The three stages of excellence in traditional training

[jonathan.bluestein]

A short article by the Taiping Institute, posted on facebook. I liked their take on the subject.

https://www.facebook.com/taipinginstitu ... =1&theater

The 3 Stages of Excellence

Whilst the macro motions or movements the body can make is limited, the micro tells a very different story. After over 30 years in the traditional martial arts having the fortune of learning from, exchanging and observing many practitioners/masters across China and Asia Pacific, one of the most substantial concept differentiating systems is that of power generation. In most cases people develop a single dominant power generation method even if they represent many different systems.

Over 20 years ago, my teacher at the time explained this as the achievement of three levels :
1. Can co-ordinate the body able to undertake all movements and have physical (macro) power (also can mimick movements of others at ease by observation)
2. Able to generate the systems specific micro powers (incl. subset powers) and and able successfully naturally apply through combat
3. The ability to alter power generation methods and absorb from others their mechanisms relatively easily in any scenario.

He explained that in most cases many people can spend a lifetime in just trying to achieve primary level (1). This of course transcends into combat for if the principles are not absorbed the natural reaction would remain with the associated power generation level as well.

This also explains the reasoning behind mastering a single system first before experimenting for if you jump around to early it is likely that you become stuck at the primary (1) only. However likewise absorbing other arts on the basis of your single system means that you have never really absorbed another martial art but only added some techniques within your single system. It is common to see masters of various arts that are stuck at level 2 unable to empty the cup or re-train the body to achieve real absorption of other martial arts.

Very few practitioners are able to achieve the tertiary (3) level even those most famous or well renowned. Even today as I still travel to learn and exchange it seems quickly obvious the root or base system of the practitioners or masters accordingly.

For the Taiping Institute, we try ultimately to maintain the purity of power principles, introduce variations early and by focusing on specialization coupled with progressive other/secondary art development this will hopefully result in a better chance of obtaining comprehensive skills and abilities but a difficult journey it is…..but like all challenges it makes life all more worthwhile.

Taiping.

[Miro]

Good description. Forgive me for another take:
1. Ability to feel the (houtian = human) qi, internal organs, jingluo (meridians), including ability to see the qi.
2. Ability to activate organs and jingluo and move the qi in them (including for example switching among lung, pericard and heart meridians on inner side of arms so that qi goes through inner side of the arms by different routes and into different fingers: thumb, middle finger and pinky etc.).
3. Ability to feel and actively work with xiantian (not human) qi.

[GrandUltimate]

Interesting article. Reminds me of a conversation I once had with my sigong. I asked if he still trained the systems that he completed in the past that he doesn't teach publicly. He said he didn't need to because everything he learned in other arts he could now train and express through his "primary" arts. Must be a cool feeling! About a year ago I started cross training in Muay Thai and BJJ, though with more emphasis on the latter. Transferring Kung Fu to Muay Thai was fun, though scary as well. But when it came to grappling, I felt like a newborn baby. I could barely transfer anything correctly(though I think I'm getting better)! The experience really put me in my place by showing how I ultimately understood so little about how to use my body naturally and efficiently.

[Strange]

if you need to " achieve" "Level 1", i think it's best just to move on and do something else.
ime (as in, i saw with my own eyes), it's never gonna happen.

[Avenger]

I agree with those premises . I wonder about systems like JKD that like to just copy external movements from other styles, systems with no basic foundation will never see these levels.

[KEND]

Interesting but not too specific on details
The three internal levels: basic, using internal muscles to create external forces, middle: internal muscles synchronized and completely integrated so only intent is required, advanced: no mind, body automatically responds to external forces, neutralizing and counterattacking. In internal there are three distinct methods, Hsing yi bridge, sense force, counter by use of five element vectors, strike using combinations of five element shock power TCC, bridge, stick, follow to nullify incoming power, strike using shock wave generated in lower tian, Bagua: Bridge, nullify incoming power by stepping, unbalance opponent by rapid change of force vector at point of contact, strike using internal expansion.
I have found that five element power can be applied and integrated into to other MA's, Shaolin, JKD, WC, Southern Mantis, Kali etc,
Re 'chi', internal cultivation is necessary to achieve levels above basic but the method differs from that used for cultivating external projected energy and has little to do with meridians

[Avenger]

Kent, good description of the sequence of events that take place.

Thumbs Up