The History of Peaceful Fight
Peaceful Fight is best described as a new, traditional Kung fu system but all Kung Fu systems have to have a starting point and this system starts with me, Doug Wagstaff, and Peaceful Fight is the result of a forced reassessment of my aims and objectives within Kung Fu.
Just to give a bit of background, my studies into martial arts started in 1987 when I joined the assembled ranks of the Tae Kwon Do Association of Great Britain (TAGB). The TAGB found me 21 years old and seriously unfit ! I still remember the struggle to touch my knees (let alone my toes) during the early days. Although not really suited to the art (hopeless in competition and a bit ungainly in set work) I studied hard for about 3 years and made many good friends at the club. When the time came to take my black belt, the local club was starting to fold and a fair degree of travel would be needed to continue my studies. Travelling was not a problem within itself but I had started to question the costs involved with achieving the black belt status and actually what the belt meant to me. It was time to look around elsewhere to make sure I was on the right path.
Visits to a number of local (and not so local) clubs ensued and the options whittled down to either a Wing Chun club in Ludlow or a White Crane club in Kidderminster. Both clubs had a much wider range of techniques and knowledge than the Tae Kwon Do which I had learned and were not competition based ; changing systems seemed the right thing to do. Revisiting the White Crane club to try to make a decision lead to my first meeting with (then Master of White Crane, now Grandmaster of Crane Fist) John Fletcher. Our first meeting was strange and I couldn't quite fathom Grandmaster. We spoke about the system and the White Crane lineage; he demonstrated techniques and asked students to show others and I was seriously impressed by the standard of everyone there. Only one thing worried me. Grandmaster came across as being very confident and very intense and I wasn't sure how training would go under this level of intensity. Tae Kwon Do had been militaristic but was really quite laid back in comparison : it was obvious that this wasn't going to be the case if I followed Grandmaster Fletcher. However, his knowledge was obviously deep and he had, for want of a better word, a "buzz" about him. A couple of weeks later I started under instruction at his club. As the years went on it became obvious that my concerns were unfounded. Although Grandmaster would be a frightening man to get on the wrong side of and a formidable fighter (even now in his later years) he was a caring Grandmaster where his students were concerned. This way of treating students was seldom rewarded but it had been the way of his Grandmaster and so Grandmaster followed this same route. This is one tradition that all martial arts clubs should try to cultivate.
So, there I am, a Tae Kwon Do man in a Kung Fu World, all stiff shoulders and long stances. Must have been quite amusing for the other students at that time ! However, training never became a case of getting a beating each week. Every student and instructor worked as a team to point out where I was, for example, leaving openings in guards or moving in poor balance. This "family" approach helped me immensely and I was slowly improving as the weeks went on.
After a couple of months of training, quite out of the blue, the local Tae Kwon Do school reopened and invited me back. Difficult decisions were there to be taken. White Crane was a superior system but, in my role as senior student of the school, I owed allegiance to my Tae Kwon Do instructor / club. As a consequence, I returned to Tae Kwon Do and, sadly left full time training in White Crane (same night training times meant it was impossible to run both together). I wrote to Grandmaster to explain my difficulties and allegiances and why I felt that I had to leave. Certain other students had mentioned that Grandmaster did individual instruction at his home and I asked whether this might be available for me, even though I was training elsewhere. Grandmaster was kind enough to write back and invite me to train as a private student if I so wished. Not unsurprisingly, I jumped at the chance but God I was nervous in those first series of lessons. Shut in a very small training room with this formidable, overbearing and very exacting man would have worried anyone ! Didn't help much that the Tae Kwon Do salute of "Sir" kept creeping out instead of "Sifu" ! Training was difficult but started to give me a much greater understanding of how martial arts work. This was surely the right path !
After a couple of months, Tae Kwon Do folded again so I was free to follow my Kung Fu path more fully. Grandmaster and his various Instructors trained me well and I learned Kung fu in great detail, eventually achieving Instructor status and (still later) second black. This was after about 10 -11 years of study with only one or two weeks being the same ! The original perception that Grandmaster had depth of knowledge was right but I'd underestimated the width ! This Kung Fu reflected Grandmaster and his predecessor, Quang Bong Fu and showed Grandmaster's dedication to the art he so obviously loved. Grandmaster was very kind to me and, although I was not a particularly able student (no "fighting instinct"), teaching was my thing and he was kind enough to let me do a lot of it. My teaching followed his "way" and I hoped to achieve for him the standard of student and club which he wanted. I thought I'd be there forever and didn't really need anything else.
However, one day, totally unexpectedly, various negative accusations concerning my conduct were tabled by the Chief Instructor, none of which I believed to be true. After much wrangling, we disagreed and we came to an impasse from which I couldn't see any way forward without damaging the club as a whole. This isn't the place to go into details but other students who were there at the time say that I argued my case badly which probably contributed to the problems. However, I still believe that I served Grandmaster faithfully throughout all my time at Crane Fist and would still be doing so if things had been different. There's a bit more about this (including Grandmaster's view) in the FAQ section if you are really interested. However, whoever was at fault, the outcome was that I felt that I had no other course of action open to me than to relinquish my status and leave the club. There was anguish, a few tears and a big lump of sadness. My life would never be the same again.
So, there I am, 11 years of study, no title, no lineage and no direction. So what to do ? Now at 34, Kung Fu was a big part of my life (two evenings a week plus one night training at home). It was time to see why I wanted to continue and on what path.
Firstly, Grandmaster had taught me very well but my standard would inevitably slip if I settled down to become one of the TV generation. A training room in my attic slowly evolved and thankfully my neighbours never speculated about why I wanted those full length mirrors ! Each Wednesday, there I was doing my thing, kick, kick, punch, punch, balance, balance but after a while it dawned on me that this was just not right for me. My general outlook on life is that it should be better for everyone than how it appears and this was what I wanted to try to achieve within my Kung Fu. To be only a fighter and to plan to use these skills on a very small number of occasions within my lifetime would not achieve these wider-World goals. My motivations within the Crane Fist club structure had been to glorify Grandmaster and continue his teachings and these meant following the martial tradition. However, I was now outside that structure so could make my own future. Instructing was my thing but whatever the Kung Fu ended up being, it needed to have a wider purpose, to try to make the World a better place for all. I would not teach Crane Fist without Grandmaster's permission and this had mainly martial roots so didn't quite align with the new plans. Either I was onto a plan or psychosis was kicking in ! A new system was needed and this was the start of Peaceful Fight.
The first steps in devising the system were to try to ensure that my premature departure from Crane Fist hadn't left too many holes in my martial knowledge. Grandmaster Fletcher had been very generous with imparting some of his knowledge to me but there were certainly other things which he had planned to teach me if things had ended differently. Visits to a number of local clubs (see "Recommended Clubs Page" for details) highlighted that I couldn't easily settle down into a student role again so getting extra knowledge was then left to the books / video route. Not ideal but still better than no training at all. Leaving Crane Fist had spurred me psychologically and fighting spirit had suddenly arrived. It was now academic, martial arts knowledge which was needed rather than "rough and tumble" (that's academic as in "refined technique and understanding" rather than studying the photo montages in some martial arts magazines !). This was where Erle Montaigue came on the scene (although I've never met him). Can't remember exactly how it happened but somehow I came across the Kunzhi website run by Anthony Court who acts as the UK distributor of Erle Montaigue's literature (see "Recommended Shops Page" for details) and eventually bought some of the videos and number of books. Some of the items covered in the videos / books were already known to me, others gave more structure / system to my previous knowledge and other bits were totally new. Thankfully my previous training made it possible to do the "home learning" thing much more effectively than I ever thought possible. The new way of learning refreshed my interest in martial matters and inspired me to continue the martial tradition with renewed vigour. Other books from various authors followed and also gave extra bits of information (see "Recommended books / videos" page for details) but Erle Montaigue started it all off. Check out his website and see why I rate him so highly.
Anyway, back to the story.
Simultaneously with trying to "complete" my martial studies (never possible to do, there's always something new to see / think about) it was time to improve my healing side of the art. Qigong massage and acupressure were my mains bits of knowledge but this was self taught so needed to be structured in a similar way to the martial side. Crane Fist had no healing side to it so it was time to hit the books for this extra study too. This was much more difficult to achieve than the martial side. Yin / Yang was easy enough, as were acupressure, Qigong and massage as these all had a martial basis (ie they reflected the opposite of the martial application) but some theories (eg 5 element theory or zang-fu organ relationships) would need more detailed explanation during two way conversation with a real person. As for herb work, I couldn't even start going down that route without the possibility of poisoning myself being very real ! Formal instruction was required but there didn't seem to be any detailed courses locally which could fit into my lifestyle. My real job is as an analytical chemist so I could only study part time. However, all available part time courses appeared very basic and were angled more towards touching the surface of a number of "New Age" treatments (eg Reiki, aromatherapy, Indian head massage etc) rather than teaching any one in greater detail. Things weren't quite going to plan and it looked like the dream that was Peaceful Fight might have to be delayed.
About this time, a friend of mine (Sijo Lee J) asked me to help him get his new school (Lion's Claw Kung Fu) off the ground and I took the chance to get back into instructing. Lion's Claw is based in out-and-out fighting and participation gave me a chance to show that I'd retained my new-found fighting spirit. Lee is an excellent instructor and raises his students to a high level of proficiency very rapidly. If you are ever in Worcester then visit his school. Lee and I chatted about my "new direction" and about my difficulty in locating suitable medical instruction and he was kind enough to take it upon himself to try to find me somewhere locally. He never said how many places he visited but eventually he found a TCM doctor in Worcester who was prepared to give me a chance. Dr Qi is a quiet man who has been in the UK for about 10 years but has been practising both here and in China for much longer. He has studied Western medicine in detail and sees the benefits in both TCM and Western approaches. However, in all the time of being a doctor, he had never has a student to teach ! A challenge for both of us and we started off with an attitude of "let's see how this goes". My strong Kidderminster accent still battles against his South China lilt on occasions but generally we follow each other ! He makes the TCM theories come alive and makes them much more memorable and intertwined when we talk. Although seen as an "alternative" medicine in the UK, TCM has been the medicine of choice in China for thousands of years. Sadly, in the West, TCM is often as the last port of call after all other Western treatments have failed. This means that many conditions are deep rooted which should make them difficult to treat. Much to the surprise of many of his patients, Dr Qi has shifted many "untreatable" diseases in comparatively short time periods when applying TCM treatment. Patients are probably thrown off guard by his gentle manner and subtle humour ! However, even with the comparatively limited knowledge that I have accumulated, it has been possible for me to do successful "self diagnosis and treatment" on a number of occasions which has made me feel much more alive and healthy. I've also been able to help a number of other people with their minor ailments. I'm not a doctor, but this beneficial intervention is what I wanted students of Peaceful Fight to feel and understand and ultimately impart onto family and friends. Meeting Dr Chi was the break that I was looking for and I'll be eternally grateful to Lee for doing all the leg work for me and making this happen. Peaceful Fight was now an inevitability and it could now show both the healing and martial sides in (nearly) equal measure.
So that's how Peaceful Fight got here. It's medical side is designed to give students the chance to help friends and family by alleviating everyday aches and pains : this gives an everyday reason for pursuing Kung Fu. Never underestimate the effect of feeling that you've done something "good" : it's two way, both for the giver and the receiver and makes life worthwhile (however big or small the gesture you might make).
Its martial side is suitably vicious to aid survival in those 5 or 6 times it will be needed in your lifetime and (eventually) covers all aspects of martial theory and practise that I know (look at the syllabus page if you want more details). The everyday use of this martial side is to reduce the natural resistance of becoming that "someone" who everyone says should "do something" when other people need help. It's not designed to get rid of all your fears and anxieties. Fear acts as a powerful, natural, protection tool when it's channelled in the right way. Fear has as valid a place within your personal "Yin and Yang kit" as laughter, love, anger or any other emotion. You need to have a bit of every emotion to make you feel complete : the trick is to balance all of them over a lifetime and not go to extremes. Peaceful Fight helps you to deal with the violence and unpleasantness that you will encounter and this allows you to feel the fear but stops it from overwhelming you.
It's philosophical side is to show that the World is in constant flow as Yin and Yang vie for relative control both within your body and within the wider World that you influence. Every student is part of this flow and has a World which is both partially under their control and partially totally out of control. Both sides are affected, just by being alive and Peaceful Fight aims to help students celebrate their own existence and the existence of others whilst trying to help everyone understand their place within what can be a very confusing World !
Update March 2002
It's just over a year since everything was put in place for the club to start and it's been a successful year so far. Training / teaching at the club has helped me deepen / widen my understanding of Peaceful Fight and how it all "fits together" with various new "insights" coming out. These new insights were driven by the positive attitude and questioning of students and friends without whom, my rate of personal progress would have been very much slower. Everyone listed on the technical questions page have helped in this development and deserve a medal for ploughing through the rambling answers given ! Still reading a lot and its very rare when something new isn't found within each text. Just shows how lucky we are to be living in this "information age". In years past there would have been no opportunity to expand beyond the experiences and people you knew personally. The reading on Oriental Art has dwindled somewhat with an increased emphasis on medical texts, Oriental thought and martial studies but other things still get added to the mix occasionally (eg occultism, the mentality of serial killers / dictators, locksmithing and deep sea exploration (fascinating) all made an appearance inn 2001 / 2002). The whole thing gets mixed up and eventually will be linked back to the understanding of the "natural" way.
Even better for me is that the system and methods / ideas behind it appear to work ! My senior student (Ruth, second grade coming up to third) came in with no martial arts knowledge and has come a long way whilst achieving many of the objectives of the system. In some ways she has been the proof of the viability of the system and I'm indebted to her for her efforts / dedication. Think some of my explanations of the internal / external links of the art need improvement as one blank look a week from the students seems to be the average ! However, everyone is now getting more into the "feel" of the system rather than being too hung up on being a stereotypical "martial artist". Ruth's main interests are in the martial field but she is gracious enough to put up with my insistence that the medical parts are much more useful ! Ken, Shirley and Kerrie-Anne have also improved greatly and their greater interest in the medical / healing side have helped to push this knowledge forward. Both the Steves (Hodge and Hill) have taken some time off to pursue other things but are planning to come back once things settle down. They are enjoying their new adventures and that's just as important (if not more so) than learning Peaceful Fight.
My formal TCM training has now finished with Dr Qi taking on other projects. He's kind enough to answer my questions and I'm hoping to contact him in a few weeks to give him an "update" of my progress. I now have enough knowledge to perform "simple" TCM (eg differential diagnosis, herbal cuisine, acupressure and energy rebalancing). Powerful techniques in themselves and I've had some success with their application. The acupuncture is still at the "sticking it in yourself" level so it'll be a while before I feel OK about trying it on anyone else. Thankfully, my present skills are OK for most disharmonies I come across. Better still, some of the students / patients over the year have taken up the ideas involved with TCM and now "self practise" to cure themselves without the use of excessively amounts of pills etc. One common observation from students / friends is that I'm better at sorting out other people's disharmonies/ problems rather than my own ! However, I feel a lot better that I have for years and, where imbalances are present, I generally know why (even if so far I can't quite get deep rooted problem to shift !). It's not a race; eventually it'll all come right (and I'm always a good guinea pig for the students to practise on !).
Various other artists visit the school intermittently and it's really good that they are kind enough to come and put their ideas "into the pot". Of special mention are Mark and Stuart (Mitch) from Warrior Escrima who both test the system out whenever they visit. Mark highlighted a potential weakness within the knife fighting training of the art when confronted with someone of his ability (he's very good) which will now hopefully have been improved. Stuart had one of the great successes of the year when he applied some of the Qigong work we had talked about / practised on his baby when she was in pain (and made the pain go away : details on success page). What better use of Kung Fu is there than to help this type of loving relationship ? Much happier that the art is being used in this way than just for fighting !
My work with Lion's Claw (Sijo Lee J) finished in July and he seems to be going from strength to strength since I left (hopefully the two are not directly related !). From what Lee says, the system has changed a lot in recent months with a greater influence of Shaolin long arm techniques and a move towards competition work (San Shou). Anyone who knows me, knows my views on competitions (ie I don't like them nor the ethos behind them but perversely quite like watching them) but in Tommy Walker the club has a real gem. Tommy has real talent (his sister Corrina also has talent in the healing realm : must be a family thing) and I wish him well with his studies and his aspirations to get into the British squad. With Lee's guidance I think that is almost an inevitability. Lee's planning to open his own dedicated martial arts training hall in a couple of months and helpfully this will herald the start of continued success for him and the style.
The Peaceful Fight Instructional video is creeping forward but it looks like it's going to end up as a series. Never let it be said I use one word when twenty will do ! Technical problems with my video editor (coupled to the problem with the NIMDA_A Internet worm) have delayed the editing of the new bits but the Easter holidays should give me a chance to catch up with it all. Who would have thought that such a simple system could take so long to put down on tape ! Doesn't help that sometimes the simplest parts of the text feel the urge to not exit my mouth when my brain tells them to ! Completion date (for video one) is hoped to be some time within the next 6-8 weeks (technical difficulties not withstanding).
Well, that's about it for the moment. Hope the update has given you an idea of what's been going on. Feel free to EMAIL me if you have any comments or questions about Peaceful Fight, its development, concepts or objectives.
Health, wealth, happiness.