Project 18

Tonight’s class was a blast and it couldn’t have happened without the participation of the team, so thank you! I think initially my intent was to try to link up different techniques and try to find all the specific vectors that can happen in our techniques, not just linear or circular, but all the nuances in between them. But what ended up happening and what I think is ultimately more valuable was the discussions we had when we were disagreeing on how to define those vector types. The questions we generated as we challenged each other are way more interesting than simply having a list of a handful of ways that we can move.


How do you define if you’re doing “one” motion with two movements VS doing “two” techniques simultaneously?

Do stances have vectors?

Is doing the same sort of motion with the intent of an expansion vs a contraction more similar to each other compared to another type of motion; or since they are opposites does that make them more dissimilar? (I.e. does a symmetrical expansion have more in common with a symmetrical contraction or with a different type of expansion?)

Is the potential for a vector the same as having a vector?

Are the initial vectors used to generate the motion different than the vector used to strike? Should they be thought of separately or together?

Is there any technique that with a LINEAR motion? -> (this is one I am most curious about because if not, then this really sounds like it could be one of those 18 things that defines Kung fu! “Thou shalt generate energy with an initial circular motion” sounds pretty universal to me, but we shall see!


These are some of the questions that really interested me tonight and I wanted to write them down so that I can come back to explore them in my practice. I think each one will have valuable insights and will lead me down rabbit holes I would have never considered before as I try to answer them.  Like I mentioned at the end of class I definitely want to do more with this and I would love it if the team helped it to evolve and grow, because it has already started to go in a different direction than I intended thanks to the influence of everyone on the team!

(P.S I have decided to call it Project 18, because it makes it sound like a conspiracy to uncover the hidden secrets of Kung fu and it’s faster than saying “ya know that big weird debate class experiment discussion thingy we did the other night”)

Current Total

Should Be At

Push-ups

17987

28080

Sit-Ups

18060

28080

Hand Form

198

520

Weapon Form

213

520

Other Forms

171

182

Sparring

369

520

AOK

372

520

Steps

1482

806

Repair Relationship

3

7

Me and White Supremacy

6

13

12 Applications

2

7

1-on-1's

16

26

Kung Fu Art

0

7

Blogs

20

26

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