ZenKuya

Introduction

“You can take my life, but you can’t take my confidence.”

Jimmy H Woo

Kung Fu. What comes to mind when you hear those words? Perhaps you imagine a Chinese man performing contorted moves just before he gets his butt kicked? Or maybe you picture a “B” movie with exaggerated sound effects choreographed to fancy “combat” techniques? Maybe Bruce Lee?  Grasshopper… everything is Kung Fu.

Kung Fu is understood in many ways. I’ve heard it describing someone highly skilled in their craft… like a Kung Fu chef or Kung Fu baker. It’s also used as a metaphor for outsmarting or outmaneuvering someone… “I Kung Fued him!”

From one Chinese perspective, Kung Fu is a lifestyle. It’s not just something you do but something you are. In the western world, we have jobs and toys, and no time or desire to adopt a change of lifestyle. But then there are some…

If you are interested in the carbon-based unit you reside in while here on earth (your body) and how to preserve it and keep it in good working order, then Kung Fu may be worth exploring. If you are interested in the efficiency of motion, conservation of energy, and body mechanics, then Kung Fu may appeal to you. If you are interested in working around your limitations and handicaps, or overcoming fear and intimidation, then Kung Fu may be for you.

On the other hand, if you’re easily offended or think the bad things happening in your life are someone else’s fault, this book might not be for you. If you believe world conflicts can always be resolved through talking things out, this book may challenge your views. While cooperation might work temporarily, human nature will always revert to conflict and violence. If your primary concerns in life are what to eat next or avoiding challenges, Kung Fu and this book may not interest you.  

From a western perspective, Kung Fu is often synonymous with fighting or combat, but it offers far more than self-defense techniques. Kung Fu San Soo emphasizes practical, physical, mechanical, and efficient movements of the body for fitness, health, confidence, awareness and so much more. While combat is an important focus, it’s not about tournaments or sport fighting. San Soo is more akin to street fighting with no rules or laws (whatever they want to call them). Anything is allowed.

In San Soo, you use any weapon available to you. Fists, legs, feet, teeth, a towel, shirt, rope, a chain, a club of some sort. A screwdriver or something as simple as a popsicle stick for piercing or poking. Your environment becomes your arsenal.  Use a book, the wall, a glass window, the corner of a desk… whatever. But the most effective weapon in your weapon hierarchy is your mind, which turns tools into weapons and thoughts to actions.

Targets in San Soo have no limits. Hit to the groin, eyes, throat, base of the skull. You exploit mechanical weaknesses. You force a person’s limbs to move beyond their designed limitations. Your arms work well when within your field of view. But once outside your peripheral vision, they get weaker from a leverage and mechanical standpoint. This is where I want to get my opponent’s arm (out of his view), and where I want to make sure no one forces mine. First strikes and so-called “Cheap Shots” are fair game. Bullies we are not. Nor are we bullied.        

Kung Fu San Soo is often touted as one of the most lethal martial arts. Opinions on this vary. Much like religious or political debates, martial artists are often convinced their style is superior. Try to tell a Catholic or Protestant he is wrong, or a Democrat or Republican. Can you say, “Lone Gunman”?  

This book isn’t about Kung Fu history or its many legends. You can find those on the internet or elsewhere. This is not a book of Kung Fu San Soo techniques. (The best place to learn techniques is in the training studio, not from a book or an internet video.) This is, however, a book on San Soo technique and San Soo concepts and principles.

This book is about the art and science of fighting. On developing a fighting attitude and combat psychology. It’s about confidence and getting more of it. You’ll learn about biomechanics/kinesiology (“Kinesiology”: The scientific study of movement of the human body; the study of the human body as a mechanical machine; physics of the human body). Kung Fu San Soo is a study of movement, form, exercise, posture, confidence, self-control, health, and the control of your and your potential opponent’s emotions. You learn to reprogram your subconscious. To train your mind to control your body, not your body control your mind.

If you have no knowledge of Kung Fu San Soo, this will be a good introduction for you. If you have no martial art knowledge or background, I hope this will give you an idea of the “Fighting Arts”. If you are an accomplished San Soo artist (or other style), I hope this book will be helpful to you. One of my goals is to stimulate you to think, which is one of the hardest things to get a person to do. I hope you will learn how to think more strategically, become intuitively more aware of your surroundings, and be able to “profile” people more effectively. Yes, profile. A word people and governments are terrified of using, yet one of our best software-based tools. I hope you will develop more confidence in yourself, avoid danger and trouble before it happens, and not be as fearful in everyday life situations.

In my city, there was this martial art studio in a back alley teaching this unknown (to me) art, Kung Fu San Soo. I checked it out. What? No floor mats? Just carpet… with no padding?? What was this all about?  

“So, what about when you fall. How do you not get hurt?”

“I teach you how to fall and not get hurt. Watch… Falling in here is like falling in that parking lot. I will teach you practical things. Things you will retain and use. If you train for only a month, and never again, a good percentage of what was taught will be retained.”  

With no contract, I thought I’d give it a try. A couple weeks into it, I was going to quit because I realized I’m not the martial art type… or so I thought.  (Little did I know, the “martial arts type” has much more to do with the mind and attitude than how you can physically control your body). After staying a few more weeks, I started to get the hang of it physically and mentally. I learned to use my mind to navigate around my weaknesses and focus on my strengths. What a concept. Confidence was building. Something I coveted but lacked.

It takes much confidence (or stupidity) to fight. There is a definite art to fighting. Take the piano for instance. You don’t just grow up and automatically know how to play the piano. You need training. And like many things, the art of fighting is a perishable skill. If you don’t continue training, you will lose a percentage as time goes by. But the mental/intellectual aspect of fighting, like riding a bicycle, is hard to lose. It becomes a part of you... if you let it.

From day one, I kept personal journals of everything I was taught, and I continue to do so. This book is a quasi-organized collection of information accumulated in my journals, with teachings from my current instructor, quotes and teachings from internet searches, videos, and from personal experiences. There are many examples of Kung Fu applied to real life situations.

My intent is not to sell you on my interpretation of San Soo and fighting. I am sharing with you how I understood what I was taught and what I learned through my martial arts journey. Some people may (will) disagree with what I write. There is plenty here to offend everyone.

Another goal is to stimulate you enough to want to find the truth of whatever it is you disagree with me on and resolve it in your own mind, so it becomes sensible and of use to you and advances your martial arts goals.

This book is about conflict and resolving it… intelligently and confidently. It is about war at a personal level, avoiding trouble when possible, and changing your mindset to one of strength and security. A confident and secure person cannot be offended.

San Soo study is for intelligent people. Some would be better off studying another martial art. But maybe this is exactly what you are looking for. You decide.

I’ll leave you with this thought…

I am just opening a door. You decide if you want to go through it, close it, or choose another.

Robert J Becker - Master, Kung Fu San Soo

robert@kungfusansooUSA.com

PEACE