| Feature Article
Discovering the Essence of Chinese Kung Fu
–
Chief Instructor Brett Wagland
Chinese
martial and health arts have developed over thousands of years.
They have absorbed and assimilated principles and practices from Taoism,
Buddhism, Confucianism, traditional Chinese medicine, philosophy, art
and military strategies. Chinese martial arts went from crude
forms of training to more sophisticated and refined methods which
develop the mind, body and spirit. The term “kung fu” means going
beyond the surface and involves a high level of skill. Although
the term is commonly used in relation to Chinese martial arts, the
Chinese apply it in all professions. For example, a good chef can be
said to have good kung fu in cooking.
Initially, martial arts were based on speed and brute force. As
they evolved, they made use of whole body coordination and developed
different types of forces, such as pulse force, spring power, spiralling
and centrifugal force, neutralizing and absorbing skills, etc.
Although martial arts were developed for self preservation,
practitioners gradually discovered that the skills honed for the
battlefield could also be applied in daily life. The act of self
defence now became a metaphor for life in general. Instead of the narrow
focus of beating an opponent, the martial arts principles and philosophy
became a way of living. The more skills the practitioner has
developed in integrating the body, mind and spirit, the more prepared he
is for danger, and the less likely he is to be involved in violent
conflict. The skilled martial artist seeks harmony within himself
and the world. His skills enable him to
 be more confident when facing
difficulties and less fearful when facing challenges.
The essence of Tai Chi or any Chinese martial arts system is training
the mind. Calming the mind leads to greater awareness and ability
to focus. The exercises used to develop this skill are called Standing
Gong. These include Embracing the Tree, Hands Resting on the Dan
Tian or San Ti Posture. The reasons for using these postures are
as follows:
(1) Building an awareness of the movement of the mind.
(2) Allowing the mind to gradually calm down.
(3) Training the body to relax while standing.
(4) Helping the practitioner to see the relationship between mind and
body, for example, tension in the body is usually a result of tension in
the mind.
(5) Using certain postures in order to feel the qi (energy) flowing
through different parts of the body.
(6) Strengthening the power of concentration. This is a vital skill in
martial arts. A lapse in concentration would spell instant defeat
against a well trained opponent.
Static Standing Gong falls under the umbrella of Qigong, that is, the
work of energy cultivation using the mind or intention. T he other types
of Qigong are semi-dynamic movements (such as Fa Soong Gong and Hun Yuan
Qigong) and fully dynamic (such as the Tai Chi form). The initial
stages of the Standing Gong are about the adjustment of the physical
body, that is, posture, relaxation of muscles and strengthening of the
connective tissues. The first stage is where many of the health
benefits are gained – better posture, relaxed muscles, stronger joints
and sinews, stronger legs, deep diaphragmatic breathing and an awareness
of the mind. It is the impact of this type of training on the body and
mind that prepares you for the next stage. This is when you begin
to relax internally. Your qi becomes stronger. You can feel
it in various parts of the body. You know how the breath affects your
body internally. At this stage of the training, you become more
aware of how the mind and body affect each other. It is at this
time you begin to understand the Tai Chi saying, “Use intention, not
force, to move the body.” It takes time and dedication to reach
the higher levels of Tai Chi or any Chinese martial art. The
practice of Qigong is a journey that reveals many of the hidden
intricacies of the mind and body relationship.
The great master, Wang Xiang Zhai, who developed a style of
Chinese kung fu called Yi Chuan or Mind Boxing stated, “Non action is
the real action. One hundred acts are not as good as one moment of
silence. One hundred movements are not as good as one moment of standing
still. Big movement is not as good as small movement. Small
movement is not as good as no movement.” (Xing Yi Nei Gong, compiled and
edited by Dan Miller and Tim Cartmell, p.58. California : Unique
Publications, 1998.)
In the internal martial arts, Zhan Zhuang (standing like a post)
embodies the essence from which all movements and forms come. If
you spend some time every day doing the Standing Gong, you will come to
know its true value in training the mind, body and spirit. Even
though you may know the key to this practice, the essence will only be
revealed through experience, which leads to understanding and insight.
The Taoists say it doesn’t matter how clever or slow you are at
learning, if you don’t have the will, you will never get there.
Regular quality practice is the secret to reaching your goal.
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