Sharing 62 years experience in the art of Gong Fu which literally means "time dedicated to a practice". I began when I was 15 years old and today at 77, my practice is still going strong. I hope in my Channel to share my experience, knowledge and inspire others to maintain a strong practice and to keep fit into their later years. This is my way of paying gratitude for all the instruction I have recieved from my many past teachers. History 1964 Ist place San Mateo League wrestling championships 1962 Kenpo Karate with Harry Hutchings 1967 to 1985 Master Kuo Lien Ying 1974 Granted permission to teach by Sifu Kuo 1979 1st place Oakland International Martial Arts Tournament 1978 2 semesters teaching Gong fu at Sonoma State University 1980 Wing Chun Do with Sifu James DeMille, student of Bruce Lee 1982 Wing Chun with Master Gene Chen 1991 retired teaching to private lessons only 1982 on- classified Expert Class in Pistol shooting 2010 on-Many 1st place awards in traditional archery
this morning practiced staff in the park, the leaves are gorgeous here in Chicago. The morning sun coming through the colors, crisp air made it really beautiful practice. did the form several times & some drills. Can't believe its been a year since. I love this staff form, getting it really "grooved into " the neural system.
Super! I love the simplicity of the staff, just a man and a pole. Having been a gardener for many many years doing B&B and estate maintenance, I really connect to the staff because of all the long handle implements, i.e. rakes, hoes, etc. I found another treasure video that my son took of me performing staff that gives a great view of the form. Will be posting it in the near future.
Thank you for sharing this. I studied at Kuo’s studio a couple of years after you and enjoyed your reminiscences about that time with Master Kuo, Simu, Bing. Studying there changed my life, I took up Taichi as a life long project and have not been disappointed. I still think of those days often and very much appreciated this video.
Well said! I love that comment about the warp and weft. Been contemplating that one and how it relates to all of our past experience that weave through our lives.
Thank you LaoShi for generously sharing your story . i find it extremely interesting and charming that the two of you had a dog named Wu Wei , " Effortless movement in Accord with Nature " :-)
Welcome! We had a pet duck at that time also, that we named Wang Hui, after an incredible orthodox Chinese scroll painter during the early Qing dynasty! He was quite a character since he had a problem with his oil gland and looked dirty, greasy and messy all the time, but had a great personality!
I am enjoying this person history you are sharing. I got a much later start in my learning of Guang Ping tai chi. My Sifu was a student of Simu. However the form I learned from her is nearly identical to the form as you teach. I have followed you for several years, and found your instruction in the form has helped me stay true to the original teachings of the Master. Thank you once again.
@@edw4611 Exactly. And as an artist can express himself through various mediums and styles, so in MA, your gong fu (practice) can emanate in various ventures.
Thank you for sharing your “origin story”! I am looking forward to hearing the next chapters of your life. Can I ask - did you return to the high bar after than terrible accident? Did you even want to? It seems that close call didn’t stop you from going all-out in physical training and competition, but I’m wondering if it ever got in your way or if you had to overcome any psychological trepidation on your return to athletic training and performance.
Thank you for asking! I did not return to the high bar, but continued on the rings and floor exercise. I figured that such a close call was a signal for me to quit. I do think that returning to the gymnastics after such a bad fall might have contributed to my being award the outstanding sportsman award. From that experience, I realized that for everything this is a risk/reward element and one has to be weighed against the other to determine the viability of its worth. For example, later on, when I got into motorcycles with my Honda Pocket Rocket, I decided at one point that the risk was not worth all the years I had put into training my gong fu, so I sold the bike and never rode again. But then when I got an Arabian horse, even though I got bucked off many, many times, it was worth the risk, so I continued for the reward.
Great beginnings. I love how you said your dad was into "physical culture", I have always thought it would be a beautiful thing if kung fu and eastern philosphy was integrated into western physical culture philosophy. There was a great documentary about La Sierra high school's implementation of physical culture online.
I read that in the early 1900's, physical culture clubs, i.e. gyms cultivated the fencing, the arts, philosophy as much as strength training. I believe that all cultures come to similar conclusions when contemplating the unknown, albeit called by different various names, but similar in through and beliefs.
@@randallfung5457 The Czechs had a physical culture institution called Sokol. Basically a physical social club. They as you mentioned had a broader definition of health and exercise. Park taichi has that same feel to me. Exercise that promotes total human development in a social and casual way. Your t.c. brother M. Bing Gong's site has that beautiful footage of everyone practicing outside, beautiful! This is what education should be based on.
The audio is normal. I checked on a few devices. Might be that you need to adjust the volume on the RU-vid window. There is a volume slide on the lower left corner by the play button as well as adjust the volume on your device. You can also click on the CC button for closed caption as well. hOpe all is well with you!
@@edw4611 Amazing that you remembered that one. My sister in law is a painter and came to visit a month ago. We took her over to St. Helena to browse in the art galleries. She had taken a photo on her phone of that painting. So when the art gallery owner asked if I had any work to show him, I got my SIS to show him the photo of the Bishop Pine. Right there he asked if I would sell it to him. He kept bringing it up four times!LOL. But I told him that when I start painting seriously again, then I would give him a call. Art is in my future, but only when I am too decrepit to do my martial arts.
As a 19-year-old newbie, I'd surreptitiously watch my older brothers and sisters as I did my warmups and beginner moves, eyeing their advanced Shao Lin and weapons forms with excitement and anticipation. But eager as I was to receive those teachings, I soon came to believe the most precious gem in Sifu Kuo's treasure chest -- the practice that gave him such astonishing vigor, balance, and power at age 75 -- was his Taiji form. If life is a journey leading to a definite end, I thought, Taiji Chu'an shows us the way to make that journey with intention and grace. What I didn't realize at the time was how rare his particular Taiji was in the world, and how hard it would be for me to retain it beyond Portsmouth Square. This series of videos is a magnificent achievement. You have preserved Sifu Kuo's original form for posterity, passed on what you learned directly from him, and added a wealth of insights and guidance from your own years of dedicated practice and experience. As Sifu Kuo inspired me then, so does your vigor, balance, and power inspire me now. Xièxiè, Sifu Fung. Thank you for putting my feet back on the path I'd always hoped to follow.
Thank you so much for that kind comment! It is both my joy and honor to be able to share what Master Kuo Lien Ying has taught us over all those years. I am really so glad to help former students recapture their past! I know in my heart, that it would have made Sifu happy to see this happening. HAO! (Thumbs up with a gold tooth smile!)
Thank you for your detailed remarks in this Final Lesson 25! They provide all of us, who were not fortunate enough to study with Sifu Kuo great insight into the man and a time capsule into the golden era while he was teaching. The revelations about yourself and why you have made these lessons free are very much appreciated, I'm sure by all who follow you! Thank you for your dedication and the time commitment you have made thus far to preserve Sifu Kuo's teachings, and plan to make in future lessons! I hope these lessons will be permanently available on RU-vid.
Thank you very much for your immense work in creating these martial arts teaching videos. I feel very lucky to have discovered your youtube channel. My plan now is to go through all the lessons again by Christmas, not only the Tai Chi form but also the Tan Tui forms. I believe that both complement each other well and I can confirm from my own experience that I am healthier, more energetic and happier since practicing these forms daily. I have a question about the last lesson. Did I understand correctly that Sifu Kuo Lien Ying expanded the form? Is it a different way of counting or has he introduced new postures?
Thank you! I am happy to hear that you are also doing the tan tui. Yes, they are complimentary, the hard and the soft, the yin and the yang. As to you question, no, Sifu did not change the form, only the way that he numbered the moves. In the original book, he did not number the repeat moves, only the new ones, hence the difference. The original booklet was I believe designed to go along with the physical teaching, not as a stand alone instruction manual.
Thank you !!! I'm nowhere near done! It has been a pleasure learning from you and I look forward to your lessons on the rest of sifu Kuo's material. Thank You again....
Thank you for guiding us on this journey. It has been a joy to see your demonstrations and hear your insights that you gleaned from your years with Sifu Kuo at Portsmouth Square and your continuing practice. I look forward to the next stages of my practice.
@@randallfung5457 I know Sifu Kuo would be happy and proud that you are honoring his legacy in such a pure way. These lessons are an important record and I deeply appreciate the spirit with which you gave them to us.
And, a "grand terminus," indeed. Thank you for presenting all these, from my heart -- to preserve Sifu Kuo's legacy for others has been an act worthy of your manhood. Also noted: people become "Sifus" when other people wish to learn from them, and value what they teach. You have earned the title, and it's a good fit.
Thank you SO MUCH for all your support through my presentations. Your comments really have helped spur me on in my efforts. I am happy that you have found a new workout area that reminds you of Portsmouth Square. I plan on doing a future video on the "sanctity" of one's daily workout area.
First! Thanks for putting this series together. In addition to the inherent benefits of learning this version of the Yang form, there are benefits of comparing the form to the Yang Chen Fu style. The differences reveal insights in energy and applications. Also valuable in understanding the historical development of the forms we have today.
Thank you for your support through my efforts! At the time that we were studying with Master Kuo, we were aware of the uniqueness of the form, but now, it is really apparent that it is VERY unique in its interpretation.
After practicing the “hips whipping the arms” exercise, it has improved so many more of the moves than just Shoot Tiger with Bow. The end is indeed the beginning.
So true , looking at the entirety of a massive, complex problem is daunting - but as we can only do one thing at a time anyway, approaching it task by task, a piece at a time, gets the job done. That said, if you have even one other person to help you, your work is cut in half! I wish I could have been that person … but I’m afraid I haven’t been able to maintain anything close to the incredible level of fitness that allows you to gaze on the gigantic devastation wrought by 2 huge fallen limbs and say, “Guess I’d better get busy.” You are simply awesome.
Thank you so much. And of course this is exactly why I am such a proponent of some strength training in addition to Taiji. Just the tasks required to live a lifestyle as I do, requires a great deal of stamina and fitness everyday. My wife and I could not live here if I can't do the work.
As always, this is an excellent teaching lesson. You address so many different aspects of these moves in a short space of time that it will keep me busy for a long time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your teaching.
That's a lot of work! Good thing you are in excellent shape and have good attitude. I wish you could have gotten some neighborly help. It's the kind of thing I would show up for if I was in the area. Getting a little bit done often is what I hear works. Thanks for the tour and life lesson.
Thank You! As my good friend, Ed W reminded me, blessings come in many forms. That I can do this cleanup on my 5 acre ranch makes me appreciate what I have. We got to live under this ancient giant Black Oak for over 30 years. We believe that it was an tree that the local native Americans camped under as it was a prime location with two creeks on either side of the hill that we are located on, good for hunting and fishing. The deer camp out regularly under this. So we are sad to see it go. I guess having to do all this cleanup really connects me to it. I plan to use some of the wood and make some carvings as a tribute to the tree that has nourished our souls for so long.
@@randallfung5457 Sounds like you're in a magic spot, another blessing for you. I have to mention your friend Adam, I did not know he and his ilk would delight on oak leaves! Yes, you have some good hard wood to craft with. Shalom....
I've ordered swords form this supplier before and had excellent results and service. Here is a link to their rattan 78" staff without skin, which is fine: www.kungfudirect.com/rattan-bo-staff.html?search=rattan%20staff I recommend not marking your staff and getting instinctual on the sliding and positioning. Otherwise you might get dependent on the markings and have to memorize for each different move. Depending on the staff length and your arms lengths there can be many variables.
I believe that you can also specify or request the staff diameter that you want with KungfuDirect. The ideal diameter depends somewhat on your height as well because if the staff is longer then it can be thicker and still flex. Myself, being only 5'6" tall, I prefer my staff to be the 1.13 diameter so that it still have flex enough that you can work on your whip power.
Wow! To me it looks quite overwhelming, I live in the desert , Far West Texas! that's more trees than I see in a year! Love your attitude, a real master. If I can help in any way please let me know.
Thank.you for your offer! Got it back under control after six days of work. Just a huge brush pile to deal with now and bigger trunks against the fence.
im so sorry for the accident. True taichi master, yield and redirected the unlucky event to find the positive. "Investing in loss" All the best, Master Randall
Over the years, I've learned to take the view that our adversities are blessings in disguise. It allows us to connect and realize the struggles of all . I hope that this problem will soon be just a memory for you
Yes! Thank you for reminding me that compared to many other woes, this is just a little blip. I should be happy cutting trees in my own yard and enjoy it as a disguised blessing! All the wildlife are really enjoying the lowered foliage, deer feeding on the brush pile, quail and turkeys on the disturbed ground.
@@edw4611 No worry, I never took it wrong. Your post actually did help me to see things in a bigger light, so thank you. Anyone would be happy in my shoes, working on their own 5 acre ranch with nature all around them.
From my reading, I gather that the ancient Greeks conceived of Reality as driven by Necessity (Ananke) -- they considered Necessity to be feminine, and married to Time (Horus), with children they called The Fates. If there is truth to such ideas, you can see how Life can get complicated -- and inconveniently, at times. You have my sympathies! But by "using" the limbs/trees/effort as Gong Fu, and cultivating perseverance, you've re-found that pearl once more. A good lesson!
I’m sorry about the tree falling and that you are saddled with the chore of cleaning up the mess. I wish I lived nearer your place so I could come over and help. Your attitude is a great lesson for me that I will try to carry into my challenges. Good luck with clearing up the damage, I’m glad no one got hurt.
Learned and practiced with Simu Kuo while at SF State in 2000/01. Relearning the form on my own. Your videos have been a great source to re-stoke the fire. Thank you!
