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_EN.jpg) (An excerpt from the Collection of Papers)
Destiny
Way back to 18 years ago, Sifu Feng Zhiqiang arrived Singapore upon the invitation of Singapore National Wushu Federation (SNWF). He was here for a period of 3 months to teach on the Hun Yuan martial art, Tui Shou (Push Hand) and Simplified Chen-style 48-Stroke. At that time, I was not able to comprehend the art of Taiji quan taught by Sifu Feng Zhiqiang. I was like a pre-school student attending the lecture of a university professor – un-comprehensible to the least extent. However, his caring, amicable, thoughtful character had left me a deep impression of this teacher.
Three years later in 1991, I was appointed to represent Singapore in the First World Wushu Championship in Beijing (under the category of Taiji quan 42-Stroke). Sifu Feng had actually make a visit to the hotel to meet the Singapore representatives. After the competition, I paid a visit to Sifu Feng Zhiqiang and I was fortunate enough to be coached personally by Sifu Feng. I was taught the Chen-style Xin Yi Hun Yuan Taiji quan and Hun Yuan Neigong (inner strength). After the lesson, I was able to display the Taij quan 42-Stroke Competition Routine much confidently and stylish. This had greatly pushed me to ever greater heights in my ten years of International competitions career. Some of my comrades reflected that after practicing Xin Yi Hun Yuan Taiji, one will be able to grasp and highlight the underlying profoundness of Taiji.
A Cup Of Old Wine
Practicing Hun Yuan Taiji is like savouring a cup of old wine.
During the initial stage of practice, one will feel relaxed and at ease with breath. With continuation of the practice, one would be able to understand and appreciate the profoundness and beauty of Taiji quan.We would say that Xin Yi Hun Yuan is the elementary of Taiji quan yet also is the complementary foundation to the understanding and appreciation of Taiji quan.
My Different Stages of Understanding and Learning of Taiji quan:
Comfortness : For those who have practiced Hun Yuan Taiji quan, most of them would have agreed that this is a good form of art. After the practice, one would feel relaxed, whole body at ease, mental in a high state and a sense of refreshness and revitalization is felt through the whole body. One of the comrades even commented: I have like practicing Hun Yuan Taiji quan, even if it is being practiced in an incorrect manner yet it is also so relaxed (the routines and styles of Hun Yuan is natural and not purposeful)
Stableness : Hun Yuan Taiji quan have made me appreciate what is so-called
"relaxed, at ease". This happened when back in 1991 when Sifu Feng Zhiqiang taught me the first step
- the Start Step. At that moment, I have thought that I was already very at ease. However, after Sifu Feng giving me a push, both of my shoulders dropped low and whole of my upper body reached it most stableness. Only then I realized that how
"at ease" can be achieved which such simplicity. Only when you are really to let go, then you are able to be at ease. The so-called
"stableness" is actually the post state of reaching "at ease" whereby you further let go of the body state. In one of Sifu Feng's master piece,
'Chen-style Taiji Quan Basic', page 17 have indicated that to reach stableness, one need the aid of one thinking. Only if you let go mentally, you will be able to further command your bodily state to be
"at ease".
Gentleness : Stableness is the basis for gentleness and the latter is built on the foundation of
"at ease". Practicing and learning, active and passive, at ease and in tension, to open when active while close when passive. This is like working when day breaks and to rest when night set in, day after day, time after time, a hundred times, a thousand times, there come a day when un-natural movement will be replaced by the natural gentleness of the art. (Adapted from one of Sifu Feng's master piece
'Chen-style Taiji Quan Basic', page 26)
Firmness : From stableness to gentleness, with continued perseverance, one will be able to achieve perfect coordination with the mental directions and physical movements, be it practicing or displaying of forms. There shall come one day when you stamp with your foot, the foot sole will stick like strong adhesive; when you ground down your foot further with your mental will, your foot seemed to have rooted itself deep in the earth, firm and solid.
Completeness : For those practitioners of Taiji quan, one would hope that one can attain the state where the movements are natural and yet the routines are in completeness. During the initial stage of practice, whole body have ached considerably and yet not able to realize where have gone wrong. There is a logic in quan saying that
"where you find not comfortable, you shall spot out the underlying reason", however, from where shall I start to look from? After a few years of practicing, the movements are smoother now but still they are empty shells! Only until now do I understand Sifu Feng's
"take the Dan Tian (the inner breathing of the stomach) to practice the inner strength". This is analogy to the inflation of a balloon: When a balloon is inflated, it expand in all directions uniformly, while on the other hand, when it is deflated, it shrunk in all directions uniformly until a single point. This, when during inflation, one would start from the Dan Tian; this, when during deflation, back to the Dan Tian. This, when inflated, it is as big as the universe; this, when deflated, it is as small as invisible.
A few years back, while practicing at Beijing Tian Tan, Sifu Feng commented :
"You have learned the art of postures, but the strength is still insufficient!" This comment of Sifu have made me even more confident and at the same time also shameful of myself – for not practice diligently. Now, Sifu is already in his eighties, with my most heart felt wish, I wish Sifu forever as healthy and strong as before.
May I wish that Chen-style Xin Yi Hun Yuan Taiji Quan be passed on generation after generation and also to bring harmony to the World.
6 November 2006
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