Replacing standing meditation with stance training?

[Alex]

I used to practise the small universe and then 10 minutes of standing meditation followed by stance training. Now I've left out the standing meditation. Is this more cost effective. Replacing standing meditation with stance training?

[Jimbeaux]

Hello Alex,

From my understanding, if a student absolutely cannot practice in a given day, he or she should at the very least do some chi kung. And this chi kung should consist of form, free flow, standing meditation.

I also believe you can cut the free flow and standing meditation short, if afterward you do some kung fu and have a longer free flow and meditation after that.

Remember: To reach the depths of kung fu, practice chi kung. To reach the depths of chi kung: meditate! (quote from Sigung).

Of course high level stance practice is meditation, but Sigung has written passionately about the importance of standing meditation and its value for students.

Seniors please correct me if I have made any false statements.

With respect,
Jim

[AlexBaranosky]

Hey Alex,

My first thought is to remind you to train it the way Sifu taught you

I have taken the Small Universe course, but don't feel I can answer your question.

Have you asked Sifu your question?

[Shaolinfist]

My first thought is to remind you to train it the way Sifu taught you

Likewise Alex, although I refrained from giving any advice as I have no experience of Small Universe training. From my experience of stance training however I would not recommend anyone to do so without practicing chi flow and standing meditation afterwards. In Sifu's own words that is like going through the pains of setting up a business to make money and then going on holiday the day it is due to open! In other words you are putting in the work but not reaping the rewards.

Phil

[joko]

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A session of training consists of several phases. The phases can be stance training, set training, chi flow, standing meditation.
Usually, a training session ends with Standing Meditation.

What is the function of Stance Training?
To build energy/ internal force.

What is the function of chi flow?
Among other functions, it's our Shaolin Wahnam "built-in" remedy for possible wrong practice.

What is the function of Standing Meditation?
To retain the results of previous phases of training in the session.
-----------------------------------------------------

Regards,
Joko

[Steve Clarke]

Hello Alex,

In the order you have put your practice routine, I believe you can remove standing meditation after small universe flow and move directly into stance training.
Followed after, of course with chi flow and standing meditation at the end of practice.

In this order you can replace standing meditation with stance training. But not replace it altogether, in your practice. As you know they are two different excercises for two different results.

[Mark CH]

------------------------------------------------------------------
A session of training consists of several phases. The phases can be stance training, set training, chi flow, standing meditation.
Usually, a training session ends with Standing Meditation.

What is the function of Stance Training?
To build energy/ internal force.

What is the function of chi flow?
Among other functions, it's our Shaolin Wahnam "built-in" remedy for possible wrong practice.

What is the function of Standing Meditation?
To retain the results of previous phases of training in the session.
-----------------------------------------------------

Regards,
Joko

You are spot on here Joko, simple, direct and effective.

[Antonius]

I'll chime in.

I often do the Small Universe, and then move directly into One Finger Zen, followed by chi flow, then Standing Zen. In the "Complete Book of Shaolin" Sifu mentions that the Small Universe is the base for advanced arts.

On the other hand, I practiced the Small Universe by itself for a long time after learning it.

[shaolin_mike]

What is the function of Standing Meditation?
To retain the results of previous phases of training in the session.

Hello Joko and everyone else,
I have a question about this, does it mean if one does not practice/ barely practices standing meditation after a session that some of the benefit is lost?

[Ronny]

Hello Joko and everyone else,
I have a question about this, does it mean if one does not practice/ barely practices standing meditation after a session that some of the benefit is lost?

Just do it! Standing Mediation is very important - and if you have not much time just do it for 2 minutes at the end of every practice session!

By the way on the Small Universe Course Sifu mentioned that you've got the best benefits if you do Small Universe at the end of the session, (followed by Standing mediation of course).

[Dorit]

I am not so advanced than many others here.
When I began with Wahnam Qi-Gong sessions I could hardly do Meditation for (I guess) 2-3 minutes. Thoughts coming in my head etc. - Now, after a year, I am standing many minutes, with the feeling to sink with my feet into the ground. Sometimes I begin to lose balance. Interesting too one day of meditation is never like the day before. Sometimes I am only listening to noises around. Sometimes I watch my breath. Sometimes I feel my body breathing ... and sometimes I feel only peace. And sometimes thoughts come, and I let them go.

I think Meditation is a really precious part of training, and I would never stop it except because of less time ...

My best,
confermezza