2006 Intensive Kungfu Course - Live (almost)

[George]

Hello,

I though I'd post a report on my first day of the course. If people enjoy it, I might do the same for the others.

First a bit about the place. The hotel is very nice, although the food is so-so. There is even a... Tesco(!) about 10 minutes walk from here. Malaysia is pretty hot. Reminds me of being in a swimming pool - hot and humid, but no where near as bad as I feared. Having air-con in the room does help a lot.

So the course. I'll try and give a brief outline, because learning from Sifu Wong is an experience in itself, not something I have the skill to put into words.

We started off with a nice session on relaxation, with additional emphasis on correct posture. We also got fair warning on the '3 mistakes' rule. There were some rather intense chi-flows (all we did was close our eyes and relax, not even any patterns.)
Then came the stance training, with special focus on training it as a relaxation exercise and on correct posture (in addition to form.)

Stance training was followed by 5 patterns from the Art of Flexibility.

Then came the moving in stances. This was quite intense, is the best way I can put it: much deeper level of practice than usual. If I had to choose the best part about if, for me it was the emphasis on maintaining ying-yang harmony the movements. This is not something I have paid attention to before and I wish I had. Apart from this we worked on forwards and backwards movements; multiple directions; long to medium to short movements progression; 1, 2, 3... combined transitions in one 'move'; right to left, right to right etc modes of transition; half-steps; turning round in mid move; combinations of all of the above and free practice of this.

After lunch we moved onto hand attacks. Much emphasis on synchronization of attack with the move into the stance (attack ends at the same time as the stance is completed) and linked to this the 'spiraling force' of the attack. Learning to explode force in the attack and to root the stance.

Then we had a go at composing our own set, aimed at a specific personal need, before practicing the Lohan Asks the Way set. It felt quite a bit different as a result of the previous work on stances and strikes: much more flowing and powerful.

We finished with some spacing practice from '2 tigers'.

I think we covered about 6 months' worth of material in just 8 hours. Pretty intense, although naturally it still needs at least that much personal practice to convert the 'knowledge' into knowledge, probably much more time than that.

Anyway, I hope this is useful. It's past 23:30 and I have another early start tomorrow... Fortunately, the time difference very conveniently means that I can phone Andrea to wish her good night, just after I wake up at 06:30, so no interruptions there.

[Simon]

At the hotel,which is your favourite receptionist?

[Charles David]

Great idea George.

[Andrew]

Very nice account George. I look forward to reading your accounts of the next couple of days --- when it normally starts to get more intensive (day 1 is just for fun ).

Andrew

[Zhang Wuji]

Arrgh - I lost 3 whole pages after spending an hour here typing my post waiting for George to turn up. I am not trusting this terminal from now on. I will post when I am back home. 3 pages..sob sob

[George]

Poor Wuji. I was looking forward to reading what he had to say.

So, day 2. Just as Sifu Andrew said, it got a little harder. Not physically, mind you, which is a little strange. Despite my extreme laziness in my personal practice I seem to somehow have picked up enough force to keep going (only goes to highlight the quality of the Art itself.) The difficulty was mental. Some of the material covered today I was previously only vaguely aware of in theory, so I got pushed out of my comfort zone. Even had a little low point in the afternoon, although I felt better towards the end.

The morning started with Lifting the Sky (I have come to love Jordan's chi-flows, although there was no singing today from anyone. ) and stance training.

The rest of the day was spent on strikes and their combat application.

We moved from striking a few inches away, to striking through. I'm sorry to say my control is quite bad, as a few people found out - sorry guys, I will get better.

Sifu discussed in much detail the 4 modes of preparation and the 3 arrivals, as well as spending quite some time on applying these principles to our daily lives outside Kungfu (this is one of the very special advantages of Wahnam training.)

Between training sessions we were driven to lunch in Georgetown and then for a trip to the Butterfly Farm. There was lots of (you guessed it) pretty butterflies flying all around us, but also ducks, big fishies, lizards, hairy spiders in jars (alive,) very zoned-out squirrels, cute turtles with pig snouts and more stuff. The cartoon warnings about what not to do with butterflies were also quite amusing.

I think the trip made the afternoon training more difficult, as it changed my frame of mind. However, instead of avoiding such trips in future to get rest, I personally would rather learn to handle both. This may take some time though...

Back in class, we covered the progression from form -> flow -> force in training. Self-choice was introduced, gradually increasing the range of attacks. We also covered feint attacks, and spontaneous modification of defence patterns to respond to these faints and also to incorrect choice of defence pattern in the first place.

Sifu also pointed out that we lacked the 'threat' level in out attacks. Introducing this immediately made the training much more focused, intense and real. Only the intention of avoiding hitting your training partner if they did not counter correctly prevented these attacks from being fully realistic (another benefit of the Wahnam training method )

We returned to the Lohan Asks The Way set and Sifu demonstrated the basic breathing for the set, so that with each strike we actually obtain and store energy, rather than just expending it. It will take a fair bit of practice to get used to it, though.

Sifu also pointed out that the set can be performed with different aims in mind to provide training 'multi-tool' - seemingly obvious, but I never thought of it like that before.

Finished by covering and practicing the first 3 combat sequences, also with self choice and with form, force and flow.

Sifu spent some time explaining that if there is a problem, e.g. with the form, then one needs to go back a step, or more in the progression chain until the problematic component is located. For example if form suffers in the sequence then drop the force and flow, if not enough go back to footwork. This important principles applies to all problems in the training. The structured training method makes it very easy to back-track a few steps, even within a particular sequence, to locate the problem and work on it specifically.

Right, that's it for tonight. Sifu Mark is eager to check his emails and he has a lot more internal force than I do...

P.S. Simon, I'm afraid I haven't felt any inclinations towards the receptionists here. I must be tired.

[FluffElemental]

Glad to hear it!

George - I have to say I am rather glad to hear that you are not interested in the receptionists although obviously I never had any doubts on account of you lack the required injections!

Anyway it sounds like you are having a great time on the course and had fun with the pretty butterflies - what on earth did the signs say you weren't to do to them?!

Anyway I just wanted to say I will see you soon, and hopefully others off the course who are hanging around after the 7th. Oh and if you want anyone to take notes on the next intensive course I will volunteer, in exchange for tea and cakes of course

So what parts of the training are people particularly enjoying on the course and are people finding that their perceptions and previous training are being challenged?

[George]

Day 3

Another day, another post. Just in case anyone wondered, this is not just my personal thread - it would be really nice to hear from other people on the course. My perspective is limited by my own ability, so I am probably missing lots of interesting stuff out.

Today, our usual stance practice was done with the appropriate hand-forms.

During the chi-flow stage after, a few of the people had a 'spiritual expansion' experience. Sifu talked about these in more detail, but I will not attempt to summarise.

Lohan Asks The Way set was next, this time with emphasis on the breathing. We practiced performing the set in 8 breaths, then in 4. Each breath was in 4 stages: in, follow explode and swallow.

Learned combat sequence 4. Practiced performing it in 1 breath. Added jumps and linked the first 4 combat sequences into the Black Tiger Steals Heart set (performed in 4 breaths.)

Sifu distinguished between the Lohan Asks the Way set (as being a tool for training form, force and flow,) from the Black Tiger Steals Heart set (a tool for practicing application.) In case of problems with form, return to the Lohan Asks the Way set.

In the afternoon we had a very tasty lunch at yet another Chinese restaurant. We then visited the Kek Lok Si Padoga complex. It was nice, if a little crowded by people trying to sell you touristy junk. Lots of new constructions, but I felt the site of bits of reinforced concrete all around, spoiled it a little.

In the afternoon Sifu produced an instantly classic phrase, while lamenting the lack of force in our sequence practice: "This is Shaolin Kungfu, not opium smoking!"

Working with sequences 1-4 we progressed to self-choice, modification (e.g. sequence 3 <-> 4 on the fly,) moving in with a surprise attack and then a mix of all of it.

Sifu shared a little trick to help prevent form slippage: imagine your training partner is invisible and just move as in solo set practice.

Learned sequences 5 and 6. Pressing attacks were introduced and beautifully demonstrated by Sifu.

Practiced sequences 1-6 with self-choice and continuation. With this we practiced attacking with 2 sequences one after the other and then dropping the any one of the patterns in the first attacking set.

Now for a little personal perspective. During the second session I hit the point of no longer being able to keep up with the skills transmitted. The brain overflow is usual for me, except I expected it to happen much sooner than this. What is amazingly different about this time, is that despite the overflow the new information kept going in. Usually, once I reach this point I simply stop absorbing information, nothing will go in (this happened a lot during my time at university.) Yet Sifu managed to keep transmitting more and more skills. I know that I have learned them (although I am not sure how I know this,) it is just that my body can not yet keep up.

The previous days are all starting to merge into one, but again, whereas I would usually start forgetting the things I learned (again e.g. university lectures,) in this case I am merely forgetting when I learned them. The information itself is clinging to my brain with remarkable determination. I could be due to my notes and these posts here, but I have a feeling that alone would still not be enough, as I haven't re-read them yet. Very strange (in the nicest possible way.)

[Jordan]

I am loving the daily reports, George! I am sure this thread will help those who are still a little unsure about doing an Intensive course, indeed it will be a great reminder to those who have already done the course!


Good work.

The morning started with Lifting the Sky (I have come to love Jordan's chi-flows, although there was no singing today from anyone. ) and stance training.

No Singing?!

[YunXiang]

Dear George,

First I would like to thank you for sharing your experiences at the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course. Your openness is much appreciated and admired especially when doing so in a public forum.

After reading your posts, I found myself thinking back to my past courses with Sifu. They have been fun, inspiring, and uplifting, yet, at times, very challenging. It is interesting that I usually find when the Shaolin training becomes more and more challenging, it is a sign of breaking through or emerging to the next level. I have also observed this interesting pattern in my fellow classmates.

The funny thing is the person who is experiencing this transformation may think he/she is not doing well and may become frustrated. On the contrary, he/she is doing very well and is about to have a breakthrough. In my opinion, all that person needs to do is march along the best way that he/she can. At any rate, it's inspiring to be a witness of this change in a fellow Shaolin warrior.

It is always interesting and inspiring to hear of personal success stories from Sifu's courses. Thank you for sharing yours.

Kind regards,
Mike

[Simon]

I knew I had something wrong. I better put my pipe away!

This is a really good thread George, keep it up. Everytime I see Sifu I aways tell myself to write everything down afterwards but never do. It will be a great asset when you come home.

Cheers

Simon

[Luo Lang]

Everytime I see Sifu I aways tell myself to write everything down afterwards but never do.

I feel the same way. I found out that everything what Sifu sais is very worth to share.
Maybe it's because it's simply a lot of wisdom which Sifu is sharing during a visit , so that we first have to write down and then train and experience. This takes time

Dear George:
When I read your comments I am feeling like I am back again in malaysia.
Many thanks for sharing!!!

Respectfully,

Roland

[Michael Durkin]

Greetings everyone,

Great to hear from you George, I only saw you a few weeks ago in England at the 3 Nations Gathering, now look at you !!!

What you are sharing with us excellent stuff, please continue to share your experiences with us, and anyone else who is also taking Sifu's Intensive Kung Fu course.

Click here to view a thread which shows how one may prepare for a course in Malaysia with Sifu, methods which George himself has followed to help him get ready.

[Molly]

Get off the Fence, come have fun!

Hello From Sunny Malaysia!!
For those of you who are still trying to decide to come here to do this course, my advice is this: stop thinking, just come and do! I had a million doubts before coming here. I thought I wasn't ready. I've no regrets coming whether I was ready or not. I've gained so many skills in such a short time, and the course isn't even finished! Plus I think all this qi flow is making my hair grow ! Many thanks to Sifu and all my kungfu brothers and sisters for making this the best experience of my life! I want more!!!!!!! Cheers! Molly

[Zhang Wuji]

George very kindly allowed me to write this post even though he was first in the queue. I know I said I would not post until I got home, but there are two reasons why I just had to.

First, Sifu encouraged us to contribute our experiences, and second, I am just too inspired by SIfu’s teaching today to go to bed without recording it.

I will let George post his excellent account of what we learnt today. I will share how Sifu introduced a teaching methodology that I am 100% certain has never been seen before.
He told us to practice our Combat Sequences 5 to 8 as if they were Taijiquan patterns. Immediately, that changed everything for me, and it is not just because I am a Yang Taijiquan student.

Suddenly, it became crystal clear what he meant by flowing movements. The way Sifu explained it is so brilliant that I have difficulty putting this in words. He said that if our movements are flowing, our very attack or defence merges with the cosmos, and even our breathing is attuned to the flow of the universe.

I will have to continue this tomorrow, as I am taking longer than expected. Over to you, George.