Wu Gong
Wu Gong is the combination of the terms “wu shu” and “Qi Gong”. Wu Shu translates to Martial Arts or better known as Kung Fu. Many people, especially the young excited when they hear Kung Fu. When people talk about Kung Fu, they usually have movie images of fighting with “flowery punches and kicks”. However acrobatic and fast the actors are there is much more: “Wu Gong”. Wu Gong embodies not only the fighting techniques of Kung Fu, but also Qi Gong, the energy work, health-promoting practices which are related to Martial Arts. Instead of saying “Wu Shu Qi Gong”, the Chinese traditionally combined them into “Wu Gong”. Wu Gong is also known as “Nei Gong”, or inner strength. Martial artists who practice Nei Gong possess the inner strength to withstand attacks and have the ability to strike opponents with great speed and power from within. But that is only the Martial Arts part of Wu Gong. Qi Gong is the majority of Wu Gong because without Qi Gong martial artists would have little power.
When we start to better understand how Qi works, we start to see Qi Gong, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, meditation, and health are all really the same. It is essential to know that Qi moves fast, slow, and in stillness. These correspond to the different practices of Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Qi Gong, and meditation. To practice one and ignore the other practices prevents better understandings and better health. One doesn’t need to master all of them, but it is important to practice them. And this practice is Wu Gong.
To understand how to practice Wu Gong, one has to realize that daily practice is crucial. Everyone knows to eat, sleep, empty the bladder and bowels everyday, so practicing Wu Gong everyday is the way to progress.
To practice Wu Gong, it is important to live with the universe. This means that you feel and flow with the Dao by learning to feel and control Qi through, within, and around your body. It takes time and practice, but over time it becomes easier to experience. Practicing Wu Gong not only strengthens the inside, it also teaches the practitioner to combine that strength with Qi strength from the universe. It is a life-long journey. Master Si Tu always calls it, “climbing the mountain”. It isn’t easy. But the beauty that comes with it is truly amazing, and worth the effort.
The Chinese have a saying that I like as a constant reminder for myself: For self-strength there is no rest. zi Qiang bu xi. “Rest” means ‘quitting’ or ‘practice whenever you feel like it’. It is a daily practice that is to be taken seriously. It is the only way to build up strength. The higher up the mountain one goes, the eyes can see what no one else can see: a deeper understanding of the universe and everything within it – and that is a beautiful thing.
Most people think that they are too busy to practice, but even 10 minutes a day does a lot to one’s health. Dedicated Wu Gong practitioners either “live” on the mountain, or near it (always have it in mind). They can always have the time to practice, and will not forget about the mountain because they have made it part of their everyday lives.
Wu Gong: A way of living
Health
When the body is sick, it is important to rest and let the body heal. When someone has a serious illness there is nothing else to do except to go to the hospital. Here, the doctor has control over your body. You trust that the doctor can help you, and in most cases that is true. However, the fact that you had an illness or a disease in the first place, and that you had to go to the hospital as a consequence, is not good. Practicing Wu Gong will help prevent illnesses and diseases. Qi Gong is known to be a form of preventive medicine. Although Martial Arts are not seen as preventive medicine, they actually can be because medicine is an essential part of the study. Part of the study of medicine is also how to maintain health.
As the saying goes, “if you don’t have your health, you haven’t got anything.” Some people become so absorbed in work or family pursuits, they forget to take care of themselves. In the long run that is truly bad for one’s family and career. If a person never takes time out for himself or herself, his or her health will decline. Once that starts, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain a healthy mind and body. Many people leave their health to someone else’s care, and this is where the medical profession takes over. Learning Wu Gong will save pain, time and money by keeping you healthy. It is more worthwhile to stay healthy than to let the body go into disarray. Nobody looks forward to visit the doctor’s office. Wu Gong’s teachings always emphasize that a person must be responsible for his or her own health. By exercising daily, eating right, and resting enough; maintaining health is not hard to do.
Wu Gong is designed for the coordination of mind, body, and breath. This promotes concentration, mental strength, and psychological balance. At the same time it balances and strengthens the body and Qi. This means a livelier life and a more positive attitude toward life. You will be stronger to do more. When Master Si Tu’s master, Grandmaster Ji Kwei died, he was over 100 years old, it is said that he didn’t look a day older than 50. Other Masters also live well over 100 years, and still have the energy of a 20 year old. The power of Wu Gong is amazing.
There is no one correct diet to eat. However there are some basic guidelines to follow. These guidelines are actually very sensible. One reasonable guideline is eating a reasonable amount per meal. Eating too little will never satisfy an appetite. Eating too much will lead to obesity. Both are unhealthy. Master Si Tu suggested that we eat 80% of being full. Another sensible suggestion is to eat with the seasons. Summers are hot, and the body needs more water. So watermelon is a good fruit to eat at that time. When winter rolls around, it is flu season, and the body needs more vitamin C to strengthen the immune system. Citrus fruit like oranges, tangerines, and lemons has lots of vitamin C, so during these months it is good to eat more. Proper eating is part of Wu Gong: a healthy livelihood.
Rest is an important part of training because it allows for the body to heal. By just living cells die and need to be replaced. It is a natural to need to rest to allow this process to happen, with lots of exercise it is even more important to rest. Being healthy is a balance of living. Too much rest is not healthy, and too much exercise is also not healthy, one must find a happy medium.
Philosophy
The road of Wu Gong is very long, an everyday evolving process. After learning the basics of Wu Gong and your health has started to improve, the philosophy will begin to become more evident with further progress. Therefore, many students want to continue to learn because it is so fascinating. You can learn many drills, but if you do not study the philosophy behind them, practicing will be less effective. It would be like a farmer plowing the fields, but not knowing how to take care of the land from which the crops grow.
The practice of Wu Gong gradually opens your mind, making everything you study easier to understand. The chaos of the universe will start to make sense however illogical it may seem. There is always more than what meets the eyes.
Wu Gong philosophy has a long history and a strong tradition. Movements are based on the interpretation of the philosophy of the Dao, Qi flow, yin/yang, and body mechanics. I feel that 90% of Wu Gong is philosophy and 10% movement. Learning the movements is only the first step. And because Wu Gong can be seen as studying life, studying the functions of everything in life completes the movements. Learning the movements without the philosophy that completes them leaves the movements empty, without the core. “Lian wu bu lian gong, dao lao yi tang kong.” “Practicing Martial Arts without the essence, ‘til old age you will still be empty.”
THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE UNIVERSE: DAO, QI, AND YIN /YANG
We are all here to live together in this universe; every person, animal, tree, and even the stars and galaxies above. There is no separation between anything. There is something that keeps it all together. Most cultures teach this oneness, but in different ways, therefore we understand it differently. But again, we understand the same thing. When two people are standing on opposite sides of a tree, the same tree will look different from the two sides. The Wu Gong understanding of life is a constant basis through which practitioners live. They understand that the soft will overcome the hard, and that excessiveness will only lead to its opposite. They use this idea in their daily practice and life. They understand that the strength they accumulate is also from the same source: the universe.
Chapter 42 of the Lao Zi's Dao De Jing
The Dao gives birth to the one,
The one gives birth to the two,
The two gives birth to the three,
And the three gives birth to the myriad creatures.
Dao
The Chinese conception of the universe is derived from the philosophy of the Dao. The ancient sage Lao Zi wrote one of the world’s most important and influential books: the “Dao De Jing”. The first line says, Dao ke dao, fei chang dao, ming ke ming, fei chang ming. “The Dao could possibly be the Dao, but often is not the Dao. The name can be the name, but it is often not the name.” The Dao contains everything that is, and everything that isn’t. Existence and non-existence are all bound up into one: the Dao— and there is only one Dao. Because the Dao cannot be divided, one cannot speak of one thing and call it the “Dao”.
Scientists have discovered that the universe we live in started out with the Big Bang Theory. It is a theory because we can only hypothesize about how the universe began. Astronomers say that there are more stars than grains of sand on Earth. This is just an estimate, but we can not know for sure because even with telescopes and computers, there is still a concept of ‘seeable’ or observable universe. If this doesn’t stretch your imagination of the size, I am not sure what will!
Since there is a concept of existence, there is also an idea of its opposite; non-existence or nothingness. ‘Nothingness’ is like the bottomless pit, and existence is what makes the form of the pit. It is the thing that always gets deeper and darker with mystery. (The further down the pit we go, the more we understand, and the more we forget of the old. There is just too much!) Lao Zi describes the Dao as an endless canyon that has no bottom. Because of this complexity, one can not put a name to what exists in everything and exists in nothing.
Something and nothing is a co-existence. Imagine all the things that used to “not exist” simply because we still had not yet discovered them. Scientists have come to understand or believe that the universe is getting larger, or constantly expanding. They also understand that 95% of the universe in which we live is a thing they call ‘dark matter’. They know it exists, but do not understand it yet. With this in mind, we can begin to understand that the Dao also include things outside of our realm of life.
“Everything” are those things we can and will identify: the finite. And then there is the opposite: everything we will never be able to identify or understand: the infinite. This nothingness allows tangible things to exist. ‘Nothingness’ is beyond our present understanding and we cannot even name it. Knowing and remembering this idea will help us better understand the things that do exist because knowing that ‘nothing’ exists we will always try to discover what else possibly exists. We will never stop the desire for learning more. It is human nature, so follow the ‘way’ for us to be.
One of the aspects of being virtuous and humble is to respect everything that makes up the Dao, even if you think it or a person does not deserve it. There are different kinds of respect. One is respect based on fear. Another is respect based on admiration, appreciation and an unconditional love for all.
Respect based on fear will keep you alive, safe, and unfortunately separated from the rest of the universe. Respect and fear come together where another has more power and strength. We are wholly connected. This is how Wu Gong practitioners get their power.
Respect based on admiration or appreciation is positive because it requires some understanding of that which we value, that in turn is a connection to the rest of the universe. This kind of respect will provide a psychological foundation for you and what you are respecting to connect. A positive connection will strengthen your sense of being. This sense of connectedness to all things will allow you to grow more aware of the Dao or the universe, an awareness in which you can be wiser and healthier. Positive respect can dissolve isolation based on fear of things you do not understand and draw you to search to understand them. In trying to do so, we understand a bit more of the Dao even if we are not quite sure what it all means.
Being moral, humble, virtuous and spiritual leads us to be able to have an unconditional love for life. This is a view of respect that is often forgotten. It is being grateful for all that there is. This love will change one’s outlook on life. It allows for a person to be at home no matter where he of she is in the world, or even universe. It is never feeling lost or alone. When I am able to have the open mind to be able to have unconditional love to even the trees and bushes in my yard, I am amazed at how wonderful that power and joy can truly be.
Qi
Qi is usually translated as “air”. So the word ‘Qi’ can be somewhat confusing. At the core of Qi is the ancient Chinese word for “life force” or “vital energy”. And since ‘life force’ is all around us, just like air, so it can easily be translated into air.
Qi provides a means by which we can understand the universe and with it the Dao. This is because the universe presents itself in Qi. Therefore learning about Qi and how to use it is central in Wu Gong. A person will not understand the Dao if he or she does not start to understand Qi. Qi can be best understood through looking at its three components: energy, matter, and information.
Qi is everywhere. Everything has it. And everything has its own distinct Qi. This is how we can distinguish one thing from another. Everything is distinctly unique. A person who is trained to be sensitive to Qi can feel the differences between things, even though the things are categorized as the same class of material.
It is important to be aware that Qi flows. It isn’t stagnant. The flow allows for all parts of the Dao to connect with its entirety. It flows inside and on the surface of everything. This flow is how things are able to change. Thus, the universe is in constant change: From weather changes, seasons, the waning and waxing of the moon to the birth and death of stars. The body changes too. If Qi doesn’t flow, there won’t be change, and when that happens, the body’s Qi is stagnant, which means the body is unhealthy.
Most people have heard of acupuncture or acupressure, these healing arts are designed for helping Qi flow healthily in pathways within our bodies which are called channels or meridians. When ill, the flow isn’t right, and using acupuncture or acupressure will help put Qi back on its correct flow. In practicing Qi Gong, you will move your body to help Qi flow stronger which means you will be healthier.
Yin / Yang
This is the real Tai Chi! This is the base of all movements in Wu Gong. Qi flows from the constant changing of yin/yang.
‘Yin/yang’ is the rule of opposites, balance, flow and change. Yin/Yang is the basis of everything in the universe. If one were to start from the very beginning of existence (yang) and non-existence (yin), one can see every something has an opposite to create a harmonious balance, and a forever changes for life to flow. Male (yang) and (yin) are as one in the procreation of life. Up (yang) and down (yin) is the relationship from where one is looking. Empty (yin) and full (yang) make things possible to be what they are: a cup is only a cup from the emptiness within a cup. Light (yang) and dark (yin), as in the sunshine (yang) or in the shade (yin), also more obvious is night (yin) and day (yang). Although good and bad/evil are often seen as opposites in the West, they are not included in the philosophy of yin/yang. Good and evil are abstract values. Yin/yang are laws of a concrete nature.
It is important to understand the yin-yang relationship to understand the philosophy of the Dao, Qi, and Wu Gong. It is how a martial artist gets power and strength. Balancing the yin /yang is how an acupuncturist treats a patient. It is the basis of the whole philosophy of Wu Gong and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Yin /yang came from Qi, therefore there is yin Qi and yang Qi. When people talk about balancing the yin /yang, they are talking about balancing Qi. This is essential to your health. When Qi is out of balance, something is obviously wrong. Keeping the balance of yin/ yang will keep you healthy physically, mentally and spiritually.
There are four basic laws that characterize the yin/yang relationship. In the yin /yang symbol, all the laws are shown, they may not obvious, but they are there:
- Yin is always with yang and visa versa; they are inseparable.
- One is always within the other, and infinitely divisible.
- When one starts to reach its pinnacle, its opposite starts to grow, they are interchangeable.
- They are in a constant cycle of change.
Yin is always with yang, and vise versa; they are inseparable. One can never separate yin from yang or yang from yin. There can never be just yin, or just yang. They compliment each other. They balance each other. They always affect each other because they are dependant on each other. This means that wherever there is an up, there is a down. There is an inside to every outside. There are the two opposite sexes. There is light, and there is no light, i.e. dark, night, shade… In the rule of opposites, one cannot exist without the other. If there is no light, then there is no dark and vise versa: for things to exist, it is simply impossible. For there to be darkness, there has to be something that contrasts it to be understood as dark. Without one, its opposite can’t exist. For life to continue as we know it there must be male and female.
One is always within the other, and is infinitely divisible. Yin/ yang is the basic rule of opposites and relationships. An object that is normally seen as yang, can be changed to yin because its situation changes. For example, a sock is soft, so it is yin. But when it goes on to the foot, it becomes yang because it is on the outside of the foot. The foot being hard, or yang, becomes yin because it is inside of the sock. Then it can change again when looking at the bones. The outside of the foot becomes yang again, and the bones in the foot are inside so they are yin. Or take another example: when a book is lying on a table and the backside is up (yang), the backside will be yang, compared to the front side which is facing down (yin). But when the book is flipped over, the backside which was yang is now yin because it is on the bottom. Take a little time and look around your surroundings and try to figure out what is what, and see how things change, and how life is full of these relationships and the changes within them.
Yin/yang is infinitely divisible. This is describes how yang is in yin and yin is in yang. Each time a person looks at the yang within yin; there is another yin/yang.
YANG-YIN YANG-YIN YANG-YIN YANG-YIN
YANG-YIN YANG-YIN
YANG - YIN
YANG
YANG - YIN
YANG-YIN YANG-YIN
YANG-YIN YANG-YIN YANG-YIN YANG-YIN
The pyramid goes on like that for an infinite number of times up to the infinitely large and down to the infinitely small for everything in existence. The large is the small and the small is the large. This concept is can also be understood as the micro/macro relationship. This is the theory behind reflexology (which is used in acupressure and acupuncture): massaging the ear, hands, and feet have a great impact on the health of our organs, and by having healthy organs our ears, feet, and hands will not hurt. To take this to the next level is to realize that everything has its balance in everything else. All the information is out there, all we need to know is how to tap into that information. The first step would be to understand ourselves because all that information is in us too.
When either yin or yang starts to reach its pinnacle, its opposite starts to grow; they are interchangeable. This is how change occurs. There is day and night. And within day and night there is dawn, morning, noon, afternoon, dusk and night. As the morning gains more light, yang gets stronger and yin starts to fade. Noon is the pinnacle of yang. But as afternoon develops, yin is starting to gain strength which means that night is getting closer. In the calendar, the daylight in winter is shorter than the daylight in summer. In Chinese philosophy they use the yin/yang term to specify the time of day and season. Summer and noon is double yang, fall and afternoon-evening is yang-yin (yang becoming yin), winter and midnight is double yin, and spring and morning is yin-yang (yin becoming yang). It is also possible to use double yang for noon and double yin for midnight.
Yin / yang is in a constant cycle of change. In the previous discussion of the seasons coming and going also explains how the yin/yang are in a cycle. If the energy of the yin / yang is not in a cycle, life would be stale. Could you imagine if there were only one season, or if there were only day and no night? The cycle is the combination of the other three rules of the yin / yang. The Dao is life, and in life there is movement. Imagine if time really did stand still; there would be no movement, no life. Such a state of being would go against all the rules of nature and existence in the Dao.
Cycles allows for us to be active and to rest. It allows nature to balance. If we were to only be active, our bodies would quickly fall apart because there was no time for repairs. If we were to only rest, our bodies would again quickly fall apart because of not being used; our hearts would become weaker and weaker to the point of failure. People who are able to balance their activeness with rest will have a healthy life. In the cycle of active and rest changes with the seasons. During summer (double yang) it is good to be outside being active. And during winter (double yin) it is better to be less active and sleep more. It is important to follow the seasons to keep our minds and bodies healthy.
Energy, Matter, Information
Energy, matter, and information are the three components that make up Qi.
Matter is everything tangible. “Matter” is those things that we can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. That includes objects animate and inanimate, in the past, present, or future. Matter has, and always will, exist. In the universe, nothing is ever lost; it only changes in its appearance. Everything in some form or another is recycled back into the ever changing universe.
Information is contained in every last detail of everything its condition and situation. Its color, size, past, location, a person’s thoughts, cold or hot etc… Animate or not, dead or alive, everything contains its own information down to the most miniscule detail to give each and every thing its own uniqueness.
Energy is the essence that “shines” from the matter and information. The energy is what gives life its essence. Energy is the force that combines all the matter and information together to make life as we see everyday.
Energy, matter and information are inseparable. If one were to separate Qi into these three components and look at each separately, each part alone would make no sense. If one were to only take ‘matter’, and not pay any attention to the other two, ‘matter’ could not exist. Without ‘information’, how would one know what ‘matter’ he or she is looking at? And without ‘energy’, the ‘matter’ and ‘information’ cannot reveal itself. The information “travels on the back” of the energy to reveal itself.
Life As We Know It
From energy, matter and information, life came to be with the many distinctions and variety as we know it today with the myriad of creatures. This is very important for us to the wisdom of accepting the multitude of layers life has given us. We live in an ecosystem that is fragile and can be easily disrupted.
The philosophy of the Dao, Qi, and yin / yang come together to create life as we know it. The depth is truly profound, and can be elusive only because most of us take it all for granted. The Dao, Qi, and yin /yang theories are only concepts in one’s mind and on paper unless they are put to use. This means that to get a better grasp of the philosophy, it is important to feel Qi because the Dao and everything it contains will then come to life. Practicing Wu Gong is a perfect way to do that. For some people, feeling Qi is an immediate experience. Other people need to take time to feel Qi. When you are practicing and you do not feel Qi, do not worry. The more you practice, the more experience you have with it, the more you will feel Qi. With this feeling, you will understand this chapter more clearly. For those who choose to go down this path, daily practice will show progress.