Poise Patterns: 'Lohan Asks the Way' vs. 'Single Tiger'.

[joko]

Dear Family.

I have been enjoying studying the video clips of the Chinese New Year's Gift. Some months ago, I enjoyed the Video Series of 'Single Tiger' sets, taken from Switzerland and Andorra Courses. There are also Video Series on Shaolinquan Combat Sets.

Sometimes, during my practice, without my conscious effort, in the course of practicing my Taijiquan forms and sets I found myself executing several patterns from Shaolinquan such as Lohan Asks the Way, Black Tiger Steal Steals Heart, Single Tiger Emerges from Cave, Dragon Plays in Water, Precious Duck Swims Across Water, etc.; and the combat sequences.

In Wahnam Taijiquan, the Poise pattern is 'Playing the Lute' in 4/6 Stance, done both in right or left mode. During my practice, many times I found myself executing the 'Lohan Asks the Way' or 'Single Tiger', done in False Leg Stance.

I was beginning to wonder what is the difference between 'Lohan Asks the Way' and 'Single Tiger', when executed in the same right or left mode, for example in the set 'Black Tiger Steals Heart'. Is the hand form the only difference between the two patterns?

Reviewing the video series again, something interesting came up. Please take a look at this page, and this clip (Poise Patterns) on that page.

This video shows Grandmaster Wong, the responder, in a poise pattern. As Pradraig the initiator makes his move, even before he can start his attack, Grandmaster Wong’s tiger-claw is already on Pradraig’s face, illustrating the advantage of having a poise pattern for defence. The initiator too would not want to lose out on this advantage of the responder. Hence, he too adopts a poise pattern. For our practice purpose, the initiator adopts “Lohan Ask the Way” as a poise pattern, and the responder adopts “Single Tiger Emerges from Cave”.

Then, can we have a discussion on: What is the difference between 'Lohan Asks the Way' and 'Single Tiger Emerges from Cave' patterns?

With Shaolin Salute,

Joko

[Tapio Raevaara]

Dear Sihing Joko,

Thank you for asking these questions. I'm a bit surprised no one has answered yet. The subject is very close to me at my current stage of development, and just planning my reply has helped me to clear my thoughts. In fact, I've been thinking about asking Sifu some questions about 'Single Tiger Emerges From Cave' (and I may still do so), so this thread is more than welcome.

The following is based on my limited experience, I'd be grateful if more advanced students could point out any misunderstandings of mine.

First question: Is the hand form the only difference between the two patterns? Definitely not! There are differences in the qi and shen aspects too, and in my opinion, these differences carry much more weight.

Let's start with Single Tiger, because I've literally fallen in love with it . Whenever I perform this pattern (poise pattern or otherwise) there are several things that happen. I feel energy flowing into my forearm, my palm and my fingers, and I feel very powerful. I feel mentally ready to take on any challenge and I also feel like enjoying it (whether just a sparring partner or an angry elephant trampling towards me). I feel courageous in a rather playful and cunning way. A grin appears in my face. And I feel very calm and focused.

I'd say that Single Tiger is excellent especially when you're committed to fight, when you know you'll have to defend yourself. In such a situation you'll need the calmness, the force and the courage. In other words, you need your inner tiger to emerge from it's cave. Perhaps this is why Single Tiger Emerges From Cave is often the responder's or defender's poise pattern.

Lohan Asks The Way, on the other hand, is not as powerful or courageous, but more flowing and open-minded instead, or that's how it feels to me. It is also calm and focused, but in a slightly different way.

In my opinion, Lohan Ask The Way is not as committed as Single Tiger, and that fits well with Shaolin philosophy. Even when we're the initiator, we're always looking other ways to solve the situation than fighting, and we're keeping our mind open to all possibilities. In other words, we don't know where the road is going, so we need to ask the way. And even when fighting, we uphold Shaolin principles like compassion and righteousness - thus we try to be like a Lohan, which represents all the values we're striving for.

Sometimes, during my practice, without my conscious effort, in the course of practicing my Taijiquan forms and sets I found myself executing several patterns from Shaolinquan such as Lohan Asks the Way, Black Tiger Steal Steals Heart, Single Tiger Emerges from Cave, Dragon Plays in Water, Precious Duck Swims Across Water, etc.; and the combat sequences.

This is fascinating. I'd be interested to know how you 'see' these and other Shaolinquan patterns from your Taijiquan perspective (although it might be better to discuss this on another thread - I don't want to take this off-topic). I really enjoyed this thread of yours: Chinese New Year's Gift: Secret on Footwork.

The more I practise Shaolinquan the more I feel like I'm pracising Taijiquan at the same time. They're both sides of the same coin, and I don't think they're even the different sides! During my first month with Shaolinquan (under the generous teaching of Sihing Markus) I learned more Taijiquan than in the previous three years with other masters. And even though I haven't formally practised Taijiquan since then - except that I've performed a particular set thrice, I think - I know my knowledge, skill and understanding has deepened ten-fold (which still isn't much, I have to admit).

These days I do a lot of self-manifested Taijiquan in my qi flows. Cloud hands is my absolute favourite, and it's a marvelous technique! I can clearly see how Zhang Sanfeng might have created Taijiquan from Shaolinquan and 'Flowing Breeze, Swaying Willows'.

Best Regards,
Tapio

[Hubert]

Very interesting thread. Thanks Joko for starting it.
I must say 'm very impressed by Tapio's observations. Well done

[Zhang Wuji]

Joko has started many interesting threads that I don't have time to read, much less reply to them all. Plus I am still a little shell-shocked (literally) from yesterday's earthquake.

But I have been thinking about this issue as well.

The Single Tiger pattern is as Tapio so incisively observed more committed and powerful. I would personally view it as more intimidating. When I settle into the poise, and into the "shen" of the Tiger, I am issuing a challenge to the potential attacker "Come closer and feel my ferocity".

I use "Lohan Asks the Way" as a means to focus my shen and to set my "heart of arrival" before I attack. I would not say it is less committed, but certainly I agree it is more flowing and open. In fact, I find it even more committed as an attack poise.

Are the differences merely in the hand forms? I don't have any concrete answers, only some observations.

Look at the footwork for the first 16 sequences. All 16 sequences by the initiator begin with the left foot stepping forward.

Consider why in the first 20 sequences,there is no overt attack with a left Single Tiger, only leaning "block" (a misnomer), although a Surprised Counter does use a right Single Tiger (actually I think it is a Green Dragon Rushes at Face "Qing Long Pu Mian").

[Grimlock]

The answers so far are in line with my limited experience, too, so I won't repeat them, but will add a bit.

In the Lohan Asks the Way poise, chi naturally concentrates in the tips of my fingers, whereas with Single Tiger Emerges From Cave, it fills my whole hand and especially concentrates in my palm. I believe these are differences caused by the hand forms, but they are only really "activated" when you have built a sufficient amount of force. I think both poises show strong shen (in different ways, as my brothers have observed) to where adopting either poise could in itself end the fight if the opponent's shen is significantly below yours. And we can focus our shen in these poise patterns with ferocity and still be calm and peaceful. We don't have to contort our face in anger, for example.

[Jonny Say]

Another possible way of looking at it is that in Single Tiger your threat/weapon is presented, where as with Lohan Asks the Way it is concealed (off course the palm can become the weapon though).

The Single Tiger may grip the opponent or strike out (of course there are many other options), where as Asks the Way will open or close so that the other hand attacks (unless it becomes the attack such as Fierce Dragon Speeds Across Stream).

[George]

The two patterns feel very different.

The "Lohan Asks the Way" poise pattern is focused, ready to slice through the opponents defences. If the opponent's spacing and timing are bad then it can be readily changed into a Green Dragon strike.

The "Single Tiger Emerges From Cave" poise pattern has a feeling of coiled energy that is waiting for the opponent to get near.

[LeeWeiJoo]

On a systematic level, since we use a right mode Black Tiger Steals Heart, we use Lohan Asks the Way to cover or open and then strike with our Black Tiger. If we were to use the Single Tiger, we would thread with our left hand and then strike with our Black Tiger.

Lohan Asks the Way to me is more open and perceptive. Single Tiger is focused shen and more threatening. Of course, the intent and the shen is very important in determining the state of the poises, so Lohan Asks the Way can suddenly turn fierce and threatening.

With Shaolin Salute,
Lee Wei Joo

[joko]

Dear brothers,

Thank you so much for your responses. Indeed, our art is so deep, that with each practice there are many aspects that can be developed.

Do you notice the last sentence of Sifu's comments on Poise Patterns?

For our practice purpose, the initiator adopts “Lohan Ask the Way” as a poise pattern, and the responder adopts “Single Tiger Emerges from Cave”.

What can we derive from this? Does this mean that there are other situations where the 'Lohan Asks the Way' or 'Single Tiger' is not used as poise patterns, and other pattern is used?
Or, can 'Single Tiger' be used as initiator's poise pattern?

Joko

[joko]

Or, can 'Single Tiger' be used as initiator's poise pattern?

My learning and practice has reached Sequences 13-16, and I have found the answer!

Yes, 'Single Tiger Emerges from Cave' is used as initiator's poise pattern in Combat Sequences 13-16, while the responder uses 'Lohan Asks the Way'. And in Sequences 17-20, both initiator and responder use 'Single Tiger' as poise patterns.

Joko

[joko]

Does this mean that there are other situations where the 'Lohan Asks the Way' or 'Single Tiger' is not used as poise patterns, and other pattern is used?

Just found the answer, too.

Yes, at advanced level, an exponent can use other patterns as Poise Pattern.
An example is 'Dragon's Chi Spreads Across Stream', which, in Taijiquan, is known as 'Diagonal Flying' ('xie fei shi').

Oh, how I love practicing Shaolinquan!

Joko