Commentary - Sovannaroth Kruich  11th Generation HFY Disciple

 

When I began to understand the approach the Southern Shaolin monks and Ming Dynasty military officers took into the development of a system of fighting designed to endure, counter, and capitalize on every range of combat, I began to see the obvious truth. Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun is not just about combat. Martial art is not just about combat. Rather, combat is about survival, and in order to stay true to such a reality we have to have Balance. The following paragraphs will discuss my understanding of Hung Fa Yi from combat training to philosophy.

The logic flow of Hung Fa Yi has focused my level of awareness enough to know that fighting is not about one style of fighting versus another fighting style. Part of the training that the Hung Fa Yi system has been designed to do is point out to the trainee exactly what is illusion and what is real. Illusionary things cannot hold up to things that are balanced by common denominators of reality. A technique that has been designed around balanced structure, energy flow and time considerations sensitive to the user will be able to withstand another technique that does not take into consideration those same common denominators of space, energy and time. This is one thing I find to be most interesting about HFY science. Through all of the experiments that we have gone through in trying to prove as well as disprove the reasons of why, how, what, where and when things are done in HFY all the answers have been the same, repeatedly. Parallels between different postures become more apparent as you begin to understand what does and does not work. Ultimately, all you findings lead back to the Hung Fa Yi formula, which describes three-dimensional space and time in relation to the human body. The description of that space calibrates the most efficient points in space that are required to maintain optimized timing of all your parts. This formula, which is the last evolutionary step in a scientific approach to combat, is complete. It cannot be modified in any way shape or form due to its basis on all common denominators of reality. In order to understand the HFY formula, you have to understand what is meant by Time, Space, and Energy to understand its functionality.

Another aspect whom I have a passing understanding is the philosophy of the HFYWCK system. It is based on a combination of Buddhism and Taoism; in a word, Chan. This philosophy is based on helping us understand the reality we exist within through things that are more practical than theoretical. Within Chan Buddhism, the HFY developers coined a phrase for a similar philosophy based on three levels of awareness, and called it Saam Mo Kiu. Saam Mo Kiu, or Three Connecting Bridges, helps one to identify where someone’s awareness is at in relation to reality. Whether you are Fau Kiu (wandering) in thought, Saan Kiu (aware) of your environment, or Weng Kiu (focused) on reality, the philosophy of Saam Mo Kiu helps you determine where your state of mind is at.

In combat, this also allows us to determine what to do next according to your level of awareness. Depending on the person, such things as understanding cause and effect, as well as recognizing any and all consequences are weighed in such decisions. The more technically inclined tend to make the more informed solutions to the situations. It all comes down to understanding the basic nature of all things.

The necessity in addressing such issues, like one’s level of awareness, is brought to attention in the training of HFYWCK. In sequential order, you begin training with some minor guidelines along with basic body mechanics. Similar to baby steps, this could be considered the Fau Kiu level. After enough time has been spent internalizing those details, more technical details and energy training are brought to attention in order to temper your tools as well as your understanding. The reinforcement of such mechanics with technical details brings your mind and body into common ground. It is here where one might consider the trainee to be Saan Kiu. Ultimately, where spontaneity becomes a byproduct of the harmony of time, space and energy, as well as a byproduct of the harmony of body, mind and spirit is where one could be considered to be at a Weng Kiu level. Saam Mo Kiu breaks down the HFY system one level at a time, which brings every practitioner through those stages setting the consistency factor in finding out what is real and what is illusion. Traditionally, it is through Hau Chyun Saan Sau; to be taught face to face and coupled with the proper experience, is when true knowledge is passed on from generation to generation. This method of transmission is also in Chan teachings. 

This is my brief understanding of HFY. As a science, it has a formula to govern all mechanical motion based on efficiency. It has countless strategy and tactics akin to military thinking. It is also based on principles, concepts and theories that are all part of the science itself. The interesting thing about this is that every scientific factor in HFY comes back to the philosophy that binds it all together: Chan. The common ground that both military and monk mindset was to understand reality. From the monk mindset reality is understood through the harmony of all things. From the military mindset reality is understood through the efficient use of resources for survival. HFY has the means to teach all of us to master our Body, Mind and Spirit through identifying and expressing the harmony of Time, Space and Energy to maintain our survival. This is the Balance. You have to know yourself before you can know your opponent.

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