Wednesday, April 22, 2009

內洞秘境深造

清晨五點多開車出門,天色才剛亮不久,新竹的路上還沒有人車,彷彿街道屬於自己一人所有,到過了中壢,車輛開始多了起來,上班族們就要展開忙碌的一天。下了好幾天的雨,天公作美,今日放晴,而長洪會各單位負責人及幹部們,大夥特別請假騰挪出一天,準備前往烏來內洞,進行體能考驗與秘境深造,為長洪25週年慶系列活動展開序幕 。

走在前往內洞瀑布區的林道上,溼潤的地上,與新綠色的樹木,特別有春天的氣息。走在小石頭路上,一邊看著碧綠的水潭,一邊感受著山間的幽閒,突然聽見奇特響亮的鳥叫聲,不禁抬頭搜尋,令人驚喜,想不到竟是一隻漂亮的藍鵲,只見在空中拖著長長的尾巴,優雅中略帶笨拙的飛往對岸的山林中。

到達集合地點樂水橋,大家都差不多到齊了。早晨的瀑布,陽光尚不刺眼,讓人感覺格外舒服,又充滿朝氣與活力。8點半左右,按預定計劃,大家開始登上森林步道。這段路程依一般腳程大約是60分鐘,為考驗幹部們的體力,總教練希望最好能在30分鐘內完成,說完,便步伐輕盈的帶頭往上走,大家的手裏都拿著一根長棍,急急的跟上在前方看似速度不快的帶領者後頭。

平時到附近的郊外登山,自認年輕力壯,從不會想到要拿登山杖。這次集訓要練習棍法,原本還以為手裏多扛著一根長棍,在林間行走會礙手礙腳,於是便順手將長棍拿來當登山杖用,想不到一用才驚覺長棍這麼好用,難怪它是以前山中行者的隨身良伴,既可拿來防身,又可大大節省登山者的體力。手中拿著長棍撐地而走,就像多了一隻腳,可以減輕雙腳膝蓋的壓力,另外在轉彎處時,就像一個舵,可以幫助腰身旋轉轉換方向,減緩腰部的受力。

長棍撐地的方式,就跟船夫撐篙的原理一樣,並不是要把地上戳一個洞,而是藉由這個支撐點,讓身體的重心往前送。與練拳的道理一樣,不能僅用肩膀力,若是如此,那麼棍子只是一個活動扶手,僅能被動地支撐身體。只有透過肩膀放鬆,讓身體的重心能與長棍的撐地點直接相連,才能讓重心借這個點提起往前送。在對打應用時,當手捉對手時,通常也不是要用力的把對手強扯過來,而是用手輕搭借對手之力,把自己的重心往前貼近對手,縮近彼此距離,並藉此前送之力,達到長驅直入,攻擊對手的效果。

在整個上坡路段,有一、兩個地方原本要稍作停留,但總教鍊看大家都跟得上,就不做停留、一路往上走,終於抵達步道終點,全部的人員也都在29分鐘內抵達,完成設定目標。接下的路程是一段約4、5公里的產業道路,雖然路途較長,但已經沒有上坡,大家便輕鬆的地一邊聊天一邊往前走。一路上有些地方路面已坍塌,只剩狹小的通道,最後來到路的盡頭,在穿越一小段佈滿雜草的樹叢,突然豁然開朗來到一片開闊的溪水地,這便是總教練平日獨享的練氣秘境之處。


在潺潺的流水聲中,站在溪邊或溪中的石頭上,雖已日正中午,但因太陽被雲遮著,在這不受干擾的溪谷中特別容易入靜,大家盡情感受山、水、大自然與我合一,練習著特別傳授的「秘境體呼吸」。練完氣功之後,坐在溪邊吃著乾糧,看著樹林、望著流水,不用說太多話,雖然一切簡單,卻覺得心靈沉澱充實。

中午休息完便往回走,在一處較寬闊的林道,一字排開進行今天的重點訓練課程「五點梅花棍」,這套棍法屬於洪拳的高級棍法,平時於室內空間施展不易,又不適合於大眾廣庭之下教授,特別選在這人跡罕至的林道進行集體的傳授。整套棍法路線走一條線,剛好適合在狹長的地形練習。這套棍法的步法轉折快速,在充滿石頭的泥土地上練習,的確是不小的考驗,既要步法輕快、穩定,又得須力量威猛貫棍尖。整套棍法分三段練習,第一、二段練20遍時,由於尚未進入情況,覺得特別的喘、特別的累,之後到第三段與整套練習才漸入佳境。



在練完棍法後便下山,大家的步伐都顯得特別的輕快,個人感覺甚至是以小跑步下山,但到達山下算了時間,才發覺上下山所花的時間並無太大差別,可見上山時大家的速度真的是相當的快。離開內洞之前,再去欣賞一下三層瀑布時,已近黃昏,除了我們以外只剩下幾個遊客,整個內洞顯得特別的安靜,甚至連鳥叫聲也消失了,大家滿足地踏上歸程,準備前往享用大餐。

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Winter Camp

There will be a winter camp for new students as well as students who haven't learned either the first or second staff forms. Ray will be teaching both forms. If you have the time it should be great. It will be February 9-13th. If you sign up before January 23rd it will be $800NT and after will be $1500NT so sign up as soon as possible!


It will be in the 人工湖 park (or man-made lake as it is called in Chinese).

Friday, December 26, 2008

Year-End Kung Fu Bash!!

We had our year-end party at the kung fu school. There were some old faces and some new faces as well as some tasty treats.
Here are a few photos in no particular order...

Eric (Chiu Ji Dsun who is living in Texas) and Jack (Bai Jong Bin) who is still in Hsinchu but too busy in grad school to make it to class regularly.

A woman's mother made these and they were so tasty! The outside is thin and soft and yummmy.

Jang Yongshi, Thomas, Carlos, Ray, Me, Alastair, Eric, Chu Jiun Hao
Peng Jiun Dso, Jack

Nick, Me, Sonya

Me, Chu Jiun Hao

Chu Jiun Hao, Gao Je Huai, Sonya, Nick, Me, Ray, Jeremy
Chris, Alastair, Carlos, and River.

I wish there were more photos but there was a lot of chatting to be done so... Sometimes that's just how it goes.
And for everyone who signed Ray's birthday card here it is in its completed state.




It is only a partially true story. Ray did flush his phone down the toilet, but there was no plumber brawl (that I know of)...

Until next time, happy kung fu-ing.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Chang Hong Bei 2008

Forecasts had been dismal, but December 7th, 2008, turned out to be a fine, sunny day in Taipei, Taiwan. Our annual competition and exposition, Chang Hong Bei, went as well as could be hoped for.

As part of the day's opening events, the greater Chang Hong Kung Fu group practices together. Here, the group practices Lian Bu Chuan, a Chang Chuan form and the first form learned.

Here, the group is practicing Gong Zi Fu Hu Chuan, the basic Tiger form, which is the first Hong Chuan form learned.

Instructor Ray Lu demonstrating Dragon style.

Pan Long Gwun (Coiling Dragon Staff)

Alastair competing with Kun Wu Jian (straight sword).

Tsai Yu-Hao competing with Chi Xing Dao (Seven Star Broadsword).

Nick, doing very well with Lian Bu Chuan (Linked-Step Fist).

Lily, Yi Lu Mai Fu (First Form of Ambush).

Sonya, focused on and determined with Lian Bu Chuan.

Little dude, competing with Gong Li Chuan (Power-Training Fist). Note the furrowed brow.

Jeremy, showing his Chi Xing Dao to the judges.

Brendan, who loves the challenge of competition, makes a good showing of Lian Bu Chuan.

Alastair launches forward with Hong Men Chiang (spear).

What the day is all about.

Lee Chiu-Ling demonstrating Shi Xing Hu (Ten-Forms Tiger).

Chen Yun-Nian demonstrates Lohan Zhang (Arhat Palm).

River Chen Chiu-Fong demonstrating Tsai Li Fo Chuan.

Kids group Pan Long Gwun.

Lian Bu Chuan group.

Chi Xing Dao group.

Big smiles at the end of a long day!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Sun-Link-Sea

In January, 2008, we went on a training trip up into the mountains with the whole Chang Hong Kung Fu group. We visited a place called San Lin Hsi, which translates into something like "Fir Woods Stream".

The place is known for its flowers and trees, many of which only grow at its elevation of 1600m.


On this trip, we focused on the practice and use of straightsword. Here, Master Chen demonstrates an application for the group.

Instructor Ray Lu practicing San Tsai Jian, or Three Powers Sword.

The group, practicing a southern sword form, Hong Men Jian.


River and Alastair, hard at work perfecting technique.


Our Hsinchu group, minus Paula (behind the camera).

At the end of the trip we stopped in Lugang, where Master Chen had grown up. He took some time to demonstrate a few movements with the straightsword.

Young Forest Temple

We took our first trip to the Shaolin Temple in the summer of 2002. Located within the Songshan Mountains in Henan, China, it's considered the birthplace of both Shaolin Kung Fu and Zen Buddhism. Regardless of how touristy it is these days, its ancient origins and remarkable history keep it a pilgrimage site for many modern-day kung fu practitioners from all over the world.

We stayed the night near the temple and heard shouts of training coming from the courtyard outside our hostel at 5 a.m. Thousands of young students train at not only the temple, but also at numerous schools located in the nearby town, Dengfeng.






When they asked for volunteers, Tsai Yu-Hsin and I could not resist. Here we are, failing at our attempt to pull the bowl from the young monk-in-training's abdomen. It seemed pretty impressive at the time, but there was, however, a bit of a trick involved....