Time and Patience: A Lesson with Sifu Lam
by Mark Jensen

In the study of the traditional martial arts, the results of one's efforts are measured in the long-term rather than in the short-term. The level of a student's understanding is a direct result of the depth and diligence of his practice, as this is the only way to increase both the physical and mental comprehension of the movements. In this article, I will describe one stage of my own study of Baguazhang, the somewhat complex and esoteric internal martial art based on the eight trigrams of the I Ching. My own attempts to understand the applications of the Baguazhang movements have been frustrating, and here I will recount one of my lessons with Sifu Lam which has helped to further my understanding of the training process.

For myself, the applications of the Baguazhang hand techniques, commonly called "palm changes," are not at all obvious. From my background in training the Hung Gar style, I learned the value of practicing forms while visualizing an imaginary opponent. Practicing forms in this manner will increase the body's understanding of the technique and help to transform the movement from a deliberate conscious thought into a subconscious reflex. After I started to get the feel of the Bagua palm change movements, I began practicing using this visualization technique. I wanted to walk the Bagua circle using my mind to see an imaginary opponent so I that I could then visualize the movement's application as well.

After a period of time experimenting and trying to understand how the palm changes could be applied, I decided to bring my findings to Sifu Lam and ask him what he thought. In the past whenever I felt that I had discovered what I considered was some precious Bagua treasure, I would discuss it with him to see if my findings were valid. So far, I have established a pretty good record of discovering something correct. In retrospect however, I realize now that what I had thought I had discovered on my own was nearly always something that Sifu had taught me earlier . I had, so to speak, filed it away in my brain under "concepts taught but not yet ready to be understood." It was like he had planted a seed that grew when I was ready to receive it.

As I explained my interpretations of the palm change applications, he just stood there shaking his head "no." I knew that I did not yet understand. To me, this was rather frustrating. In the Hung Gar style, the application of the techniques are generally fairly intuitive; in Bagua this is not the case. As we went over my findings, palm change by palm change, it became clear to me that applying the palm changes literally is not the way to do it. In a few of the cases this could be true but in most cases it cannot be done. "Well then Sifu," I asked, "if they are not applied like I thought, then how are they applied?" As he showed me how a few of the palm changes could be used in a real situation, I realized that they were not much different in theory from Hung Gar applications. Sifu confirmed this.

"OK then" I asked, "if they are not applied the way they are practiced, they why do we practice them this way?" The answer that followed opened my infant Bagua eyes a little more. Bagua training is teaching my body how to move with twisting power, speed, and linking without breaking the continuous energy flow. At this time in my Kung Fu education, this is of greater importance than straightforward "block-and-counter" applications. I have already absorbed many such applications from my Hung Gar training--that is the easy part. Training my body to move without breaking the energy link is the hard part.

If this is true, then what does training in the Baguazhang system really teach us? The answer is that it teaches us a method to apply the skills that we already know but at a much higher level. As I thought about it, I realized that this could be the reason for the difference in the major Baguazhang systems. We can see this if we examine the differences in the systems developed by the first two disciples of Bagua's founder, Dong Hai Chuan. Yin Fu and Chen Ting Hua were both highly respected martial artists before they met Dong Hai Chuan. Yin Fu was an accomplished Northern Shaolin practitioner before he started to study Bagua and the Yin Fu style Bagua characteristics reflect this. Chen Ting Hua was an accomplished Shui Chao practitioner before he met Dong Hai Chuan and the Chen style Bagua reflects this in its characteristics.

With every new Bagua movement that I have been given, I realize just how deep my understanding needs to be. I keep practicing, trying to refine and polish the movements, but, just when I think that I am getting the hang of it, Sifu corrects my posture or will point out where there is a break in the energy link within my body. When I again perform the movements, changing what he wants, the feeling is totally new and I finally start to see some light. I am beginning to realize that the Bagua palm changes are a long chain of events building on each other. Movements can be done correctly if, and only if, the prior movement is also done correctly. I may be speaking about each movement as if it were separate, but in reality there is just one continuous flow of energy. One flows into the next movement if the current movement has the correct posture and energy. When these fundamentals are set up correctly then there will appear that there is no effort in the flow of the movements. It will seem that each movement springs from the next.

What do I mean when I say the movements will flow if done correctly? To answer specifically you would have to take Bagua lessons from a qualified instructor. To answer generally, I would say that with every movement there is a simultaneous interaction of many types of energy. These energies are twisting, rising, falling, extending, contracting, and sinking, just to name a few. Looking at static Bagua postures, the observer cannot see this interaction. One can see the results of the correct linking of the body when viewing a beginning Bagua practitioner compared to an expert. Here I say "the results" because you cannot see the correct energy; you can only see the results of the correct energy in the movements. It's like a swirling wind. You cannot see it. You can only see the leaves blowing around or the result of it.

I thought long and hard about my lesson that day. I realized that if I ever needed to use any of my skill for self-defense, my Hung Gar training would be more than adequate. I also realized that I should focus on integrating what I do understand about Bagua with what I am learning, and not dilute my minimal practice time with issues to which I have not yet been exposed. In all my time spent at Lam Kwoon, I am still learning the meaning of patience; which is probably is one of the hardest martial arts lessons of all.