An exciting year is drawing to a close, one during which we have made our WT go a great deal “further”.
“Further back” to the old Chinese tradition, by returning to the Chinese “history of the origins” long forgotten in Hong Kong wing chun. We want to understand the laws governing our movement, and indeed all our movements, with reference to WuChi, TaiChi, Yin/Yang etc., so that we can generate our movement options from them in conjunction with classic polarities such as “opening and closing”.
Our movement flows from strength to strength, and not only from the safe haven of one final position to the next. At any desired point in our movement flow, we are therefore able to generate the optimum power which expresses itself as absorption or projection at the “meeting point”.
“Further forward” to a fighting system that is free from any style, true to its principles and function-oriented, which is in constant evolution and in which form follows function, and not vice versa.
A system where the point is not to practice exercises, but rather to learn from them.
Our aim is not to instil techniques so as to apply them 1:1 in combat, but rather to recognise and understand the eternal, functional principles of WT and apply these in combat.
We do not seek to achieve some arm and leg-focussed “marionette WingTsun“, but rather whole-body WT that uses the initialising power of the torso.
Our WT must uncompromisingly follow the two priciples of cooperative adaptation (“Absorb what comes”) and indifferent assimilation (“If the way is clear, go forward”).
Rather than naively hoping that the traditional forms will automatically produce the necessary combat capabilities of (1. Mindfulness, 2. Flexibility/dexterity, 3. Balance, 4. Body unity, 5. Sensual perception, 6. Sense of timing/distance, 7. Fighting spirit/resilience), we specifically seek to achieve these by direct means and leave nothing to chance.
We use the forms for the purpose for which they were created, namely to put us “in shape” – in shape with ourselves, so that we achieve body unity. Then all the parts of our body will move in harmony when one part moves.
We practice ChiSao to become one body with the opponent, and directly perceive his intentions via our “muscular sense” before he is able to put them into practice.
LatSao/fight training, both vertical and horizontal, will now be emphasised more strongly than before, but with the necessary measured approach.
But above all stands the development of Mindfulness, which must once again be accorded the role and importance it had in the Zen-Buddhist Shaolin Monastery and among the Japanese Samurai.
I wish you an enjoyable and mindful run-up to Christmas.
Your SiFu/SiGung
Keith R. Kernspecht
Source:http://www.wingtsunwelt.com/
© 2022, EWTO Cyprus
