The Empty Jar
I thought I knew Kung Fu.
I really did.
I knew the forms, the techniques, the drills.
I was well coordinated, disciplined, and sharp.
I had good timing and control. I sparred often and did well.
People saw me as someone skilled. And for a long time, I believed I truly understood the art.
But after two to three years of learning from my Sifu, something in me began to shift.
There were things he said that I did not fully understand at first.
I followed the instructions. I repeated the movements.
But only recently have I begun to grasp what he was really pointing to.
As I reflected on what I have been learning, the image of a jar came to mind.
The Purpose of a Jar
A jar is made to carry something. That is its purpose.
It is not meant to be admired for its shape alone.
It exists to hold a substance.
That is when I realized the truth.
The techniques I had been practicing all this time were jars.
Pak Sau. Tan Sau. Bong Sau.
These are not the art itself. They are containers.
Structures designed to hold something far more important.
The Problem with Empty Containers
But most people only focus on building more jars.
They collect forms. They polish movements.
They believe that memorizing more techniques makes them better at Kung Fu.
But a container without substance is still empty.
And empty techniques do not lead to real skill.
What gives these jars value is what fills them.
And that is what we call the internal.
What Are the Internals?
They are not abstract. They are not mystical.
They are structure, alignment, intent, pressure, energy, direction, and sensitivity.
But more than that, they are subtle. So subtle that most people never notice them.
To the untrained eye, they are invisible.
Because the real work happens on such a small level.
Some would even dare to say the cellular level.
Micro-adjustments in posture. Tiny changes in tension and relaxation.
The angle of a wrist. The root of a stance.
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Rafael González (Moy Don Xùn) has been teaching traditional Ving Tsun Kung Fu for over 30 years across Texas, Puerto Rico, and Connecticut. He is a disciple of Grandmaster Moy Don in the Moy Yat lineage.