These are the things I wrote down on my visit to Mindful Wing Chun in Central HK. They are simply notes on what I was thinking at the time, organized to a degree.
SLT – Ip man said to CST to do 3 things:
1) stand up – Tai gong
2) do it effortlessly – joint rotation
3) have intention – forward
Stories:
CST could visualize chi. A qigong master came to him, they could both see shapes and colors. Such was their level. The qigong master did one shape. Then CST said, “let me show you mine” and did biu jee. His biu jee had many shapes and angles.
CST BJ – could move another person entirely using fingers. They would hold up their fists, together – next to one another. CST would use fingers to move them.
CST used to do 9 hours of SNT.
CST used to do zhan zhuang through double tan sau.
He practiced fully extending his hand up and then coming down to imitate striking taller opponent.
5 main things to focus on:
1. Flat back
2. Relax shoulders, abs, chest, back, thighs and legs as much as possible
3. Keep shapes and structure
4. Point. Keep an intention to align with the centerline.
5. Tai gong and rise – this is straightening the back in the beginning.
Things I should be focusing on:
1. Centerline alignment
2. Tai gong
3. Rising – straightens back for now
4. Relaxing
5. Focusing on all body parts – awareness of entire body
6. Flat back
7. Pointing like a triangle forwards.
8. Keeping structure
9. Keeping circular shape – test by breaking, adding force, testing from outside of circle
10. Relax chest, armpit, abs, back, legs, things, feet
To do Tai gong:
1. legs together.
2. keep spine straight
3. bend knees – only a tad
2. keep spine straight
3. bend knees – only a tad
4. lift up from pelvis
5. move feet two steps away from both feet – triangulate
6. Keep back straight
Tai gong is lifting from the pelvic, anal region using the mind about a inch or half. This region holds the most tension. It is also the portion of the body which separates the top and bottom. This conflict must be resolved in order to flow the Nim Tao state into the limbs.
[Other] Ideas:
Visualize a centerline emitting from your center line and follow it in accordance with SNT.
To keep intention is to rise slightly above “floppiness” or a dead or completely relaxed arm or limb. It is a bit difficult to surmise the amount initially.
Dummy requires pivoting. That is one thing I missed in the videos.
After progression, all shapes and stands disappear.
Localized Access to Joints.
Keep wrist straight in accordance with the forearm. Wrist, elbow and shoulder one initially. Then everything becomes one, meaning body is used in punch. Keep arm relaxed. Don’t push. Penetrate.
Stretching arm joints. Drop it. Give it to the other person. Be numb. Be dead (in the arm). Stretch wrist, elbow and shoulder. Armpit feeling should be coming out. Skin feels like it’s bring pulled. Shoulder has to drop down – be relaxed. Hang arms down. Feel blood pumping in fingers. Pulsating. Feel point in shoulder stretching and getting bigger. Drop it – relax it and then stretch it again. Repeatedly. Bring arms up slowly and do SNT.
Transferring Body Weight:
Lean on something. Lift the opposite leg. Give the weight to the other person slowly. Keep giving it. Put the leg down now. Get the feeling of how it feels to put weight on something. Try and do it without raising leg.
It will feel like a push in the beginning. Let it be so. Work on it until you are able to do so naturally and instantly.
In chi sau, use rotation of shoulder to let them come in. Don’t fight. Let them come in and redirect. Over and over again. Constantly move. Even when they are chasing you.
Relax shoulder. Make it limp. And keep it that relaxed. Use support if necessary to feel relaxed.
Shoulder needs to rest on the back. It has to be sitting on top. That is the only way it won’t burn out during long hours of chi sau.
“If the big guy (shoulder) doesn’t work, the little guy (forearm) has to do all the work. It is easy to control the small guy. Controlling the big guy is tough.”
Shoulder needs to rest on the back. It has to be sitting on top. That is the only way it won’t burn out during long hours of chi sau.
“If the big guy (shoulder) doesn’t work, the little guy (forearm) has to do all the work. It is easy to control the small guy. Controlling the big guy is tough.”
Practice on soft objects. Practicing on hard objects will damage you.
Other Tidbits
Keep your back straight when kicking. It should come from back. If it comes from front, it will break.
First the majority of the back will relax. Then the traps and then the two straps of the back.
It will drop, relax when it relaxes. No tool or technique. Focusing on the region; giving attention to it will slowly cause it to let go.
Think of line running from ground to top of head. Align with it to really relax the body. If it assists, think of a string hanging down for spine.
Slow SNT works best in using joints, relaxing and getting to the back of the mind. It will tense you out so it’s not worth doing it non-stop.
I have noticed that I can use the mind to initiate movement when in the slow SNT. When you are doing it slowly you will not care about movements because it’ll still take you 30 or 60 minutes to complete anyhow.