin Monastery. Monks who specialized in Shaolin Kungfu gradually, and often unconsciously modified the Sinew Metamorphosis exercises. Over many centuries of gradual evolution, many of the exercise in Sinew Metamorphosis practiced by warrior monks became quite different from their original version practiced by other monks. These different exercises that were evolved from Sinew Metamorphosis were collective called 18-Lohan Art.

The evolution of these exercises happened gradually and often without the conscious interference of those practicing the exercises. But over a long time, the change was obvious, though the change at any one time was unnoticeable.

Hence, it was not a conscious need to develop the 18-Lohan Art from the 18 Lohan Hands. Changes were made by monks to meet expedient needs and over time the 18 Lohan Hands evolved into the 18-Lohan Art.

It is worthwhile to note that earlier there was a set of exercises called 18-Lohan Art. These were like yoga exercises. I am not sure whether they gradually evolved not what we now have as 18 Lohan Hands, or the great Bodhidharma himself modified them to teach them as 18 Lohan Hands. When the 18 Lohan Hands, in their standing position, were taught, some monks also practiced the earlier 18-Lohan Art, which had some physically demanding postures.

There was no conscious effort to invent Reverse Hanging of Double Hooks. Using the same approach as Sinew Metamorphosis, some warrior monks modified some Sinew Metamorphosis exercises and eventually Reverse Hanging of Double Hooks emerged.

(Part 2 follows)

(Continued from Part 1)

One possibility, which might or might not have happened, was that some warrior monks instead of lifting their arms up as in Reaching Up, dropped their arms down but kept them straight. Next, other monks following this exercise, bent their fingers backward into hooks. Then still other monks found that they could develop more internal force by slanting their body forward at their ankle. These happened over a long period, over many decades or centuries.

Another possibility was that instead of flicking their fingers as in Flicking Fingers, some warrior monks just kept their fingers intact and stayed at their standing position motionlessly. Later other monks following this version of the exercise, bent their fingers backward into hooks. Still later other monks slanted their body forward at their ankles as this generated more internal force.

There are some differences between Reverse Hanging of Double Hooks and similar exercises in Sinew Metamorphosis, as well as between 18-Lohan Art and Sinew Metamorphosis.

Apart from the obvious difference in their outward appearance, there is also some difference in the nature of internal force developed. The internal force in Reaching Up is focused at the side meridians, whereas that in Reverse Hanging of Double Hooks is at the arms. The internal force in Flicking Fingers is relatively flowing, whereas that in Reverse Hanging of Double Hooks is relatively consolidated.

Taking the two sets of exercises as a whole, Sinew Metamorphosis is more consolidated, whereas 18-Lohan Art is more flowing. Sinew Metamorphosis develops a lot of internal force, whereas 18-Lohan Art develops internal force, explode internal force, and promotes agility.

Both Sinew Metamorphosis and Golden Bridge are excellent in developing internal force for combat. The internal force, aw well as mental clarity, developed from the two arts is of course also very useful in enriching our daily life.

Theoretically, if all other things were equal, Sinew Metamorphosis will have an advantage over Golden Bridge in combat as well as in daily life. Given the same time in training, Sinew Metamorphosis not only develops more internal force but also of relatively flowing nature and of a greater variety.

You need only 3 minutes to train Sinew Metamorphosis but 10 minutes to train Golden Bridge. The internal force in Sinew Metamorphosis is more flowing than that in Golden Bridge, though generally Sinew Metamorphosis force is consolidated. Sinew Metamorphosis internal force is more varied; it may flow to various organs, bones and tendons, but Golden Bridge force is mainly focused at the arms and legs.

But in real life things are not equal. Not many people, for example, have the opportunity to practice Sinew Metamorphosis or Golden Bridge the way we do. Not many kungfu practitioners have a chance to practice Sinew Metamorphosis or Golden Bridge even in a mediocre way.

For most other people if they practice Sinew Metamorphosis even for a long time, they will not have any internal force. But if they practice Golden Bridge for a long time even when their training is mediocre, they can develop some internal force.

It is ridiculous in our school. If they attend the Sinew Metamorphosis class at the coming UK Summer Camp, they can develop internal force on the very first day!

If your students or training buddies are not on this forum then please may I suggest that you encourage them so they to can benefit from the information here.

Looking forward to seeing you at the summer camp or sometime soon.

[Andrew]

We are very lucky indeed. Not only do we have an opportunity to ask a Grandmaster questions on specialist subjects, which should not be taken for granted, but we also have the opportunity to save ourselves a lot of time in our training by asking the questions.

This may surprise you but there are some students of our school who believe they don’t have time to look at the forum, that it is a distraction in their busy schedule. This is a great pity as they are missing so many gems. They are doing themselves and the art a great disservice by not participating in the forum. Or at least reading the posts.

Some of the information in these Q&A’s are great secrets and insights into the arts. information that people would have killed for in the past. Yet now it appears to be given out freely with our Grandmasters generosity. I guess like in the past it actually only reaches and is realised by deserving students!

But hey, you guys are here reading this, so you are very privileged indeed. A bonus question...

Many thanks for this important reminder, Tim. You are so right and those of us who take the time to read and digest Sifu's generously shared information and wisdom are indeed extremely privileged.

As Sifu has often noted, there are three things required to ensure the best results in any learning: the Master, the Method, the Student. We surely have the best for the first two, the third is up to each of us!

[wooden shoes]

Dear Sifu,

Thank you for your illuminating answer and thank you for allowing one extra question! I now understand how the exercises gradually changed. I already knew I was lucky to attend this course, but after reading the second part I feel even luckier!

Thank you for facilitating this Sihing!

Best wishes,

Roeland

[drunken boxer]

This may surprise you but there are some students of our school who believe they don’t have time to look at the forum, that it is a distraction in their busy schedule. This is a great pity as they are missing so many gems. They are doing themselves and the art a great disservice by not participating in the forum. Or at least reading the posts.

...

If your students or training buddies are not on this forum then please may I suggest that you encourage them so they to can benefit from the information here.

Tim Siheng, this baffles me too, especially when I know so many people who train, attend local classes, attend Sifu's courses, but don't seem to participate.

I've even had quite a few comments over the years, at least some of which from people who have left, implying (or even explicitly stating) that the likes of me should post less. Of course I understand that it is better to talk than walk, and I would rather I was a bit better at fighting (or teaching, or healing, or helping etc) and a bit worse at posting given the choice, but I have always told people that it seems to me Sifu wants more activity on the forum, not less.

As you say they don't have to necessarily post, or even read posts from people like me, but surely they should read at least anything that comes from Sifu, for example all the 10 questions series.

[Karol]

There is probably many like me, who humbly read with wide-opened eyes comments written by Sigung and more experienced students.
In comparison with You I do not have much to say, maybe just simple - Thank You

[David Langford]

Tim Siheng, this baffles me too, especially when I know so many people who train, attend local classes, attend Sifu's courses, but don't seem to participate.

I've even had quite a few comments over the years, at least some of which from people who have left, implying (or even explicitly stating) that the likes of me should post less. Of course I understand that it is better to talk than walk, and I would rather I was a bit better at fighting (or teaching, or healing, or helping etc) and a bit worse at posting given the choice, but I have always told people that it seems to me Sifu wants more activity on the forum, not less.

As you say they don't have to necessarily post, or even read posts from people like me, but surely they should read at least anything that comes from Sifu, for example all the 10 questions series.

Heyya Sisook!

I always find your posts well though out and insightful, don't let anyone discourage you from expressing yourself.

After so many years of training I am sure you are a lot better than you make yourself out to be both in knowledge and skill, though I can appreciate the humbleness to downplay ones own abilities.

With Shaolin Salute,

[drunken boxer]

Heyya Sisook!

I always find your posts well though out and insightful, don't let anyone discourage you from expressing yourself.

After so many years of training I am sure you are a lot better than you make yourself out to be both in knowledge and skill, though I can appreciate the humbleness to downplay ones own abilities.

With Shaolin Salute,

Thanks David

Re being humble or downplaying things, I think I am only honest about who I have beaten, who I have not beaten, what I have used in either case, who I have not sparred/fought with, I don't think I am humble! I'll give you an example, in a streetfight I once battered two people twice my size. But also, I sparred with a boxer a couple of years ago and he beat me just as easily.

That's combat. I don't downplay the other benefits I have got from our arts, they are so good that when people leave my first thought, regardless of how fine they were as martial artists, is "They mustn't have ever really got it. Or if they did, they've now lost it." That's not supposed to be a boast but to serve as a warning to myself to think good thoughts, do good things etc so that my karma stays good enough that I don't lose it too.

[veenie]

Thank you Sifu for your generous teachings.

Shaolin Salute,
Parveen

[Matthew]

What a wonderful thread

Thank you to Siheng Tim for this thread and all my brothers and sisters who posed the great questions.

Dear Sifu,

Thank you for sharing your wisdom in answering these questions. As I re-read them again today before the course tomorrow I am amazed at the insights and knowledge you have shared which was surely unavailable to the majority in the past.

I attended this course very early in my chi kung development and whilst I did achieve some tangible results I didn't get the "wow" factor. I now understand why and what to do differently.

I look forward tremendously to the course tomorrow.

[Claudien S]

Thank You Sifu for your amazing generosity.

I just viewed the videos of the Sinew Metamorphosis course at the Summer Camp 2015 and I could feel I was getting a transmission. I am writing this and actually buzzing with loads of energy. Such amazing techniques and skills being passed on to us.

Eternally grateful to Sifu and all the past Masters.

Blessings,
Claude

[DarkCosmoz]

I, too, am eternally grateful to Sigung for posting the videos publically for all to benefit.

I practiced a few of the patterns and just found myself disappearing into the cosmos!

Sinew Metamorphosis is truly Zen in every sense of the word. The art is simple, direct and effective in developing tremendous internal force in such a short amount of time. It feels like cheating too considering other powerful arts like Iron Wire and Dragon Strength require time to build momentum.

Best wishes,
Stephen

[jp571]

I, too, am eternally grateful to Sigung for posting the videos publically for all to benefit.

I practiced a few of the patterns and just found myself disappearing into the cosmos!

Sinew Metamorphosis is truly Zen in every sense of the word. The art is simple, direct and effective in developing tremendous internal force in such a short amount of time. It feels like cheating too considering other powerful arts like Iron Wire and Dragon Strength require time to build momentum.

Best wishes,
Stephen

Have thoroughly enjoyed reading Sifu's answeres in this post, thank you Sifu.

DarkCosmoz (or anyone) would you please post the link to Sifu's video's that you mention above, I can't seem to locate them.