Xingyi Kempo Training Diary: 24.07.10

The Crossing Fist was not taught today. We practiced the Pounding Fist with footworks.

A more interesting activities took place during the analyze strength exercise. I was paired with a course mate who could really deliver heavy and fast punches. I am slow in my reaction to begin with.

Although I was hit on the chest quite a few times, I was glad on my own that I could actually feel the changes on his body when he was about to strike me. It was only my fault that I was not well trained enough to react to the strikes properly.

I was reminded by a friend's statement that I have heard, "Getting hurt in training ground is to prevent you from getting really serious harm in the battlefield!"

Xingyi Kempo Training Diary: 17.07.10

A drizzling morning and we learn the 4th basic strike, that is the Pounding Fist. We only got to practice the hand movement for the Pounding Fist and not with the footworks. Pounding Fist, representing the element fire, has its unique combat characteristic.

It's interesting to study the unique characteristics of each of the 5 basic strikes and to understand them so that to better use in self defence situation.

Looking forward to learning the Crossing Fist this Saturday.

Xingyi Kempo Training Diary: 26.06.10

Last Saturday we had a short ice-breaking before we started our lesson proper. It was interesting to know that my classmates come from different walks in lives. We even have 2 Malay classmates! It is quite a challenge to convey essence of Chinese martial arts into English but I guess that it is only a matter of time for us to overcome this hurdle.

Master Tay brought us through some of the Yangshen Gongfa (health enchancing exercises) and reliterate the details we ought to pay attention to. I feel that if we can practice the Yangshen Gongfa consistently and regularly, it may help us to improve our mindfulness body coordination. This is because Yangshen Gongfa has specific choreographed breathing and stretching movements. Therefore, to practice them correctly, we have to be very mindful and calm.

We had also practiced Santi Shi and Splitting Punch. At the latter part of the class, the men had a taste of landing their Splitting Punches on a punching bag! It was also my first time practicing striking on a target. I felt that it was a very different experience.

I remember Master Tay had shared with us that isolated movement tranings are meant for us to be familiar with the movements. It will also help to train and improve our sense of balance and body co-ordination. Whereas target-striking trainings are the practical part of each isolated movement trainings.

I felt that I was quite nervous and my strikes turned out to be too stiff! Better try in my next lesson!

Xingyi Kempo Training Diary: 19.06.10

Last Saturday, Master Tay held an introduction and trial class on Xingyi Kempo. The introduction and trial class were meant for upcoming Xingyi Kempo Module 1 that is to be commenced tomorrow. Master Tay went through would practicing Xingyi Kempo be beneficial to one's health with reference from Traditional Chinese Medicine ("TCM") point of view.

Xingyi Kempo, being the genre of internal martial arts, emphasizes on the coordination of our bodies and how simple actions like breathing, specific stretching on different body parts and a change of diet have the potential in improving the quality of our health and lives.

Master Tay went on to give an overall view on Form-Boxing (形拳) and Mind-Boxing (意拳) in Xingyi Kempo.

Master Tay demonstrates as he explains

Master Tay had also shared with us the different types of strength that a human body has the potential to develop and generate. He went on teaching the audience a simple exercise that allow us to feel our own qi.

Participants doing a simple stretching workout to feel their qi

After which, interested participants stayed back for the trial class! Master Tay taught the class Santi Shi (三体式 lit. Three Body Stance) and Splitting Punch (劈拳). Santi Shi is the basic standing stance in Xingyi Kempo. With prolonged and appropriate training, it can help to improve the over all body endurance. Splitting Punch is one of the five basic strikes in Xingyi Kempo. Although Splitting Punch looks simple and straight forward, to get it right, there are still details to work on with. We have to learn to be mindful of our body coordination and how we breathe.

To me, it can be both surprising and amusing to know how clumsy my body could be! But I figure it out that this will be one of the reasons why would I want to participate in this Xingyi Kempo Module 1, that is to improve my body coordination!

I'm looking forward to my next lesson and I guess it is always good to have something to look forward to and some more things to discover about yourself.

P/S: If you wish to find out more about Xingyi Kempo, email Master Tay.

感想篇 - 形意十二形拳（进阶班）培训课程

笔者有幸参加了郑教练在新加坡全国武术总会所举办的《形意十二形拳》培训课程。这次的经验也让我对习武的概念与认知有了新的体会。

形意十二形拳是形意拳的祖师爷们以效仿十二种不同动物的神态编排而成的。重点是采取各别动物不同的特性，再加以融入拳法当中，亦可让修炼者达到健身、防身、养性的宗旨。

现实生活的习武，绝非像武侠故事里，传两句口诀、摆几个姿势便大功告成。真正的习武只有反复不断的练习，而练习时也非盲修瞎练。每个姿势、每个动作、每个心态都得需要照顾到。

在训练时，郑教练要求我们得时常注意我们的姿势与动作。毕竟有其他学员和我一样都是形意拳的初学者，所以基础很重要。

内家拳的练习还真的是很注重养生的部分。像笔者本人笨重，所以有些动作无法做到拳法的要求。例如以下的《龙折身》，笔者便无法打出这么低的架。

郑教练检查学员们所演练的形意十二形拳里的龙形拳

郑教练鼓励我们不要感到气馁。内家拳的一项特点便是我们只需做到身子能达到的极限便可。无需为了想一下子便达到招式的架子而去硬硬的压下去。搞不好反而会得到反效果，弄伤身体。所以好的功夫是要自己花时间及精力好好的练。教练的身手也非一朝一夕便练来的，反倒看到了教练也不时才想到以此来勉励自己。

郑教练与学员们一同演练形意十二形拳里的鸡形拳

在培训课程里头，打了这十二形拳后还觉得形意拳还真的是五花八门。郑教练有提到说形意十二形拳的许多招式让练形意拳的拳师们在攻防上有较多的选择而在实战中产生奥妙的变化，但基本的“母拳”亦五行拳是相当的重要。

而在来临的星期六将开办的Module 1里头，郑教练将带学员们从形意拳的基本功，即三体式及五行拳练起。对此独树一帜的内家拳，形意拳有兴趣者，敬请电邮郑教练得知详情！