Appendix C

Questions & Answers

Q1. I am currently practising Wing-Chun gungfu which I enjoy very much. Why should I take up VIKOGA?

A. You should continue with whatever you are doing as long as you are enjoying yourself. VIKOGA is only a martial arts program, a process if you like, to improve yourself and to bring out the very best in you. Its purpose is to change our martial arts paradigms so that we can discover things we previously missed out on, both in ourselves and how we relate to all phenomena, through the martial arts discipline. VIKOGA is only a proprietary name of I.C.A.N.'s learning program. It focuses mainly on the striking and kicking aspects of the internal arts. The emphasis is on understanding and cultivation of the unique G-Force (Grid Mindmapping Force) which is one of the main secrets behind all internal arts. This force is the form and dynamic of the elusive chi or ki latent in all applications of the internal arts. We believe that VIKOGA is excellent as a supplement to all standalone martial arts instructors. The book <VIKOGA.Combat> (to be published) is specifically written to address the needs of these and other seekers on the martial arts paths. For those who cannot travel and meet up with people and masters to learn because of work and family commitments, they will find in this book a blueprint to excellence.

Q2. I am already an instructor with a very successful school. I also belong to a gungfu organisation. What can I.C.A.N. do for me that the gungfu organisation doesn't or can't do for me? Why should I subscribe to the Network?

A. I.C.A.N. is not a political or trade organisation. It is an organised human contact network provider existing to meet the ever changing needs of all active martial arts enthusiasts. It achieves this by being open, non-interfering, bringing people together as friends, and facilitating the interchange and sharing of resources, knowledge and skills. I.C.A.N. does not compete with any organisation and in fact seeks to complement and supplement your membership to any relevant organisational body. As you know, learning martial arts is a most rewarding pursuit but it can also be a very costly and sometimes a very frustrating affair. The sources of learning can also be very aloof, unaffordable, inaccessible or simply unknown. I.C.A.N. seeks to address this learning process effectively and make it easier, cheaper, faster and better for enthusiasts to go after what they want. I.C.A.N. tends to focus on aspects of the martial arts commonly associated with the internal arts. We are not involved with organising tournament matches or other martial arts sports events and activities. We may however, when circumstances are appropriate and conditions consistent with our mission, participate in demonstrations as a promotional activity of martial arts as a viable lifestyle alternative. Subscription to an open network such as I.C.A.N. will confer obvious benefits through staying in touch with like-minded subscribers. Sharing and exchanging with fellow martial arts enthusiasts will save you time, energy and resources and make it more enjoyable in your pursuit of excellence.

Q3. Does I.C.A.N. train up instructors and what conditions are attached to this training?

A. Yes. We do have a comprehensive scheme to train martial artists who enjoy sharing their passion, knowledge and skills with others, as teachers or coaches. The syllabus for this group belongs to unit 3 (unit T) for Trainers. There are no unreasonable conditions attached to our teaching program. There are no contracts, and definitely NO threats to your freedom to legally pursue your interests further in any way, with any teacher, of any style, system or school. We also provide practical hints, tips and even subject matter on how to open and run your own martial arts club or school.

Q4. Who is the grandmaster of I.C.A.N. and what is expected of members to him?

A. I.C.A.N. has no official grandmaster and operates as an open virtual federal relationship network. This network also provides appropriate opportunities, information and other resources for enthusiasts and students of internal martial arts, and for those who seek to improve their lifestyle intelligence through the martial arts discipline. We are not a hierarchically powered organisation where allegiance is owed to a single person sitting right at the top. However, we do have a leader who owns and administers the network to ensure that its assigned mission is carried out in the most appropriate and effective manner. I.C.A.N. seeks to focus on the members as people to serve, rather than the other way round. In that sense, you will find I.C.A.N. to be completely different from many martial arts schools. The VIKOGA program is a flexible course of personal development with relevant elements covering a comprehensive spectrum of the internal arts. When APPROPRIATE, we will invite recognised grandmasters to conduct courses or to cover aspects of the program, for which they are known and assessed to be experts. You then owe as much loyalty and respect to these grandmasters as you would to your university professors or high school teachers.

Q5. How do you transmit the advanced teachings? Do you have a structure and framework to support such transmission?

A. For more indepth coverage and advanced tuition, it is preferable and desirable for some members to enter into a formal teacher-disciple relationship with their chosen mentors. Such relationships are formalised in a win-win mode where the disciple in return for the hard won lifetime knowledge provided and taught sincerely by his teacher, will very fairly reciprocate with his love, care and respect. In fact, such relationships tend to go deeper than the normal parent-child relationship, in terms of love, respect, care and material provision. It should be consistent with a give and take spirit. Currently, I.C.A.N. has no formal structure and framework to conduct such initiations. Our advanced units are conducted in a professional private classroom environment. We will introduce and recommend deserving members to respective recognised masters as disciples whenever appropriate. We will explore opportunities in our network for people to specialise in say Hsin-I, Wing-Chun, Pakua or Tai-Chi with especially selected masters.

Q6. Why doesn't I.C.A.N. just teach a variety of styles instead of creating the VIKOGA Program? What right have you to create this program?

A. You have the same right as us here at I.C.A.N. to create a customised internal arts learning for yourself. And others may also want to follow your program. Historically, all the current martial arts styles, schools and systems came about because practitioners saw it fit and proper to start up a separate program of learning and some were clever enough to base theirs on a distinct philosophy or approach. What we see nowadays as Tai-Chi, Pakua, Hsing-I, Baji, Tongbei, Aikido, Wing-Chun, etc are prime examples. The creativity of our forefathers should inspire us to do the same even now. I.C.A.N. chooses not to teach a variety of styles because there is enough people out there, highly qualified and able practitioners and masters, teaching their respective styles and systems. VIKOGA is formulated to address the insatiably curious enthusiasts and the disenfranchised practitioners. This program also fits in nicely for the raw beginners. For the insatiably curious, the martial arts world is a vast and chaotic repository of knowledge. This is made more daunting by the language and cultural barriers. The resources needed by the lone individual to scan, capture and process these information for personal application are exceedingly demanding, in time, energy, contacts, tools and procedures. I.C.A.N. can make it easier, cheaper and faster for this information turnaround for such enthusiasts. For the disenfranchised practitioners, alienated or victimised by unnecessary politicisation in some mainstream schools or organisations, I.C.A.N. provides a comfort zone of relief and reassurance. I.C.A.N. does not discriminate on styles, schools or systems. The VIKOGA Program is only a program of learning to enhance your capability in certain well-defined competencies. Under suitable circumstances you may teach VIKOGA.

Q7. How does VIKOGA relate to other martial arts such as Muay Thai, the Filipino stick fighting arts, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, JKD, etc? How do you rate against these?

A. VIKOGA can also be looked at as a generic system of learning. All the other styles, schools, systems and their experts are very good. If you are enjoying yourself and learning well in any one of them, you should continue doing so. It would be impossible to cover everything for everybody, and realistically speaking, it is impossible to make outrageous claims that one is the best in the world. In improving ourselves, we should study what is effective for our individual self and forge ahead according to our own strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. The study of VIKOGA helps you to explore and discover for yourself all these, and to map out the most suitable success roadmap for yourself. This open process will of course look into all martial arts with a view to a symbiotic exchange. The old adage that one man's meat is another man's poison is still very true. We must keep our attitude flexible and reflect this pliability in our conduct and behaviour, most certainly in our learning of the martial arts. VIKOGA is only a name. To be fair, we really should not compare with anyone as every martial art has its own merits, loyal supporters, followers and practitioners. I.C.A.N. encourages friendly and positive exchanges with everyone.

Q8. Is VIKOGA Vingtzun the same as the Wing-Chun taught outside? If not, what are the differences and why?

A. The Wing-Chun system is a perfect entry-point system for internal arts excellence. The VIKOGA program regards Vingtzun as a perfect system model to provide both beginners and enthusiasts a formidable architectural framework to build future success. The learning process of VIKOGA authenticates and enhances the Wing-Chun system. As such, VIKOGA unleashes the as yet untapped potentials inherent in this marvelous system. Strictly speaking, Wing-Chun is a set of principles of fighting derived from a theory. VIKOGA is ICAN's preferred approach to work out these principles so that after a minimum period of time, the practitioners will be able to express these principles through their body, behaviour and movements. There is no perfect technique. Only perfect generic principles which are absolutely consistent with existing facts, such as the body, its structure, its movement patterns, our mind and its limitless potentials, to name a few. Therefore, VIKOGA Vingtzun is pure Wing-Chun. Any apparent differences with any other is probably only in the method of cultivating the individual through these Wing-Chun principles. This will be most obvious in the terms and concepts ICAN employs, the learning process adopted, and the emphasis of the Mindwill.

Q9. What is the difference between an eclectic system that takes the best from all martial arts and VIKOGA?

A. It is impossible to take the best from all martial arts. Some styles and systems directly conflict with each other in their philosophy, theory, methods, and techniques. You really cannot in all honesty claim you have the best from all martial arts. First, not all martial arts styles, schools, systems and their teachers are available or accessible to us. Secondly, even if they were available, they may not know how to teach or willing to teach thoroughly or teach out their best, it will take too much time and too long to thoroughly know each one well enough, to know what is each one's best for you. Thirdly, even if they are willing to give their best and know how to do it, you may not assimilate the best from all of them given the limityed time, energy, money and other resources we all have. Fourthly, how can you resolve the conflicts between each best? Fifthly, as you grow older and wiser, what is today's best may not be all that workable tomorrow. The next question to ask is - do you need the best from all martial arts, or even most of them, to be good and effective? Thus, arguably at best, an eclectic system is only a collection of technical repertoire derived from a limited number of selected martial arts schools, styles and systems.

Most of those who choose the eclectic path have a core system or style which they then add on other items from other compatible styles. This is a definitely more realistic approach than attempting or worse, claiming to have the best from all styles or systems. It becomes even more outrageous when you are picking up other styles or systems from magazine articles, books or very short seminars or workshops only. Nothing can substitute quality time with a quality teacher.

VIKOGA works on a set of realistic assumptions and values. It is infact an applied body movement technology and regards the body as a biocomputer which we can program. By doing so it already is working towards the best way of moving the body to achieve the goal of managing the individual personal power space. The personal power space management programming hardcodes the responses into the neuro-mascular system and also involves the human bio-electromagnetic system. In that sense, it is really beyond any martial arts style, school or system. By rigorously applying the assumptions, values and criteria necessary for the optimum cultivation of the individual using the internal arts, the VIKOGA program is formulated. The most adequate and suitable initial model which satisfies the needs of this program is the Wing-Chun martial arts system. Infact, the program authenticates the Wing-Chun system and highlights the essentials and unique qualities so appreciated by Wing-Chun enthusiasts everywhere.

Q10. What are the internal aspects of VIKOGA Vingtzun and how different or similar from those of other internal arts?

A. Wing-Chun is a, if not the, most practical and down to earth internal arts system. All authentic internal arts have an essential mindwill component. This is the G-Force of VIKOGA. There are 8 main types of this force in Tai-Chi Boxing. Pakua Palms has 8 too but of a different structure. Hsin-I (Hsing-I - Mindwill) Boxing has 5 main ones again ordered differently. Whereas Tai-Chi uses almost seemingly impractical movements to cultivate this force, Pakua Palms utilise helical, spherical and spiral movements to achieve similar aims. These Pakua movements can be extremely potent when used in fighting multiple opponents. On the other hand, Hsin-I employs very big angled arc (seemingly straight) movements to train up this force. Wing-Chun uses very direct, compact, economical and practical big angled arcs to generate this latent power in all of us. This is only a general and brief explanation of a vast and deep field.

Q11. I have already studied and practised Tai-Chi, Pakua, Hsing-I, is there any need for me to learn VIKOGA Vingtzun?

A. That depends. On many things. Our experience strongly suggests that Wing-Chun is the fastest, easiest and most inexpensive and probably the most potent system for the raw beginner to acquire good force and basic fighting skills. However, it lacks fundamental aesthetic appeal and is generally very misunderstood as an artform as most people take it up as a supremely intelligent personal combat system. In that sense it disqualifies itself as an internal art in the eyes of many who fail to see it's intrinsic quintessence.

It is difficult to sell Wing-Chun as an internal system because of its apparent shortfall on abstract philosophical theory and in its lack of movement beauty. VIKOGA works towards authenticating the deep and profound philosophy of Wing-Chun and organising and enhancing the movements to match up with Wing-Chun's almost limitless potentials. In that sense, VIKOGA constitutes a supreme initiation into the intricacies of the internal arts system. Studying Wing-Chun will remind us of the need to be practical and relevant in all our pursuit of excellence in martial arts. Wing-Chun's practical criteria under which it functions as a most intelligent combat system can serve as a powerful reference for many others. In that sense alone, the relevance of Wing-Chun training cannot be overrated.

Q12. Is VIKOGA the only program offered by ICAN?

A. No. Currently, ICAN is designing another program code-named the Theta Project that logically extends from the VIKOGA program. While the VIKOGA authenticates the supremely regarded Wing-Chun Gungfu System, the Theta Project works on the Pakua Palms System. This project applies the octa-hexagrammatic template, the human geogrammatic grid, the workings of the double helix, the cycloid-spiral sphere, among others, in reinventing the so called Pakua Palms Model. When successfully tested and implemented, this program should serve the needs of advanced practitioners, as well as the more serious and keen beginners.

Those who opt to go beyond this phase or prefer to kickoff with the most formless martial arts training can take up the Advanced Ta-Chi program now outsourced to Dr John Fung as listed in the Network Contacts directory.

Q13. If I take up the programs of ICAN only, will my training be complete and comprehensive? Do I have to take up any other martial arts to complement? Do you have any recommendation?

A. To answer the first question - that depends on your individual needs and asperations. It is always easy to learn new things and new ways of doing things. In that sense and to be honest, the ICAN programs will always be less than perfect and will be improved continuously.

If you feel like it and have the necessary resources, by all means participate in any other classes you see as fit. As we can always learn from others, there is really no hard and fast rules. Almost all the martial arts systems are beneficial one way or the other. You should choose intelligently. Please refer to the answer provided in question 9 for inherent conflicts between different martial arts.

We cannot make any general recommendation. However, we have provided in the appendix some suggestions on how to choose a good class to join and a suitable teacher to follow. Individual needs, aspirations,tendencies and talents dictate careful analysis and planning for people more ambitious in their martial goals.