Book Review: Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self-Defense

A short book about martial arts, mostly consists of graphs illustrating the movements, yet there are some text that describes his philosophy which clearly shows his cultural root.

The fluidness of implementation is something that he emphasizes and it resonates with me. Everything is situation based, not imposing your own will on the situation, but guide the situation. I can see this being very effective during negotiations and education.

My criticism towards this way of thinking is that it offers little guideline for those who want to learn in a scientific and systematic way, hence it is very hard to replicate the result. This is also a very important reminder for myself, as I have found myself having the exact same mentality during negotiating and mentoring people. It is extremely hard for me to share my methods systematically with others - this means that it is limited and cannot be mass produced.

Perhaps we need to be this flexible in the beginning to adapt to unknown situations, but as we gathered more information, we should create systematic model and “stiffen” the knowledge.

Here are some quotes I like from the book:

The techniques of Gung Fu emphasize not on power but in conservation of energy and moderation without going to either extreme. That is why a true Gung Fu man never opposes force (which will create reaction) or give way completely; He is simply pliable, as a spring. He seeks to merge harmoniously with the oncoming force of the opponent — to be the complement, and not the opposite of the opponent’s force.

Firmness must be concealed in gentleness, and gentleness in firmness.

Suppose A applies strength on B, B shouldn’t oppose or gives way completely to it. For these are but the two extreme opposites of B’s reaction. Instead, he should complete A’s force, with a lesser force, and lead him to the direction of his own movement.

The butcher preserves his knife by cutting along the bone and not against it.