The Uniqueness of Hek Ki Boen
In my opinion, Hek Ki Boen Eng Chun (HKB) has many qualities that make it
unique among other martial arts and Wing Chun systems. Being effective
through efficiency/economy of motion and use of energy are all strived for
and talked about in other martial art systems, but the methodology and
philosophy is something that I have not heard of from other martial art
practitioners.
Concerning the efficiency, it seems some practitioners of fighting arts are
under the misconception that efficiency is gained through the muscle memory
attained by countless hours of drilling; the thinking being that if you are
used to doing something as second nature, this equals efficiency. Of
course drilling is important, but it seems to me HKB takes it to another
level with the concept of "de-linking", related to the Chan concept of
detachment. No fighter wants to attach themselves to a particular moment in
time and space, and HKB takes this further by proposing that you do not want
any attachment to energy in the body other than the energy that is generated
in the extremity that is striking during the moment of impact; not too long
before nor after. So you must de-link you hands, feet, fingertips or toes
from the rest of your body. Many martial arts promote using your whole body
to generate power; all the while never fully RELEASING it, while HKB
promotes the ability of using the individual parts of the body independently
to generate that same amount of power, then RELEASING all of it in the
execution of a technique.
Another concept that stands out for me is the fact that there are no
defensive techniques. In this case, "the best offense AND defense is a good
offense". Again this seems to me to go back to the Chan philosophy that
deals with living in reality. When someone attacks you, they are attempting
to impose their reality on to you by causing chaos. In my understanding,
HKB purports that if you take any kind of defensive posture, you are
accepting that reality. In order to restore harmony, you must assert your
reality. Hung Fa Yi had a similar concept. One example was four-gate
"blocking". Where a block is used to prevent a strike from reaching its
target by using a limb as a shield; these techniques were not blocks, as the
techniques were used to meet the striking limb with a strike; so you were
engaged in limb destruction. You could follow up this technique with a
strike or strike with your other hand simultaneously. In HKB techniques
like Tun Jiu, Tan Jiu, Im Jiu, Yang Jiu, actually go through the attacker's
offense in order to strike a vital area, imposing your reality on to the
attacker that you are neither a victim nor defender.
Paul Mason
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When I first began learning Shaolin Kung-fu, we were studying the Hung Fa Yi
(HFY) Wing Chun (WC) system. Based upon my understanding, the HFY system
appeared to be built around the structure of the human body, such as
properly aligning the skeleton to allow for the correct usage of muscles in
a way to get the most from human mechanics. Since this was my first system,
I was very much focused on foundation level material such as learning the WC
formula, the 5 lines, the 10 points, footwork, kicks, punches, and the
accompanying forms that demonstrate various techniques and keep one healthy.
As well, I learned about the concepts of efficiency. As we have transitioned
to learning about HKB and being able to apply HKB skill, I have been able to
notice some differences that are physical and others mental. From the
physical perspective the formula is maintained, but the structure is not as
rigid due to using/releasing energy in place of the power generated from the
speed and strength of the muscles. As for the mental perspective, it is
important to be detached and finding emptiness. I view being detached as not
identifying oneself with style, also being able to flow and adapt to
situations without being repetitively predictable. I view emptiness as
finding that place inside yourself where you can never be mentally bothered
or shaken; you don't think back and forth, you only do. I could be wrong on
these ideas of mine, but with time my understanding will improve. As well,
being a newer student at the time, I maybe was not able to grasp or was not
introduced to more of the philosophical thinking involved with HFY.
When it comes to training, I am able to compare both the HFY and HKB "Little
Ideas". Both are good teachers of time and space. Both demonstrate
techniques within the two systems. Both allow the student to express the
techniques while applying the formula. However, the "Little Idea" in HKB
seems to be better at representing real combat situations and responses.
The HFY "Little Idea" seems to also demonstrate some real combat situations
and responses, but I feel it more so helped me gain an understanding of how
the perform the techniques along with finding the reference points of time
and space. Also, the HKB "Little Idea" allows me to work on turning the
energy on and off as I move from one technique to the. A significant
difference is that I have not seen a Saam Chin Po for HFY. Or at least the
intent was not properly conveyed. I was thinking about the HFY form where
you make a fist and flex until you arms tremble, then pull them back to a
crossed position and thrust downward, that's a little bit similar. But Saam
Chin Po is unique. It is a great teacher, and it forces one to be cognizant
of them-self and know how they are moving, which muscles are tensed or
relaxed and so forth. The Saam Chin also helps me apply the principal of
detachment because in order to develop the skill I must learn to exercise
the physical property of detachment which means separating the linking of
muscles and allowing them act independently being detached individuals'
themselves. These are some of my thoughts on the HKB training compared to my
previous martial arts training with Meng's. I must say there is a lot going
on with training, new thinking, new skills, and sometimes the message is
challenging to convey. I hope my depth of understanding grows and that my
skill grows too, and any correction I need will come. Thank you.
Mitchell Binford
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If I understand correctly in the world of physics there is an
equation/formula to producing energy. The concept of body unity is also
impressed in the practice of modern day Wing Chun, in which the connection
of all major muscle groups along with joints and bone are aligned to deliver
the body's maximum power potential. This concept along with the formula of
mass/speed is not emphasized in HKB. But quite the opposite is impressed
upon the students of HKB in order to develop the proper energy for its
unique and explosive power. With relaxation and letting go, without using
one's own strength joined with muscle or grounded in body unity this
"engine" is developed. In the idea of letting go, it surpasses the physical
and invades into the mental and spiritual areas of a person's psyche. It
teaches me as a person that there are things I cannot control in life, one
being circumstances about me. People's tongue, actions, and attitudes are
not my responsibility and therefore I can release them back to their
originator and be free of all their negative attachment. Sometimes we as
human's are concerned whether we measure up to another man's standards or
spirituality, but through the idea of detachment I can free myself from the
snares and bondages that religion (man made) offers and be a true spiritual
being in touch with God and all that exist around me, including myself. So
the idea of relax, let go and just be is so unique to HKB that this idea has
become my life's motto. It doesn't interfere with my faith/belief, but
enhances. On the physical level I have been able to keep myself from injury
and began to see a change in my body and my approach to training. It does
not take away that one must still work hard and sweat in order to free
himself of his attachments and become detached. It means that in order to
get the "engine operating the proper way" you have to let go of all those
things that upset you, or hold you back, whether it be using muscle to try
to obtain the power, or down to a negative attitude. So the concept in
motion for me is to relax the muscle, release loosely but have a shape, move
with intent and explode the energy on a focused point not have aimless
movement.
Thank You,
Ray Crawford
HKB Wing Chun is the original Wing Chun containing the most complete
picture. Through historical evidence and research, HKB has been proven to be
a living artifact of the Southern Shaolin Temple. The Chan philosophy
permeates the entire system. Every element at this point has a deep
philosophical meaning.
The training method is very clear. The student has a clear objective. Each
training method logically connects to the particular skill. Each skill is
directly connected to the reality of combat. The approach to energy and the
releasing of power sets the HKB Wing Chun system apart. Other Wing Chun
systems work to generate power while HKB releases the power. The first
concepts in other Wing Chun systems work hard to teach the student to
connect the body and the breath while HKB teaches to separate the body and
the breath. HKB approach allows the student to use short range power almost
immediately while other systems teach more of a pushing power.
Chango Noaks