[note to video viewer: Language]
Luke Holloway, owner of Raw-Combat International, and training provider for security, police, military and and civilians, gives us his input on our previous assault scenario based on the recent re-make of Straw Dogs (video here). To those that missed our original article, please visit it first. Sexual Assault Discussion – Straw Dogs [2012]
–Luke Holloway
I recently read Blink by Malcolm Gladwell and found the book to be quite enjoyable. The premise of how the mind can perceive things in an instant has parallels to the mental aspects of I-Liq Chuan training. We train the mind to remain attentive to the moment such that we can truly perceive and flow with the present conditions. One section of the book I found particularly interesting was the description of professional tasters. Developing a highly refined sense of taste has mental training aspects of which I was unaware. I had an interesting insight after reading Gladwell’s description of how professional tasters develop their skill.
You’d think that professional tasters are gifted with super sensitive taste buds, and to a degree that may be true. However, the extent to which a professional taster’s tongue differs from everyone else’s is probably not that big. The average person can generally tell whether they like something or not, and tell whether they think one thing tastes better than another. In this respect, the professional taster’s tongue is no different than your average Joe or Jane. However, if you put a twist on the taste test, the pros quickly separate themselves from the field of amateurs. Ask the average person why they like one thing better than another, and their answers will be all over the map and inconsistent with their actual taste preferences. The pro tasters on the other hand can tell you in excruciating detail exactly why they liked one taste more than another. In another example, if you gave the average person two of the same item and one different item and wanted the items ranked, he would have trouble differentianting which product was which. A professional taster could easily distinguish each product.
What gives the pro the advantage? First, it would be the extensive taste training (education and practice). However, it’s not just the training that sets them apart. We all eat and drink everyday and thus receive a fair amount of daily experience tasting things. The other important factor would be that professional tasters learn specific vocabulary to categorize and grade different tastes. I found this fact to be utterly fascinating. By learning taste jargon, the professional tasters have a conceptual framework on which to develop their skill. Just learning to describe tastes gives you a system for understanding flavors and really developing your attention to your tongue.
Sifu made it a point to us to pay attention to the words he used to describe the I-Liq Chuan system. Absorb-project, open-close, condense-expand, etc. all have specific meanings. Substitutions of terms are discouraged. This is a mild annoyance at first if you are used to using other terms, but there are compelling reasons to being so exact with terminology. The first I understood was that everyone learns the same terms so that discussion between practitioners is meaningful and has minimal confusion. If everyone uses a standard jargon, it is much easier for everyone to converse and improve each other’s understanding.
The other important reason didn’t dawn on me until reading Blink. Language affects your conceptualization of ideas. The vocabulary defines a conceptual framework for the system. Sifu spent a lot of time being specific with his choice of terms; that makes a lot of sense since language both defines the conceptual framework for learning the system and provides a vehicle for information exchange. The system starts you with specific vocabulary to lay the conceptual foundation for honing your skill in the art.
Johnny Kuo
[Originally Posted at MindBodyKungfu 2/11/11]
A Martial Artist does not forever enhance this ego, he enhances it, & then he destroys it. He raises himself up, & then he lowers himself back down. He understands both.
He understands the ego way & he understands the way with no ego.
He knows how to be hard but he also knows how to be soft. He is gentle & sweet but he can be fierce when it is called upon for him to be fierce. He does not enjoy seeing others suffer but he understands that at certain times others will need to suffer in order to grow.
Freddie Lee
[via FMK’s Facebook Profile]
Qigong is a unique & ancient Chinese exercise and healing system that allows you to enhance health & prevent illness by aligning the mind & body with Qi (“Chi”/Vital Energy). Qi is the vital energy that we are born with, the energy that we receive into our body by the food we consume and through nature (e.g. the air we breathe).
THE FIVE ANIMAL FROLICS
The 5 Animal Frolics (五禽戲, Wu Qin Xi) is a complete qigong system, and the most ancient qigong system still practiced today. According to Kenneth Cohen, author of The Way of Qigong,”As story has it (Daoist Legend) Hua Tuo [110-207 AD/CE] received this text as well as instruction in Five Animals from two recluses living in a cave on Mount Gong Yi.” The “more recent” teachers whom are credited with spreading qigong (and Five Animal Qigong, in particular) are Madame Guo Lin (1906-1984) and Feng Zhiqiang (who learned this from his teacher, Hu Yao-zhen)*. The series of exercises that comprise the Five Animal Frolics not only help to keep the body sprightly and strong, but it engages both the mind and spirit as well. The Five Animal Frolics helps to create depth to your practice by allowing your body to communicate in different ways.
“When you practice the animals, do not imitate the animals, become them!”
(Kenneth Cohen)
TIGER – Strong and ferocious, the tiger is skilled at pouncing and quick at snatching prey. When practicing the tiger form, it is necessary to keep eyes alert and “paws” flexible at times and sometimes with great power at the fingertips. [Organs: yin/Liver, yang/Gall Bladder]
DEER – Practicing deer play helps to develop grace and relaxation through stretching the legs and spine. [Organs: yin/Kidneys, yang/Bladder]
MONKEY – Practice the monkey form to develop suppleness and agility. It is encouraged to not only do the large movements, but to squint and purse your face as a monkey would. [Organs: yin/Heart, yang/Sm. Intestines]
BEAR – Practice the movements of the bear to develop strength/power. It fortifies the bones and develops energy in the kidneys, your fundamental source of vitality. [Organs: yin/Spleen, yang/Stomach]
CRANE – Light, agile and balance are qualities of the crane. Becoming the crane, you stretch the ligaments and helps to release tension/compression in the spine. [Organs: yin/Lungs, yang/Lg. Intestines]
“Feeling is a language. This language allows your body and mind to communicate. But if you don’t pick up this feeling, the effectiveness of exercise becomes shallow.”
(Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming)
We encourage everyone to find the various movements/exercises of each animal that work for you. Adding this to your training will keep you feeling young, invigorated, and well-balanced. For more information on the Five Animal Frolics you can check out any of these suggested titles: The Way of Qigong (K. Cohen), Five Animal Sport Qigong DVD (Dr. Yang), Five Animal Frolics Qigong (F. Fick) or Wu Qin Xi (Chinese Health Qigong Association).
Check out Master Jesse Tsao’s video for an introduction to Bear Play
*According to Kenneth Cohen, The Way of Qigong.
Informational sources:
Five Animal Sport Qigong (dvd), Master Jesse Tsao (Youtube Channel Videos), Wikipedia.org, The Way of Qigong (Cohen), Animal Frolics (Garofolo, Michael P.), Life Balance (Zhuang)
Related Articles
Standing Three Circle Qigong : Eli Montaigue
A Few Words : Master Chungliang, Al-Huang
Living 100 Years, Re-Learning to Breathe : Joyce
Martial Effectiveness of Wuji : Rodney Owen
THE SECRET
◊
One moment is clear
Another moment it is utter confusion;
All the mysteries of Yin and Yang
Are inside this confusion
When this secret is understood one day
One thousand army and ten thousand horses
Will not be my match.
◊
– Chen Xin, translated by Chen Zhonghua (2002)
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