The adage “Shifu Ling Jin Men, Xiu Xing Kao Ge Ren (師父領進門，修行靠個人) – The Master leads you through the door, the practice is up to you,” is encountered when training in Chinese martial arts. But this adage is used in all arts and crafts to denote the relationship between teacher and student. The origin of…
The Four Stages of Learning are a general psychological model that apply not only in academics but to the learning of any skill, and that includes martial arts. The Four Stages of Learning Unconscious Incompetence: You don’t know that you don’t know. In martial arts, this truth is often hard to overcome due to a…
In Taiji Quan, also written Tai Chi Chuan and Taijiquan, the saying Mai Bu Ru Mao Xing, Yun Dong Ru Chou Si (邁步如貓行,運動如抽絲), which means Walk Like a Cat, Move Like Drawing Silk, is often used to describe the flow of Taiji Quan movements. Walk Like a Cat refers to the whole process of stepping…
Principle #2 This is the second of a series of essays which deals briefly with Chinese Martial Arts Principles and Sayings. These sayings have been developed over time and are meant to direct your daily practice. Adhering to them will help you develop a proper mindset reflective of a true martial artist. They also reveal…
Spontaneity is the split-second response to an opponent’s aggressive action. It is the reaction that occurs without deliberate thought. However, this does not mean that no thinking is involved because no action is possible without a deliberate command of the mind. Spontaneity is quick, natural, and direct thinking, the same type of thinking involved when…
Singleness of purpose is an ultimate quest – Lao Zi The quote above, by Lao Zi, refers to the importance of mental concentration in all activities, but paramount in martial arts. To project and focus the mind on one subject to the exclusion of everything else is called concentration. In today’s lifestyle, where a diversity…
In an age where information is readily available on the various styles of Chinese martial arts, it is surprising to see how many fraudsters there are who present themselves with overblown rankings, dubious backgrounds, and poor teaching skills. The inexperienced students who are drawn to such a school are often persuaded that what they are…
Relaxing and becoming loose are words often heard while learning Taiji Quan, Xingyi, Bagua, and Liuhe Bafa. Becoming loose is also required in the Shaolin arts, since being loose promotes efficiency which increases speed, and increased speed equals greater power. In Taiji Quan in particular, softness, which is not to be confused with being limp,…
Getting started in a Chinese martial arts program at our school can be guided by the saying from Lao Zi, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This saying by the ancient sage has profound philosophical meanings. The first step is that of expectations. A student must approach training with an…
Chinese martial arts are steeped in culture and tradition. Honorific titles have profound significance, and they convey politeness, respect, and deference toward seniors and the elderly. Traditionally, in the Wushu Guan, or Kung Fu Kwoon, there are many honorific titles that indicate the hierarchy from the master to the lowest-ranking student. Some of the most…
The posts on this Blog reflect the knowledge I have received from my teachers, and the volumes of information I have accumulated while doing research and conducting interviews with many masters, during the years of publishing the Wu Gong Journal and the Journal of Chinese Martial Arts. All the material published on this Blog is copyrighted. — Nick Scrima
