i'm organizing this the same way i would expect any quarterly summary to be structured: review of original goals, summary of events, evaluation of the extent goals were achieved, observations, and objectives for the future.
original goals
my original goals were stated in my first 2 entries:
to clarify, i wanted to learn self-defense, and i wanted to improve my athletic performance. i figured both could be solved by the study of martial arts, specifically Chinese martial arts, since it has a reputation of proven combat applications and apparent connection with traditional Asian medicine's understanding of human health and physiology.
these larger goals can be specified as being an education in combat techniques and concepts, philosophy, qigong (alternative spelling: chi kung), and breathing.
in addition, i wanted to learn things that were real, as in proven and effective, and concrete and practical. so much of martial arts seems to be romanticized fairy tales and superficial lies propagated by charlatans and con artists employing vague terminology and mystical explanations designed to exploit the gullible and clueless. and it doesn't help that modern pop culture fuels these perceptions (i.e., hippy retreats, children's anime and manga, action movies, etc.). the truth is that people in the past relied on martial arts to save property and lives, and so it had very real methods and very practical applications. i wanted to learn the real and practical; i wanted to learn what was true.
moreover, i wanted things that i could apply and use for the rest of my life, not just while i was young (which is the relationship so many people have with martial arts--they consider it an activity of youth). this meant martial arts education, not just training, with the education being in self-defense methods i can use as i get older, as well as the richer tapestry of life lessons, perspective, health, and lifestyle.
as a caveat, i wanted to avoid martial arts training that involved heavy calisthenics or conditioning work, since i believe i already get more than plenty of that in my athletic training for Ironman triathlons. i thought that a martial arts style that focused on hard physical training would overtax my body's current workload, and would also get away from my goal of learning self-defense that i can use into old age, as well as my goal of learning something that would build my physical abilities (as opposed to wearing them down).
summary of events
the events to date i've documented in my postings over the past few months, and i won't repeat the details here.
in terms of the curricula i've covered so far, here's what i've been taught:
- tantui: lines 1-4
- stances (the 10 associated with Jason Tsou's bagua zhang: horse, 60-40, 70-30, rooster, low, dragon, leaf covers summer flower, unknown name #1, unknown name #2, and unknown name #3)
- fire and water
- footwork (ko and bai)
- single-person pole drill (front and side)
- single-person single-hand drills (front, side, rear, sparrow front and rear)
- single-person double-hand drills (front, side, rear, hawk chasing sparrow front and rear)
- two-person hand drills (inside and outside, for each of: pushing moon out the door, kissing the toad, brushing the arm, leaf covers summer flower, walking the circle)
- two-person leg drills (inside and outside, for each of: ankles, calves, knees, thighs)
- walking the square (including inside and outside turns)
- walking the circle (including inside and outside turns)
- bagua zhang qigong: level 1, qi gathering
- mother palms: palm change 1 (lion), palm change 2 (snake)
- 64 palms: palm changes 1-5
- sparring (2-person and multi-person)
in terms of things beyond the curricula, will summarize it all by saying:
- i made it a point to try to attend every class offered. with the exception of a couple of sessions, i did this. for the sessions i did miss, i made an effort to meet outside regular class with senior students so that i could catch up on what i'd missed.
- i made it a point to try to practice consistently outside of class. as much as i can, i try to schedule a minimum of 3-5 hours each week outside of class, with the practice time spread out over 2-3 dedicated sessions during the course of each week. admittedly, this is not as much as dedicated martial arts practitioners or students of previous generations, but it's the best i can do between triathlon, graduate school, and work.
- i made it a point to keep an open mind. everything is new to me, and i don't know enough to really make any critical or analytical comments about anything. that, and i don't see much point in arguing against several thousand years of empirical observations and data.
- i took course notes. it's not easy, scribbling things down in the middle of class, particularly as we move from one physical evolution to another. but i figure any record i can make will help for review and practice.
- i did outside research. i figured that being a complete stranger to martial arts (outside of pop culture understanding), i needed to learn as much as i could about the background of martial arts--particularly in relation to what i am learning. i figured that it helps to understand something by observing relative differences with reference points, and that this needs context, which means an understanding of the contours of the martial arts landscape. as a result, i spent time on the internet and in discussions with other people about martial arts, kung fu, and ba gua zhang.
i believe that i've managed to make good progress towards my original goals--as much as can be expected within 3 months. as i've said in previous posts, to become skilled and really effective in martial arts takes years of training. but i feel that i've gotten a solid start so far, and am in a good situation that will allow me to continue.
in terms of the stated objectives, this is how i view things to date:
- self-defense: yes. i am definitely learning things that can help me protect myself against assailants. i can also see that i will learn more about self-defense as i can continue with my Sifu, Jason Tsou.
- practical application: yes, i believe that what i am learning is concrete and real. Sifu told when i started that he taught combat, which is one thing i definitely wanted.
- longevity: yes. the particular style that is being taught is bagua zhang, which is considered one of the 3 commonly perceived "internal" or "soft" styles of Chinese martial arts (the 3 being bagua zhang, tai chi chuan, and hsing-i chuan). one of the characteristics of internal soft styles is that they avoid reliance on physical force, and so are conducive to practice by the elderly.
- philosophy and culture: yes. to a degree, i can see that Sifu integrates philosophy and culture in the lessons. i think this is a natural byproduct of learning a Chinese martial art, which means the need to learn the context and background of the fighting style, which requires understanding of Chinese philosophy and culture.
- medicine (qigong and breathing): yes. to some extent. i have begun learning basics of qigong, and breathing is an integral part of the training.
- avoidance of excessive physical stress: yes. so far, the lessons have complemented my athletic training, and have also seemed to help build some of my physical capabilities (see below).
- lot to learn: there is a lot to learn. it figures, given that people spend entire lives learning, developing, and refining their skills in martial arts. but i didn't realize just how great the volume of information is...it's vast. there's so many nuances and details that have to be remembered.
- instinct: it's not enough to simply remember the lessons, or to know techniques and understand concepts. things have to be learned to the extent that they become second nature, natural, and instinctive. they have to be applied in the speed and chaos of combat without hesitation or circumspection. this, however, takes time. much more than the 3 months i've had.
- practice: a crucial component of training is practicing with others. there are drills and there is sparring which require 2 or more participants. while single-person practice is fundamental for improving technique, these multi-person activities are important since they spur the development of speed, efficiency, reflexes, and familiarity with fighting conditions necessary to become effective in real-world situations. this takes partners who have the time to work with you, which has been difficult to find outside of class sessions.
- ignorance: some lessons require understanding of things i don't know. most of the other students have prior training in martial arts. meaning they know things that provide them a point of reference about lessons we are learning, which may give them a grasp of combat applications for those lessons that i don't see.
- middle of the curricula: i started with my Sifu in the middle of the bagua zhang curricula. while i am currently learning the same things as the rest of the class, i know that there are things being taught that build upon or refer to lessons given prior to my arrival. while i am doing my best to catch up on things, i am sure there are techniques and concepts i've missed that others have and take for granted.
observations
i have some random comments about things i've noticed about my kung fu education so far.
in terms of my body and physical capabilities:
- knee pain: i've been dealing with a chronic case of knee pain in the left side of my left knee that is either a tendon or ligament problem. it appeared while training for my 1st marathon and grew into a debilitating injury during training for my 1st Ironman. i've been doing rehabilitation with little success. however, since i've been learning kung fu, it seems to have dissipated. i don't know if this is because the cross-training nature of taking kung fu, or if this is because of something endemic to kung fu, but whatever it is, i'm going to keep doing it.
- moving meditation: practicing solo really does seem to provide a state of "moving meditation" that i've heard people talk about in association with the internal styles of kung fu. i really do get a certain sense of positive mental and spiritual calm from it, and at times it is quite pleasant. i also sense a greater level of physical coordination and mind-body awareness developing. again, i don't know if this is from the cross-training in physical movements that are unfamiliar to my body, or if it is something endemic to kung fu. but whatever, i'm just going to keep doing it.
- athletics: in terms of athletics, this also seems to be helping. in sports and sports medicine, they have the idea of "active recovery," where you engage in exercise at an intensity that is low enough that it allows your body to recover by flushing out anti-oxidants and loosening muscular and connective tissue, while still high enough to provide training benefits in terms of aerobic conditioning and neuro-muscular (mind-body connection and physical coordination) development. the classes force me to stay at this intensity level, and so have been giving me a solid block of active recovery. now if i could only feel more chi energy to power through a race...
- chi: still don't know what it is. still don't know if i'm feeling it. i've talked about it quite a bit with Sifu and other students, and i have some ideas and have gotten a lot of feedback. but i suppose it's like romance: you'll know it when you know it, and no amount of talking, description, expectation, or imagination is going to bring it about any faster. and as some of the other students have told me: you have to let it come on its own; the harder you try to grab on to it, or the harder you try to find it, the more it will just elude you.
- Sifu knows a lot: my Sifu knows a lot of kung fu styles. from what other students have told me, he knows bagua, tai chi, hsing-i, baji, piqua, shui jiao (also known as Chinese wrestling), taizu chuan, mizhong chuan (alternatively known as mizhong lo han), and mantis. holy smokes! now i want to know when he teaches all these styles...and just how 1 person can go about learning so much and so many.
- Sifu is progressive: from what i've read on the internet and from what i've heard from other people (both inside and outside of class), Jason Tsou is a somewhat unorthodox teacher. he avoids a lot of the indirect, traditional teaching methods (reference my prior post on Teaching Methods), and seems to follow a much more direct, frank, and open teaching style (students told me that in the past he actually got in trouble with his own instructors about his manner of teaching). he also avoids a lot of mystical mumbo-jumbo in favor of practical instruction. i suspect this is because of his education and profession (engineering), which is tied to a modern (and in many ways Western) scientific methodology that eschews obscurity, evasiveness, and mystical approaches in favor of concrete, verifiable, realistic processes. which is fine with me. i'm pragmatic. i just want whatever works.
- i keep saying it, but only because it's the truth and such a big factor: it's going to take a lot more time before i become proficient, and before i expect to see tangible results. but i'm treating it as a long-term investment that needs continued participation, and that's what i'm going to do.
- i'm wondering what i need to do to learn other styles besides bagua. i know i've just started, but i'm thinking that in the long term i would like to learn other styles. i subscribe somewhat to the ideas of eclecticism and Greek ideals, which share a belief in making yourself a complete a human being as possible. i'm thinking bagua is just one style, and it would make me more complete to eventually learn others.
- this has probably been one of the most enriching things i've done. i'm learning a lot. not just about self-defense, but also about Chinese philosophy, history, language, perceptions on health and life, and folklore. as a result, it's been both physically and intellectually stimulating.
- i notice that most of the people i meet think kung fu (and martial arts) is something for nerds and dorks. most of the students on campus make fun of me whenever they see me practicing--or they think i'm really weird. even the Chinese ones. whatever. i just tell them i'm just doing what i've been told, and it seems to be helping.
- it's been fun. people are good. i feel good karma. i want it to continue.
what else? i've met my goals in terms of starting progress towards learning self-defense and improving physical performance, but that's the key word: starting. i need to keep going to make more progress.
specifically, however, this means:
- continue attending class (making it an integral component of my athletic training schedule)
- continue practicing during the week outside of class
- increase 2-person and multi-person drills and sparring (to improve combat application of techniques and concepts)
- learn the more fundamental components of the curriculum i missed by beginning in the middle of it (e.g., the 8 palm changes of mother palm, xiao ka men, qigong, etc.)
- learn more about martial arts in general (to get better perspective on bagua in the topography of martial arts)
- acquire reference materials (e.g., books, DVDs, etc.) to use as study aides
- figure out a long-term plan in terms of learning bagua and proceeding to other styles
- figure out just how i should go about progressing in bagua in relation to everything else in life
"the journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step"
--lao tzu, tao te ching
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