Zhuge Liang
08-20-2003, 03:47 PM
Hi All,
David Peterson's Biu Jee article got me thinking. How do different schools see the "essences" of each form? Why is it that SLT is the first form, then CK, then BJ, then the Jong Sau? The simple answer is that the sets get progressively advanced, each set building on the previous. So now my questions is, what is each form building?
Now I realize that anything can be anything, black can be white, and that there are a hojillion uses for every single aspect of every single movement of each form. And that forms are useless/useful. And that you should spend more/less time training them. And that you should stick to it/not be bogged down by the classical mess. And also something about sparring.
But what I'm looking for is what people think the "essence" of each form is. That is, at the end of the day, taking into account that anything can mean everything, what do you think each form does for the student? From your perspective. We are talking strictly opinion here, and there should be many, many different AND correct answers. For instance, Mr. Peterson's article suggests that the BJ form teaches the practioner to look at Wing Chun from outside the Wing Chun bubble.
Here are my opinions, and I should say that although the conclusions I've reached are a result from the knowledge graciously given to me by my instructor, my siheng/dai/jie/mui's, they do not necessarily represent the teachings of my school. Errors in judgement are mine alone.
SLT - teaches the student to be settled, to "connect" their body. In our school, the beginnings of the pervasive "long bridge energy" start here. Here's where you begin to learn "elbow and knee" energy and how to "connect to the floor."
CK - takes SLT a step further by teaching the student to use what they've learned in SLT in motion. That is, it's much easier to remain settled and to keep the body connected when one is motionless. It's much more difficult to maintain that state while in motion. CK seeks to train the student to maintain the "jeng tai geng" or "whole body energy" while in motion.
BJ - at this point the student has learned to be connected. "Long Bridge Energy" can be expressed both in stillness and in motion. Being internally connected as well as being connected to the floor is almost second nature. BJ seeks allow the practioner to express fully all the energy he/she has developed thus far (long bridge energy, whole body energy) in the 4 extremities. BJ helps us to learn how to use our long bridge energy in the tips of our fingers and toes. We learn how to express our energy fully and completely.
Jong - applications =)
So now that you have my opinions, what are yours?
Regards,
Zhuge Liang
David Peterson's Biu Jee article got me thinking. How do different schools see the "essences" of each form? Why is it that SLT is the first form, then CK, then BJ, then the Jong Sau? The simple answer is that the sets get progressively advanced, each set building on the previous. So now my questions is, what is each form building?
Now I realize that anything can be anything, black can be white, and that there are a hojillion uses for every single aspect of every single movement of each form. And that forms are useless/useful. And that you should spend more/less time training them. And that you should stick to it/not be bogged down by the classical mess. And also something about sparring.
But what I'm looking for is what people think the "essence" of each form is. That is, at the end of the day, taking into account that anything can mean everything, what do you think each form does for the student? From your perspective. We are talking strictly opinion here, and there should be many, many different AND correct answers. For instance, Mr. Peterson's article suggests that the BJ form teaches the practioner to look at Wing Chun from outside the Wing Chun bubble.
Here are my opinions, and I should say that although the conclusions I've reached are a result from the knowledge graciously given to me by my instructor, my siheng/dai/jie/mui's, they do not necessarily represent the teachings of my school. Errors in judgement are mine alone.
SLT - teaches the student to be settled, to "connect" their body. In our school, the beginnings of the pervasive "long bridge energy" start here. Here's where you begin to learn "elbow and knee" energy and how to "connect to the floor."
CK - takes SLT a step further by teaching the student to use what they've learned in SLT in motion. That is, it's much easier to remain settled and to keep the body connected when one is motionless. It's much more difficult to maintain that state while in motion. CK seeks to train the student to maintain the "jeng tai geng" or "whole body energy" while in motion.
BJ - at this point the student has learned to be connected. "Long Bridge Energy" can be expressed both in stillness and in motion. Being internally connected as well as being connected to the floor is almost second nature. BJ seeks allow the practioner to express fully all the energy he/she has developed thus far (long bridge energy, whole body energy) in the 4 extremities. BJ helps us to learn how to use our long bridge energy in the tips of our fingers and toes. We learn how to express our energy fully and completely.
Jong - applications =)
So now that you have my opinions, what are yours?
Regards,
Zhuge Liang