Level 3 – TDDS

Implementation

A group of students go through their respective stages and the group forms as an entity and develops symmetry, both within the class and individually as well as benefiting and being exposed to other perspectives from within the class. At the previous levels, the Ying & Yang principles were aimed primarily at the physical or Forms Training. L3 officially starts with the psychological Yin & Yang training or Mind Intent Training. Naturally these are combined as the student is expected to be capable now of incremental learning and this level becomes Mind & Form Training. All character types (Yin & Yang) have something beneficial to offer the rest of the group and though it may seem at times like the instructor is attempting to alter a student's character, Kung Fu works with the cards one was dealt with, both physically and mentally, that is the most practical way and the style caters for either spectrum.

At YJQ, it is generally taught and believed that an unbalanced mind is like an unbalanced technique. It is important to realise though we work hard with fitness and flexibility, physical strength is a derivative of mind training. Kung Fu is 90% mind and 10% physical. The body is a peripheral of the brain and if the brain is being pushed, then the fitness and strength can be increased. Not the other way round which results in 'a level' being achieved very quickly and is the easy way and subsequently means it is a finite entity even though the physical may feel correct. Students if in doubt or pressured, will return to this default method. Being put off or altering ones technique is considered such a negative in any form of competition that most competition aim at some level of putting off the opponent in a sure way to gain an advantage through the opponents loss of technique. This is usually achieved through scaring or getting them mad. The brain is an untapped source that is being relatively unused, hence the 20% usage of ones capabilities quote often bandied around in different endeavours and studies. When the brain has a task (a physical action/task), the brain isn't stupid and it reasons, this workload isn't my department, I'll hand you over to the physical dept. and delegates the task out. The method this style of Kung Fu is advocating is keeping the 'task' in the control of the mind.

One of the major tasks of instructors is preventing *group–think* within a class, e.g. people just accepting their roles and other limitations relating to our psyches. This is why ALL aspects of the character are exposed and tested on ALL students as well as expose all L3's to the different aspects of the class, e.g. calling, instructing and it is up to the students to promote this. The group (all going well) is not going anywhere until all students can do and are exposed to all the required aspects of the level. This is due to the fact that there shouldn't be too much difference between the group at this level as they have come up through the ranks together and the more diverse natures within the group, the better (too many cooks…).

YJQ Character

An aggressive character in some cultures is promoted, in Kung Fu; it is seen as a weakness just as passiveness is at the other end of the spectrum, a well trained student has a balanced mindset. This is explained further in other dedicated sections of this Website as this theory can cause considerable confusion, often, to the more aggressive, quieting down a student can be seen as a negative and being over aggressive to the more passive characters. This should not be seen as a big fuzzy melting pot of apathetic's, but moreover like the doctrine of the basic training in the military where all recruits are trained to a level and as a unit to form a team. A group goes through a lot together and eventually forms a strong team with good initiative. Teamwork in sport is only now just really getting examined thoroughly for its benefits: this would have been laughed off big only a few years ago. However, let it be documented that the benefits of working with an honest group of differing perspectives is all positive. People encourage, share, help and learn techniques from each other and this trait is leaving civilisation very rapidly. Something seems to happen in our lives when we reach 5 years of age or so and we begin to get very selfish, perhaps a side–effect of modern civilisation. It is suggested that a positive vibe is much more conducive to a good learning environment. The student without belief in the system/group is exposed brutally here and will more than likely fall by the wayside and considerable amount of people have difficulties getting past this level cannot and won't due to the fact that nobody commits fully. Kidding oneself with a few forms is very different to knowing them. This method of training is not to be confused with treating everybody the same. There are definite ranks in Kung Fu, and this paragraph is dealing only with the L3's who would have started roughly together ± a few months apart and have progressed and sometimes, a surprise to students, the difference between their level is not quantifiable and shifts within the initial hierarchical structure has changed considerably. In order to get passed L3, a student will HAVE to train within a group environment and formally. It is not hard criteria, just requires dedication and determination.

Generally a student approaches their training with only one perspective which is naturally, that of their character (Yin or Yang). The opposite spectrum of ones character offers a different perspective to the student. Usually no undertaking attempted has ever required a different perspective opposite to their nature and can take a long time to figure this out but the benefits of this exposure benefits the student tremendously in life. Naturally the stronger the personality in either direction, the longer it takes to debug! This is more than likely where the reader is at. An L3 student will in actual fact feel more inferior within the class environment than the good ol' days of L1 – L2 for a multitude of reasons but primarily the start of what the instructor has been trying to achieve with the student. This is a sense of humility beginning to occur as the depth of the art starts to be acknowledged and realised by the student. YJQ is a life long goal and should be enjoyed as that. Principally, a student should just enjoy that they can come somewhere, loosen up, exercise, straighten their body out and meditate the energy back within, the rest takes care of itself and the problems arise when things are pushed too hard in the wrong direction.