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The
Five Fundamentals of the Mind
By Wong Hong-Jai/Wang
Xiang-Zhai
With Translation and Explanatory Commentary
By Grandmaster Wai-Lun Choi
(This article
originally appeared in Wudang, Vol. 10, Nos. 2 and 3)
There are five basic fundamental concepts which will allow a practitioner
the insight or background needed to develop a clearer idea as to
how to achieve greater levels in the Martial Arts.
These concepts will help you in your overall relaxation (meditative)
skills.
The importance of your ability to relax is due to several factors:
the first and foremost is that when you are in a relaxed state,
your breathing is not restricted. The breath is full and natural.
Secondly, your alertness (focus) is clear and refined and finally
your reaction time is quick and uninhibited.
In order to achieve this relaxed state you must practice meditation,
however, the usual method of meditation emphasizes the physical
acts of monitoring your breathing, feeling for any stress or tension,
etc.
These five guidelines deal with your state of mind, a precondition
of one’s behavior.
Respect
Respect makes reference to how you treat others. You should always
maintain a sense of mutual respect. You should not take a position
of superiority, whether or not it may be justified. The reason being
that there exists an infinite amount of experience in a lifetime
and a single person cannot have participated in or have been witness
to every possible event or situation. Therefore, your fellow man
has experiences and ideas that you may never have encountered or
contemplated. It is here that you can always learn from others.
In the area of the Martial Arts, you classmate/opponent possesses
differing ideas, skill levels, etc., all of which are legitimate.
There may exist better, faster, more effective techniques, but nevertheless,
your opponent’s are real and must be addressed. Everyone will
not attack and react in the same way (power, angle, or methods).
If you are perceptive, you can learn from every variation/situation
that exists.
When you take on a position of superiority you create an artificial
barrier between yourself and others, this barrier will automatically
create tension. Tension is the single most important hindrance you
must avoid in order to achieve higher levels.
Care
Be thoughtful and careful when acting. It is important that you
analyze and commit yourself to whatever actions you take. You must
believe in the decision-making process you undergo. If you do not
believe (have faith) or do not understand, you will create a mental
block, which will hinder the end result. Once you understand how
a process will help you then your mind will accept it, giving it
value and allowing you to concentrate. It will also allow you to
expand, gaining greater insight into how other issues relate to
one another.
Thought
This is a simple process. Understanding that you are only capable
of doing one thing at a time, you can only process (solve) one issue
at a time. Do not try to do two things at once, this will only separate
your focus as you move from one problem to another, bring about
anxiety and stress. This single-mindedness will allow you to attack
the opponent with unrestrained whole-body power.
Cut
You must understand completely what you are trying to achieve;
meaning what is the end result of what is to be gained. You must
therefore, strip away all the process and methods to seek the essence
of the subject matter. At this point, you then will understand the
process and the method at which are you are achieve the desired
end.
Harmony
Your interaction with others should be based on self-respect and
honor. You should not take a position of superiority or inferiority.
In this harmonious (neutral) posture you are at ease with others,
allowing yourself to be relaxed, calm and composed.
Wang Xiang-Zhai is the founder of Yi-Chuan. Wang was born
in 1885 in Hebei Province. In his childhood he was weak and often
sick so his parents send him to study from Mr. Guo Yun-Shen, the
most famous Hsing-Yi master of the day. Wang worked hard and in
a short time mastered his teacher’s teachings and became the
top student. In 1907, Wang Xiang-Zhai traveled all around China
looking for the most skilled masters to compare skills with and
learn from. In the mid-1920’s, as a result of his long-time
practice, research and rich experience in actual combat, Wang Xiang-Zhai
founded Yi-Chuan or mind-intent boxing.
~
Wai-Lun Choi is grandmaster and lineage holder of the Liu
Ho Pa Fa style. Choi is also a master of Hsing-Yi, Pa-Kua and T’ai-Chi.
He learned Liu Ho Pa Fa from the previous grandmaster, Chan Yik
Yan.
In 1968, Wai-Lun Choi became an assistant instructor with
Chan, and he set up his own school the following year. In 1971,
he won the Pan Southeast Asian Hand-to-Hand Martial Arts Tournament.
He proved his fighting skills many other times—going undefeated
also in three years of full-contact competition in Hong Kong. Later
he was ordained the grandmaster of the style by his teacher. In
1972, Master Choi emigrated to America and now teaches in Chicago.
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