After some months of questioning and reflecting on the true nature of internal martial arts I was recently, along with a number of Sifu Waller’s students, given an energetic and skilful introduction to the world of baguazhang. My first reaction was it’s everything I thought it would be, and clearly so much more.
To be on the receiving end of an application of bagua from Sifu is to be permanently cured of any lingering doubts as to its effectiveness as a profound martial skill. I certainly harboured those doubts coming as I do from a background of predominantly external martial arts. (Where’s the flamboyant stances, where’s the crack of the gi as you snap out a gyakuzuki???) But as I gingerly picked myself up off the floor after a particularly enlightening application from Sifu those doubts have died away like the echo of a scream from someone on the receiving end of ‘cavity press.’
As a general rule when Sifu remarks ‘Hey, this will make you laugh!’ I have come to understand a particularly vigorous application is approaching! It is in these applications that I am beginning to recognise firstly the skill and depth of Sifu’s learning, and secondly how my own learning skills and experience are woefully inadequate to the task of learning bagua and tai chi.
It’s certainly sobering when after all those years of training, facing Sifu I feel about as effective as an old lady throwing marshmallows.
Sifu is constantly stressing relaxation. As I was reflecting on this it occurred to me that watching Sifu perform bagua is for me like trying to read a book without my reading glasses. Once I learn to relax everything will become a little clearer.
I feel very grateful to Sifu for an introduction to a form of martial arts that as I understand it is not that widely available to western students in its authentic form. And, as Sifu recently pointed out bagua is part of the black belt syllabus, I feel he has generously presented us with a wonderful opportunity.
It is also I suspect in my own case something of a double-edged sword. As part of the Mc generation I am as guilty as anyone of wanting everything now, and being very demanding in terms of my own needs, of looking straight to the highest teaching and grasping after it. It’s interesting to reflect after the introduction that this is clearly the opposite approach that is required by a martial art like bagua, and then it follows that an introduction to bagua at this time may simply be utterly beyond our capabilities. As Adam Hsu says in his book, The Sword Polishers Record, ‘kung fu literally means time and hard work, there are no shortcuts.’
Certainly bagua cannot be seen, as perhaps it could be argued some other aspects of martial arts are, as simply another medal to pin on the chest of ego.
For those of us who’ve been involved in martial arts for some time, and have some experience of Chinese arts and teachers, I feel we can be confident that with Sifu we have stumbled upon a treasure trove of authentic Chinese martial arts. It’s tremendously exciting as the lineage and history is abundantly clear in his approach. It struck me, the first time I saw Sifu demonstrate it, that 5000 years of Chinese culture and history is somehow woven into the lethal beauty of bagua.
Having reconciled myself many years ago to an understanding that I have no flair for Chinese martial arts, in fact I am hopelessly inadequate and uncoordinated, I must confess to feeling a little intimidated by the skill required to approach tai chi and bagua. A friend, an excellent choi lee fut practitioner, once remarked as I struggled through a set from shaolin long fist that ‘ you look like my father disco dancing at my wedding.’ I can’t help feeling that Sifu’s generosity and skill may be utterly wasted on me and I should put all my energy in learning to be an expert at falling well! Right now that would be a profound achievement.
(Graham)
