Forms in the Martial Arts
There are many critics of forms in the martial arts. What is a form? It is a predetermined set of movements that are performed by the martial arts practitioner. Many critics say there is little value in playing forms, that it does not simulate what happens in a real fight and that it is a waste of time learning moves while not being confronted by an assailant. My experience in Ving Tsun has has proven to me otherwise.
Developing Techniques
There is high value in our system’s forms. Ving Tsun forms are like software for your body and its CPU. Every time you play a form it strengthens and reinforces movement patterns contained therein. When playing chi sao, oftentimes new techniques emerge that the practitioner has not intended or thought to play. When tracing back where these techniques came from, they can usually be found in whatever form that person has been working on.
Attributes and Energy
Not only do forms train techniques, they also train various attributes such as relaxation or center line. So playing lots of forms also develops qualities that will make one excel in kung fu and other endeavors. Forms also train different energies. This becomes more apparent as the practitioner advances. Playing lots of forms in Ving Tsun kung fu is a highly worthwhile undertaking.
Train hard and relax hard.
Grandmaster Ip Man Movies
by Luc on July 20, 2009
in Kung Fu Life, Training
For those of you who missed Ip Man, released on DVD in February, you should check it out. It stars Donnie Yen. Ip Man was the first movie made based on the life of Grandmaster Moy Yat’s sifu and covers a period of time from the 1930’s to the 1940’s while Grandmaster Ip Man is living in Foshan prior to and during the Second Sino-Japanese War. China fought with little foreign aid until the conflict became part of World War II. There are sequels to this movie in the works. The next is slated for theatrical release in 2010 and will feature Grandmster Ip Man’s life in Hong Kong as he establishes Ving Tsun there. It is rumored that much of the film will feature his relationship with his most famous student, Bruce Lee.
I just learned of another movie based on the life of Grandmaster Ip Man entitled, Grandmaster, starring Tony Leung. The latest news is that Mr. Leung broke his arm when he was kicked by his instructor while preparing for the film last week. Rumor has it that he has been training three hours a day for the past 5 months in preparation for the role. Have you been training that hard?
Filming was originally scheduled to begin in September.
In Your Hands, Not Your Head
In Ving Tsun, we train so that self-defense responses become automatic. To do this, we put in a lot of hours training various drills, working on energy – utilization, application, and sensitivity. What follows is your hands knowing what to do immediately in any given position. They bypass your brain and act of their own accord creating reflex responses. To learn Ving Tsun, you must engage in it.
You may spend a lot of time reading about Ving Tsun on the internet or in books. One may discuss Ving Tsun with your friends or on internet forums. There is merit in all of these activities but they will never be a substitute for doing Ving Tsun. Playing forms and partner drills is the only way to develop hands that react by themselves in violent confrontation.
Train hard, relax hard.
What do you do in your spare time?
by Luc on July 7, 2009
in Kung Fu Philosophy, Training
I had the pleasure of attending the Detroit school’s anniversary seminar over Memorial Day weekend this year. On Friday night, Sigung Moy Tung gave an excellent kung fu lecture. During his discourse, he said, “If you want to master kung fu, there’s no such thing as practicing kung fu in your spare time because in your spare time, you will be resting.” This statement caused me to reevaluate how I train kung fu.
To achieve mastery in any given endeavor requires discipline, dedication, and hard work. It may not be convenient to practice kung fu everyday. Those who are on the path to becoming masters will do it anyway. They will make it a normal routine in their lives. Therefore, they will rest in their spare time, as their training has already been completed. The hobbyists pursue kung fu in their spare time. If it is not convenient for them to attend class on a particular day, they may take that day off. Training is much more flexible.
Is it bad to practice kung fu as a hobbyist? Not at all. A multitude of benefits can be derived from the pursuit of kung fu that will enrich your life and a high level of kung fu can be cultivated over time. By attending kung fu class multiple times a week, you’re already way ahead of most people and you’re developing a great skill set to boot. But can one expect to rival the skills of the greatest masters by attending kung fu class 3 times a week for a couple of hours as one’s sole training? Do Olympic athletes compete after spending an average of six hours a week training?
By distinguishing levels of training and commitment, you can choose to step up to a higher level of dedication. Follow your own kung fu path and it will show you where you need to go.