My Shaolin Kung-fu Training Journal -- Alex Baranosky

[Andrew]

It might be a typo, but, in your above quote I believe that you are mistaken.

The normal progression for practice is:

Form ---> Force ----> Flow

Both "form-->force-->flow" and "form-->flow-->force" are valid. I have been taught sequences and sets using both progressions by Sifu at various times.

[Adam Kryder]

Dear Sipak,

Interesting clarification!

Thanks,

Adam

[AlexBaranosky]

Thanks for all your great responses

If I don't currently have a sparring partner, what are some good ways to train for quick reaction time?

[Omar]

If you let him, your imaginary sparring partner can be quite fast and unpredictable.

[AlexBaranosky]

I have been practicing my Golden Bridge for 20 minutes. I set a timer to 20 minutes so I won't go over (not so I will stretch myself). My plan is to stay at 20 minutes for a while to allow my skill to deepen further. I just sink into the stance, relax and allow my mind to be at peace. I find that at 20 minute mark I keep thinking, "Wow, 20 minutes is already up?" I can always go further, if I wanted, but choose to stop.

Is there no end to how long we can trained Golden Bridge for? At what point do we say that our time is better spent on some other part of or training? Is staying at 20 minutes not the optimal plan? Should I be aiming for longer and longer lengths of time?

How long does Sifu practice Golden Bridge for?

[AlexBaranosky]

What have you all done about finding training partners that aren't imaginary?

On another note, I have been wanting a training partner lately. I know I am supposed to be able to train with my imaginary partner, but I don't feel it is realistic enough for me.

What is a good way to find a partner? If not in the Wahnam family, maybe I could find a martial artist in another lineage who is willing to create 16 combat sequences and train them with me?

We could devise combat sequences from the techniques in his art, that are similar to the ones we use. And voila, 16 combat sequences. He'd be doing his art's techniques and I'd be doing ours.

I wonder, has anyone else done something like this?

Getting to meet with Drop360 has been nearly impossible. Hehe. (Matt lives 3 hours from me, and even that has been tough to arrange)

What have you all done about finding training partners that aren't imaginary?

[Matt F.]

On another note, I have been wanting a training partner lately. I know I am supposed to be able to train with my imaginary partner, but I don't feel it is realistic enough for me.

What is a good way to find a partner? If not in the Wahnam family, maybe I could find a martial artist in another lineage who is willing to create 16 combat sequences and train them with me?

We could devise combat sequences from the techniques in his art, that are similar to the ones we use. And voila, 16 combat sequences. He'd be doing his art's techniques and I'd be doing ours.

I wonder, has anyone else done something like this?

Getting to meet with Drop360 has been nearly impossible. Hehe. (Matt lives 3 hours from me, and even that has been tough to arrange)

What have you all done about finding training partners that aren't imaginary?

Yeah, no kidding, huh?

You might find it really hard to do that. Most other martial artists don't see much use in things like combat sequences. They are mostly bang hard, worry about safety and technique later.

Other options would be to find someone interested in Shaolin Kungfu, have them learn the sequences from Sifu's website, and then practice together.

Or, find someone from another style, who understands sparring is practice and not a death match, and then take turns working on specifics. For instance, you could each choose something offensive and something defensive. Then for 15 minutes of sparring, you practice using your chosen offensive plan (be it a technique or a strategy) and they would defend however they wanted to. Reverse for 15 minutes. For the next 15, while working on your defensive plan (technique or strategy), you would instruct your partner on how you would like them to attack. And again, reverse for 15 minutes. So, you'd get in a hour of sparring, and be able to work on your specific objectives each time.

If you go the second route, I think very specific objectives would be best, at least during the beginner stage. Choosing for your defensive aspect "defense against punching" could have you facing each punch only once or twice during the 15 minutes. I think it would be a better use of time to pick something like straight punches to the chest, or a jab/cross/hook boxing combo. This way, you would probably use the first part of the 15 minutes trying techniques and, by the end, naturally work into timing and spacing once you discovered a favorite technique or two.

-Matt

[AlexBaranosky]

Hey Matt,

You might find it really hard to do that. Most other martial artists don't see much use in things like combat sequences. They are mostly bang hard, worry about safety and technique later.

I don't need most martial artists, though, just one which should be easier.

I like your ideas. Let's see where my sparring partner comes out of the wood work, and I can try them out.

Anyone reading this in Rhode Island, send me a message!

[BubblyHai]

Aww… This sparing/practicing with someone who practice SW sounds like it would be fun, educational and interesting. To bad I live on the wrong coast.

[AlexBaranosky]

Shaolin Wahnam New England!

So it looks like Shaolin Wahnam New England is taking some form. I am very excited for the group kung-fu training which will become a regular part of my life!

My Non-Kungfu Practice Session Regimen

I have decided to make my non-kungfu practice session focus on Merging with the Cosmos. Mostly because I find it to be the most powerful exercise of the bunch I know, for me at this point in my life. It feels like flipping on a switch. Three flicks and all of my energy pathways "turn on" all at once. It's like they all open up to the Cosmos. My heart opens, but really all of me opens, my baihui opens, my feet open, my hands open. And then I am reminded of this quote:

"What a peculiar question, Irene. There is plenty of energy in the universe. And it's free!"

and this quote from The Art of Chi-Kung p. 137:

"Then let the vital energy permeate every cell of the body, and expand outwardly so that the vital energy of the body merges with the cosmic energy of the universe, and let your mind be united with the Universal Mind"

It feels like opening myself up to this HUGE source of Goodness, literally. And that it is all around us, and all it takes is allowing the exchange.

I can feel in a tiny gentle thought that the entire energy of the Cosmos is willing to nourish my every cell and open my every meridian, all in response to that tiny gentle thought.

My current plan is to do it every session unless I feel like doing a more physical pattern (maybe my body is tired or stiff), then I'll do Lifting the Sky.

[AlexBaranosky]

Kungfu Practice Sessions

I haven't been incorporating anything new into my kungfu. I haven't been doing quite as much of a physically demanding practice. For a while I was doing tons of kicks and it was just making my legs sore. Right now I am doing more of a sustainable pace.

My main exciting aim on the horizon is to focus on sparring objectives!

[AlexBaranosky]

How much better is it to practice my stance training / kungfu outside?

The colder weather is coming up, and I find myself practicing more indoors, but I wonder if I'm selling myself a little short not getting the optimal practice conditions Any thoughts on this?

Can I separate the internal force training part of my practice from the combat sequences part?

Maybe do the combat sequences after my chi-kung session for the day? Or maybe do the combat sequences with a chi flow after work to freshen up, and then Lifting the Sky, stance training & Small Universe later at night?

Enjoying My Practice

When in doubt, let-go and enjoy my practice. That's what life is all about :-)

There seems to be a fine line between setting goals for myself, and enjoying my practice. If I focus too much on the goal, then ironically my quality of practice can suffer.

For example, for a while I had been practicing Golden Bridge going as long as I could while enjoying the practice. Then I decided to use a timer to sort of "standardize" my practice. (I was having trouble knowing how long I was sitting in my stance for). To my surprise when I used the timer for 20 minutes I found that I could do 20 minutes fairly easily. (I must have been doing 25-30 minutes before the timer, unknowingly)

But now since using the timer for a couple weeks I have found it distracting. I am going to just go back to enjoying my practice and relaxing, and not concerning myself with how long I am sitting. I'll just sit as long as I can, and trust that in the process my time in the stance will lengthen, and I don't really need to standardize it.

In short, I find that anything that leads to mental tension can erode one's quality of practice. So I am going to just go back to enjoying my practice

All the Best,
Alex

[AlexBaranosky]

Guess the Merging with Cosmos-only "diet" wasn't my cup of tea, hehe Too strict a regimen :P

I had a lovely Pushing Mountain session tonight. I think I prefer using a more "wu-wei choice" for my practice

You can deepen your skills using any pattern. Each one has its own unique points of emphasis.

Ahhh, life is good.

[AlexBaranosky]

Is it normal to want to only practice stance training?

At this point in my development I am enjoying the stance training more than the patterns practice and sequence practice. It could be because I have not learned all the finer internal aspects of them, perhaps?

I'd be pretty content (an understatement of course ) just practicing like an hour of different stances, followed by the Art of Flexible Legs and a big chi flow, and then Small Universe.

[AlexBaranosky]

Reminded myself why I love Golden Bridge tonight.

I feel very peaceful.

I can feel a ball of goodness in my abdomen, and I like it.

I hold my head high, my body and mind more upright.

I feel smarter.

More proactive and assertive.

I feel more courageous.

I feel more solid.

Everything seems ok, what might have been a bit nagging on my mind, simply doesn't exist anymore. Life is good.

Man, I love Golden Bridge.