November '04 Instructor Training @ SF...

[Savi]

This particular thread coincides with the venture to TC Media where the VTM's Muk Yan Jong series video/dvd is produced. Another thread on this is here (http://www.hfy108.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=809).

Personally, I find that this particular type of training is different in comparison to workshops/seminars and class...

Class training: everyday meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Workshops/Seminars training: special occasion meals or an appetizer.

Instructor training: Banquet sized meals cooked for more people than are actually present (and the meal HAS to be finished)...

As mentioned by Sigung Meng in the other thread, Sitaigung Gee took us deeper into the Shaolin Chan roots of HFY. SMK is identified as the backbone of the system and crucial for all representatives to completely comprehend. I have formed the opinion that instructor/disciple level training is NOT for everyone. The level of demand and expectation is so great, that only people with the right amount of body karma and technical knowledge can harmonize with the Direct Transmission from (in this case) Grandmaster Gee. Hau Chuyn Sum Sau has taken on a whole new meaning for me, in terms of appreciation and value. It is no small task to be able to handle Hau Chyun, and translate it into Sum Sau. I have a newfound understanding of just how complex - yet clear - and completely solid is the HFY system.

GM Gee is a TRUE traditional master and martial expert in the world of martial arts. His standards as well as his skill and expertise are immeasurable - there is no end! In the truest sense, he is a Real Kung Fu Man who breathes kung fu day in and day out, literally 24 - 7, and requires no preparation in discussing or executing his kung fu to anybody anytime. His dedication to the HFY system cannot be compared because of this. He is our Buhn Jyun, and there is no doubt whatsoever about that.

We did over 25 hours of constant training at the Hung Fa Kwoon, and it seemed like we spent just as much time eating! Oh, gotta teach class now. I'll be back to add in more later. Feel free to add in on this guys!

-Savi.

[JamesHFYofAZ]

Recapping this past weekend, starting from day one. Thursday and Friday days we did the TC media taping (view TC thread) Thursday evening we ventured to the Hung Fa Kwoon for a the instructors course. It was based on how to instruct new material by knowing the students Sam Mo Kiu level of understanding. The biggest affect about the first day was the stories that were given to help understand to the principles and concepts that were to be focused on. Not only can they be applied to ones kung fu but to ones life as well. This to me was a direct example on how HFY is influents by Buddhism. When I see these connections, its as if both of them merged as one and at the same time in becomes easier to focus and way easier to learn both.

Friday consisted of some night training and some Korean barbeque that was somewhat expensive for the amount of food that was served, but all the same, very good. The training continued to follow the same logic flow as the first, not only did one receive spiritual view, a physical awareness, but the technical know how. Following was a night of interesting conversation.

Saturday started with a little walk around Chinatown and some food, then off to the Kwoon for some more intense training until we broke for some late dim sum. The training again, followed the same key points and gave us the logic flow once again (and some). To top off a great day/night of training we when to the redeye showing of National Treasure. Which was good, and gave us a nice way to relax for the night?

Sunday needed to start with a round of Starbucks coffee, and there happens to be one on ever corner their. Then a look at some new model cars at the international car show. Some of these cars were very cool indeed. And then off to the Kwoon for some more drilling to top off an excellent weekend of training, then off to the airport were we had some pizza and then a toast on the plain for the experience we all shared and gained from.

My gratitude goes out to GM Gee for his knowledge, his devotion to the system, for giving all of me a closer look at HFY. It’s always a warm welcome, as well a mind load, and as always, my SBG’s and SSG’s gave the same welcome. This is not only an extraordinary system but it ties as a family runs truly deep. I could not have done any of this with out the support of my AZ brothers, Sifu, and Sigung.

[JK Walz]

Savi and James have done a great job summarizing the events of the weekend. I really don’t have anything to add to what has already been posted so I’ll make a few comments from a personal perspective.

This weekend was the first serious training I have done in about a year. I felt it necessary to jump back into training “feet first” in order get things back on track. The difference between a regular seminar and instructor training made this experience very very intense. GM Gee is EXACTING in his expectations for instructors. It’s not good enough that you sort of understand what is being instructed and it is not good enough that you can demonstrate a basic level of physical attributes; you need to fully understand everything that is being shown to you and you need to be able to express it in your body. This training session, dealing with Biu Jong, was very appropriate (for me on a personal level) because it came from a perspective of having no pre-conceived notions (having an “empty teacup”). GM Gee used the analogy of a baby taking his first steps when describing Biu Jong. He said that a baby knows nothing when he steps forward into the world- this is the state of mind we need to have in Biu Jong (and our kung fu/life in general). The baby knows nothing and he expects nothing. All he is aware of is himself. When he steps forward it is the direct experience of the present moment in time, space, and energy, that influences the way he reacts. Our Biu Jong training was exactly the same.

We needed to drill and drill to try to understand this concept. We could not bring any pre-conceived notions to our training or to the moment at hand; everything was defined by the dynamic of time, space, and energy as experienced in relation to the partner.

In order to be successful in this training we need to drop all expectations and egotistic notions. This goes beyond simply assuming you know what the other guy is going to do on the mat; it extends to your expectations of training in general. Are you able to discard your expectations in a broader, more general nature? Can you control your ego to the point where you become an empty vessel, have beginners mind, and allow yourself to be open to the effects and influence of the training no matter how much experience you have? These are the sorts of questions I was asking myself during the weekend. It’s easy to train with a half-filled teacup during a general seminar surrounded by 50 or more people but it is impossible to do during a instructor level seminar surrounded by 10 people!

From a systems perspective this level of intense training is extremely important so that the system is not altered in any way by those who have taken on the responsibility of carrying it on. This requires that the disciples/instructors fully understand what is being instructed on a technical, principle, conceptual, and body karma level. There can be no deviation and there can be no personal interpretation; either you have it or you don’t- this is the nature of reality! While GM Gee understands that this level of understanding (weng kiu) might take a while to achieve, he cannot deviate in his exacting expectations. He instructs from emptiness and expects you to absorb (over time) from emptiness.

In all the weekend was an excellent experience for me on many levels. It helped me get re-focused on my training, it showed me the level of understating GM Gee expects of his disciples, and it helped me further understand the ch’an concept of sunyata as it applies to wing chun and life in general.