Re: Wu principles

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Posted by bruce ching on January 01, 1999 at 20:11:06:

In Reply to: Re: Wu principles posted by Lee W. on January 01, 1999 at 13:43:25:

Hello, Lee,

: Fu Zhongwen was quite emphatic about the spine being straight and aligned with the pelvis.

The problem with the description of “spine being straight” is that it doesn’t settle the question of whether the spine should be vertical, does it? “Aligned with the pelvis” I take to mean sinking into the front kua, but again this doesn’t settle the question of verticality.

: The amount of lean varies from person to person but it is still nowhere like the lean in Wu style.

So are you saying that keeping the spine straight and aligned with the pelvis defines a range of forward lean, and that the spine in Wu style is either not straight or not aligned w/ the pelvis? (I did read your description elsewhere in this thread, and liked it, but would appreciate clarification on this particular point. My exposure to Wu style was very brief.)

: FZW's son has done a nice book on Yang style but a look at his photos vs. his fahter and then looking at YCF, it is plain that he is not in the same league as his father. In his book on Yang style (which is basically a translation of his fahter's book with Fu Shengyuan doing the pictures) there is a photo of FZW doing Roll back. In the form pictures, there is a picture of Fu Shengyuan doing the same move. He does not come close to the structure or the spirit of his father.

If FZW placed great emphasis on the angle of the back, it seems odd that he would not have made his son aware of that emphasis, so I’m not sure of what to make of the differences in the forward lean of FZW and FSY.

Also, I’m not sure of what what you mean about spirit being revealed in photographs; could you explain?

: When FZW was asked about how to perform the postures in 85 posture Yang style, he would refer to YCF's pictures and say to look like that. FZW strove his whole life to faithfully reproduce YCF's form from what he learned from him directly. Having seen Ycf's complete pictures of the routine, YZD's, and FZW's, I have felt that FZW was closer by far to YCF, even though YZD physically resembles his father. A lot of people will only look at the resemblance instead of the structure.

Considering the length of time that FZW spent with YCF, it’s very likely that FZW’s teachings should be regarded as authoritative. My question re. the forward lean of FZW’s son is, if it’s not in line w/ FZW’s teaching, then where would he have gotten it? Wouldn’t FZW have corrected something to which he attached such great importance?

Any light you can shed on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

- bruce ching

Follow Ups:

Where to start... Lee W. 23:15:01 1/01/99 (8)
- Re: Where to start... bruce ching 23:33:05 1/05/99 (5)
  - Further clarification Lee W. 13:24:02 1/06/99 (4)
    - Wu style for fat people? Henry 19:14:23 1/06/99 (3)
      - You misunderstood or maybe I was not clear Lee W. 23:15:30 1/06/99 (2)
        
        Yes, you were not clear Henry 23:54:54 1/06/99 (1)
        
        Well then ---mea culpa.....and Lee W. 12:26:42 1/07/99 (0)
- Re: Where to start... Louis 14:25:57 1/04/99 (1)
  - WIsh I did Lee W. 14:39:28 1/04/99 (0)

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: Hello, Lee, : : Fu Zhongwen was quite emphatic about the spine being straight and aligned with the pelvis. : The problem with the description of “spine being straight” is that it doesn’t settle the question of whether the spine should be vertical, does it? “Aligned with the pelvis” I take to mean sinking into the front kua, but again this doesn’t settle the question of verticality. : : The amount of lean varies from person to person but it is still nowhere like the lean in Wu style. : So are you saying that keeping the spine straight and aligned with the pelvis defines a range of forward lean, and that the spine in Wu style is either not straight or not aligned w/ the pelvis? (I did read your description elsewhere in this thread, and liked it, but would appreciate clarification on this particular point. My exposure to Wu style was very brief.) : : FZW's son has done a nice book on Yang style but a look at his photos vs. his fahter and then looking at YCF, it is plain that he is not in the same league as his father. In his book on Yang style (which is basically a translation of his fahter's book with Fu Shengyuan doing the pictures) there is a photo of FZW doing Roll back. In the form pictures, there is a picture of Fu Shengyuan doing the same move. He does not come close to the structure or the spirit of his father. : If FZW placed great emphasis on the angle of the back, it seems odd that he would not have made his son aware of that emphasis, so I’m not sure of what to make of the differences in the forward lean of FZW and FSY. : Also, I’m not sure of what what you mean about spirit being revealed in photographs; could you explain? : : When FZW was asked about how to perform the postures in 85 posture Yang style, he would refer to YCF's pictures and say to look like that. FZW strove his whole life to faithfully reproduce YCF's form from what he learned from him directly. Having seen Ycf's complete pictures of the routine, YZD's, and FZW's, I have felt that FZW was closer by far to YCF, even though YZD physically resembles his father. A lot of people will only look at the resemblance instead of the structure. : Considering the length of time that FZW spent with YCF, it’s very likely that FZW’s teachings should be regarded as authoritative. My question re. the forward lean of FZW’s son is, if it’s not in line w/ FZW’s teaching, then where would he have gotten it? Wouldn’t FZW have corrected something to which he attached such great importance? : Any light you can shed on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. : - bruce ching

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