THE ARCHITECT OF THE RESIDENCY: Sifu JOHN SPAK
ABOUT THE ARCHITECT: JOHN SPAK
Decoding the Imperial Source Code through Physics and Pressure.
“I didn’t set out to be a traditional Sifu. I set out to understand how things work.”
For more than 50 years, John Spak has occupied the intersection of ancient internal arts and modern mechanical reality. As a Retired Electrical Engineer, John approaches martial arts not as a collection of rituals, but as a sophisticated system of human architecture and force transmission.
John’s perspective is forged by a unique duality:
- The Engineer: Decades spent analyzing circuits, signals, and structural integrity.
- The Practitioner: A lifetime spent pressure-testing internal mechanics in high-stakes environments—from professional kickboxing rings to the front lines as a bouncer and bodyguard.
A Specialized Inheritance
John’s expertise is rooted in direct transmissions from the inner circles of the Forbidden City and the Silk Road. He is an “indoor” student of three legendary streams of internal technology:
- The Yin Style Lineage (The Imperial Guard): John inherited the Yin Style Baguazhang lineage through Xu Gongwei, a close disciple of Master Zhao Yifan. As a true Imperial Bodyguard to the Empress Dowager Cixi, Zhao Yifan’s methods were designed for the highest-stakes security environments in the Qing Dynasty.
- The Silk Road Ballistics (Imperial Longfist/Chaquan): John’s “Ballistic Architecture” was also passed down through Xu Gongwei, who inherited the system from the renowned Yu Zhengshen. This lineage represents the “Source Code” of the Silk Road’s explosive force—the foundation of the Iron Filament and “Zero-Loss” power transmission.
- The Cheng Style Tradition: John was also deeply influenced by Yang Guotai, who passed down the “viscous” power and heavy orbital mechanics of the Cheng style traditions.
From Mystery to Truth
John’s mission is the restoration of Internal Resolution. He believes that “skill is not gained by association, but by diligent work.” By stripping away the “noise” of modern diluted sports, John helps students find the Hidden Filament and the Moving Root—the same physics used by the heroes of the Silk Road.
Today, John operates the Surrey/Vancouver Field Lab, where he continues to research, train, and decode the Imperial arts for a new generation of Sovereign Architects.
The Architecture of the System
To build a Sovereign Architect, we follow a strict sequence of installation. We do not teach “techniques” to a broken frame. We calibrate the hardware first, then upload the tactical data.
Phase I: The Hardware (The 24 Mobile Stepping Matrix)
Before the first strike is thrown, we install the Moving Root. These 24 protocols are the spatial blueprints for navigating 360 degrees of conflict. This is the foundation of your “Hardware”—ensuring that every step you take is a “Zero-Loss” transmission of power. If the Matrix isn’t calibrated, the system cannot load.
Phase II: The Software (The 64 Palatial Resolutions)
Once your architecture is stable, we upload the 64 Palatial Resolutions (The 64 Palms). This is the high-resolution data set inherited from the Imperial Bodyguards of the Forbidden City. Each “Resolution” is a precise geometric answer to a tactical problem—ranging from ballistic long-range strikes to immediate structural collapses (locks and breaks).
Phase III: The Operating System (The 300 Structural Rules)
The “Internal Resolution” is governed by the rigorous rules of the Yin Fu lineage. These are the “300 rules” of the body that eliminate physical friction and neurological noise. This is the software that allows the Ghost (lightness) and the Mountain (density) to exist in the same moment.