This is an addendum, and the finale, to the previous post. Here are a few videos, none of which are mine and, therefore, none of which I take any credit for, to further illustrate the difference between Gung Fu training and Techniques training, as outlined by the previous post [POST #8 where I discussed Lien Gung and Saan Sik].
This is true Gung Fu training, or "Lien Gung", as stated in the previous post. These are the monotonous exercises which are at the heart of a true Gung Fu person. No glamour. No magic. No real secret. Just boring, tedious, strenuous, repetitive, gradual, methodical conditioning to specifically make a portion of your body into a feasible weapon:
[Sifu (Master) Tak Wah Eng of the Tiger Claw Style, "Fu Jow Pai", talking about several methods of conditioning the hand for that special tear and gripping power characteristic of the style.]
[Sifu Parrella instructing in Iron Palm conditioning. This is a generic conditioning exercise done by most martial arts to gradually strengthen the hands for impact. This is usually the skill employed for brick breaking demonstrations etc]
The fruits of Gung Fu labour:
[Sifu Tak Wah Eng breaking two non-spaced bricks. Spacers, for those unaware, make breaks easier. Still impressive to an extent, but noticeably easier.]
[Master Parrella having several of his students demonstrate brick breaking. There are several students who have a noticeable tremor in their hand, or who actually shake their hands afterward in a characteristic 'ow' fashion. This is a good example of having too much power for the weapon you wield. They clearly have the strength to break the brick. However, the reaction of pain shows the lack of conditioning in their hands. This illustrates the Boxer scenario detailed in the previous post]
This is a Saan Sik session:
[Master Parrella demonstrates and drills a particular technique over and over again in order to develop muscle memory. Though Saan Sik is important to martial arts, it is not the most integral aspect. First and foremost will always be Lien Gung. Those slaps and palms would only be efficacious after conditioning them to be hard and heavy. Unlike a lot of "BELT FACTORIES" or "McDOJOS" (these are derogatory terms for schools focused on pumping out lots of poor quality students for commercal reasons e.g. six year old black belts, gaurantees of after X amount of time you will have X colour belt, ridiculous NUMBER of belts in order to maximize money made etc) true application drills during any given session concentrates on one, possibly two different techniques. NEVER the quantity... ALWAYS the quality.]
I hope the above clips helped better illustrate some of the points I made in the previous post. Remember that I did not make these video clips, did not physically record these video clips, nor do I have any legal rights to these video clips. They were online for viewing and I simply decided to utilize them in a strictly non-commercial fashion to help readers better understand a point.
Train Hard. Talk Less
~Thunder Palms
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