"SUONG"

"Suong"

The word "Suong" in layman term or what we can relate to in our daily life is simply, "loose". In the Internal Martial Arts, is a very subtle, sometime full of ambiguity word. It can be related as relax, no tension, no energetic stress or no presumption. Therefore, it is more than just physical, but energetic and mental also. What it means in the traditional typical internal martial art is "total relaxation". Identifying any tensions is often emphasized in the basic training of most internal martial arts. Special attention is put to scan the body for any parts or movements that are stiff or "holding", and appropriate methods or approach to let go or  loosen them, before the long process of transforming the neuro-muscular connections can be made. 

Many of us may think we are already very relax, but still our teachers still comment that we need to "suong" more, not enough "soung". I believe those who are on this internal art journey can relate to it. To achieve total relaxation and release of tension physically, the emotion must be "neutral", the mind must be "quiet", for these will actually affect the involuntary muscles, tendons, sympathetic nervous system etc. And these are really issues that most practitioners do not address or aware of in the first place. The training environment, the instructor and even your fellow practitioners, can contribute to your physical, emotional and mental disposition for the training. 

Breathing exercises, Qigong, slow dynamic meditation are wonderful methods to let one "suong". Flexibility and elasticity are also important factors in relaxation and therefore warming up, Baduanjin or Yijinjing can help a lot. With constant and consistent practice, the ability to be "suong" becomes mindfully under control as the practitioners are more sensitive  physically, energetically, emotionally and mentally aware.

But to be "suong", is also not totally relaxed. Here is the ambiquity, which there is a very vague line of discernment. If I say to be "soung" does not means there is nothing, then it appear that I am contradicting what I early said. What is there is MINDFULLNESS, always ready to act instinctively. This is what that many will be caught in, unless you are able to control your Ego Mind. This is again a topic that martial artists need to understand which we will cover eventually.

All the above are incorporated in the Sao Lim Wing Chun Lotus Form and the Dap Sao Flow, to have a comprehensive internal and external experience. If you could not find it there, you have miss the essence of the Form or you do not understand the objective of the Form. However, it is still too early to grasp the overall understanding of internal martial art just with "suong". In fact, "Suong", "Jin" , "Qi" and "Yi" need to work together, at different proportion and intensity depending on the course of action. So, there is a need to delve into these in the next post. See u there.