Orientation 法地: general #42

My focus in teaching Wing Chun (詠春拳 Yongchun Quan), the Shaolin tendon method (少林易筋經 Shaolin Yijin Jing), the Yin Yang and 5 Elements method (陰陽五行功 Yinyang Wuxing Gong) as well as the Daoyin method (導引功 Daoyin Gong) clearly is on the internal aspects of all of these practices.
This blog explains how an approach to movement traditions based on Daoist philosophy cannot only enrich a movement practice, but also offers a path for a much deeper transformation process.
The chopping arm: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #24 Double Cham Sau 詠春拳的雙斬手
This video discusses the double Cham Sau, the double chopping arms movement in the Siu Nim Tau , the first form of Wing Chun from the perspective of internal practices not as a separating, but as an integrated and integrative movement.
Not simply a straight line: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #18 Palms to the sides
The Daoist philosophical perspective is a clear rejection of authoritarian ways of organizing things, of authoritarian systems–not just politically. Authoritarian patterns focus on the accumulation of individual power. They are not community centered and not about empowering larger sustainable systems.
Read moreBefore I go into this blog post’s actual topic I would like to say something about my blog posts in general: Many among the readers who have been following me for some time, might already be familiar with many of the Daoist concepts I am writing about. On the other hand, it seems that many things need to be heard at least a „thousand times“ before one can actually listen to them for the first time. You might have experienced this yourself, but it is also an important insight for one’s own teaching.
Read moreOpening: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #23 Double Fak Sau 詠春拳的雙拂手
Moving in between: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #20 Palms to the front
Subtle integration: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #19 Palms to the rear
Relativity: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #18 Palms to the sides
Wakening up 抱一: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #18 Palms to the sides
A straight line is not a straight line: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #18 Palms to the sides
Pulse of life within: Steve Cook and Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #15 Fok Sau – the crouching and hiding hand 詠春拳的伏手
Complex patterns of gestures: Steve Cook and Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #15 Fok Sau – the crouching and hiding hand 詠春拳的伏手
Embodiment | building bridges 尋橋: Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #12 Jum Sau – the sinking hand 詠春拳的沉手 https://youtu.be/Jn0GV8jRQpI
Body and mind 自化: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – Wing Chun YouTubes internal aspects – general 道家內功#01
Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – interview – YouTube #00 Internal aspects of the Wing Chun forms 關於詠春拳的內功基礎
No will | lifting | it 自化: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #03 Lifting the arms
Coming together | scattering 聚散: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #08 From fist to palm – 詠春拳的日子沖拳成攤手
Spiraling movements | waves | pulsing: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #05 Crossed hands downwards – 詠春拳的下交叉耕手
The grounding hand 根: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #04 Withdrawing the fists 詠春拳的收拳
Movement | tranquility – tension | relaxation 動靜 剛柔: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #03 Lifting two arms
Initiation 自然 一: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #02 Initiating arm lifting
Repetitions 反: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #6 Crossed hands upwards – 詠春拳的上交叉攤手
Wind – unfolding 自化: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #16 Pak Sau – the patting/clapping hand 詠春拳的拍手
The strength of no ego 損: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #17 Forward moving palm 詠春拳的正掌
Continuity – continuum 常: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #17 Forward moving palm 詠春拳的正掌
Not cutting off 不割: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #11 Kao Sau – the cutting hand 詠春拳的割手
No isolation 和: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #9 Huen Sau – the circling hand – 詠春拳的圈手
Opening up space for offering and receiving 攤的意義: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #10 Slow low Tan Sau – the slow low displaying hand 詠春拳的慢低攤手
Condensing and dispersing 聚散: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #8 From fist to palm – 詠春拳的日子沖拳成攤手
Reconnecting with the source 連泉: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #7 The fist in Wing Chun – 詠春拳的日子沖拳
Connected distance 攔字: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #22 Lan Sau – the barring hand 詠春拳的攔手
Female & male energies 雌雄,護字第二: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #14 Wu Sau – the guarding hand 詠春拳的護手
Guarding 護字: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #14 Wu Sau – the guarding hand 詠春拳的護手
Networks | cycles | constellations: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #13, another circling hand, Wing Chun’s Huen Sau 詠春拳的圈手
Non-pulling pulling and non-action: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #21 Lap Sau 詠春拳的拉手
Inner and outer spirals: Steve Cook & Ansgar Gerstner – YouTube #21 Lap Sau 詠春拳的拉手
Now there is also an updated English translation of „The Healing Aspects of Wing Chun – An initial discussion of the Siu Nim Tau, the first form of Wing Chun“, a paper that was originally published in German. From this page of the Journal of Martial Arts Research (JOMAR) you can now download the German as well as the English version of this paper: https://ojs.uni-bayreuth.de/index.php/jomar/article/view/133