On Saturday 11 April 2009 I have the privelage of joining a Tai Chi push hand session in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras. It was both a revelation and a humbling experience! But, it reminded me of my brief tai chi experience 18 years ago, where I was thrown 30 feet back by an old man on top of a rooftop.
That skill is alive and well. It is my wish that it will be kept alive for the next generation to enjoy.
The group is made up of a few "old looking young men". I say that because at the end of very short push hand session with each one of them, I was panting and weezing while they walk around with happy faces and strong vigour! Man, I have a lot to learn still!
However, unlike my previous experience being thrown off EVERY time, I'm now able to respond and sometimes stop their attacks. Keyword is "SOMETIMES"! And I'm no longer thrown off far. They felt very heavy but was manageable. Maybe I have done something right the past 18 years. Or maybe they were giving face. Most probably it was the latter.
I guess what I'm trying to say here are:
Go out of your comfort zone
I found out that I'm not rooted enough! In my own class no one could move me except sifu. I was told by members of the taichi push hands group that if I could root my self more, I would be able to use more body weight and project more power. Hey! I thought I was already doing that! This however, proves that I definitely have not done enough. I need more training!
Go out of your comfort zone and try to experience other arts and see where you can improve yourself! I would never know that there are many more steps forward! I mean, I know there's a LOT MORE but couldn't see what it was. Now Ican see.
But, be respectful and practice giving face. We're there to share and maybe learn. Not fight! Not to show we or the martial arts we practice is better. Remember in the end it is not about the martial arts. its about you! So focus on yourself and improve yourself!
P/S: Thank you all the members of the Bandar Tun Razak push hands training group, Mr. Lai, Philip, David and others for allowing me to join in. Hope to have many more good times ahead.
And thank you for your invitation to train me as a taichi push hands competitor and your comments on my performance. Please allow me to learn more after this!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Let's share and improve!
I visited a Wing Chun master in Kota Damansara recently. He trained in Wing Chun for years in Australia and Hong Kong. First look I could see he LOVES Wing Chun and it is more evident in his class, from the way he speaks and his actions.
I believe for those who are looking for a sifu, this is the first criteria. PASSION! Second, his/her love for the martial art he's teaching. Third, his/her love for his students. I could see this sifu has all three criteria and sat there anxiously for the class to finish.
At the end of the class we (the sifu, some of his students and me) sat down for a chat on the theories and philosophies of Wing Chun and why it is effective. He also graciously showed the ideas in a practical manner which are easy to understand. The sifu's passion and love for wing chun brought down any wall or ice which is always prevalent when discussions between styles are conducted.
Because of that, we could present our ideas freely without animosity. What did we find out? We have the same ideas even though our styles (even though both are wing chun) look very different from each other. Our approach, however, are very different. And the good sifu graciously invited me to train with him so we could both practice and see what we can learn from each other. An invitation from a great guy like that, who could say no? I just hope I can make him happy with what I have.
Conclusion. Look for the 3 criterias when choosing your sifu for martial arts. Any martial arts. It will help you in learning the art because of the openness and willingness to share attitude that comes with passion,love for the art and love for the students brings.
P/S: Thank you Sifu Kenneth and students of the Crush MMA Gym, Kota Damansara for receiving me.
I believe for those who are looking for a sifu, this is the first criteria. PASSION! Second, his/her love for the martial art he's teaching. Third, his/her love for his students. I could see this sifu has all three criteria and sat there anxiously for the class to finish.
At the end of the class we (the sifu, some of his students and me) sat down for a chat on the theories and philosophies of Wing Chun and why it is effective. He also graciously showed the ideas in a practical manner which are easy to understand. The sifu's passion and love for wing chun brought down any wall or ice which is always prevalent when discussions between styles are conducted.
Because of that, we could present our ideas freely without animosity. What did we find out? We have the same ideas even though our styles (even though both are wing chun) look very different from each other. Our approach, however, are very different. And the good sifu graciously invited me to train with him so we could both practice and see what we can learn from each other. An invitation from a great guy like that, who could say no? I just hope I can make him happy with what I have.
Conclusion. Look for the 3 criterias when choosing your sifu for martial arts. Any martial arts. It will help you in learning the art because of the openness and willingness to share attitude that comes with passion,love for the art and love for the students brings.
P/S: Thank you Sifu Kenneth and students of the Crush MMA Gym, Kota Damansara for receiving me.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I could use it when I'm 90!
There are many reasons why I'm learning martial arts but there are only a few reasons why I choose Chinese martial arts. One of them is, I know I could use it when I'm 90. Here's why I say so,
My first experience in Chinese Martial Arts is with a Sifu who teaches at the Chee Fee Tai Chi Choy Li Fut association. The sifu looked preety old (maybe about 70 or 80). This is already 18 years ago so I can no longer remember his name. But the experience is etched in my memory and hopefully it will never be removed.
I was learning Choy Li Fut while the master teaches Tai Chi at the side. I asked 1 stupid question which was, "How can you use that in a fight?". The master suggested an exchange which totally changed me. Having both Tae Kwon Do (green belt) and a little bit of Choy Li Fut (I started about a month before that) training and my youth to back me up I was cocky and over confident at the very least!. However, I was stopped and thrown before I could finish and BOY was he FAST! I still remember floating backwards with my soles about 1 feet above ground and landing about 3 or 4 metres away from him! I was beaten by a very old man!
That was not the first time I was so called bullied by and old man. I can no longer remember how many times I've been thrown up side down by my sifu. I've sparred and fought many people of many different martial arts, but none, no matter how big, strong and well conditioned they are, who has thrown me up side down. And my sifu is 66 years old this year with a limp on his leg due to an accident.
I have seen Grandmaster Yip Man's son Yip Chun do Chi Sau with people twice his size and half his age. Relaxed and in control. I have seen my Sibak (sifu's elder kungfu brother) who is 81 this year, pick up the 6 and a half point pole and bully my sihengtai (kungfu brothers) with it.
I can use this when I'm 90. My dream is to have many other 90 year olds practicing with me and continue to improve. Care to join me?
My first experience in Chinese Martial Arts is with a Sifu who teaches at the Chee Fee Tai Chi Choy Li Fut association. The sifu looked preety old (maybe about 70 or 80). This is already 18 years ago so I can no longer remember his name. But the experience is etched in my memory and hopefully it will never be removed.
I was learning Choy Li Fut while the master teaches Tai Chi at the side. I asked 1 stupid question which was, "How can you use that in a fight?". The master suggested an exchange which totally changed me. Having both Tae Kwon Do (green belt) and a little bit of Choy Li Fut (I started about a month before that) training and my youth to back me up I was cocky and over confident at the very least!. However, I was stopped and thrown before I could finish and BOY was he FAST! I still remember floating backwards with my soles about 1 feet above ground and landing about 3 or 4 metres away from him! I was beaten by a very old man!
That was not the first time I was so called bullied by and old man. I can no longer remember how many times I've been thrown up side down by my sifu. I've sparred and fought many people of many different martial arts, but none, no matter how big, strong and well conditioned they are, who has thrown me up side down. And my sifu is 66 years old this year with a limp on his leg due to an accident.
I have seen Grandmaster Yip Man's son Yip Chun do Chi Sau with people twice his size and half his age. Relaxed and in control. I have seen my Sibak (sifu's elder kungfu brother) who is 81 this year, pick up the 6 and a half point pole and bully my sihengtai (kungfu brothers) with it.
I can use this when I'm 90. My dream is to have many other 90 year olds practicing with me and continue to improve. Care to join me?
Official Yip Kin Wing Chun Blogspot!
At last it's done! Please run through our Official Yip Kin Wing Chun Blogspot by clicking here.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Forms? Or collection of techniques
But after a deeper look we can see something.
On the whole, I used to practice at least 1 hour a day and usually for about 3 hours every day. Many years ago I used to do about 2,000 to 5,000 punches a day or forms' breakdown (i.e. I take a form, break it down into single techniques and do lots of repetitions with it. I changed that routine to doing more forms and breakdown repetitions now due to the following reasons:
1. Experience
I have many kungfu brothers who come to me when they feel disillusioned by their training. My Sifu only teaches the forms and never conduct sparring sessions so the students do not get to feel or try what they've learned. I was the same but my my experience in the UK has taught me otherwise. Practicing just forms CAN make you a good fighter.
So, what I did was put attackers in a line and each of them has to fight the defender for 2 minutes, no breaks between attackers. The defender had to fight 4 guys in continuous 2 minute rounds! And we have a Karate and San Shou instructors in the group!!! The other guy is 6 feet tall with size 14 shoes and many years experience in many martial arts! You can see the fear in his eyes but he could handle the attackers well. He has only practiced forms but the result was just amazing!
2. Reaction Time
I always conduct training with other Wing Chun styles in Kuala Lumpur and in these sessions I do the most common thing all Wing Chun styles have which is Chi Sao. And from these sessions I get feedback on my kungfu. I always find that I react better on weeks where I focus on forms and the feedbacks I get from my friends confirms it.
Recently I managed to get one of the practitioners to come to my class for a small session of Chi Sao and I was pleased because he was saying good things about my chi sao, even though I've not done chi sao or sparring for almost 2 years. Only forms.
I also find that I could easily catch falling objects which slipped from my hand or react to fast moving items better when I do a lot more forms' training.
3. Health
I have many instances where my students' blood pressure normalized after training the small flower form (saifakuen) and the Qigong. I've seen it so many times in fact, now I will offer to teach the Small Flower Form and Qigong everytime I meet somebody suffers a stroke or has high blood pressure. And it hasn't failed me so far.
Everybody who is in love with martial arts knows that Taiji is a martial arts form that many people have adopted for health purposes.
4. Technique
Of course by training the form we are also training the techniques behind them. I find it easier to apply techniques and only needing minimal amounts of energy to execute them whenever I practice a lot of them. Also, because we are focusing on the form, we are also focusing on the detailed aspects of the form, which would lead to good structure, strong foundation and a sharper mind and body.
I can't tell anybody what the difference between Forms and Clooection of Techniques yet. But I know, FORMS WORKS! Even though we don't understand them!
On the whole, I used to practice at least 1 hour a day and usually for about 3 hours every day. Many years ago I used to do about 2,000 to 5,000 punches a day or forms' breakdown (i.e. I take a form, break it down into single techniques and do lots of repetitions with it. I changed that routine to doing more forms and breakdown repetitions now due to the following reasons:
1. Experience
I have many kungfu brothers who come to me when they feel disillusioned by their training. My Sifu only teaches the forms and never conduct sparring sessions so the students do not get to feel or try what they've learned. I was the same but my my experience in the UK has taught me otherwise. Practicing just forms CAN make you a good fighter.
So, what I did was put attackers in a line and each of them has to fight the defender for 2 minutes, no breaks between attackers. The defender had to fight 4 guys in continuous 2 minute rounds! And we have a Karate and San Shou instructors in the group!!! The other guy is 6 feet tall with size 14 shoes and many years experience in many martial arts! You can see the fear in his eyes but he could handle the attackers well. He has only practiced forms but the result was just amazing!
2. Reaction Time
I always conduct training with other Wing Chun styles in Kuala Lumpur and in these sessions I do the most common thing all Wing Chun styles have which is Chi Sao. And from these sessions I get feedback on my kungfu. I always find that I react better on weeks where I focus on forms and the feedbacks I get from my friends confirms it.
Recently I managed to get one of the practitioners to come to my class for a small session of Chi Sao and I was pleased because he was saying good things about my chi sao, even though I've not done chi sao or sparring for almost 2 years. Only forms.
I also find that I could easily catch falling objects which slipped from my hand or react to fast moving items better when I do a lot more forms' training.
3. Health
I have many instances where my students' blood pressure normalized after training the small flower form (saifakuen) and the Qigong. I've seen it so many times in fact, now I will offer to teach the Small Flower Form and Qigong everytime I meet somebody suffers a stroke or has high blood pressure. And it hasn't failed me so far.
Everybody who is in love with martial arts knows that Taiji is a martial arts form that many people have adopted for health purposes.
4. Technique
Of course by training the form we are also training the techniques behind them. I find it easier to apply techniques and only needing minimal amounts of energy to execute them whenever I practice a lot of them. Also, because we are focusing on the form, we are also focusing on the detailed aspects of the form, which would lead to good structure, strong foundation and a sharper mind and body.
I can't tell anybody what the difference between Forms and Clooection of Techniques yet. But I know, FORMS WORKS! Even though we don't understand them!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
