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Master Koh (aka
Xu Shu Shong)
Now in his late forties & having trained in Taiji
under 3 different Taiji masters since his early teens,
Master Koh is a sifu in his own right. Many locals and
foreigners who have tested his skill, testified that
he is unlike many of the Taiji masters they have seen.
His defence is very internal, strangely soft and effortless
in overcoming his opponents. The difference, Master
Koh said, could be due to his total conviction and belief
in following the path of relaxation (song), as advocated
by Prof. Cheng Man Ch'ing.
Unimpressed by the hardstyle influences
from other martial arts of his teachers and other Taiji
masters, Master Koh ignored such training and diligently
treaded down the path of song and pure Taiji. He has
often advised against external hard muscle-building
methods, such as weight lifting, extreme self-mortification,
etc., but rather to concentrate more on the softer internal
aspects of Taiji.
Master Koh is a professed full time
Taiji teacher, with students from all walks of life.
His only lament about students in general, is that "While
foreigners (Westerners) treat his teachings as treasures,
the locals treat them as grass". Somehow this lament
always sound more poetic and rhymingly better in Chinese.
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Master
Koh on the finer points of "Soong Jing"
with senior student, T.K.Lim
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Master Koh has always emphasized that there is no secret
in his teachings, adding that "It's all in the
form!". Depending on the level of progress or understanding
of students, Master Koh's teachings varied. Few who
complained that they were not taught some things, were
heard years later, to have retracted their complaints
on realizing that progress level.
"Be natural" is his motto
as he advised students to let their movements be naturally
circular, soft and relaxed, eventually small, like a
Taiji ball. "Guard your tantien", "relax
into your kuah", etc., are the some of the many
Taiji axioms heard.
Perplexing Taiji's salient points must
be practised repeatedly until their true nature understood.
From one's waking moment, he said, one must fully be
aware of Taiji ways, and must breathe and live Taiji.
Master Koh's credentials are well known
amongst the renowned Taiji elites. He conducts special
private lessons, teaches in clubs, gated communites
and openly in schools.
(by the students of Master Koh - Jun 2006)
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