Pin Sun Wing Chun-Master Sifu Fung Chun "Wong Wah Bo & Seung Dao"

Master Fung Chun being interviewed at his home in Gulao village, Heshan, China. Respect to Master Fung!

1) Was Wong Wah Bo from Gulao?

2) Did Leung Jan teach Dbl Knives in Gulao?

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Pin Sun Wing Chun - Master Sifu Fung Chun "Yiu & Kwa Lik"

Master Fung discusses being attacked on the street and the importance of Yiu and Kwa Lik at his home in Gulao Village, Heshen, China. Yat Pai "One Family"!


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Qi Vitality from Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford

     A major functional concept from traditonal Chinese medicine is qi. A vital essence found in all things, qi has aspects of both matter and energy. We will refer primarily to its expression as energy, keeping in mind that energy and matter are convertible into one another. The theories of modern physics showing matter and energy to be alternate descriptions of one reality are very much in accord with the concept of qi and other facets of Eastern philosophy.
     The qi concept gives us a measure for the vitality of a person, object, or state. If the qi of a certain food is of good quality, then the food will taste better and impart more qi to the individual who consumes it. In a person, good qi is manifested as an ability to accomplish things, lack of obstruction in the body, better functioning of the internal organs, and so on. To further understand qi, which itself is a yang quality, it is helpful to understand its yin counterpart----blood. Blood is yin and the "mother of qi", since the nutrients in blood support and nurture qi. At the same time qi leads and directs the blood. Furthermore, digestive and circulative qi must be sufficient in order for the blood to be formed and to circulate.
     Whatever manifests in a person does so with that type of qi. Someone who is graceful, for instance, has harmonious qi; weak people lack qi; those who are strong have abundant qi; people with pure, clear minds have "refined" as opposed to "confused" qi. Thus qi is not only the energy behind these states of being but the intrinsic energy/substance of these states. The qi concept, then, provides a way to describe every aspect of life.
     From a therapeutic standpoint, there are several functional aspects of qi. It is warming and is the source of all movement; it protects the body, flows through the acupuncture channels, and maintains the activity of the body systems and organs. Sources of qi in the body are three-fold: 1) from food; 2) from the air we breathe; and 3) from the essence of the kidneys, some part of which we are born with.
     How well we utilize qi from these sources depends on how we live and on our attitudes. Qi is also transferred between people in interactions of every kind. The qi of the cfook permeates the food. Exercise, herbal therapy, acupuncture, and awareness practices such as meditation are traditional ways of clearing obstructions and maximizing qi flow.
     Qi that stagnates causes accumulations resulting in obesity, tumors, cysts, cancers, and the multitude of viral and yeast-related diseases that plague those with sedentary lives and refined, rich diets.
     The qi of the body can be accurately measured and regulated by the diagnostic and therapeutic methods of Chinese medicine. In nutritional therapy, improving the "digestive qi" of the spleen-pancreas is a priority to be discussed in the Earth Element chapter. In other chapters we will discuss "protective qi" as an aspect of immunity, qi deficiencies of various organs, qi stagnation of the liver, and the practices that improve or damage qi in food and the body.
    

Traditional vs. Commercial

The Difference between a traditional Gung Fu Gwoon and a Commercial Gung Fu Club

By Yun Hoi

There are many differences between a traditional gung fu gwoon and a commercial gung fu club. The main difference is that a traditional gwoon exists to pass down the traditional art whilst the commercial club exists to make a profit. Any thinking person reflecting on this will realise that these two orientations inevitably lead to very different experiences for the student. 

The commercial club has to provide a visible index of progress. This led to the development of grade levels and uniform syllabi across the different branches of commercial organisations. This presents at least some semblance of uniformity and encourages students to continue training. Also, commercial clubs are able to use tournament wins in their marketing. Thus they will sponsor and support the sportification of gung fu. The whole “champion” ethos has thus developed and is fostered by those who practice gung fu as a sport.

The proprietor of the commercial club realises that training cannot be so difficult as to be beyond the abilities of the average weekend participant. This leads inevitably to either, or both, lower standards or longer learning periods. Longer training periods because of slow progress is acommercially a “good thing” – because it means more fees! It also leads to a deliberate two tiered club – those who are fit athletes and able to compete for the club (and recruit new members) and those who are simply filling out the ranks. The latter usually make no, or minimal, progress and are deluded into believing that they might be able to apply their art in real world self defence.

Another difference between the traditional gwoon and the commercial club is evident at the outset. Approaching a traditional gwoon for membership does not mean the student simply walks in the door and slaps down the fee, demanding membership. I call this the “supermarket model”. With the commercial club, this is all you have to do – “buy” the art. (Actually this is an illusion as it is impossible to buy genuine skill or knowledge). In the case of the traditional gwoon, you approach the sifu with the right respectful attitude and ask him to consider you for membership. The sifu makes the decision – as he ought to, because he knows best who to teach and who not to! The “supermarket model” is “come one, come all”. The traditional gwoon is like a university in that you have to earn entry. Entry cannot be bought. The commercial club is financially transactional – buying something. The traditional gwoon is based on relationship. The former is a commercial commitment. The latter is a personal commitment.

So, the question is: which do you think is going to teach you genuine gung fu?

Sifu Zopa Gyasto (Yun Hoi) interviews Coach Jim Roselando Jr.

 

Jim Roselando Sifu, of Ku Lo Pin Sun Wing Chun interviewed by Sifu Zopa Gyatso (Yun Hoi) of Yuen Kay San Wing Chun.

YH: Thanks for the time from your busy schedule, sifu. May I first ask how your great love – noi gung training for the average guy or gal, that you teach at MIT, is going?
MIT is a great place to share Yang Sheng and Yiquan Chi gung. It is the top science university in the world and there is a lot of interest in the healing process and technology of our art. I get to meet people (students & professors) from many different disciplines (Taijiquan, Yoga, Buddhism, etc.) and am always happy to see how our art affects them in a positive way. On average we have from 15-20 people every Monday night. The training is simple but effective and thanks to the results of our Chi gung I have had an amazing response.

YH: What’s your aim in teaching noi gung, divorced from gung fu, to the general Public?

I made a promise to my Chi gung teacher that I would share the process and conditioning of natural Chi gung with anyone who needed it or was willing to train. I only share Pin Sun Wing Chun boxing with a few friends. Anyone who is looking for healing, meditation or even something to boost their athletic performance levels I am happy to help guide them in this process. Medical Yiquan Chi gung is formless and core so it is a great platform of Noi Gung that anyone can gain benefits from its practice without creating foreign or odd habits so it is excellent for cross training or on its own.

YH: How were you first accepted into Ku Lo Pin Sun Wing Chin, sifu?

I trained martial art and Wing Chun for about twelve years before I located and performed the disciple ceremony with Master Sifu Henry Mui. This was in April 2001. From that moment on I discarded all my previous training and devoted myself to his teaching. This was a special time as we were at the right time and place to absorb, train and then promote this rare system properly. My teacher specifically asked that I help rebuild his art and clean up many misconceptions by sharing more information on the art with the public. I trained regularly with Sifu for about seven years to learn his entire art and still maintain close contact. I am lucky to be his pupil and respect him tremendously.

YH: Could you tell us a little about your sifu, Henry Mui?

Mui Sifu is a very rare breed. In all my travels and research I can honestly say that few people have his skill and knowledge. Mui Sifu is one of the few authentic masters of Pin Sun Wing Chun in the world. Mui Sifu was a close student of the late Master Sifu Fung Gen Ju. Fung Sigung was regarded as the top fighter from the 4th generation in the Ku Lo family. My teacher trained with him when he relocated to Hong Kong in the mid 60's to early 70's. Mui Sifu has been training and teaching Sigung's Pin Sun Wing Chun for almost 50 years! He is a Pin Sun Wing Chun treasure, in my opinion.

YH: What impressed you most about Ku Lo Pin Sun Wing Chun? What makes you so passionate about it?

Many things but none more than the results of our training! The art is a refined masterpiece of solo, partner, sticking and other Wing Chun methods, and, because of this the training hits the body in a very rapid way. In many ways Master Leung Jan did to Wing Chun what Master Wang Xiang Zhai did to Hsing Yi & Chi gung. Cut out the frosting and focus on the cake! This is one of the reasons I am very passionate about Pin Sun Wing Chun.

YH: Can we ask you to tell us a little about your visit to Ku Lo village and time with Sigung Fung? What impressed you most?

Grandmaster Fung Chun is a living legend in the Wing Chun family and when you are near him you can see that his love for this art is as strong today as it has ever been, but, the one thing that impressed me more than anything is that Grandmaster Fung Chun is always eager to show you via "hands on" coaching. If he has something he wants you to know he will perform it on you so you get to feel how and why it is done. I hope to have a third of his love and skill when I am his age.

YH: It seems that some people have “discovered” Ku Lo village, maybe make a brief visit and take some photos, and seem to be using their visits to promote themselves, to be frank, with some fairly poor material. What is your feeling about this sort of commercial exploitation?

The Fung family are happy that their art is getting more popular as tourism is good for Ku Lo but like anything you need a lot of exposure and direct training to grasp any art. So, while a little training/exposure is better than no training/exposure I always prefer to see the inner family members promoting the art. Every art has similar levels of players but as long as people are honest about their training that is all anyone can hope for!

YH: Could you comment from your first-hand knowledge, on the origin of what is called “twenty two point” Ku Lo Wing Chun and why it was devised after Leung Jan and Wong Wah Sam had passed on?

The Ku Lo 22 San Sau art was developed by Sifu Fung Lim and taught to some public pupils. All Ku Lo 22 lineages can be traced back to Sifu Fung Lim but it is does not have much in common with Master Leung Jan's Pin Sun Wing Chun platform, training and principles. It should be known that Sifu Fung Lim's own son (and student), Sifu Fung Sang, who was also trained by Sifu Koo Siu Lung, was taught and then preserved the Pin Sun Wing Chun art. In 2010 I interviewed the late Sifu Fung Sang's family and senior student (Fung Ho Chiu). They confirmed that Sifu Fung Lim was the founder of the 22 San Sau art. I have not found any 22 San Sau in Ku Lo but did have contact with Sifu Fung Lim's grand student from Canada. To the best of my knowledge this art is mainly practiced by a few in Canton.

YH: Could you also comment from your first-hand knowledge, on the origin of what is called “forty point” Ku Lo Wing Chun?

I visited this lineage a number of years ago. In all honesty there are a great many similarities between the 22 & 40 San Sau arts which makes me believe the 40 San Sau is just an expanded 22 San Sau system but this is just my own speculation. Similar to other Ku Lo San Sau arts the 40 San Sau has very little in common with the Pin Sun Wing Chun platform, training and principles of Master Leung Jan. I have not found any 40 San Sau in Ku Lo. The Ku Lo 40 San Sau art is mainly known today because of one book: “Complete Wing Chun”. This art is mainly practiced by a few in the USA.

YH: It seems that Ku Lo Pin Sun is being taught, even in China, to varying degrees of correctness and comprehensiveness? There seems to be at the same time some secretiveness and a closed door approach to the genuine art and at the same time some mixing of other Wing Chun into the art taught more openly. Could you comment?

The basic protocol of any family system is, "The art is to be passed on and not openly taught!". Now, even though the art has gained considerable popularity lately, thanks to the internet, one can see that outside of Shaping Town, Heshan (and Boston, USA) there are no public schools for Pin Sun Wing Chun anywhere in the world and only a handful of qualified instructors from each generation. The private nature of this art has not changed in over 100 years but Wing Chun in Ku Lo is similar to Soccer for the Italians. Just about everyone plays it for a few years (its cultural). So some of these odd arts were developed for those who are looking for a crash course in some Ku Lo Boxing and some are just a teacher’s own modifications. Knowing this you can see that a few odd systems coming out over the years is normal for any art and actually can serve a purpose. Luckily this art has not been around very long. Its evolution and main players are well documented which helps avoid lineage debates.
My grand-teacher was a bit different with regards to his public teaching. For example: In Hong Kong Sigung mainly taught the 1st 4 hands, footwork, a few drills and some Chi Sau/Sparring. Sigung told my teacher: “If you give them more they will have a better chance of doing more stuff wrong but if you keep their training to a core you will have a better chance of helping them develop. It’s better to do a few things well than a bunch not so well”. Sigung was a fighter and it is clear that he wanted his people to develop a strong base which is a little different (and more important) than some of the other people who taught odd or expanded San Sau systems to the public. Sigung was also very proud of his Pin Sun Wing Chun boxing. He would often say: Do not teach anyone who will make the art look bad! This may sound odd but for the Ku Lo people their Gung Fu is very special and Sigung wanted to make sure a certain level of quality was to be maintained by his lineage which explains why he focused on the core for his public class rather than a simplified or modified number of odd skills.
Mui Sifu was a little different than most others with his public school. For example: In his early teaching his art would be only known as Juen Ma "turning horse" Wing Chun and his teaching was organized into three small mini sets each containing four skills. Sifu taught in this method as most were expecting "three forms" in Wing Chun training. Mui Sifu's schools were not open very long but some of his later students that spent more time with him were taught a little differently - in a more traditional or classical platform. How much difference was there? Not much and if you ask Mui Sifu he will tell you, It mainly depends on the amount of time a teacher and student are able to spend together.

All of these arts have similarities as all Wing Chun has similarities but I prefer my Sigung's approach but don't tell my Sifu that! (Winks) By teaching the way Sigung did you are able to share the core of the art while not having to tweak the art. I firmly believe that none of us have the training, teaching and fighting experience of Master Leung Jan. Knowing this you can see why I prefer to be a modern traditionalist by not altering or expanding Master Leung Jan's system which allows everyone to develop properly and then they can base their application on their own body type! Remember, there was only one Gung Fu King so I trust his system.

YH: What would you most like to tell everyone about Ku Lo Pin Sun Wing Chun?

The art and teaching of Master Leung Jan is not just a few actions for self defense. This is the biggest misconception about our art. Master Leung Jan developed the Pin Sun system of Wing Chun that is a comprehensive art built around a "modern core training platform" rooted in twelve skills. Essentially a compressed or refined Siu Lin Tao, Chum Kiu & Biu Jee that would focus on the art’s principles, development and dynamics. The Pin Sun boxing art is rich with training. In all honesty I can tell you that most arts do not have a third of our Choc Sau, Chi Sau & Jau Sau training. The Fist, Dummy and Pole are all designed to develop your empty hand boxing/fighting skill. I often tell people the Pin Sun art is Master Leung Jan's final masterpiece and is "Wing Chun on steroids". This soft internal system of Gung Fu is one of the rarest in the world and gives us a deeper look into the training and applications of the famed Gung Fu King as preserved by his own family.

YH: Thank you very much for your insights, Sifu Roselando.

Monday Night Qigong (July 23)

Minimal Effort-Maximum Results

Zhan Zhuang Qigong

Monday Night Schedule

5min Gathering Qi

10min Universal Post

5min Left Hun Yun

5min Right Hun Yun

5min Universal Post

10min Twisting Step

5min Emei Leg Meridian Exercise

5min Gathering Qi

Seal/Wash

Qigong in the News: find the right kind of meditation

The right kind of meditation for you; Mantra, mindfulness, zen, and qigong visualization are different ways to relax

New research suggests you could be missing out on all the health benefits of meditation by simply starting out with a technique not well matched to your personal tastes.

NY Daily News : Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 11:32 AM

Did you give meditation a chance and decide it's not your cup of tea? New research suggests you could be missing out on all the health benefits of meditation by simply starting out with a technique not well matched to your personal tastes.

Adam Burke, director of San Francisco State University's Institute for Holistic Health Studies, suggests trying another method to see which one is best suited to you.

"If someone is exposed to a particular technique through the media or a health care provider, they might assume because it's popular, it's the best for everyone," he said. "But that's like saying because a pink dress or a blue sport coat is popular this year, it's going to look good on everybody. In truth, different people like different things."

Burke and colleagues recently conducted a study of college students new to meditation and their preferences among four meditation techniques -- mantra, mindfulness, zen, and qigong visualization.

The participants learned all four different techniques, with 31 percent rating mantra as their preferred choice and another 31 percent choosing mindfulness. However, 22 percent said zen was their favorite, and 15 percent voted for qigong. Participants who opted for mantra and mindfulness said they thought the techniques were easier to practice, more calming, and less complex.

Partly accounting for the differences in tastes, the researchers note, is age, with older participants opting for zen, while younger participants preferred mindfulness. The results of the study appear in the July 7 issue of the journal Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing.

Another type of mindfulness meditation known as integrative body-mind training (which focuses on breathing and posture awareness) has recently been a hot topic in the media with a new study that found that the technique can have a positive physical effect on the brain, boosting connectivity and efficiency. The study appears in the June issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Meditation shopping? While it may seem strange, it is perhaps the best approach to finding a technique that works for you, at least according to a new study from San Francisco State University's Institute for Holistic Health Studies.

Published on July 7 in the journal Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, the findings reveal that by finding a form of meditation that works for you, you are less likely to quit. The result of sticking with it? Research-backed benefits of reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and help with addiction problems.

While meditation styles vary, you'll want a comfortable, quiet room, perhaps a cushion to sit on, and anywhere from five to 20 minutes for beginners.

Here are a few traditional seated meditation techniques used in the study that you may want to try:

Vipassana (or mindfulness) - This meditation dates back to the times of Gautama Buddha and translates to "seeing deeply." You can start out by breath awareness and then advance to stages of being mindful of your perceptions and thoughts at any time, regardless of what you are doing. Some people attend 10-day Vipassana retreats, or "bootcamps," to delve deeper into the practice.

Mantra - This style involves the repetition of a word, phrase, or sound, or repeatedly envisioning a specific image. In the San Francisco State University study, participants imagined a ball of light in the area of their heart. For sounds or words, basically every sound-vibration you can think of is a potential mantra, but one of the most popular ones is Om.

Zen - Zen is similar to mindfulness in its focus on presence of mind, but it involves a more general awareness, rather than a focus on something specific. The practice typically asks you to silently focus on breathing and posture with eyes open in a quiet place and to dismiss any thoughts that pop into your head, essentially "thinking nothing."

Qigong visualization - This Taoist practice utilizes several techniques to help restore health and balance to the body, including the Inner Smile, visualizing "smile-energy" penetrating your internal organs; Moon on Lake, visualizing the moon's reflection on a lake; and Holding Heaven in the Palm of Your Hand, imagining the energy of the galaxy in the palm of your hand. Other simpler techniques, such as those used in the study, involve imagining a beam of light running along the spine.

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Or you can join us FOR FREE at MIT every Monday for soft natural Yiquan Qigong taught by Coach Jim Roselando from ApricotForestHall. All the benefits of meditation, yoga, and taiji in one simple exercise!! 

Tonight, we meet in the basement of the prestigious Kresge Auditorium from 7-8pm. See you there! To join our email list for updates on locations and special events, click here: http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/qigong