Kung Fu complement to Pilates principles by Reiner Grotenhius

 When Reiner was a teenager he got to know the Chinese movement art Tai Chi. Later he studied with Grandmaster Andreas Hoffmann the martial art Weng Chun, which originates from the South Shaolin Temple. During the 10 years of intensive Kung Fu study Andreas Hoffmann taught Reiner the so-called subjective fighting principles of the Shaolin fighting monks (see also Andreas Hoffmann: "Weng Chun Kung Fu - The soft power of Shaolin",(2002), p. 41). In our experience, these are also relevant for learning and teaching Pilates.

The subjective principles are divided into four elements to be sought, and three to be avoided. Particularly intriguing for Pilates are the three to be avoided.

1.4.1 Avoid TAM - Greed

Pilates is a process, a journey. It's not about doing an exercise, it's about the journey to get there. If I try to do something too quickly that is not yet appropriate for me on my journey, I may harm myself and be set back on my Pilates journey. The same applies to the expected results. The body will not change overnight, but a little bit each day. Just as one does not gain or lose 10 kg from one day to the next, the body does not change immediately, but only in small steps. Wanting too much means frustrating yourself.

1.4.2 Avoid PA - Fear

People who have experienced a longer period of pain in their lives are often particularly afraid to experience this pain and the associated helplessness again. Therefore, they often initially react anxiously when they move, and frequently consider small tractions, aches or unpleasant sensations to be signs of recurring pain. However, moving the tense and poorly supplied muscle groups has a long-term effect of pain relief and prevention. But fear is not only common among pain patients. The more advanced the Pilates exercises are, the more they can appear to be something out of a circus performance. It can thus quickly happen that one becomes anxious. It is important to understand that it is beneficial for one's Pilates practice to face fear again and again, but without wanting too much at the same time.

1.4.3 Avoid MONG - Confusion

When performing Pilates exercises, some people have difficulty remembering the sequence of more complex exercises such as Boomerang or Rowing. At this moment, confusion occurs and leads to the interruption of the flow of the exercise. It is important in these cases to fist break down the exercise into its simpler sub-parts in order to overcome this confusion as quickly as possible

Also, in one's own learning and practicing, one may feel overwhelmed by the large number of exercises and the many possible settings of the equipment. The more one understands the system, the clearer it becomes that all exercises are closely related and that an exercise is often "just" another way to practice an aspect or feeling. So in moments of confusion, it is good to look for a related exercise that you already know well and recall how you feel performing it and how you move within it. This new focus makes it is easier to tackle the next exercise.

"Make a close study of each exercise and do not attempt any other exercise until you first have mastered the current one and know its routine down to the last detail without any reference to the text. Be certain that you have your entire body under complete mental control." Joseph Pilates. Return to Life Through Contrology)

1.4.4 "Wohlspannung" balanced tension

If you put a lot of tension on a muscle, you must first relax it in order to create a movement in the other direction. Especially when fighting, this is very impractical and makes the fighter too slow. Many people tend to focus almost exclusively on the active, moving part of the body, forgetting the rest of their body. The concept of balanced tension tells us to be aware of the whole body and to keep it engaged in movement, even if it is seemingly not needed for the movement. Joseph Pilates writes in "Return to Life Through Contrology":

"However, there is another important reason for consistently exercising all our muscles; namely, that each muscle may cooperatively and loyally aid in the uniform development of all our muscles. Developing minor muscles naturally helps to strengthen major muscles. As small bricks are employed to build large buildings, so will the development of small muscles help develop large muscles. Therefore, when all your muscles are properly developed you will of course perform your work with minimum effort and maximum pleasure" Joseph Pilates. Return to Life Through Contrology)

from the book "The Pilates foot corrector and toe corrector"

Kathy Corey, Reiner grootenhius