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Wahnam Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow Set: 10 Questions to Grandmaster Wong

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  • #31
    These Special Question & Answer Series are like excerpts from books.

    Incredible.

    Best regards,
    Stephen

    Comment


    • #32
      Thank you Sigung and thank you Sifu for this fantastic thread.
      There is so much to be learned. We are truly spoiled.

      Andrea
      Enjoy some Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan & Qi Gong!

      Evening Classes in Zürich
      Weekend Classes in other Swiss locations


      Website: www.taichichuan-wahnam.ch
      Facebook: www.facebook.com/Taichichuan.Wahnam.ch

      Comment


      • #33
        Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 2-Part 3

        Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 2-Part 3:

        (Continued from Part 2)

        We first used the term “specialized set” to different it from “basic sets” like Black Tiger Steals Heart and Fierce Tiger Speeds through Valley in Shaolin Kungfu, and White Snake Shoots Venom and Green Dragon Shoots Venom in Taijiquan, which all Shaolin and Taijiquan students in our school practice. In other words, a specialized set was one a student attending a particular course chosed to specialize in. A basic set was one all students would learn in a regular class or in an intensive course.

        For example, in an early Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course in 2005, Dragon-Tiger and Five Animals were specialized sets, because only some students who attended this course chose these sets to specialize in. Sets like Lohan Asks the Way and Black Tiger Steals Heart practiced by all Shaolin students in our school were basic sets.

        In the recent Taijiquan Festival in St Petersburg in the United States, Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow, 108-Pattern Yang Style Taijiquan, Flowing Water Floating Clouds and Wudang Taijiquan were specialized sets as only those who attended this course learned them. White Snake Shoots Venom and Green Dragon Shoots Pearl were basic sets because all Taijiquan students in our school learned them.

        The term “specialized set” might give an impression that the set was very advanced. This was not the original intention, as sets like Dragon-Tiger and Five Animals were intermediate, and sets like Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow and White Crane Flaps Wings (another specialized set that I taught in some regional Taijiquan courses) were quite elementary. Thus, we changed the term “specialized set” to “selective set” to convey the meaning that it was a set a student selected to learn in a particular course, instead of a set he specialized in at an advanced level. If he chose to specialize in it later on, a selective set could become a specialized set.

        We can now examine with more insight the advantages and disadvantages of selecting Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow over 108-Pattern Yang Style Taijiquan as a selective set a Special Combined Shaolin-Taijiquan Course.

        Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow (henceforth called Grasp Sparrow for short) is a shorter version derived from the longer 108-Pattern Yang Style Taijiquan (henceforth called 108-Pattern). Hence, the philosophy, skills, techniques, tactics, strategies and application of both sets are the same. Advantages and disadvantages concerning the two sets are mainly due their length. What is advantageous in one set can be disadvantageous in the other.

        Cloud Hands has 24 patterns, whereas 108-Pattern has 108 patterns. Although there are only 24 patterns, Grasp Sparrow contains all significant patterns found in 108-Pattern, because the same patterns are repeated numerous times in the longer set. Some patterns, like Lift Hand, Carry Tiger Back to Mountain, Separate Leg, Strike Tiger Poise, Bend Bow Shoot Tiger and Sway Lotus Leg, are not found in the shorter set.

        Being shorter, Grasp Sparrow is easier and faster to learn. The sequences are clear-cut, and one can learn the whole set in a relatively short time. The numerous repetitions in 108-Pattern can sometimes be confusing, causing beginning students to be mixed up in various sections of the set.

        On the other hand, those who have time and patience may find the longer set more rewarding. Not only the extra patterns found in the longer set contributes more combat applications, but also as the longer set has more combinations of common techniques arranged in different sequences, it gives more depth and variety in combat situations.

        For example, although Grasp Sparrow has Low Stance Single Whip to defend against any kicking attacks, 108-Pattern has an added pattern in Striking Tiger Poise for this purpose. The advantage of Striking Tiger Poise over Low Stance Single Whip is that the former technique is quicker and more versatile.

        Sway Lotus Kick is found in 108-Pattern but not in Grasp Sparrow. This technique is useful against sweeping kicks, as well as to deflect simultaneous attacks from many spears or to capture the spears.

        (Part 4 follows)
        "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


        • #34
          I´m eager to read part 4!

          This is one of my favourite kungfu sets.

          Thank you Sifu.
          Daniel Pérez
          http://www.shaolinbcn.es

          Comment


          • #35
            Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 2-Part 4

            Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 2-Part 4

            (Continued from Part 3)

            In Grasp Sparrow, Single Whip occurs twice. The first time it is followed by Cloud Hands. There is not much combat significance in having these two patterns together; they just happen to follow one after the other to present the two patterns in the set.

            The second time, Single Whip is followed by High Padding Horse, and two Thrust Kicks. There is some combat significance here. If an opponent counter attacks after you have executed a Single Whip, you can brush of his counter-attack and strike with a thrust palm using High Padding Horse. As he tries to dodge, follow up with a thrust kick. The second thrust kick is for a different situation, when an opponent attacks from behind.

            In 108-Pattern, Single Whip is followed by the same sequence as above as well as by other different sequences. In Sequence 3 of 108-Pattern, Single Whip is followed by Cloud Hands, and again by High Padding Horse and two Separate Kicks (or organ-seeking kicks) instead of thrust kicks. As an opponent wards off your Single Whip and counter-attacks, you respond with a palm strike using High Padding Horse. As he dodges or tries to ward off your palm thrust, you follow up with a Separate Kick or organ-seeking kick. As soon as he dodges or wards off the kick, you move in with another Separate Kick.

            In Sequence 1 of 108-Pattern, Single Whip is followed by Lift Hands, White Crane Flaps Wings and Green Dragon Shoots Pearl. If you attack an opponent with Single Whip and having warded off your attack he releases a triple attack of a strike, a kick and another strike, you can deflect his first strike with Lift Hand, strike his kicking leg with White Crane Flaps Wings, and brush off his second strike and simultaneously counter-strike with Green Dragon Shoots Pearl.

            In Sequence 5, Single Whip is followed by Playing the Lute and Flying Slantingly. When an opponent counter with a punch after warding off your Single Whip, you can break his arm using Playing the Lute. As he pulls back his arm, you can fell him with Flying Slantingly.

            In Sequence 6, Single Whip is followed by Snake Body Low Stance and Golden Cockerel Stands Solitarily. If an opponent executes a sweeping kick after warding off your Single Whip, you avoid his sweeping kick using Snake Body Low Stance. As he jumps in to grab your neck and executes a series of knee jabs as in Muay Thai, you respond with Golden Cockerel Stands Solitarily.

            If you wish to give a Taijiquan demonstration, though this is not an important aim in our school, Grasp Sparrow is crisp and neat, and suits the purpose well. 108-Pattern is too long and may be boring to spectators. However, if the spectators are martial artists who wish to have a deep appreciation of Taijiquan, 108-Pattern will serve the purpose better.

            Most people today practice Taijiquan for health. Grasp Sparrow would be too short for them to have generated sufficient health benefit in their practice. Grasp Sparrow is better for learning important Taijiquan techniques, or for exhibiting Taijiquan techniques in wushu competitions as it was originally intended. 108-Pattern, performed leisurely in one’s garden, is ideal for relaxing, loosening joints and muscles, and attaining gracefulness and balance.

            (Part 5 follows)
            "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


            • #36
              Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 2-Part 5

              Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 2-Part 5:

              (Continued from Part 4)

              But this disadvantage of Grasping Sparrow, or reversely the advantage of 108-Pattern, may not apply to use in Shaolin Wahnam. By choosing just a few patterns from either Grasp Sparrow or 108-Pattern to generate an energy flow, we can attain more health benefits in shorter time than other people practice the long 108-Pattern set.

              Even if we leave aside energy flow, because of our cost-effectiveness, we can also have more benefits relaxing, loosening joints and muscles, and attaining gracefulness and balance by performing Grasp Sparrow as gentle physical exercise than other people practicing the long 108-Pattern set. Other people may think us arrogant, but we are just stating a fact, which unfortunately the other people may not appreciate or even understand.

              We are more cost-effective because we understand Taijiquan mechanics, like differentiating yin-yang and rotating the waist, whereas other people may not, and hence make mistakes like throwing their body forward, thus lacking grace, and shifting their body, thus hurting their knees. We can get more benefit practicing correctly for 3 minutes than other people practicing incorrectly for 10 minutes.

              It is more advantageous to learn Taijiquan mechanics using Grasp Sparrow than using 108-Pattern. This is because as Grasp Sparrow is short and comparatively simple, one can better focus on the task at hand, whereas as 108-Pattern is longer and comparatively complicated, he is more easily distracted from the task by attempting to remember the routine.

              Nevertheless, for most people having learnt Taijiquan mechanics correctly, it is more advantageous to practice 108-Pattern than Grasp Sparrow to develop energy flow and internal force. This is because 108-Pattern is longer, therefore it provides more opportunities for development, and also the movements are generally smoother, therefore it facilitates better energy flow.

              In other words, presuming all other factors being equal, if one person practices Grasp Sparrow and another person practices 108-Pattern, the second person is more likely to develop energy flow and internal force than the first person. Again, this does not apply to us in Shaolin Wahnam. It is because of two reasons – we know the philosophy, and we have the skills -- energy flow and consolidating force – to realize the philosophy.

              Regarding combat application, Grasp Sparrow has the advantage of learning faster, whereas 108-Pattern has the advantage of learning more. If a person is limited in time but wishes to apply Taijiquan well in combat, Grasp Sparrow is an excellent choice. If he has a lot of time and wishes to go deeper into Taijiquan combat application, 108-Pattern provides a better alternative.

              All important Taijiquan applications are found in Grasp Sparrow. Grasp Sparrow also has more than sufficient techniques to handle any combat situations, except perhaps when one is being pinned down on the ground. Not many kungfu sets, including Grasp Sparrow and 108-Patterns, have counters against being pinned on the ground, though most of them, if not all, have techniques preventing this from happening. If one is already being pinned down on the ground, he has to borrow a technique or two from Drunken Eight Immortals to counter the situation.

              (Part 6 follows)
              "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


              • #37
                Thanks Sifu for such great answers.

                Looking forward to learn this set

                Best regards,
                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)

                Comment


                • #38
                  Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 3-Part 1

                  We have another masterpiece of answer coming from Sifu:

                  Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 3-Part 1:

                  Question 3

                  Both the Cloud Hands and the Grasping Sparrow's Tail are legacies of great past Masters.

                  Could you please elaborate more about those two legacies in terms of applications in daily life and combat, energy-force training and mind-spirituality cultivation aspects?

                  Sifu Roland Mastel


                  Answer

                  “Cloud Hands”, I believe, is the shortened form for “Flowing Water floating Clouds”, which in turn was a poetic description of the free movements of Zhang San Feng in chi flow after practicing his kungfu. This is similar to what we do after practicing our kungfu and entering chi flow.

                  What Zhang San Feng practiced was Shaolin Kungfu – a fact not many people know. This Shaolin Kungfu was called Wudang Shaolin Kungfu to differentiate it from the Henan Shaolin Kungfu, sometimes called Song Shan Shaolin Kungfu, practiced at the northern Shaolin Temple on Song Shan or Song Mountain in Henan Province.

                  Wudang Shaolin Kungfu was later shortened to Wudang Kungfu, which later evolved into Taijiquan. To differentiate it from the other styles of Taijiquan, such as Chen, Yang and Wu, the prototype Taijiquan practiced by Zhang San Feng on the Wudang Mountain, which was actually Shaolin Kungfu, is now called Wudang Taijiquan.

                  During the subsequent Ming Dynasty, the imperial Shaolin Temple was moved to the south in the city of Quanzhou in Fujian Province. Shaolin Kungfu practiced here as well as spread to the public was called Fujian Shaolin Kungfu.

                  When this southern Shaolin Temple in Quanzhou was burnt by the Qing Army with the help of Lama kungfu experts, a few masters escaped. Amongst them, Pak Mei retreated to Ermei Mountain in Sichuan, Chee Seen built a secret Shaolin Temple on Nine-Lotus Mountain also in Fujian, Fong Tou Tuck retreated to Wudang Montain in Hebei, and Jiang Nan escaped out of China.

                  The Shaolin Kungfu practiced by Pak Mei and passed on to posterity was called Ermei Shaolin Kungfu, later shortened to Ermei Kungfu. The Shaolin Kungfu practiced by Fong Tou Tuck and passed on to posterity was called Wudang Shaolin kungfu, later shortened to Wudang Kungfu. This Wudang Kungfu from Fong Tou Tuck was different from the Wudang Kungfu of Zhang San Feng a few centuries earlier. Fong Tou Tuck’s Wudang Kungfu was harder and did not resember Taijiquan.

                  The secret southern Shaolin Temple on Nine-Lotus Mountain built by Chee Seen was also burnt by the Qing Army, led by Pak Mei. Many disciples, like Sam Tuck, Hoong Hei Khoon, Lok Ah Choy and Fong Sai Yoke, escaped to Guangdong Province. The Shaolin Kungfu spread by them was called Guangdong Shaolin Kungfu, but interestingly it was not shortened to Guangdong Kungfu.

                  Hence, there are five main types of Shaolin Kungfu, namely Henan or Song Shan Shaolin, Fujian Shaolin, Ermei Shaolin, Wudang Shaolin and Guangdong Shaolin. Henan or Song San Shaolin is regarded as Northern Shaolin as it originated from the northern Shaolin Temple. All the other four types of Shaolin are regarded as Southern Shaolin as they originated from the southern Shaolin Tempes in Quanzhou or on the Nine-lotus Mountain. Not many people, however, realize that there are two southern Shaolin Temples.

                  On the other hand, “Grasping Sparrow’s Tail” refers to a series of Yang Style Taijiquan techniques devised by Yang Deng Fu. The techniques are “peng” or ward off, “lu” or roll back, “qi” or press forward, and “an” or in contact. The technique, “chen” or sink down, is also found in Grasping Sparrow’s Tail, but traditionally it is not mentioned.

                  These five techniques are given poetic names in our Wahnam Taijiquan as follows:

                  1. Peng – Immortal Waves Sleeves
                  2. Lu – Double Dragons Play with Pearl
                  3. Qi – Push Boat According to Flow of Current
                  4. Chen – Black Bear Sinks Hips
                  5. An – Open Window to Look at Moon

                  It is often said that Yang Style Taijiquan was invented by Yang Lu Chan. This is a misconception. What Yang Lu Chan practiced and used in defeating all challengers in his travels over China to test his martial art was Chen Style Taijiquan. It was his grandson, Yang Deng Fu, who modified Chen Style Taijiquan by making the forms bigger and the movements slower for health rather than combat purposes that Yang Style Taijiquan was created.

                  (Part 2 follows)
                  "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


                  • #39
                    Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 3-Part 2

                    Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 3-Part 2:

                    (Continued from Part 1)

                    It is also said that Yang Lu Chan practiced Grasping Sparrow’s Tail thousands of times everyday, and used only Grasping Sparrow’s Tail to defeat all his challengers. This is a metachronism, a displace termed due to time difference. It is the same as saying that Yang Lu Chan lived in China. During his time, there was no China. The Republic of China was formed about a century later.

                    Similarly, during Yang Lu Chan’s time there was no Grasping Sparrow’s Tail. What Yang Lu Chan practiced was Cloud Hands, which was not in any fixed form, but the movements often included a pattern called “Lazy to Roll up Sleeves” in Chen Style Taijiquan, and it sounded like “lan chi yi” in the local dialect.

                    Later these free movements were stylized by later masters into specific forms, and were also collectively called “lan chi yi”. Over time, the oral “lan chi yi” which originally meant “Lazy to Roll up Sleeves”, was written as “Grasping Sparrow’s Tail” as their pronunciations in the local dialect were similar.

                    This historical background, besides providing us with some interesting facts that the general public may not know, traces the legacies of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail from the time of Yang Deng Fu in the 20th century to Cloud Hands of Zhang San Feng in the 13th century. It also explains why many patterns in other styles, like Hungry Tiger Catches Goat in Hoong Ka, Circle-Hand in Wing Choon, Reading Spring-Autumn Annals in Baguazhang, and even the earlier Tiger Form in Xingyiquan are similar to the movements in Cloud Hands and Grasping Sparrow’s Tail.

                    For us in Shaolin Wahnam, both Cloud Hands and Grasping Sparrow’s Tail generate an energy flow, which in turn gives us good health, vitality and longevity. If it unbelievable but true that if any of our student is sick or in pain, he can perform Cloud Hands or Grasping Sparrow’s Tail to have a chi flow, and if practice this regularly and sufficiently, he will overcome his illness or pain.

                    If he is already healthy, practicing Cloud Hands or Grasping Sparrow’s Tail will ensure his continued good health as well as contribute to his vitality and longevity.

                    Comparatively, Cloud Hands is easier as he does not have to worry about the numerous specific patterns in Grasping Sparrow’s Tail. But if he wishes to develop specific qualities to enhance his daily performance, like differentiating yin-yang and rotating his waist, Grasping Sparrow’s Tail is a better choice as these qualities are emphasized in particular patterns.

                    Practicing Cloud Hands or Grasping Sparrow’s Tail will also enable practitioners to be relaxed, graceful, elegant, have physical and mental balance, and attain mental freshness and clarity. These qualities enhance whatever they do in their daily life.

                    The benefits are spontaneous. In other words, practitioners do not need to know how to apply the qualities they have derived in their practice of Cloud Hands and Grasping Sparrow’s Tail to whatever they do in daily life to enhance the results. The results will automatically be better without them having to do anything extra or special.

                    Presuming all other factors being equal, Cloud Hands is more effective than Grasping Sparrow’s Tail in giving relaxation, mental freshness and mental clarity. This is because Cloud Hands is more simple, practitioners need not be concerned with performing the various patterns of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail correctly.

                    Please remember that the comparison is relative. Grasping Sparrow’s Tail also gives these benefits, but Cloud Hands is more cost-effective if all other factors were equal. On the other hand, Grasping Sparrow’s Tail is relatively more cost-effective in making practitioners more graceful and elegant, and giving them physical and mental balance.

                    These benefits from practicing Cloud Hands and Grasping Sparrow’s Tail apply to us and other who practice these two arts correctly. The benefits may not apply to the great majority who practice these two arts.

                    As it is often the case, some other people reading our literature may be angry at the above statements. This is their business. Actually, if they care to listen, they too will also benefit much from the secrets we openly share with the public.

                    (Part 3 follows)
                    "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


                    • #40
                      Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 2-Part 6

                      The final follow up for those waiting for the last part of Question/Answer 2, Part 6:


                      (Continued from Part 5)

                      Relatively speaking, it is more advantageous to use 108-Pattern than Grasp Sparrow for spiritual cultivation. This does not mean that Grasp Sparrow is not effective for spiritual cultivation, but presuming all other factors being equal, 108-Pattern is a better choice. This is because the arrangement of the patterns in 108-Pattern are more flowing and conducive to leading practitioners into a deeper level of consciousness. The arrangement of patterns in Grasp Sparrow is comparatively more abrupt, which tend to keep practitioners in their everyday consciousness.

                      This relative disadvantage of Grasp Sparrow does not apply to us. Right at the beginning we smile from the heart, which sets our spirit free. Immediately we enter Tao, which bring us to a heightened level of consciousness. Other people practicing 108-Pattern have to spend some time over many patterns before they can come close to this spiritual level.

                      Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow is derived from 108-Pattern Yang Style Taijiquan. If one is short of time or likes to have an introduction to Yang Style Taijiquan, Grasp Sparrow is a very good choice. If he has a lot of time and wishes to specialize in Yang Style Taijiquan, 108-Pattern is a more complete approach.

                      Our school is unprecedented in kungfu and chi kung history. We offer such a wide range of courses and in such high standards that practitioners in the past could not dream about, nor practitioners in future may have a similar opportunity. Not only this, we also have the great advantage of breadth and depth. In other words, whereas other practitioners would have minimized results when practicing two or more arts at the same time, we maximize our results remarkably!

                      For convenience we can classify our many Taijiquan sets in our school as follows:

                      Basic Level
                      1. Cloud Hands
                      2. White Snake Shoots Venom
                      3. Green Dragon Shoots Pearl
                      4. Black Tiger Sinks Hips
                      5. Carry Tiger Back to Mountain
                      6. Cloud Hands Grasp Sparrow
                      7. White Crane Flaps Wings

                      Intermediate Level
                      1. Yellow Bee Sucks Pollen
                      2. Old Eagle Catches Snake
                      3. 106-Pattern Yang Style Taijiquan
                      4. Taiji Sabre
                      5. Taiji Staff
                      6. Wudang Sword
                      7.
                      Advanced Level
                      1. Flowing Water Floating Clouds
                      2. Wudang Taijiquan

                      It is worthy of note that the basic level is the most important, and in many ways it is also the most useful. If one has not done well at the basic level, his future progress both as a matter of time and of potential will be much affected.

                      Lessons from basic courses are also more useful in daily life. In free sparring or real fights, basic skills and techniques are generally more effective. In daily activities, basic skills and techniques are more often used than advanced ones.

                      However, if you wish to specialize, it is wiser to choose an advanced set. It gives more breadth and depth ain practice s well as more wisdom in philosophy.

                      <End>
                      "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


                      • #41
                        Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 3-Part 3

                        Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 3-Part 3:

                        (Continued from Part 2)

                        Why do the great majority of people who also practice Cloud Hands and Grasping Sparrow’s Tail not obtain the wonderful benefits we get? It is because they do not practice them as internal arts, they practice only their external forms. The crucial difference is chi flow. If they have chi flow, they practice them correctly as internal arts. If they do not have chi flow, they practice them as gentle physical exercise.

                        It is the chi flow, not the external techniques, that gives the benefits. The more chi flow a practitioner has, the more benefits he gets. Of course, he must also guard against over-training. As our chi flow is very powerful, it is easy for our students to over-train.

                        We shall now compare the benefits of Cloud Hands and Grasping Sparrow’s Tail in combat application, energy-force training and mind-spirituality cultivation.

                        For most people, including those who have been teaching Taiji dance for many years and regarded as Taiji masters, they cannot see any combat application in Cloud Hands. They also cannot see any combat application in Grasping Sparrow’s Tail.

                        They regard Cloud Hands as a pattern, and Grasping Sparrow’s Tail as a series of patterns in the Taiji they practice. Often they may not actually know why they practice Taiji, though they may say that they practice for health, but without realizing that their practice does not make much difference to their health.

                        If they examine themselves honestly, they may find that it is actually for socialization, which is important for happy living, or for fulfilling a habit which they have unconsciously developed.

                        Most Taiji masters, especially if they are Chinese, know that Taijiquan is a martial art. But even when a martial art novice attacks them, they would not know how to defend themselves. This is the sad situation a great martial art like Taijiquan has fallen into.

                        Even those who train Taijiquan as a martial art may not know how to apply Cloud Hands, Grasping Sparrow’s Tail or any Taijiquan techniques fro combat. They would use Kick-Boxing in their sparring and fighting, though some of them may be able to discuss Taijiquan combat application on paper.

                        So in reality, there is actually not much difference between Cloud Hands and Grasping Sparrow’s Tail in terms of combat. More than 90$ of Taiji practitioner would be unable to use them in combat situations.

                        But in theory, Grasping Sparrow’s Tail will provide more opportunities than Cloud Hands in combat because there are more techniques in Grasping Sparrow’s Tail.

                        “Peng”, or ward off, as its name implies, can be employed to ward off an opponent’s attack, like a middle punch. “Lu”, or roll back, is used to roll back an opponent’s attack, like pulling his kick according to his kicking momentum to fell him. “Qi”, or press forward, is to press forward against an opponent, closing his two hands to fell him backward. “Chen”, or sink down, can be used to sink down an opponent as he shoots at you. “An”, or in contact, can be used to strike an opponent with your two palms.

                        There are also less obvious, but sophisticated, applications. When an opponent closes your defence by gripping your one hand against your other hand to your body, and simultaneously strikes you with his other hand, a combat situation many martial artists would be quite helpless, you can counter effective using “peng”. When an opponent grips your arm with his two hands, you can fell him using “lu”.

                        When an opponent grip your wrist, you can not only release his grip but also break his wrist by using “qi”. Those who have attended Taijiquan courses with me may be amazed at seeing how “chen” is used to fell an opponent at the time he tries to fell you. It is an excellent demonstration of the Taijiquan principle of using an opponent’s force against himself. As an opponent wards off your attack, you can close him completely using “an”.

                        There is only one type of movements in Cloud Hands, or two if we include its reverse movements. Most people would not know how these movements can be used in combat. But a master can use just Cloud Hands against any attack! This was what Yang Lu Chan did when he fought with many masters who attacked him in different ways.

                        (Part 4 follows)
                        "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


                        • #42
                          Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 3-Part 4

                          Grande Finale to Question 3; Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 3-Part 4:

                          (Continued from Part 3)

                          The same situation, i.e. Grasping Sparrow’s Tail for practitioners in general, Cloud Hands for top masters, applies in energy-force training.

                          Both Cloud Hands and Grasping Sparrow’s Tail are very effective for generating energy flow and developing internal force. But practitioners in general will find Grasping Sparrow’s Tail more advantageous over Cloud Hands because the many techniques in Grasping Sparrow’s Tail give practitioners more opportunities in their training.

                          As there are five techniques in Grasping Sparrow’s Tail, if you are tensed in one technique, the set-back can be compensated by the other four techniques. You will still be able to generate an energy flow.

                          If you fail to consolidate flowing energy into internal force in one technique, this set-back can be compensated by the other four techniques. You can still develop some internal force.

                          But there is only one technique in Cloud Hands. If you fail in this technique, you fail completely. You will not be able to generate an energy flow or develop internal force.

                          Grasping Sparrow’s Tail develops different types of force – peng force, lu force, qi force, chen force and an force, all of which are flowing. Cloud Hands develop only one type of force – flowing force.

                          But a master is different. He does not need five techniques, he only needs one. And he can generate more energy flow and consolidate more internal force using just one technique and in far shorter time than students using five techniques.

                          Because he is a master, having gone through the training of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail before, he can just develop flowing force using Cloud Hands, and he can convert the flowing force to peng force, lu force, qi force, chen force, an force, and any other types of force which practitioners of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail may be unable to do.

                          The same situation also applies in mind-spirituality cultivation. Because they are more techniques to perform, Grasping Sparrow’s Tail provides more opportunities for practitioners to tag their mind, thus attaining one-pointedness. When their mind wanders, which happens frequently to ordinary practitioners, they have more opportunities to bring their mind back to focus.

                          A master is different. He can focus his mind more readily than ordinary practitioners, and once focused he can maintain a one-pointed mind for a long time. He does not need the many techniques in Grasping Sparrow’s Tail to help him. Hence, Cloud Hands is more advantageous. If he has to perform the many techniques of Grasping Sparrow’s Tail, he can maintain his one-pointed mind in a relaxed manner.

                          For letting the spirit roam freely and expanding the spirit into the Cosmos, skills that are applicable to masters rather than general practitioners, Cloud Hands has a big advantage over Grasping Sparrow’s Tail. Without having the numerous techniques in Grasping Sparrow’s Tail to bother him, a master can feel a tremendous sense of freedom flowing spontaneously in Cloud Hands.

                          Without the restriction of the numerous techniques in Grasping Sparrow’s Tail which may tie him down to the phenomenal world, a master performing Cloud Hands can more readily expand into the Cosmos. This probably was what the great Zhang San Feng did when he attained immortality.


                          <End>
                          "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

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                          • #43
                            Sifu's Answer to question 3 reminds me of a lot of occasions where we have got the chance to experience this development first hand.

                            When learning the Shaolin Praying Mantis Set I have found the training of the many sophisticated patterns very useful to train energy and mind. The development after the Triple Stretch Set, the Flower Set and the Eight Immortals Set was also a reflexion of this process.

                            When Sifu later thought the Grasping Sporrow' tail only, two years ago in Switzerland, I was amazed by it's profundity. Students (Most of them dedicated Shaolin Kung Fu practitioners) and I could generate more chi flow and internal force than with more complex, sophisticated Sets. Returning back to those more sophisticated Sets again has opened for me another dimension.

                            Thank you Sifu for your amazing teachings!
                            "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


                            • #44
                              Cloud Hands Grasp Sporrow Q/A 4-Part 1

                              The fun goes on with Answer 4 Part 1:

                              Question 4

                              Our Wahnam version of the set contains two additional patterns (Elbow Strike and Shoulder Strike) in order to include all of the 13 Techniques of Tai Chi Chuan.
                              • Sigung, where do these 13 Techniques come from?
                              • How can they help us to deepen our Tai Chi Chuan practice?
                              • Can any Tai Chi Chuan pattern be classified into these 13 fundamental movements?
                              (For example "White Snake Shoots Venom" or "White Crane Flaps Wings" when used as a kicking technique.)
                              Sifu Andrea



                              Answer:

                              It is often said that Taijiquan originated from 13 postures or techniques. These 13 postures are in two groups, called “ba men” or “eight gates”, and “wu bo” or “five steps”.

                              The eight gates or techniques are

                              1. peng, or ward off
                              2. lu, or roll back
                              3. qi, or press forward
                              4. an, or in contact.
                              5. cai, or grip
                              6. lie, or spread
                              7. zhou, or elbow
                              8. kao, or anchor

                              Please note that “an” is usually translated as “push’, and “kao” as “shoulder strike” by most Taijiquan practitioners and scholars. My translations to “in contact” and “anchor” respectively are unorthodox, but I base my translations on their practical application as well as the meaning of the Chinese words. I suspect that the majority of those who describe these terms merely copy descriptions from other sources, often without really understanding what they mean.

                              The first four techniques, namely peng, lu, ji and an, form the sequence, “Grasping Sparrow’s Tail”, in Yang Style Taijiquan.

                              We frequently use “Grasping Sparrow’s Tail” in our teaching as it is an excellent sequence to demonstrate fundamental Taijiquan movements. We provide poetic names to the patterns as follows:

                              Immortal Waves Sleeves, which manifests peng
                              Double Dragon Plays with Water, which manifests lu
                              Push Boat According to Flow of Current, which manifests ji
                              Black Bear Sinks Hips, which manifests chen
                              Open Window to Look at Moon, which manifests an

                              The technique, “chen”, which means “sink”, is also found in “Grasping Sparrow’s Tail” of Yang Style Taijiquan, but is normally not singled out for mention.

                              In “Grasping Sparrow’s Tail”, the technique, “kao”, is expressed in the pattern, “Shoulder Strike”, a term we also use in our school. But I interpret “8 gates” not as 8 patterns but as 8 techniques, which will give this concept of “8 gates” more room for application.

                              In other words, in my interpretation, “ward off”, “roll back”, “press forward” and “in contact”, refer not to patterns, but to techniques. In “Grasping Sparrow’s Tail”, these principles are manifested in “Immortal Waves Sleeves”, “Double Dragons Plays with Water”, “Push Boat According to Flow” and “Open Window to Look at Moon”. In other context, the same techniques may be manifested in other patterns.

                              For example, if an opponent executes a thrust punch at me, instead of using “Immortal Waves Sleeves”, I can use another pattern, “Lift Hand”, to ward off the attack. If he pushes at me, instead of using “Double Dragons Plays with Water” to roll back, I can use “Fisherman Casts Net”.

                              The other 4 of the 8 techniques are often expressed in the following patterns:

                              Cai or grip, expressed in “Playing the Lute”
                              “Lie’ or spread, expressed in “Wild Horse Separates Mane”
                              “Zhou” or elbow, expressed in “Elbow Strike”
                              “Kao” or anchor, expressed in “Shoulder Strike”

                              The cai or grip technique is a good reminder that chin-na is an important aspect of Taijiquan. But many Taijiquan practitioners today have no idea of chin-na. They have no idea, for example, how “Playing the Lute’ can be used as a chin-na technique. In our school, a pattern we often use to execute the grip technique is “Old Eagle Catches Snake”.

                              Other patterns besides “Wild Horse Spreads Mane” that execute the spread technique include “White Crane Spreads Wings” and “Fisherman Casts Net”. Isn’t “Fisherman Casts Net” a manifestation for rolling back? Kungfu is alive. While the same technique can be manifested by different patterns, the same pattern can also manifest different tecniques.

                              Besides “Elbow Strike”, the zhou or elbow technique can also be manifested in “Punch Below Sleeves” in Yang Style Taijiquan, “Press Elbow” in Chen Style Taijiquan, and “Big Boss Holds Elbow” in Wudang Taijiquan.

                              The pattern, “Shoulder Strike”, is classified as a kao or anchor technique because the shoulder strike is not executed from the shoulder but from the bad foot, which acts like an anchor. The anchor technique is frequently used in felling an opponent. A good example is “Carry Tiger Back to Mountain”. An exquisite example is “Black Bear Sinks Hips”. Where do you think is the anchor in this Black Bear pattern?

                              (Part 2 follows)
                              "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


                              • #45
                                A Question for Taijiquan and Shaolin Kung Fu practitioners

                                The pattern, “Shoulder Strike”, is classified as a kao or anchor technique because the shoulder strike is not executed from the shoulder but from the bad foot, which acts like an anchor. The anchor technique is frequently used in felling an opponent. A good example is “Carry Tiger Back to Mountain”. An exquisite example is “Black Bear Sinks Hips”. Where do you think is the anchor in this Black Bear pattern?
                                Where is the anchor?
                                "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

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