Actually, I DO see the power. I’m of the same lineage, and I can just tell by the way Fu Pow is moving, that he has really awesome body control - this routine even tho I don’t know it at all has a lot of the same combinations that permeate our forms. If he wanted to burst out and do the form “full speed and power”, it would probably look like what you were expecting.
I think with the way he was easily able to go into Chang Fu and So Toi as low as he did it and spring back up so effortlessly is a testament to his footwork/sei ping ma.
Fu Pow- props man! Cool form. That footwork looks really challenging. What would be some forms that precede this in your guys’ curriculum?
Thanks for the positive feedback YutYeeSam. In the beginning part of the form I’m going real slow and deliberate, towards the end I pick up a little more speed. I’m by no means going as fast as I could do it. If I did I’d probably make a mistake.
To be honest, this is a particular “problem” form for me because it is so long and complex, with a lot of direction changes, so I tried to take my time with it. In past performances I couldn’t make it all the way through and I’d have to make up an ending on the spot and bow out.
If I was doing Saap Ji Kau Dah or something that like that I could blaze through it alot faster and with more of a Saat Hei (killing air.) But Sifu always tells us to challenge ourselves in performance, to pick a form that maybe isn’t our best, but to work on it for performance so in the long run you will make it better.
What do you mean by “what forms precede this in your guy’s curriculum”? You mean what do we learn before we learn Baat Gwa Saam?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done that. I feel like such an a$$ afterwards, because I only practiced it a million times!
Great advice! And one that I wouldn’t expect to hear from a teacher, because typically a teacher would want their performing students to put their best foot forward, which is more audience-centered. I like his student-centered approach!
Yeah. Like the 2 or 3 forms you have to learn before learning Baat Gwa Saam.
Well past a certain level there is not a standard curriculum. I don’t think Sifu had actually ever taught this form before a few years ago. I’m one of a handful of people that go to learn it…and may be the only one who still remembers it!!! Haha…just kidding…kind of.
Of course, my bros in Florida know it also.
If you are interested I could send you a copy of our curriculum.
I respect the fact that you put up a clip. I also respect the way you respond without getting defensive. So allow me to critique.
I do want to say I also didn’t see any evidance of whole body connection in your movements. Your arms are moving independantly from your legs the whole time.
Also I agree you should put animalistic intent in your form or what is the point. The whole point is to remember your moves under combat pressure. Remembering it when your doing the form should be easy and natural.
I find if you memorize doing the form slow and deliberate it will never improve.
My old teacher would show one move a class. Only when I had mastered the prior movement with intent would he show me the next one. Everything we all do in kungfu should be done with feirce intent. If someone was standing there could they take the shot with no problem? If so somethings wrong.
Keep the clips coming and I look forward to your response. I will put up the Baji form I have been working on very soon. Next time we tape in class hopefully.
First I want to say I respect the fact that you put up a clip for all to see. I also respect you not getting defensive in your responses.
I do want to say I also didn’t see any evidance of whole body connection in your movements. Your arms are moving independantly from your legs the whole time.
Also I agree you should put animalistic intent in your form or what is the point. The whole point is to remember your moves under combat pressure. Remembering it when your doing the form should be easy and natural.
I find if you memorize doing the form slow and deliberate it will never improve.
My old teacher would show one move a class. Only when I had mastered the prior movement with intent would he show me the next one. Everything we all do in kungfu should be done with feirce intent. If someone was standing there could they take the shot with no problem? If so somethings wrong.
Keep the clips coming and I look forward to your response. I will put up the Baji form I have been working on very soon. Next time we tape in class hopefully.
Thanks for your honest criticism. As to the whole body connection, I’m not sure if its something that can be “seen” and specifically in an art like Choy Lay Fut its not as developed as it is in an art like Taiji or Baji for that matter. But, I’m not going to make excuses its just that I feel it, even if you can’t see it. Also, I don’t always feel it in every move and I think that “feeling” is what we’re all moving toward.
Also I agree you should put animalistic intent in your form or what is the point. The whole point is to remember your moves under combat pressure. Remembering it when your doing the form should be easy and natural.
I find if you memorize doing the form slow and deliberate it will never improve.
My old teacher would show one move a class. Only when I had mastered the prior movement with intent would he show me the next one. Everything we all do in kungfu should be done with feirce intent. If someone was standing there could they take the shot with no problem? If so somethings wrong.
Keep the clips coming and I look forward to your response. I will put up the Baji form I have been working on very soon. Next time we tape in class hopefully.
Anthony
When I practice I usually do the form twice. Once, slow and deliberately and once fast at “fighting speed.” The pace of the form is probably somewhere in between. I starting more slowly at the beginning because as I stated, this is a “problem” form for me and one of THE, if not THE most advanced form that I know. So you don’t see a lot of “outward” intent. My intent is inward, trying to remember the form!!!
Also, if you knew my personality you would see that I’m not a real outwardly expressive guy. So you don’t usually see a lot of expression when I perform. Something my Sifu, the consumate performer, is always after me about.
I take your criticisms seriously and I will definitely think seriously about your comments and some of the other, more constructive comments posted here.
Also, I hope to post a video of my Sifu here so you can see how its really supposed to be done!!
Next March it will be 10 years since I started Kung Fu. I started at a Hung Gar/CLF mixed school for one year. Then straight CLF for 9 years. About 7-8 years ago I started Hun Yuan Xin Yi Chen Shi Taiji Quan with a student of Feng Zhiquiang. But mostly I work on my CLF. Before that I did a little Tae Kwon Do, Aikido and Karate.
I am sure this isn’t something you already don’t know but in say 5 years when you look back on this clip you’ll be thinking, “wow I have come along way”. What I mean, with any form (especially the more advanced ones) it takes a number of years to really feel and understand it.
For example, I learned hok ying kuen around 1997 and used to perform it often. I looked at like a year or so ago and said to myself “what was I thinking”. Yeah it was fast and the stances were pretty good but it didn’t have the feel required for the set. After practicing the form for 8 years many little things became apparent and the form has new meaning to me now.
This is what kung fu is all about. Don’t let anyone get you down. We all need to keep working hard so that our art can continue on.
