Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Shaolin Five-Animal Set - 10 Questions to Grandmaster Wong

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Shaolin Five-Animal Set - 10 Questions to Grandmaster Wong

    Dear Shaolin family,

    In April 2016 Sifu is going to teach the legendary Shaolin Five-Animal Set in Vienna!

    You can find all the details on the course and some interesting information here: http://www.shaolin-wahnam-wien.at/ku...imals.html.php

    Sifu kindly agreed on answering 10 Questions on the Shaolin Five-Animal Set, which forms the prototype of Southern Shaolin Kung Fu. I am sure this is going to be another future classic.

    Please limit yourself to one question only, although it is surely a hard task!

    So, question time!

    Best wishes,

    Leo
    Sifu Leonard Lackinger

    Shaolin Treasure House

    Shaolin Wahnam Wien & Shaolin Treasure House

  • #2
    I seized my advantage and planned my sequence beforehand. So, I’ll start with the first question!


    Dear Sifu,

    Thank you for giving us the chance to ask questions on the Shaolin Five-Animal Set.

    When selecting an animal spirit for specialization, we are looking for a person’s character and abilities. How are the various animal spirits manifested in a person and on the other side how does the training of the various animal spirits affect our character and personal growth in everyday life?

    Best wishes,

    Leo
    Sifu Leonard Lackinger

    Shaolin Treasure House

    Shaolin Wahnam Wien & Shaolin Treasure House

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks for this opportunity, Leo.

      We have so many speciality sets and even styles in Shaolin Wahnam now. What makes the five animal set special and, in this context, what reason should a student (or instructor) have to learn this rather than any of the other specialisation sets? As a P.S. to this question, how will learning and practicing the five animal set complement other specialisations and styles?

      OK, I know, it's more than one question. Let's say .... 1.5!
      Sifu Andrew Barnett
      Shaolin Wahnam Switzerland - www.shaolin-wahnam.ch

      Flowing Health GmbH www.flowing-health.ch (Facebook: www.facebook.com/sifuandrew)
      Healing Sessions with Sifu Andrew Barnett - in Switzerland and internationally
      Heilbehandlungen mit Sifu Andrew Barnett - in der Schweiz und International

      Comment


      • #4
        Dear Sifu,

        When preparing to teach Baguazhang, Sifu discovered that Baguazhang patterns adopt three planes, whereas Taijiquan patterns adopt two planes and Shaolin patterns adopt one. Furthermore, Sifu has commented that this three-plane facility enhances agility and provides better combat efficiency. How can we apply this development to our practice of the Shaolin Five-Animals Set?

        Sincerely,

        Mark Blohm
        少林華南台灣 Shaolin Wahnam Taiwan

        Facebook

        "Then how could chi kung overcome diseases where the cause is unknown or when there is no cure? The question is actually incorrect. The expressions "the cause is unknown" and "there is no cure" are applicable only in the Western medical paradigm. The expressions no longer hold true in the chi kung paradigm. In the chi kung paradigm the cause is known, and there is a cure."

        -Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit

        Comment


        • #5
          Dear Sifu, thank you very much for this opportunity to ask Sigung about the Shaolin five animal set

          Dear Sigung,

          in Kung Fu history there have been different collections of 18 weapons and 36 leg techiques. Have there been any other collections of five animals too and how did they differ from the classic five animals in terms of combat efficiency and personal development?


          Best regards,

          Dimitri
          When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
          When the student is truly ready, the teacher will disappear.

          -Lao Tzu-

          Comment


          • #6
            Dear Sifu, thank you for the opportunity to ask more questions about these amazing arts!

            Recently on the forum, there was a thread about the 72 arts of Shaolin and other "special skills" of Shaolin kung fu. Are there any particular special skills or practices from the 72 arts of Shaolin that are particularly useful for the Five Animals set application, and conversely, is the Five Animals set conducive towards developing any of the 72 arts or other special skills?

            Thank you once again!

            With respect and Shaolin salute,
            -Fred Chu
            I like making silly videos (including kung fu ones!) every so often on YouTube and taking pictures of weird things on Instagram.

            Comment


            • #7
              Dear Sigung,

              Which benefits and skills can a practitioner expect and attain after practicing the Shaolin Five Animal Set for one, five and ten years?

              with Shaolin Salute
              Bernhard
              "No matter what you do, you must be clear in your conscience." - Sitaigung Ho
              A single light can eliminate the darkness of millenia.
              Every moment is precious.

              Comment


              • #8
                This is an amazing opportunity. Thank you Sigung for your generosity!

                Dear Sigung,

                In History and Philosophy of Shaolin Five Animal Set you said that
                The development of Shaolin Kungfu from Lohan Fist, the prototype at the northern Shaolin Monastery in Henan, to Five-Animal Set, the prototype at the southern Shaolin Monasteries at Quanzhou and on the Nine-Lotus Mountain, represented the development of the best martial art in the world over many centuries.
                In History and Philosophy of Wudang Taihiquan Set you also explain that Zhang San Feng brought
                Kung Fu development to an unprecedented height.
                Bearing this in mind it can be said that Shaolin Lohan Fist, Shaolin Five Animal Set and Wudang Taijiquan Set are representative of the best martial art of the world in their three stages of development. They are the best of the best in martial art history.

                Then my question is, if one chooses to specialize in these three Sets, considering the almost unthinkable good fortune that all of them are taught in our school, which results can a practitioner expect in terms of character development, energy management, spiritual cultivation and combat efficiency from the combined practice of these Sets? How enhance the Sets each other?

                With Shaolin Salute
                Davy
                Last edited by Davy; 28 December 2015, 07:57 PM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Some great questions so far, gentlemen.

                  There are only 3 more left. Take the chance!

                  Best wishes,

                  Leo
                  Sifu Leonard Lackinger

                  Shaolin Treasure House

                  Shaolin Wahnam Wien & Shaolin Treasure House

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Dear Leo,

                    Thanks for this opportunity

                    Dear Sifu,

                    Thank you for another enlightening series ...I cannot wait for the answers to some of the great questions asked already!

                    The Shaolin Five Animals Set is dear to me as it was featured in your The Art of Shaolin Kungfu,; the book which first introduced me to genuine Shaolin Kungfu.

                    My question: Please can you talk about the development of this Set in your own experience of training and teaching.

                    Shaolin Salute,
                    Sifu Andy Cusick

                    Shaolin Wahnam Thailand
                    Shaolin Qigong

                    sigpic

                    Connect:
                    Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

                    "a trained mind brings health and happiness"
                    - ancient wisdom

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      How To Train Your Dragon and Internal Force

                      Thank you very much Sifu and Brother Leo .

                      The Shaolin 5-Animal Sets ( Solo Pattern Set and Partner Combination Sparring Set ) cover all categories of combat ( strikes , kicks , felling , qin-na , dim-mak ) , trains the various essences/spirits , involves tactics / strategies and incorporates force training ( eg the repeated pattern of "dragon emerges from sea" ).

                      Comparing the old southern Shaolin temples and Shaolin Wahnam : is the force training ( to back up the 5-Animal techniques ) similar and may we have a glimpse of the various force training methods ?
                      And is moving meditation ( eg doing swerving dragon patterns with presence of mind ) more effective then sitting meditation in training the Dragon spirit ( ie mind or shen) for combat ? I presume the old warrior-monks are more combat efficient then us because they invest time in both sitting and moving meditation whilst we modern Shaolin Wahnam practitioners do more of the dynamic aspect but nevertheless have more time for leisure like watching kungfu movies !

                      Thank you again
                      Attached Files
                      Last edited by Damian Kissey; 29 December 2015, 02:48 PM.
                      Damian Kissey
                      Shaolin Wahnam Sabah , Malaysia .
                      www.shaolinwahnamsabah.com

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        There is one last question left, dear brothers and sisters!

                        After that I can start revealing Sifu's wonderful answers straight away!

                        Best wishes,

                        Leo
                        Sifu Leonard Lackinger

                        Shaolin Treasure House

                        Shaolin Wahnam Wien & Shaolin Treasure House

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Dear Sifu,

                          How are traditional sets like the Dragon Strengt Set, the Flower Set and the Triple Stretch Set related to the Five Animal Set? Which of the five animals are represented or dominant in the mentioned traditional sets?
                          "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

                          Website: www.enerqi.ch

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Question time is over!

                            Thank you everyone for your great questions.

                            Have a great New Year's party! We'll start the New Year with even greater answers by Sifu.

                            Best wishes,

                            Leo
                            Sifu Leonard Lackinger

                            Shaolin Treasure House

                            Shaolin Wahnam Wien & Shaolin Treasure House

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Sifu has quickly provided the first answers and here is the first part of the first one!

                              Thank you, Sifu, for answering my question!

                              Question 1

                              When selecting an animal spirit for specialization, we are looking for a person’s character and abilities. How are the various animal spirits manifested in a person and on the other side how does the training of the various animal spirits affect our character and personal growth in everyday life?

                              Sifu Leonard Lackinger


                              Answer

                              For those not familiar with the terms used here, it may be useful to briefly explain what we mean by “animal spirit”. Here we do not mean the soul or that invisible aspect of the animal apart from its physical body. We mean the characteristics or qualities manifested by that animal, and in particular with special reference to the Five-Animal Set.

                              When we say the spirit of a tiger, for example, does not mean the soul, or non-physical part of the tiger. We mean the characteristics or qualities manifested by a tiger in general, such as courage and ferocity. In the special case of the Shaolin Five-animal Set, me mean internal force.

                              The Shaolin “five animals” are the dragon, the snake, the tiger, the leopard and the crane. Whether the dragon really exists is another issue.

                              The spirit or qualities manifested by these Shaolin “five animals” are mind, qi or energy, internal force, speed and strength, and elegance. In other words, when we train the dragon form, we train presence of mind when we train the tiger form, we train internal force.

                              When we select a Shaolin animal for specialization, we look for the person’s character and abilities. These factors are considered by both the student and the teacher.

                              For example, if a student is slow in his daily activities, we may select a set with a lot of leopard forms for his specialization. By specialziaing in the set, he may improve his speed of doing things.

                              Does that mean that if another student is quick, we would not choose a set with a lot of leopard forms for him? No, not necessarily. It depends on our criteria. We may choose the set for him if we want to make full use of his speedy action.

                              In this respects, those attending the course on the Shaolin Five-Animal Set are very lucky. It is not a specialization course, but a course where participants will have an introduction to all the Shaolin five animals. It is certainly a wise move, as well as a rare opportunity, to have a taste of all the Shaolin five animals and their manifestations, regardless of whether you will specialize in any one animal later on.

                              Most other students do not have this practical opportunity; they do not even have the theoretical knowledge. Some students may have practiced the Tiger-Crane Set for years, but do not know what the tiger and the crane manifest. Others may have practiced Dragon Style kungfu for a long time, but are still absent-minded.

                              (Part 2 follows)
                              Sifu Leonard Lackinger

                              Shaolin Treasure House

                              Shaolin Wahnam Wien & Shaolin Treasure House

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X