Page 44 - Martial Science Magazine Special Edition 2015

GOLDEN EDITION 2014
A Travelling Ronin
Lohan Kung Fu: School
of Chinese Martial Arts:
Parker, CO
By: Martin “travelling ronin” FranshaM
BACKGROUND: I was going to Colorado and I
didn’t know anyone to train with. Normally I go
to Google to give me a school to reach out too but
this time I decided to try something different. I
participate in a forum LinkedIn and decided to
ask my network if they knew anyone that I could
learn from. A friend of mine, Matt Relyea, told
me that I had to check out the “School of Chinese
Martial Arts.” An email and phone call later I was
having coffee with Shifu Wayne Hinton.
Lohan Kung Fu can be beautifully graceful and
wickedly powerful.
After a great conversation where we discussed our
past training and where we had both come from
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Shifu Wayne took some time to work with me per-
sonally before class started. On his floor I noticed
that there were two triangles. I have seen triangles
in almost every Martial Art I have visit. They are
a fundamental piece of architectural engineering
due to the strength that the structure creates. The
strength they confer on the human body is no
different.
When Shifu Wayne took me over to the triangles
and asked me what I saw. I talked about structure
and strength and how the triangle granted both.
He smiled and then added to my answer pointing
out that the triangle on the floor also showed how
to take structure. To illustrate the point he shoved
me straight on. Predictably, I rocked back on my
rear leg and returned to my fighting stance. Taking
a step to the side he gave me a much gentler push.
No longer able to brace myself I rocked back and
ended up pedalling through the air to catch my
balance.
Shifu Wayne pointed out to me that we are all
essentially three-legged tables that only have two
legs. You need to understand not only your own
structure but your opponent’s as well. It was a
pertinent lesson that you need to not only focus
on yourself but on yourself but on your assailant
as well. Quoting Sun Tzu, “If you know the enemy
and know yourself you need not fear the results of
a hundred battles*.”