I am often asked for my opinion on styles or whether I am aware of a particular style. This question is generally rooted in a desire for proof that something is good and worth the time to study. When it comes to my answers on the subject, they are based on opinion, drawing from observation and experience, and not a definitive fact, so, as always, I invite you to think for yourselves on the matter.
I am not writing this to negate or validate the usefulness of styles; I am, however, writing this to clarify the difference between styles and principles. I'm aware of and use Principles, Guiding Principles, and Style in my work, and I value that understanding.
What is a Principle
The concept of a principle is something immutable, unchanging, constant, and a fundamental building block. For the most part, at the Temple, we speak about the universal principles of Yin and Yang, and everything else is a permutation of that concept. These fundamental forces exist as phenomena that we all interact with.
Guiding Principles
A guiding principle is a core building block of a system, but it might not be a fundamental building block of nature; moreover, it is essential only to a concept. When designing a system or style, you decide it will be guided by an idea and will follow that idea, thus creating a pattern. An example of this is our 7 principles of practice
|
Examples of Universal Principles
Yin & Yang: Everything in the universe is a manifestation of Yin and Yang
Vibration: Everything in the universe vibrates.
Examples of Guiding Principles
Chan Wu Yi: Shaolin Kung Fu is built on Meditation, Martial Arts, and Healing. To practice the full art, all three must be included; otherwise, it is not the whole system.
Structure & Flow: Utilize structure to create flow and flow to create structure.
What is a style?
Styles are patterns and traits that show up as Variable, Personal, Cultural, Structural, and Intrapersonal. It can be a particular view, take, or approach to something, even if rooted in principle.
Everyone has an approach, but we can also adopt other methods. Sometimes we find efficiencies, or we like an aesthetic approach to something, and we might adopt a style.
For most people, styles carry personal, cultural, and societal expressions. Even in the martial arts, there is the personal style, like being aggressive or timid, the cultural style of the art, and the societal way that people relate to someone practicing that martial art.
What's your style?
