THE REALITY OF THE UNREAL.

The IDEA {S.L.T.} creates the method we call a Form as a way to describe itself to itself, nothing more.

There is only one stance, and we are always in that stance even when we are moving or standing in a completely different shape.

Say what?

Our first task is to make sense of what appears to be this non-sensical statement.

Where to begin?

In the book of 5 rings, Miyamoto Mushashi says “it is necessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance”.

Thousands perhaps millions of Martial Artists have at least read this quote, perhaps even used it.

So let us start there.

Exactly what is our ‘everyday stance’?

Do we know?

What kind of knowledge do we need to understand our Everyday Stance?

 Proprioception?

Kinaesthetic awareness?

 Spatial imagination?

Is a STANCE a shape?

Or is it the IDEA of a shape?

As we all know everything we do in Wing Chun is Sil Lim Tao.

Sil Lim Tao is not a method, it is an IDEA, it is a view, a position a STANCE.

The IDEA {S.L.T.} creates the method we call a Form as a way to describe itself to itself, nothing more.

This method we call the FORM brings the IDEA {S.L.T.} into view as a tangible, explainable thing, in reality, it is nothing more than a language.

And in doing so we claim that the FORM verifies the IDEA.

Self-verification is a dubious currency, we must tread this path with caution.

Mental gymnastics, reality suspension, believing things that do not exist in any measurable way.

This is the core of what we do.

Understanding what is meant by ‘There is only one stance, and we are always in that stance, even when we are moving or standing in a completely different shape’ should be child’s play.

As sentient beings how we describe the world and the things in it to ourselves is central to our understanding.

The language we use is key.

How we describe what a STANCE is and does will shape what it is and what we can expect it to do.

Describe its POTENTIAL, both present and future.

It is a personal thing, we choose teachers that speak the same language, use the same references, talk in the same pictures.

There is no “Right” or “Wrong” just different illustrations that we do or do not understand.

A STANCE to me is an energy storage device, a battery if you wish, when it is empty I can accept force into me to charge it up and when it is charged I can issue force, use that energy to do work.

Empty batteries cannot do work.

Our most important task is to learn how to charge the battery.

A ready STANCE may appear to be still and motionless but it should be full to the brim with potential that is screaming out to be converted into kinetic energy.

Turning energy into work could go something like this.

From stillness/readiness, or just the position we find ourself in, what is the simplest, easiest kind of movement that we can make, what is available or even possible?

Why are we making this particular movement?

For instance, are we moving out of the way or into contact?

What stillness/readiness/position does this movement lead us into and how does the sequence progress?

Using this method we could if we wished, build situation-specific Forms.

If we do not know the answer to these questions before we ask them our movement becomes random, pointless.

They lack ‘INTENTION’.

Any movement must be instant, deliberate and accurate, any cessation of movement must be absolute.

There are limitations to all movement, every action has a start point and a finish point.

STANCE – MOVEMENT – STANCE.

Duration or ‘action length’.

Controlling that ‘action length’ brings neutralisation and control.

Understanding my personal ‘action length’ will familiarise me with my opponents ‘ action length’, the science of our Universe is the same for all of us.

When I move to my new stance it must be outside my opponents ‘action length’, my leg or foot must move farther than his and in doing so break his shape and intention.

When we move an opponent we must move him farther away than his stance is located.

We can explore this as a Chi Sau exercise.

IF WE WISH TO BE A BETTER MARTIAL ARTIST IN 3, 5 OR10 YEARS WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE MARTIAL ARTIST WE ARE TODAY.