Book of the collection "Foundations of Kung Fu": Marciality
The importance of the base
When we enter the Ving Tsun System of Kung Fu as practitioners, we repeatedly hear the term “base” and how important it is to discover, to wake up our base to access qualities of structure and firmness in our bodies, but in a way that also carries flexibility and the resilience needed to know how to readjust to each new situation, to each new step we take.
Discovering our own base also means using the resistance that the ground gives us to direct our energy forward, thus connecting with the opponent; and perhaps looking at it from a broader perspective, even with life!
In other words, knowing our own base invites us to become aware of where we are with ourselves and where we choose to step.
As martial artists on a journey within a Kung Fu system, knowing where we came from, knowing our ancestry, knowing their history, the challenges covered and the knowledge shared by the most varied masters is, in my view, discovering the " our base” within our lineage, within our art. And let it be said in passing that documents that allow us to access the history and perspective of those who “were here before us” and contributed to Ving Tsun becoming what it is today are rare.
Last Sunday, October 31, 2021, at Copamar Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I had the honor of witnessing the creation of an important pillar at the “base” of our Kung Fu system with the release of the first book by “FOUNDATIONS OF KUNG FU” collection, written and conceived by the Senior Masters Julio Camacho, Ricardo Queiroz and Ursula Lima.
Book 1 carries the title and addresses the theme “Martiality” and is based on interviews conducted by disciples Thiago Pereira, Eduardo Esteves and Helena Carneiro with the authors.
The Senior Masters Ricardo Queiroz and Ursula Lima together with book 1 of the collection and the next 2 editions, which will address the themes "Care" and "Transmission"
At the beginning of the launch, the authors introduced the project and commented that it had already been conceived for a long time, but that in its execution phase it took 1 month to be finalized. It struck me to hear Mestre Julio Camacho talking about a comment his daughter Jade once made about him, in which he said that he observed a short distance between what he says and what he actually does. Mestre Julio added by observing how people often make life difficult by creating a large space between what they want and what they actually do. This project, according to him, goes against this trend.
Heitor Furtado talks about the graphic art part of the project, while Helena Carneiro and Mestre Thiago Pereira talk about the experience of participating in the book in the role of interviewers
I was proud to be present at this historic moment and to be able to observe the mastery of these three Kung Fu family leaders, who along with the discovery of their own base, explored in this project the potential of uniting their complementary perspectives on the same theme, allowing energy flow effortlessly forward.
Talking about Martiality
In a second moment, the round of questions on the theme of the book was opened for Masters Ricardo Queiroz and Ursula Lima, who were present at the event's venue, and Master Julio Camacho, who now lives in the United States and was able to be present by digital means.
Senior Masters Julio Camacho, Ricardo Queiroz and Ursula Lima answer questions on the topic "Martiality"
Master Ursula brought the important perspective of a female martial artist, pointing out how much we live in a society that does not embrace martiality as a good thing, especially with regard to women, who are restricted very early in their creation and end up not getting in touch with martiality, which is of great importance even in your emotional development.
Already Master Ricardo Queiroz answered the question "how to relate martiality outside the martial environment?" bringing a perspective that contrasts with the idea of inside and outside, proposing that the way we practice in our Mogun, with which we work our conduct, makes us already acting outside the martial environment, in our life. In other words, the idea of inside and outside dissolves.
"Kung Fu creates a constant scenario of small symbolic crises (...) so that the person can get used to this scenario over time." - Master Julio Camacho
Mestre Julio Camacho was asked the question about “the consequences of “not listening” to the other and how to improve this listening?”. His answer in particular touched me a lot, as he described how the practice of martial arts, being a physical practice, requires contact between one body and another. Thus, this contact is loaded with many affections, that is, tensions, fears, anxieties… and in a crisis situation, the tendency we have is to close ourselves off, to stop listening to the other. Kung Fu (in this case the Ving Tsun system) creates a constant scenario of small, gradual symbolic crises, so that the person can get used to this scenario over time. The crisis exists, it is critical and we are learning more and more to deal with it. In conclusion, Mestre Julio described Kung Fu as one of the best ways to learn to listen to others.
The words that serve as a basis
After the questions, the guests who had bought his book on site had the opportunity to have their copy autographed by Mestre Ricardo and Mestre Ursula, a detail that makes such a moment even more special for a Kung Fu practitioner!
It is almost a way of legitimizing our presence in this historic moment.
Getting my autograph and dedication with my Si Fu Ursula Lima and my Si Baak Ricardo Queiroz
Just as the base in Ving Tsun takes us to something solid and palpable, the words, the knowledge that guide us to its discovery are given through the coexistence between masters and practitioners. We can say that the knowledge that involves a Kung Fu system is something extremely subtle, which often goes beyond movements, words, beyond the “explicable”.
But when three Senior Masters of the same generation, Kung Fu brothers, who bring with them the experience of many decades of practice, come together to make these words tangible through a collection of books, I can say that words, thoughts thus become the basis , of inspiration for those who are today and for those who are yet to come, strengthening the base of knowledge, which today can come in the form of book copies, but tomorrow is what will serve as a foundation to enrich our history!
My contribution to the theme "Martiality"
As a disciple of Master Ursula Lima I would like to thank my Si Fu and my Si Baak Julio Camacho and Ricardo Queiroz and all those directly (and indirectly) involved in the project of this first book and I look forward to book 2, which I am sure that promises!
More about the Kung Fu Fundamentals Collection: www.fundamentosdokungfu.com
So reported Fernanda Lima 'Moy Fong Laan Dak' (梅風蘭 德), Fifth Senior Master Disciple Ursula Lima 'Moy Lin Mah' and member of the Moy Lin Mah Family Disciples Council along with Rodolpho Alcântara, André Villarreal, Helena Carneiro , Angela Carvalho, Heitor Furtado, Vítor Barros and Marcus Souza.
Learn more about the Moy Lin Mah Family:
Unity Copacabana, Brazil - www.mykungfu.com
Unity Cascais, Portugal - www.myvt-portugal.org
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