Student papers express each individual's interpretation and understanding of the training they receive in Sifu Fong's classes. Fong does not tell students what to write. He does not edit, revise or correct these papers. This allows students the opportunity to review their own and others' papers and decide for themselves what works and what doesn't. Brief excerpts from each paper appear below. Click on the title to download the paper (pdf format).

Note: Sifu Fong's papers on key concepts of i-chuan training are available here.

Material on this website, including photos, papers and descriptions, may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without written permission from Gregory Fong.

September 2005

A look at speed Markell
"In the following paper, I will look at the concept of speed and I will ask the following question: 'What is the relationship between speed and power, and how do I use my body in the most efficient way possible to demonstrate explosive speed and power?' "

August 2005

Standing revisited: learning and continuing to learn Snyder
"As sensitivity and physical intelligence develop, the student will feel a sense of connection and alignment that can’t be learned any other way. The student may ask: why follow these particular requirements? The requirements are taught because they work, and as students stand with more muscular connection and alignment, they should test why this is so. Then the real learning begins."

Test of power Havas
"...in learning combat stance, students will ask how far to the front they should turn their heads. The answer is: just far enough to insure that you are working on the spine’s many points of resistance. In effect, in turning the head to the left, one is turning the whole spine in that direction. At some point, the muscles that govern those joints will demand that the body turn back."

Fishing for I-chuan Fabian
"While commercial fishing, it is usually the case that you are engaged in work while the ship is being tossed about the waves... I have come to realize it is very similar to what I faced when I battled waves to remain on my feet: that moment when you crest the wave and suddenly your body’s momentum is quickly shifted forward.  As my understanding exists today, this is the sensation practitioners of I-Chuan are not only trying to create, but also strive to maintain."

Health and the martial arts Lucas
"Sifu explained how the postures in my former training blocked circulation and the flow of blood and energy, stressed the knees and hips, and put an unnatural strain on the lower back. Now I better understand the significant difference between muscle pain and joint pain; between good pain and bad pain. And I’ve had glimpses of much more. I’ve only begun the mental effort involved in the standing practice, and have heard of its applicability to movement."

July 2004

Putting it all together Snyder
"To build muscle and mental alertness, I-chuan practitioners often recall a specific physical experience and recreate it in their bodies. Rather than picking up a 10-lb dumbbell over and over again, they pick it up once and thereafter cause their body to respond as if the weight was still in their grasp, still heavy."

The six powers Havas
"In the martial arts, great emphasis is rightly placed on the goal of moving naturally.The paradox, of course, is that as soon as one tries to move this way, what should come naturally often does not."

Mar 2003

Why I train or the never ending story Meadow
"I can be stubborn. Tai chi sounded to me like non-exercise. What I had seen of it was silk-clad seniors in the park gracefully waving their hands through the air, either in real life or on television advertisements for anti-inflammatory drugs. I was convinced that to be healthy and fit I needed to sweat and strain and push myself to the max. Why, then, was I seldom both healthy and pain-free?"

Dec 2002

Climbing and kung fu: a unique perspective Markell
"After a good kung-fu workout in which I maintained a high level of focus, I feel much like I do after climbing. My whole nervous system and body feel connected, clear and healthy."

Building a mental framework for I-chuan training Snyder
"When you use the mental preparation described herein, you use a flexible method that can help you learn how to improve your health and martial arts abilities: the reflexes quicken, the body becomes stronger and the mind more alert. It is important to keep in mind that the ego should be held in check, as it will do you no good in this training."

The use and abuse of pictures in I-chuan training Havas
"By "picture," I do not mean a physical item such as a drawing or photograph. Nor do I intend any sort of mental picture or image. The pictures in question are not something to contemplate. Rather, they are directions for a certain kind of physical work."

Tai chi and I-chuan: A beginner’s perspective Mc Vay
"Sifu’s teaching style was unique?after a few minutes of quietly repeating a movement, he began asking questions without offering answers. He encouraged the students to think, question and explore the why of each thing they were asked to do."

If I knew then what I know now Oros
"I realized that all of my time in form training had no practical relevance other than coordination and beginning to look as though I knew what I was doing. Sifu Fong’s class therefore keeps form training to a minimum and emphasizes that it is not a reflection of true application."

Feb 2001

I-chuan La Barre
"Another benefit of standing is body awareness. Body awareness is increased by constantly monitoring exactly which muscles are used and to what degree they are used. Benefits of this are injury prevention and early illness detection when it is easier to treat."

I-chuan basics Snyder
"In I-chuan, essence is everything. The search for the source of mental power and physical movement will help an individual not only with their martial ability but also with their health. It will develop the capability to withstand and thrive under the pressures of daily life. It will train you to direct your life just as you direct your body."

Putting the "I" back in "intelligence" Havas
"In the beginning, the student sees mostly arm and leg movement, because he craves learning new forms. As training progresses, however, he learns to look at the teacher differently, and not simply to see the arms or legs moving, but rather to look for the source of the movement of the arms or legs."