A bright and sunny morning, a morning that was packed with energy too. After the Yangshen Gongfa and warm-up exercises, we revised our Splitting and Drilling Fists. This time round, we practiced by combining both hand movements and footwork. I will need more practice to get used to executing my moves. Martial arts, like other forms of arts are about practice and nothing but practice. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect!
Today we got to learn the third basic strike in Xingyi Quanfa, the Crushing Fist. We practiced the half-step Crushing Fist. As compared to the footwork of Splitting and Drilling Fists, the half-step Crushing Fist reach is noticeably shorter. However, with the correct coordinate movements from the body, the half-step Crushing Fist is still enable to deliver an overwhelming blow. And of course, it takes practice!
I seems to be reminding myself about practice and more practice!
Besides target-striking practice, we also had a analyse-strength (听劲) practice. The exercise is to practice how to feel the strength of an opponent's strike. The interesting experience that the softer I allow my arm to be, the better I could feel the opponent's strike. But it's so difficult to maintain being soft consistently.
Well...I will just have to put in more practice!
郑顺利师傅 Master Tay S L
Showing posts with label training diary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training diary. Show all posts
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Xingyi Kempo Training Diary: 03.07.10
It was a raining and drizzling Saturday morning. A perfect condition to snooze a little longer in the bed. However, I was already up and ready for our training! After warming up, we went on to practice our Santi Shi and Splitting Fist. Splitting Fist is one of the five basic strikes that every Xingyiquan exponent has to learn. These five basic strikes were choreographed with the concept of the Chinese classical five elements theory. Splitting Fist belongs to the element of Metal. Splitting Fist is know as 劈拳 in Chinese and 劈 literally means chopping.
Master Tay reminded us that the motion of Splitting Fist is akin to chopping our target with an axe. Its motion is a downward swing with our striking palms from a higher position towards our target. I mentioned striking palm instead of striking fist is because the Splitting Fist that we are learning is in open-hand form and not in clenched fist form. This variation was introduced by Master Li Luoneng, the founder of Hebei Style Xingyiquan.
Everyone got to try the application of Splitting Fist by striking on the punching pads again!
I find that the target-striking exercises are very interesting and useful. They help me to understand that I can hurt my myself if I land my strikes on the wrong time and wrong way.
After striking with Splitting Fist for some time, Master Tay taught us the Drilling Fist as well. Drilling Fist belongs to the element of Water. I think the remaining Fists will be taught in the five elements generating cycle sequence. So after Drilling Fist, we should be learning Crushing (Wood), Pounding (Fire) and Crossing Fists (Earth).
As usual, we end the training by cooling down, Yangshen Gongfa and sitting meditation.
The practice of such meditation is to calm ourselves down. Such sitting breathing meditation can be practiced at any quiet place. It helps to ease and calm our monkey minds. A good sitting will make one feel refreshed, or even better, bring us clarity.
Looking forward to the next training!
Master Tay reminded us that the motion of Splitting Fist is akin to chopping our target with an axe. Its motion is a downward swing with our striking palms from a higher position towards our target. I mentioned striking palm instead of striking fist is because the Splitting Fist that we are learning is in open-hand form and not in clenched fist form. This variation was introduced by Master Li Luoneng, the founder of Hebei Style Xingyiquan.
Everyone got to try the application of Splitting Fist by striking on the punching pads again!
Teck Tiong's' attempt!
My attempt!
I find that the target-striking exercises are very interesting and useful. They help me to understand that I can hurt my myself if I land my strikes on the wrong time and wrong way.
After striking with Splitting Fist for some time, Master Tay taught us the Drilling Fist as well. Drilling Fist belongs to the element of Water. I think the remaining Fists will be taught in the five elements generating cycle sequence. So after Drilling Fist, we should be learning Crushing (Wood), Pounding (Fire) and Crossing Fists (Earth).
As usual, we end the training by cooling down, Yangshen Gongfa and sitting meditation.
Sitting meditation at the end of lesson.
The practice of such meditation is to calm ourselves down. Such sitting breathing meditation can be practiced at any quiet place. It helps to ease and calm our monkey minds. A good sitting will make one feel refreshed, or even better, bring us clarity.
Looking forward to the next training!
Monday, June 28, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, June 25, 2010
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 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.
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.
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.
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