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.
