Journey to 無極

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Working out!

For all my friends on Facebook, I apologize for you having to see this again, but them’s the breaks!  The following is my workout for today.  It’s really the first time I’ve done a workout quite like this, and I’m glad that I survived.  Enjoy reading about it!

Two miles in 16 minutes. Round one = done.

‎14 minutes, distance unknown. Paced jogging, interval sprints and parkour. Round two - done. Round three’s up next.

Round three = done. It was lunch and cool down. Lunch was a cup of rice, beans, and pork, with a raw egg. Now on to round four.

Round four = done. Two sets of twenty lunges each leg, two sets of twenty squats, two sets of twenty arabesques each leg, two sets of twenty crunches, two sets of twenty jumping jacks. Round five’s up next

Round five = done. Forty pushups, left and right side planks at a minute each, followed by twenty pullups. Round six is up next. I’m tired but I’m aiming for abs and core. If not, it’ll be stretching and some iron bridge

Round six = done. Twenty crunches, twenty situps, and forty steamrollers (crunches with elbow to opposite knee), followed by a minute long iron bridge (plank on the back using two structures to support you). Round seven is on its way with full body lockouts, back bends/arches, and stretching.

Round seven = done. Four full body lockouts total, each at least ten to fifteen seconds. Need to work on that. Plenty of stretching ensued including back bends/arches. Now begins the cool down time before I get ready for Carousel tonight at Nova.

If anyone is wondering why I do this: the only person that I need to be better than is myself. I must find my limits and break them. May you be able to do the same. :-)

Now to keep up with this particular regimen, getting better and faster as I go along.  Expect another blog entry in a day or so!

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It’s been ages…

Sorry for allowing so much dust to collect here.  It is a shame.  Anyway, I had a thought the other day, and I wished to share it.  Let’s see here:

I am now involved in another show; it’s been awhile.  But what this called to mind, in light of my studies in college and grad school, and now my studies in martial arts, is the idea of awareness.  Recently, I read a book that was a present for birthday this past summer, entitled The Demon’s Sermon on the Martial Arts by Issai Chozanshi.  As the name would imply, the book is about martial arts; but not simply the martial arts, moreso the nature of martial arts and how they line up to the nature of human existence, through the Zen scope.  It was the following passage that really struck me:

Look at the way the chief actors in Noh plays use their feet.  They all advance while bending the tips of their toes; with feet enlivened, they walk by stepping on their heels.  This is not just a matter of carrying temselves elegantly.  If the advancing foot is enlivened, the actor will have freedom in using his feet.

This idea strikes me for multiple reasons: A) I am an actor, so the idea of body awareness greatly enhances my craft; B) I am a martial artist, so the idea of body awareness greatly enhances my art; C) Due to my education, I have developed a fairly thorough body awareness, but found it lacking, in comparison to the above Noh actors.

For a little bit of background, as mentioned above, I am both an actor and a martial artist.  Needless to say, awareness of self in space is pretty forefront in my considerations.  I have studied various mask styles of movement, Alexander Technique and Fitzmaurice Technique during my time in education, along with a healthy dose of martial studies, ranging from Tai Chi to Shotokan.  So this idea of awareness down to the toes, almost as a form of performative moving meditation absolutely fascinates me!

Now that’s out of the way, I would like to explore the whole realm of ideas that the forementioned passage from the Demon’s Sermon illuminated for me.

Firstly, and probably the largest thing that this has done for me, I’ve been able to begin seriously running.  My issue with running before is that it felt that I was beating the crap out of my hips, knees, ankles, etc.  And while I’m not particularly averse to that, in a martial sense, I didn’t see any added benefit to beating myself up outside of the kwoon.  So I’ve started running.  Great.  Why?  What the awareness of my feet and toes has done for me is that it has showed me how to use my feet (sounds weird, I know.  You stand on them; that’s how to use them.  Just follow me.) while maintaining a pace.  Sidenote: 11 years ago, I was involved in a car accident in which I sustained massive tissue damage to my left leg and back; which over the years, led to collapsing arches.  Yet another reason why I hated running.  Now, including last year’s purchase of the five finger toe shoes (No I didn’t get to use them in the Tough Mudder, as a previous post of mine stated), and my new found awareness of my feet, I have been rebuilding my arches and the muscular strength in the entirety of my legs, one jog at a time.

With the above in mind, it has led to a better understanding of the feet in general; which has its uses, both martially and medicinally.  I came to the conclusion that I stood incorrectly and that my center of gravity was waaaaaaaaaay off thanks to a series of compensations I set up in my legs in order to alleviate issues that developed thanks to my car accident.  This led to an epiphany: most people don’t even know how to stand properly.  Now, when I say epiphany, I knew this back in 2003, when I took a course in Alexander Technique. The seed of the more recent epiphany just took 9 years to germinate.

What I’d heard many years ago (around 12 years or so) was that the toes, most specifically the big toe, were used solely for balance.  So that got me thinking, what was the rest of the anatomy of the foot useful for? Well the big toe can’t be the sole toe used for balance, you’ve got 4 others on each foot!  In comes the study of martial arts.  When you kick, high or low, it doesn’t matter, you are left standing on one foot (unless in the air).  What are you left with, one toe to balance? No.  Though the big toe is entirely necessary for the maintainence of a balanced posture, it is up to the other four toes to adjust for the change in momentum in the core.  I could go on, and even insert a story of a friend of mine who practiced yoga and became suddenly enlightened concerning the nature and spectacle of the feet, but I think that I’ve conveyed my epiphany.

The second nature of the idea behind foot awareness:

The mental nature.  What does creating an increased body awareness in a remote part of your body such as your foot do for your mind? Ever find that you can’t sit still?  Ever wonder why?  Your brain needs something to focus on.  And I would like to put this out there now: your brain is no different than your body.  It is a part of your body.  As my brother Phil and I have discussed, your brain is your central processing unit.  Every stimulus must pass through the brain before it can be considered by the user, also known as the mind.  Every stimulus you encounter will be filtered by your brain and lumped into accessible pieces of information that your mind can dub necessary for interpretation, or it can be left to the subconscious mind to deal with, either during your waking hours or your sleeping hours.

So what’s with the foot awareness?  At the simplest level, you’re giving your mind something to do.  It’s a type of meditation, moving or stationary; it doesn’t matter.  One of the martial arts I study is Tan Tui.  My Sifu has been telling us recently that, “If your Tan Tui is good, your kung fu is good!”  And boy, he wasn’t kidding!  But why separate Tan Tui and other kung fu?  Because Tan Tui was specifically designed as an attribute building martial regimen.  For those of you who aren’t familiar, Tan Tui is a long-fist deriviative style, and it roughly translates to “Spring Leg.”  And boy does it give you legs like springs!  And I would argue that the reason it gives you legs like springs is that the main focus of Tan Tui is to develop your awareness.  Awareness of what?  Your body.  In its entirety.  In practicing the form, you hold your arms out at full extension to gain an idea of how much space you can actually take up.  You practice your stances low, to see how much space you can take up sagitally and still be able to maintain proper movement.  The form literally forces you to move properly.

Now with this awareness, we bring in awareness of the feet.  If you do not know where your weight if supposed to fall on your foot, then how on earth are you going to be able to develop the entire lower half of your core properly?  Speaking from experience, you can’t.  I have always been known for my rooting ability.  But it was only until recently that I realized that was only when my legs were bent.  This was due to the compensations that I had set up in my legs.  I didn’t have proper structure.  So when I had to stand up relatively straight, I couldn’t continue to stand when pushed.  Because without proper structure, there is no proper foundation and the house will fall.

What has this done for my everyday life?  Because of the next level of body awareness I have developed from these exercises, I sleep better, I focus much more easily, I eat better and less often.  Why? Because the proper foundation in my body has developed a proper foundation for my brain, and as such, my mind.  Where did it start?  My toes. :-)

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I usually hate politics…

But this I couldn’t help but pass on.  My teacher’s teacher’s teacher (my si-tai-gung for those who are keeping track) asked for the members of the family to come forth and help protect the family name.  Below you will find all the information necessary and can make your own decisions from it.  I know where I stand: I am not yet a member of the HKB family, but I do intend to become a member; however, my Sifu is a member of the family and as such, I, as his student, am bound by his family’s rules to protect the name and honor of his family.  That being said, here is what my Sigung, Benny Meng, has written, more can be found through the various links at the end:

Official Clarification in response to Sergio’s Lies and Marketing Propaganda.

by Benny Meng on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 12:20pm

Official Clarification in response to Sergio’s Lies and Marketing Propaganda.

After long consideration, cultivation, many endless discussions with HKB Grandmaster elders in Indonesia, especially GM The Kang Hay, considering many people who have been cheated by Sergio as his victim as well as the future of our kungfu family, we have decided today to release and expose the truth along with some evidence. We made this decision based on the following reasons:

1.      We have discovered some information from several leaders that used to be in his organization before they left him. They had to pay either 1250 Euro per hour [version 1] or per day [version 2] with a minimum of 3 days to learn our Black Flag Wing Chun that he stole from us. The most ridiculous part is that this is happening after he started attacking us on the internet. We understand his organization is already falling apart as this year 2011 he lost every school in Germany except one and all of his schools in Italy except 4-6 schools out of 25, more or less. We don’t want more innocent people to become  victim of his fraudulent money hunger.  We also understand this was one of the reasons they left him.

2.      All the lies that he made regarding 18 lohan hand.

3.      His manipulation of our history.

4.      His manipulation of one of our teachers, GM Tio Tek Kwie by putting words in his mouth.

The clarification and truth, exposing his lies:

1. Sergio’s Lie # 1.

He stated in his mass slander email:

“During our training together in Kowloon park  we met an original student of Kwee King Yang we have spend lots of time with him and through that know now all the history and facts”

Fact: After he discovered that he was about to be kicked out from our Shaolin HKB Eng Chun Pai Family, he went to Indonesia trying to recruit and manipulate GM Tio in Probolinggo to support his marketing propaganda. He knew exactly where to turn because he was aware there was an internal issue between GM Tio and the rest of the elders and was trying to take advantage of it.

We were already aware of the first day he went to Indonesia as GM Tio stopped by at Depot Sari (GM The Kang Hay’s restaurant) before he went to the airport to pick him up. GM The Kang Hay asked GM Tio Tek Kwie’s driver and found out about Sergio coming. We were all prepared and anticipated his movement thanks to GM The Kang Hay.

Here is a copy of the original email that was sent:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/email.pdf

Conclusion: His so called ‘student of kwee king yang in Kowloon’ park is completely a big lie and he tried to hide his betrayal.

2. Sergio’s Lie # 2.

He made a statement that HKB/Black Flag is not Wing Chun, instead it was 18 lohan hands as he claimed to be stated by GM Tio Tek Kwie.

Fact: GM Tio Tek Kwie himself already stated 2 years before Sergio even began his HKB training with us that this is Black Flag Wing Chun in many video interviews and even in the official interview by National Newspaper Jawa Pos by Muhamad Fahmi(Jawa Pos Newspaper’s Reporter) that took place in GM Tio Tek Kwie’s house on Saturday, Janurary 17, 2009. Sifu Lin was not even aware of this article and contacted the reporter, Muhamad Fahmi, who stated that he was actually contacted by GM Tio Tek Kwie’s own daughter Zhang Li Lian to interview her father and to promote his name. On top of that, during several seminars/workshop that GM Tio did, GM Tio himself released a seminar certificate that clearly stated he is a grandmaster of Hokkian Hek Ki Boen Eng Chun Pai (Black Flag Wing Chun).

** Proof of Newspaper (Look at paragraph 13):

a.                    PDF Version: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/Jawapos-full.pdf

b.                    Html archive version: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/jawapos.htm

c.                     Our Translation version: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/newspaper.pdf

d.                    Google Translation version: http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdl.dropbox.com%2Fu%2F44930001%2Fjawapos.htm

** Proof of Video Interview with GM Tio Tek Kwie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uhaq35jN00

** Proof of Certificate:

a.            From GM Tio Tek Kwie Seminar on March 28, 2010

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/220656_208145252549819_100000630387185_659084_825646_o.jpg

b.            From GM Tio Tek Kwie Seminar on November 7, 2008

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/219998_208145272549817_100000630387185_659085_1369695_o.jpg

Note:

1.            This is just an example of the certificate given to one of the attendees by GM Tio Tek Kwie. There are also many more HKB Eng Chun Pai certificates GM Tio Tek Kwie issued, not to mention all the attendees can also testify to this.

2.            The newspaper and certificate can also be found at this link:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.207460205951657.54761.100000630387185&type=1

3. Sergio’s Lie # 3.

He stated that GM Tio Tek Kwie is one of the closest disciples of Kwee King Yang.

Here is his original statement:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/sergio%20lie.PNG

Fact: This is a pure LIE and manipulation that he did to salvage his collapsing organization by fabricating a story of GM Tio Tek Kwie as one of the closest students of Kwee King Yang. The truth is GM Tio Tek Kwie is not even a direct student of Kwee King Yang.

GM Tio Tek Kwie’s real sifu is GM The Sik Yen, who is a student of GM Ban Bi Sun. GM Ban Bi Sun is a direct student of Kwee King Yang. So if counting from Cia Fun Tjiao, the last chief instructor of Black Flag, a direct Student of Sifu Lin would be a 5th Generation Black Flag disciple. A direct student of Sergio would be 7th Generation Black Flag student. He tried to cover this up as it’s not good for his business. Where is his moral etiquette?

Proof:

a.            Old Picture of GM Tio Tek Kwie(Standing up on right) along with his Suheng[Sihing] Tik Siu[Standing next to GM Tio] with his direct sifu, GM The Sik Yen (Sitting next to GM Kwee King Yang). Both Tik Siu and GM Tio are student of GM The Sik Yen.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/tekkwiewithsikyen.jpg

Or

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.206960826001595.53188.100000630387185&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=206960846001593&set=a.206960826001595.53188.100000630387185&type=3&theater

b.            Video explanation by the real successor of Kwee King Yang, GM The Kang Hay. Translated by GM Tio Tek Kwie’s own Nephew; Royce M.

During this video, GM The Kang Hay no longer wanted to cover up for all of those lies from Sergio’s side in regards to GM Tio Tek Kwie’s Lineage Generation

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH8wFX3TSRQ

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu5XwDlT9ns

We decided not to release part 1 and 2 yet, which is even MORE POWERFUL than part 3 & 4.

4. Sergio Lie # 4;

He stated that Sifu Lin created Siauw Lim Dou(Siu Lian Tao), Tim Kiao(Chum Kiu) and Piauw Ki(Biu Ji).

Fact: Sifu Lin learned two of these forms from his sifu, GM Tio Tek kwie.

It is clear evidence in this video that Tim Kiao and Piauw Ki is from GM Tio Tek Kwie in which he explained the purpose and a bit of technical of these two forms. Note: There was also a video interview prior to this that GM Tio explained Siauw Lim Dou, however, we cannot locate that part yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVOIywcTzVo

5. Sergio Lie #5;

Sergio tried making up some lie to discredit GM The Kang Hay during his visit for his HKB Seminar in USA on May 2011. Sergio claimed that GM The Kang Hay was just #4 in seniority.

Fact: GM The Kang Hay is the current leader and most respected Grandmaster within HKB Grandmaster elders in Indonesia, not to mention he is the Grand Nephew of Kwee King Yang and the one the was appointed directly by Kwee King Yang to replace him teaching at Kwee King Yang’s Bukoan from age 18 to 27.

Everyone can contact any Grandmaster elders in Indonesia to verify this fact. Sergio was trying too hard to sabotage our HKB seminar and failed miserably.

This was GM The Kang Hay’s response in his own words:

Original:

“Ini adah pesan langsung dari GM The Kang Hay.

Subyek: Mengenai pernyataan dari Sergio

Kepada: Sergio, GM Tio and semua yang berkepentingan.

1. Mengenai pernyataan Sergio yang menuturkan bahwa saya adalah urutan 4 dalam senioritas adalah salah. Malah justru ke 10 jika perlu

2. Terimakasih atas sanjungannya utk menempatkan saya urutan ke 4, walaupun itu terlalu tinggi bagi saya. Sepertinya kamu lebih mengetahui Tiokong saya dan keluarga saya bahkan melebihi saya sendiri dalam mengenal beliau walau waktu singkat mulai dari umur 18 Saya diangkat oleh Mpek King Yang sebegai pelatih di klimbungan sampai umur 27, dikawinkan. Setelah itu proses mengajar di klimbungan saya serahkan kepada murid saya, GM Xing Yen.

Lebih dari itu, sepertinya anda seakan lebih mengetahui tentang riwayat hidup saya lebih daripada saya sendiri yang menjalani. GM The Kang Hay”

Translation:

“This is a message directly from GM The Kang Hay

Subject: Regarding Sergio’s recent statement

To: Sergio, GM Tio and whomever it may concern.

#1 In regards to Sergio’s statement saying I, GM The Kang Hay, is #4 in reference to seniority. Not only is this statement extremely wrong, more than that to be accurate I am #10 in seniority not #4.

#2 Thank you for the compliment that put me at #4 in seniority. It is too high for me, however I thank you. It appears you know my grandfather and our family more than I do. Because after all I only knew him for a short time, since I was 18 until now at the age of 65. And by the way, GM Kwee King Yang arranged my marriage. When I was 18 I became his assistant teaching the students in Klimbungan until I turned 27 when he arranged my marriage. At that time the teaching process was replaced with my student who is GM Xing Yen.

It looks like you know the whole history of my life more than I do and…I am the one living it - GM The Kang Hay”

This documentation can be found at:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150187586931965

6. Clarification on Sergio Betrayal and Manipulation

Lies: Sergio claimed that he left HKB because he discovered this and that.

Fact: From the very beginning learning HKB under Sifu Lin Xiang Fuk, Sergio

broke one of the most critical requirements in HKB as an Instructor Candidate, which is that he was not supposed to teach HKB yet, until he was certified.

However, almost every time he was doing his seminar, he taught HKB even though he was not qualified to and didn’t receive permission. Sifu Lin’s concern is trying to make sure every ICP met the skill requirement for teaching HKB. In the end, Sifu Lin made a decision to kick Sergio out of HKB based on this point and by the advice of Grandmaster elders in Indonesia. However, while Sifu Lin was trying to salvage the good people from the bad ones, Sergio discovered this and made a slick move to recruit and manipulate GM Tio Tek Kwie in Indonesia and fabricate some lies.

Not to mention there was a time that he tried to change HKB Logo by making up some story that he paid $10,000 to design it. Turned out it’s the plug-n-play version of his old IWKA logo+HKB.

Here is the evidence of all the betrayal.

a.            During his recorded interview, he stated that he want to sincerely learn HKB and only teach HKB. Fact: Wing Chun Chop Sue; http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0002.PNG

b.            This is one of the HKB Instructor Candidate from Sergio who only had couple lesson from 2 meeting with Sifu Lin. Yet, was told by Sergio to teach HKB. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0004.PNG and http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0008.PNG

And how some of his crew support this act of pirate

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0005.PNG

c.             His un-authorized HKB Seminar in UK

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0009.PNG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0010.PNG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/a-conversation-with-sifu-sergio.mp3

d.            He never received permission to teach, yet, claiming in Facebook about to teach HKB Instructor Candidates

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0015.PNG

e.             Another un-authorized HKB seminar in Italy

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0016.PNG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0017.PNG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0018.PNG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0020.PNG

f.              Un-authorized Teaching HKB Unique concept of Heaven, Earth and Man

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0021.PNG

g.            Un-authorized teaching HKB bridging hand

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0022.PNG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0023.PNG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0024.PNG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0027.PNG

h.            Another un-authorized HKB teaching in Germany

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/IMG_0026.PNG

i.              An email of sincere opinion and testimony about Sergio disrespectful behavior toward Sifu Lin in March 2011, written by Percival Rico from Philippine.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/percival.pdf

j.              And also We just found out recently, during Sergio first introduction lesson to HKB by Sifu Lin in July 2010, he went straight to Belo Horizonte-Brazil and start un-authorized teaching them what he just learned from Sifu Lin. Sadly, we also just found out these guys in Brazil actually paid Sergio 9000 Euro on that visit for 3 days learning, 3 hours each. The rest of the day, they said Sergio just sleep in his hotel. Now we understand why Sergio tried to offer us to take over his Brazilian group as they no longer have any money. We ended up still accept them and adjust their instructor tuition as they ask for financial aid (After their money is being robbed by their Sifu).

k.            On top of that, after about 1-2 months after he first learned from Sifu Lin in USA, he already started teaching HKB in his school in Amsterdam, UN-AUTHORIZEDLY and without Sifu Lin’s permission. Public can contact their regular student at his school to prove this statement. There are many of them want to stand up actually to testify.

**All of these are some example why he was about to be kicked out of the HKB.

7. Clarification on Sergio HKB Skill

Lies: Sergio positioned himself as an expert in the HKB system, that he propagated as 18 lohan hands.

Fact: Sifu Lin admitted his progression was fast, but not enough mileage/experience in HKB and he didn’t meet the requirement to represent the real teaching of Kwee King Yang. Sergio only took a couple lessons out of the five meetings he had with Sifu Lin which was in August 2010 (USA), September/October 2010(Hong Kong), November 2010(USA), December 2010(USA) and March 2011(Hong Kong-Amsterdam). Everyone who learns HKB knows for a fact that HKB requires hard training, not instant! Five meetings is not enough!

Even now, he claims to learn under GM Tio Tek Kwie that he manipulated, but has only had a couple meetings. Everyone that experiences learning under GM Tio Tek Kwie knows how traditional his teaching is and there is no way to develop skill within a few meetings. In our opinion, there is no way GM Tio Tek Kwie would certify anyone to teach after just a couple of meetings. GM Tio Tek Kwie’s skill is good, so if you want to learn GM Tio’s teaching; go directly to GM Tio, instead of a fraudulent middleman. GM Tio is humble and open and would accept anyone wanting to learn. Please contact Sifu Lin to get his contact info. In conclusion, we want to clarify that around 5-7 meetings in HKB is still beginner student level and Sergio is not qualified to teach or represent the teaching of Kwee King Yang.

8. Clarification on Sifu Lin’s study.

Lies: Sergio claimed that Sifu Lin learned HKB from GM Tio and The Kang Hay in 2003.

Fact: It is true Sifu Lin did not start with GM Tio Tek Kwie in 1985, why? Because Sifu Lin did not start learning HKB under GM Tio. His first and main Sifu was GM The Kang Hay. Sifu Lin was introduced to GM The Kang Hay in 1985 by his own father (Who was also a student at Kwee King Yang Bukoan, taught also by GM The Kang Hay). Sifu Lin’s parent’s house was very close to GM The Kang Hay’s. Whenever time permitted, he always went there by walking or riding a bicycle. Look how close his house was to GM The Kang Hay’s Bukoan;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwnsjOTXcUY

9. Clarification on Sifu Lin’s stay in Japan

Lies: Sergio claimed that Sifu Lin was in Japan teaching HKB calling it something else.

Fact: It is true that Sifu Lin went to Japan during the economic recession in Indonesia. His family (parents) suffered financial hardship. He told his parent’s he went to a different city to work, but in fact went to Japan to support his family. Sifu Lin did not tell his family as he didn’t want them to be worried. This is the reason why he kept this part of his life private. He never told his family until recently. Moreover, it is true that Sifu Lin taught a small group in Japan just to keep up with his martial arts training. However, he never taught HKB back then as he had not received permission from any of his Sifu to teach this yet. What he taught were some styles that he had collected during his teenage time, 8 years after he first learned HKB. Sifu Lin never denied he studied other styles as he stated on his website blackflagwingchun.com. It’s unfortunate that Sergio tried to blackmail Suhu Lin’s private life.

10. Clarification on HKB Grandmaster Elders

Lies: Sergio claimed to be supported by the HKB elders in Indonesia.

Fact: This is also not true, because Sergio is not welcome in the HKB Eng Chun (Hokkian Eng Chun Kok Sut Cia) family in Indonesia, whose leader is, GM The Kang Hay. GM The Kang Hay had stated clearly to Sifu Tio Tek Kwie that Sergio is and will never be part of the family. We only accept students with a good character.

During this opportunity, GM The Kang Hay and Sifu Lin would like to extend an invitation to everyone. Please join us during our HKB December Banquet this year in Indonesia. You will get the direct opportunity to meet with all the active Grandmaster Elders to verify and validate every statement of this. Also feel free to bring your own translator (Before Sergio says anything). We are pretty sure that Sergio will try really hard to sabotage this, however, your attendance can be confidential upon your request and they can arrange a day and time to meet. Sergio in this case is also welcome to meet face to face with the elders in Indonesia.

11. Clarification on names of Sifu Lin

Lies: Sergio claim Sifu Lin had multiple identities

Fact: In Indonesia, between 1960-2000, the usage of a Chinese name was prohibited by the government. Every Chinese person that was born during this time were all given an official Indonesian name and unofficially a Chinese name passed down by their parents. For example, GM Tio Tek Kwie, his official Indonesian name is Tedja Wirardi Soetiono, but this doesn’t mean he uses multiple identities. In this case, for Sifu Lin Xiang Fuk, his official Indonesian name is Kenneth Salim, but in the U.S., since there is no restriction, he decided to use his Chinese name. There is nothing wrong with that.

12. Clarification on the Sergio’s lies of his ‘claimed 20,000 members”

Fact: This is a portion of written email sent to me by one of his leader within iwka who left him along with big group of people because they are tired of his lies. I don’t want to release any name without his consent because I respect his privacy.

Sergio goes around to the inexperience Wing Chun enthusiast and tries to impress them with lies, EX: 20,000 members, 90 plus school, WC researcher expert……, and get them into his IWKA with false hope and promises. He teaches multiply Wing Chun and Weng Chun program in his school. The Yip Man lineage is his base program, and he will up sale his students to the Chi Sim Weng Chun saying that it’s a better system. Now he is using HKB concepts in his Weng Chun without giving credit back. His approach shows his character, which is nothing short of dishonor and abuse of all the lineages.

“The thing is, Sergio always say, that he has 20.000 members, but the truth is, he has not more than 2.500. I know this, because I had the xxxxxxx [Censored]  and I was his xxxxxx[censored] student. He told me everything.

Now he has less than 2500, because whole Spain, a part of Italy and 99% of Germany are left him. Together we are bigger than the whole IWKA . That is the truth!!”

Moreover, there a lot more lies that Sergio had made, especially his own students. He manipulated them and scam them big time. Best thing to find out the truth about Sergio is talk directly with his ex-leader & members in Spain, Germany and Italy.

“ Im only a simple man, who want peace and harmony. Im happy now, that lot of things clear for me now. I was a very loyal and one of Sergio xxxxxxx[censored] student. For me, always honest is very important. Sergio lied to me in the last year so many times, took my student from me (xxxxxxxxxx[censored], you met him in the xxxxxx[censored]) and talked bad about me with him. Now my relationship with xxxxxxxxxx[censored] is good again and I wish him the best with Sergio”

13. Clarification on the Sergio’s lies

Lies: “”c. We have talked on the phone with GM The Kang Hay together with GM Tio and we are very welcome, GM Tio Tek Kwie has been friends and kung fu brothers for many decades, its a sad attempt to ruin that and put a wall between them.”

Fact: As Sifu Lin was writing this, he was currently on the phone with GM The Kang Hay on phone. GM The Kang Hay directed Sifu Lin to state Sergio is FULL OF LIE. GM The Kang Hay never speak with Sergio in his entire life and doesn’t welcome him into the family.  Again, GM The Kang Hay doesn’t talk with Sergio on the phone. This is one of the biggest lie made by Sergio. And being documented already. More over, if GM Tio as claimed by Sergio to have said this, then GM The Kang Hay had requested him[GM Tio] to swear [Sumpah Mati] by the kungfu family brotherhood name.

Again, During this opportunity, GM The Kang Hay and Sifu Lin would like to extend an invitation to everyone. Please join us during our HKB December Banquet this year in Indonesia. You will get the direct opportunity to meet with all the active Grandmaster Elders to verify and validate every statement of this. Also feel free to bring your own translator (Before Sergio says anything). We are pretty sure that Sergio will try really hard to sabotage this, however, your attendance can be confidential upon your request and they can arrange a day and time to meet. Sergio in this case is also welcome to meet face to face with the elders in Indonesia.

***Note: Sifu Lin has hesitated for about almost one year, but finally for the greater good and for fraud prevention; he has agreed to release some of the evidence regarding the Sergio Iadarola case. Sifu Lin has discussed this Sergio situation with HKB Grandmaster elders in Indonesia by phone in the last several months as well as in person when Sifu Lin was called by his Sifu to come down in May 2011. Finally as of October 10, 2011, he was advised by his Sifu, GM The Kang Hay to make this official statement.

We already anticipate that exposing this truth might provoke Sergio’s true character to more aggressively slander Sifu Lin Xiang Fuk, Sifu Benny Meng and the HKB Eng Chun Family and we may soon be receiving attack-hate mail after our first official statement we published this morning.

We have been receiving so many emails from people giving their positive support dealing with this attack from Sergio.

Some of them even apologized for not knowing earlier about the truth. We can understand this as well. No need to apologize as they didn’t know the truth at that time as we didn’t want to share the evidence yet to avoid politics.

From the bottom of our heart, for everyone who has exchanged emails with us and finally know the truth, we want to let all of you know that this means a lot.

The only hate mail we received so far are two, both from Sergio’s group which include:

1. Name calling

2. Making a threat to destroy Sifu Lin’s/Meng’s reputation and character as he had done it many times to other well known Sifus.

This indicates that we were on the right track by exposing and revealing the truth here. Even if it was a mistake to reveal this, we are willing to take the risk of being wrong with our point of view.

We received several warning letters from people betrayed by Sergio, prior to him coming on board with HKB. At that time we were defending him, but now it turned out that every word they said was true. (Some are documented here: http://mengsmartialarts.com/forum/index.php/topic,1112.0.html). It’s a learning experience, but we have moved forward.

On the behalf of Shaolin HKB Eng Chun Pai Family, and Hokian Eng Chun Kok Sut family in Indonesia, we would like to thank you for your time reading this. We apologize if there’s any part of this statement that may offend anyone in some way. To all IWKA Leaders under Sergio, we also apologize if this may cause some disturbance in your business. We had no other choice because your Sifu, Sergio keep pushing us.

To Sergio, we are very sorry to tell you things like this, but the truth is the truth and the truth should be protected at all costs. We hope you find your happiness one day and become a good person.

If you have any further questions, please send an email directly to Sifu Lin or Sifu Meng. They don’t reply to anonymous or hate mail though J

Sincerely,

Sifu Lin Xiang Fuk and Sifu Benny Meng

Important Links;

1.            YouTube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uhaq35jN00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH8wFX3TSRQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu5XwDlT9ns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVOIywcTzVo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwnsjOTXcUY

2.            Supporting Documents

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150187586931965

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/220656_208145252549819_100000630387185_659084_825646_o.jpg

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/219998_208145272549817_100000630387185_659085_1369695_o.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.207460205951657.54761.100000630387185&type=1

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/44930001/tekkwiewithsikyen.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.206960826001595.53188.100000630387185&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=206960846001593&set=a.206960826001595.53188.100000630387185&type=3&theater

3.            Other Links

http://mengsmartialarts.com/forum/index.php/topic,1112.0.html

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A little something.

how would you care to live?
with reckless abandon? 
or perhaps deadly precision? 
maybe you’d live on the ocean side,
or better yet, the mountains!
Will you notice every breath?
Or will they blend together
leaving you gasping for air?
Will you worry about your tomorrows
and forget your yesterdays?
or will you look to what you have
and narrow your scope?
So tell me:
how would you care to live?
soaring through the highest heights
cruising the valleys below
ascending mountains
or jumping from them?
Whatever it is you do
to live your life
Fully do it
Invest yourself in it
Or you will never really live.

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On the mind’s incessant propensity to name and define things as such.

Okay, so this promises to be a heady post about the quality of existence and the mind’s tendency to grab onto things in an attempt to better understand its surroundings.  For this I apologize, but only to a certain extent.  We must all come to the conclusion that there is no this or that.  The Buddhists call it suchness; the artists would say it is the art of the art.  In plain, simple English it is the quality of a specific entity that makes it that entity.

For a very long time, it has bothered me that martial artists would say, “My art’s better.” To which someone would undoubtedly say, “No!  My art’s better!” And a fight might break out, physical or verbal, about the superiority of the style(s) in question.  Hogwash.  I will agree that there are certain IDEAS that if a practitioner incorporates into their training that they can and will progress farther and will therefore become a “better” martial artist than others, I still hold to the concept that there is no superior martial art.  Why?  Well, it takes me back to a previous post of mine concerning the nature of art in the martial arts.  It’s about personal interpretation.

That being said, why do these arguments arise?  I will tell you: These arguments arise because of the practitioners inability to let go of their ego and step out of themselves.  They do not wish to understand another way or approach because it might invalidate everything they’ve done over the years.  They wish to not have  wastefully exerted so much energy toward an end that can now be considered ineffective.  This is understandable.  But to experience these issues and not adapt to the new surroundings does more to invalidate everything you’ve ever done than standing steadfast and blind to the world.  Always learn, always adapt, keep moving forward.

And now my mind has hijacked this post; back to the topic at hand: the mind.  The mind from its first moments tries to comprehend the world, this strange new place in which it is now found.  Every waking moment, and most non-waking moments, the newborn mind will connect the dots, creating a matrix of understanding in an attempt to figure out this world that we as adults still try to figure out.  (How humbling to think that we still give ourselves the same task that infants intuitively have themselves with their first breath!)  And as we grow, we understand more; never being satisfied when someone tells you, “I’ll tell you when you’re older.”  So we try every means in an attempt to understand, both ourselves and the world.  We need to know what the thing is that we walk on and why it feels different to our feet when we move too far.  We want to understand why our feet get wet when we walk in the grass after it is finished raining.  Once we learn these things, we categorize them into our matrix of knowledge and go on our merry way, taking these things for granted because we already know them.  Little do we realize that though we understand the phenomenon of rain, we do not realize that every rain drop is new and different from every other rain drop that has ever fallen, though it may still be the same.

So we learn a modicum of what existence is meant to be from our toddling years up to the years of teenagery.  Once there, we DEMAND to know; we search for every possible reason for being and we become violent in some cases, for we MUST know.  It is IMPERATIVE that we know what it is that drives us, why must we search, why does no one have the answers for the questions that we have?  And so in some cases we despair and we learn heartache.  This we hold onto because part of us actually feels better because we understand despair.  We feel that we cannot know happiness unless we know pain.  This is a valid philosophical argument; to which I respond, does it really matter?  To hold onto the duality of happiness/despair is to fundamentally split all existence in two.  If this were the case, we split everything in two and as such we cannot come to the Truth of existence.  We are here and we cause a great deal of our own troubles because we must split our existence into polar opposites.

What we do not understand at first is that we only complicate things when we break them down in an attempt to understand them.  Is it important to understand the nature and quality of existence from a cellular level (and beyond)?  By all means!  If that is a means whereby to understanding the true nature of existence, an existence without illusion, then by all means do so!  Break the world down into cells, and then further into atoms, and even further into quarks; learn how they work.  Below is an excerpt of Heisenberg’s Principle of Uncertainty:

At the instant of time when the position is determined, that is, at the instant when the photon is scattered by the electron, the electron undergoes a discontinuous change in momentum. This change is the greater the smaller the wavelength of the light employed, i.e., the more exact the determination of the position. At the instant at which the position of the electron is known, its momentum therefore can be known only up to magnitudes which correspond to that discontinuous change; thus, the more precisely the position is determined, the less precisely the momentum is known, and conversely (Heisenberg, 1927, p. 174-5).

These are ideas that Eastern Philosophers have had for years. Yet men such as Heisenberg were able to put it down in a way that the modern scientific community can understand.  But now that we have everything defined in such a manner, do we need to labor over everything we do with those thoughts in mind?  No.  Can we look into the nature of existence further, defining it further, shedding light into the vast unknown?  Yes.  Can we understand what has been written before and then simply rely on the knowledge we have gained and simply exist, trying to better ourselves?  Yes.

This leads me to another topic for consideration: suchness.  The suchness of a thing, we believe, defines its existence.  For example, where would be if the chairs we sat on had no chair-ness?  Well, we’d be on the floor.  But do we think about the chair-ness of the chair before we sit on it?  Not particularly, though we do check to make sure that it is still in the path of our existence so that we might sit on it without falling to the floor.  But do we contemplate what makes a chair a chair?  Do we stop to think that a chair could’ve been a tree? Or metal ore? Or a complex string of carbon atoms strung together polymerically in order to create a resting place?  Do we think about the hands that touched it?  Or the robots used to make it?  Do we think about who owned before us, or who will own it after us?  Do we think about how the chairs have helped shape our postural habits?  This is part of the suchness of a chair.  In truth, a chair only ever has as much suchness as you are willing/able to give it.  In the end, it is still a chair.  And you are you, carrying as much suchness as you are willing/able to produce in others’ eyes.

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An update… Who knew!?

So I figured I should update on my training progress, along with a few other things.  Below you will see the testimony that I published on facebook concerning my training under my sifu, Ian Fusco. Figured I should post it here as well.

Testimony about training at the I.E.F. Martial Arts Academy

As the subject states, this is a testimony concerning my training under Sifu Ian Fusco at I.E.F. Martial Arts Academy.  I would first like to say how grateful I am for having been afforded the opportunity to train here; it is the home for which I have searched for many years.  That being said, the integrative approach taken to the instruction has not only progressed my training up to this point hundred-fold, I have also been able to use my time to work on physical issues that I’ve been having under the expert guidance of Sifu Ian.  I have dealt with issues in both feet, my right hip, and my left shoulder for some time now and Ian’s knowledge has helped restore normal functions to all these areas which has propelled my training even further! He has done nothing but encourage me to learn, and learn I have!  The wealth of knowledge that Ian controls is expansive and he has always been able to help me learn through this past year.  I have exceedingly enjoyed everything that I have learned so far and continue to look forward to my education with Ian as my sifu.  Thank you, Sifu, for taking me as your disciple.

Now to the progress updating! I’ve been training like crazy; training for 3 hours a day sometimes, I can’t get enough.  Last night I had one of those 3 hour training sessions, working on deep stances and transitioning in and out of them.  Well, needless to say, this has greatly increased my leg strength, speed, and flexibility.  I ended up sweating to the point that as I turned my head, sweat would fly off my face.  It was fantastic.  This happened 3 times last night too!  I feel great this morning because of it.

So for the 3 hours last night, the first hour was a personal lesson, which is where we worked on the deep stances and started the process of extreme sweating.  The next hour was tai chi, which was nice and relaxing; it put everything back to rights.  I have the short form, the fan form, and about a third (maybe?) of the long form, but I think I’m doing well.  The third hour was mantis and wing chun, but for me included some modern arnis.  We warmed up, which included our walks across the room; though after the personal lesson and the tai chi, my legs were a little sluggish, but I pulled through.  Then we went into our stance circle, and I pushed myself a bit there, which felt good.  Then it went on to forms and fighting with sticks.  I have been learning one of the Closed Gate Mantis forms as of recent, I have a particular fondness for it, but I didn’t get a chance to work on it because I was tasked to start one of the students with Modern Arnis.  Our school is under Dan Anderson, so we follow his MA-80 system.  So this student and I worked on the angles of attack and 3 different types of steps, and it worked out pretty well, I’m excited to continue working with the Filippino stick arts!

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Picking your battles… And your punches!

So there are two things I wish to relate with this particular article: One - you have to pick which battles you wish to lose; and Two - pick your punches.

The first adage actually comes from my father and it seems relevant to our studies in martial arts.  How so?  Well, this particular adage has always been used in situations where it seems futile to even do anything.  Thus, pick which battles you wish to lose.  That being said, why would we, as martial artists, wish to lose any battles?  So that we might learn!

If you never learn from any situation, then you shouldn’t be participating!  The greatest master must first and foremost be the greatest student!  In martial arts study, we will invariably get hit; it’s a fact of life.  It’s what you do with when you get hit that really matters.  Do you stop and say, “Ow, that hurt, I’m going to stop doing this!”  Or do you say to yourself, “This is how I got hit, I shouldn’t do that next time.”  We must always strive to learn, not necessarily to attain perfection, but simply to realize who we are.  We must always learn from our own bodies and from the people we interact with.  So with this particular adage, we must learn which battles we wish to lose, but we must do so in order to learn.

The second thing that I wish to discuss, which is related to the first, is this: Pick your punches.  This does not mean that you shouldn’t follow your punches through to their fruition.  What this does mean is that you should be judicious about when and where you throw your punches.  For this I shall relate a story from early on in my training:

     When I was in my teens, I was training in Shotokan karate.  During this time I had the delight to find myself sparring with a gentleman much older than myself, close to twice my age.  If there is something that I can impart to anyone, it is always learn from those who have come before you!  They have done things that you haven’t; they have seen things that you haven’t; they have learned from the people that came before them.  Well, during this sparring match, my temper flared slightly because of having been hit a little hard in the chest or diaphragm, I can’t remember which and honestly it’s inconsequential.  Well, I ended up backing the gentleman to the wall (or rather, he retreated purposely so that he could fight from the wall).  And when we got to the wall, I proceeded to punch him in both sides, just sort of steam shoveling him back and forth, praying that I would “get him back” for having hurt me.  This was a big mistake because I had been lured directly into his trap.  He told me, as I was laying into him, “I don’t care how many times you hit me, I only need one shot.” And with that, he hit me once and it damn near dropped me.

The moral of the story is, well, there are several morals here: 1) don’t let your emotions best you, if you need to use them, do so, but don’t hold on to them. 2) don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of your opponent, you won’t like what happens when this occurs. 3) pick your punches; yes a flurry of punches can have its usefulness, but that doesn’t mean it will work all the time.  One solid hit, if done right, may be all that you need.  4) condition yourself; mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  You may not like the side of you  that comes out during a fight if you don’t know who you are, and as such may end up doing things that in your every day life you never thought you’d do.  This is why we train: To know ourselves and in doing so, know everyone else.

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The Importance of Embracing the Artist in Martial Artist

We are martial artists, right?  Why?  What we do is clearly well associated with the sciences; anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, biology, physics, mathematics, metaphysics, etc and so on.  Why are we artists?

I would like to postulate that we are artists because we are given these sciences and then allowed to elaborate, to theorize, and use whatever we’d like to use in order to gain a specific end.  In science, you work toward a specific end, but in art, you may have a specific end in mind, yet you may not even get there.  As an example, the scientific method would have you go through all of the steps, and if you don’t come up with the answer you’re looking for, you have to go through all of the steps again, slightly modifying everything you do in order to attain that one particular result that you’re looking for.

That’s what we do in art as well, so how is it different?  In art, we go by how we feel and these feelings are often unprovable.  Not that we haven’t discovered the mechanism whereby a person feels, but that our feeling can change at any given moment and more often than not we cannot consciously gauge why it changed.  This is where the fun begins for us as martial artists.

We are given a situation, which has almost countless variables, because in the situation is another person, who thinks, breathes, and feels almost the same as you.  So in this situation an attack is offered, a counter is given, and then a contra-counter, etc and so forth.  This is where the art comes in.  The art is in the interpretation of the sciences that we have been given.  How do you use your arm to intercept this attack?  Block it?  Guide it away from you?  So many choices!!!  This is the Art.

Now, how do we embrace the idea of artist as a whole, for what is the point of being anything, if you are not wholly that whenever you choose to do so.  The samurai of old were encouraged to become poets and philosophers.  This is acceptable.  They were also encouraged to take up painting and calligraphy.  Grand Master Moy Yat took up calligraphy in his later years and produced many examples of his own writing.  The point with the arts is perfection of self through the process.  Sound like anything else we might be interested in?  I think so.

So whether it is painting, sculpture, dance, woodcarving, poetry, prose, flower arrangement, do it with your entirety at that point in time.  When you are finished writing, then move on to dance with all that you are.  This is our art, above and beyond fists and feet.

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Sky Moments

I find myself dressed as the sky today

Bedecked in grays and blues and steel

Ever thoughtful it makes me

Turning to the inner universe

I find my inner sun

Only to let it go

And return to now

Suddenly I find myself

Dressed for the occasion

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On the nature of cruelty and its necessity as a martial principle

     This seems to be a post that is in opposition to my last post; but if this thought has run through your head, stop thinking and just listen.  We as a society believe that cruelty is bad; i.e. despots and dictators.  This is not the kind of cruelty to which I refer.  Cruelty is all about intention.

     Intention you ask?  How so? Intention defines every action, why wouldn’t it define cruelty, which is a concept above action.  Cruelty in relation to the martial arts is a tricky subject; some use it as a means whereby, while others use it as a last resort.  But what is it?

     It is defined in a myriad of ways as follows:

Cruelty 
cruelties, plural

1. Callous indifference to or pleasure in causing pain and suffering
   • - he has treated her with extreme cruelty
2. Behavior that causes pain or suffering to a person or animal
   • - we can’t stand cruelty to animals
   • - the cruelties of forced assimilation and genocide
3. Behavior that causes physical or mental harm to another, esp. a spouse, whether intentionally or not

So how does this relate back to martial arts?  Well, you could have a teacher who feels that cruel and unusual training methods are necessary, but that’s not my focus here.  What I wish to further discuss is the use of cruelty offensively during combat.  Why would we want to use cruelty?  And how does intention play into it?

What is the use of cruelty in combat?  Well, cruelty can be used to make an opponent think twice about having to engage with you in combat.  In this instance, cruelty can be defined as a strategy of overwhelming an opponent and causing enough damage to said opponent so that he (or she) will have the memory of the confrontation the next time that you cross hands.  This is all well and good, and actually isn’t cruelty.  This is merely overwhelming an opponent and, as stated, gives them a memory of the last time you crossed hands, making them think twice.  This would be cruel if your intention were to cause pain and above that, suffering.

As martial artists, we are to engage at a higher level in society; we are the philosophers with swinging arms.  We must think about our actions, because the actions we can commit may come with grave consequences.  If, for example, you engage in an act of cruelty during a moment of self defense, and you seriously injure the person, or even kill them, you can be held liable for your actions because you know better. 

This is where your intention comes in.  If you cross hands with a person and ultimately you try to teach the person a lesson in positivity, they will learn something.  We must bring life to the world with our hands, for there is already so much death.  And to the contrary, if you cross hands with a person to teach them negativity and cruelty, thus resulting in suffering, you just perpetuate the system as you walk along the low road. 

This is the true aim of this blog post, to bring understanding about the nature of cruelty and how it really isn’t necessary.  Compassion is greater than cruelty for compassion changes hearts, whereas cruelty clouds minds.  Do what is necessary in combat, no more.  If your opponent should come back to cross hands with you another time, he will still remember how you treated him.  He may think it is weakness, but if that’s the case, then he will never understand the true aim of martial arts.  We must all focus on perfecting ourselves; leave it to other people to find their version of perfection.  If they take issue with who you are, let them be; they will know your compassion soon enough.