zentao.comDiary of a Student
2nd entry
Today's lesson concentrated on execution - perfect execution - of, first, basic principles and their applications, then on more advanced understandings of movement and action (or co-action) as Shi Lei's word for it actually translates. Precision without thought, begotten from years of perfectly performed repetitions of basic movements, then building on those basics...combining them into compound movements all based on principle. (If I have learned anything, Shaolin is an art of principles, not of techniques.)
...That's one thing I have to say, reflecting back throughout my training - Shi Lei has been a stickler for perfect application. If the placement of a foot, a hand, a kick, even a finger, isn't absolute, he will stop me right there and have me look at it, adjust it, slowly practice the adjustment by doing just that small movement over and over and over again until I can do it perfectly at speed.
That was the first part of class. During the second part, Shi Lei had me work chi strikes on a heavy, fluid-filled target. He set the target on a waist high table and my goal was to send the target to the other end of the table where another target sat. I was to use, not force, but intent when delivering the strike. I was to use palm strikes, white snake, and tiger fist. My white snake failed. The rest were successful. More and more I learn how necessary the perfectly learned application of principle coupled with breath is to application.
Next, Shi Lei had me go through some of the tricky exercises he has for teaching, testing, honing and mastering stillness, center and balance (internal and external) while delivering full potency strikes, block-strikes, and kicks.
The lesson ended with two forms, done once through each, at middle fighting speed. When I had done them, Shi Lei honored me with a nod, a small smile, and a bow. He said I did them very, very well.
I am to tape my right hand's ring finger to its little finger and practice white snake strikes that way all week in addition to my regular practice.