Posted by Louis on January 04, 1999 at 14:25:57:
In Reply to: Where to start... posted by Lee W. on January 01, 1999 at 23:15:01:
Greetings Lee,
Interesting discussion. You stated:
: In the pictures I am referring to FZW is in Ban Ma Bu (half horse stance) doing Roll back. His attention is forward through the lead hand and there is a MAJOR intensity in his eyes The lead hand is shoulder level to a little higher. Fu Shengyuan has a picture in the same posture. His stance is shifted much more to the rear foot giving it a weaker and less martial appearance. The attention is not a clearly through the lead hand and the lead hand on FSY is lower than the shoulder. The overall impression is much less martial and not as spirited. This is one photo. The entire book is similar. The form is correct but lacks the same fire that FZW displayed even in his later years.
I've seen the photo that you're talking about, and it really is splendid! Do you know of any sources of photos of FZW's form from that period? I'd really like to see what his form looked like when he was in his prime. His book, of course, used line drawings based on photos of YCF's form -- some traced directly, and transitional movements derived from those. The drawings are excellent in themselves, and are perhaps our best documentation, along with FZW's form instructions, of YCF's form. But I'd sure like to see photos of Fu Zhongwen himself.
Take care,
--Louis