Issue 11 - Christmas 2005
Editorial
Dear friends and students,
In the spirit of the season I would like to give you this extra newsletter gift, a most informative and enjoyable article from my elder Shaolin sister Sifu Emiko Hsuen from Shaolin Wahnam Institute - Canada. I’ve just checked the subscriber’s list for the newsletter and it is now over 1000! Thank you for making 2005 so successful, here’s to 2006!
Martial Arts and Spiritual Cultivation: Myth?
When I was a child, I recall reading fiction novels and manga (Japanese comics) about how martial arts was meant not just for combat efficiency, but also for spiritual cultivation. As I grew older, the idea that a martial artist could grow spiritually seemed more and more an idyllic thing born of the writer's imagination.
I began my own training in the martial arts at the age of eleven with a 7 th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, Grandmaster Jae-Young Kwak. He gave me excellent training in external basics. I learnt to kick with muscular strength and speed. I also sparred twice a week.
Several years later, the youngest uncle on my father's side initiated me into the Siu Lim Tao of Wing Chun, making me stand in the goat stance for forty-five minute periods. He was the first person to mention the word ‘chi' to me, and made me work over and over again to try and move my arm out of his lock by using only chi. I never quite got it. Yet, thanks to him, I had seen that mechanical force was not the only form of power that existed.
I continued my training with another master of Wing Chun, whose understanding of the style was more physics oriented. He was famous for real street fights, and I hoped to learn the skills of how to protect myself against large opponents. Again, I never quite arrived at the point where I could feel comfortable about my ability to defend myself. I decided that while martial arts might be a viable form of self-defense for men, it was simply unrealistic for women to think that they might also be able protect themselves without renouncing their femininity.
So, I stopped pursuing martial arts for self-defense and decided to approach it as a sport for fitness. I took up Modern Wushu. My wushu coach happened to be the national coach for Canada. Through his tutelage, I trained in the following forms: nanquan, staff, straight sword and spear. Before the big competitions, we would train up to five days per week. As a result, I became very fit and flexible. However, I was not healthy. After over-training at the spear, I injured my left shoulder.
No longer able to train in the same way, I decided to opt for the “old people's art” of Taijiquan. My new master was the granddaughter of Grandmaster Wang, Zi-Ping. She taught me not only taijiquan, but also northern shaolin. She spoke about how to be a true warrior meant that one had to exhibit “wu de” (martial arts moral character). For the first time, I had a teacher who spoke about the importance of developing one's strength of character, as well as maintaining high morals. I thought to myself that even if the martial arts legends were all false, at least the importance of being a good person was a genuine element one could strive to attain.
Then, when I was very ill in 2000, I flew to meet Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit who initiated me into chi kung and then taught the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course. That was a life-changing experience. Here was a master who not only exhibited “wu de”, but also exuded deep joy and inner peace. I was struck by how at home he seemed to be with himself. I caught myself wondering: could I have finally met a master who was combat efficient, healthy and, moreover, spiritually fulfilled? It did not take me long to realize that Sifu (Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit) had indeed mastered the art of “Smiling from the Heart”. I was deeply moved and touched by his sincerity.
Perhaps those childhood fiction novels on martial arts were not entire fabrications. Perhaps it was possible for one to be a warrior and a spiritual cultivator at the same time. My secret wish to be a “spiritual warrior-woman” was re-kindled. I decided to train faithfully in the manner as delineated by Sifu to see what would happen. As I trained, I came to see that Shaolin Kungfu (and Wahnam Taijiquan) was indeed a path where one could successfully cultivate the spirit.
One example of spiritual cultivation can be found in sparring (whether it be pre-arranged sparring, or free-style sparring), as outlined in the four transformative stages below:
I. Fear
II. Anger/Jealousy/Annoyance
III. Clarity
IV. Compassion
I. One often begins with fear, though he/she may not be aware of it. By not giving into the fear, we help our bodies to work past the initial paralysis.
II. Then consolidated fear takes a new form, like ‘anger’ for example. Anger is already an improvement from fear in that the energy is no longer stuck, but rather moving. It can move and let the rubbish out through the body’s various orifices.
III. After enough of the anger has been discharged, we experience increased clarity. We may suddenly become able to read the hidden intent of the opponent or to see what is at the heart of his aggression.
IV. Finally, with this newfound clarity, i.e. the ability to see a situation in its entire spectrum (not just from one side or the other), genuine compassion and generosity of spirit is born.
In this way, I find that sparring has actually helped me, so far, to heal and grow spiritually. Over time, the fear is reduced, anger fades away, and what is left is an ever-increasing clarity that is facilitating my transition into compassion.
Thanks to Sifu's authentic teaching of the Shaolin Arts, I have no doubt that martial arts can be used for more than just combat efficiency: they can also be used to maintain health and further spiritual cultivation. I now know that those martial arts fiction manga and novels were not all empty fables.
Wishing you a wonderful festive season and a prosperous New Year. See you in 2006!
Until then I wish you success in your practice.
Kind regards
 | Marcus Santer Shaolin Wahnam Institute - UK Helping you to fulfil your physical and emotional potential |
The Shaolin Wahnam Institute