Feedback from Graham

After some months of questioning and reflecting on the true nature of internal martial arts I was recently, along with a number of Master 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 Master Waller 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 Master Waller 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 Master Waller 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 Master Waller’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  Master Waller I feel about as effective as an old lady throwing marshmallows.

 Master Waller is constantly stressing relaxation. As I was reflecting on this it occurred to me that watching Master Waller 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 Master Waller 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 Master Waller 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 Master Waller 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 Master Waller  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 Master Waller’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)

Bagua: designed by a schizophrenic?

Bagua is a weird form of kung fu; it is so sneaky and evasive. I first saw Hubby doing it at bootcamp in 2007. He started learning it from Peter Southwood in 1990 and received 20 years training in the art from his teacher. Baguazhang looks very spontaneous to watch and is unpredictable.

I've learned the first 6 palm changes at a crude level and really feel the paranoid strategy of bagua. You are constantly turning unexpectedly, checking behind you, changing direction erratically. It was invented by an Imperial Guard, a bodyguard and is famous for its effectiveness. My theory is that it was created by a paranoid schizophrenic!

Hubby trains the palm changes for 30-60 minutes every day. I manage 15-20 mins myself most days and try to do 30 mins at the weekend. It is firming up my legs!

Why my Hubby can't watch martial arts movies...

Having watched Chuck for 2 seasons now, I can see quite clearly why my Hubby can't watch martial arts action scenes. They make me cringe, and I have no comprehension of Hubby's skill.

Real life self defence is nothing like what goes on in the movies and nothing like I learned in Taekwondo when I passed my black belt. The real thing is very sudden, small, decisive and scary.

There's no fighting as such in what Hubby teaches. The attacker begins to move and suddenly its over. I guess this doesn't look so great on film.

Master/apprentice

My husband occasionally sends out e-mails encouraging students to study harder, explore the tai chi more extensively, read the website and train between lessons. Typically, no one replies.

Hubby is always puzzled why few students really engage with the art and why nobody replies to his e-mails. The answer here is actually quite simple. He's right, and so there is nothing to reply to.

We have succeeded in finding a superior tai chi instructor. Sadly, we are not ourselves superior tai chi students.

Grading...

Made some good progress with my tai chi grading last night... Got about 12 items ticked off. Some really tough bits still to go. If I pass next year, I'll get a brown belt!

Higher expectations from Hubby at that point...