(from the Tai Chi Day podcast interview of Chen Zhonghua)

I find it very fascinating that Hong Junsheng’s ‘feel’ is very different from master Chen’s.

Master Chen he had 3 distinct skills (1 from his specific physique, 1 from Hunyuan, what is the third? I missed that) so what we feel when we get instruction is very different from master Chen is often a composite ( at least that is what I understood, ) so for example we feel that master Chen has a strong grip – oh man he does !!! – , whereas Master Hong Junshen had a completely ’empty’ feel, so when you fell down you’d think it was something wrong you did, and not something he did.

wow!

Another thing I found interesting in the podcast was one of the interviewers saying that a good part of his motivation was to be part of a lineage, with a sense of history, and a feeling of being part of something larger than himself etc

These are great, noble, motivations.

But it also struck me (somewhat depressingly) that none of this is a part of my motivations for learning PM (or anything else). I’d like to believe that I also have such noble motivations, but unfortunately, this is not true.

I have purely pragmatic motivations – started with almost totally “increased health” as my motivation, but after a master Chen (in Bali) pointed out that ‘increased health’ and ‘martial ability’ cannot be separated, and are two sides of one coin, I’ve changed my mind and now want martial ability as well.

I also learn because (after encountering MC in person, till when I was somewhat skeptical) that PM is something very unique, and very special, and I want to learn that because it is so special, rare and *effective* (as constantly demonstrated by MC), though my chances of getting into an actual fight are remote to none in my old age. Some arts glow like pure gold in a fog of lost historical arts obscured by mumbo jumbo and mysticism, and PM, as taught by master Chen, shines bright.

and that said, I’m personally *not* motivated by (being part of) lineage, or being part of a historical chain of people etc,  perhaps because I grew up in India, where these things are widely prevalent for many many arts/crafts/’sciences’ etc for good and ill. I want to learn PM because it is so awesome. (I think I started learning too too late but that is another story)

Ok enough philosophizing (hey what’s Facebook for!) and back to more yilu. I really appreciate that listening to this podcast made me reflect on my own motivations for learning PM.

My present Tai Chi goal: Finishing learning Yilu choreography (and Hunyuan 12 choreography).

Do 10,000 yilu (inspired by Kelvin Ho), and a corresponding number of Foundations reps.

then get more instruction.  Less philosophy, more practice!

Back to work.