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[Martial Arts] One in Ten ThousandAuthor: Jeffi Chao Hui Wu Time: 2025-08-09 Saturday, 7:54 PM ········································ [Martial Arts] One in Ten Thousand
Evidence Archive Version
I always thought that practicing alone would lead to stagnation.
Starting from June 2024, I began practicing by the sea around 5:00 AM every day, with temperatures between 6-12°C and windy conditions, often wearing autumn clothes or a single layer. The training included horse stance, Tai Chi, Tai Chi sword, Xingyi Five Elements Fist, Lingzi step, and Qigong. There was no coach or companions throughout, relying solely on self-awareness to adjust my posture and breathing. I initially believed that this solitary training method would easily lead to stagnation without me realizing it.
I always thought that my master and senior brothers were encouraging me.
In October 2024, I officially became a disciple of Master Dan Ying, and my senior brother Lin Wenhui is an internationally recognized Tai Chi expert. In our daily exchanges, their affirming words were gentle and brief, and I thought this was the usual encouragement to maintain the confidence of students.
I always thought that having fewer forms meant not improving my skills.
I focused on the core structural training of stance work, Tai Chi, and sword, with few movements but repetitive practice for over 1.5 hours each day. Compared to those who constantly learned new forms, I seemed "monotonous" in my movements and once doubted whether this could truly enhance my abilities.
I always thought that the horse stance was a very simple posture.
The appearance of the horse stance is merely legs apart, knees bent, and spine upright, looking like anyone could do it. Senior brother Lin Wenhui often said, "Just stand in the stance when you have nothing to do." I thought this was just a basic skill for beginners, without deeper significance.
Until one day in September 2025, senior brother Lin Wenhui messaged me on WeChat: "Congratulations, you have become one in ten thousand!"
I was stunned: "Me?"
Data from that day:
Environment: Sydney seaside, temperature 9°C, windy
Stance time: 30 minutes, stable throughout
Body response: Legs continuously trembled slightly but not sore, noticeable feeling of expansion; breathing was long and steady; warmth spread throughout the body
Sweating condition: Fine sweat began on the forehead and back at the 5-minute mark, and after 10 minutes, sweating was even across the body
Recovery after practice: Within 5 minutes, the feeling of warmth subsided, and surface body temperature stabilized
Senior brother Lin Wenhui's comparative explanation:
"Ordinary people standing in horse stance will have their center of gravity drift within 3 seconds, breathing becomes chaotic, and their legs become sore and unable to continue. You can stand for 30 minutes in a low-temperature, windy environment, maintaining form, focus, and stable energy flow. This is the unity of foundation, structure, breathing, and energy, not just physical endurance through willpower, but true skill."
At that moment, I finally understood—solitary practice is not stagnation, but silent growth; the number of forms is not a measure of skill, but the depth of the foundation is; the encouragement from my master and senior brothers is not mere politeness, but recognition of the tangible changes in me.
The horse stance has never been a simple posture. It is a comprehensive practice of rooting in the feet, standing upright in the spine, sinking energy, and connecting intention. Though its appearance is still, internally, energy and blood surge, and meridians pulse. It is the companion of the solitary, and a testament to the heart of a martial artist.
I still practice alone, not to compete or seek victory, but to surpass the self of yesterday. Now I clearly know—this path, though lonely, has already led me to my own realm. Source: https://www.australianwinner.com/AuWinner/viewtopic.php?t=697159 |
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