Training as compared to learning
Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 at 7:31 AM by Sifu Smith
Posted in Kung Fu, Students, Tai Chi
Master Chin would often tell us that 'everybody comes with different levels and different expectations'. "We can't all grow up to be doctors and lawyers, but we all have places." The metaphor applies to the kungfu as well. When students come in, some have preconceived ideas of what they will be taught, how good they should be, based on previous experiences. Others come in with an open mind, and without these 'destiny' expectations, and they typically get better much quicker. Master Chin would say, "when you try to take our kungfu and interpret it with a mindset, the student can't make it work" (ie. wing-chun or karate student applies every movement with accenuation of striking or snatching). However, irregardless of the students good or poor interpretations, students can learn from one another.
Recently we were training and have some strong men who have really gained in the past few months, but each one of them face a tendency to over-use strength rather than timely-swift togetherness to express the power. They spent a couple of hours practicing with one of our other students, a lovely lady who has an extensive dance background, her grace and balance is superior than most. She has no intention of being in a sparring match. In those two hours of practice, they laughed learned, and three men made valuable gains in expressing and understanding softness. It is difficult for many people to grasp that softness is not weakness, keeping the yin-yang together.
Most of the time students go through a filter of change, the kung fu and tai chi act as the filter, and we get to meet the person on the other side. The first filter is normally to calm the mind and heart down, loosen up the heart and mind. The second is learning, the ancient master's teaching say that "learning of the mind is prior to learning of the body, learning of the body is superior to learning of the mind. Learning can not occur mind-to-mind, it must occur through enlightenment." Lastly, when learning of the mind has occur, and the student has become self-aware through basic training exercises, then the student begins to train interpretting and applying energy, this training may last a lifetime. It is said that many continue this training, then the spirit opens up.
We are all on our pursuits, none any lesser or greater than another. When we come to learn and practice, pay attention to your practice, look for the strengths in others and borrow them to raise your own, that is why we train together.
Training as compared to learning