REDWORDTIMES ISSUE #1
We Things Loooove!!!
SINGAPORE MAY 2013 www.redwordtree.com
ISSUE #1 SINGAPORE MAY 2013
www.redwordtree.com
LEARN XINGYIQUAN AND MASTER YOUR LIFE!
ISSUE SPECIAL: Success Strategies From An Ancient Master!
Hallo from the Editor… Welcome to the inaugural issue of RedWordTimes. This is an online publication of RedWordTree Pte Ltd, a copywriting agency based in the Republic of Singapore.
PUBLISHER: RedWordTree Pte Ltd 111, North Bridge Road #05-32 Peninsula Plaza Singapore 179098 Tel: +65 6515 0270
Unlike other online magazines with a specific focus, RedWordTimes is about anything and everything we love. As writers with an artistic temperament, we don’t really care as to whether anyone will agree with what we have to say about certain topics. We simply love what we love, and that will be the guiding principle to what we will write about. Everything we write in this publication will be things, subjects, topics that the three resident writers of RedWordTree Pte Ltd love. Some of them will have scientific backing, some of them won’t; some will have public backing, others won’t. In fact, we might have opinions that may be too controversial for our time. It doesn’t really matter: what matters is that we have a platform to write about things we love. It is obvious that we have traits of narcissism and self-obsession that define what we do and what we write. We might possibly defy the primary rule of any publication, i.e. to write for a specific audience. We are writing for ourselves and not for you. So to begin, this newsletter/magazine/publication will start off with my pet interest, Xingyiquan(形意拳). Xingyiquan(形意拳),or Hsing-I Ch’uan as according to the Wade-Giles romanisation system of the Chinese-Mandarin language, is an internal Chinese martial art form. My first exposure to this wonderful martial art started because of a severe bout of illness that simply refused to go away; I was having flu and fever intermittently, and the sickness propelled me to look for an exercise that would improve my health. And that was when I stumbled upon Master Ge Chunyan(戈春艳),who was teaching Xingyiquan(形意拳),Taijiquan (太极拳)and Baguazhang(八卦掌)at Bafangwushu(八方武术)Training Centre at Marine Parade. The practice of Xingyiquan(形意拳) has since accorded me tremendous health benefits that would be too extensive to describe here. But suffice to say, the art has gone beyond just improving my physical wellbeing, and that’s why it is chosen as the very first topic to launch RedWordTimes. I hope that you will enjoy reading this article as much as I have enjoyed writing it. And of course, true blue to any old timer who grew up with cheesy Wonder Woman, Green Hornet and Batman episodes, I will have to exhort you to “Stay tuned to the next episode of (dramatic pause) RedWordTimes. Lee Lin Cher Editor
Email: enquiry@redwordtree.com
EDITOR: Lee Lin Cher
CONTRIBUTORS: Lee Lin Cher Fazilla Nordin Lui Natasha Amanda
DESIGN & CREATIVE: Fazilla Nordin
PHOTOS: Microsoft Office Clip Art iStockphoto
Disclaimer The information given here has been referenced from various articles, research papers, books and the web. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only and NOT as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, treatment, training and advice. Neither the Publisher, Editor nor Author will be held responsible for the accuracy of the facts contained therein, and any consequences that might arise from the misapplication or misinterpretation of what is written. Rights All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or means without the written permission of the Publisher.
Success Strategies from an Ancient Master Fast, quick and instant – 21st century is all about getting what you want, right now, effortlessly. The prevalence of motivational and success seminars that promise fast-track results is testament to this get-it-quick phenomenon, and anything that hints at effortless achievement will be met with much enthusiastic response. Yet, despite the thousands of dollars spent on such workshops and courses, the bulk of the general population remain goal-less and unmotivated, and most of these workshop junkies go on to live mundane, ordinary lives, with nary a hint of the spectacular successes that they have been promised. So what are the principles of success? Can anyone shed light on the process of success? Specifically, is there someone whom we can emulate in our pursuit of success? To answer these questions, one will have to look to Guo Yunshen (郭云深),a legendary Xingyiquan (形意拳 ; Hsing I Ch'üan) master most known for his “half-step crushing punch” (Chinese: 半步崩拳 ).And while stories abound for this martial artist from a long time ago, two stories stand out, one involving his journey into Xingyiquan (形意拳), the other involving him becoming famous for Xingyiquan (形意拳).
Guo Yun Shen’s Journey Into Xingyiquan If nature had been allowed to take its course, Guo Yunshen (郭云深) might never have become the Xingyiquan (形意拳) master as we know him to be. A direct and straight-cutting person, the young Guo was deemed to be too “violent and rough” for Li Luoneng (simplified Chinese: 李洛能), a famous master of the art at that time. Thus, when Guo approached Li to learn from him, Li rejected him outright. Not a man to give up easily, Guo would find a way to circumvent the obstacle laid in front of him. Disguising himself as a workman, Guo gained access to Li’s residence, secretly observing the renowned teacher as he taught. The ritual would continue for the next three years, with Guo obsessing and perfecting his “crushing punch” (Chinese: 崩拳), a move very much in vogue at that time. The time came when Guo had to unveil the truth. Paying a courtesy visit to Li, Guo demonstrated a powerful and flawless “crushing fist”, which Li was particularly impressed. Convinced of his determination and sincerity, Li agreed to teach Guo the secrets of Xingyiquan (形意拳), thereby setting the stage for Guo to become the most remembered master in the history of Xingyiquan (形意拳).
Guo Yunshen ( Master
) – A Famed Xingyiquan
During his life as a career fighter in the ancient times, Guo had his fair share of duels and challenges coming from all corners of China. However, one of the most notable events in his life was not his fights, but his imprisonment. The reason for his incarceration was unclear. Some accounts state that he was thrown into jail for killing a local bandit; other accounts state that he was punished for killing another kung-fu master accidentally in a hand-to-hand battle. The actual reason is not important; instead, it was what he did in prison that made him stand out as a Xingyiquan (形意拳) master. While in prison, Guo persisted in his Xingyiquan (形意拳) practice. Because of the restraints imposed on him by the iron shackles and fetters, Guo could only execute limited movements. As such, while he practised his all-time favourite “crushing punch” in prison, he could only shuffle half a step forward each time instead of the full lunge. On top of that, his “crushing punch” was also constrained because of the heavy shackles. His “crushing fist” combined with his half lunge forward would soon come to be known as the “half-step crushing punch” (Chinese: 半步崩拳). The three-year jail sentence soon came to an end. Guo, like a tiger unleashed, would go on to challenge and defeat many prominent martial artists of his time. His “half-step crushing punch” would gain fame and renown by knocking out many formidable opponents.
4 Lessons From Guo Yunshen’s Xingyiquan 形意拳 Journey
1. If something doesn’t work, change the approach. When Guo first approached Li to teach him Xingyiquan (形意拳), the latter rejected him for his “violent nature”. Instead of accepting the fate that he might never get to learn Xingyiquan (形意拳), Guo took another route, first by learning the art surreptitiously, then presenting what he had mastered to Li. In the end, it was a proposition that Li could not refuse; Guo was too good for him not to accept.
2. Master one skill very well. Unlike modern man who gets distracted by every novelty in town, Guo was focussed – to the point of obsession – in only one move within the repertoire of Xingyiquan (形意拳)’s moves. He would later unleash the full prowess of his “half-step crushing punch” (半步崩拳),defeating multiple opponents in the course of his lifetime through this simple but effective move.
3. Turn adversity into strength. Going to jail might spell the end to most people, but for Guo, it was the time of his life when he would perfect that one move that he was so in love with. The shackles and chains which bound him would become the tools of his training, building within him the strength and power that would make him a master of all times.
4. Never give up. If there is one trait that makes Guo Yunshen (郭云深) stand out from the rest, it is his undying spirit of perseverance. He never took ‘no’ for an answer. Put him in a prison cell and he turned it into a dojo. Put shackles and fetters on him and he turned them into resistance-training machines. In short, Guo was dogged in pursuing what he wanted, and God bless whoever stood in his way.
How To Build The Guo Yunshen ( ) Spirit Other than putting yourself through military boot camp training, one of the surest and fastest ways of building the Guo Yunshen (郭云深) spirit from deep within is undertaking Xingyiquan (形意拳) training. Loosely translated as “Form-Intention Boxing”, Xingyiquan (形意拳) is one of the three major internal styles of Chinese martial arts – the other two are Taijiquan (太极拳 ;T'ai chi ch'uan) and Baguazhang (八卦掌) respectively. Its seemingly aggressive, linear movements and explosive power allows the practitioner to reach his opponent quickly and to drive his blows through the latter in a single burst. By focussing on one’s qi (气; chi), one would be able to drive his/her body forward as a single unit, deriving power and momentum in combat. Yet, despite its seemingly outward aggression, it is a power which originates from a calm, internal composure. By practising Xingyiquan (形意拳), one would be able to: ü
Imbibe the never-say-die attitude
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Foster calm, focussed intent
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Build deep, internal power
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Cultivate a goal-oriented mentality
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Develop a strong, grounded personality
Guo Yunshen (郭云深) was a warrior and a fighter to start with, but it was Xingyiquan (形意拳) that further made him into the legend that he later became. You can be just as successful too, in your work, career and life, if you begin Xingyiquan (形意拳) training.
Where To Learn Xingyiquan (形意拳)In Singapore??? Unlike Guo Yunshen (郭云深), you don’t have to disguise as a workman to learn from a grand master. Neither will you need to scale the remote mountains of China to learn this wonderful art. Instead, one can just go to Marine Parade to learn Xingyiquan (形意拳). Master Ge Chunyan(戈春艳) – five-time consecutive champion of Baguazhang(八卦掌), multiple gold medal-holder of Chen-Style Taijiquan(太极拳)and the Overall Champion in the women’s category in wushu competitions in China – has been teaching Xingyiquan (形意拳) in Singapore since 2004. As an all-round martial artist, Master Ge Chunyan(戈春艳)is also champion in Long Tassel Sword and Three-Person Sparring. Other than that, Master Ge comes from the direct lineage of the Xingyiquan (形意拳) tradition. As founder and Chief Trainer of Bafangwushu(八方武术)Training Centre in Singapore, Master Ge’s vision is to promote the culture and essence of wushu in the Lion City and beyond. Interested members of the public can contact her at +65 90253887 or visit her website at www.bafangwushu.com.
About The Author This article was written by Lee Lin Cher from RedWordTree Pte Ltd. RedWordTree Pte Ltd is a copywriting agency that specialises in the writing of articles, newsletters, e-newsletters, websites, magazines, brochures, and all manner of publications. To get your writing needs met, do visit www.redwordtree.com.