masterwordsmith-unplugged

This year has been the quietest Chinese New Year in my entire life due to an unfortunate incident which left me horizontal most of the time. On a positive note, the last day of the Lunar New Year ended very well. A beloved cousin hosted a pot-luck get-together at his family home.

One by one they came - the guests and their choice dishes for the evening...a veritable feast not just for the eyes but for the palate. Each brought a culinary delight to tease the senses and tickle our taste buds which were screaming for more. Surprisingly, the ladies ate more than the guys - at least at the beginning...The following photo taken at the earlier part of the evening only showcases 30% of the fabulous array of food that filled the table and our stomaches which included Belachan Chicken, Roti Jala and Curry Chicken, Steamed Chicken, Sarawak Laksa (made by yours truly), Char Koay Teow, Roast Chicken Wings, Fried Mee Hoon, Or Nee, Durian Pulut, Cucuk Udang, Yee Sang, Local Cakes, Desserts, Bubur Cha Cha, soft drinks, beer, wine, fruits etc

My favourite dish for the evening was certainly durian pulut with durian bubur!!! Exquisite and sinfully creamy and oolala!

Up, Close and Yee Sang!

And loh sang...

Then an old friend brought a surprise birthday cake and everyone was rolling with laughter when they saw the cake cos it looks exactly like my cousin

See for yourself...:-) He is a MMA, Shaolin, Wingtsun, Muay Thai exponent. In fact, three other cousins run martial arts schools - on in London, one in San Francisco and one in Penang. I was supposed to have taken up Shalin in the early 1970s with him under the late Dato' P'ng but most regretfully I chickened out then. Today, he is a skilled exponent of many forms martial arts ...

Most unfortunately, we had to leave earlier before the fireworks session as Nick has school today.

Anyway, we all had a fun evening reconnecting and I am certainly glad a CNY that started off quite scarily due to the unexpected accident ended beautifully and positively. Hope you all had a grand time.

This evening, I took some time off my blog to buy some books, have tea and also to watch Ip Man 2 starring Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Kent Cheng and Simon Yam. It is a semi-biographical martial arts film, and a sequel to the 2008 film Ip Man. Ip Man 2 is the second film, following its predecessor, to be based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of Wing Chun martial arts.

Directed by Wilson Yip,the movie continues after the events of Ip Man 1 and centers on Ip's movements in Hong Kong, which was then under British colonial rule. He attempts to propagate his martial arts discipline of Wing Chun, but faces rivalry from other practitioners, including the local master of Hung Ga martial arts. I am not going to give any spoilers so I will not discuss the movie synopsis but you can read about the plot HERE

At the end of the movie, Ip Man had to defend the integrity and dignity of the Chinese who were insulted by the antagonist, The Twister in a most humiliating way. It is obvious who wins the boxing competition. When interviewed after that, Ip Man said that although each of us may differ in status, life is not always about winning and that he fought The Twister not to prove that Chinese martial arts is better than western-style boxing but to make a point that it is important to defend our integrity and to learn to respect one another.

I thought that is an amazing lesson which political leaders and all of us have to learn. There are a number of parallels between the forces in Ip Man and the forces at work in Malaysia.

In Ip Man 2, there is the corrupt police officer (Kent Cheng) who is in cahoots with the British police officer to subjugate the Chinese and to suck money from them via illegal boxing competitions. They stop at nothing to get what they want, even to the extent of betraying their own kind! Worse still, some like Sammo Hung are ready to compromise their values and beliefs for money which they do not get in the end. Does this not sound familiar? Fortunately, they come to the realization of the moral implications of their actions before it is too late.

At the same time, Ip Man is ONE of the many martial arts masters who runs his own school in Hong Kong. Although he is a fledgling, his martial arts skills and prowess are much better than that of the senior martial arts masters. While the rest of the masters have compromised their dignity and integrity at the beginning of the movie, Ip Man remains idealistic and refuses to allow the expats and others to bully him. He stands firm in taking the high moral path and puts the cause of defending the dignity of Chinese above the calling to be with his wife when she delivers their second child.

If you have watched the movie, you would have seen how the other disciples reacted emotionally to tha taunting remarks and provocation of their enemies - almost the same way as some may respond to political situations in our country. The lesson is plain and simple - reacting emotionally would be a foolhardy act that offsets a chain of unfortunate events. Ip Man sets the example by reasoning first and then only fight it out if all other contingencies do not work. He remains calm and does not flinch even in the face of failure or losing.

I think what touched me in this movie is the way Ip Man and Hung Sifu handled the challenges faced - they accentuated values, morals and integrity and even when he was almost vanquished, what propelled him forward was the compulsion to defend the dignity of the Chinese after they suffered gross humiliation at the hands of The Twiser. Even when faltering in his moves, Ip Man renewed his perspective and went on to achieve victory. Perhaps that is what PR needs to do. Despite the HS by-election result, they have to soldier on and not let this temporary setback hinder them from gaining more ground in the Sibu by-election.

I believe this is what we can learn from Ip Man 2. Maintaining integrity and honor is of more importance than winning and in the process, we can learn to respect one another and see each other beyond class, status, color or creed.

Although it is not as action-packed as Ip Man 1, this one has its fair share of exciting moments and well choreographed sequences. I learnt wing chun and some mixed martial art forms (MMA) last year but dropped out because it was no laughing matter to be on the receiving end of punches on my chest from my Sifu. I did not enjoy being pummelled and to have hardly any opportunity to pummel others :-). I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed the fighting sequences of the movie. My friends laughed at me because while watching the fighting sequences, I also dodged and moved left and right as though I was avoiding the blows for Ip Man :-). I have blogged about 8 posts on martial arts topics including on went tsun so do check it out HERE. One of my cousins has actually sparred with Ip Chun's (Ip Man's son) disciples in Hong Kong.

If you are a Donnie Yen fan, please note:

With a recent flood of Ip Man films on the market, Donnie Yen, who gives himself 120 marks for his performance in Ip Man 2 compared 90 marks for the first, has made up his mind, "After Ip Man 2, I would never ever touch any films related to Ip Man. This will be my final film on the subject. Whenever something becomes a success, everyone would jump on the bandwagon, this is very frightening. Did you know how many Ip Man films are in production? Under such condition, we would not progress, it'd only lead to over-saturation of the subject matter." Guangzhou Daily CLICK HERE for more.

Pressure points are not scientific anatomical locations. They are areas of the body that are particularly susceptible to incapacitating pain or injury. Some seem obvious and are therefore usually well guarded. While more obscure locations can be a total surprise to the attacker, which is always a bonus.

Different people react differently to pain stimulus. If the attacker is using alcohol or drugs their pain sensitivity can be dulled, also. So it is hard to judge what kind of response you will get. Therefore it is appropriate to use as much force as you can muster when you deal with these areas. Although it isn’t necessary to injury the assailant, sometimes all that’s needed is enough to convince him that a spirited defense will be made and you will not be a passive victim.

Sometimes all you need is to inflict adequate surprise and/or pain to cause him to lose his grip on you so you can escape. Sometimes causing an injury is warranted to keep him from chasing you.

Let me dispel a couple myth for you. There is no secret spot on the body that, when pressured will cause instant unconsciousness. Apparently that only happens on Star Trek. Secondly, you cannot instantly kill someone by driving their nose up into their brain. You will hurt them, but it does not cause instantaneous death.

Some of the pressure points are:

* Temple Area

* Eyes

* Ears

* Nose

* Throat

* Elbow joint

* Wrist

* Back of Hand

* Collar Bone

* Solar Plexis

* Ribs

* Between Shoulder Blades

* Kidneys

* Groin

* Upper Inner Thigh

* Knee

* Shin

* Instep

* Achilles Tendon



This is by no means a complete list, sometimes it just depends on what’s available within reach.

Parts of your body that you can strike with:

* Fist

* Knuckles

* Knife Hand

* Palm Strike

* Elbow

* Knee

* Feet



Fingers are good for eye gouging, and pinching. The back of your head can head butt (so can the front, but less likely to cause damage to you). Elbows are a favorite of mine, they can be used forward or backwards; they can be reinforced by clutching the associated fist with the opposite hand (assisted elbow strike).

Awareness of pressure points should be an integral part of any self defense plan.


Author's Bio
Su Ericksen is a first degree TaeKwonDo black belt and has taught self defense workshops. She lives in the Midwest with her family and works at a large medical center in the cardiology clinic.
Please visit her website: Self Defense-4-Women.com. You may contact her through her website.

Where going to go through what is called combination 1 this is a natural and practical combination of movements that include striking, body movement, blocking and footwork.

1. Jab & Cross Punch

Jab with the front hand keeping your rear hand up protecting at all times then fire your cross punch twisting on your back foot. When you do the jab, pull your hand right back to your guard so your hand covers when you fire the cross punch, this should be applied to any of your punches.


2. Hook Punch & Cross Punch

When executing your hook focus on keeping your shoulder high and punching from your guard, so that you don’t bring your arm back when punching, and therefore present a nice wide opening for your opponent to take advantage of. This is a common mistake to avoid. It’s always best to practice your elbow first then add the hook to this if you’re having a challenging time keeping your hook tight. Then fire your cross punch same as previous.

3. Bob & Weave

Evasive skills to move from punching attacks. When performing this movement lean your upper body forwards as if you’re putting your head into your opponents chest. Keep your hands up protecting your head at all times; remember blocking with your head is never a good idea. Weave left and then right.


4. Body Blocks

This movement is used to defend against a hook or roundhouse kick to the body. This requires a short, sharp movement dropping your elbow to cover your side and bend your upper body to strengthen your defence. Focus on that short movement and bring your hand straight back up to your face so that your not open. Repeat on both sides.

5. Hook to the Body

When executing your punches turn your body into the target and have your palm facing you when punching. Keep your other hand up high to protect when punching. Repeat this on the both side.

TIPS FOR PUNCHING

Keep your fist clenched properly – it’s easy to get into bad habits.

Keep your chin tucked in at all times, remember the only time you should have your chin in the air is when your having your photograph taken!.

Breath out from the stomach when punching.

Remember to pull your punching hand back to guard when you have completed the punch so that you have a defence when firing the next punch in the combination – take your time!


How to train your Combination 1

• Once you have gone through the sections individually then put the whole combination together, in front of a mirror would be ideal.
• This combination lends itself well to using focus pads with a partner.
• You can also break down elements of the combination with a partner (body blocks and bob and weave)
• Once you have the combination down then begin to shadow box any of the combination in any order, using your imagination to

Remember the harder you work the luckier you get. I look forward to working with you next month.


Author's Bio
Lee Mainprize is a martial arts teachers, teacher. He helps beginners and students learn martial arts online and martial arts home study.

A great deal has been written and said about kicking in today’s age of modern martial artists. Many people who are cross training seem to mainly focus on low Thai kicks because of their effectiveness and they present less risk of being taken to the ground by the grappler.

When it comes to kicking you really have to decide what your purposes are for training in the martial arts, it might be that the art you practice in encompasses a lot of kicking. If you are aiming for competition then kicking might be an important element, or you may be hooked on the Kung Fu movies and like all the flamboyant techniques which are generally kicks.

When I was a junior, kicking was my best technique and I quickly realised that I also need to be able to punch after being beaten by the puncher on several occasions. I then set about developing my hands to the same leveI as my kicks to be an all round fighter.

I personally enjoy kicking very much and find it rewarding, I am confident enough of my kicking ability in a real situation, because I have had the unfortunate pleasure of using them on several occasions, but you must train your kicks for this test and not just competition to give yourself any chance of success.

1. Front Kick

The front kick is a good powerful kick that is good for stopping attacker coming towards you. Practice chambering your knee, so your knee faces the ceiling. Extend your leg out bending your toes back and striking with the ball of the foot. Keep your hands up and if kicking with the back leg change your guard over. You can snap your kick or push kick (we will go into different ways to kick in a latter column). Good areas to strike are shin, knee, groin, bladder and abdominals.

2. Roundhouse Kick

The roundhouse kick is a circular techniques and is good for throwing in combinations, beware that you can open yourself up when kicking to the inside of your opponent. When executing your Roundhouse Kick chamber your leg so that it faces to the side. Extend your leg and point your toes strike with either the top of the foot or the shin. Areas to strike are thigh, body and head.


3. Side Kick

The side kick is a very strong and fast kick, great for points sparring but you need to work on this technique to fire strong and effective combinations because you turn side on whilst throwing the kick and this can slow the next technique down. Chamber your leg the same as a roundhouse kick, extend your leg and strike with the heel or foot sword. Areas to strike are the knee, body and head.

4. Back Kick

If you know Master Bob Sykes you will know this is his favourite technique, and bob has a great back kick, this can only be achieved through lots of repetition. Its one thing to have good form in a kick and another to actually be effective at putting it into practice. If you get this kick right it can probably be the most powerful kick of all. Keep your feet still and turn your body, look over your shoulder, chamber your leg and throw a sidekick and you have your back kick.

This technique can be used to counter if timed correctly or it should be used in a combination with other techniques to set it up.


TIPS FOR KICKING

Practice your balance by chambering your leg tight.

Keep your hands up at all times

Practice your kicks using different methods to develop different attributes – shadow for form, pad work for power and speed, partner work for distance and timing.

Remember to focus on Quality not Quantity

Stretch and strengthen your legs to develop flexibility and strength to allow greater movement and use less energy in your kicks

Practice with both legs – when I was competing the front leg was mainly used and because of doing many more repetitions on one side I have developed a back challenge. So practice both sides!

Remember the harder you work the luckier you get. I look forward to working with you next month.


Author's Bio
Lee Mainprize is a martial arts teachers, teacher. He helps beginners and students learn martial arts online and gives martial arts home study.

Delectable dishes, loving cousins, old friends and my beloved family - what more could I ask for?

It was down memory lane when my family met up with my cousins and two old friends W and A at a very old Chinese restaurant in an obscure part of Chinatown Penang. Gosh! It must have been like 15 years since I went to Sun Yuet Kee Restaurant because I had forgotten about it.

When the seven of us arrived at about 8p.m., we were greeted by a sea of elderly faces, some giving us toothless smiles as we sauntered up the dark narrow stairs. Upon reaching the landing, two men, presumably the chefs smiled at us while I caught the whiff of delicious food being cooked by one of them. As I made my way to the air-conditioned dining area, I had an onslaught of memories that flooded my mind. Opening the door, I walked in and was filled with so much nostalgia. Good to see you back - the walls seemed to echo to me as I made my way to the table where the others were waiting patiently for us.

As soon as we were seated, W proceeded in his matter-of-fact Big Brother style to order the signature dishes while the rest of us chorused happily "Hot barley!". What do you expect - 6 of the 7 were in our 40's with one in his 50's and my son was the young punk in the group.

Soon enough, the dishes came. First to be served was the delicious wat tan hor fun. Sorry folks - we were so hungry that the main focus was not a photo session but enjoying the following Cantonese cuisine cooked in old fashioned style.

The signature dish of the restaurant is the BBQ Spare Ribs - succulent, crispy at the right places with a smooth and tasty gravy that makes you crave for more. Despite being a non-meat lover, I had three pieces of meat.

My cousin from US was enamoured with the following dish which is kangkung with fresh succulent prawns.

Before the next dish came, my other cousin had already reserved the eyes and tongue of the fish...Here we are - fish head curry.

The roast meat served was crispy, well smoked and absolutely delicious...

The homemade beancurd was smooth, soft, silky-textured and had been deep fried before being cooked again in the delicious gravy.

After the dinner, it was time for action! Much as we were heavy in the middle area, cousin taught us a few Muay Thai moves. For your information (extracted from Wikipedia):

Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is a form of hard martial art practiced in large parts of the world, including Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. The art is similar to others in Southeast Asia such as: pradal serey in Cambodia, lethwei in Myanmar, tomoi in Malaysia, and Lao boxing in Laos. Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand and is the country's national sport. Traditional Muay Thai practiced today varies significantly from the ancient art muay boran and uses kicks and punches in a ring with gloves similar to those used in Western boxing.

Muay Thai is referred to as "The Science of Eight Limbs", as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. A practitioner of Muay Thai ("nak muay") thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight "points of contact," as opposed to "two points" (fists) in Western boxing and "four points" (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts.

Despite coming from a very big extended family, I am closest to my male cousins. Perhaps that is why I had the most unusual preference for toys, attire and other pursuits. Strangely though, I was the tallest of them all er....until they overtook me by the time we reached our teens. I cannot imagine what would have happened if I had continued to tower over them. My childhood was great fun as being taller, I could grab the toy machine gun from Hoy ...Gosh! I remember wrestling on my bed with Hoy and Choon Wern - three of us fighting over THAT gun. Needless to say all of us were punished for our violent tendencies. Incidentally, I stopped growing upwards at the age of nine years old. No kidding! Maybe God knew that I would have terrorised the world if I had turned into an Amazon-like woman :-). Anyway, all my cousins became six-footers before they reached 21. Life is unfair!!!

Last night, I had such a lovely evening with my cousin who lives abroad. After we took him for dinner at yet another of my favorite restaurants Everyday Supreme Restaurant at Red Rock Hotel (where he was afire with the prawn curry and had to drink a glass of cold milk by the time we reached his home), he gave us a session in MMA which stands for Mixed Martial Arts.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions, street fights or for self-defense. The rules allow the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground.

My family has very strong roots in martial arts. Another cousin Robert runs a Shao Lin school in Sausalito, Choon Wern teaches Aikido and Tae-kwa-do here, an aunt and another cousin are Tai Chi exponents, hubby does Qiqong, my boy learnt wushu for three years but gave up because he could not cope with the more advanced classes which were conducted in Mandarin (he has only very basic Mandarin skills), another cousin Tony also teaches martial arts here and in London where one of his disciples has opened a school. But the expert of them all is this cousin who is an exponent in Shao Lin, Weng Chun, Karate, Tae-Kwan-Do and Muay Thai.

I learnt one thing last night.

ONE NEEDS DISCIPLINE, DILIGENCE AND PERSEVERANCE TO BE A GOOD DISCIPLE.

Of course I know discipline is important having being in the education sector for so long but in martial arts, we are talking about training for many, many years!!! My cousin started his Shao Lin classes at the age of five and trained rigorously under Dato' P'ng Chye Khim who has been Chief Instructor of Penang Sao Lim Athletic Association for more than 40 years. I have only been running with him once and I dare not go again LOL!!! When running with him at Botanical Gardens, I was NOT ALLOWED TO STOP AT ALL!!!! And if I did stop and pant over bended knees like a dying cat, his loud voice would roar from before me, "NO STOPPING! RUN NOW!!!" That one and only occasion I ran with him was also the time when I ran two big rounds at Botanical Gardens with only one rest stop! I felt so close to dying from exhaustion and collapsing..And we could only stop when he said so. Man, he is like an exercise machine - fit and strong!

Training to be a martial arts exponent is even more difficult that training to be a musician or a writer or even studying as an undergrad or postgrad student. The demands are high and the risks are even higher. He has broken three ribs, his ankle, his thumb, three teeth and goodness knows how many other injuries. My Weng Chun sifu trains four days a week and goes for physiotherapy for his injuries twice a week!!!

Now I can understand why my cousins had been telling me all this while to send Nick for his training as early as possible. How I wish my boy would continue his wushu training. Anyway, back on track.

Firstly, he asked us to show what we had learnt in our Weng Chun classes. Er...yours truly does not have strong powers of recall so my boy who explained everything (phew - what a relief!!!). Then he proceeded to interview us as to why we were learning a martial arts style and gave us a brief lecture on discpline, philosophy and the necessity of avoiding altercations of any sort and how for me, at my age (HAHA!!!) I should look at martial arts as a form of exercise rather than to dream of being able to defend myself in the face of attack as he said the best thing to do when confronted is to RUN!!!! :-) at least for me.

Next, he explained the different backgrounds of Shao Lin, MuayThai and Weng Chun and how they differ in style, combat, positions and strikes. He is soooooooooooo strong (er can pump 300 to 500 pounds until the bar bends!!) and quick (67 kicks in one minute Muay Thai style).

Then he told us that roundhouse kicks are only for movies for in reality, it merely exposes us to open attack. But I kind of like the swinging motion - stylish haha! So we learnt the middle kick, high kick, the importance of targetting the sternum and chin, the importance of snap and speed etc gosh too much for my feeble brain but my boy loved it while hubby was just astounded with his speed!

After that, it was action time!!!

And it was better than watching Ip Man or Jet Li cos hey man - it was real combat. So he showed us the different moves, attacks, kicks, deflections and how these differ in different situations and how MMA is the best form in self-defense.

Ok. Confession time. The best student was my son ...so cousin and Nick went on training and then when it came to sparring time, he used one hand whereas son used two and boy, it was really fun to watch them cos when Nick was crumbling and he was attacking :-), my boy ran off with my cousin chasing him!!! What a sight to behold!

Well, it tells me one thing, dear reader. I really have to be very serious about my training, my fitness level and commitment. This morning, my hubby gave me very subtle hints about the need to keep fit and said, "You are very committed to your blog, aren't you?"

I cringed. "What do you mean?"

"You spend hours and hours staring at your laptop," he remarked calmly.

In typical Malaysian style, my retort was, "Where got????"

*chuckles*

"Look at the number of posts you put up each day," he replied. "Be committed to workout everyday and get back your fitness level. Then we can resume our hiking and running on weekends."

OK. Boss has spoken. And he walks the talk. The minute he comes home, he changes into his gear and does his qigong religiously! So, in order to keep fit, and to be serious, and to be committed - I am going to put in black and white my routine for this week. If I don't do it, it will be mega disgrace.

Once I post this comment, I am going to workout at home er after I clean my bench and equipment. Serious. Please don't laugh lah!!! It is different when working out at home alone - easier to be undisciplined, lazy and to cheat whereas back at the gym, Reo would say, "Your arms are wrong etc..." I hope I have enough strength left after cleaning everything :(.

Here goes...the plan - whether I stick to it remains to be seen. If I don't post again, you can guess what happened to me!

Warm up - Stretches
Treadmill 20 minutes ( I hope I survive!)
Elevation: Level 3
Target distance : 10 miles @ slow speed 10 minutes and medium 10 minutes
Target : 200 calories

Cool down - Bicycle 10 minutes @ 30kph Target 100 calories

Shoulders : Shrugs 3 x10
Seated dumbbell press 3 x10 per arm
Front raises 2 x10 per arm

Arms : Kickbacks 2 x10 per arm
Alternate bicep curls 2 x 10 per arm
French curl 2 x10 per arm

Weight of dumbbell : 3 kg then 5 kg if I can cope.

Legs : Partial wrestler's bridge 3 x 10 reps
leg lifts 100

Cool down Bicycle 5 minutes

Wish me luck!!! Cheers...

I love Sundays, don't you? Usually, I spend my time on household chores, blogging, reading and napping. Today was a sharp contrast from the normal routine.

After two loads of laundry, sweeping, mopping and blogging three posts, I hurriedly drove at almost breakneck speed to my friend's restaurant Zealand Cafe at Gurney Drive to meet two former students, Kanatcha and Kuan Ju.

I thought it would be the usual reunion with good food, plenty of laughter, photos and reminiscing. Boy oh boy! I was so wrong.

By the time I passed Gurney Plaza, my car started spluttering and when I stepped on the accelerator, the car seemed to slow down. My heart sank. I looked at the fuel gauge and the indicator was way below the E sign!!! By then, I was just in front of Bella Vista Apartments.

Those of you who know me are aware that I have this hangup about filling the petrol tank. I had not gone out of the house for four days as it is school break and since I had been hibernating at home for the past four days, I had absolutely no idea that my tank was that thirsty!

Quick thinking was needed. Do you believe in miracles?

Amazingly, as my car slowed down, I reached an empty parking lot and swerved into the space on free gear!!! Then I called my hubby who was having lunch with my boy. As expected, there was no rebuke from him and he said he would sort it out for me.

Hastily, I walked in the hot sun all the way to Zealand Cafe, met up with the girls, chatted with the suave owner and his lovely wife and ate far too much for my waistline.

In 1995, Kanatcha was my Sociology student and also in my guitar class together with Kuan Ju and Amy Leitch who now resides in New Zealand. Kanatcha who works with Accenture (Singapore) just got married last November and will be be leaving for Australia to begin a new life there. How time flies indeed! The girls could still remember how to play "If" by Bread, one of the many songs that I taught them in the guitar class. At one point, all of us could pluck along exactly like in the original :-)



As I sat there with them, my heart was filled with pride as I looked at the girls - they were roomates in the boarding house for three years and Kuan Ju and Amy were Kanatcha's bridesmaids during her wedding held in Melbourne. Life is beautiful when we have real and longlasting friendships with people whom we love!

By the time I reached home, I rested, read a bit and then it was time for my Wing Chun class which is more than always filled with scolding from my sifu. Today was no exception. In fact, it was worse today as I had not had my classes for a few weeks as sifu was busy.

I will spare you the boring details of the different moves I had to go through which were so tiring and triggered my back pain and sciatic nerve pain, largely because I had to keep the basic triangular centerline position for so long and had to observe balance, posture and be relaxed and not too tensed when I went through the different moves.

I got scolded when I was too tensed as sifu said it would reduce my punching speed and power. So I had to be 'soft' and yet, not too soft/relaxed. My arms are aching terribly for when he hammered my arms with punches I had to deflect the blows much to my horror. And why? That is because today's lesson centred on the Wing Chun punch and the need to deliver my punch centrally from the my chest rather than diagonally from the shoulders. This is in line with the centerline concept. Sifu said that later on, I would have to learn how the punch is delivered diagonally from the shoulder to the centerline.

Initially, I had a gala time dishing out blow after blow on sifu's chest. And then when it was his turn to attack and my turn to resist, it was a nightmare and he pummelled my chest!!!!! Suffice to say I feel like a punctured car tyre, battered and worn out. Needless to say, I screamed and protested etc etc with all the drama but my boy did better. Well, that is not fair because my boy learnt wushu for three years and has a better foundation in footing than I do and also sharper reflexes. After some time sparring and complaining, I asked for time out while my boy continued with the lesson. I comforted myself with the knowledge that if I do succeed in mastering Wing Chun (very remote possibility!!!) , sifu said that I would be able to defeat a stronger person if and when I can use my structure effectively.

I shuddered when sifu said that things will get rougher when he taught us the different kicks. Then he showed us his sparring bruises - swollen sprained thumb, sprained elbow, swollen parts on both legs etc. *sigh* Not an easy martial art form to learn but I must say that it has given me added confidence. So right now, I feel so tired with aches and pains and bruises all over and I am beginning to wonder if I am sane. No matter what, I will not give up but will persevere to learn more!!! I would encourage you to take up a martial arts form because it can do wonders to your life.

Have a lovely evening dear reader and may the rest of the week be filled with precious moments and wonderful achievements!

by Keith Sonnenberg

The study of many subjects can be achieved through reading books. The coordination of mind and body can be achieved through athletics and sports. Compared to martial arts training, both of these pursuits have limitations, however. In this article, I will explain how an individual can learn coordination of mind and body and gain knowledge of how one's own body moves. In addition, movement can be made more efficient through training in Wing Tsun kung-fu! One's confidence can improve as well as the ability to concentrate. In addition, a good bit of basic geometry and basic physics is taught in the bargain, relative to the self defense of one's own body.

The beginner is shown the opening sequences of the basic Wing Tsun form called Siu Nim Tau. Siu Nim Tau has all the elements of Wing Tsun's movements contained within it. It's sheer subtlety and slow movement encourages the student to think simpley and to forget life's concerns. Concepts like "the shortest distance between two points," and "relaxing and breathing low in the abdomen" help in the pursuit of learning to quiet the mind and teach the concepts.

A class, by necessity, is taught in groups but students are guided individually. The principals of the Siu Nim Tau guide the student in future training.

Misconceptions about how to deal with force are addressed. People are different from one another. Some do not have the physical body strength of others. For this reason, superior strength is not dealt with head on. The opposite method from what we are ac- customed to is often used in a self defense encounter. A different mind set is required for this. This mindset is not "standard equip- ment" in today's world. This must be taught. This change in the mind set allows for a different outlook and the "permission" to look at things differently.

This kind of training takes a person out of the mundane world and into a world of principals, concepts and health-enhancing changes, both in the exercise it gives and the different kind of mental exercise it imparts.

For a person whose life is one of over-wrought emotions and confusing choices, Wing Tsun offers unimpeachable logic and intelligence. Wing Tsun is straight forward and unambiguous in its intent - to protect you from harm in an assault. Through this kind of training, one develops courage and self confidence, solutions through logic and a fitness regimen that supports the mental side.

Wing Tsun does not train one to be violent but, instead, train one to be peaceful. Violence arises out of fear and Wing Tsun reduces fear. Once the basics are under control, a student moves on the practice a drill called "chi sau." Chi sau is a superior mind - body exercise. It involves the contacting of two sets of arms, not in a random fashion like I have seen performed by some imitators but based on the arm positions learned earlier. In order to learn self confidense against a real attacker, it is important to face one's attacker. This training takes place in the secure confines of the traing facility and with a friendly partner. Each partner learns to use a subtle forward energy to "cling arms." In a rolling motion based on three of Wing Tsun's deflecting arm positions, the students learn to deflect, dissolve or evade an attacker's energy. After sufficient training in each level of chi sau, the student learns to put into practice what they have learned in a more realistic way. Chi sau principals are applied in a drill call "lat sau" which separates the combatants so a student gest to experience the different possible ranges that can occur in a real encounter. Highly accurate straight line strikes, punches and low kicks are used in the most efficient manner possible in mock fights. Applying Wing Tsun's concepts exemplified in its 3 forms and chi sau practice is the highest physical and mental test of skill. Competition does not exist in Wing Tsun except with onesself.

To reach the first of 12 student grades usually takes about 5 months. To reach the first full instructor lvel (Primary Level Technician)can take 5 years. Once a person experinces Wing Tsun's learning environment and its valuable life principals, the time it takes is not the most important thing anymore.


Author's Bio
Mr. Keith Sonnenberg has been teaching and studying martial arts for over 33 years. He began the practice and study of Wing Tsun in 1980 under the tutelage of the Grand Master, Professor Leung Ting. At this time, he became the first American student of the Grand Master and appears in his book, "Dynamic Wing Tsun Kung-Fu." Currently he teaches Wing Tsun at the Scottsdale Martial Arts Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Web site: www.wingtsunaz.com He can be reached at the e-mail address: sifusonnenberg@wingtsunaz.com

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This is the fourth post I am posting in my blog in Wing Chun. The articles are over here.

-by Adam Willis-

Bear with me for just a bit while I try to get you to consider a new way of looking at Wing Chun - an art that many consider to be old or classical. However, I hold firm that Wing Chun is anything but classical.

Please understand that there will be many of those that will disagree with what I'm about to state. In fact, many may rather me just keep my thoughts to myself. To these people. I offer no apologies.

Who will be able to give this short article a chance? Only those that can be open-minded enough to let go of their pre-concieved notions, if even for a short time. This article is targeted at those that won't allow themselves to be bound by confining limits. Whether those limits stem from noble purposes or not, isn't relevant. Just let go for just a minute and consider my take on Wing Chun - something that may help you to look at Wing Chun in a new light.

First and foremost, don't think of Wing Chun as a style. Think of Wing Chun as a concept-based process of efficiency and simplification. It really is limitless. Think of Wing Chun as a guide that takes you through a never-ending pursuit of an ideal. Its a process of learning how to move your body scientifically while adhering to certain guiding principles.

Secondly, forget about the idea of Wing Chun techniques. Recognizable techniques define other martial arts. Recognizable techniques aren't what defines Wing Chun. Wing Chun is its concepts and principles. In Wing Chun, unlike other martial arts, concepts are the reason behind its movements. Trying to define Wing Chun to techniques (as most styles define a martial art) limits the very essence of what Wing Chun attempts to free you from.

Next, Wing Chun can look like anything. Do away with what your idea of what Wing Chun should look like. Concepts are what defines Wing Chun. It doesn't need to be bound by a predefined shape. Like techniques, set forms and shapes define other martial arts, not Wing Chun. Founded on principles from taoist philosophy, Wing Chun's elusive nature reveals itself in many ways.

What's more, there are no traditional blocks in Wing Chun. Defensive movements usually aren't seen. The best defense in Wing Chun is offense. Wing Chun strikes flow through subtle defensive positions on their way to an attack. Movements move forward intercepting an opponent's energy and then deflect it while on the way to a strike.

Simply free your mind from any fixed ideas of Wing Chun. The entire idea of Wing Chun is much more elusive and undefinable. It takes more of an esoteric philosophical approach to training founded in taoist philosophical thought.

Yet Wing Chun does have a general strategy. Wing Chun practioners are generally pressure fighters. Wing Chun believes in moving forward at every chance, sticking to an opponent, seeking the opponent's center while simultaneously attacking and defending. Believing that offense is the best defense, a Wing Chun practioner aims at putting the opponent on the defensive. The strategy holds to the belief that if your opponent is too busy defending, they won't have time to attack.

Hopefully this article has given you a new take on an art that seems to constantly be labeled and filed under the wrong place. If nothing else, I hope you've been able to see how elusive an art like Wing Chun can be to define.

Author's Bio
Adam Williss has made it his mission to empower individuals and help them get access to the same simple and effective self-defense concepts used by world-reknowned experts. He delivers on his mission as the editor behind Wing Chun Magazine and as the owner of Adam Williss Martial Arts San Clemente, which provides highly functional close-quarters self-defense concepts for everyone - from everyday people to the most experienced martial artists.

Adam Williss has educated, empowered and entertained individuals through his seminars, websites, articles, publications and speaking engagements. An educator and speaker to groups ranging from employees of large corporations to military and law enforcement agencies, Adam and his work has been featured in several publications both online and in print. As an executive self-defense trainer, he has trained numerous professionals, corporate executives and high-profile VIPs.

Adam serves in top positions of several associations such as President of the California Wing Chun Association and as a Director and State Representative of California for the World Ving Tsun Athletic Association. He was approved for induction in the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, is an Associate Member of the International Kung Fu Federation, member of the International Combat Martial Arts Unions Association, the United States Kuo Shu Federation, Wing Chun Kung-Fu Association, Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association, National Qigong Association and many more.

-by Adam Willis-

Wing Chun is a highly effective combat-tested system of self defense, fighting skills and defensive tactics. It has been taught and integrated into the training programs of hundreds of military & law enforcement agencies around the world such as the US Navy Seals, the FBI, CIA, the French RAID, German SEK units.

Wing Chun is generally regarded as one of the most efficient close combat self defense systems. It emphasizes aggressive tactics, direct/scientific movement and realistic training.

The art produces efficient fighters in a shorter amount of time than most other systems. By keeping to several core concepts and paying strict attention to positioning, Wing Chun teaches how to make your body move scientifically. Extensive training is invested in cultivating "listening skills" or contact reflexes. The student practices guarding zones around the body and handles whatever is contacted or touched in that zone. This allows for minimum movement for maximum application, as well as the use of an automatic or subconscious response.

What's more - Wing Chun goes beyond fighting. It encompasses the full mind, body & spirit of martial arts. Wing Chun can easily influence every aspect of your life. The concepts and philosophies found through Wing Chun training bring about a new way of looking at life's challenges. They help you to deal with situations in whole new way - things you don't usually find in other activities.

Author's Bio
Adam Williss has made it his mission to empower individuals and help them get access to the same simple and effective self-defense concepts used by world-reknowned experts. He delivers on his mission as the editor behind Wing Chun Magazine (wingchunmagazine.com) and as the owner of Adam Williss Martial Arts (adamwilliss.com), which provides highly functional close-quarters self-defense concepts for everyone - from everyday people to the most experienced martial artists.

Adam Williss has educated, empowered and entertained individuals through his seminars, websites, articles, publications and speaking engagements. An educator and speaker to groups ranging from employees of large corporations to military and law enforcement agencies, Adam and his work has been featured in several publications both online and in print. As an executive self-defense trainer, he has trained numerous professionals, corporate executives and high-profile VIPs.

Adam serves in top positions of several associations such as President of the California Wing Chun Association and as a Director and State Representative of California for the World Ving Tsun Athletic Association. He was approved for induction in the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, is an Associate Member of the International Kung Fu Federation, member of the International Combat Martial Arts Unions Association, the United States Kuo Shu Federation, Wing Chun Kung-Fu Association, Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association, National Qigong Association and many more.