​This looks similar in concept to Qinna (擒拿) - Joint Manipulation - or literally 'Catch Grasp'. A limb (or the torso) is seized and stopped from independently moving around its joint(s). When pressure is applied to the joint - moving it in the opposite direction to that which it is supposed to move - then pain is induced. Of course, extreme pressure leads to dislocation of the joint-structure and breakage of the bone shaft. I notice that many of the stances and movements look very similar to Kata and Form combinations. The idea, I assume, is to take control of the opponent's torso or limb, etc. 

​These ideograms are written in Old Chinese Script - but pronounced using Japanese and Okinawan language.

[square] brackets = Chinese pronunciations
(round) brackets = Japanese-Okinawan pronunciations

​a) 補 (Ho) = [bu3] - increase, aid, repair, supplement, mend, compensate and nourish

​b) 助 (Jo) = [zhu4] - help, support, augment and assist

​c) 運 (Un) = [yun4] - transport, carry, utilise, revolve, buoyancy and fate

​d) 動 (Do) = [dong4] - move, act, alter, momentum and touch

​It seems that the four ideograms are deployed using two couplets:

​1) 補助 (Hojo) = supplement and auxiliary [Buzhu]

​2) 運動 (Undo) = sporting and competitive vigorous movement [Yundong]

​The following is a contemporary webpage from Taiwan (auto-translated into 'English' entitled '法規內容-教育部運動發展基金補助各級學校運動團隊作業要點') continuously uses the term '補助運動' (Hojo Undo - Buzhu Yundong) - which is used exclusively to refer to 'supplementary sporting exercises':

​The inclusion of the terms 'buoyancy', 'touch', 'transport', 'momentum' and 'fate' - all suggest an 'internal' management of the 'external' (physical) body (through the attainment of an 'effortless momentum'). Therefore, although this term is common-place in China - the mastery it refers to is certainly not common-place. On the one-hand, a man or woman might train to win a Gold Medal or World Title - but these achievements (as important as they are for the 'Nation') only fall inside the 'external' component of this term. On the other-hand, Karate-Do Styles such as Goju Ryu exemplify the principle of the 'internal' superseding the 'external' - even though a lifetime must be spent subsumed in the 'external' whilst attempting to understand this relationship and transition into the infinitely powerful 'internal' position. Of course, ultimately, both the 'external' and the 'internal' integrate into a perfect, functioning 'whole' - as can be seen during a perfect execution of a Kata.  

At the end of the day, in a threatening position, an individual purporting to practice a traditional (Chinese) martial arts - must be able not to win trophies or gain coloured belts or sashes - but rather REMOVE the systemic threat existing in the immediate environment through the use of a 'decisive' act of disciplined violence. Unlike the modified martial arts used within modern sports, an 'effective' technique being deployed in a 'live' situation does NOT need to look good or conform to an unreasonable 'aesthetic'. The person being threatened, at the moment the decisive action is being deployed, is entirely on their own for the duration of the conflict. Whatever happens next becomes a matter entirely of their own affair - as other people (logically) tend to 'distance' themselves from the conflict as a matter of life-preservation and self-defence by association. Of course, the action might go wrong and the chosen technique fail to work. Above, a conflict begins between two young men (speaking Putonghua) arguing over who has the right to 'sell' in a certain area - with an Old Man attempting to de-escalate the situation. The young man launches a 'punching' attack which works precisely as intended. The armed young man is knocked down and is unconscious for a short time. He is kept in place by a foot on the chest - as NO further action is used against him once the knife is taken away from him. As you can see - violence is a horrible answer to any question - and a well disciplined and peaceful society is preferred over that of a violent situation. In this circumstance, the young man with the knife may well be suffering from mental health issues that now need to be treated. Although violence is NOT the answer - even though it may be required at certain times - when violence is needed it must be decisive enough to END the over-all level of existential violence and prevent any further damage to society and the people living in it! 

Students Practice During a Martial Arts Class Under the Instructions of Coach Li Yinggang at the Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School in Songshan, Central China's Henan Province - July 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Gang)

Translator's Note: Master Mekaru Kenichi was born in '旧大里' (Jiu Da Li) Village in Okinawa during 1947 (that is the 'Old Big and Wide' Village) - as the island was still recovering from the cataclysmic (1945) Battle of Okinawa! His surname '铭苅' (Mekaru) appears to be a District of Northeast Naha City (perhaps named after a tortoiseshell) - whilst his first names of '拳一' (Kenichi) possess a definite martial connotation meaning a 'Single Fist' or a 'Fist that Unifies', etc! Times were hard when he was young and life was difficult - but Mekaru Kenichi ​and his clan were held together by their Karate-Do mind and body discipline - knowing full well that its inner structure was historically from China! During the early days of his life, his biography relates how even as a young child he was holding the 'Horse Stance' and participating in general 'Tang Hand' training with no particular 'name' or 'style' association (a typical situation amongst many traditionally minded Okinawans at the time)! In 1958, when he was 11 years old, his family emigrated to the Sao Paulo area of Brazil to join the already substantial Japanese and Okinawan population already living their and doing well with lots of open space to build and plenty of work opportunities! During 1977, when Mekaru Kenichi was 30 years old, he met Mr. Kakazu Yoshimasa - who had come to Brazil to participate in an 'Open' fighting competition! Upon his return to Okinawa - Mekaru Kenichi followed him and became his martial arts disciple! When returning to Mr. Kakazu Yoshimasa's Dojo in Naha City, he was tasked with mastering the 'Kobayashi Ryu' (小林流) - style of Okinawan Karate-Do - a branch of the 'Shorin Ryu' (少林流) fighting style - which uses the Chinese ideograms that read 'Shaolin Lineage'. - as there is a belief that this style of Okinawan Karate-Do was originally linked directly to the Shaolin Temple tradition of China. Kobayashi Ryu was founded by Chibana Chōshin (知花朝信) [1885-1969]. His family practiced the 'Chinese Hand (唐手 - Tang Shou) - and refused the Japanese order to change the name to 'Empty Hand' (空手 - Kong Shou) for decades! Master Mekaru Kenichi  became a very great Master of the Kobayashi Ryu style and was renowned for travelling the world and relentlessly teaching anyone who wanted to learned genuine, Chinese-based Okinawan Karate-Do! This led to him eventually entering China and working very hard to introduce the modern Chinese people to a martial art that belonged to them - but which had been transmitted to another culture hundreds of years ago! Master Mekura Kenichi dedicated 25 years of life to China before retiring and leaving a place in 2013 (aged 66) he had called 'home' for quarter of a century! The record books now show that Mekura Kenichi was the first person to introduce an Okinawan Karate-Do style (Kobayashi Ryu) into an independent and thriving Mainland China during 1988! ACW (23.8.2022)

Master Mekura Kenichi Demonstrates 'Basic Kata Number One'!

Mr Mekaru Kenichi ​ first visited China in 1988 – where he is well-known for performing what would become known as his inaugural Karate-Do cultural exchange performance at the Shanghai Wushu Academy! The reaction from the thousands in attendance at the time was very appreciative and supportive! Since then, people from all walks of life in Shanghai became very interested in learning the martial art of Karate-Do, and this positive reaction gave him the idea of developing the teaching of Karate-Do in Shanghai!

In 1990, Mr Mekaru ​Kenichi was introduced by the Brazilian President in a letter and recommended by the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai. With the help of Mr. Zhu Rongji (朱镕基) the Mayor of Shanghai at that time - he was contacted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal Commission for Sports - and entirely at his own expense, established China's first officially recognised Karate-Do training class held at the Shanghai Physical Education Training Hall. At that time, a large number of willing practitioners flocked in an endless stream to the classes, and the registration was extraordinarily high! To help with the training process, the Japanese government provided 300 Karate-Do training suits (termed ‘gi’) for free - for the newcomers to use! ​

In Japan, karate is taught as part of the School Physical Education Curriculum! Therefore, Mr Mekaru Kenichi wanted to establish Karate-Do as a sport in China’s Primary and Secondary Schools and Universities in China, so as to popularise this martial art amongst the youth! In 1992, he taught for free and borrowed 100 further sets of Japanese Karate-Do uniforms for which he distributed for free. He founded the Fudan University Karate Association and opened the first Karate-Do training class to be held in a Chinese university and was hired as the Honorary President and Chief Instructor of the Association (which provided him with a small room to live, three meals a day and a small stipend). From this firm foundation, he opened a Karate-Do training course and served as the Head Coach for the Shanghai Metallurgical College. ​

The following year, he aimed at establishing Karate-Do classes throughout the whole country yet again! This time he was successful, and he managed to establish fully functioning Dojos in Chengdu, Kunming, Xi'an, Shenyang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and other major cities – attracting the huge number of 80,000 ethnic Chinese students!  ​

Mr Mekaru ​Kenichi ​was appointed by the Okinawa Fist Study Association of Japan to promote traditional Karate-Do all over the world! He has taught in major cities in dozens of countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. After 20 years, the number of students around the world has reached 35,000! He has stated, however, that as China is the birthplace of Karate-Do – China remains the country with the most potential for development. In order to spread and develop Karate-Do in China, he would rather give up the materially superior conditions of other countries, relocate to a remote part of China for meditative study, and invest whatever money he could raise and donate it to the Chinese people - to be used for the promotion of Karate-Do!  ​

After years of hard work by Mr Mekaru ​Kenichi ​, the regular practice of Karate-Do has developed rapidly throughout China – a process which has proven especially strong in Shanghai. Today, dozens of colleges and universities, including Fudan University, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, Donghua University, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, and Peking University, have all established regular Karate-Do associations and offer Karate-Do courses (including medicine and weaponry). At the same time, many fitness clubs have also launched Karate-Do as a form of fitness exercise, training tens of thousands of students! ​

On April 25th, 1999, China's first official Karate-Do body – the ‘Shanghai Wushu Association Karate Committee’ - was established through the authority of the World Karate-Do Federation! Through the introduction of Mr. Wang Zhaoji (王肇基) - the Director of the Karate-Do Committee of the Shanghai Wushu Association - Mr Mekaru Ginkari was hired as the first Consultant Head Coach. This appointment was confirmed at the inauguration ceremony, where enthusiastic Karate-Do students were called upon to hold a demonstration and competition! Mr Shimizu Seno - the Deputy Consul General of the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai - also came to the Shanghai Wushu Academy to watch the inauguration ceremony! At the invitation of Mr Mekaru Kenichi ​ important members of the World Karate Federation and All Japan Karate Federation attended the inauguration ceremony – including director Arakawa Tong and director Hasumi Keiichi! These Karate-Do experts personally guided Chinese students in their Karate-Do practice – and helped explain the competition rules as established by the World Karate Federation! Everyone who attended, regardless of rank, ethnicity or origination, all chose to support China by joining the Karate-Do Committee of the Shanghai Wushu Association!  ​

During May 2000, following negotiations between Mr Mekaru ​Kenichi ​and the Japan Kyokushinkaikan - the first Sino-Japanese karate exchange competition (for college and high school students) was held (including full-contact sparring, Kata and weapons demonstrations), with many more high-spirited Sino-Japanese exchange competitions being held since then!  ​

During February 2001, Mr Mekaru ​ Kenichi ​ invited the All-Japan Karate Women's Champion to Shanghai to participate in the exchange competition with Shanghai karate students – to offer advice regarding practice methods, Kata performances and actual combat (self-defence) experience!  ​

Chinese Language Source:

http://www.360doc.com/content/12/0820/11/99504_231276189.shtml ​

铭苅拳一介绍 
铭苅拳一介绍2012年01月15日 13:46:07 
    铭苅拳一先生于1988年第一次来到中国，在上海武术院进行了第一次空手道交流表演，当时反映极为强烈。鉴于上海各界人士对空手道十分感兴趣，在上海发展空手道的想法产生于他的脑海之中。 
  1990年，铭苅先生经巴西总统致信介绍及日本驻沪领事馆的推荐，在当时上海市市长朱镕基先生帮助下，由上海市体委外事处联络，在上海体育宫自费创办了中国第一个公认的空手道训练班。当时大批学习者络绎不绝，报名极为踊跃，全部免费借用了从日本带来的三百套拳士会空手道道服。 
  在日本，空手道是作为学校体育教育课程的。由此铭苅先生想在中国各中小学及大学内开展空手道运动，在学生中进行普及。1992年，他义务免费授课，并免费借用一百套日本空手道道服，创建了复旦大学空手道协会及开设了中国高校的第一个空手道训练班，并受聘为协会荣誉会长兼总指导；同时在上海冶金高等专科学校开设了训练班并担任总教练。 
次年，他又把目标指向了全国，先后在成都、昆明、西安、沈阳、南京、杭州、青岛、广州、香港等各大城市办班传授武艺，学生总数8万人次以上。 
    铭苅先生曾受日本冲绳拳士会委派，到世界各国推广空手道。在美国、加拿大、墨西哥、巴西、巴拉圭、阿根廷、哥伦比亚、秘鲁、法国、西班牙、葡萄牙、意大利等数十个国家的大城市都任教过，历经20年，学生达3万5千人次。但还是发现中国是最具有潜力可发展的国家。为了在中国传播和发展空手道，他宁愿放弃其他国家的优越条件，来到中国进行考察，投入许多资金在中国空手道事业的开展推广方面，为了能使中国的空手道运动更好、更顺利地发展。 
    经过铭苅先生多年的努力，空手道事业在中国发展蒸蒸日上，特别是在上海。如今包括复旦大学、上海外国语大学、上海对外贸易学院、东华大学、南京理工大学、北京大学等数十所高校都成立了空手道协会，开设了空手道课程。同时许多健身俱乐部也已开展此运动，培训学员数万名。 
    1999年4月25日，经世界空手道连盟认可，中国第一个空手道委员会——上海市武术协会空手道委员会成立。在上海市武协空手道委员会主任王肇基先生的介绍下，铭苅先生被聘为首任顾问总教练，并在成立仪式上召集空手道学员举办了表演比赛。日本驻沪领事馆副总领事清水濑野先生也来到上海武术院观看了这次成立仪式。在铭苅先生的盛邀下，世界空手道连盟和全日本空手道连盟的最高干部局长荒川通和理事莲见圭一亲临上海庆祝空手道委员会的成立，观看、指导中国学生的表演比赛，并对世界空手道连盟的比赛裁判规则作了讲解。 
上海市武术协会空手道委员会成立以后，铭苅先生在沪上的所有在册学员都加入了空手道委员会成为会员。 
    2000年5月，在铭苅先生与日本极真会馆的协商下，进行了首届大中学生中日空手道交流赛，以后又举办过多次中日交流赛。 
    2001年2月，铭苅先生又邀请了全日本空手道女子冠军来到上海，参加了与上海空手道学员的交流比赛，进行了练习方法、套路表演及实战比赛的交流。 
阅读(274)|**(0) 
 
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Translator's Note: The earliest editions of this story appear on the Chinese language internet on December 30th, 2019. This story is then circulated around and through the Chinese language media for at least another six months to a year. There appears to be two dates that are distinct - but which are 'merged' - during the reporting of this story. The two dates are as follows:

a) 'September 16th, 1989' - when Lin Weigong made the official announcement that he had discovered the name of the Chinese Master of the 'Whooping Crane Fist' - that is 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥) [1852-1930]- also known as Xie Ru Ru (謝如如) and  'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) - who was the teacher of the Higaonna Kanryo [1853-1915] (from Okinawa) during the 19th century.

​b) 'June 9th, 1990' - a black marble "Monument of Achievement" was raised in the southwest corner of the Fuzhou New Sports Centre by the Japanese and Okinawa Karate Association in memory of the Chinese Master Xie Ru Ru (謝如如) also known as  'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) - the Chinese teacher of the Okinawan Master Higaonna Kanryo!

Therefore, the year '2019' marks the 30th Anniversary of the announcement of the discovery of 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥) - whilst the year '2020' marks the 30th Anniversary of the raising of the black marble stele - and I believe the confusion (and conflation) of these two dates is the reason 'why' the news story continues to be associated with two different years (2019 and 2020). As not all of the historical data is present in any one single text (as the authors assume their readership already possesses a working knowledge of the story at hand), I have borrowed from at least three versions and have weaved a coherent historical narrative together. There was around eight months between Lin Weigong's historical announcement - and the Japanese - Okinawan Karate Association (representing 'Goju Ryu') organising the fund raising, commissioning, construction and transportation of the black marble stele - which is inscribed using Japanese language ideograms. The primary pictures in this article feature the stele and are dated from 1990 and 2000. The main stone tablet (and supporting base stele) both commemorate - with great respect - the eternal friendship that exists between China and Japan.  This very close and fraternal relationship is embodied (and epitomised) through the creative (historical) interaction that took place between Xie Chongxiang and Higaonna Kanryo! May this interaction between the cultures of these two countries be forever fruitful! ACW (15.8.2022)

​In the summer of 1988, the relevant Departments of Okinawa Prefecture Government hosted a banquet in Fuzhou to thank the Deputy Secretary-General of the Fujian Provincial Government and Director of the Provincial Tourism Bureau - Nan Jiang (南江) - and other leaders including the well-known and respected senior academic - Lin Weigong - (Editor-in-Chief of People's History of the Fuzhou Local Chronicle Committee) who sought out the roots of the "Thirty-Six Surnames of Fujian People" in the Ryukyu country. He has made unremitting efforts and contributions to the search for roots and ancestors in Okinawa for many years. On September 16th, 1989, after months of arduous research, Lin Weigong made the breakthrough that everybody had been waiting for - that he had discovered the Chinese teacher of Higaonna Kanryo! This led to a great outpouring of enthusiasm and excitement in both Okinawa and Japan - culminating in the idea of constructing an engraved monument to honour the Chinese ancestor whose martial arts style eventually evolved into style of Goju Ryu Karate-Do in Okinawa! Therefore, on June 9th, 1990, in the southwest corner of the Fuzhou New Sports Centre, a solemn black marble "Monument of Achievement" was raised. It is a monument erected by the Japanese and Okinawa Karate Association in memory of the Chinese Master Xie Ru Ru (謝如如) also known as  'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) - the Chinese teacher of the Okinawan Master Higaonna Kanryo - who developed a style of Karate-Do - that evolved into 'Goju' (Hard-Soft) Ryu. His full name was 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥). 

The Chairman of Fujian Wushu Association Liu Zhonglu (刘中路) and Lin Weigong (林伟功) Cooperated to Publish a Report in "Chinese Wushu".

Wen Fushan (温附山) Vice Governor of Fujian Province - and VIP Leaders from All Walks of Life in China, Japan and Okinawa - Attended the Ceremony Took a Group Photograph in Front of the Monument.

The Name on the Tablet - Decided by the Historical Investigation team - is that of 'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) as the Martial Arts Master in Fujian Who Taught Higaonna Kanryo!

From the left in the front row of the photograph: Lin Weigong (林伟功), Lin Xuanzhi [林萱治] (former Deputy Director of the General Office of the Fuzhou Municipal Government and former Director of the Municipal Local Records Office), Fang Baoyan (方宝炎) (the Great Master of Whooping Crane Fist - 鸣鹤拳 [Ming He Quan]), Huang Qiquan [黄启权] (former director of the General Office of the Municipal Party Committee, Director of the Municipal Office of Local Affairs), Wen Fu Shan [温附山] (Vice Governor of Fujian Province), Head of the Japanese and Okinawan Delegation - Yuika Tokashiki (渡嘉敷唯贤​) - (President of the Japanese and Okinawan Karate Association). In the back row are the Directors and Deputy Directors of the Provincial Sports Commission, as well as leaders of relevant Departments and other members of the Japanese and Okinawan delegation.

Lin Weigong (林伟功) was hired as a Special Consultant by the Japanese and Okinawan Karate Association to investigate the origins of Goju Ryu Karate-Do in China. The picture shows the esteemed Presidemt - Yuika Tokashiki (渡嘉敷唯贤) and Lin Weigong - taking a photograph together in front of the monument.

The above pages  are written in Japanese script and list a number of 'names' of honourable Japanese people who have contributed finance, time and/or expertise to the arrangement, construction and raising of the stone monument(s). These names include Moriyoshi Niizaki, Tomoyoshi Nakayoshi, Chuichi Uehara, Takakatsu Nakamura, Yasuhide Gibo, Antetsu Takehara, Yuki Dochu, Nobuichi Ishii, Koji Sugimoto, Noriko Sugimoto, Maki Sugimoto, Masashi Deni, Hiromi Miyagi,,Koji Miyagi, Hyakuna Ason, Hanashiro Seimei, Onaha Tsutomu, Nakazato Masayuki, Gakiya Hiroshi,
Kamiesu Choho, Hirota Nakaima and Kosuke Kamiya, etc. 

Chinese Language Articles:

https://www.it610.com/article/1225060581883613184.htm

https://88db.com.hk/QnA/Lesson-Instruction/空手道與褔建南拳的歷史淵源-剛柔流空手道的創造人在福建/1867

https://www.xuehua.us/a/5ebf28f07b5409df8eabbe2f?lang=zh-cn

Selection of Important Extracts:

老故事|30多年前林伟功受福建省政府之命为日本刚柔流空手道寻根

老故事|30多年前林伟功受福建省政府之命为日本刚柔流空手道寻根1988年夏，日本冲绳县有关部门在福州设宴感谢福建省政府副秘书长兼省旅游局局长南江等领导及为琉球国“闽人三十六姓”寻根的总查证人林伟功（福州市方志委人物志主编）等多年为冲绳寻根觅祖作出不懈努力及所做的贡献。

1989年9月16日，有關專家再次對謝如如是否做了進一步的論證，最後一致認為：謝如如(宗祥)確系日本沖繩剛柔流祖師東恩納寬量當年在福州所拜的中國武術師傅，並於1990年6月9日在福州市新體育中心西南角，矗立著一座莊嚴肅穆的黑色大理石“顯彰碑”，是日本沖繩空手道總會為紀念日本空手道剛柔流祖師東恩納寬量的中國師傅謝如如而立的紀念碑。這是中日武術界傳統中有源流方面影響的明證。

席上日方高野代表在再次致谢之余，提出希望请南江秘书长再安排林伟功主编将寻找日本刚柔流空手道中国鼻祖担当起来，南江秘书长给予接受，并让林伟功主编正式接受任务。宴后，在市方志办主任林萱治、黄启权的支持下，林伟功开展了艰辛的调查论证，发表了报告，并在副省长温附山的主持下通过论证会，确认福建省鸣鹤拳一代宗师谢如如是日本刚柔流鼻祖东恩纳•宽量的师傅，1989年取得圆满成功，并在省体育中心建立了显彰碑。

In the West, Asian martial arts have been thoroughly commercialised and converted from a battlefield spiritual art – into a vehicle for making money. The instructors ‘sell’ their knowledge to classes of students – with an emphasis upon a very narrow definition of ‘self-defence’ (in the UK, many such teachers attempt to relate to their students by assuming they are in a pub on a Saturday night – and another drinker ‘starts looking at your bird’ and such other laughable narratives! In other words, the ancient martial arts of the East are taught to students in the contemporary West as a method to ‘defend’ themselves from attacks from other Westerners in a social (leisure) setting! Teachers of this type tend to cultivate a ‘cult of personality’ mentality throughout their school, which suggests that their art contains some sought of ‘mystical’ core that grants invincibility to each practitioner, and certain defeat to all those who are unlucky to confront it! ​

Ironically, I have been shown evidence of so-called ‘contracts’ signed by students when setting-up their monthly bank payments to the instructor. In the small print a disclaimer reads ‘The ‘student’ acknowledges that the movements taught are for guidance only, a may not be effective in any position of ‘self-defence’ - and that the instructor has no liability whatsoever for the well-being of the student.’ A lawyer-friend of mine advises that such contracts and ‘clauses’ are common-place nowadays in the martial arts scene which tends to target large classes of young children – where the training is sold to parents as ‘play’! The teachers do not care about the psychological, physical or spiritual well-being of their students, as the individuals concerned exist only to generate income and pay the bills. ​

In the expensive leisure centres, for example, the martial arts are sold as ego-trips for well-off and very rich! These people like to pretend that for the duration of the lessons they are legitimate martial arts fighters, when in reality the classes are designed around retaining their comfort levels in an air-conditioned room, with movements that do not go beyond a light cardiovascular workout. Each lesson is a self-contained episode as there is no guarantee that the ‘clients’ will be back next week! There is no continuation, but only the repeating of the myth of a deficient self-empowerment that occurs within one of the safest and crime-free environments on earth! The teacher must alter everything and change whatever the clients want changed to keep their attention levels up and to keep them coming back for more (whilst paying the ridiculous membership fees)! ​

Should a student progress in their martial arts practice and attend long enough for the teacher to take their presence seriously, he or she may well be considered suitable for participating in martial sports. This is a safe type of combat within which neither of the participants actually hit one another – but purposely throw-out their arms and legs to empty air in the direction of the opponent! He who throws enough such techniques is declared the ‘winner’ and the instructor’s school receives all the kudos for this success (hence the interest shown in the student by the teacher). Then there are the mixed martial artists who roll around on the floor in one-on-one bouts – each trying to ‘submit’ the other. In some versions, kicking and punching is also allowed during ‘stand-up’ periods to excite the fee-paying crowd! Although presented as the ‘best’ type of martial arts, modern militaries do not use this type of fighting simply because it does not work in reality (on the battlefield).  ​

Legitimate Asian martial arts do exist. They exist in Asia and they exist in the West but they are well-hidden behind the thick blanket of highly commercialised martial arts. If a sincere student genuinely seeks-out a proper martial arts teacher, it is highly likely that they will be drawn into something very similar to what is described above. In fact, given the current conditions, such a scenario is virtually inevitable. In such a situation it is better to make the best of what is on offer in the outside whilst retaining you own inner freedom. It is a matter of bidding your time until you encounter what you are really looking for. Until that time, adaptability is the key to ongoing development. Understanding a situation does not mean that you have to be in conflict with it. It is better to remain quiet and meaning onto a situation and breathe new life into it. Traditional Chinese martial arts do exist, but they are difficult to find and even more difficult to enter! 
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Dear Nick

A very interesting (internal) Longfist Form! Master Zhao Ming Wang forwarded this video of a Qianfeng Disciple. This is a traditional mode of practice just like our own in the Ch’an Dao School. Of course, what follows is not a discussion on the movements perse, but rather the manner in which these movements are performed. Developed insight and seasoned will-power is a matter of a good and fully-rounded ‘intent’. This is the exact opposite to what is expected in the training and technique designed found in the ‘audience-pleasing’ practicing for sport. For sporting purposes - the movements are speeded-up for dramatic effect.  ​

This changes the leg use, balance and coordination. Sporting forms are practiced 'top down' which is good for audience entertainment but sacrifices a good and effective 'root'. Proper (traditional) form training for fighting is practiced 'ground up' (like the building of a hexagram in the Book of Changes) and unfolds like an arrow fired from a bow (or a bamboo stick stuck firmly in the ground - which is pulled back and suddenly 'released'). Sporting forms push the generated power downwards whilst simultaneously denying any strong or stable leg structure for 'rooting' - so that its is wasted and dissipates into the air without effect. Traditional forms - such as seen here - generate the power from a firm and stable base and then radiate that power upwards and outwards in all directions.  ​

The 'shape' or 'technique' chosen or assumed (such as a lead straight punch front and back - or a front-kick and a palm-block, etc) - harness and directs this generated power, into a focused emission suitable for a particular self-defence requirement (expressing 'stopping-power'). Although practicing forms at lightning speed is good every now and again (whilst retaining the 'root'), it is better to practice like the practitioner in this video so as to continuously perfect the 'foundation' - as each repetition removes a layer of doubt in one's ability (from the mind and body). As the body ages, this type of 'internal' exercise ensures a constant standard of practice as the physical processes and psychological perception both mature.  ​

Notice how the drop-down stances are not as deep as those found in Taijiquan to facilitate a smooth interaction of the movements. These Longfist forms possess drop-down stances that can be performed ‘deep’, ‘moderate’ (as seen here), or ‘high’ for various adaptions of training. Each type of low-stance must be perfected by the Longfist practitioner as a preparation for the different requirements of all-round self-defence. It is best to master the low-stances when young so that this ability can be retained and applied to the body as it ages.  ​