Form

Form training is where the art in kung fu resides. It is what defines our art and makes it unique. Done properly, a student’s style and lineage are apparent in the way they perform their forms.

I have always admired Master Macdonald’s form practice. His vocabulary of motion is beyond anything I have seen before. I have witnessed him learning a new form in a new style and I am dumfounded at how his body instantly adapts to the structural fundamentals of the new style. He does a hung gar form like a hung gar stylist. He does a kempo form like a kempo stylist. He does a choy lay fut form like a choy lay fut stylist. No matter what he is doing, he just is, nothing more. This is the quality of wu wei - non striving, effortless effort.

I have had the privilege of studying under Master Brian Macdonald for the past twenty years. He is the standard to which I measure myself. There is a reason why only a Master is qualified to promote someone to black belt and there is a reason why, despite holding that rank myself, all my black belts have been promoted by Master Macdonald. I am the first to point out - not all Masters are created equal. Master Macdonald is a step above.

When Master Macdonald performs a form, the intensity of his technique is intimidating. The intensity is not in how fast he moves or how hard his technique snaps. The intensity resides within his soul. There is some otherworldliness to his kung fu. You can see his mind focusing on an imaginary opponent. As he moves, his eyes follow his body, and his feet drive his centre forward as he delivers his technique. The energy he delivers is exactly right for the situation, every time.

It is easy to confuse teaching technique with applying technique. When Brian Macdonald teaches you a technique, he is the most approachable, empathetic, compassionate person you could imagine. However when you are on the receiving end of a Master Macdonald application, it is a very different experience. The intimidation factor can be overwhelming before he even delivers the blow. Such is the power of his intensity.

What is exciting for me as a martial artist is the infinite layers found in form training and how each of those layers colour technique and application. Whenever I am searching for focus in my training, I pull out one of my many videos of Master Macdonald performing a form. What I learn from watching him gives me years of material to apply to my current knowledge. So much to learn, so little time.

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” ~ Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)