Question 079: Wang Shu-Jin

I came across the author's page the other day, and I was able to find an excerpt from his book, in which he details his encounter with Wang.http://www.energyarts.com/hires/library/masters/wang.html The picture of Wang gives the impression that he was very dense. He doesn't look terribly obese for a person who was 5'8" and 250-300 pounds. His fabled striking power could be due to his ability to skillfully use his mass. Either way, heavily built people are often very hard to injure with blows and can deliver more powerful strikes than a lighter person striking at the same speed (Hence, weight classes). Would a young champion really admit to being whipped by an old lady? Pain resistance can be trained, whether you believe it is chi or not. The movements of internal arts, whether it is chi or not, have shown to be beneficial for people young and old. A lifetime of exercise (and excellent genetics) would have enabled Wang to fight into his advanced years. Articles in English on Wang Shu Jin are scarce. However, I would assume articles about him in Chinese are plentiful. How legitimate are they? The excerpt tells of Wang's work ethic and diligence to practice. Whether it was his chi or not, he must of had a very good understanding of his fighting system. The excerpt says that Wang accepted many challenges from East and Southeast Asia. I take it that he spent his life fighting mainly Japanese and Chinese martial artists, who are usually of more slighter build. He probably had the weight advantage in most cases.