Tai Chi Punch

[Mark B]

Hi Steve,

There's no need to apologise to me!
For one.
In fact, I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about!

I'm really sorry to hear that you got into trouble but from who, and for what exactly?

I'm sure its not, but as it stands at the moment, it does sound a bit sinister!

Mark

[Antonius]

Oh please. Drop the drama, Mark. No one got into trouble, and there is nothing sinister going on.

I contacted Steve privately. We've never met, and I knew absolutely nothing about him, so I contacted him to find out a bit more about his background in and out of Shaolin Wahnam. I did this because, from what little I've read in this thread, Steve's posts seem to be a bit inconsistent with what Sifu teaches.

This may have been a case of Internet misunderstanding. Even if it wasn't, it's still fine. People are allowed to have differing opinions. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that those opinions will not be challenged. For example, if a Shaolin Wahnam student (I'm not talking about Steve or anyone else here) were to post that stances cannot be used in combat, then I would correct him/her, and I'm sure that I wouldn't be the only one. In some situations, I would correct the student privately. In other situations I would do it publicly.

I didn't ask Steve to apologize (publicly or privately) for his behavior, and I never really intended him to. I just wanted to clarify a few things. Which I did.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled program.

[Maxime]

I would like to add that we can thank Anthony Sihing for taking his time to come up and clarify things here, which he had no obligation to do.

There are lots of things happening backstage via PM, I would like to advise everyone not to forget to take this into account.

When in doubt, please remember that our Shaolin seniors deserve our trust and full support.

Kind regards,

[Darryl]

Dear Steve,

I am very impressed with your sincere apology. I had thought the thread would continue for a while, but your action has demonstrated maturity and wisdom.

All the best,

[JoseFreitas]

On a completely different note, and returning to the original Steve Morris query, I would add that "using the ground" to root against when doing a strike does not mean that the force necessarily has to travel only in one direction. It is possible to approach it in different way: your hand touches the opponent and you push from hi to the ground (or strike). It is a common "trick" in Xingyi, but even boxers do it. I should rather say that your body expands between the opponent and the ground, but this would feel like saying it starts at the middle. It can start at the middle, the feet or the hands. Xingyi likes to give the impression that the hands are going slowly at first (we call them "seeking hands", sort of like antennas) but the strike only accelerates after contact has been made (thus Steve's strike seemingly starting at the hand, higher up, rather than the feet).

Don't discount Steve's knowledge. He trained with some masters from southern shaolin Fine Animals and learned a bunch of qigong methods (and was much impressed by their knowledge of qi).

[uz2kid]

Shaolin Wanham in Surabaya

Mas Joko, I' am from Surabaya. Is there any Shaolin Wanham Institute in Surabaya and in Jawa Timur?
Please, let me know. I would like to join.

[joko]

Is there any Shaolin Wanham Institute in Surabaya and in Jawa Timur?

Welcome to the Forum.

There is not a branch of Shaolin Wahnam in Surabaya or Jawa Timur, yet.

Please come to Bandung if you'd like to join us.

Regards,
Joko

[uz2kid]

Shaolin Wanham at Bandung

Mas Joko, tell me the address of Shaolin Wanham Institute at Bandung and the schedule. I would like to come if I go to Bandung.

[Robin]

good Idea

uz2kid,

It is a good idea to meet with my Tai Chi Chuan brother Joko,

He is an exceptionally good fellow and has a great grasp of Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan.

Regards

Robin

[uz2kid]

Hi Robin

Thank you for your support.

I hope I can meet brother Joko ASAP.


Regards

[Old-Liu]

If a person sits and meditates for years, gathering alot of chi, are they likely to deliver a powerful punch without a little practise? Probably not.

True - it can't be ignored that many, many thousands - hundreds of thousands - of people practice zhan zhuang and taiji for health purposes alone, and have no martial arts power.

Well, I suppose they might have, but my experience is that there is a big separation - people doing zhan zhuang for health wouldn't ever claim to have serious martial arts prowess because the know there are more factors involved in that than simply zhan zhuang.

To me, if 'internal force' is real, then it isn't simply a construction of Asian culture -it must be a natural phenomenon which all humans can experience or cultivate, regardless of what name they give it.

Will an internal force punch 'look' a certain way? Can we tell from Steve Morris's posture alone that he 'hasn't' got internal force? Or is it more to do with the effect, the power, etc?

Personally, I'm a little agnostic on the issue - I see the power of 'qi' as being one of, if you believe it, then it has a power for you - but that's an entirely personal opinion.