Legacy of Bodhidharma 2012 - Las Vegas

[Anthony S]

I expect that we will be getting many more comments on the results of Iron Wire training as the months go by. Its wonderful to read of people's experiences.

[Matt F.]

I did not attend the Legacy of Bodhidharma courses, but I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the graduation dinner with many of the course participants. What a happy, vibrant, strong looking group! And such happy faces!!

Everyone shared personal experiences from the course, and each was very special. Some were amazing! It certainly was a very powerful weekend, and I'm very glad I was able to arrive in time for dinner and stories.

And the Thai food (and hospitality/service) was awesome!!! Extra special thanks to our hosts at the restaurant.

-Matt

[Matt F.]

Iron Wire. Holy moly, Iron Wire!!!

Sifu's courses on One Finger Shooting Zen (two years ago) and Two Finger Zen (one year ago) really opened my eyes to the Flow method and consolidating force. Iron Wire took my understanding to an entirely differnet level, and my skill to even higher (much higher) level than that.

My experience confirms that flowing chi and consolidating force are very much connected. Not only did Sifu transmit both skills, but he also transmitted the skill of switching from one to the other at will. It's difficult to explain in words, but if you think of an ice skater spinning, they can have arms wide with a slow spin, or tuck their arms in for a fast spin. By just moving their arms in and out, they are able to control the speed of the spin. That is how easy it has become to switch from flowing to consolidating and back to flowing.

Other notable experiences:

The root developed in section 4 is amazing!! While pressing overhead, I can feel energy flowing down, deep below me. Pressing to the sides, I can feel that energy spreading wide all through the ground. While pressing forward, this root not only holds me firm, but adds force to my press. I've read about root like this, but never fully experienced it until Iron Wire.

This sounds odd, but at times I could feel red gauntlets of power/strength/force surrounding my forearms and fists. It felt like I could crush coconuts and stones!

Near the end of day 1, I experienced my first, full-on brain fry. For lack of any other term, my mind was completely and utterly blown. Sifu had us complete a selection of Iron Wire in full, vigorous flow, and I become Flow! I was totally aware, but my muscles, bones, and intellect all seemed to be replaced by Flow. I tried to have a thought, and it was just taken away in the flow. This continued for a bit, into the question and answer that followed. There could be some very funny videos of participants raising hands and telling their experiences, while I just stand in the corner, dumbfounded and dazed. I'll have to look for that!

This was an amazing course, and I can only begin to express how grateful I feel to have been able to participate. I was given a glimpse of how powerful Iron Wire is, and walked away with immense respect for the set.

Many, many thanks to Sihing Anthony for hosting Sifu. And endless thanks to Sifu for passing on such amazing arts and skills.

-Matt

[Matt F.]

Another very cool note - Several days ago, after I practiced Iron Wire, my girlfriend began asking odd questions about my experiences at the course and during practice. She was asking about what I felt, what I was doing, etc.

It turns out, the entire house was shaking/vibrating while I was consolidating force!

For honest, full disclosure, we live in an oddly built house that does seem to transmit vibrations easily. However she said it felt similar to a recent, small earth quake we experienced. Pretty awesome!!

-Matt

[DarkCosmoz]

Updates on Iron Wire

I have now been practicing all 5 sections of Iron Wire (including the Shaolin greetings) every morning from 5:30 AM to 6:00 AM before I head out to work. I find that it takes me about 20 minutes to do the forms alone and another 10 minutes of chi flow (vigorous and/or flowingly still depending on the situation).

Here are the noticeable results so far:

-When I stand up, my shoulders and back are now positioned back more, opening up my chest.

-Whether I am walking, running, typing on a computer, socializing with friends or even watching a movie, I am buzzed with internal force. My forearms, particularly, are filled with energy. There is also a lot of internal force in my legs.

-There is much, much less mental fatigue and stress at work now.

-My other qigong practices like Sinew Met. are enhanced greatly and much more powerful (need to be careful of overtraining).

-Overall increase in confidence.

Can't wait to see how I progress in a few months time.

Best regards,
Stephen

[David Langford]

As some of you know 3 days after the course I was involved in a bad traffic accident where I rear ended a big vehical on the interstate while going around 60 miles per hour, my knee was badly damaged by a puncture wound(I think it broke the gear shifter), but other than that I walked, well limped away unharmed for the most part.

The doctor said I may need physical therapy, and would be unable to practice kung fu for quite some time...I can happily attest that within a week I was walking without a limp, and for the past week I have been back to practicing kung fu with only some minor stiffness which goes away more and more daily! I attribute my extremely swift recovery and lack of overall damage to myself to this awesome course and my previous practice under Sifu Anthony S.

I have only been able to practice the 1st part of iron wire, as horse and bow and arrow stance was until last week somewhat painful. Just the first sequence in itself has brought on so many wonderful and mindblowing experiences in my daily practice of the shaolin arts so far that have continued to get more and more powerful since the course.

Everything seems to be building such tremendous momentum, sinew met, bone marrow washing, golden bridge, one finger zen, lohan arts/hands.... And now that I am building up to practicing the rest of the Iron Wire set... I so can't wait to see my progress in a few months, perhaps at the intensive kung fu course in April!

Thank you Sifu
Thank you Sigung
Thank you to all the past masters.
Thank you to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Saints, and Divine spirits.
Thank you to God.

[Markus Kahila]

Out of all Sifu's chi kung courses I've had the fortune to participate in, Legacy of Bodhidharma is the best. You're all very lucky.


Best wishes,

[Omar]

Indeed, the Legacy course is amazing. It felt like on some levels as intense as the small and big universe course.

David, it is very good to hear that you are recovering from a car accident. I've never been in one myself but I've witnessed it, the forces involved commands respect.

[Matt F.]

Continued updates on my experience with practicing Iron Wire -

As expected, consolidating force in the arms is very noticeable. This is especially true in the foreams and hands. On many occasions, there has been an obvious fullness in the wrist area (mostly on the inside/tendon side of the wrists). I can really appreciate Sihing Anthony's question about new shirts and watches!

Before training Iron Wire, I had read a lot about how this set really helps to focus consolidated force into the arms. So, my above experiences have really not been all that surprising. What has been unexpected, however, is a significant increase in root. Earlier I had mentioned the rooting experiences in section 4. Most recently, I have noticed a dramatic increase in root during the tiger claw portion of section 3. The sensation of being firmly in place, while being able to spring forward at any moment is wonderful. There is also clearly a connection between root and force. Any sensation of force in my arms is increased as my root increases. It's awesome!

-Matt

[DarkCosmoz]

Some updates on my continued experience with Iron Wire.

I mentioned in the Tribute to Sifu thread that I was able to smash through a bag of ice that had melted together as one giant block with my palm. The ice block was all jagged with edges too! As the pieces of ice broke off, I further smashed the smaller pieces just for fun.

I have developed combat-oriented internal force from Iron Wire in a very short period of time (< 2 months). Awesome.

I also feel internal force consolidating around my back, shoulders and forearms. I have a little gained mass on my shoulders and upper arms, and a little around my waist. Interestingly, I've only gained about 2 pounds when it feels like I gained 10!

[Luo Lang]

I have developed combat-oriented internal force from Iron Wire in a very short period of time (< 2 months). Awesome.

Combat oriented internal force can only be tested and veryfied in actual combat. Have you had the chance to spar with someone?

[DarkCosmoz]

Combat oriented internal force can only be tested and veryfied in actual combat. Have you had the chance to spar with someone?

Yes every week in my Bagua and Xingyi class. Since many advanced seniors do 3 star hitting and condition their forearms against tree trunks, their forearms used to hurt a lot. After a few weeks of Iron Wire, I'm glad to say their arms no longer bother me. There is an occasional clash here and there that would cause me to wince, but looking back, that clash would have put my arm out of commission for a few minutes had it not been for Iron Wire. They also seemed to have upped their force against me since they get the feeling I can handle it.

There are also times during prearranged sparring when my partner would kick or punch too fast and would get me on the ribs or chest. Again, pre-Iron Wire, this would have hurt a lot. Don't get me wrong, the kicks and punches still do hurt, but post-Iron Wire, I recover a lot faster on the spot and feel fine afterwards.