Often times, it can be said that students are a reflection of their master. In the traditional kung-fu world, when a challenge is administered, the senior student, or the instructors top disciple (there is a difference, but I will delve further into that at another time), usually takes it in place of the instructor. It is said that a senior student/disciple should have at LEAST 60% of the master's ability. If, and only if, the student/disciple is defeated by the challenger, the master/instructor MUST answer the second round of the challenge, or, traditionally, close his or her school, or (in rare circumstances), join the challenger's school. At times, death was the only option, as defeat was nearly identical to it in a metaphorical sense.
With that being said, one could say that a master is a reflection of the founder/creator of a particular system of martial arts. Yes, over time, students modify systems, add things, leave things out, emphasize some things more than others, but, as long as the, 'skeleton', of a system remains, it remains true to the creator's original idea. If systems didn't adapt or change, they would die out, or become obsolete. As long as the essence of a system remains, the building blocks that make it's particular set of techniques effective, it is still true.
When one studies a system, you begin to notice certain ideas and concepts that get touched upon over and over and over again. Have you ever practiced a form where the same cluster of motions (or combination) repeats several times over in a single routine? That means that whoever created that system really REALLY liked those moves, and, wanted whoever was learning his or her system to really embrace them. After studying a style for while, you'll find that many techniques repeat, footwork patterns become repetitive, and aside from a few, 'new', moves here and there, it's all basically the same. The only thing that changes, are a few different ideas. One form will teach you how to quickly change directions, another will focus on multiple opponents, one will emphasize a particular hand formation, and so on. The system, in essence, remains the same, it is only a new concept, or, 'idea', that is introduced. Nothing more, nothing less. Advanced kung-fu is nothing more than having mastered the basics of a particular style. There is no advanced kung-fu, only advanced basics.
I've studied several systems over the years, none of them for a period of time that warrants the title of, 'master', or, 'instructor'. My kung-fu is about as good as my Mandarin, seemingly fluent to the untrained observer, but obviously flawed and juvenile, to the native. The longest I have ever studied a single system was for seven years. In the world of Japanese or Korean martial arts, that is a long time, and yes, in that arena, I would be considered a master, and have opened a school a long time ago. But in the vast and seemingly bottomless world of ancient Chinese martial arts? That's not even enough to be considered a beginner. Not in the least. Due to politics, and other factors beyond my control, I have had to leave not one, not two, but THREE Chinese martial arts schools. Even renouncing my title of disciple at the Wudang (Yes, 'THE', 'Wudang' of 'crouching tiger, hidden dragon', a.k.a: 'wu-tang', yes, I am, or was, a member of the REAL 'wu-tang clan', believe it or not) temple due to politics and internal corruption amongst fellow disciples. Now? Back in America? I have joined another school, started from zero for a FOURTH (and hopefully last!) time. In light of this, I have had some fabulous glimpses into the, 'personalities', of four different ancient, 'masters'.
Studying only one system is ideal, respected and honorable. And, if it were up to me, I would have never left my first style. I was so dedicated, I tattooed the school logo onto my right forearm. I ate, lived and breathed this style. The style was, 'praying mantis'. I still have a deep and unfathomable love for this system. I find it indescribably, and intoxicatingly beautiful, exotic and perplexing. Whoever created this system must have been a strange person. In this system you utilize odd hops, leaps and shuffles, as if bounding from branch to branch. You attack your opponent from strange angles and unleash blows upon them with lightning speed in clusters of three, apparently retreating and then blasting into your attacker at the last moment like a tornado of fists, elbows, knees and feet. While the motions appear impractical to the exponent of another system, when they are explained by a true mantis master, you cannot believe the pure and absolute genius of this system. In my mind, the founder of this style, Wang Lang (that is his name, and his grave can still be found in the Shandong province of northern China), must have been a deep and profound thinker, a man of great patience, and a genius strategist. It is said that he developed this system by taking elements from eighteen different major Shaolin techniques/styles, and then, after observing a mantis defeating a much larger cicada, created an entirely new system that rocked the foundations of his contemporaries kung-fu systems. His strange and esoteric genius can still be seen today in the beautiful system that he created, and blessed upon the Chinese martial arts world.
In another spectrum, the personality of a total madman can still be observed today in the ferocious and sadistic system known as, 'White Eyebrow'. Who was, 'White Eyebrow'? To be honest, he is more of a myth and a legend than anything else. BUT, he did, in fact, exist, and yes, he WAS, a real person. He existed around the same time as Wang Lang the mantis master, but in a different region of China. He was said to be from south western China, a member of the, 'Ke Jia', or, as they are more commonly known in the United States (and the rest of the Cantonese dominated western world), 'Hakka' (which means, 'guest people'), ethnic group. He was sometimes known as, 'Bai Mei Dao Ren', which means: 'White Eyebrow the Daoist'. He was, originally, said to have been a Daoist priest, who later, joined the Shaolin temple, and even later, became one of the legendary, 'five ancestors'. He favored the techniques used in the leopard and tiger systems, as they relied on total offense, relentless onslaught, and brutal savagery. He discarded the classical fist formations used by almost every style in existence today (Chinese or otherwise), and replaced them with hand techniques that were used only for fatal, crippling, or paralytic blows. Aside from this, the mentality that he bestowed upon his followers still remains true today. Hit hard, hit one hundred times, no mercy, destroy your opponent ruthlessly, kill. This is the mind set of a complete, and total, madman. There are no blocks in his style, only attacks, offense being his defense. In the end, his style was taught to the medieval (and even still today!) Chinese military (foot soldiers, secret service, and officers alike), and was eventually, used to destroy all of his brothers, their students, laymen martial artists, and finally, the famous Shaolin temple its self. It is the style of a killer, and was used to a tee, for this very purpose. Destroy, no mercy, take no prisoners. It is said that White Eyebrow was eventually killed in his old age during combat by two extremely powerful masters at the same time, as no single man could defeat such a ruthless and genius master such as himself. He was truly, the, 'Hannibal Lector', of the Chinese martial arts world.
So, when practicing, or studying a particular martial art, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or otherwise, take a moment to appreciate that you are immersing yourself into mind, the personality and the soul of an ancient master. He or she lives on through your practice. YOU make them immortal, and when YOU pass a system down to another, you continue their immortality, and in turn, become immortal yourself. It is up to us, the chosen few, the ensure the minds and souls of these eternal masters, evil or not, live on through our practice, and teachings, in these modern times of technology and dwindling culture. We are the last glimpses the world ever have into the personalities of these great and ancient masters.
0 comments:
Post a Comment