Category: Dragons Pulse

It is my honor to present to you GrandMaster Glenn C Wilson, who is also the head of my Martial Arts family. He is the heart and soul of Pai Lum Tao and there isn’t enough good things I can say about him.

DP: Thank you, SiTaiGung, for this opportunity for this interview. As we discussed prior to our interview, this column has many visitors, both new and experienced in Martial Arts. One of the things that I’m always curious about is how people got started in Martial Arts. Can you tell us a little bit about your story?

GW: I began training on my 10th birthday in Judo. I then trained in other styles and eventually in the Chinese Martial Arts. I saw a demonstration of some masters and I was spell bound. I knew that I wanted to train for the rest of my life.

DP: If I remember what you’ve told us, you interest really start sooner but your father had wanted you to prove yourself to be more disciplined before he would allow you to train. Now, I won’t disclose your age here but starting at ten-years-old is a long time to train. Any advise for my readers how to keep going in Martial Arts for so long?

GW: It is not always easy to get up and go train. One must keep it fun and maintain a positive attitude with their training. The benefits are many and your training can become a private place to go to get away from stress and pressures of life.

DP: What is your proudest moment in Martial Arts?

GW: Watching my students perform and compete as well as watching a new Sifu receive their black sash. Nothing is more rewarding than watching others feel the passion for our style.

DP: One of the things I’ve heard others in the Martial Arts community refer to you as is Glenn “the Knife” Wilson. Where did this name come from?

GW: During my competition days in the 70’s I became well known for my weapons performances. At that time you did not see too many people that were proficient with weaponry and I guess I stood out. Weapons have always been one of my favorite aspects of the martial arts, it takes extreme concentration and focus.

DP: I’ve actually had the pleasure of seeing some of these performances in videos and indeed you don’t often see that level of weapons performance even today. I’m amazed at how easy you make it seem. Speaking of today, Martial Arts has undergone quite a few changes over the last few years. What are your thoughts on where it’s heading and what the future my bring?

GW: I believe as in all sports and arts, people are getting better and the Martial Arts is evolving. I sincerely hope that during our evolution we don’t loose the very core of the arts. That is tradition encompassed with honor, loyalty and professionalism.

DP: Thank you SiTaiGung for this discussion. I hope some new and old students find inspiration in your words and keep on training. Any parting words for my readers?

GW: I would say to enjoy every day of your life and live with high standards. When you have a martial art active in your life it will help you to overcome obstacles and challenges. Your art should be like a friend, there for you when you need it and a loyal comfort.

(Reprinted from BellaOnline.com)

In studying Pai Lum Tao, it’s important that you build a solid foundation.

In a building, the foundation is the lowest level. It secures the structure to the ground. If the foundation is made with subpar material it will crumble and cause the building above to fall as well. If the foundation is laid in an uneven land, the building will be uneven. If the foundation is not laid properly at first, there is no easy way to go back and fix it once the building is built above it.

Your foundation in Pai Lum Tao are many things, but one literal translation are your feet and footwork. One of the many mistakes a new student does is to not think about the footwork behind what they are doing. This makes it harder for the student to progress as, just like in a house, once the foundation is set and built upon, it’s hard to go back and correct.

Stance – Posture – Technique

One of the philosophies of training is paramount in building a good foundation in order to grow and learn your Pai Lum Tao. So as you go out there and practice, take care in understanding your footwork. Ask yourself questions around “why are you standing this way?” “how does this make you stronger?” “what is the importance of that stance?”. And if you don’t know, ask your teacher.

Buid a solid foundation to build a better Pai Lum Tao experience.

Dragons have long been part of many Asian cultures. Unlike the Western view of Dragons, where they are creatures to be feared and killed, Eastern Dragons are revered. They are often described as being wise to an almost clever state. Eastern Dragons are often described as having a smile on their face and a look filled with wisdom. They live for centuries at a time and the symbol of good luck. Eastern Dragons also tend not to have wings, rather they move through the air using their mystical powers.

Dragons appear in many of the Chinese forms of Martial Arts. Some school will teach the traditional Dragon Dance. This dance normally involves several people moving in unison to control a large fabric dragon. As they twist and weave the dancers must stay coordinated to avoid tangling the long fabric. Some of these dragons can be several meters long.

Another common dance, which is often associated with many dragon forms, is the lion dance. It involves a two-person team, one being the head of the lion and the other the tail. As a drummer beat a special rhythm, the lion will perform great feats of acrobatics that almost represents the playfulness of the creature they are trying to imitate. One of the culminations of this dance is to “consume”, or use a knife to cut up, a head of lettuce.

In some systems, dragons are viewed as the most powerful creature because of their mythical state. Because no one has actually ever seen an dragon, it is believed they can hide by transforming into many form. Their movements take on a circular motion mimicing the weaving of the long dragon body through the clouds.