Gangsterfist,
Along what lines do you want to train the mind for this discussion? To be empty? To be single minded?
I would say for beginners it is important to have them train their mind by first learning how to make it still, so give them a focus. Maybe learning the sequence of the form would be a good start. They need to be in the present in order to learn something new, so as Hendrik said, teach them to be in the here and now, otherwise they’re likely to miss the form or mess up the sequences. Once they have the sequence down as second nature, teach the student to focus on their breathing via the daan tien in a relaxed manner. Once this is achieved, teach them to connect their inhalation/exhalation with their hand motions, breathing in and out appropriately with the hand movements. After that, I’m at a loss for suggestions/possibilities. Maybe have them focus on consistency of their form, trying to play it the same each time without too much variation in expression, maybe just have them focus more on emptying the mind without going through the sequences above? It depends on what you as the teacher want to have them train at a specific moment.
In HFY, we train ourselves to be ‘no mind’ via the HFY formula. The formula acts as the guide for our movements in the beginning, helping us train our bodies to adhere to it. For us, Siu Nim Tau is used for training our identities in Time and Space, teaching us the limits of our personal space within the confines of a 6-gate posture. The formula allows us to train with a focused consistency, providing optimal positioning for our limbs within the gates. This requires a very focused awareness in the moment for initial learning, then as we internalize the formula and its expression, the body just does it naturally, adhering to the formula that is. Personally, I have now found my thoughts wandering/thinking about as I play my Siu Nim Tau sometimes, causing me to mess up a sequence or two at times, which is an immediate reality check for me as I return to the here and now with a crash when this happens. For the most part though, I remain focused on the positioning of my limbs and ‘programming’ them to act according to the formula.
When playing Fa Kuen, my focus/mind is different, depending on what I am seeking to perfect. Right now, I am focusing on uniting the flow of my body methods within each step of the form. If I become distracted by something else (stray thought…), I lose my flow and have to work to re-establish it. Right now, in my experiences with both forms, I’d have to say that Fa Kuen is more conducive for emptying the mind for most people as it is a moving form. Siu Nim Tau may not be the best for the average person as it is stationary for the most part, so people have to work harder to maintain their focus/emptiness of the mind. It comes with time though, much like anything worthwhile. That is one thing the student must understand. They will not get it over night and should not feel like a dullard if it takes a month or two for their minds to begin to empty/focus/become little…
As for how it affects one as a fighter, for me it has been a great tool to settle my anticipation in sparring and confrontations. I do not worry so much about what the other person will do, I just respond to the stimulus they provide me with as I need to. For example, last year when I was working in a restaurant, one of the cooks had it in his mind to test my kung fu. He was about 6’8” tall, maybe 200 lbs. I am 6’ even, 180 lbs. He straight came at me (in a rather dumb manner) with some punches to my head, and a second later he was bent over with my right arm controlling his two arms, my left fist just below his chin, resulting from a series of pak sau. I didn’t realize what I had done until he was saying “Man, your fast, won’t be doing that again!” I had been thinking about something else when he tested me, and I reacted to the moment. All I did was smile at his comment and then went about my business. As a whole, I am a lot more relaxed and aware of my surroundings, both physically and mentally. I am in the moment, and my body is trained to occupy its space without me having to really worry about it, as is my mind, ready for whatever may happen. I think this is the over all result of training in the martial arts period though. It may be that Wing Chun has a more efficient way of training is practitioners to become ‘no mind’ than other systems due to its ways of thinking and conceptualizing things. Techniques no longer are the main focus, the concepts allow us to react to the space as needed, which in my opinion is the Little Idea.
Stephen Rudnicki
"These things we know, but not those that he felt when he descended into the last shade of all."
--JLB