星星與玫瑰 Reach for Stars and Smell the Roses
星星與玫瑰 Reach for Stars and Smell the Roses
星星與玫瑰 - 習武的目標與過程
作者: Alan C. Huang
I.學拳千人萬人,學成一人兩人。 “Hundreds of thousands of people study Kung Fu, only one or two could achieve the highest level.”
多年前當我剛剛開始學習陳氏太極拳,師傅任廣義告訴我一句話 - 『學拳千人萬人,學成一人兩人。』我將這句話寫在我習武的筆記本封面內頁來鼓勵自己,希望有一天我會成為那一人兩人。多年以後的今天,我覺得我最終還是不能成為那幸運的一人或兩人。但竟究『學成』是什麼意思?怎樣才能知道我們已經『學成』?不同的人,這可能意味著不同的事情。對於練詠春拳的人們,有些人可能會認為,如果他們學會木人樁或詠春武器,他們已到達『學成』 階段。對於一些練陳太極的人可能會認為如果他們學會老架二路或新架二路(又稱炮捶),那麼他們已經達到這個水準。對某些人來說,這可能意味著贏得比賽或獲得晉升到黑帶。『學成』對我是武術可能的最高境界。我一直想像當一個人到達武術最高的境界它會是什麼樣的感覺。排除年代較久遠的傳奇人物,例如陳發科(陳氏太極拳宗師,也是師公陳小旺的祖父)或葉問宗師。因為即使我有三輩子練武,我將永遠不會達到他們那種登峰造極的境界。所以『學成』是像我太極拳師公陳小旺所能做其著名的發勁?還是像黃淳樑師公那樣贏得五十多場比武勝利?或者,像師傅林文學在香港贏得兩項自由搏擊冠軍,並即使超過十多年沒有做任何練習,當他做詠春動作時是那麼自然輕鬆且快如閃電。還是像我的另一個詠春拳師傅陳雄,當黐手時他可完全控制你。他的拳掌之力道發長勁時可以將人打飛撞牆。發短勁時你會感到一股可怕的力量滲透入你的身體。由於缺乏天赋和練習,老實說即使我繼續練武十年或二十年我將永遠無法到達他們的境界。
II.
伸手摘星,即使徒勞無功,亦不致一手污泥。When you reach for the stars you may not quite get
one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either.
舉例來說,如果你設定你的目標是進入世界一流大學,即使你沒有達到這一目標很可能你還是會考進很好的大學。當然,前提是你必須努力嘗試實現自己的目標。儘管我大概永遠無法親身體會到『學成』的
感覺和喜悅。不過,我永遠不會後悔踏上這漫長的功夫旅途。正好相反,我不能想像我的生活中沒有功夫。在只有寂寞,悲傷,生活壓力的日子裡,是詠春和太極伴
隨我度過生命中那些艱難的時刻。也正因為練拳,我得到了健康,自信,防身能力,遇見最好師傅和最好的朋友。現在,我已是教練,我有一群非常好的學生。遺
憾?我一點也沒有!
III.停下來聞聞玫瑰花香Stop and Smell the Roses.
當我們完全專注於實現我們的目標,我們常常忽略了生活裡值得珍惜的事。我記得陳雄師傅告訴我們另一句話 - 『停下來聞聞玫瑰花香。』 我
猜師傅告訴我們這句話,因為他發現我們練功的挫折感。在學習武術,每個人都有他或她的目標。有些人想學習如何保護自己。有些人想贏得冠軍。有些人想減重。
就像前面提到的,將你的目標設定得高可能是一件好事。不管你的目標是什麼,不要忘記不時停下來看看你已實現或獲得多少。每隔一段時間慶祝一下。這樣你會有
更多的動力;減少挫折感,繼續努力朝著你的目標前進。顯然得,若是每個人都能實現自己的目標是一個非常好的事情。然而,實現目標的過程與結果同樣重要。有時過程甚至比結果更重要。
這三句話就是我想與大家分享。所以設定目標。苦練和永不放棄。但是,千萬記得停下腳步來聞聞玫瑰花香。當你偶然回首時你可能發現不知不覺得已走過許多山峰和山谷。
注: 本文的摘星圖案為李奧貝納(Leo Burnett)廣告公司的企業標識。李奧貝納是全球十大廣告公司之一,伸手摘星”Reach for Stars” 是全球李奧貝納人追逐最高標準的共同信念。
附錄: 太極大師陳小旺的練功故事
幾年前,郭栖臣師傅告訴我一個故事。有一天,太極拳師公陳小旺派人找他堂兄弟陳正雷(陳小旺和陳正雷與王西安、朱天才並稱為陳家溝的"太極四大金剛") 告訴他趕緊回來看他。 陳正雷心裡覺得必定發生了什麼大事。當陳正雷看到陳小旺,陳小旺告訴他,『通了!功夫練通了!』 去年,當我讀到了美國功夫雜誌我很驚訝師公陳小旺的功夫聽說又有進展。我之所以用“驚訝”,因為見過他國際知名功夫的人莫不驚嘆不已。這樣厲害功夫怎麼可能變得更好?!那是怎麼樣子?以下是師公陳小旺他自己的描述,希望它可以幫助你一窺堂奧。
『在我這個年齡(筆者注:他今年是65歲。),我只是希望我的太極拳水準保持不變,而不是衰退。 1986年,我覺得我的太極跳了一級。(筆者注: 這應該是前述師傅告訴我的故事。)但在96年我的腿受傷了。然後,在2001年我接受了一次左膝手術取出一些軟骨。 (筆者注: 這件事我記很清楚。2001年,師公陳小旺在紐約舉行太極講座。通常情況下,他會表演發勁。那年他並沒有這樣做的理由是膝蓋手術的原因。我們都非常失望。)最近,我感到我的功夫跳躍到一個更高的層次,並且又變更自然了。在過去,我練老架一路四到五遍就休息。 (筆者注: 打一次老架一路一般需時約 10分鐘。)現在,我可以練習 20次不休息。我甚至不覺得累。原因是我減少犯錯誤。這就像汽車一樣。某些汽車就是比較有效率。這一輛車每加侖可跑20英里。另一輛汽車每加侖可跑50英里。因為我減少犯錯誤,我的流暢度比較好,所以我的效率沒有碰到任何障礙。所以,我練拳的品質有所改善。我浪費更少能量。這讓我感到驚訝。我從來沒有想到會發生在我這個年齡。手術後,我一直試圖糾正自己的套路,使之更加準確。每一次修正,我用更少的力量來做到更多。現在,當我跳的很高,我也沒什麼感覺。即使有人給我一百萬元我也不要改變我的現狀。四十多年裡我一直在努力實現這一目標。我很驚訝,它在去年年底來到了。現在,在早晨,我練非常快,十到二十次。我也不需要喝一口水。我花了大約七分鐘左右打一次,所以仍然是每天早上要花大約兩個半小時。我甚至不怎麼熱身,只是做點站樁,然後我重複的打20次。只流了一點汗,但沒有感到任何疲勞。甚至當我年輕的時候,都無法達到這樣的地步。』
Reach for Stars and Smell the Roses – The Goal Setting and Process in Learning Kung Fu
Author: Alan C. Huang
I. Hundreds of thousands of people study Kung Fu, only one or two could achieve the highest level.
When
I just began to learn Taiji, my Sifu told me a Chinese Kung Fu saying
which could be loosely translated into – “Hundreds of thousands of
people study Kung Fu, only one or two could achieve the highest level.” I wrote the saying in my training diary to encourage myself and hoped one day I would become one of the few. Fast forward many years later. Unfortunately,
from what I could see now, I think instead of the lucky one or two, I
would end up with the majority of people who study martial arts. But, then again, how does one know he or she has achieved the highest level? I
have always imagined how it is like when one achieves the highest level
in martial arts. To different people, it probably means different
things. For people in Wing Chun, some might think if they learn Wooden Dummy or weapons, they will arrive at the highest level. For Chen Taiji people some might think if they learn the Second Routine, then they have reached that level. To some people, it might mean winning a tournament or earning a black belt. Let’s rule out the legendary figures, like Yip Man. Even I had three lifetimes to practice, I will never achieve his skill level. So, is the highest level like my Taiji Sigung’s famous Fa Jin (Explosive Power)? Or, is it like my Wing Chun Sigung, Wong Shung Leung, fought 50 plus fights and won them all? Or,
is it like my Wing Chun Sifu Gary Lam who won two full-contact fight
champions in HK and even without any practices in over 10 years yet his
Wing Chun moves are so effortlessly and are so fast like lightning. Or,
is it like my another Sifu, Mickey Chan, in Chi Sao he could just
totally control you and his strikes could send people flying toward the
wall? With lacks of talent and practice, even I continue to train for next 10 or 20 years, I will never reach their levels of skill.
II. When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either.
For
example, if you set your goal to get into a world class college, even
if you don't achieve that goal most likely you will be accepted by very
good colleges. Of course, the prerequisite is you have to work hard to realize your goal. Although,
I probably will never find it out myself or experience it myself how is
it like to reach the stratosphere of martial arts. However, I will never regret taking this long journey of studying Kung Fu. When
there were only loneliness, sadness, pressures left, it was Wing Chun
and Taiji accompanied me through those tough times in life. I got health, confidence, self-defense skill, great Sifus and best friends from learning Kung Fu these years. Now, I am a coach and I got a group of very good students. Regrets?! I have none. On contrary, I can't imagine without Kung Fu in my life.
III. Stop and Smell the Roses
When we are totally focus on achieving our goal, oftentimes we forget to appreciate things we should cherish in our life. I remember another saying that Sifu Chan told us – “Stop to smell the roses.” I guess he told us this sentence, because he noticed our frustrations of not seeing big improvements in our Kung Fu. Everyone has his or her goal in learning martial arts. Some want to learn how to defend themselves. Some want to win tournaments. Some want to lose weights. Set your goal high. But, no matter what your goal is, don’t forget to stop from time to time to see how much you have achieved or gained. Celebrate your little success from time to time. This way would give you more motivation to continue to strive toward your goal, and it would reduce frustrations, too. Obviously, it would be great that everyone could all achieve their goals. However, the process of realizing our goals is equally important. Sometimes, it is even more important.
Those are the three sentences that I wanted share with you. So, set your goal high. Practice hard and never give up. Yet, do remember to stop smell the roses. You
might just find out that you have gone over many peaks and valleys and
the starting point was so far away from where you are today. Sometime in life the process is just as important as the result.
Note: The graphic in this article is Leo Burnett Advertising’s corporate logo. Leo Burnett is one of the ten largest ad agencies in the world. “Reach for Stars” is their motto.
回應(4)
呆泥於2010/11/02 03:08 回應
對於練詠春拳的人們,有些人可能會認為,如果他們學會木人樁或詠春武器,他們已到達『學成』 階段?
其實這跟本是錯的,學完木人才是學習詠春之路的開始. 學無止盡啊~~
tommy於2010/11/01 23:22 回應
設定目標。苦練和永不放棄 。但是,千萬記得停下腳步來聞聞玫瑰花香。當你偶然回首時你可能發現不知不覺得已走過許多山峰和山谷。
感謝你的用心教導 東霖
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