Secrets of Kung Fu Practice
Martial artists, accustomed to mental and physical discipline, understand the open secret to technical mastery is relentless repetition. Thousands of punches, round kicks to the bag, form and sparring practice. Drill, drill, drill.
Practice makes perfect. Of course. Yet, kung fu masters had unique ways to practice. While riding in a cab in bustling Taipei, along with my teacher, famous throughout Taiwan, Sifu Li Min-ching, I observed him almost unnoticeably pushing his palms repeatedly into the seat cushion.
“Practice,” he explained, “is not reserved for class.” Special practice refers to exercises and natural motions done throughout the day at odd moments that augment training. Remember the Karate Kid’s “wax on, wax off”?
Relentless practice during or between our daily activities creates muscle memory and skill. For example, while brushing your teeth you can stand tip toe for balance. While watching television work on reflex exercises to hone your reactions (see our Reflex video). Suddenly tense your stomach or clench your fist throughout the day. To perfect your kicking mechanics, aim slow motion kicks to doorknobs without touching.
Analyze your techniques and creatively design your own special practice exercises to enhance speed, balance, flexibility, reflexes. Of course, be discreet: practice away from onlookers who may misconstrue your motions.
The Evolving Martial Artist stays on the edge with the understanding that life is the classroom. Keep practicing!
Lawrence Tan
Watch our Reflex #1 & #2 videos http://www.tandao.com/videos/
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This is very good post. I have to say I was quite impressed. I wonder why many people miss that thing that to achieve a skill, to master anything you have to live with it, breathe with it, eat it and think about it all the time finding what works and what not and it takes years before you come to even 10 fundamental ways to practice that art (whether Kung-Fu or whether computer programming).
The content your have written in the post shows your fundamental understanding of this art. Very few have this quality.
One thing I never understood is: how can I draw the line between when something is getting more intellectual and less practical or vice-versa. Perhaps you can shed some light.
You are asking the essential question regarding the mind body relationship and that intricate balance each of us seek in integrating ourselves. The intellect understands but the body is not skilled enough to express the theories. On the other extreme, the body is skilled but the mind does not understand the subtle strategies to elevate the skill to another level. In terms of practical combat, keep your techniques simple and basic. Discover core techniques and master them. Less is more.
Ultimately your body has to express itself naturally and spontaneously. The intuitive mind is the bridge between intellect and instinct.