Intent

This word has come up quite often during classes and discussions with our Sifus'. To me consistent and repetitive mention of words or actions from our instructors usually signifies a hint to something we either need to apply or work towards an understanding of it's importance in our Kung Fu training and growth. Intention is something I've always recognized as a part of the 6 harmonies when it came to training at first, but as things started to advance I now see that intention is everything in the moment no matter where I am or what I am doing  It's not about something I see myself doing when the time is right, or thinking of it's application as selective. It's about that very moment, what I intend to do with the execution of that action and see it through. I've also held a misconception of intention through reaction by including intuition and instinct as similarities, but in actuality they are all entirely different. One is emotional, one is a guess, and one is entirely pure.

A while back I was working on figuring out a way to apply the mechanics of Kung Fu to all that I do whether it be movements at work or when I am practicing the art. My work was messing up my centering and causing tension in my movements that was affecting my flow. I was shooting for efficiency and overthinking the whole process by trying to combine the two and it just seemed to make things worse. I knew deep down that it's literally impossible to combine it all, but I thought I would try anyway.

Then during a Black Belt class Sifu was talking about intention and light bulbs lit up all over the place. What is your intention when your doing your forms or techniques? It then dawned on me that is just that simple. This is the efficiency and focus I was looking for. Whether it be Kung Fu or work, the intention is to perform the act with focus and quality and to see it through to completion, there is a direct purpose, like you mean it. The movements and grounding, the energy, the body and mind know what to do and how to adapt through this type of focused repetition and it then becomes pure intention.

So I have been approaching everything as of late with this mindset. I not just going through the motions mindlessly or doing things for the sake of doing things. I am able to differentiate my alignments and actions to what it is I am doing. When I am swinging my axe or doing my forms there is the intention of defeating my opponent or defending myself with purpose and the rotation and definition is of quality and effective. I want to ensure my stances and strikes are solid and grounded. Although it has taken some adjustment and practice transitioning into some forms, I absolutely love the new bow because the intention and purpose is already built in. From the time you compress, align the quadrants, and settle into your center you know right away if the form is going to suck right away or not and I feel like I could smash through a wall.

I have had another successful dangling board break with a left ridge hand technique. This break was a second to four parts of a long term goal I have. My intention and purpose of this goal is to better understand the mechanics and application of Kung Fu, to unlock it's power both physically and mentally. Although I am still working on the original configuration, last weekend Sifu Brinker suggested a different stance. It was change up on the fly and I was a little uncertain but prior to breaking I focused on what I intended to do, the stance, to the rotation, to the grounding and focusing on the power from the center out, I busted through first try and it felt awesome and let me know I was on track. The thing is though it probably wouldn't have went so well if it wasn't for me following through on what I intended to do.

Brian Chervenka