The lecture this time was about the various reasons people train martial arts. In Sigong’s experience, people come to learn how to fight, or because of ego or to be a hero, or because they are attracted to the beautiful movement — but Sigong stressed that the right reasons to study are actually self defence and helping others, health, discipline, the philosophy, beautiful movement, and to be a better person. Sigong has often said in the past that when you do something, you should know why you are doing it, and so I’m sure this got most of us thinking about our personal reasons for studying.
One reason people want to study which Sigong did not mention, but which I have come across when talking to several people, is this feeling that something is missing or not right in your life. Such people come along looking for something, but they themselves are not sure what it is. I don’t think I am quite one of these people, but I was definitely looking for the chance to do something different and challenging. One piece of advice my father gave me many years ago was not to only do things which I find easy, but to do something which makes me struggle — and I am sure from the hours of watching me not ‘get’ things which should be straightforward, my Sifu will definitely agree that I do not find studying with the centre easy!
As challenges go, the whip form is definitely supplying them, but they are fun challenges and after the lecture I was excited to get into them. In the breakout rooms we were examining how the timing with the whip is crucial, especially when turning 180º with it under the armpit or by catching it on the upper arm. If your sensitivity is good and you can feel where the whip is in its swing, then you can catch the timing just right so that the momentum of the whip tells you when to turn your body, so that you can carry on smoothly and not break the flow. We were talking about how this is actually the same in staff and tassel sword forms, but in those forms it is easier to fudge this and carry on movement using brute force to keep the staff moving or to override the tassel. The whip is completely unforgiving in this regard, if you don’t catch it then the flow breaks and it either hits you or drops to the floor or fails in some other way. It just goes to show, every new skill reinforces the others.
Being in a public square I got quite a bit of interest because people have not seen anything like the whip before, especially the training whip which looks quite odd. More than one person came over to ask me about what I was doing and some people wondered whether I was part of a circus!
Having the shape of the earlier parts allows for us to examine the detail a bit more, and some good questions about the stepping just before we change to the left hand for the first time helped me see that each of the three steps is in combination with something else. It’s not just turn around and walk three steps like at the beginning of the form — If I saw correctly, the first left foot follows the momentum of the turn, the right foot is then together with changing to the left hand, and the third step with the left foot is to catch the whip under the left arm and turn the body. Another one of these challenges I enjoy so much, but much more interesting and beautiful to play the body and whip at the same time.
The final challenge of the day was the new part — so far we’ve mostly been keeping the momentum of the whip going as we move the body in various ways, so it was interesting to catch and reverse the momentum of the whip from the position we finished in last time to do the new direction circles in front and behind.
What a great form and a great seminar series. Thanks so much Sigong for giving us so much to think about!
by Lee Baylis
Student Comments
I enjoyed continuing the 9 section whip today. The moves from the previous sections get easier every time but of course we are then immediately presented with new challenges! Thank you, Sigong. Best, Tom Hogg
Another enjoyable Nine Section Whip seminar. Handling the whip seems to be getting easier with practice. The new bit is a bit tricky. Looking forward to next time. Thank you Sigong. Peter Hogg
I enjoyed the lecture on the reasons for studying martial arts.
Nice new movement with the reverse grip.
Thank you, Sigong.
Paul Hogg
Each part we learn has a new way of catching the whip energy which is really interesting, I’m loving the challenge of understanding the differences between changing movements whilst keeping the whip momentum going, and changing movements but reversing the whip momentum. This form is a delight to do and now that the weather is getting nice it is great to be outside. Thanks Sigong! Lee B
Dear Sifu, thank you for this seminar. This weapon is fantastic but tricky to learn! Peter W
It was good today to be able to do the whip outside in nice weather. It is a hard form to learn, figuring out the directions of the body turns and the whip turns! But as everything we learn, step by step some of the movements get easier eventually. Thank you Sigong. Christine
I enjoyed continuing to polish the previous section of the 9 section whip, which seems to be getting a little easier. The new section… is going to be a challenge! Looking forward to the next seminar. Andrew O.