In this first lesson Master Wu Nanfang shows the basic standing exercises of Shaolin Kungfu. These stances form the basis of other exercises and forms/taolu. Zhan Zhuang Gong or Standing Tree Skill is a form of standing meditation which can help you to develop a correct body posture and strong rooting. On the internal side, it can promote correct flow and storage of Qi, and serve as a method to learn to observe the mind and experience more awareness. The Zhuang Gong in Shaolin Kungfu (compared to some other methods of Zhuang Gong) tends to focus not so much on different postures done with the arms, but keeps the hands close to the lower Dantian (below the navel) in order to focus the attention and energy on this central place in the body. The arms are kept in a relaxed and natural way, like a standing monkey, and the way they are held is also useful in fighting applications. Some of the most important principles: – Your head should be held as though suspended from above. – Draw your chest back slightly so that your upper torso feels slightly concave. – Keep your back straight. – Relax the waist. – Tuck your buttocks under your lower back. – Put your weight on the front part of your feet as though gripping the earth. – Bent your knees. – Keep your groin closed and protected by closing the legs (stances 3, 4 and 5) Try to practice a little bit every day, and increase the length of your training over time. If you have any questions, please email to: wugulunacademy@hotmail …