Wai Hong's Words Of Wisdom

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Wai Hong's Words Of Wisdom

“	<div class="flexinode-body flexinode-1"> Author: Julian K. Duran <div class="flexinode-textarea-5"><div class="form-item"> Article: &quot;Jong Mon,&quot; a term not often heard or associated with modern-day kung-fu, means owner or founder of a particular system. Grandmaster Wai Hong is such a man. The grandmaster began his training in the fu-jow pai, tiger claw system of kung-fu in the early 1950s under the late, venerable, Wong Moon Toy. The late grandmaster was the sole successor to this ancient system. The style was renamed to fu-jow pai of Hoy Hong Temple, Canton from the hark fu moon or black tiger style of the Shaolin Temple, Honan. The fu-jow pai was passed on to Wai Hong by Wong Moon Toy in 1960. This act made Wai Hong grandmaster of the art. Grandmaster Wai Hong had become Jong Mon of the fu-jow pai by organizing the Fu-Jow Pai Federation and reorganizing the art of fu-jow pai in 1968. He made the art available to the public for the first time. The Jong Mon adjusts the methodology of the relative art to meet the socioeconomic requirements of the new organization and its constituents. Grandmaster Wai Hong has reworked the approach to training in the ancient fu-jow pai to make the art more easily understood and attainable to the general public. This reworking of the original format resulted in the present-day fu-jow pai. The reworking of the system in no way reduces its effectiveness; rather it enhances the practitioner's absorption of material by diminishing the disparity associated with cultural readjustments. The art has become something other than an austere practice behind temple walls and clandestine training in the mountains. The system has been reformatted so that the knowledge can be more easily digested and mysteries can be dispelled. The system becomes an endeavor for all that try to meet its standards, rather than solely for Chinese monks or lifetime devotees of lineal descent. Grandmaster Wai Hong has been in semi-retirement as an instructing master since the mid-1980s. He has come out of retirement periodically to hold seminars for those who wish to enhance their knowledge and to give new knowledge to the students and sifu of the fu-jow pai. The grandmaster is known for opening the doors of Chinese kung-fu to the outside word on many levels. It is in this vein that he now offers instruction, once reserved for students of the fu-jow pai, to the outside world. The Method Fu-jow pai is a system which utilizes the characteristic movements of a fighting tiger as the basis for its many strategies. The tiger claw system is designed to epitomize the human potential for dynamic power. The true nature of fu-jow pai is greatly misunderstood by many, even though some aspects can be found in most martial arts styles. Tiger claw techniques can be found in almost every kung-fu system, but correct execution is rarely achieved. The common misconception is that the tiger claw is stiff, rigid and ballistic in nature. It would be ridiculous to even imagine a rigid tiger. The tiger's movements are swift, decisive, relentless, courageous, tenacious, agile, dexterous, balanced, domineering, territorial, extremely powerful and fluid. One of the reasons practitioners have trouble with achieving fluid application of the tiger claw is that the claw requires the use and articulation of every finger in an extended and hooked position. This places a great deal of stress on the muscles and tendons in the hand and forearm, which in turn causes tension. This tension in the extremities of the arm causes cessation of the flow of intrinsic energies, greatly diminishing the dynamic force of the movement. The result is stiffness, tightness and an unnatural jerkiness referred to as the &quot;incorrect way&quot;. It is common knowledge among fu-jow pai practitioners and others who have the patience and insight to pursue mastery of the claw that these problems should be transcended by working through them. This is an arduous task that requires many years to achieve. However, excellent results can be gained with tenacity and proper guidance. Another common misconception is that the tiger claw style is solely a short-hand system. This is merely an oversight by those with relatively little experience. All systems of kung-fu rely upon knowledge of the long, medium and short bridge to acquire proficiency. A principal component of fu-jow pai is claw development and dynamic application of this technique. The tiger claw is of utmost importance as a tool in executing the myriad techniques found in this system. Prerequisite to claw training is knowledge of yin and yang, or cooperative palms and enhanced power as translated through the waist. The Seminar Grandmaster Wai Hong was once again ready to teach and inspire those who would strive to meet the standards of the time-honored tiger claw system. He arrived at The Kung Fu Conservatory in Boca Raton, Fla., and was greeted with great anticipation by students of many disciplines. The reality of his presence brought new energy to the kwoon. The focus of the seminar was fu-jow yat choun, the first tiger claw fist form. The grandmaster related the movements of the tiger claw form to universal principles found in all martial arts. He spent time speaking about the utilization of the waist in coordinating the arm movements with the movement of stances for enhanced power; utilizing the body's natural levers. &quot;In this way,&quot; he said, &quot;it is almost like doing nothing.&quot; The students listened and observed as the grandmaster showed how to translate the movement through the hips to attain fluidity. Although his movements appeared to be effortless, and although he was stressing the simplicity involved for proper execution, the students knew they had their work cut out for them. Practice sessions, under the grandmaster's guidance followed each point in the lecture. The grandmaster spoke of appropriate breathing patterns and how to harness the proper energy for powerful execution of technique. &quot;The breath should be coordinated with the speed of the movement,&quot; he related. &quot;If the breathing is not right, then the timing is not right; and the form loses its meaning. When the breathing is right, and the timing is right, a sound is emitted from the throat. The sound brings the movement to life. Do not force the breathing or the movement, but let it happen naturally.&quot; Balance in motion was stressed in transferring the weight from one stance to the other. The grandmaster seemed merely to be walking through the most challenging movements. He showed, by example and lecture, that simple understanding of the intended goal will charge the movement with energy. He cautioned the class not to overdo it for fear of proceeding in the wrong direction, away from the design of the exercise and/or form. &quot;If the bread is over-baked, it is useless.&quot; As the students progressed to the main body of the form, the grandmaster turned his attention to the simplest of principles. As always, when it is exposed, the simple becomes profound. The grandmaster said, &quot;Think about the path of the elbow.&quot; Lecture and demonstration of correct alignment followed this moment of head nodding and coalescing. The student group came from tai chi chuan and fu-jow pai alike. At The Kung Fu Conservatory both styles are taught with equal vigor. The tai chi stylists came prepared to experience something different in the way of the tiger. They were not disappointed. The grandmaster took them through the claw movements as if they were fu-jow students. The students who train in fu-jow pursued this refinement of their skills with appreciation and regard for the newly imparted insights. Everyone experienced the energetic and invigorating execution of the tiger claw under the hand of grandmaster Wai Hong. The students listened attentively as their kung-fu grandfather imparted words of wisdom concerning their well-being in the martial arts. &quot;It is not fu-jow pai that makes you great, but what you do that makes fu-jow pai great!&quot; These words reminded fu-jow pai students of their duty to represent the system with humility and humanitarian concern, and that the body of the system is actually governed by the heart and mind. Noticing there were a few students wearing ranking sashes denoting accomplishment, the grandmaster noted that it is the student who gives the rank credence, not the other way around. &quot;Stop counting how many forms you have,&quot; he insisted. &quot;It is how well you know your forms that counts. Quality is always more important than quantity. Stop counting the hours you are training. It is not so important to train for so many hours, but rather to make the hours of training count.&quot; Proficiency in the more intricate movements seemed to be out of reach for some students. Upon seeing this, the grandmaster simply said, &quot;Just spend a little time with the movement until you feel comfortable with it and the problems will solve themselves. The movements are meant to be understood, not to challenge you your whole life, but to add quality and knowledge to your life. Try not to make it so complicated and understanding will come.&quot; The tiger claw first fist form contains signature movements of the system. These are derived from the 18 hands of the tiger claw. Proficiency in these extraordinary training tools transforms the hand into a claw that may ultimately be used for splitting tendon and muscle and removing them from the bone, dislocating and breaking joints and bones, attacking nerve centers, ripping the flesh and permanently removing cartilaginous tissue. All eyes were glued to grandmaster Wai Hong as he demonstrated proper execution of the signature movements. One can only assume what the variety of expressions held for each individual. The grandmaster's gentle and expressive hands were transformed to claws shredding the air before him. He became the thing he is known for but is rarely seen to do. His eyes pierced space like daggers, his countenance that of a fighting tiger with one thing on its mind: &quot;I am the top of the food chain!&quot; This spectacle had a tremendous effect on the seminars' aspirants. They were not mesmerized or frozen with admiration. The time had come to cull from the source those qualities that define the art of fu-jow pai. The students were becoming more of themselves. They were going where they had never been. They were moving into another realm of understanding, focusing on that which would transform them into better martial artists. They were following in the footsteps of the Jong Mon. Julian K. Duran has trained in fu-jow pai since 1974 and is personally commissioned by grandmaster Wai Hong. Sifu Duran also teaches Yang style tai chi, hung gar, mu chung I, law horn, Gh'an, Taoist meditation and iron hands. He is master at The Kung Fu Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida.	”

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Greeting, Master Wai Hung is coming to Puerto Rico to give a Seminar. Does he give good seminar???

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The knowing of Violence and living in no violence brings peace. Shaolin Chuan Fa {Kung Fu}
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