After some months of questioning and reflecting on the true nature of internal martial
arts I was recently, along with a number of Sifu Waller’s students, given an
energetic and skilful introduction to the world of baguazhang. My first reaction
was its everything I thought it would be, and clearly so much more.
To be on the receiving end of an application of bagua from sifu is to be
permanently cured of any lingering doubts as to its effectiveness as a profound
martial skill. I certainly harboured those doubts coming as I do from a
background of predominantly external martial arts. (Where’s the flamboyant
stances, where’s the crack of the gi as you snap out a gyakuzuki???) But as I
gingerly picked myself up off the floor after a particularly enlightening
application from sifu those doubts have died away like the echo of a scream from
someone on the receiving end of‘cavity press.’
As a general rule when sifu remarks ‘Hey, this will make you laugh!’ I have come to
understand a particularly vigorous application is approaching! It is in these
applications that I am beginning to recognise firstly the skill and depth of
sifu’s learning, and secondly how my own learning skills and experience are
woefully inadequate to the task of learning bagua and tai chi.
Its certainly sobering when after all those years of training, facing sifu I feel
about as effective as an old lady throwing marshmallows.
Sifu is constantly stressing relaxation. As I was reflecting on this it occurred to
me that watching sifu perform bagua is for me like trying to read a book without
my reading glasses. Once I learn to relax everything will become a little
clearer. As I write this nursing a swollen elbow its clear this is completely
beyond me at the moment!
I feel very grateful to sifu for an introduction to a form of martial arts that as
I understand it is not that widely available to western students in its
authentic form. And, as sifu recently pointed out bagua is part of the black
belt syllabus, I feel he has generously presented us with a wonderful
opportunity.
It is also I suspect in my own case something of a double-edged sword. As part of
the Mc generation I am as guilty as anyone of wanting everything now, and being
very demanding in terms of my own needs, of looking straight to the highest
teaching and grasping after it. Its interesting to reflect after the
introduction that this is clearly the opposite approach that is required by a
martial art like bagua, and then it follows that an introduction to bagua at
this time may simply be utterly beyond our capabilities. As Adam Hsu says in his
book, The Sword Polishers Record,‘kung fu literally means time and hard work,
there are no shortcuts.’
Certainly bagua cannot be seen, as perhaps it could be argued some other aspects of
martial arts are, as simply another medal to pin on the chest of ego.
For those of us who’ve been involved in martial arts for some time, and have some
experience of Chinese arts and teachers, I feel we can be confident that with
sifu we have stumbled upon a treasure trove of authentic Chinese martial arts.
Its tremendously exciting as the lineage and history is abundantly clear in his
approach. It struck me, the first time I saw sifu demonstrate it, that 5000
years of Chinese culture and history is somehow woven into the lethal beauty of
bagua.
Having reconciled myself many years ago to an understanding that I have no flair for
Chinese martial arts, in fact I am hopelessly inadequate and uncoordinated, I
must confess to feeling a little intimidated by the skill required to approach
tai chi and bagua. A friend, an excellent choi lee fut practitioner, once
remarked as I struggled through a set from shaolin long fist that ‘ you look
like my father disco dancing at my wedding.’ I can’t help feeling that sifu’s
generosity and skill may be utterly wasted on me and I should put all my energy
in learning to be an expert at falling well! Right now that would be a profound
achievement.
arts I was recently, along with a number of Sifu Waller’s students, given an
energetic and skilful introduction to the world of baguazhang. My first reaction
was its everything I thought it would be, and clearly so much more.
To be on the receiving end of an application of bagua from sifu is to be
permanently cured of any lingering doubts as to its effectiveness as a profound
martial skill. I certainly harboured those doubts coming as I do from a
background of predominantly external martial arts. (Where’s the flamboyant
stances, where’s the crack of the gi as you snap out a gyakuzuki???) But as I
gingerly picked myself up off the floor after a particularly enlightening
application from sifu those doubts have died away like the echo of a scream from
someone on the receiving end of‘cavity press.’
As a general rule when sifu remarks ‘Hey, this will make you laugh!’ I have come to
understand a particularly vigorous application is approaching! It is in these
applications that I am beginning to recognise firstly the skill and depth of
sifu’s learning, and secondly how my own learning skills and experience are
woefully inadequate to the task of learning bagua and tai chi.
Its certainly sobering when after all those years of training, facing sifu I feel
about as effective as an old lady throwing marshmallows.
Sifu is constantly stressing relaxation. As I was reflecting on this it occurred to
me that watching sifu perform bagua is for me like trying to read a book without
my reading glasses. Once I learn to relax everything will become a little
clearer. As I write this nursing a swollen elbow its clear this is completely
beyond me at the moment!
I feel very grateful to sifu for an introduction to a form of martial arts that as
I understand it is not that widely available to western students in its
authentic form. And, as sifu recently pointed out bagua is part of the black
belt syllabus, I feel he has generously presented us with a wonderful
opportunity.
It is also I suspect in my own case something of a double-edged sword. As part of
the Mc generation I am as guilty as anyone of wanting everything now, and being
very demanding in terms of my own needs, of looking straight to the highest
teaching and grasping after it. Its interesting to reflect after the
introduction that this is clearly the opposite approach that is required by a
martial art like bagua, and then it follows that an introduction to bagua at
this time may simply be utterly beyond our capabilities. As Adam Hsu says in his
book, The Sword Polishers Record,‘kung fu literally means time and hard work,
there are no shortcuts.’
Certainly bagua cannot be seen, as perhaps it could be argued some other aspects of
martial arts are, as simply another medal to pin on the chest of ego.
For those of us who’ve been involved in martial arts for some time, and have some
experience of Chinese arts and teachers, I feel we can be confident that with
sifu we have stumbled upon a treasure trove of authentic Chinese martial arts.
Its tremendously exciting as the lineage and history is abundantly clear in his
approach. It struck me, the first time I saw sifu demonstrate it, that 5000
years of Chinese culture and history is somehow woven into the lethal beauty of
bagua.
Having reconciled myself many years ago to an understanding that I have no flair for
Chinese martial arts, in fact I am hopelessly inadequate and uncoordinated, I
must confess to feeling a little intimidated by the skill required to approach
tai chi and bagua. A friend, an excellent choi lee fut practitioner, once
remarked as I struggled through a set from shaolin long fist that ‘ you look
like my father disco dancing at my wedding.’ I can’t help feeling that sifu’s
generosity and skill may be utterly wasted on me and I should put all my energy
in learning to be an expert at falling well! Right now that would be a profound
achievement.
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