Can You Levitate Like a Shaolin Monk?

[shanmonster]

Kung fu class was confusing. We were taught a new technique tonight which I do not like. I can't ever imagine using this one particular move in a fight. It involves going from an elbow strike while in a horse stance to a squat with a circular hand movement which blocks a punch or kick, then coming back up again in an arrow stance while doing a sun punch and a closed mirror hand black. I can't imagine using the combination, because I've never fought anyone who'd use the reciprocal movements. If my opponent is down low below my waist, my first reaction isn't going to be to lean over and punch him. That would throw me off balance. I'd be more tempted to sweep out one of their feet and basically stomp the heck out of them. Ah well. I drilled on the technique for a good twenty or thirty minutes and got exercise out of it, at least.

But that wasn't the confusing part. In my Monday night classes, the Sifu stresses the importance of being careful that we do not hurt one another. He wants us to exercise the technique in such a way that we never make full contact. Keep this in mind. The confusing part was the behaviour of my Sifu. He's noticed my habit of holding my fists up, guarding my face and centre line. According to him, this is "never done in kung fu." When he asked me where I was taught such a thing, I told him: by Sifu Danny, Sifu Ricky, and also by my karate instructors. I told him that when I fought the t'ai chi chu'an fighters, that they also kept their hands up high, rather than down by their waist as he does. He disagreed vehemently, and was obviously unimpressed by what I'd been taught. "Here, I show you why it's no good," he said. "Hold hands up like you do."

So I did. He then grabbed for one of them. I moved it out of his way, and he managed to pin my other hand. However, in this same time, I had chambered a roundhouse kick, and gently pressed my foot to his ribs. It would have been a mutually-assured destruction. "You cheating," he said. "Not allowed to use legs."

I hadn't realized there was such a thing as cheating. I was just trying to defend myself. "Hold hands up again," he said. So I forced myself to keep both feet on the ground and only use hand work. This time, he pinned me fair and square, then struck me in the face, mashing my lip against my teeth. I blinked in surprise, but his face showed no remorse, or indeed any sign that the contact had been accidental. "Again," he said. Once more, he pinned my hands, and this time he struck me hard across the jaw. On the third time, he hit my lip again, bashing it against my teeth.

Although I can understand he felt it necessary to prove a point, I don't understand why he would resort to intentionally causing injury (no matter how minor) to do so, especially when he stresses how he doesn't want anyone to strike one another. Just by pinning my arms and beginning (but not finishing) a strike could he prove a point. The intentionally inflicted pain, based on his previous admonitions, strikes me (heh) as petty.

While I do see the value in his philosophy of hand positioning, I still must hold respect for what I've been taught over the past few years. After all, in order to counter someone whose hands are up, one must also raise one's hands. And doesn't this just put you in the same basic fighting stance I'd been using all along?

Also, he mentioned Bruce Lee at one point during his class. If I'm not mistaken, Bruce Lee also frequently stood with fists raised, did he not? Take a look at the first few pages of Bruce Lee's Fighting Method, Vol. 3: Skill in Techniques to see what I mean.

In any case, next week will be my last class with this fellow, and then I'll be able to train at my regular school again for a while.

As a final note, just as I was preparing to leave my class, the youngest member of the class went up to the Sifu and asked him a question. "Master, can you levitate like the Shaolin monks?"

"Can I ... levitate?" The Sifu was obviously confused.

"Yeah! Can you levitate?"

The Sifu thought for a minute. "What you mean by levitate?"

I carefully made no facial expressions, but continued putting on my boots and coat. "You know, float in the air like I saw them do on TV," said the kid.

"Ah, no. I no can levitate. That different style. No one know all styles of kung fu." At that, the Sifu looked over at me and gave me a tiny smile.

Comments

[phil-in-a-box.livejournal.com]

Your Sifu's behavior seemed pretty childish. I can't think of any good reason for him to intentionally and unapologetically strike you that way, especially after admonishing the rest of you all not to make contact. Sounds like he was just being petty and trying to beat a little respect out of you after you first questioned his teaching and then proved you had a good reason for doing so.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I think so, too.

[morriganswitch.livejournal.com]

I still think he's a pompus jerk, who shouldn't be teaching if he can't do it with respect for his students.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I agree.

[eseprimo.livejournal.com]

First off, hi, reader of yours for some time but shy poster.

Tonight I couldn't but share your feelings about the whole issue with your "seafood"… I practiced martial arts for some good fifteen years, and although I have found big egos in my two dojos, none of them would even think about striking one of their students to make a point. Some of them used to be hard, demanding, bossed people around, pushed us to the limit, etc; but thinking back I believe it all made some sense, since they were probably pursuing us to achieve something especially hard (no-pain-no-gain sort of philosophy). But again, no degrading and punishing. I did find that kind of behavior among some higher level students with low morals, and I remember with remorse a situation in which one of them smashed my ribs "just for fun" and left me half-unconscious lying on the floor. A few weeks later almost nobody remained in the same training session that guy was attending.

This guy with the lack of self-control has shown he's not a professional, and he didn't get the whole idea behind martial arts. I'm not in your shoes, and you may say it's none of my business but, if I were you, I'd take next week off.

Oh yeah, and a killer blog you have. Keep it up.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Yes, I have certainly experienced big egos, but this is the first time I've had an instructor intentionally injure me for the sake of putting on a show. I am not impressed.

I don't think I'll bother returning next week. I'll train on my own, instead.

[fordmadoxfraud.livejournal.com]

You totally should have kicked the shit out of your sifu right then and there. I'm sure he wouldn't have seen it coming, just a swift angry forearm to the sinuses. Or just go back later this week and hit him with your car. It'll be hilarious, I guarantee it.

[f00dave.livejournal.com]

Alas, we have no car! You American types perfer guns anyway, though, don't you? ;-D

[fordmadoxfraud.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm certainly enamored enough of firearms. Not sure I can speak for all of my countrymen. But hitting someone with your car when you're made is much, much funnier than any gun I know of. My ex-brother-in-law's sister once got rammed through a supermarket window by an SUV and let me tell you, once the blood and glass and broken bone settled, we were pissing ourselves with laughter.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I don't doubt he could kick my ass. He does have a lot more training and experience. I'd have to employ guerrilla tactics. Instead, I prefer to not go to his class, and to recommend to any prospective students he may have to study elsewhere.

[zombienought.livejournal.com]

Wow, I can't believe he hit you. You'd think
a master of martial arts would be able to
control his moves with nigh-perfect precision.
I'm guessing he was really upset about you
besting him. :-/

[f00dave.livejournal.com]

I keep using the word "incompetent", not in the sense that he doesn't know Kung Fu (which he does, apparently, so Shan had *better* use a car if it comes to that) but in the sense that he couldn't teach a soap bubble to pop. Nasty man.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

It was definitely intentional, on his part.

[oh-the-ironing.livejournal.com]

There will be no mercy in my dojo.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

For whom?

[oh-the-ironing.livejournal.com]

For those who request it, unless requests are made two weeks in advance, IN WRITING, in triplicate, no carbons. Then, mercy will be doled out on a first-come, first-served basis, unless, of course, there is certain consideration paid in order to jump ahead in the mercy line. However, at the end of the day, there will still be very little mercy in my dojo.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Fair enough.