So there are a lot of debates going around about lineage, style, authenticity, ability, what's internal, what's external, etc, etc. It just seems to go around in circles with no end. I'm not saying that I can put an end to this but I would just like to voice some of my own opinions.
Who the hell am I to have an opinion. Well I've studied MA's intensively for the last seven years with some very well known and some not well known masters of kung fu. These styles have included Hung Ga (for about 1 year), Hun Yuan Xin Yi Chen Taiji (5 years) and Choy Lay Fut (7 years).
I don't claim to be a master in any of these styles but I think that in CLF I am getting to the point where I could have my own school and my own students.
All of the style I've trained are remarkably different both in strategy and in body mechanics.
Here are my observations:
-Lineage and Ability
Your lineage says SOMETHING about your ability. If you come from a well respected lineage then chances are high that you have good ability. This is not always the case though. There are people that were given lineage that let there training slack and there ability has suffered. Kung fu is like swimming up stream if you trained hard for 6 months and then you slack for a few months it will take you 6 months to "swim up" to the level you were at before. In order to maintain your ability you must keep practicing just as hard or harder then when you were learnin from your Sifu.
-Ability to teach vs. fighting ability
There are people in MA's that are good fighters and so-so teachers. There are people that are good teachers and so-so fighters. What you should avoid is people that are good teachers and crappy fighters or good fighters and crappy teachers.
Some people are just better fighters naturally. They are natural athletes. They possess speed, strength and undaunted courage. Key components to winning a fight. They would probably win no matter what their style. However, in order to be able to pass on the knowledge of their art they must have a systematic way of doing so. In order to reach a higher level of proficiency a systematic study will allow them to do that. They must have some intelligence, people skills and patience and be willing to tolerate the people who just don't instantly "get it."
Some people were born crappy fighters. They are not natural athletes. Martial arts is a struggle for them. But they persisted and struggled and worked their ass off to get to a certain level of athleticism. They often make better teachers because they have "been there" themselves. You won't see them winning tournaments or being the "best of the best" but at the same time they should be able to defend themselves effectively using the fundamentals of there chosen art.
Internal vs. External-
Internal and external arts share some of the same attributes but in some ways they are fundamentally different.
It is NOT true that an External art will reach the same level of "internalness" as an art who's focus is internal if it is just practiced long enough. But it will become internal "enough" to be very effective.
Internalness equates to 6 core things:
1) Use of refined strength of the tendons and alignment of bones and joints rather than muscular force. Elongation rather and contraction of the muscles.
2) A bias towards NOT using force AGAINST force.
3) Chan Si Jin or "Silk Reeling Energy." The human musculature is composed of a double helical spirals. In order to keep the muscles relaxed the body must move in spiral motion.
4) Coordination of movement through the waist . All joints of the body rotating simultaneously as one unit.
5) A relaxed yet focused mind.
6) An emphasis on slow training and body awareness before application of technique.
Now, its not to say that so called External arts don't posses or train for these same qualities. It's just that they are not as DEPENDENT on these qualities in order for their art to work.
If you are doing an art like Taiji and you don't possess all of these qualities your art will not work very well if at all. The techniques of the art are built around these qualities.
External arts work more on force on force applications, development of natural muscular force and specific techniques.
The inclusion of internal training in an external art can add to the efficacy of the art but they are not DEPENDENT on it. This makes them quicker to learn and easier to understand and apply.
Just some thoughts. You might agree or disagree but this is my perspective.
Reply With Quote
