A site honoring the teachings of Kuo Lien Ying and the magical time that we were able to learn from Si Fu
Through this specific process the “internal” principle was being expressed through the “external” movement and what was once seemingly “hard” now I could see as the truly highest expression of the technique and ultimately “soft”. It was this classical and painstakingly traditional method that brought to light the true “Tao of Training” and the deeper understanding that the “internal” principles illustrated.
Traditionally, in our system , three sets were taught that expressed the full range of theory going from “hard” to “soft” or external to internal . Master Kuo began with the teaching of the 1st. set which was the foundation of our training called “Tan Tui” , then expanded with the variation of direction and taught the 2nd. set called “Cha Chuan” and finally , he taught the form expressing the most “internal” aspects of Northern Shao-Lin through the “soft”, springy and flowing movements of the 3rd. set , “Ehr Lang Men ”
Additionally, true to the original spirit of Shao-Lin Gung fu and the classical methods of training , the importance of “standing meditation”[the Universal Post] was stressed throughout our training to balance out the physical or “external” aspect of our daily practice. On certain days Master Kuo would personally conduct Shao-Lin “drills”, where a set would be broken down and each individual posture would be held so that he could correct each students structure and balance. During the training of these drills Master Kuo particularly emphasized the practice of “standing meditation” and would make a point of inserting periods of meditation after every Shao-Lin set to focus our minds inward, activating the “Spirit”, cultivating the “Chi” and restoring the balance of “internal” energy
Fortunately there are a few of my fellow Gung fu brothers and sisters that were also traditionally trained by Master Kuo and are keeping the “classical” methods alive by teaching Shao-Lin Gung fu to their students with the same original spirit and sharing the ‘Internal” benefits that the true “Tao of Training” can achieve.