Hello

[Gary Steuer]

Any position can be used for meditation. Moving meditation is done with our forms. Some forms are used with the intent to be a moving meditation.

I'm sure you've been in the position of driving your car or being in a vehicle and having to go somewhere and you switched off your mind and concentrated on maybe a particular form. voila, you arrived at your destination without remembering how you actually got there... The mind can seperate activities and it will take care of us ........if we let it !

There are no special stances.
There are postures, positions, stances that we learn in order to learn our kungfu.... when you are comfortable with your meditation, or your kungfu, there is no real thought involved, it is automatic.
When we do techniques , I get the idea for what we need to practice by watching the movements of people doing their forms and what they are trying to do with the movements.

[pacificnw]

Hi Sifu Gary and friends

I have no idea who is who in this place so I just have to say high to the Stoner Park gang and my friend in Northern California . In adress to the last post . I feel that every day when I work out if not for just a few moments when I have pushed my legs and back and arms to the limit and I start to shake and my leg starts to jog at it's own free will it is at that point were I can summon up some sort of last minute reserve or maybe it's the zone but I can make my mind kinda drift off a bit and the pain becomes manageable again . is that what your talking about Gary ? I have gone on ridiculas back packing hikes were we spent to much time on the mountain and then found ourselves running out of energy five miles out and in the dark , it is that kind of challenge were I find my Kung Fu to be a great alley and I actually think of you Gary and Jay and Pat and Jim at times when my body wants to call it quits just a few switch backs away from the car . sort of a kind distraction from the mental fatigue .

Robert

[Gary Steuer]

Being able to push yourself that extra little bit by being mentally alert is what makes the difference between a person who is trained and has the inner will to push themselves to make the body do more than it thinks it can . You're doing well Robert!

[Si Fu Carlos]

Hi.

I´m Carlos, from Guadalajara Jalisco México. I don´t speak (or write) english very well, but I´ll do my best.

I started to practice kung fu back in 1993 in Dragón Rojo kung fu academy with José Guillén.

I have my own martial arts school since 1995, Dragón de Fuego Casas.

Nowadays I´m black belt second degree, and working very hard to get the third degree anytime this year.

I´m bigger than I like, since my weigth is 96kilos there are at least 26kilos more
But, this is not an impediment for me to practice kung fu. Yea, is more difficult, but is not imposible

Anyway, I discover this forum because of my friend´s forum, El cuervo, and I glad about it.

I have my own forum, but is in spanish and it was created thinking in my students, so, there´s not to much to get new, but, if anyone can give it a chance, welcome!!!!

See you soon, and I hope I can improved my english!!!!

Carlos Casas.

[blackravin]

Hi Carlos, good to see you here. Yes Gary Steuer is one of the Elders, as I like to refer to him. Uncle Gary is one of the nicest persons you can meet. He has always opened his doors to me and has never judged me.

He has always been open to questions and sharing of information. I hope you keep in contact with him Carlos and you will see how much Uncle Gary has to offer.

Hi to everyone. ;D

[jingwah]

Hi Carlos,

Good to have you aboard!

[Gary Steuer]

Sorry folks, haven't been available for a while due to health issues , but..... My health is coming back , and I'm working on stances . Don't forget , the Horse is the foundation. Most people want the next move , and the next move , and the next move , etc , etc.......but never take the time to work on their stances........ Carlos, good to have you here. Sorry I'm late welcoming you to our forum. In 1970, I was actually teaching our style ( Orders from GM Ark Wong.) in Atlixco , Puebla.. Got run out of town by a religious group, but that's not important.... Anyway, good to have you around !

PS... Thanks for the nice words Sergio !

[blackravin]

Your welcome, but it's the truth.

And as you know, I'm kinda like the prodigal son. ahahaha

I hope your health keeps on improving.

[Gary Steuer]

There are quite a few people who check out this site .........Why ? Are you in some sort of training , or just curious ? If you workout , what do you do ...............and for what purpose ?
Don't be shy ,and dismiss this posting. If you do , that tells a lot about you . Tell others what you do ...........If you are not ashamed ..........

[jay]

Hi Gary,
Tell us what Ark Wong's typical class workout was like. Many out there might be interested.
Jay

[Gary Steuer]

Good question Jay. Class was scheduled for 3 days a week. Tuesday , Thursday , and Sunday . Didn't matter though , there were always people in the school. Class time was from 7 pm - 9 pm . I showed up after work , and worked on my form , and technique if there were others around. There was a lot of equipment to train with , so there wasn't a problem trying to keep busy. Master Wong wanted me to keep people moving. He didn't want to see people just sitting around waiting for class. There was no shortage of people available for me to either spar or work on moves.. Class would start at 7 pm . and we would line up and we would go through kung fu related exercise . We would be drilled on forms , and it would progress as to where we were at for learning . Beginners would get a chance to watch as the advanced students would do what they had learned. There would be a break after about a hour or so , and Master Wong would give attention to people who were practicing their forms. We would line up again and work on a specific technique that he would show , and then we would work it into whatever form we were learning .. That was just a typical , basic class... It was great !!

[jay]

Hi Gary,
On the average, how many students attended classes while you were there? Other than yourself, how many others received certificates (that you know of)?
Jay

[Gary Steuer]

There were about 30 - 40 students most of the time.. Sometimes more , sometimes less..
As far as certificates given.......... I don't know of anyone else while I was student. It's funny , there is a person who showed a certificate and it's dated the day after I received mine, but I know for a fact that that is not true..... Oh well , as they say , " The proof is in the pudding." You can watch videos and see the differences.... There were enough of us at one time who used to visit with GM Wong , and he always asked us to help with demonstrations and he checked everyone's form all the time... I know we made him happy !

[palmdown]

Stances, yes—everything starts from the horse stance. But d**n—that's a hard stance to stay in. The longest I lasted in a horse stance was just under half an hour.
Given the way my legs have aged since the Seventies, maybe I should practice moving to and from left/right horse stances. Any advice, Gary?

palmdown

[Gary Steuer]

Stances are very important and as we age the square horse becomes harder to maintain for a period of time. Moving the horse is what we have developed to , so that is where we benefit the most. What hurts us is inactivity .. We have to keep moving... Like we used to say in the Marine Corps " It's hard to hit a moving target ."