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Simon
Lau Centre - Media FAQ |
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How does one
become a good Wing Chun Artist? |
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This cannot be achieved
unless we are at a total concentration and self-awareness
state, without it our energy is all over the place and
cannot be focussed to strike or block he do ,hey do ie:
When energy arises implies that strength arises). |
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Understanding balance
(strong and firm stance): A very important principle, if
not one of the most important, since turning and moving
forward is needed a good balance has to be achieved. So
grounding yourself at all time during the confrontation is
a necessity. |
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In Chi Sao producing round
energy: makes it difficult for the opponent to get through
also it produces powerful burst of energy. |
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While training you should
always take your opponent seriously and perform at your
best every time, |
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Also in martial arts, there
is no compromise and one's ability has to be at its most,
to the best of its condition. |
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Learn how to
learn? |
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I trained in Chinese
philosophy, how has this enhanced your martial art
training & later on your teaching? |
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Chinese
Medicine philosophy:- |
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One of the strongest point
of Chinese medicine, and one which make it truly
universal, is its simplicity. For example, the cause of
disease (climate, emotions, diet, and so on) are so basic
that they can apply to any society and any time. Anger,
sadness, grief, worry are such basic human feelings that
they are certainly cross-cultural. Together with the
theory Yin-Yang, the theory of the 5 Elements constitutes
the basis of Chinese medicine theory. It is the basic
method for “nourishing life and longevity” and “staying
away from illness and prolonging life”. |
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Because the knowledge of
traditional Chinese Medicine which I have been perceived
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I can able to teach the
concept of physical health, emotional health, mental
health, and spiritual health. I am able to guide them into
the Path, but the journey they have to experience and
cultivate by themselves. So that we can both understand
deeper level of: communication, acceptance, respect and
empathy. |
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Qigong,
Spiritual, Martial arts philosophy |
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I trained in Chinese
philosophy, how has this enhanced your martial art
training & later on your teaching? |
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Qigong
philosophy:- |
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Chi means no fire. What is
meant by fire? Sexual desire, lust-filled hate, delusion
thoughts, attractions restless are connoted by fire. In
the absence of this rapidly burning and all consuming fire
one would be filled with vitality. In Qigong, fire that is
moving restlessly is called “secondary fire”, whereas fire
in the correct position and proper condition is known as
ruling fire when one has ruling fire and is full of
potential energy, the latent Chi can then be induced. |
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Spiritual
philosophy:- |
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Living in our bustling,
intense, turbulent, and chaotic contemporary society, we
need to find something that can set our impetuous minds at
ease to be able to free us from anxiety and misgivings, as
well as exert a calming effect wisdom, humour and
affection. It can prevent the formation of wishful and
vexing thoughts one will not be bothered by unkind words,
awkward behaviour or painful memories of the past. |
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Martial
arts philosophy:- |
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Throughout history the Asian
martial arts have been deeply involved in the religions
and philosophical system of the East. Both the theory and
the techniques of many fighting systems have been
developed in harmony with the moral philosophies of their
masters. |
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Different
Society? |
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On the physical level, Wing
Chun contains through and carefully planned system for
exercising the body and thus maintaining health and
vitality. The movements are simple and easy to learn but
require performed rapidly and with force, and often in
opposition to a fellow trainee. Because of this, students
become disciplined and aware of the need not to be hurt or
to hurt others. The aggressive urges that have brought the
student to the training all are some controlled and guided
into constructive activity by mater. Under his guidance,
the student’s confidence grows and fear of others recedes.
At the same time an awareness of physical being, of the
body'’ shape, size and potential ability is born. |
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As years pass, this physical
awareness is heightened and refined. A mechanical
understanding of the principles of human movement and
activity is instilled. By learning how to apply leverage,
as well as how to strike, defend or counter-attack, the
student becomes absorbed in anatomy, in the structure and
functions of the bones, tendons and muscles. Accidents
often happen in training hall, and when they do, master
must know how to heal the damage caused. This knowledge is
in turn absorbed by the students, he or she is revealing
to them a highly sophisticated understanding of the
circulation of the blood, the nervous system and the
special life-force system encoded in the core of vital
points. For those people who have followed the path of the
martial arts are also versed in the ways of medicine and
healing. Chinese masters were practising doctors as well
as martial artist. Throughout history martial masters have
shown themselves to be thinkers and believers, committed
moral beings as well as fighters and healers. And the
techniques of Wing Chun fighting systems have been
developed in harmony with moral philosophies of the
master. The great richness fighting systems. It is
impossible to deny the immense contribution they have made
to the civilisation of the East. It is why lamentable the
most of the West know and understand so little about them. |
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What are the
main principles and aims of training in Wing Chun and what
is the ultimate goal in Wing Chun? |
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I think Wing Chun is useful
to popularise among young people. However, Wing Chun is
deep, the purpose is not to beat someone or to win an
argument. My purpose is to correctly learn and transmit to
future generations the correct techniques and the system
that have been passed down through history. And, of
course, to train myself both mentally and physically. The
idea is not to get into a situation where you have to use
Wing Chun. I try to avoid such situations by any means.
However, if I am attacked, I have no choice but to defend
myself. The system of Wing Chun is defence and that is why
in Wing Chun Forms begins with a defensive move. The
philosophy of Wing Chun system in history never make the
first move, or that in Wing Chun there is no first attack. |
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Wing Chun is my subject of
study. I challenge Wing Chun by practising everyday. I
attempt to grasp something from it through both the mind
and the body. With the partners, it is easy to move
because I adapt so the movements of my opponent. In Wing
Chun system is only space. You and space there is no
opponent, nothing to confront. I imagine and aim for my
opponent when I practice. I set a goal of repetitions.
Sometime half way I tire and begin to lost concentration
then I force myself to do some more. It is through this
accumulated boiling effort that I learn and train myself.
If I want to overcome others, I must first overcome
myself, and their means overcoming my own weaknesses, my
own physical, spiritual and mental weaknesses. |
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What makes a
good instructor and a good student? |
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Instructors can not teach
martial arts in order to intimate others. Thus, one
becomes more humble. Teachers who teach martial arts must
be sure that their opponents are always of the same
calibre as themselves so they must be careful not to fight
all the time. |
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Teachers should be called
teachers or sifu in Chinese, should not been named
coaches. There is no longer respect on the pupil’s side
towards the teacher because students think that since fee
have been paid, teachers are obliged to provide that much
money’s worth of teaching. This attitude makes it
impossible for the teacher to teach the pupil’s the
essence of the art. Wing Chun system is very difficult to
master and no one can teach others if he or she is not an
expert. |
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Instructor should be
dedicated, they should inspire, encourage, and motivate
student to practice sessions solidly. Students should
practised with great discipline in a structured system, so
standards are consistent and they should conduct
themselves in an orderly manner, and act in a respectful
manner. |
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How is
“energy or “chi” used in Wing Chun? |
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First of all, without Chi,
man can not survive. But Chi is best derived from a sound
body, and it must emanate from Tan Tien. In Kung Fu, it is
necessary to build up the internal power of Chi, the basis
of energy. However, Chi is not exactly the same thing as
breath. For example, Chi also helps promote blood
circulation. When blood is circulating fully and strongly,
muscles may be utilised to their maximum degree of
strength. Anger scatters Chi and causes disorder in the
body’s system, reducing available physical energy. Anger
does not win fights, it helps the opponent. The purpose of
Chi is to preserve energy, not to sustain heavy blows on
the body. Correct movement of Chi follows the natural
patterns of energy flow and blood circulation throughout
the body. |
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In fighting, it is first
necessary to feel out the opponent’s movements, which can
be done only through soft, slow movements. In Wing Chun
all our movements are determined as reflexive response to
our opponent’s movements. Thus sensitivity (Chi Sau) is
extremely important, the sensitivity can be cultivated
only through soft, slow motions. (Like the First Form). |
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What is the
most difficult thing your students find to learn or
cultivate while learning Wing Chun? |
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Some learn Wing Chun because
they felt themselves to be frail, unhealthy or physically
weak. Others practice because they enjoy the exercise,
challenge and excitement of training. Some start training
because they are aggressive. (aggression is based on fear,
they are frightened inside). Being aggression in manner
and speech toward people without the fighting ability. But
they do not have spirit of determination. They have no
intentions of learning and their attitudes are causal in
any way. Therefore it is extremely difficult for them to
achieve body, mind, and intention as one. They must learn
not to think about what their opponent is doing and relax,
but remain alert and aware. Techniques come automatically
which they have been practice the movements so many times,
like breathing. They should become an instant reflex in a
situation. |
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They found very hard to
understand fundamental essence in Wing Chun. In Wing Chun
every simple technique and movement has its correct
position, strength and purpose. Otherwise it is nothing
more than just movement and technique, there will be no
purpose and no result and effect. |
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Has Wing
Chun got a strong moral culture as it’s foundation & how
you think Wing Chun can benefit society as a whole? |
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Before anyone takes up
martial arts as a sport, art or even as a way of exercise,
there is always a reason for doing so and also expected
benefits to be gains. |
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Martial arts in the form
Wing Chun as taught by master Simon Lau has a lot of
benefit to offer society. |
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These benefits can be
categorised as following:- |
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Moral, Social, Cultural,
Spiritual. |
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Within the society at
present there is a general of lack self discipline and
affection. No one can deny the current trend of events
particularly among unruly teenagers. There is the attitude
of not accepting responsibility for ones actions, oneself
or others. Personal problems and situation are generally
blames on others. This leads to isolation, loneliness and
indifference. |
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It is at this point that
anger and hate are built up and the individual becomes
closed in, morally bankrupt, socially disabled, culturally
ignorant and spiritually unaware. Most if not all the
problems can be traced back to the mental attitude, which
effectively determines how situations are handled. |
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Master Simon Lau’s Wing Chun
teaching is effective in helping to create a more positive
mental attitude which will has the effect of aiding in
character development. The benefit as laid out below allow
the student to experience a journey of self-discovery and
awareness where true potentials are discovered in order
area of their lives. |
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Training
external discipline shows improved benefit in the
following areas:- |
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Ability to focus, improved
confidence level, ability to co-operate. |
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Internal
discipline show improves benefit in the following areas:- |
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Self awareness, Harmonious,
Peace of mind, Fulfilment, Self control, Self value, Self
worth. |
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Having
studied Chinese philosophy and having mastered Wing Chun,
what spiritual elements have you brought to your teaching? |
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Ethics is general is
concerned with question of what is right and good, that is
virtuous but virtue depends on one’s philosophical
perspective. What would be considered virtuous in one
system might not be in another. |
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Individual of the society
base on individual’s desire. Ethics involves figuring out
what you desire then acting to get it. They never ask
whether what a person wants is bad or good in some
abstract sense. It only considered how best to get what a
person desires. The question is not whether I want a new
Rolls Royce, but whether I can get a car, still take a
holiday, and pay my therapist. This picture does no more
than calculate, in fact, if I could get everything I
wanted I would not even have to calculate. I calculate,
then, how I can get most of what I want or perhaps what I
want most. Spiritual evolution assumes there is a basis
for judging whether human desires are good or bad,
virtuous or vicious. |
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Learning is an active
process. We learn by doing then you are convicted to be
someone and something that you are afraid of, but you have
to keep doing and expressing something which makes you
afraid of to improve your self confidence, self awareness,
self esteem, and self improvement. |
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Wing
Chun