Dienstag, 1. März 2011

An Interview with Allen Pittman, USA




Could you introduce yourself to the Swiss and German audience, from your beginning to where your path has lead you ?
At birth I was sickly and premature having damage of all organs except the brain. I began karate (Tae kwon do) at 11. At 15 I began study of the Nei Chia or "Inner Arts" of China with Robert Smith who is a pioneer and one of the first teachers to bring Tai chi to the U.S. That was seven years. . At 23 I went to Taiwan to study with Hung I-mien as live-in student. Also studied with sons of Chen Pan-ling and Wu Shao-lin. That was two years.
All of my Chinese Martial Arts represent pre-communist martial art which went to Taiwan during revolution. I was granted permission to teach from all my teachers and learned under their direction. I invented nothing. I listened. So my art represents a line of "craft" or "art" which is handed down directly. I studied mostly privately with all my teachers so teaching was direct and not very political and the group dynamic was very small.
At 26 I began cross study of Fencing and other arts (Judo, Aikido, Aikijutsu, Thang Tha, Kalari etc) always comparing with Chinese Tradition. This included private and group study. Also I was teaching at this time with time to experiment. This included my ten year study with wrestler Tim Geoghegan. Tim taught me the Celts had what the Asians had and he introduced me to intelligent weight training and to specific Yoga practices from both Asia and Eastern Europe. He also taught me healing techniques. Because I too am Celt this was important.
At 26 I began cross study of Fencing and other arts (Judo, Aikido, Aikijutsu, Thang Tha, Kalari etc) always comparing with Chinese Tradition. This included private and group study. Also I was teaching at this time with time to experiment. This included my ten year study with wrestler Tim Geoghegan. Tim taught me the Celts had what the Asians had and he introduced me to intelligent weight training and to specific Yoga practices from both Asia and Eastern Europe. He also taught me healing techniques. Because I too am Celt this was important.
And so even when I teach Chinese martial arts I teach as a Celt. So I have no "parrat" no posing...just very direct. Some people find my simplicity very confusing
Hung I-mien and Tim were both traditional healers. Tim was an osteopathand Hung was the Chinese equivalent. Besides two these I studied Ba-gua with Rose Li- from Beijing- but was teaching in Manchester and London. Rose Li's teacher Teng was senior to Sun Lu-tang and that group of intellectuals in Beijing who began to popularize and modify Nei chia...so I have considerable knowledge of Chinese martial arts before Mao Tse-tung. This is something many Chinese are not clear about. Rose Li was also a woman. And this gave me some additional insight into the art.
Without wasting time it is clear to say I have had about ten teachers in six countries but the one's I mention are the most important. This does not include historical reconstruction of ancient Greek Warfare and other creative endeavors which come out of traditional study but are my own creations- however, based on known facts.

Could you tell us more about Hung I Mien and Tim Geogheagan ?
Hung was a rustic-non intellectual, a traditional man in an old part of an old port. He knew no English and little Chinese. He was abrupt, direct and did not waste time. Some people thought he was an old fool. If you went to study Gung-fu with him the neighbors would say they did not know him because he was protected by his neighbors from outsiders.
His knowledge of the human body was experiential not theoretical and he made a living as a bone -setter. He was the number one student of his teacher from Tienching, China. Hung was always willing to fight anyone even in his 60s. He had some poetic feeling in his awareness as he had survived island warfare in WWII. He was also a spy during the war. He believed my relationship to him was predestined and karmic. We became very close and eventually I was treated as a family member. He gave me the name "Blue Pine tree"...

Tim's history included being a Circus strongman, wrestler, boxer and Osteopath. He also studied Acupuncture and jujitsu from a Buddhist monk in the 1940s. Eventually he traveled around the world and was initiated by the Bektashi Sufis and studied yoga in Ireland and India. He was also a hypnotist. Later he became a student of Nicoll who represented Carl Jung in London as well as Gurdjieff

What do you mean by “tactical” approach?
I mean the hands and body learn by touching. All mammals have this in infancy. The human being has to learn it. Most "martial arts" have a dominance and abuse element which shows the teachers do not understand it. The mother bear does not hurt the baby bear when she shows it how to fight. She only gives it the correct feeling of encounter. The best teaching is gentle and clear. So many students have been abused by parents or teachers this has become an issue to me. We have forgotten how to teach martial arts and everything else too. Correct touch is key. I learned this as a massage therapist or Kine too.
It also mean that the most significant variables in the martial arts are arranged according to target. All intent, geometry of movement, trained responses describe a line or curved line to a target. These days martial arts as a rule are centered on form or traditional pedagogy. One must know culture or anthrolopology to make sense of movement. Sports are not martial arts because the targets are different. Martial =mars=war=kill. To kill is the intent of martial arts. Philosophy is generated out of the killing intent by asking the question of "Why kill them?"...so first is the killing intent then the way to do it. After that the question naturally arises---"Why do I want to kill him?" this question then begins self examination of personal motive.
Philosophy begins with the question "What am I? What is my motive?"...it is the best way to begin living. Self Examination. Martial Arts is backwards. First is "How do I kill them?" then when one feels secure enough in one's own power and ability to kill---then one feels comfortable in asking the question-"Why am I doing this"...Martial Arts is a brother of Hunting. So first you learn to kill and eat--- then you can philosophize. If someone is trying to kill you it is time to respond quickly. After that you can take time, become philosophical and understand what happened.
Now that transmission has been diluted in most arts (and even the Roberto Sharpe fast food metaphor) : how do you manage your transcultural way with your traditional practice in teaching ?
First I teach as a Celt. Direct. I explain what is real and what is cultural or based on belief. So I separate "this is traditional" from "this is what works best due to the anatomy and nervous system".
I let the student decide how to do it. But I do tell them exactly how I was taught. Again -but I do tell them what works best and what could work best for THEM. If they want to carry a tradition then I show them exactly how to do it in that way...but I tell them the limitations.
And globally can you tell us a few words on teaching and transmission.
Over half of teaching is non verbal. It lies in disposition, body language, tone of voice and many other intangibles. One could even say telepathy or Intuition. In martial arts touch is 1/3. Form is 1/3. "Transmission" only occurs fully when the student and the teacher have honest affection and trust between them.
It is the result of a genuine friendship and not on playing any kind of psychological dominance from either side. "Instruction" can be done with very little relationship. So there is Instruction and then there is Transmission. Instruction is like a piece of sheet music. Transmission is when the music is played by the teacher and the student begins to understand the Living Quality.
When we think about transcultural I make the association with global, is the practice a whole for you : martiality but health, sanity, healing and spirituality too ?
Yes full integration is occuring for me and it is an ongoing process...it does not happen in a single moment...rather it is an expanding portal. It is also about direct experience which may or may not confirm some theory or philosphy. And at a certain point you can describe your experience but people feel it when they are with you if they are willing to feel it.
Do you have interesting or funny stories to tell us : about your bodyguard activity for instance
One time I got stuck on an elevator in a hotel with the Dalai Lama. I was his bodyguard with some other state department men. The elevator got stuck between floors and I had to climb through the partially open door onto the next floor and if the elevator moved I would be cut in half. So I began to move through the hole and the Dalai Lama hit me very hard in the back so I went through the hole quickly and safely! so yes- I have been HIT by the Dalai Lama AND I was his bodyguard!!
Thank you very much for this interview Allen
My pleasure !