A beautiful wushu pose taken from a magazine

The following discussion is reproduced from the thread Dispelling Ignorance and Untruths: A Case Study of Baguamonk's Posts started in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum on 25th September 2006.

I would first have to gain a thorough understanding of it before making any of my own conclusions. Through proper practice I could allay my doubts. Not otherwise.

Molly

Molly
Instructor, Shaolin Wahnam USA
21st October 2006

Baguamonk1,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baguamonk1 Well folks, have fun. Just remember students, have a mind of your own, merge intuition with common sense and logic. I guarantee you it will get you far. Don't let anyone tell you what is right and what is wrong, YOU figure that out for yourself.

I'm not trying to cause a ruckus here or anything, but I would like to point out to all the students that you learn what is right or wrong through proper practice. Nobody should go figure out kungfu or qigong for themselves, or merge intuition with common sense and logic. That's what their sifu is for. Maybe someday I'll be good enough to develope my own style, but for the time being, I just need to follow my instructions, as does everyone else here. Though you may not realize it Baguamonk1, you are effectively telling everyone here to just throw their instruction out the door, and I feel duty bound to step in and correct that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baguamonk1 Just remember that they are people too, most of them intelligent in their own right, for them to have doubts is totally normal, and in fact, if they continue training, will only improve them that much more.

Anyone is entitled to their doubts about any particular style. It is perfectly healthy for them to address their doubts, but only through proper practice. I couldn't very well throw all of Sifu's instructions out the window -- without ever having tried them -- and then say Shaolinquan doesn't work. My assessment wouldn't be based on a solid knowledge of the style. I would first have to gain a thorough understanding of it before making any of my own conclusions. Through proper practice I could allay my doubts. Not otherwise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baguamonk1 Taijiquan and Shaolin are precious arts, but what makes you think that you are the only one who holds the true original teachings or that you have to enforce its sanctity?

Well I would believe that my Siheng Jordan feels he has to enforce the sanctity of Shaolin because we take an oath that requires as one facet to train these arts diligently, and another to pass on the arts as they were taught to us. So naturally we must clear up any misconceptions people have. And yes, believe it or not Baguamonk, this is for the benefit of the students, so we don't take false information as fact, thereby possibly hindering our progress. As for the other part of your question, could you please provide us with some concrete evidence that points out where Jordan says he thinks he is the only one who holds the "true original teachings"? I can't find that anywhere here. Until then I await your always saucy replies.

• Part 1: Bruce Lee and Chinese Martial Arts
  
• Part 2: Ignorance Concerning Internal Force and Combat Application
  
• Part 3: Are Stances Important, and Is Chi an Out-Dated Term?
  
• Part 4: Duty to Point Out Mis-Information for Benefit of Students
  
• Part 5: Chinese Martial Arts and Spiritual Cultivation
  
• Part 6: Stance Training and Mental Clarity
  
• Part 7: A Lesson on Mental Clarity and Coherent Presentation
  
• Part 8: Principles and Practice, Insight and Integrity
  
• Part 9: Restoring the Former Glory of Kungfu
  
• Part 10: Chi is Real
  
• Part 11: Modernized Wushu is Different from Traditional Kungfu
  

• To be continued

• Intensive Chi Kung Course
• Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course
• Intensive Taijiquan Course