Issue 49 - Tse Qigong Centre

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Some ways it differs is in the way martial arts are practised,the way they are taught and the things that are emphasised.Also, the relationship between the student and the teacher isdifferent. Although some change has been for the good, I seea lot of evidence that the content or depth of many good martialarts has been lost or watered down.This is a very sad statement for me to make but it isbased on many years of travelling and talking with martialarts practitioners from around the world. I have met manymartial artists, including instructors and students of BaguaZhang who havehad numerousyears of trainingand experience intheir chosen arts,some even morethan I. But, it hasbeen a surprisefor me to discoverthat these experiencedpractitionerscannotanswer evensimple questionsas to why theyperform theirmoves or exercisesin thespecific ways thatthey do.When Ihave asked themwhat they havelearned, sometell me that theyhave studied foryears, decades and even longer. Some tell me they have studiedmany martial arts, that they have learned many forms or thatthey have won many trophies. They may tell me that theyhave studied in China or that they have studied with this famousperson or that famous person. But, they cannot tell me “why”they do what they do. They say that it is the way their teachershowed them or that it is just the way it is done. Ask yourself,is this a good answer? Does this indicate true understanding?It is clear that many practitioners have spent a lot of time andsome have spent many thousands of dollars in their studiesbut to what end.Practitioners who do not understand the “why” behindthe requirements of their arts have little true understandingand have obtained little lasting value from their practice. Isthis the fault of their art or the the fault of their teacher orteachers. Or maybe it Is their own improper approach to theirart or a lack of dedication? Every serious practitioner must lookwithin himself or herself and face this question. You must allask yourselves, “What have I really learned that is of truevalue?”I often speak to my students, as Lu Shui-Tian spoke tome, about the importance of understanding the differencebetween the surface of a martial art and the depth of a martialart. A martial art in the traditional sense is more than just acollection of forms and techniques. There is more to martialarts than mere choreography. A Bagua Zhang form is not BaguaZhang. A Taijiquan form is not Taijiquan. An Eagle Claw formis not Eagle Claw. Martial arts forms represent only an aspectof the total art. They are a training device and a referencetool. I have said on many occasions that far too manypractitioners in today’s martial arts’ society focus just onlearning forms - thinking that more forms mean greaterexpertise or greater credibility as a martial artist or teacher.This view is flawed and misguided. Forms, exercises, andtechniques mean little if the practitioner does not understandwhat is underneath within the depths of the art.Anyonecan learn orcopy any formbecause a format its most basiclevel, is simply aLu Shui-Tian and his studetn Bok Nam Parksequence ofpostures andmovements. Itmust be understoodthat this isjust the surfaceof the system. Itis the principlesbeneath theform, beneaththe techniquesand beneaththe methods,that are the keyto deeperunderstandingand mastery ofany martial art.The secretsin themartial arts do not lie in the forms. The secrets lie in thefundamental ingredients and the understanding of how tocombine or cook them properly. Let me give you another of LuShui-Tian’s analogies. At a grocery store, there are many kindsof food available. You can pick and choose whatever you like.But when you get home, if you do not know how to combinethe ingredients properly and how to cook the ingredientstogether, how do you think your meal will turn out? It is likelythat the meal will turn out badly and you will not eat it. Perhapsthe meal will taste okay, but later, it may even make you sick.Either way, you will not be nourished. Ultimately, you will starve.Without proper experience, you cannot and will not be able tochoose the correct ingredients and without a proper recipe youwill not be able to combine and cook them in the proper way.A single mistake or omission at any stage can ruin the finalresult.Many people in the martial arts world community todayare just following someone else’s recipe without any real ideaof whether the recipe is good or bad, whether it is complete ormissing critical elements. They do not consider whether it willhelp them or hurt them or ultimately accomplish nothing. Oftenthere is an assumption that because the teacher is famous orhas won many awards or indeed is instructing at all, that theymust be good. However, without a true understanding of theunderlying principles, how can anyone judge? This is a seriousissue.Qi Magazine 20
There are martial arts, martial arts instructors, andmartial arts publications that focus strictly on the mechanics offighting to the exclusion of everything else. They practise orteach methods to improve fighting skill that do not properlyaddress or account for the health of the body. At the otherextreme, there are instructors and publications that remove allaspects of fighting skill from the arts that they teach. Here,they state that their focus is strictly on fitness, or health orsport. There are also numerous variations and approaches thatlie between these two extremes. Whether due to a lack ofunderstanding, a lack of proper instruction, training orexperience, or some inherent deficiency or flaw in theirapproach, training methods are promoted that ultimatelyaccomplish nothing. In many instances, their methods canactually cause harm to the body - leading to serious injury,crippling arthritis, high blood pressure, or some other seriousproblem in later years. What is the value here? Of course,there is none. Characteristic of these situations is a lack ofnatural balance in the training focus, method or approach.Balance is an important aspect of the physical universe.It has been recognised as a fundamental principle ofnature and the human condition and has beendescribed by Chinese scholars as theprinciple of Yin and Yang. This is justone of a number of universal naturalprinciples that must be fullycomprehendedunderstood. They must beunderstood not only in themind. These concepts aremore than just intellectualexercises.It is extremelyimportant that they arecompletely assimilatedand understood in thebody as well. The BaguaZhang of Lu Shui-Tianandrecognises this fact. Itrecognises that skill in selfdefenceprovides littlewithout health. Withoutgood health, progress is slowor may not even be possible.Also, without the continuedpursuit of good health, whateverskill a practitioner achieves will notlast. Conversely, health without skill inself-defence is not a martial art. Propertraining in both the fighting and healthmaintenance is essential for the full development of anyserious martial art practitioner.We all desire good health, whether we practise martialarts or not. In the west, many people perform physical exerciseat home, at the gym and in the park to achieve and maintaingood health. Proper physical activity will definitely raise yourlevel of fitness. However, it must be understood that this is notthe same thing as attaining good health. Fitness and healthare two different things. Fitness is related to the ability toperform physical activities, play sports and carry out physicalwork. Health, on the other hand, is related to longevity andthe condition of the body’s organs, nerves and energy systems.Even today, many people in the west do not understand thisdistinction. Both good fitness and good health are requiredfor one to excel in the martial arts.More importantly they are both required for one toachieve a long and happy life. The Chinese recognized thisimportant fact a long time ago and developed methodsspecifically designed to promote good health. These practiceswere called Qigong and are based on the cultivation andmanipulation of Qi. Qi is an essential element of Bagua Zhangtraining. Qi is not supernatural and Qigong training is not basedon mysticism. As I explain in my lectures and seminars, Qi isnot a gift from the gods and does not work by magic. It is truethat Qi is invisible and cannot be seen. But, just like the air,which is also invisible, the presence of Qi can be felt and has aprofound effect on the body.Qi is in fact a part of the natural world and a part of thehuman condition. It is governed by the laws of science andhuman physiology. We all have some level of Qi in our bodiesfor without Qi there is no life. To attain good health andmaintain it throughout our lives, we must learn how to increase,cultivate, and control the Qi in our bodies. Thiscan only be done through proper trainingthat is based on the correct naturalprinciples.For Qigong practice towork, three elements mustalways be present and“Many people arejust followingsomeone else’srecipe withoutany idea whetherthe recipe is goodor bad”properly integrated.These are breath, mindand form (or movement).I see manypeople practisingand teaching Qigongtoday who donot understandeven this basicfundamental requirement.Thisimportant characteristicis exactlywhat sets Qigongtraining apart frommere physical exercise.Proper Qigong practicecan promote a high level ofhealth. By the same token,improper Qigong practice cancause great harm. One must becareful and educate oneself about theunderlying principles in any skill theyundertake to study. It is risky, even foolhardy, to becomeinvolved in any form of serious Qigong training with a teacherthat does not have the proper experience and cannotdemonstrate that he or she understands the correct underlyingprinciples. In Qigong practice, what is good for one personmay be inappropriate or harmful for someone else. A teachershould be able to guide his students and understand thisTo be continued...by Bok Nam Park(Note: This article presents a summary of Master Bok-Nam Park’s views onwhere true value lies in the study of the martial arts. It is based on a number ofrecent discussions that Francis Hriadil had with Master Park and has recordedinto article format).Qi Magazine 21
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Issue 49 - Tse Qigong Centre

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