Master Chen Zhonghua gave a challenge to perform 20 yilus a day from end of Nov 2014 to May 8, 2015, which amounted to 3200+ yilus in total. Congratulations to Aaron Bartholomew, Charlie Wishon and Kelvin Ho, who have successfully completed the challenge. Patrick Dickson has also completed 80% of the days despite of his injury and surgery. Thanks to all who have participated in the challenge. It has been great fun.
20 Yilu Challenge – Success!
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you Master Chen Zhonghua for this challenge. For myself, it was much needed for sufficient progress . To be connected with people all over the world through this training is something unheard of until now. I am greatful to everyone in Practical Method. And greatful for my training. A much needed experience for the serious student… to many more !
Excellent challenge. A couple years ago Master Chen challenged me to pick a number of Yilus and do that daily. Following that I’d been doing 3 a day, most days. I now find it simple do take an hour and do 10.
The hardest part of the challenge was to day in and day out to consistently complete the task. It needed to be completed regardless of what happened in my life, e.g. being sick, having to travel, attending Master Chen’s workshop, even on vacation (supposingly). I was lucky to have Aaron, Charlie, and Patrick to do it with me every day. There were certainly days that I felt a little weaker mentally, but seeing others’ completing the task was able to push me through the day. I am very glad and relieved that the goal of the challenge has been reached, and am excited to set the next goal.
Very true, having you, Charlie, and Patrick posting kept me going on the rough days. And there were many rough days.
In reflection, I have observed improvement in the following areas:
1) stability of the central axis
2) isolation of non-moving and moving parts of the body
3) ability to perform fajin-like actions in more places of the form (although I don’t really know what fajin is, one definition that Master Chen Zhonghua gave is speeding up the actions)
4) redirecting incoming energy to the ground
5) understanding where incoming energy meets the reflective energy from the ground, and how that point can be used as fixed point
6) transfer of energy to the middle finger tip from the ground
7) range of motion in both kuas
I first heard about the yilu challenge in early December. I was recovering at the time from a motorcycle accident in September. I had just healed enough to begin doing yilus at that time and I thought that the challenge would push me and help me in my healing. I probably bit off more than I could chew, as at times I had to take some days off so as not to aggravate my injuries. Altogether I missed 20 days out of the five months that I took part in the challenge. I never would have been able to do the 20 yilus a day for so many days had I not had the encouragement of Charlie, Kelvin and Aaron. Every morning I would wake up and check the message board that we communicated through, and there would be yilus posted by everyone. It was very contagious and although I have never met the others in person, I felt like I came to know them through this shared experience. At first I thought that 20 was a crazy number to try and do every day, but at times it seemed effortless to do 20 straight with no breaks, and at other times I would do two or three, and then repeat that process throughout the day in order to finish my 20. In those five months I did more yilus, 2400 or so, than I did in the previous two years. My goal now is to do 10 a day, and then devote the remainder of each day’s time to working on drills, applications etc. My thanks goes out to Charlie, Kelvin and Aaron for being so encouraging to me and allowing me to stay in the challenge even though at times I had to take time off. In the past, I would have not taken part in the challenge as I would have been too concerned about my injuries to my ankles and any possible delay in my healing due to over exertion. But I learned years ago that when a golden opportunity presents itself, you have to go for it. My hat goes off to Kelvin, Aaron and Charlie. They stuck it out, day after day, and reached their goal. I will always be grateful for being allowed to go along for the ride with these fine young men. Peace