For the System

Sometimes it's easy to forget that this kung fu stuff we do is an art. It has personality and grows to reflect the individual who is practicing it. The practice of it changes depending on your mood and state of mind. It evolves, sometime for the better, sometimes for the worse. But it always evolves.

As a student I learned long ago that I needed to let go of the constant analysis. Trying to nail down an art using physics and facts is like trying to nail down water. Good luck with the attempt. I learned that the answer will be there when it's needed as long as I train for the system instead of the application. And quite often I have the answer myself, if I just give myself a chance to find it.

Kung fu is personal, yes, however you need a firm grasp of the basics and the system before you can successfully innovate. If you skip ahead and try to modify a technique such as chi sao or calming the ocean before its lessons are firmly in your mind then you'll loose the lesson. One class worth of practice, one week or one month is not enough to solidify a concept. If you are successful in finally understanding the concepts then you will have no need to try and change a technique, you will have the ability to adapt it as necessary. The technique is not the goal. The concepts behind them are.