Welcome back to the blog, fellow enthusiasts of martial arts and energy cultivation! Today I'm excited to share more about my passion for traditional Wudang martial arts. Wudang, a secluded mountain in the Hubei province of China is where these extraordinary practices originated and were perpetually kept alive by the practitioners.
For the past year, I've been training under the guidance of skilled master the integration of the 3 practices - Tai Chi, Qigong and Kung Fu. And I absolutely fell in love with each of these, learning to embrace their unique benefits. Recently, during one of our classes I managed to capture few photos of our practice.
Wudang is a system that emphasizes internal power over the external. It is much more than a physical discipline, but rather a holistic approach to energy cultivation in the body, as it tries to connect mind, body and soul. That's why, unless you are on the Wudang mountain itself, you'll usually see mature people taking interest in these techniques. It's the people who are seeking for harmony and deeper connection to the divine flow of life that embark on this journey. Given the nature of these forms, they are created so that everyone can benefit from them, no matter the age or physical condition.
In here you'll see us perform two forms - Ji Ben Quan and Xuan Men Jian. The first is a basic Kung Fu form all students of Wudang martial arts have to learn. It is dynamic, fast and powerful. It is a complete contrast to slow and gentle movements of Tai Chi and Qigong. It is an exhausting form that will quickly fasten your breathing. It's focus is on learning basic Kung Fu stances, building power and practicing balance. Younger fellows usually have easier time with this one.
The sword form, Xuan Men Jian, is a combination of soft and powerful movements, Yin and Yang. Usually the cuts and strikes are fast and strong while the gatherings and in-between movements are soft and relaxed. Purpose of using weapons like sword and staff inside the forms goes far beyond the combat use and I'll write in detail about it in the future post. But basically, a weapon is seen as an extension of practitioners body forcing him to be more precise with his movements, to be more focused, to have balance in the body and posture and, as a result, develop internal power.
We had a lot of fun training while being serious about refining our skills. Each class I try to sink deeper into my body and make the connection between mind and body smoother, allowing the moves from deep inside to flow freely and effortlessly. Here is a glimpse of our practice.
