Zhan Zhuang as Fight Training
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 9:58 pm
Hey everyone. I've been experimenting with various training methodologies lately, and especially been getting further into Zhan Zhuang practice. I read an article recently that had me thinking. This is the beginning of the article:
"In 1939, Wang Xiangzhai issued a public challenge through a Beijing newspaper. His objective: to test and prove the new martial arts training system of Yiquan, a system that placed standing meditation (zhan zhuang) at its core.
Expert fighters from across China, Japan and even Europe traveled to answer Wang’s challenge. None could beat him or his senior students. His standing meditation training produced superior results in a shorter time period, when compared to methods used in boxing, Judo, and other styles of Kung Fu.
Considering the proven value of standing meditation, surprisingly few people undertake the practice today. Why is this? As Wang himself noted, the exercise is plagued by logical contradictions. Understandably, but unfortunately, martial artists reject the exercise because it cannot possibly work."
My question is, how effective IS zhan zhuang for fight training? I have a former instructor Hsing-I & Bagua who had told me that the best he had ever done in full-contact matches was when he concentrated almost solely on zhan zhuang (specifically 4 posts and San Ti) for a couple of months prior to fighting.
So, if a person is already fairly well trained in fighting (in this instance I'm referring to fighting in a competetive match), how well can almost exclusive training in zhan zhuang prepare him (or her) for their fight?
"In 1939, Wang Xiangzhai issued a public challenge through a Beijing newspaper. His objective: to test and prove the new martial arts training system of Yiquan, a system that placed standing meditation (zhan zhuang) at its core.
Expert fighters from across China, Japan and even Europe traveled to answer Wang’s challenge. None could beat him or his senior students. His standing meditation training produced superior results in a shorter time period, when compared to methods used in boxing, Judo, and other styles of Kung Fu.
Considering the proven value of standing meditation, surprisingly few people undertake the practice today. Why is this? As Wang himself noted, the exercise is plagued by logical contradictions. Understandably, but unfortunately, martial artists reject the exercise because it cannot possibly work."
My question is, how effective IS zhan zhuang for fight training? I have a former instructor Hsing-I & Bagua who had told me that the best he had ever done in full-contact matches was when he concentrated almost solely on zhan zhuang (specifically 4 posts and San Ti) for a couple of months prior to fighting.
So, if a person is already fairly well trained in fighting (in this instance I'm referring to fighting in a competetive match), how well can almost exclusive training in zhan zhuang prepare him (or her) for their fight?