Refining Shenfa

The significance of practising forms lies not in the precision and beauty of the actions but in  refining the quality and proficiency of the body - shenfa (body method) - during the process. Practice is only meaningful if the aim is to achieve this; unless the emphasis is on shenfa, it serves little purpose beyond performance. If forms are practised for aesthetics rather than cultivating shenfa, practitioners tend to focus on speed, strength, and flashy movements, and lose the essence of slow and mindful practice. If a practitioner can develop shenfa within the complexities of different forms, then they would have achieved the essence of gong (trained skill).  

Although single movements are often used for refining shenfa, the purpose for form training that involves the intricacies of multiple movements is the same. Push hands is another avenue for this. The cultivated shenfa allows for smoothness and proficiency even in combat situations – aligning oneself and adapting to changing environments. Shenfa is not a set of rules; it is both the goal and the outcome of training.  It is the essence of gongfu.

(March 2024)