Shiva meaning the Auspicious one, also known as Rudra or the feared one, is one of the Trimurti, Brahma being the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer or transformer. In the Shaiva tradition, he is seen as the Supreme God. Shiva is usually worshipped in the form of Shiva linga.

In images, he is generally represented as immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon Maya, the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Nataraja, the lord of the dance- the same dance is also known as the dance of death, great cosmic dance… and many martial arts forms are seen in the Tandava. As Rudra, he is known as the wind, and the hunt.

The name has been translated as “Roarer” The earliest mentions of Rudra occur in the Rig Veda, where three entire hymns are devoted to him. There are about seventy-five references to Rudra in the Rig Veda overall. In the Rig Veda Rudra’s role as a frightening god is apparent in references to him as ghora (“terrible”), or simply as asau devam (“that god”). He is “fierce like a formidable wild beast” The Sanskrit name Rudra is usually derived from the root rud- which means “to cry, howl.” According to this etymology, the name Rudra has been translated as “the Roarer.” Known as “The Archer”, he is referred to as “One who can kill the forces of darkness.” The names Dhanvin (“Bowman”) and Banahasta (“Archer” or “Armed with arrows in his Hands.)

There are numerous references of Rudra/ Shiva, defeating many in the art of archery, and other martial arts. One famous story of Shiva coming in the form of a hunter to Arjuna and defeating him, re-establishes the fact that he is a great warrior and archer. The two most common forms of Shiva’s dance are the Lasya, which is associated with the creation of the world, and the Tandava, is associated with the destruction of the world. These two dance forms are said to be the source of many ancient martial arts like Tai Chi. As also the father of Murugan, the god of war, Shiva is said to be one of the most powerful war gods of India.

Here’s the latest newsletter, it’s about how Ilearned to kill a turkey, sort of. Happy Thanksgiving, and try not to laugh at me too hard.

Monster Newsletter #254–Happy Thanksgiving!

I give thanks that I get to work out!
Everyday.
Many times a day.
And I know you do, too.

I mean,
what else is there?
Eh?

Now,
I lived in Northern California.
place called Redwood Valley,
right outside of Ukiah.

And,
I had a couple of acres of grapes,
a bunch of chickens,
and considered myself
a gentleman farmer.

I should have considered myself
a grade A goof.

You know those fences with the thick wire and the squares?
The squares are smaller on the top of the fence than on the bottom.
Well,
the truth of the matter is
the small squares should be on the bottom.
Keeps the chickens in.
Hey!
I didn’t know that!
So I put up this fence to keep the chickens in,
and they walk out the big squares at the bottom.

My neighbor,
an old guy who really was a gentleman farmer
leaned against the fence and laughed until he cried.

Good for nothing gosh darn $%^$%^&*%^&!

And, then there was the time my wife told me to use the back driveway
when it was raining.
Well,
the back driveway was mud,
and my wife came out and observed
that I was stuck in the mud.
She said,
‘Mud spelled backwards is dum.’
Boy how she laughed.
And it was her that NAGGED me into using the back driveway.

My neighbor,
he was leaning against the upside down fence,
laughing till he cried.

God for nothing ^&*8 %^&*()!

But,
the topper was the rooster.
The rooster jumped on my youngest son,
big Fng rooster,
trying to get his foot claws
into my son’s face.

So I took a stick and,
using perfect form,
cut that rooster across the neck.

Man,
it was a perfect chop!

Rooster had to be dead.

Laid there like he was dead.

So I went and got the shovel,
and when I stuck it under his warm body,
he jumped up
ran around like a…
well..
like a rooster with his head (almost) cut off.

I had broken his neck,
but that didn’t stop him.
He jumped at me,
tried to claw me,
chased me right out of the
^%&*()*&^%&*()&^%&*(
henhouse!

Gosh darn rooster!

My wife asked why I came running out of the henhouse
looking like a zombie (rooster) was after me.

And my neighbor…
you know what that son of a $%^&*(OP was doing!

Leaning against the fng upside down fence laughing till he cried!

Now,
my neighbor wasn’t all bad,
and he was a gentleman.

After he stopped laughing,
he told me the truth about how you hang a fence.
And,
after he stopped laughing,
he got his tractor out and towed me out of the mud.
And,
after he stopped laughing,
he asked if he could have the rooster.
Said his wife knew how to cook tough old birds until they were the proper soft,
winked at me so I understood it was him that she had been cooking all these years.

And,
he told me all sorts of things about wine,
even brought a bottle of his own wine over,
and we toasted each other.

I toasted him and his generosity,
and he toasted how much laughter I had caused him over the year.

Yeah,
he had made the same mistakes I had made,
only fifty years sooner,
so he was not laughing at me,
he was laughing at himself,
and,
me given enough time,
(or, at least enough wine)
with me.

So,
how are you going to kill that turkey?

You have to kill it yourself,
you know?
You are a martial artist,
probably have a shiny sword hanging in your closet,
or at least some Cold Steel,
or maybe a Glock.

So,
how you gonna off the turkey?

You have to do it yourself,
or you aren’t really a martial artist,
right?
(grin, grin, grin)

I mean,
people shouldn’t eat hamburgers
unless they can confront slaughtering beef.

This vegetarian thing is silly.

Come on,
how you gonna kill the turkey?

Put it on a block and chop it?
Chase it down and skewer it with a sword?

Then pluck it and make a big hole in it
and reach your hand up in there and pull out all those gooey things?

Oh,
but don’t ask me to help.
I’m too busy over here,
leaning on this fence
and laughing until I cry…

HAH!

Here’s a link for you…

Blinding Steel
Happy Thanksgiving
all you turkeys,
I give thanks for your friendship
and all the work outs you’ve done over the years.

Al
=o)

PS–If you want the latest article, try googling ‘ The Secret Behind Real Karate Fighting!’

It makes me mad when someone kills snakes or dogs or cats or horses. I don’t even like to eat meat – that is how much I am against killing….

Charles Manson

If you’ve been around Tai Chi for a while, you may have heard about the four primary energies of Tai Chi – peng, ji, lu, and an. To make this more “concrete” to my students, instead of using the obscure Chinese terms, I usually call these the Four Elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. But no matter what you call them, each energy can be seen, thought of, and felt as a type of “chi response” to any given situation.

The goal of Chi Development in the Tai Chi is to “balance” your ability and skill in the Four Elements, so that you can mix-and-match the appropriate elements required for any situation in which you find yourself. You learn to “intuitively” see, read, and feel a situation, then emphasize certain elements and de-emphasize others, so that you may reach your goals. These newly-developed “see, read, and feel” skills come about not from intellectual analysis, but are developed by bypassing the slower, logical mind for a faster, more whole-mind-and-body approach.

When we first start exploring the Four Elements, most of us find that we tend to favor one or two elements and “over-use” them, especially in stressful situations. In our daily lives, many of us favor one or two elements/intentions, sometimes to the point of excluding other elements. We all know of “hotheads” (Fire types) who are always angry or aggressive, “airheads” who can never stay focused or be practical, “stuck-in-the-mud” Earth types who resist change and growth, and “wishy-washy” Water types who avoid all conflict or respond passive-aggressively in most situations. We can see how these types of people respond in a limited, almost pre-programmed fashion to stressful situations.

One of the first “insights” that Chi Development training produces is an understanding of our own limited responses. What we can now easily see in others, we begin to see in ourselves. Prior to this insight, we would swear we are not like these other people – that we are free-thinking, free-acting, and free-feeling. After this insight though, many wonder how they could have been so blind to their own conditioned responses.

Exploring Your Chi Responses

Here’s a simple “thought” experiment that can help you explore your own use of the Four Chi Elements in daily life.

Let’s say you are driving home one evening after work, and you get caught in a traffic jam. The local freeway is full of bumper-to-bumper automobiles, full of people just like you trying to get home after work. Here are four “responses” you could take in this situation as you try to get home safely.

1. You try to choose the least crowded lane, and change lanes frequently but safely. Or you try to leave the freeway and find a safer, alternate route home with less traffic.
2. You try to “do your part” to help keep traffic flowing smoothly for everyone. You pause to let others merge in, and you try to fill gaps in traffic so others behind you will not have to brake. You work to make sure everyone gets home safely.
3. You realize there is nothing you can do about the jam, and the safest way is to just ride it out.
4. Before getting on the freeway, you know that traffic jams occur everyday. But you went this way because it is the quickest, safest, and most direct way to get home, even with the jam. So you don’t mind the jam, since you know that you are still getting home safely and directly.

Read over these four responses, and ask yourself, do any those responses seem “better” than the rest to you? Are there any responses that you would choose regularly? Are there any responses that you would almost never choose?

If you haven’t guessed, each of the above four responses represents one of the Four Elements. For many people, one or two of the above responses will seem more attractive than the others. These responses will feel more “right” or “better” or something they would usually choose to do. Some of the other responses however might feel more “wrong” or “bad” or just something they would never do.

The issue isn’t whether any one of these responses is actually better than the others. After all, each of the four responses emphasizes safety, and any one of the four might help us to arrive at our destination safely. Instead, the primary issue is: How easily were you able to pick one or two over the others?

If you found it easy to pick one or two over the others, you might explore whether in other situations, you tend to favor the elements represented by these responses. If you see a consistent pattern, such as you favor the Water response (or Earth, or Air, or Fire) in stressful situations more often than not, you may want to explore the limitations imposed by favoring this one element.

However, if asked to pick the “best” response in the above traffic jam situation, did you find it difficult to choose one response over the others? Did you see advantages and disadvantages to each and every one of the responses? Was your initial thought that it would “depend on what else is going on” before you could choose one of these responses? If so, you may be on the road to developing skills in all Four Elements, and not just in your “favored” elements.

Die Grundbewegungen der Push Hands – Übungen sind in den Stellungen der Solo-Form enthalten, die unter dem Namen „Fasse den Vogel beim Schwanz“ zusammengefasst sind.

Wenn wir von der Energie sprechen, so unterscheiden wir, Schritt für Schritt übend, das Wahrnehmen der Energie, dann das Verstehen der Energie, bis zur Phase der vollkommenen Klarheit, was dann den höchsten Gipfel darstellt. Wer freilich diese Stufe erreichen will, muss so lange üben, bis er mit alledem vollkommen vertraut ist. Nur auf diese Weise kann man etwas erreichen.

Push Hands ist gekennzeichnet durch das Abwehren, Zurückrollen, Drücken und Stoßen, den vier Seiten eines Quadrats entsprechend. Dabei wendet man das Prinzip des Sich-Selbst-Vergessens-und-dem-anderem-folgen an, indem man haftet, verbindet, zusammenfügt und folgt.

Die Fußstellung bleibt dabei unverändert. Beim Zurückrollen gibt man ohne Widerstand nach, bleibt aber trotzdem in Kontakt mit dem Partner, (man haftet an ihm). Bei der Vorwärtsbewegung stößt man nach vorne, aber nicht stoß- oder ruckartig, sondern langsam und gleichmäßig. Dieses Nach-vorne-Stoßen sollte vom hinteren Fuß ausgehen und vom Körper als Einheit ausgeführt werden. Die Bewegungen beim Push Hands fließen gleichmäßig und ohne Unterbrechung. Die Arme müssen aus der Bewegung des Rumpfes geführt werden. Bei der Vorwärtsbewegung wird der rechte Arm leicht gestreckt, dabei zielt die Handkante immer in Richtung des Brustbeins des Gegenübers; beim Zurückweichen oder Zurückrollen wird der rechte Arm gebeugt. Die stehende Hand bleibt in jedem Fall erhalten.

Im Fall des rechten Bogenschrittes verläuft die Bewegung dem Uhrzeiger entgegengesetzt. Die Füße bleiben während der Übung mit der ganzen Sohle auf dem Boden und man achte unbedingt auf die richtige Gewichtsverlagerung. Die Übung soll auch mit veränderter Beinstellung im linken Bogenschritt ausgeführt werden. In diesem Fall beschreiben die Partner mit den linken Händen einen dem Uhrzeiger folgenden Kreis.

Als Yang Chengfu zu Lebzeiten seine Klassen im Taijiquan unterrichtete gab es eine Bemerkung, die man tausendmal während des Unterrichts hörte: “Locker! Seid locker! Ihr seid nicht locker! Ihr seid total angespannt!” Oft, wenn er seine Schüler in den Partnerübungen unterwies, war eine seiner Lieblingsbemerkungen: “Bin ich ein Fleischhaken, oder was? Du hängst Dich an meinen Arm als wäre ich ein Fleischhaken! An solch einen Haken hängt man totes Fleisch, ich aber bin ziemlich lebendig!” so berichtet Cheng Man-ching aus eigener Erfahrung von seinen Lehrlingsjahren unter Yang Chengfu.

Ich selbst habe ähnliche Erfahrungen bei meinem Lehrmeister gemacht. Nicht ein oder zweimal, unzählige Male hieß es: “Bu hao! Fangsong, fangsong!” was soviel meint wie “Schlecht! Sei locker, locker, locker!” Das Wort song ist schwierig zu übersetzen, da es eine Haltung, ja selbst auch eine Seinshaltung umschreibt. Die Bewegung aus einer entspannten Haltung heraus ist eine Grundvoraussetzung im Taijiquan und Qigong. Nur, wenn der ganze Körper entspannt ist vermag das Qi in Fluss zu gelangen. Ist eine Partie verspannt, z.B. Schulter oder Hüfte, stagniert der Fluss und von dort ab geht nichts weiter. Ebenso vergleichbar ist song im Taijiquan mit den Gliedern einer Kette: Nur wenn alle Glieder locker und geschmeidig sind lässt sich mit dieser Kette Kraft übertragen. Sind Glieder fest und starr, wird diese Stelle zum Schwachpunkt und die Energie überträgt sich nicht von einem Ende zum anderen, sondern die Kette reißt genau an dieser Stelle… (Besten Dank hierfür, unbekannter Freund!

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system and impairs the motor skills, speech, and other functions of the patient. It is classified in a group of disorders called movement disorders. Parkinson’s disease is formed by an insufficient amount of dopamine in the body. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are a high level of cognitive dysfunction and subtle language problems. Parkinson’s disease can be both chronic and progressive. The disease is named after physician James Parkinson, an Englishman, who wrote an essay on the disease called “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy” in 1817.

Parkinson’s disease is not considered a fatal disease but can lead to death further down the road. Obviously, as with any disease, Parkinson’s disease lowers the life expectancy of its patients. In latter stages of the disease, Parkinson’s may cause choking, pneumonia, and even falls, all of which can cause death.

Factors that affect diagnoses:

Gender

Men appear to be at greater risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease than women. Men have to deal with about double the risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease as women in any age group. Scientists think that estrogens may play a function in protecting the body from the chemical changes that occur in Parkinson’s Disease.

Ethnicity

Caucasians have a higher danger of developing Parkinson’s Disease than either African Americans or Asian Americans. People of European descent appear most prone to usual Parkinson’s Disease, but some studies hint at that non-Caucasians may be more at risk for a particular type of non-typical Parkinsonis that causes a disturbance in judgment.

Heredity

In a small percentage of cases, family history may play a part in the inception of Parkinson’s Disease. People who have parents or brothers and sisters who had young-onset Parkinson’s Disease, in which symptoms develop before the age of 40, are more probable to develop Parkinson’s Disease than others their age.

Cigarette Smokers

Oddly, cigarette smokers appear to have a diminished incidence of Parkinson’s Disease, which has led researchers to explore the probability that nicotine may give some protection from the fluctuations caused by Parkinson’s Disease.

Coffee Drinkers

Caffeine also seems to have a protective result against Parkinson’s Disease. A study of Japanese-American men suggested that those who commonly drank coffee ran a lesser risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease than other men their age.

Alternative medicine and Parkinson’s Disease

Alternative medicine and treatments have been incorporated into treatment of the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Exercises such as Pilates, tai chi and yoga help increase body flexibility, enhancing balance and coordination. The muscles of the spine are elongated, strengthened and stabilised through the stretching movements specific to Pilates. Nutrients and herbs are also prescribed in a patient’s diet, but this is to be used solely in conjunction with other treatments. Homeopathy is used for symptoms and can alleviate the trembling, painless paralysis, restless legs, anxiety, depression, arteriosclerosis and general restlessness.

Manual Nerve Release technique, or MNR, has been showing great benefits for Parkinson’s sufferers. Although still categorized as an alternative healing technique, Parkinson’s Disease patients have experienced many benefits due to the treatment.

Read About Natural Weight Loss Supplements and Appetite Suppressant and also Garcinia Cambogia

The bloody cove of Taiji, from: BBC, 2009

Tonight Sarah and I watched the new documentary called “The Cove”, about the dolphin industry in Taiji, Japan. The economy in Taiji is based on selling dolphins to places like Sea World and other dolphinariums. All over the world there is a huge market for dancing, swimming and ball catching dolphins. Fishermen in Taiji provide dolphins for this market by trapping them and allowing buyers to take their pick. A line of fishing boats use hammers to bang on empty pipes that have been lowered into the water. This creates a sound barrier that herds scared dolphins into a tiny cove. The fishermen block off the cove with giant nets trapping the dolphins. But what happens to all those dolphins that aren’t selected to be Sea World’s next star? They herd the remaining dolphins into a second, unseen, inaccessible cove, and harpoon them to death. The meat from this slaughter is supplied to schools to be put into childrens’ lunch programs, sold falsely as whale meat in grocery stores, and who knows what else. And to top it all off, mercury levels in dolphin meat can be up to 20 times higher than the amount accepted by the World Health Organization. 

Whaling was banned by the International Whaling Commission in the 1980s, however the IWC does not specifically state attempt to deal with small cetacea.

Member governments hold different views over the legal competence of the IWC to regulate direct and incidental catches of small cetaceans. However, they are working to promote cooperation between the coastal and range states to conserve and manage these species also. Although the Commission does not set regulations for small cetacean management, the IWC Scientific Committee addresses matters of the conservation of small cetacean species at its annual meetings.(http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/cetacea.htm).

Japan has been a long time supporter of the whaling industry and continues to hunt through loopholes in the policies of the IWC. They also continue to fight for the whaling ban to be lifted, and as dolphins and whales are both cetacea, they fall under the same laws. Their method for doing this has been to provide ‘financial aid’ to poorer nations in return for voting support at the IWC. If Japan succeeds in removing the barrier to whaling, there will be no means to legally prevent them from continuing their dolphin hunt as well. From this, we have three action items for all who read this:

1. Watch the Cove
2. Contact the IWC and tell them that dolphins are cetacea too.
3. Encourage your country to support the ban on commercial whaling

Was lange währt, wird ein neuer Blogbeitrag!

Wie bereits erwähnt, bestand das Weltbild im alten China aus 5 Elementen. Feuer, Erde, Metall, Wasser und Holz. Dabei kam das Feuer gleich zweimal vor.

Durch stetige Empirie entwickelte sich dieses System über jahrhunderte hinweg. Es wurde verfeinert und in jeden Lebensbereich einbezogen. Betrachten wir es heute mal in Bezug zum Qi Gong.

Qi Gong Übungen einschl. Tai Chi stimulieren die Akupunkturpunkte und somit den Qi Fluss durch die Meridiane. Bei Qi Gong Übungen werden 95 % des Körpers bewegt und dabei die Organe sanft massiert. Durch die sanften Dehnungen während dem Üben verbessert sich die Geschmeidigkeit des Körpers. Der Körper bleibt weich und das Bindegewebe fest bis ins hohe Alter. In dieser Verfassung führen Stürze im Alter nicht unweigerlich zu Verletzungen.

Außerdem trainiert die fest definierte Form des Tai Chi das Gedächtnis. So bleibt der mentale Zustand jung und das macht sich in allen Lebensbereichen bemerkbar.

Die traditionelle chinesische Medizin (TCM) hat ein ganzheitliches Menschenbild, in dem Körper, Geist und Gefühle interaktiv mit der Außenwelt verbunden sind. Die TCM hat die Aufgabe, dieses Verhältnis in vollkommener Harmonie zu bringen.

Dabei werden Gefühle als eigene Kraft betrachtet, die sich als Emotion nach außen drängen. Gefühle sind Teil des Körpers und drücken den energetischen Zustand eines Organs aus. So beeinflussen regelmäßige Qi Gong Übungen die emotionalen Befindlichkeiten.

Mit Hilfe der Meditation können wir als innerer Beobachter unseren Körper, unsere Gefühle und unsere Gedanken losgelöst betrachten. Dabei lernen wir recht schnell Gefühle und Gedanken zu unterscheiden und erkennen deren emotionalen bzw. mentalen Ursprung.

Für eine optimale Wirkung müssen die Übungen leicht im Atemrhythmus durchgeführt werden und der Atem tief und gleichmäßig sein. So kann das Qi frei fließen und Blockaden gelöst werden. Und mit der Zeit stellt sich ein nachhaltig gutes Wohlbefinden ein.

Bis demnächst mit weiteren Details

Da wir wissen, wie wundervoll sich Tai Chi und Qi Gong auf den übenden Menschen ausüben, möchten wir gern eine Schule vorstellen, die sich vor einiger Zeit in Berlin niedergelassen hat.

Aus eigener Erfahrung können wir guten Gewissens sagen: auf solch eine Schule haben wir Jahrzehnte gewartet! Dies soll keineswegs bedeuten, das andere Tai Chi-Schulen keinen echten und großen Wert hätten. Doch Wudang Deutschland ist schon etwas ganz Spezielles.

Hier ein kleiner Clip vom Abt und Meister Youlihan.

.

.

Den Link zur Schule finden Interessierte unter “freunde & netzwerk”.

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Yang-Stil-Kurzform komplett!

Cheng Man Ching, push hands class (ohne Ton)

Cheng Man Ching, form class

Ce dimanche de 9h à 18h, 1er stage de poussée des mains à l’école Shen Long.

Allez sur la galerie du site pour voir quelques photos :

http://www.shen-long.net/shenlong/article.php3?id_article=97

I made this list in a period of my life lacking inspiration, so I had to create my own… The past year and a couple months have been nothing but inspiration from all sides, so I haven’t really felt the need to look at it or dream of far-away lands and exotic experiences. For some reason, I felt compelled to open the document this morning. Although my current job is inspiration-ful, re-reading it managed to inject even more inspiration into my much-needed daily dose.

So, without further ado, here is my list, in it’s totality:

1. Do Tai Chi in a park in China

2. Attend a wedding, in India

3. Become fluent in a third foreign language, preferably Arabic

4. Ride a camel in Egypt

5. Take a cooking class in Tuscany

6. Publish a book

7. Own a Vespa (lavender) 

8. Visit the Temple of Baalbek

9. Ride a gondola in Venice

10. Set foot on all the continents, Antarctica pending….

11. Go on an African safari

12. Sail the Greek isles

13. Eat sashimi in Japan

14. Get my nose re-pierced

15. Own a Kelly bag

16. Write for a travel publication

17. Ice skate at Rockefeller Center during Christmas

18. Visit the Grand Canyon

19. Go scuba diving

20. Live in another foreign country (other than la belle France) for an extended period of time…

21. Go to a World Series baseball game

22. Go to a World Cup football match

23. Make a mean espresso, and the perfectly frothed milk to match

24. Host regularly fabulous dinner parties

25. Read the classics, Western and Eastern

26. Read the French classics, in French

27. Finish my d@$n scrapbooks

28. Go hang gliding in Switzerland

29. Celebrate Christmas in Scandinavia

30. Go to the Christmas fairs in Strasbourg and Nuremburg

31. Eat lots more Spanish frozen yogurt

32. Adopt a Bernese Mountain dog and Westie Terrier. Name them Penny and Lenny

33. Go ice skating at Christmastime in front of the Hôtel de Ville. Remember to wear a cute hat

34. Learn to make strawberry rhubarb pie

35. Go on an Alaskan cruise

36. Visit Haiti

37. Finish painting my room at my mom’s house

38. Go to a premiere of some sort

39. Do the Peace Corps, or another service program

40. Become adept at Yoga and Pilates

41. Witness the Northern Lights 

42. Catch a fish

43. Visit the Egyptian pyramids

44. Ride on a dog sled

45. Spectate at the British Open 

46. Go to an haute couture show, preferably Christian Lacroix* 

*Sadly, since I first wrote this list in the fall of 2006, Christian Lacroix has stopped making haute couture. But just because something you had wished for can’t come to pass in exactly the way you had hoped, it doesn’t mean another, even more interesting experience can’t replace it. Usually it ends up even better.

If you don’t already have one, create your own list! It’s fun! And if nothing else, a great way to spend a couple minutes with your head in the clouds. A worthy activity at any time.

P.S.: Any readers that have good ideas about how to accomplish some of the more difficult experiences on my list, please contact me … !

Tai Chi in Oakland.
thurs @5-6pm. Hand to Hand Self defense center on San Pablo/Aileen st.

open to all levels ($10-15)

Tai Chi will improve all aspects of your health and help to calm your breath and spirit.
for more info: arilathuras@hotmail.com

teacher: Ari Lathuras has been training in Tai chi for 12 yrs., Kung Fu for 15 yrs. and teaching for the past 6yrs. She currently trains with Shifu Alex Feng

Hello,

Today I am making an announcement…

Why is a B2B copywriter (myself) opening up to a new niche?

Well, I have been interested in and practicing martial arts, qigong and acupressure/basic tui na for many years. Also while maintaining a strong interest in acupuncture, herbal and alternative medicine. I know that I can bring my passion and utilize my copywriting skills to help your business. Of course it goes without mention that any Marcom/B2B copywriting needs you may have I can handle, but I also want you to know that any needs that may fall outside that spectrum I am also open to working on as projects.

Is that the the kind of copywriter you need to write for you business?

Then contact me at copybymac@copybymac.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

Good luck to you and your endeavors,

Mac Bull

Hi, folks.

I just got back from my first Tai Chi class at the Y. It was great, because, with only two or three other people in the class, I got a lot of one-on-one instruction from the teacher… not so great because I’m beginning to think that I’m wired to be an attention whore.

I hate to say it, but I think I got more out of that one class than I did from two years at the local branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society (which uses a large group setting).

On top of Tai Chi, I’ve started doing Yoga; I’m also swimming again, and I have a personal trainer. It seems as though physical activity is the key to beating my depression. If only I had figured that out earlier, I might not have quit swimming in the first place and saved myself a lot of heartache. What’s done is done, though. The point is, as Herman’s Hermits will tell you, “I’m into something good.”

If the title seems strange, there’s a reason for it. My personal trainer/Tai Chi instructor is named Leslie. One of my classmates is a Leslie. Several of my friends are named Leslie. So is my mother. Whether this is just a happy coincidence or it indicates some deep-seated psychological issue of mine, I don’t care to know. I have to be grateful, though, because all of the Leslies in my life have helped me tremendously at various stages of my journey. I wouldn’t be where I am, loving every second of life, without them. Thank you, all of you. I’m off to practice some more Tai Chi, talk on MSN a little, pass out and do it over again.

(When my mom sees that I actually wrote something nice about her, she will shit bricks. I’ll take it as a good sign.)

I’m going to tell you something fascinating in this article. I am going to tell you how to make Karate into Kung fu. And, of course, you should be able to make Kung Fu into Karate.

The fact of the matter is that Karate developed from Kung fu. For hundreds of years Okinawa was the shipping center of the far east, and every art, soldier, ambassador, or whatever, came through the doors, and the arts gathered, were dissected, and reorganized to the extreme. Still, there are only so many things you can do with the body, and the main differences are stylistic.

A punch is a punch, a block is a block, a kick is a kick, and a technique is a technique. Uechi Ryu used to be Pan Gai Noon, Shotokan used to be Te, and so on. That said, let’s look at the exact stylistic differences and what to do about them.

First the stances of Kung Fu are lower, have more flourishing, and are badly altered by the desire for art. What I am saying is that somebody will get low on the back stance, put the ball of the foot forward, and tweak the hell out of the back stance just so they can feel, and put on the show, of having more power. Nothing wrong with more power, but this is the image of power, and not the real chi power that is available to a true student of the art.

The stances of karate are a bit higher, and they put more emphasis on keeping the hips low and turning them into the move being done. Nothing wrong with this, but in the case of the back stance, for instance, the back leg is usually turned out too far, gives more power, but immobilizes the stance. Now, proof, go look at pictures of classical stances in kung fu and karate and see if I haven’t described the phenomenas accurately.

Moving up to the arms, the kung fu people have smoother, more liquid motions, which motions are based upon swing the arms circularly. Karate people, on the other hand, turn tight and explode the power outward in a more linear fashion. So the motion, and the energy involved in the two arts, vary from swinging arcs to explosive lines.

So, if you want to change your karate to kung fu, simply align the turn of your stance with the turn of your hips and let the arms swing wider. If you want to change from kung fu into karate, push off the floor, snap the hips, and make the circle of the arms tighter and more efficient. Yes, I realize this is simplistic, but, done for a few weeks, and your eyes are going to open, you are going to tap into the power of a different art, and that power, karate if you are kung fu, kung fu if you are karate, is amazing.

Now, before the purists get ahold of me and raise a rant, let me make a point. There is ballet and there is jazz and there is ballroom and there is…and in the martial arts, scratch the surface of the styles, and you will find the fundamental principles that are heart and soul to the immense power and art the human being is capable of. So, whether you practice a style of karate like shotokan, or a kung fu like mantis, give yourself a chance, try what I’ve said here, and let your art flower.

Alle Teilnehmer lobten den hohen Praxisanteil an diesem WE und die klare und gut nachvollziehbare Verbindung von Einzelübungen, den dazugehörigen Partnerübungen und den Formabläufen. Vor allem das viele Testen, auf die Richtigkeit der Ausführung hat allen viel mehr Klarheit und Verständnis eingebracht.

Viele waren überrascht das Xingyi wider Erwarten auch recht weiche und fließende Komponenten hat, neben den harten und zackigen Bewegungsmustern, die es vordergründig deutlich von Tai Chi und weicheren inneren Künsten unterscheidet.
Auch die Wiederholung des 1. Satzes, des 5 teiligen 1000 Hände Buddhas Qi Gong kam allen Teilnehmern sehr entgegen.

Außerdem haben wir das 2. Set vorgestellt, besprochen und auch gleich eingeübt.

Das 2. Set hat die Aufgabe, den Körper mit allen uns umgebenden Energieformen aufzufüllen. Es ist sozusagen ein Auflade-Set.

Das mehrteilige Konzept mit Aufwärm-, Vor- und Dehnübungen, Line Power Training von Einzeltechniken, dem anschließenden Formsequenzen Training, gefolgt von Einzeltests zur statischen und energetischen Exaktheit und längeres Qi Gong Stehen wird als ein sehr stimmiges Gesamtkonzept von allen Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern als sehr gelungen angesehen und geschätzt.

Insgesamt war die Stimmung sehr gut und gemeinsam freuen wir uns auf das 3. und damit letzte WE. in 2009 am 3. Dezember WE. vom 18. – 20. Dezember 2009.

Ein Zusteigen zu diesem WE ist für alle ernsthaft an dieser selten unterrichteten inneren Kampfkunst noch möglich.

Volker Jung

The WCC Taiji Class had a lovely visit from its master Alex Dong this week. He is a fourth generation Taiji master who was born in China, moved to Hawaii as a boy and attended school here. From Hawaii he moved to New York City and opened schools in many parts of the world. He travels from school to school.

I’ve been attending the class at Windward Community College in Kaneohe on the island of Oahu for only about three years. Class is twice a week and tuition is $40 a month. Once or twice annually, Master Dong returns to teach weekend workshops from which we learn the finer points of the Taiji form, that is “Dong Style Orthodox Taiji” evolved from the Yang and Hao styles.

When he’s not in town, his senior students or appointed teachers lead the class. Students may advance their study during the various workshops taught by Master Dong wherever in the world he gives them. Many combine the workshops with vacation travel abroad—New York, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Great Britain, China, Hawaii, for example.

To become more acquainted with Taiji, I’ll refer you to the website alexdongtaiji.com. There I read that Alex Dong comes from a family of Taijiquan masters. His great-grandfather, Grand Master Tung Ying Jie was the national champion of China for many years, and he was a leading disciple of Yang Cheng-Fu, the main proponent of the modern Yang Long Form. Tung Ying Jie also studied with Li Xiang Yuan who was a disciple of Hao Wei Jing founder of the Hao style Taiji. Alex Dong’s grandfather, Grand Master Dong Hu Ling, spread the art in Southeast Asia and the United States, and his father, Grand Master Dong Zeng Chen, is world famous for his skills, especially in Taiji push hands.

Taiji had been recommended to me for exercise, and I do think my health has improved since I began. Balance, concentration and memory, strength, breathing (I am asthmatic, but less so now), energy, grounding, flexibility, posture—these are just some of the aspects of mind, body, and spirit that Taiji addresses.

To give you an idea of how whole Taiji is, I asked the master sifu (teacher) what he did to cross train. He replied, “Nothing. Only Taiji.”

So far I practice all three sections of the slow set and the sabre (knife) set; I practice between classes, read articles and books, and watch the videos of the master performing. My first Taiji teacher Lois explained that learning Taiji is like peeling away the layers of an onion. That is so true! A warm “Thank you!” to all of my teachers.

At this stage of my practice, I have a personal interest in relating the energy work of Taiji to Qigong to Reiki and healing.

For related posts, please see my 9/3/09 entry “Learning about energy healing.” From the menu bar, Reiki Healing by Oelen, tells about my Reiki practice.

Copyright 2009 Rebekah Luke

18/11/09-07:42

Tecnología

Tai-chi robotizado

Sabéis que me gustan los robots, sobre todo los que parecen turbadoramente humanos.

Hoy, uno que empieza a entrenarse duro para lo que pueda venir…. ¿quizá matarnos a toda la raza humana?

Vía Gizmodo.

Sometimes you never know where inspiration will come from. Sometimes you give it. Sometimes you receive it. Sometimes both from the same transaction. My friend Sylvia calls this “God’s economy.”

From time to time people will contact me seeking inspiration, advice or motivation for an endeavor or life change. Its an awesome position to be in.

Last year after my NPR Interview I received a letter from a woman seeking advice on a career in wellness. When cleaning my office recently, I found her letter and immediately penned a thoughtful response and included my cell number.

She called today.

I was glad to be able to help her on her way. She is in education but is passionate about teaching Tai Chi, aromatherapy and wellness in general. We spoke. I gave her the advice I could and offered to email helpful information.

It seems like I inspired her. And I may have. But, I was also affirmed in the fact that not only am I blessed to create and practice a career I love, but that others can benefit in ways I never imagined.

My aunt told me about this woman from her church who speaks to African American men in prison. She said she takes a cut-out from the LA Times of a young entrepreneur with her. She wanted to show them a visual example of what they can achieve. My aunt asked the name of the business man and her friend replied, “Terry Carter.”

I’m humbled.

I’m inspired.

Here’s the latest newsletter, have a great work out!

Monster Newsletter #252–3 PKC and the Youniverse!

Hey! Hey! And Howdie!
Another be-a-oo-tea-full day.
Perfect for working out!

Do you know why I don’t go beat people up?
Because everybody I have known
who has started beating people up,
using the martial arts,
has left the martial arts.

True.

I love the arts too much
to leave them.
So…
no fights.

I always talk my way out of a fight.

Course now I’m old,
no glory in beating up an old guy,
so I don’t have to fight,
and I don’t even have to talk my way out anymore,
and I can be as rude as I want.

Ain’t old grand?

Anyway,
did you know that there are three arts
in the Butterfly Pa Kua Chang.
First in the simple matrix of it all.
The ten hand positions.
Simple as it is,
I have had a lot of people write,
and say thanks,
it made the difference for them.

Matrixing, you see, is simple,
it is organization.
A tidy mind is an intuitive mind.
you know?

Second,
is the teacup.
Man,
this is the fastest and most logical pa kua in the world.
Here’s the deal,
the flow of Pa Kua is matrixed.
Not just positioned,
but actually in trajectory.

Trajectory is the secret of the universe,
you know?

You can analyze the path
of that fist
that is just a whistlin’
towards your
not unhandsome mug,
and you can avoid, block, manipulate,
guide, smash, trash,
bash, kick, break,
do what you want,
and he ain’t go no clue.

Flow is that important.
In fact,
flow is absolutely neutronic.

Matrix is setting up the grid
by which you can analyze
all potentials.

Neutronics is the fact
of handling
just one,
one little one,
of those potentials.

Sounds easy.
It is easy,
it is overlooked,
but it has drastic effect on all who
finally come to an understanding
of what I am actually saying.

Makes you wonder why
nobody in the world understands this one point,
that I have to make a whole religion out of it.
Ah, well.
(sigh)

Anyway,
the third art
is the sort of matrix
of the classical eight animals.

There had to be some sort of a logic
in the creation of Pa Kua,
and that is what eight animals is all about.
Simple,
rather than confusing,
right to the heart,
and function,
of what pa kua is all about.

Do you know why I began obsessing on Pa kua?
Because there was a purity to it,
spoken of in circle,
obsessed on in private universes,
which universes are created
by walking the circle.

Oh, yes,
you walk the circle,
and the rest of the world starts going by by,
and you are left with a purity of you
that western society,
even transfigured by all the martial arts
that have hit these shores
does not create.

The universe of you.

I sometimes call it the
youniverse.

But it is real.
But you have to walk the circle to do it,
to find it.
And the circle should not be confusing.

So that’s the point of the course.

Okay,
So I’m pushing Pa Kua this week.
Why not.
Nothing wrong with that.

And,
shouldn’t you have a new art to work on
over Xmas vacation?

Or,
perhaps I should say it,
it is almost that time of year…
HanaKwanMass.
That’s right,
my little version of holiday cheer,
offensive to no one,
includes all,
and,
if you get a
HanaKwanMass vacation this year,
you should be working on…
Pa Kua Chang.

Here’s the link…

Butterfly Pa Kua Chang

Now,
kick the chihuahua,
watch out for that banana peel,
and…
walk the circle.

Al
=o)

PS–If you want the latest article, try googling ‘ What Happens When You Get Rid of Reaction Time!’

Eskimo: “If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?” Priest: “No, not if you did not know.”
Eskimo: “Then why did you tell me?”
Annie Dillard

Quinta passada teve avaliação de arte marcial no Pa-Kua Jardins.

Alguns alunos meus avaliaram e inclusive agora, dois deles chegaram a faixa verde.

Quinta passada teve avaliação de arte marcial no Pa-Kua Jardins.

Alguns alunos meus avaliaram e inclusive agora, dois deles chegaram a faixa verde.

I was watching a television network I’d never watched before called Ovation TV. The network is dedicated to discussing and exploring arts of all kinds. It’s been a long time since I had really given the arts much thought since they don’t play much of a role in my daily life working in the marketing department of a credit union. It was, however, very refreshing to hear about how the arts impact our daily lives in ways we don’t think about.

One such program was called Designer People. On this program they interview and explore the art of designers of various types (i.e. interior, industrial, fashion, etc.). The episode I saw explored the design of Kenji Ekuan, the man behind such diverse designs as Yamaha motorcycles, a Buddhist temple, and the Kikkoman soy sauce bottle. He mused that the Japanese saw things as more interconnected because of their Buddhist beliefs. He pointed to what he saw as a contrast: in Christianity man is created by God, whereas, in Buddhism, man is created by the universe. That got me thinking about another thing that I don’t have a lot of occasion to explore in my daily life. It’s a concept I learned so long ago that I cannot even begin to piece together who taught it to me: All truth is God’s truth.

What do I mean by that? I simply mean that everything we find to be true is true because God made it to be so and we have no need to be afraid of it. The most immediate example of this is the man’s statement about how everything is so interconnected. You don’t need to be a Buddhist to believe that. To me, it’s evident from a passage in Colossians:

He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
(Col 1:15-17 ESV)

I believe this idea has a lot of practical application. It means wherever we find people engaging in things that are “true,” Christians can join with them in those activities. For instance, we’re told that God has ordained government to punish wrongdoers. That should mean that whenever we see government doing this, that Christians can join together with them.

However, I believe this principle means that if we can show that something is “true,” whether or not we have direct biblical evidence of its truth, that we can join in with its “true” aspects. Let’s consider some Eastern practices such as the martial arts or meditation. Some Christians shy away from these practices and some even denounce them as wrong because they’ve been traditionally associated with Eastern philosophy. However, the question we should be asking is “are they ‘true’?” Do they produce the results they claim? The answer is yes and so Christians should have no problem joining with their practice. However, that doesn’t mean we have to accept their connected philosophy. Tai Chi works just the same whether you’re a Buddhist, a Hindu, or a Christian.

To believe otherwise we would have to believe that the Western world had a monopoly on all truth and that the rest of the world learned nothing true we didn’t bring to them. Such an assertion, I would hope, appears as false as it is. Many of the things we cherish most in the West, such as democracy, were invented by pagan cultures. When we recognized the “truth” in them, however, we removed their pagan philosophy and kept what was “true.”

Is there a danger we could fall prey to some of their philosophy? Yes. However, that’s always been true. We need look no further than the way the Western world held to Plato and Aristotle as if their philosophy was Bible truth for hundreds of years or the way many today accept the atheism of modern science. The answer isn’t to reject the truth we learn from these sources but to learn to separate the truth from the fiction.

The Endless Knot, from Wikipedia

Over the years, I have been asked how I became a so-called master. I resisted responding in any way to this question for a long time…well, until now. Close to the end of my life, it seems fitting now to tell the real story. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. You’ll be able to return quickly to whatever it is that really interests you.

One day, many, many years ago, I was sitting quietly by the roadside trying to figure out what to do with my life. I had just lost my job, my wife, and my home, and everything was in question, including the meaning of my life. I think I had been sitting pondering for several hours when a man happened along and squatted quietly on the opposite side of the road facing me. Though he said nothing, he stared at me intensely without moving a muscle. There was something about the way the man looked at me, the great concern that emanated from him, that made me think he was someone very special, perhaps even a great master.

Believing that I might learn something from this man, and with nothing better to do, I simply sat there observing, only taking breaks to care of the natural functions when the man sitting opposite me did so. Of course, sitting in that way created much tension in my body, so I began to stretch and move in all sorts of ways to relieve the tension. The man also stretched and moved but in ways that looked more interesting than mine. He seemed to know what he was doing. Some of the postures and movements even looked like yoga and qigong, which I had dabbled with. So I simply imitated him, but added from memory some of the postures and movements that I had previously learned. Soon we were spontaneously doing all kind of exercises together, even chanting and singing. I was seeing many new things about myself and really felt as though new meanings were opening up for me.

After several days, and finally coming to the realization that perhaps this man could help me answer the question that was burning inside, I asked with great intensity, “Please tell me Master, what should I do with my life?”

Startled, the man looked back at me and said in sincere confusion: “But I thought you were the master.”

The instant these words were spoken an all-embracing light turned on inside of me, a light that had never revealed itself before, and I suddenly realized who and what I was.

In response to the question, cynical or otherwise, that may have arisen in you, I will ask you one in return: aren’t we all here to help and care for one another? Aren’t we all, consciously or unconsciously, simultaneously students, teachers and even masters in relation to one another and at whatever level is possible for us? Aren’t we all part of “the endless knot” of relationship?

In any case, and for what it’s worth, that’s the story of how I first happened to be called a master. But you may call me whatever you like, as you are no doubt already doing.

Copyright 2009 by Dennis Lewis. This story was inspired by an insight I had while reading a short parable recounted by Idries Shah in his book The Commanding Self.

„Den Körper drehen und die Hände fallen lassen“

Nach dem Stoßen verlagern Sie das Gewicht zurück auf den linken Fuß. Arme und Hände bleiben zwar unbewegt, aber durch den Positionswechsel liegen sie nun flach, durchgestreckt auf. Sie sind inaktiv. Sie drehen sich nun aus der Taille und auf der rechten Ferse nach links, 90° Grad nach Norden. Arme und Hände folgen der Bewegung des Rumpfes, drehen aber noch 45° Grad weiter bis nach Nordwest. Gewichtung liegt auf dem linken Fuß.

Nun der Teil des „die Hände fallen lassen“. Beide Hände und Arme werden zum Körper geführt. Die rechte Hand bildet eine Hakenhand, d.h. die Finger werden zusammengelegt und zeigen auf Schulterhöhe nach unten. Die linke Hand, auf Nabelhöhe, bildet eine Schale, die Finger zusammengelegt. Handfläche nach oben, „Zucker in den Kaffee träufeln“. Sie verlagern derweil das Gewicht vom linken auf den rechten Fuß.

Drehen Sie den linken Fuß auf dem Fußballen nach Nordwest. Der Fuß ist leer, das Verhältnis ist 90:10. Die linke Hand wird etwas, der Bewegung der Mitte folgend, angehoben und zeigt jetzt mehr nach innen. (Sie bereitet eine abwehrende Bewegung mit der Handinnenseite vor). Gegenläufig wird der rechte Arm, die rechte Hand nach außen aufgestellt. Ungefähr nach Nordost, etwas weniger.

„Einfache Peitsche”

Nun wird der linke Fuß in einen 90° Grad Kreisbogen-Schritt nach Südwest aufgestellt. Achten Sie darauf, dass die Ferse nach Westen steht, und dass Sie den Fuß auch nach Westen in den linken Bogenschritt führen. Beachten Sie weiter, dass die rechte Hand weiter nordöstlich stehen bleibt. Das Verhältnis zwischen den Händen beträgt zuletzt 110° Grad! In der Hand ist keine Aktivität, die Kampfhandlung ist nur angedeutet. Die linke Hand wehrt einen Angriff, von Westen her kommend, ab, dreht auf der linken Körperhälfte und stößt vor. Die Bewegung beginnt in der Korrektur des rechten Fußes und fließt von dort hinüber in die linke Handfläche. Am Ende zeigt der Rumpf nach Westen. Sie stehen in der „Einfachen Peitsche“.

As I mentioned in a previous post on psycho-spiritual training (click here), Chi Development, focused in three key areas, can lead you to happiness, spiritual fulfillment, and emotional freedom. Each of these areas covers a lot of ground, but for now let’s take a brief look at them and talk about a few general ideas, so we have a good feel for these three areas.

PERSONAL INTENTION

PERSONAL INTENTION is the first key area. Here, we are referring specifically to developing an “intentional” approach not just to Tai Chi and Qigong, but to your whole life. You specifically work on identifying the purposes that guide your actions – how and why you make the choices you make in your life.

While there can be numerous, complex intentions, in Tai Chi and Qigong, we’ve identified four intentions we consider the most important. We’ve mapped these intentions onto the Four Chi-Elements – Earth, Water, Fire, and Air, plus the fifth “non-element” of Spirit/Void. While we teach these chi-elements as a way to learn intention in Tai Chi and Qigong, they offer more than that. They can be seen, heard, and felt as the actual “components” or “entities” found in the well-balanced, happy, spiritually-healthy person.

Unfortunately, most of us are “out of balance”. That is, as we make choices in our daily lives, we generally rely on just one element or possibly two elements, and we make all our choices within these elements. This lopsided approach to dealing with life often creates stress, frustration, fear, and unhappiness. But with training that includes all Four Elements, you can begin to develop skills in your “weaker” elements. Developing your weaker elements will lead to greater choices in your thoughts, words, and actions for a more balanced, fulfilling, rewarding life.

SENSORY ACUITY

SENSORY ACUITY is the second key area of Chi Development that can lead to happiness and personal growth. In this area, we are specifically talking about how we use our nervous system and brain to perceive and organize the information we receive. In this area, we are looking to increase both the accuracy and efficiency of our perceptions, so that we have access to more and more information with less effort.

Misperceiving things about ourselves, others, and our environment generates a significant portion of unhappiness and stress in our lives. Instead of perceiving problems ahead of time – whether the problem is with ourselves, with others, or with our surroundings – we fail to see, hear, and feel the difficulties until they are immediate and pressing. Often times, a change in perception allows us to avoid the problem altogether, or at least deal more effectively with it before it becomes critical.

But by training our sensory acuity, we can prevent many types of problems and misunderstandings, decreasing stress and fear, and increasing happiness. But more importantly, by working on sensory acuity, we can directly “see”, “hear”, and “feel” the elusive “spiritual” elements that are missing from our lives. While many people think of the “spiritual” as being non-physical (and some even think of it as “anti-physical”), sensory acuity helps you “look, listen, and touch” the spiritual through widened perception. As a side note, I know that what I’m saying here may sound mystical, but I’m actually speaking of something immensely practical that can be learned directly from Chi Development in Tai Chi and Qigong.

PERCEPTUAL FLEXIBILITY

PERCEPTUAL FLEXIBILITY is the third and final key area. Here, we are specifically referring to learning how you form your concepts, ideas, thoughts, and beliefs about yourself, about others, and about life in general. Tied in with both Personal Intention and Sensory Acuity, this thought-formation process goes beyond these areas to look at how we apply “meaning” to the information we receive from inside and outside of ourselves.

More often than not, the “meanings” we apply to the information we receive fit into “maps” or “models” that we pre-created before the information is received. Most contemporary scientists and researchers believe that these maps and models come from a number of sources: genetic, childhood patterns, cultural conditioning, and conscious selection. Generally, the happier, more fully realized, and more spiritually accomplished person can apply these processes creatively, making new maps and models from the old, much as imaginative children can create stories and songs from the simplest ideas.

Perceptual flexibility underlies much of the creative process. However, many people feel they aren’t “creative”, or that creativity is reserved only for the “talented” or the “gifted” or the “uninhibited”. But this creative process is actually our birthright. Young children often have it, and we can have it too. And we can “get back” this creativity directly from our Chi Development practices.

I know I’ve gone over the three areas of Personal Intention, Sensory Acuity, and Perceptual Flexibility rather quickly. If you would like to hear more about the practical aspects of this Chi Development training, please leave me a comment below. I may do future blog posts on them, as long as there is interest in these topics.

When you learn the truth of Karate kumite, there are certain truths about how to fight. One of the truths is that the mind shuts down during combat, and survival mode kicks in. Adrenalin junkies would have you believe this is good, but it is not, it is the worst thing that could happen.

As a species we don’t have claws, or jaws, or quills, or smells, or any particular characteristic that would help us survive, except the mind. It is the mind that creates invention, it is the mind that adapts to survive. It is this thing called a mind that we must enhance if we are to reach our full potential as humans, and as humans on the fighting level.

First, one must control the distance in a fight, by controlling distance we have choice whether we wish to kick, punch, knee, elbow, or whatever. The way to do this is to tie a string from your belt to his, and have that string the length of the distance you wish to maintain. Now, move so that the string always stays taut, and never breaks…within a short time your body will move with the other persons body because it likes the harmonious aspect of this.

Second, we must control the harmony of the leg movements. The best leg positioning is when the legs match, which is to say his right leg is forward and so is yours, the second best position is when they oppose, which is to say his right leg is forward, and your left leg is forward. The way to train yourself to always have matching stance is merely to walk with the string, and practice matching your stance to his.

Third, we must control the movement of the arms, again, in a matching or opposing mode. No string needed here, but you do have to be aware of distance, you have to match your partners arms as he comes in. The way to do this is merely to assume a matching stance and practice matching your arm motions to his.

Fourth, we must search for the techniques that work best for matching, and for opposing. Yes, you want matching, but whatever happens, you should be able to train yourself to handle it. The trick is to use a basic matrixing concept, and realize that whether matching or opposing, your arm will be either inside of his, or outside of his, and then find that technique that this position results in.

Lastly, we must put it all together. This would appear difficult, except that if you understand what I have said here, and worked on the individual exercises, then the whole thing comes together rather intuitively. The body, you see, even in the middle of combat, likes harmony.

Control distance, control positioning through the stance, control arms through inside or outside, this is simple stuff, but entirely overlooked by todays martial artists. But if you do understand what I have said here, then you will move to the head of the pack, for you are putting the mind, and awareness and the ability to think, into combat. Whether you study kenpo or tae kwon do, Aikido or Arnis, Uechi or Krav Maga, the truths in this article, the hint of matrix martial arts that I have given you, will make you a better fighter…an immensely better fighter!

Je vous ai déjà parlé de Taipan, donc je vais pas répéter encore une fois que selon moi il fait partie des meilleurs rappeurs français, et qu’il ne bénéficie pas de la reconnaissance que son talent mérite. En espérant que la “Punchliner Mixtape” prévue pour décembre et produite en grande partie par le cousin surdoué Céhashi séduise un grand nombre d’oreilles curieuses, avant l’album “Je vous aime” qui si tout se passe bien (mais bon, on connaît le rap français) devrait mettre une bonne claque à nos tympans début 2010. En tout cas, je suis impatient d’écouter “Laisse-moi dans mes poèmes” et “Je commence demain”. Ca sent la tuerie à plein nez.

Plus d’infos et le tracklisting complet si vous cliquez ici

Taijiquan-Übende. Hier also die “Wolkenhände” aus dem zweiten Teil der Taijiquan Form des Yang-Stils. Unten habe ich eine Seite von Helmut Hirner verlinkt mit seinen großzügigen Hinweisen auf den Bewegungsablauf. Darunter ein Link von Jürgen Licht. In diesen Kreisen kein Unbekannter!

Taijiquan - Die Hände wie Wolken bewegen

Taijiquan – Jürgen Licht

Das Bild habe ich hier gefunden:

peking-form

Im Anhang senden wir Ihnen als PDF-Datei die Termine und Inhalte der Qigong-Seminare mit Frau Liu Yafei (Qigong-klinik Beidaihe) und Frau Mok Zhuangming aus Singapur im 1. Halbjahr 2010.
Viele Grüße Bing Luo-Eichhorn – letian

Seminare Liu und Mok 2010

I’ve practiced martial arts of various styles for 20 years, and in all that time I’ve heard a number of very strange & woo-filled explanations for why people can accomplish the physical feats they can. One such example is breaking wooden boards with the bare hands & feet – often people provide an explanation by referencing so-called “chi, ki, or qigong energy”. The whole concept of chi is more of a philosophical concept than anything else, and it is little more than a “dragon-in-the-garage” (an untestable notion that cannot be verified through scientific means).

Well, I’m here to tell you that such physical feats as board breaking can be performed & explained simply by referencing the known laws of physics – no woo required. Take a look at the video of me performing such a break with five pine boards at once…

How do I accomplish this feat? Here’s how: I hit the boards really hard – the question is how do I generate such a large force of impact? Read on…

1. Materials: First off, there’s a good reason why I’m hitting pine boards – they are a soft wood. Whenever I’ve seen martial artists doing breaks such as these, they hit either pine boards or a brittle material like clay bricks or concrete slabs. In addition, when striking wooden boards, successful strikes always go with the grain of the wood because the wood is structurally weaker in that orientation. So, in a real sense, karate practitioners are kind of cheating by using these materials – if you really wanted to see something impressive & “supernatural”, perhaps someone could display slicing through a steel I-beam with the edge of their hand. I think there’s a pretty good reason why we never see a “chi-master” doing that!

2. Spacers: Notice the spacers that I’ve got placed in between the boards. This is another common trick that is used whenever board breaking is performed. By separating the boards like this, I really only have to break one at a time as opposed to one large, massive chunk. In more technical terms, the momentum of my strike is slightly reduced by breaking only the top board, which allows the remainder of my hand’s momentum to continue to the next board, and the next after that and so on. This works for the same reason why train cars are slightly decoupled from one another – once the engine gets moving, its momentum helps to move the next car when the coupling catches, and their combined momentum help to get the third car moving when its coupling catches, and so on.

3. Impulse-Momentum Theorem: the rest of it has to do with the physics of impulse & momentum. In equation form, this theorem (which is another way of expressing Newton’s 2nd Law) can be written as follows:

F Δt = m Δv

or

F = m Δv / Δt

where F is the force of impact, Δt is the time of impact, m is the mass behind the strike, and Δv is the change in velocity of striking hand (or foot). In order to break the boards, one must maximize the force of impact, which can be done in a variety of ways…

*Maximize the mass: instead of merely hitting the boards with my fist, I turn & twist my entire body into the strike. By doing so the mass (m) is greatly increased, and so too is the force.

*Minimize the impact time: the boards are placed onto solid supports (in this case the stools) which do not give under the impact. Because the supports are not excessively elastic or bouncy, the time of impact is reduced to a minimum, which has the effect of greatly increasing the force of impact.

*Maximize the velocity: by dropping my body mass so dramatically, I convert a large amount of gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy. And since kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the velocity of an object, by doing so I provide a great deal of velocity (and therefore momentum) which can carry all the way through all five boards as previously mentioned.

So there you have it, folks – a thorough explanation of how such board breaking feats are done, without a mention of chi/ki/qigong or any other supernatural woo-woo. This is a very good example of applying Occam’s Razor, and I thoroughly enjoy sharing this lesson with my students.

Sadly, there are those who would rather deny scientific reality & the laws of nature in favor of the delusion that they have some kind of mystical power over “chi energy” and can therefore do physically impossible things. And even more sadly, these delusions can lead some people into serious injury. Here are two examples of what I’m talking about…

*The first is of one of these so-called “chi-masters” who believes that he can throw people merely by “projecting his energy” at them, but – interestingly – he only seems to be able to perform these “throws” on his true-believing students. What happens when he encounters someone who isn’t a true-believer in his abilities? Take a look at this video to find out:

There is an entire group, almost cultish in nature, called Yellow Bamboo that purports to teach people how to “focus & project their chi” with equal levels of failure. Just search Youtube and you’ll find plenty of videos of the Yellow Bamboo woo-meisters getting pwned.

*But if that isn’t bad enough, here’s a whole other level of fail… this next clown is so far down the “chi-master” rabbit-hole that he actually believes that by “focusing his chi energy” he can make himself impervious to blades. And to prove it, he hacks into his own arm with a razor-sharp machete! How do you think it went? (Warning: not for the squeamish)

Folks, in my opinion, it just doesn’t get much more stupid than that. The moral of the story is simple: when it’s you and your beliefs vs. the laws of physics, physics always wins.

Angenehme Aufnahmen und zwar alles schnell hintereinander von den Acht Brokaten.

Vielleicht besser als die übliche You-Tube Version. Obacht: eine Version unter vielen, also nicht wundern:

8 Brokate

A respiração é uma função vital muitas vezes mal compreendida e mal utilizada pelas pessoas. No entanto, nas culturas mais antigas, especialmente as orientais, a respiração é o caminho para o desenvolvimento mental, físico e espiritual. O psicoterapeuta José Angelo Gaiarsa realiza, na próxima segunda-feira, dia 16/11, a palestra “Respiração e Angústia”, dirigida a estudantes e profissionais de psicologia, medicina, fisioterapia, educação física, enfermagem e o público em geral. O evento acontece às 20h, no auditório da União Cultura Brasil Estados Unidos.

Gaiarsa é um dos mais respeitados psiquiatras de São Paulo, e considerado uma das maiores autoridades em cérebro, movimento e comunicação corporal. O psiquiatra é conhecido por suas posições polêmicas e apresenta sempre uma visão critica da humanidade, do mundo atual, do futuro e da sobrevivência da nossa espécie.

Com mais de 30 livros publicados, o autor trata de temas como família, sexualidade e relacionamentos amorosos. Entre suas obras: “Amores Perfeitos”; “Couraça Muscular do Caráter”; “Educação Familiar e Escolar para o Terceiro Milênio”; “A Cartilha da Nova Mãe”; “Sexo, Reich e Eu”; e “Sexo: Tudo que Ninguém Fala sobre o Tema”.

Gaiarsa escreveu também livros sobre o assunto da palestra, como “Respiração e Circulação” (esgotado) e “Respiração e Angústia”. O tema abordado pelo psicoterapeuta é muito antigo, e faz parte do conhecimento da importância da respiração, abordado na filosofia indiana, mais particularmente nos Yoga-Sutras, escritos pelo filósofo Patañjali (século VI a.C.), que se referem aos assim chamados “pranayamas”, ou exercícios do bem respirar. A filosofia taoista também ressalta a importância de se aprender a respirar corretamente, nos exercícios de T’ai Chi Chuan, Chi K’un, Liang Gong e outros.

Como se sabe, a respiração influencia processos bioquímicos e fisiológicos essenciais para a manutenção da saúde.

Il sito ufficiale dell’Associazione Culturale Amici del Taiji su Dmoz.

The first thing you are going to have to overcome is the idea that it takes decades to learn such arts as Tai Chi Chuan or Pa Kua Chang or Aikido. Look, the army makes soldiers in three months, and that includes some high tech stuff. And, when you add up the actual hours spent on that college course, it doesn’t take that long to make a scientist or mathematician.

The idea that it takes immense amounts of time is something that has been foisted on us by people who want to make money. After all, the longer somebody studies, the longer they pay the fees for that cultural dojo box, the…do you get the idea. So get over the idea that it takes time, and get used to learning fast!

Now, to learn pa kua chang you need to draw a circle about six feet in diameter, and which takes exactly eight steps to go around. You need to situate the circle so it is squarely in the room, which means that if you stopped walking and straightened up every two steps you would face a wall. Now you need to isolate a weekend to master this thing.

The first rule in walking the circle is to keep the hips low and move them at an even rate of speed. The second rule is to breath evenly and synchronize the movements of your hands and feet so they move at the same rate of speed, starting and finishing techniques at the same time. The third rule is to be willing to isolate yourself as separate from the regular universe, let your attention slide off the tables and chairs, the trees and fences, as you walk around and around.

Now, you need basics that actually work and make sense and are logical. Examine karate for basic blocks, and curve the arms to adapt them to Pa Kua Chang. Things can get complex, so I would recommend taking the four basic blocks, hi, low, in and out, and working with them to start.

Now take a step and do a block, searching for the largest circles you can make with a basic block. Though you have only taken one step, let your body turn to the maximum. When you reach the end of the turn, reverse your turn and start a second block. Take a step with that second block, and, again, overturn to the max.

Keep the hips tucked to avoid injury to the lower spine, place the feet flat, as if trying to be stable in a field of mud, and search for grace. Be a deadly ballet dancer, slowly whirling and spinning, exploring the limits of your body. Ignore any self-doubts, and let a few hours expose Pa Kua to you.

The last thing is to search for function, because if it doesn’t work, you shouldn’t be doing it. So have a friend strike slowly at you, and walk a small circle around him, letting your block encircle his limb, and you will find all sorts of stuff. Now, I know this all sounds simple, but let me make a point…this is exactly how such arts as Tai Chi, Pa Kua and Aikido were discovered in the first place!

Unsere erste Xingyi Ausbildung des Internal Arts Forums Deutschland ist nun gerade mal ein WE. alt, das nächste steht am WE. 14. + 15. November an. Es haben sich unterschiedliche Menschen bei diesem ersten Formations-WE. eingefunden. Einige sind schon viele Jahre mit Xingyi irgendwo beschäftigt gewesen, andere hatten sozusagen ihre ersten Stunden Kontakt mit diesem hierzulande immer noch recht selten anzutreffenden alten inneren chinesischen Kampfkunst-Stils. Dennoch trotz der sehr unterschiedlichen Ausgangs-Vorkenntnisse der Teilnehmer war die Stimmung gleich bleibend gut und man fand es von allen Seiten aus sehr informativ und interessant in der Wirkung auf Körper, Geist und Energie-System. Alle Teilnehmer haben entsprechend ihrer eigenen Neigungen und Vorlieben aus dem reichhaltigen Programm das für sie persönlich wichtigste und wertvollste heraus gezogen. Besonders interessant fanden die sonst Tai Chi und Qi Gong als Hauptstile praktizieren die starke Körperspannung und dieses extreme innere Aufrichten und Strecken. Auch die Förderung der Spannkraft in den so genannten Yin-Muskeln, den die Strukturfördernden Tiefenmuskeln. Auch die hohe Explosivität dieses Stils und die sehr langen sehr geraden Schritte fanden großen Gefallen bei den Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern. Es waren auch einige Menschen mit Vorerfahrung in Liu He Ba Fa und sonstigen inneren Kampfkünsten anwesend. Diese lobten die Geradlinigkeit und die innere Klarheit des Systems sehr. Vor allem das wir von der Pike aus anfangen wurde sehr positiv bemerkt und für gut befunden.
Am nächsten WE. dem 14. und 15. November werden wir fortfahren uns mit dem 1000 Hände Buddha Qi Gong des Xingyi dem Line Power Training, Aufwärmübungen und Dehnübungen, und dem Anfang der 10 Tiere Form neben Tests und Partnerübungen auseinandersetzen.
In den kommenden 4 – 5 WE. wird sich die endgültige Ausbildungsgruppe sicherlich formieren. Es wird auch immer die Möglichkeit für ein einmaliges Hineinschnuppern bestehen, aber nicht so sehr in den höheren Kursen ab dem 5. oder 6. WE. Also wer außerhalb unseres Forums Lust und Laune hat, sich einmal unverbindlich mit Xingyi Quan einer sehr dynamischen inneren Kampfkunst auseinander zu setzen, sollte dies in den nächsten 3 – 4 WE. dann tun, danach wird es einfach schwierig werden dem Verlauf der vielen Übungen zu folgen. Wenn man diese verpassen sollte, wird es im weiteren Verlauf des Jahres noch die Gelegenheit geben sich mit Liu He Ba Fa oder Lan Shou weiteren inneren alten chinesischen Kampfkunst-Systemen auseinander zu setzen. Auch für diese beiden seltenen Stile werden wir das kommende Jahr jeweils einen Ausbildungsgang anbieten.
Volker Jung

Você já experimentou atirar com arco e flecha? Quando era criança, brincava de índio e atirava suas flechas? Gosta de um trabalho introspectivo que trabalha o foco, a concentração e, além de tudo a força?

Pois estamos trazendo pela primeira vez para Brasília o Curso de Pa-kua Arqueria, Ou Tiro com  Arco Tradicional Chinês.

O Mestre Rodolfo Oliva, 5o Grau Linha Dourada, responsável pelo Pa-kua na Inglaterra, estará em Brasília de 02 a 11 de Dezembro para ministrar este curso.

O curso é aberto para praticantes e não praticantes de Pa-kua e o material para o curso será fornecido pela escola.

Após o curso, vamos montar uma programação de treinos de tiro aqui em Brasília.

As inscrições: (61) 8431-9760 – Flavio Oliveira ou flaviooliveira2301@gmail.com.

Vejam este vídeo:

E algumas Fotos:

Mestre Rodolfo Oliva

Fotos do Curso em Florianópolis

Fotos do Curso em Curitiba

Foto do Curso na Califórnia (EUA)

I’ve written before about adversity, and how in tai chi and in taoism, we are encouraged to learn the lesson in the adversity. This notion holds true in Catholicism, buddhism, you name it. We cannot have a life free of adversity, so we view it as a life lesson.

The same holds true for adversaries. What are they doing in our lives? Are they just there to f with us and make our lives miserable? Actually, in some instances, that might actually be the case. But we can also look to see what the lesson is in these confrontations, what can we learn from our interraction with these people. I will badly quote Mike Murdock again, as he says, the difference between seasons is the enemy we are willing to confront. When we are ready to move forward in the spiritual life, God will send us an adversary. He says David would have remained a shepherd boy if he had not had Goliath as his adversary.

So, make a list of the people in your life that you have had adversarial relationships with. What was the confrontation about, was it a door to a new season, were you able to confront the adversity involved and come to terms with it? Did you actually grow as a result of the experience? How long did it take.

I think sometimes we become mired in an adversarial relationship because we haven’t learned the lesson inherent in it. We have to go through it in order to “graduate” to the next level. I also think sometimes we can interpret an enemy in our lives who is acting as an obstacle or blocking our way, as actually being a good thing, because maybe they are actually keeping us from doing something stupid or going down the wrong path. We don’t realize it because we don’t understand it, or we’re too wrapped up in our own ego desires. Or maybe we need to become more courageous, or become more understanding, or grow a set of you know whats, or some other lesson in the offing.

I feel somewhat fortunate in that my list of mentors, friends, and teachers is much longer than my list of former enemies and adversaries. But there are great lessons in my list of adversaries for me.

Related to this, I would say, in practicing a martial art like tai chi, the masters became great by fighting some very formidable enemies. You learn in that relationship big time. While I do not wish to encounter enemies on a physical level, we can spar and have friendly adversarial relationships to develop those skills. I contemplated recently that it was interesting that I’ve been practicing a martial art for nine years now and the universe has not sent me an adversary to actually fight! My conclusion is that while I place great importance on the martial aspects of tai chi chuan, I suppose my role is more of a contemplative, spiritual nature, and as a teacher(what a both proud and humbling moment to be called sifu without requiring it). The other conclusion I came to was that maybe I’m not ready for a physical encounter yet and the universe is waiting for me to get a little bit better at what I do!

My Taiji performance from 2009 Canadian Nationals. Post Up.

What is higher is pulled down, and what is lower is raised up;
What is taller is shortened, and what is thinner is broadened;

pic credit Anoop

Tai chi is about harmony and balance and being exact. It’s not an easy state to grasp simply because of the force of habit.

Get out of the habit of doing extraneous movement or of inaction when you need to act.

And you are getting close to fighting in the harmonious way.

The moves in taichi are exact and harmonious, there seems to be an answer to every attack.

Taichi anticipates the next move accurately based on the nature of the previous move. This study of this nature is the soul of taichi.

A raised leg has to be dropped, an extended fist has to be withdrawn, a crouched spine has to stretch, a twisted waist has to uncoil, understand the nature.

Does the hand wait for you to consciously command it?

No. It has it’s nature to guide it. Studying it is studying taichi chuan. Before it enters your conscious awareness your body is already halfway there.

Study it!

if you want something to expand push on it it will swell. if you want it to deplete pull it.

If you want to study it call me on 9845396360

classes at Lalbagh, weekdays 6:30am and at IHA Koramangala, weekends 9:30am

-Ash

I don’t care if you study Uechi ryu or shotokan or kenpo, or whatever, you’re going to need a powerful fist. I don’t care if it is boxing or Krav maga or tae kwon do, you’re going to need a fist that knocks them down the first time! Even if you’re in Aikido or Tai Chi, you’re going to need some kind of real power, or at least know what power is so you can properly handle it.

The funny thing is that a powerful punch is easily attained if you follow a couple of easy steps. You don’t have to bash your hands against a telephone pole. You don’t have to spear your fingers into boxes of sand.

As with most things in this world, once you know the knowledge behind something, that something is easy to understand and do. Thus, the first thing you need to know in developing a killer punch is simple. That one thing you need to understand is…weight.

This universe has only objects flying through space. When objects collide there is the sensation of weight. The more weight involved in the collision, the more effect there is going to be.

You hit somebody, and your fist flies through space and collides. Now, if the body your fist is colliding with weighs 200 pounds, then you are going to have to have a two hundred pound fist. Well, you could multiply the 20 pounds of your fist by ten times the velocity, but there is an easier way.

The easiest way is to get your body behind the punch. Your arm may weigh 20 pounds, but if you can add your legs and your torso and even your head to the equation, you can weigh, especially when you times your weight by velocity, 200 pounds. Heck, if you can get a hundred pounds of body weight into a punch, and then multiple it by a simple ten, you are going to have a thousand pound punch.

First, do lots of push ups, and when your arms get strong, start jumping your push ups into the air. Second, examine your form slowly, looking at the pieces of your body and how to assemble them into one intention. Three, set up a six foot tall box, make it weigh 200 pounds, pad it, and practice shoving it across the floor with your punch.

The funny things is that this method is so simple that everybody overlooks it. And, to be truthful, nobody really understands the importance of gauging weight in the martial arts. But, whether you do tai chi chuan, pa kua chang, Chinese Kenpo, tae kwon do, or any of the forms of classical karate, you need to understand weight, and you need to implement some form of the training method I have detailed here if you want The Most Powerful Punch in The World!

The name of our main website, CloudWater.Com, comes from the Chinese word yun shui. This is the word used for the wandering monks so often depicted in Chinese stories and paintings.

These monks dedicated their lives to developing mindfulness through practices such as meditation, Qigong, and Tai Chi. Because of the high level of mental freedom and detachment they developed, they were called yun shui. Yun shui literally means “cloud-water”, referring to a line in a poem that symbolized this freedom as the ability “to float like clouds, to flow like water.”

In our courses on CloudWater.com, yun shui symbolizes the personal freedom and enlightenment that can be gained from the Chi Development practices. This mental and emotional freedom complements the physical benefits you’ll receive from your practice to create whole body/mind health. Certain “mindfulness” practices aid you in developing “yun shui mind”. These mindfulness practices are designed to give you an unprecedented level of freedom in both mind and body.

Our goal is to make you a “master”, but not in the conventional sense of a “Tai Chi or Qigong master” who is highly accomplished. Instead, we want to make you a master in the sense of “self-mastery” of your own mind and body.

To that end, there is a saying in Zen, another mindfulness tradition that has been a big influence on me. (I was a Zen student for a short while before starting Tai Chi.) And the saying is, “If you meet the Buddha, the Enlightened One, on the road, kill him!”

This outrageous statement is designed to shock Zen students so that they stop looking outside themselves for their enlightenment. Instead, this saying tells the Zen student to look inside themselves. In effect it says, “Dedicate yourself to your practice so that you yourself will become an Enlightened One, and stop projecting to those outside of you what you should be developing inside you!”

And to me, that’s the highest goal of Tai Chi and Qigong – to dedicate yourself to practice to become your own “master”.

X Japan. Quite possibly the most famous name in Jrock and Visual Kei. And with good reason. As far as the world of Visual Kei is concerned, X Japan is The Godfather. Founded in Chiba, Japan, in 1982, originally under the name X, by drummer Hayashi Yoshiki and vocalist “Toshi” (Deyama Toshimitsu), the band shredded the Japanese indie rock scene with their huge glam-rock hair, androgynous glamor, and balladic, whiny, speed-metal sound.

Although the band started in ‘82, founders Yoshiki and Toshi were both attending high-school at the time, and the band didn’t really get going with lives until ‘85, which were performed with support musicians. In 1986 Yoshiki founded the independent record label Extasy Records as a surefire way of releasing music and supporting their dream. By ‘87 the band had completed its first formal lineup, settling in with Hide (Matsumoto Hideto) on guitar, and Sawada Taiji on bass, and “Pata” as a support guitarist.

The band released its debut album, Vanishing Vision, in ‘88 through Extasy Records, and toured extensively throughout Japan. In ‘89 the band made a big break with the ultra-popular album Blue Blood, which incited the release of several singles, including the all-time favorites Kurenai and Endless Rain. In 1991 the band performed for the first time in the prestigious Tokyo Dome.

By ‘92 the band had become so successful not only in Japan, but worldwide, that they were required to adopt the name X Japan in order to distinguish themselves as a separate entity from the American punk band X. In the same year, bassist Taiji was replaced with bassist Heath.

In 1996 the album Dahlia was released– which would mark the end of X Japan as a band. Vocalist Toshi had already decided to leave the band, and without him, X Japan could hardly continue with dignity, so they decided to split up and pursue their solo activities. They performed for the last time on New Year’s Eve at the Tokyo Dome.

hide ~ December 13th, 1964- May 2nd 1998

Guitarist and sometimes-composer of the band, hide (not to be confused with Hyde of L’arc~En~Ciel/Vamps) was a figurehead for X Japan. As the band progressed and developed, the other members steadily let go of the original Visual Kei emphasis in favor of a more casual, straight rock style. The exception to this rule was hide, whose bright pink hair and ultra-flashy style became a trademark fans would, and will, never forget.

Along with his work for X Japan, hide worked on solo projects (and released several albums and singles), including hide with Spread Beaver and Zilch (based in the US).

Like all of the members of X Japan, hide had become, by their disbandment in ‘97, a rock’n'roll icon. Japan was, then, utterly crushed when his sudden death was announced one year after the band broke up. hide was discovered in his Tokyo apartment, hung from the bathroom doorknob by a towel. His funeral was held in Tsukiji Hongan-ji (a Buddhist temple in the Tsukiji district of Tokyo), and was attended by 50,000 people, 60 of which were hospitalized during the event, and 200 of which were tended to in first-aid tents. Three fans died in copy-cat suicides.

There remains some speculation as to whether hide’s death was an accident or a suicide. Members of X Japan commented that they had often utilized a technique involving a towel and a doorknob/handle as a way of relieving back-pain caused by constant use of a guitar-strap. Former bassist Sawada Taiji suggests that hide may have been attempting to implement this technique and, drunk, passed out and gotten tangled up in the towel.

On May 1st 1999, almost exactly a year following hide’s death, a memorial album was released under the title Tribute Spirits. The album featured covers of hide songs by illustrious names such as fellow first-generation Visual Kei bands Luna Sea and BUCK-TICK. A Hide Memorial Summit concert was held at the Ajinomoto Stadium, where many bands, including X Japan, performed hide’s songs.

(Video: At the 2008 Hide Memorial Summit, X Japan performing together with Luna Sea)

But enough history!

These guys rock, and sorting them neatly into the pages of Jrock text-books would be doing their 15 years of rebellion a vast disservice.

Aside from deciding that Visual Kei was to be crazy and image-driven, X Japan had a massive impact on the music and composition styles. Although classified as a speed/power metal and progressive rock band, they made generous use of balladry, piano, and orchestration. Vocalist Toshi supplied unique vocals characterized by a high-pitched, whiny timbre. Several songs, including the all-time-famous ballad Tears (from the album Dahlia) were written with all-English lyrics, and sung boldly by the iconic vocalist.

Many of their songs passed the 10 minute length, climaxing with the album Art of Life, which contained only the title song, running a whopping 29 minutes. (1993. Art of Life was composed and written by Yoshiki, and performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It was only performed live for three audiences.)

In the 15 years that X Japan was active, the band released 5 studio albums, 6 live albums, 10 compilation albums, 19 singles, and 15 video releases.

Links, Further Reading, and Info:

Official Website (Japanese)

Official Website (UK-English)

Yoshiki’s privately owned record label, EXTASY RECORDS (Japanese)

XJapan at MySpace (Japanese)

Yoshiki Official Website (Japanese, English, Chinese [simplified], Korean, Chinese [traditional]/ German, Spanish, French, Italian [news only])

“Yoshikitty” (Yoshiki + Hello Kitty collaboration) Info site (Japanese)

For a full list of member sites and official sites by country/region: go here

‘X Japan’, a fan-site made with dedication, packed with news, information, updates, and anything else you might want to check out related to X Japan.

อ่านหน้าอื่น
X Japan Biography Early Age (ประวัติ ช่วงต้น)
X Japan Biography Middle Age (ประวัติ ช่วงกลาง)
X Japan before Disband (ประวัติ ก่อนแยกวง 96) [CURRENT]

วันเดียวกันนั้น Heath ได้เข้ามาอยู่ใน X Japan อย่างสมบูรณ์ เดือนตุลาคม ออก Live Concert ครั้งแรกของ Heath ให้ชื่อว่า ‘ Extasy Summit ‘ 92 ‘ แล้ววันที่ 21 เดือนนั้นอีกเช่นเคย Toshi ออก Single Made in Heaven เป็นงานเดี่ยวชิ้นแรกของเขา ( เป็นเพลงแนว slow pop อาจจัดเป็น industrial ก็ได้ ) และเดือนต่อมาก็ออก Album ‘ Made in Heaven ‘ อีก ทาง X ก็ออก VDO ” Hametsu – Nimukatte – Visual Shock Vol. 4 ”

ปีต่อมา X ออก VDO Mima – Mumei – Datta, Dakedo..mukei – Datta – Extasy Summit ‘ 92 วันที่ 25 สิงหาคมอีกแล้ว งานของ X ชิ้นแรกที่มี Heath ก็โผล่ออกมา เป็น Single เพลง Art of Life ถ้าสังเกตดูจะ ไม่ค่อยได้ยินเสียง Bass เดือนตุลาคมออก Single Tears แต่ดันติดอันดับ 1 ของผลโวท เดือนพฤศจิกายนออก X Singles Yoshiki เป็นคนเลือกเองว่าจะมีเพลงอะไรบ้าง ซึ่งทุกเพลงยกเว้น Joker เป็นเพลงที่เขาแต่งเอง และเวลาทำ Live ก็เช่นกัน เขามักจะเลือกเพลงที่เขาแต่งมาเล่น จนเพลงของเขาดัง

วันที่ 4 ของเดือนนั้น Pata ก็ออก Single ” Pata ” 2 วันสุดท้ายของสิ้นปี ทำ Live Take ของ X Japan ที่ Tokyo Dome ปี 1994 ไทจิเป็นมือ Bass ของวง Loudness เต็มตัว แต่เขาก็ไม่ชอบอีก วงนี้ชอบเปลี่ยนสมาชิกเรื่อย ๆ อยู่ทุกปี และเป็นที่นิยมของชาวต่างชาติ ทาง Hide ก็ออก Single “DICE” เดือนต่อมาก็ออกอลบัม “HIDE YOUR FACE” เดือนต่อมา Hide ออก Single “TELL ME” เดือนต่อมาอีก Pata ออก Single “PATA’ S BOOTLEG” เดือน 7 วันที่ 10 ออก Single “Rusty Nail” ได้อันดับ 1 ของผลโวท 2 เดือน ต่อมา Pata ออก Single “Fly Away” และ 2 วันก่อนสิ้นปีอีกเช่นเคย มี Live ที่ Tokyo Dome อีกเช่นเคย ชื่อว่า “Blue Night , White Night”

ปี 1995 VDO X’ s Clips ได้ออกพร้อมกับ Single “Hametsu – Ni – Mukatte – 1992.1.7″ ที่เล่นที่ Tokyo Dome ฮิเดะแกก็คิดถึงไทจิอีกแล้ว แกจึงไปตามหาไทจิและได้พบไทจิ ก่อนที่ไทจิจะออกจากวง Loudness วันที่ 21 มกราคม Pata ออก “Single On Me” Heath เอาบ้าง แกก็เลยทำอลบัม “HEATH” ออกในเดือนกุมภาพันธ์ ต่อมาไม่นาน Pata ก็ออก Single “Rised on Rock” วันที่ 1 เดือน 8 X ก็ออก Single “Longing – Togireta Melody” ติดอันดับ 1 เช่นเคย วันที่ 29 พฤศจิกายน เริ่ม Dahlia Tour ข้ามปี เดือนธันวาคมออก Single “Longing – Longing Night” เป็นการ Promote เพลงนี้อย่างรุนแรง ทั้ง 2 วันสุดท้ายของปีนั้น มี Live Take ที่ Tokyo Dome เหมือนเดิม มีการนำเนื้อเพลงนี้มาอ่านเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ ใช้เล่นทุกงาน ทำให้เพลงโด่งดัง

ปีต่อมา เดือนกุมภาพันธ์วันที่ 26 ได้ออก Single “Dahlia” ติดอันดับ 1 อีกแล้ว งานชิ่นนี้ถือเป็นการพัฒนาครั้งยิ่งใหญ่ แต่ยังคงแนวเดิมคือ Melodic Metal วันที่ 22 พฤษภาคม Hide ออก Single “Lemoned” และเดือนต่อมา ฮิเหลก็ออก Single “Misery” วันที่ 8 เดือน 7 Single Forever Love ก็ออก เป็นการเล่นด้วยเปียโนเป็นส่วนใหญ่ ติดอันดับ 1 อีกแล้ว เดือน 8 วันแม่ (ของประเทศไทย) Hide ออก Single “Beauty and Stupid” วันที่ 26 เดือนสิงหาคมมีการออก Single “Crucify My Love” ได้ผลโวทอันดับ 2 Hide ก็ออก ชื่ออลบัม “PSYENCE” เป็นการรวมเพลงของ Single ก่อนหน้านี้ วันที่ 7 เดือนต่อมา Heath ออก Single “Mekyou No Lover” วันที่ 4 เดือนต่อมาออกอลบัม “Dahlia” อีก 4 วันต่อมาออก Single “Scar” อีกแล้ว ” B.O.X. ” ( Best of X ) ออกวางขายที่อเมริกาด้วย ส่วนใหญ่ก็เพลงที่ Yoshiki แต่งอีกนั่นแหละ กลางเดือนฮิเดะออก Single ” HIHO / GOOD-BYE ” และวันสุดท้ายของปีอีกเช่นเคย สถานที่เดิม เมื่อจบการทัวร์ Dahlia ข่าวลือว่า น้องชายของ Toshi ซึ่งเห็นโทษของหัวหน้าวงของ X Japan ว่าเห็นแกเงิน ก็พยายามบอกให้ Toshi ออกจากวง

ปีต่อมา วันที่ 1 มกราคม อีกแล้ว “DAHLIA THE VIDEO – VISUAL SHOCK VOL.5 PART 1″ Heath ออก Single “TRAITOR” และเดือนต่อมานั่นเองได้ทำ “DAHLIA THE VIDEO – VISUAL SHOCK VOL.5 PART 2″ ฮิเดะออก Single “Tune – Up” เมื่อเดือน ตุลาคม ได้ไปหา Live เก่า ๆ มารวมเป็นอลบัม “Live Live Live” ต่อมาก็จบการทัวร์ของ Dahlia ที่ยืดเยื้อมาจากปี 1996 และได้ทำอลบัม “Live Live Live Extra” Toshi ได้ออกอลบัม “Natural High” วันที่ 19 ธันวาคมมี Ballad Collection ออกมา ซึ่งทำให้เราสามารถทราบได้ว่าทำไมในอลบัม Dahlia จึงมี Ballad เยอะมาก ก็แค่ให้อลบัมนี้เต็ม วันเดียวกันนั้นก็ออก Single “Forever Love Last Mix” ใช้กีตาร์แทนเปียโน (และเปลี่ยนมาเป็นคีย์ C) วันที่ 25 ธันวาคม วันแห่งการออกทั้ง Single ทั้ง Album อาทิ “Box Single Box” , “Box Special Box Set”, “Dahlia LP”, “Single – Atlantic Years” วันที่ 31 ธันวาคม ไม่ต้องบอกว่าที่ไหน มีการทำ Last Live ไม่ค่อยสนุกเท่าไหร่

ปี 1998 วันที่ 21 มกราคม Yoshiki ออก Single “The Last Song” และ Live ของเพลง Art of Life เวลาผ่านไป หลังจาก Hide ทำวง Spred Braver ซึ่งมี Pata เป็น temporary guitarist รวมสมาชิก 7 คน ไม่นับ Pata

หลังจากข่าวฮิเดะฆ่าตัวตายในวันที่ 2 พฤษภา ไม่นาน ไทจิจึงปรากฎตัว และแก้ตัวว่าฮิเดะไม่ได้ฆ่าตัวตาย เขามาตั้งกลุ่ม D.T.R. Group ออกแสดงตาม Cafe ตอนกลางคืน

วันที่ 7 เดือน 5 หลังจากการตายของฮิเดะ 5 วัน สมาชิกคนอื่นในวงได้มาร้องเพลง Scars และ Forever Love พร้อมกัน โดยในเพลง Forever Love เป็นบรรเลงเปียโนกับขับร้อง บางข่าวกล่าวว่า ที่จริง X Japan จะกลับมารวมตัวกันตั้งวงใหม่ แต่พอฮิเดะตาย เลยไม่ได้ทำ

ปี 1999 วันที่ 30 เดือนมกราคม Yoshiki ออกอลบัม “X Japan Star Box” วันที่ 24 เดือนกุมภาพันธ์ออก “X Perfect Best” และออก VDO “The Last Live”

ปี 2000 หลังจาก Yoshiki กลับมาจาก America ก็รีบวิ่งมาที่ Tokyo Dome ทำ “The Last Live” เป็นครั้งสุดท้ายซึ่ง Heath กับ Pata มาถึงก่อน ทีแรก Yoshiki คิดว่ามาไม่ทันจึงไม่กะจะมา แต่พอรู้ข่าวว่าไทจิจะมา ก็เลยมาด้วย ไทจิเป็นคนเดียวใน X ที่ได้นำเพลงของ X ที่ตนแต่งไปใช้เป็นเพลงของ D.T.R. Group

ปลายปี 2002 Yoshiki ให้เปิด Website ให้โวทเพลงของ X ที่แฟน ๆ ชอบ และยังมีขายแว่นตา X Japan ซึ่งมีให้เลือกตาม style ของนักดนตรีแต่ละคน

ประวัติข้างต้นเขียนเมื่อ Sw Eden อายุ 15 ปี

ปี 2007 รวมวงใหม่

Questo video di Taiji Chen è divertente ne consigliamo la visione

Title inspired by both Hallowe’en and my latest PT.

But first–last Sunday was a brief, simple bodyweight workout that was basically a 10×3. 10 chin ups, 10 push ups, 10 abs. Rinse and repeat for a total of three cycles, with run-stepping “over the line” (sort of a run in place, but with high-stepping back-and-forth as if over a low wall or log or something) in-between some of the sets. With variations for the type of set (for instance, one set of the chin ups were actually medium grip pull ups, and all were advantage levered by having my feet propped up on a nearby ladder); 20 reverse crunches, etc.

Today’s PT was a return to some straight-up strength work, inspired by the release of Pavel Tsatsouline’s new book, a revamped and expanded Power To The People, called Power To The People Professional. Don’t know if I’ll bother getting this one–we’ll see.

But the ad made me hungry to go back to the ultra-simple “lift rock, set rock down, ugh” technology of the earlier PTTP, which I liked, and has it’s place. Came at the right time, too, because I had already been thinking about adding that component back into the mix.

As a martial artist and fencer, my primary goal is explosive, but lasting strength; combining the ability to keep exploding in lunges or strikes again and again, (whilst keep good form and precision) with the need to be able to subdue and/or lift potentially strong, heavy partners (the aiki in me says “partners” vice “opponents” )–sometimes in slow grinds.

So that’s why I do a lot of “strength-endurance” and “Controlled Fatigue Training.” Such as long sets of kettlebelling, for instance…

But I need to vary it for both adaptation, in keeping a good base level of strength/power, and for keeping a good mental attitude (variety, you see, can be the spice of PT life).

Today ended up being a little bit of an “oops,” ‘coz I mis-underestimated ( ) the weights I planned on using. The main part of the workout was basically a 5 x 3 (reps by sets) rotating deadlifts with kbell side presses. I hadn’t intended to go too heavy because I still don’t have full power or mobility in my left ankle. I must’ve really cranked it when I sprained it. Also–hadn’t done anything heavy in a while, esp deadlifts.

Pre-Fatigue (or the “Neuro-muscular synaptic pre-facilitation phase,” as I like to call it)

5 min, 30 sec “on”/30 sec rest, 2 handed swing kbell (32 kg)

Core (or, “The Workout”)

2 deadlifts, oly bar (353 lbs)
3 deadlifts, oly bar (309 lbs)
5 side presses, each side, kbell (32 kg/72 lbs)

5 deadlifts, oly bar (309 lbs)
5 side presses, each side, kbell (32 kg/72 lbs)

5 deadlifts, oly bar (309 lbs)
5 side presses, each side, kbell (32 kg/72 lbs)

Post-Fatigue

5 kettlebell reaches, each side (32 kg/72 lbs)

Before the deads sets, I would practice a quick version of what in qigong is called “packing”-type breathing. That seemed to pump some instant energy into me.

Certainly for some of you monsters out there, that 353 dead looks pretty pipsqueaky. But keep in mind, I hadn’t trained for it in a while. And I mean a loooooooooong while, and I was intending to be easy on my ankle and foot. I didn’t do any real calculations when setting up, I just started throwing some plates on the bar; “Hey, that looks good.” Didn’t really in the factor of the 45 lb bar weight. I was thinking I’d just hit it somewhere in the 270-280 range to keep it light.

So when I did grab the bar the first time, it seemed a bit heavier than I anticipated (@ 353 lbs it would be), though manageable. I definitely felt it in my lower back after a couple. So, thinking of the better part of valor, I took the two end plates off (22 kg each), and reset. And man–it felt practically light after that! Which is cool. So that’s where I kept it.

This kind of grind workout does feel different than the slam-bang, explosive, strength-endurance that I do. For one thing, although I definitely felt the work, I was barely sweating. The long kbell slams or bodyweight drills usually leave me in a puddle of sweat, and sometimes bring on a titch of nausea. After this, I just felt a little worked, and ready to go do something more than just sit and wait for my world to come back.

Well, all-in-all, it was a good, refreshing workout, and I look forward to some more basic strength work. And in the short term… heading over to the Y and some good steam, etc., followed by breakfast. Another fasting day today; yesterday was of necessity (a story for later perhaps), and today I just worked straight through, no bother to breakfast or lunch.

Cheers.

The truth of Tai Chi is inherent in a symbol that nobody understands. If you read to the end of this article you will understand that symbol, and it will enlighten your practice of the martial arts. I am speaking of that grand terminus, the yin yang symbol.

The Yin Yang symbol is two fishes swimming is night and day is good and evil is…poppycock. The Yin Yang symbol has nothing to do with those poetic but truncated observations possible to our short lived species. The Ying Yang symbol is actually a quite mechanistic approach and empirical observation to our universe.

Everything in the universe is a motor. A motor is defined as tension between two objects. Doesn’t matter whether the tension is push or pull, just that the tension is, and that is what holds our universe together and…keeps it apart.

An atom, with electron and proton, forever chasing and never catching, is a motor. A cell, with potassium and sodium bubbling their happy little lives away, is a motor. And this dichotomous viewpoint of the universe can be extended through all the combined motors, which are called machines, up to the attraction and repulsion of celestial bodies of the most intense and largest magnitude.

When you do Tai Chi you are pulsing energy up the legs, across the generator, and down the legs. Back and forth, alternating current, causing the generator, called the Tan Tien, to bubble its unique energy, called chi. Imagine the generator as a little cup of tea, being swirled, not to slosh, but to be mixed in yin yang motorific fashion, just enough to froth just a bit of steamy chi.

As you do Tai Chi you become aware of the space that your body occupies in space, and awareness hollows out the receptacle for this chi. Eventually the golden elixir, summoned far more efficiently and efficaciously than any ancient alchemist might believe, fills the body, becomes responsive to the wish and desire of the student/philosopher. Good health, strength and endurance, mental clarity, all are the product of a body made to function the way it was designed to be functioned.

Animals do Tai Chi, and wonder why we don’t. Babies are possessed of Tai Chi, and robbed of it through the cultural expectations which accompany the aging process. And, the space of yourself being attained, you know the answer…who you were before you were born, and who you are after you die.

I sell nothing with this article, I only search for friends, and give away my knowledge. Can you have it? Can you have yourself, the eternal you that all love and none see?

Happy happy!
It is just so gorgeous out there…
got to work out.
You know?

Here’s something to think about…
the reverse punch in karate
was designed to go through the lacquered armor
of the japanese samurai.
Not break it,
but go through it.
Leave a hole.
Interesting, eh?

It was pretty successful,
but the secrets have been pretty much lost.

The secret of that punch,
however,
was screwing the feet into the ground,
keeping the hips low,
and generating
power, power, power.

Snap the whole body like a fist.

I always chuckle
when I watch head hunters.
The head is bobbing and moving around.
The body is a bigger,
more fixed target.
And,
the old saying,
kill the body
and the head dies.

I usually call the body the life support system,
and the head the computer,
and,
the life support system is really nothing but a pond of water.
You can cause a big splash
if you think of it this way.

I don’t hit bodies,
I slap bodies of water,
and watch the waves tsunami
through the body.
Gets amusing.
I tell students to place their hands
on the back of a fellow,
then I strike the fellow on the front,
lightly,
but with the intent to move water,
and the students can feel the shock waves on the back.

Be real careful with this one.
It’s too easy to hurt people.
You get an organ between the slap on the front
and the shock on the back,
and you can mess a guy up
pretty easy.
Bodies are so-o-o-o fragile.

Here’s a win…

I found your ad in the dec 09 issue of inside kung fu and it was just what I was looking for! I have always known that it didn’t take as long as 20 years to master a martial art. otherwise in ancient china the arts wouldn’t have been passed on to future generations. You have shown me what I was looking for!

I apologize,
I don’t have the name
of the guy who sent me this one,
but thanks.

And,
no,
it doesn’t take 20 years,
it just takes the right data,
and a little seriosity.
I mean,
give yourself up to the art,
and the art will overwhelm you,
with no delay.

Now,
if you want a good, solid punch,
an elephant squashing fist of dire import,
then go to Monster Martial Arts,

scroll to the bottom,

and click on The Punch!

You know,
I keep forgetting about
The Kick.
but it is here

The Kick

I never wrote the ad for this,
but it is the companion book to The Punch!
You can order it separate,
I don’t know why it is so inexpensive,
but it is,
I should raise the price.
But,
heck,
I have a few extra copies.
Order The Punch! by Friday,
and I’ll throw The Kick in for free.
Three day window.
Take advantage.

Well,
that’s about it.
Except,
check the home page out for a good sale.
And…
here’s an article I wrote.
They are all over the web,
but this one is pretty Matrix,
just google…

The Three Necessary Stages to Immaculate and Perfect Martial Arts!

Should pop up pretty quick.
If it doesn’t,
let me know.

Thanks
guys and gals.
and have yourself a Work Out Day!

Al
=o)

Behind it all is surely an idea so simple, so beautiful, that when we grasp it – in a decade, a century, or a millennium – we will all say to each other, how could it have been otherwise? How could we have been so stupid?
John Archibald Wheeler

In this video, I demonstrate lymphatic pumping in Bear Qigong and in Tai Chi Forward Turn Bow Stance movements.

Sunset over the Vale of Clywd

Croeso i Llandyrnog

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This Blog incorporates Jadevale Tai Chi. All links to businesses, services, events, items for sale/wanted, Llandyrnog Oil Syndicate etc. are provided free of charge.

Disclaimer

The author and publisher of any material on this blog are not responsible in any manner whatsoever for any injury/financial loss or any material loss which may occur through the reading or following of any instructions or guidance.

Special thanks to Anthony Henry, Education Director, East Side Boys and Girls Club. USA for permitting the use and modification of his ‘Pumpkin’ design that Jadevale uses as part of its logo.

© Copyright Bob Hall, Jadevale 2009

Übung 3 – Das Qi durchdringt den Regenbogen – (auch: „das Qi fließt durch den langen Regenbogen“, oder für Frauen: „Die schöne Frau fliegt in den Mond“) – Man „malt“ einen Regenbogen.

Dieses Vorstellungsbild ist hilfreich bei Depressionen.

Die Wirbelsäule macht eine 8-förmige Bewegung, bei der sich alle Gelenke mit bewegen. Diese Übung gleicht Yin und Yang sowie die rechte und linke Körperhälfte aus.

Faustbreiter Stand. Weiche Atmung. Zu Beginn ist die rechte Hand die Yin-Hand und die linke Hand die Yang-Hand. Das untere Dantian ist der Mittelpunkt der Bewegung. (Qihai) Die Beine stehen nahe beieinander. Während der steigenden- und nach hinten fließenden Bewegung einatmen und während der sinkenden, nach vorn zurück kehrenden Bewegung ausatmen. Achten Sie weiter während der Übung auf das Schwingen des ganzen Körpers: tänzerischer Ausdruck. Der Körper und die bewegte Hand kreisen in einer Achter-Bewegung.

Wenn Sie die vorherige Bewegung abschließen, führen Sie Hände und Füße in die Ausgangsposition zurück und die Handkanten (kleinfingerseitig) kreisen während einer Rumpfdrehung nach links an den Seiten des Rumpfes nach oben. Auf Höhe des Brustbeins wird die rechte Handfläche nach vorne geführt, Laogong unten. Die linke Handfläche bewegt sich ebenfalls nach vorne, die Handfläche zeigt jetzt aber nach oben. Die Hand dann etwas weiter vorschieben. Währenddessen sinken Sie tief in die Hocke! Sie holen sich den Schwung aus den Knien. Sie geben sich etwas Schwung, in dem Sie den Bereich zwischen den beiden Punkten der Milz-Leitbahn Yinlingquan (Milz 9) unter dem Knie und Xuehai (Milz 10) über dem Knie leicht drücken. Jetzt schwingt die rechte Hand entlang des Regenbogens. Der Blick folgt. Hinten, unten gehen Sie so tief als möglich in die Hocke. Ab Hüfthöhe kehrt der Blick bereits zurück nach vorn. Wird die rechte Hand hinten, unten zur Yang-Hand, wechselt vorne, oben die linke Hand zur Yin-Hand. Sie sinkt entlang des Dienergefäßes herunter bis zum Punkt Qugu (Dienergefäß 2.) Die rechte Hand steigt empor bis zum Punkt Tiantu (Dienergefäß 22.) Sie richten sich etwas auf. Sie gehen wieder in die Hocke, lassen die Hand leicht sinken und wiederholen dann die Bewegung nach links. Bei der Hand lassen Sie die Handwurzel (Yin) der höchste Punkt sein. Nach hinten und außen einatmen, von unten nach oben kommend ausatmen. Dann die Pause zwischen dem Bewegungsbild.

Vorstellungsbild: Das untere Dantian ist der Mittelpunkt der Bewegung. Die Bewegung selbst kommt aus den Knien, Hüften/Becken und weiter in die Schultern.

Anfangend, fortführend und endend. Die Bewegung nicht nur mit der Hand ausführen. Bei der Kreisbewegung der Arme/Hände können Sie auch an das Bowling denken. Zuerst nur an die Übung denken, später nehmen Sie die Atmung dazu.

Neigong in Bewegung

Using Karate, are you able to crush a coconut just by squeezing it? With Kung Fu, can you take a shoot of bamboo and twist it until it breaks? With Shaolin, can you grab a man by the arm and, with a light squeeze, bring him to his knees?

If you can’t do the things I have just listed, and you study any of the martial arts I have mentioned, or other similar arts, then you should be wondering what is wrong with your martial art. After all, martial artists of other centuries could do these, and other tricks, and make them look simple. That said, let me introduce you to an Iron Grip…they way they used to train.

One would think that an Iron Grip depends upon fantastic muscle, but, there aren’t many muscles in the hands. Truth, the muscles that activate the hands are usually in the forearms. And, yes, you are going to need iron muscles in the forearms.

To begin this method, make sure that your body is in good shape. I would recommend doing Sanchin Kata the old way, with lots of dynamic tension and sinking the weight into the ground. The power of the imagination must be strengthened through this simple discipline.

Now, this exercise is incredibly simple, but must be done every single day, and for long, boring hours. If you want the Iron Grip, you’ve got to be willing to pay the price. So if you are one of these weak willies who think that going to a class makes you an expert, cease and desist.

You must schedule at least an hour a day for this exercise, and you must complete the hour without fail. Second, you must be able to find a certain fascination of intent during that hour. You must fall in love with the long, slow breaths, and you must trust your goal, and the method I am about to prescribe.

Stand in a Sanchin stance and hold two mason jars in front of you. Your arms should be slightly bent, and you should use only the fingertips for gripping. For the first month, hold empty jars, for the second month, add an inch of sand and hold a high horse stance. Add an inch every month after that, and lower the stance until you are in a low horse stance.

And, when you have filled the jar, start again with an empty jar, but in a deep stance, and grease the lip of the jar. Now, some of you think I am kidding, and you are the ones who are going to talk about the mysteries of the art, and never discover them, or fulfill your potential. For those of you who are willing to find the depths of The True Art, and through such simple vehicles as Karate or Kung Fu or Shaolin, I offer this profound article.

Taiji verbessert Gleichgewichtsgefühl nach Schlaganfall

160 Patienten, die mehr als sechs Monate zuvor einen Schlaganfall erlitten hatten, machten 12 Wochen lang entweder Taiji oder allgemeine Übungen. Die Teilnehmer wurden an der Baseline sowie nach 6, 12 und 18 Wochen untersucht. Dabei zeigte die Taiji-Gruppe in allen Balancetests größere Fortschritte als die Kontrollgruppe. Die Wirkung hielt auch noch sechs Wochen nach Beendigung des Taiji-Übens an.
(Short-form Tai Chi Improves Standing Balance of People With Chronic Stroke, Neurorehabil Neural Repair, 1. Juni 2009, 23 (5), 215-22)

Psychophysiologische Wirkung von Qigong

Eine Metastudie gelangte bei der Auswertung 26 veröffentlichter klinischer Studien zu dem Ergebnis, dass Qigong eine positive Wirkung auf die Blutwerte hat (Erhöhung der Zahl der Lymphozyten, Senkung des Cholesternspiegels), auf die Herzfunktion (Erhöhung des Schlagvolumens, Senkung des systolischen und diastolischen Blutdrucks), auf die Lungenfunktion (Erhöhung der exspiratorischen Vitalkapazität und der exspiratorischen Einsekundenkapazität) und auf die Stimmung (Depressionswerte). Die Autoren führen diese Veränderungen auf Stressreduzierung über Nerven-, Endokrin- und Immunsystem zurück.
(Psychophysiological outcomes of health qigong for chronic conditions: a systematic review, Psychophysiology, März 2009, 46 (2), 257-69; online Veröffentlichung am 21. Januar 2009)

Neue Qigongstudien

Eine randomisierte Pilotstudie gelangte zu dem Ergebnis, dass 8 Wochen Qigong bei Personen mit traumatischen Hirnverletzungen im Gegensatz zur Kontrollgruppe Selbstwertgefühl und allgemeine Stimmung verbesserten.
(Exercise intervention in brain injury: a pilot randomized study of Tai Chi Qigong, Clin Rehabil, 1. Juli 2009, 23(7), 589-98)

Spanische Forscher haben festgestellt, dass einmonatiges Qigong-Üben psychologisches Wohlbefinden und die Schlafdauer verbesserten.
(Serum cytokines, mood and sleep after a qigong program: is qigong an effective psychobiological tool? J Health Psychol, Januar 2009, 14(1), 60-67)

Eine Auswertung von Taiji- und Qigong-Studien mit 3799 Patienten über 55 hat ergeben, dass Taiji und Qigong die Körperfunktion verbessern und Blutdruck, Sturzgefahr, Depressionen und Angstgefühle reduzieren können. Die Autoren weisen darauf hin, dass keine der ausgewerteten Studien auf die Frage einging, wie die spirituellen Aspekte von Taiji und Qigong zu erfolgreichem Altern beitragen könnten.
(A review of clinical trials of tai chi and qigong in older adults, West J Nurs Res, März 2009, 31(2), 245-79)

Newsletter der SMS, München – Internationale Gesellschaft für Chinesische Medizin - Newsletter

Monster Newsletter #247–CBM, Matrixing and Mushin!

Happy Halloweenie!
You can take off your mask now.
Heheheh!
Sniffle, snork, snarf!
Ain’t I funny?

I met one of my long time students in a bank.
It was halloween
and some guy was standing in line
with a mask on.
Hmmm.
Needless to say,
a guard came up and asked him to take off his mask.

Makes you think,
eh?

Makes me think that halloween
would be the best day in the world
for robbing banks.

Right?

Anyway,
there are actually three things
that happen in the martial arts.

First is the concept of CBM.
Coordinated Body Motion.
Classical artists say
‘Move the body as one unit,’
but they don’t tell you how,
except in the most general terms.

Done their way it takes three years.
Getting my data and it take a couple of months.

The concept is not hard,
you see.
I mention it often,
show people how to do it.
And,
it works.
A little practice,
and intention starts to move through the body.
Easy squeezy.
You know?

Begin all motion at the same time.
End all motion at the same time.
Figure out proportionate ranges of motions
and energy input for appropriate masses of body.

Sort of like a mathematical formula.
Probably could make one pretty easy.
And I’d do it,
except you can just trust yourself
and be intuitive
and CBM comes pretty fast.

Now,
the second thing is matrixing.
And,
virtually nobody in the history of the world has done matrixing.
Logic just wasn’t wide spread,
so people memorized routines,
tried to get the big picture.

Got a heck of a lot fine and big martial artists,
but it takes them so long,
and then they can’t get anybody to do what they did.
So the myth of DNA starts.
It’s in the blood, man.

Poop.

Intuition can be learned,
you just have to overcome the blank spots in your mind,
you have to matrix,
fill in the pieces of the puzzle,
make sense out of the thing,
then…
whamo bamo,
you have instant ability.

Now,
interestingly enough,
the third thing has been achieved,
but not by many,
almost by accident,
and
in spite of the fact
that they had no matrixing.

That,
alone,
is testament to the magnitude and quality
of the martial artists of planet earth.

The third thing is usually referred to Mushin no shin
in the japanese.

Mind of no mind.

Simply,
the fellow has jumped out of his mind,
is responding in the now,
with no distractions
or hesitations,
or mistakes.

I sometimes call it
Time of No Time.

Simply,
something happens in a combat situation
you sort of jump out of your body a little
and let’s say a fist is moving faster than the eye can see,
faster than the mind can register,
but…
you see it.
You see it,
and it can even be slow,
but there is no lapsing of perception,
no moments when you can’t see it,
and,
further,
you track it and handle it without effort.

Believe me,
if you efforted,
you aren’t in Mushin no shin
Time of no time
mind of no mind
and in the now.

Now,
matrixing opens the door instantly
to the potential of Mind of No Mind.
No blank spots
to interfere with your perception.

But,
it still takes discipline.

A guy with lots of martial arts
and lots of data aligns
and the picture that suddenly makes sense,
it quite large
and encompassing.
And,
he hits Mushin no shin
like a fng freight train,
absorbs it
and…
WOW!

Now,
a guy with little experience
lacks sufficient data,
and when the pieces are assembled
and the puzzle revealed
and the now presented
and the picture isn’t big enough.

Most of these fellows
don’t think badly of me,
and maybe they understand
deep down in their souls
how easy the martial arts are going to be
and how different they are going to be,
but they lack the data
and therefore the comprehension
of what has happened.

The really odd thing
is going to be when everybody in the world
is matrixing.

And,
believe me,
it will happen.
People learn by osmosis.
Enough people start matrixing,
and the others will pick up on it,
and then,
people will wonder what it was like
to have reaction time
and to be in mystery
as to what technique they are going to use,
and,
totally unappreciative
of how intuition protects them,
and how the art develops intuition and therefore
the art protects them.

Now,
one last thing,
how much matrixing does a fellow need
for it to blast off in his mind?
I find that an intriguing question.
Everybody is different
with different experiences
and the answer is going to be different
for everybody.

But,
maybe a fellow has a realization on Matrix Karate.
Another guy is going to have to
do every course I have,
and then ask for help.

Generally speaking
most people realize
in accordance with the amount
of accumulated martial knowledge they have.

Still,
it is a crap shoot.
Depends on your mind
and its willingness to accept
the fact that the ‘software’ I propose
is so smooth and easy to absorb.

Still,
I would guess that one to four courses
is the norm.

That sort of fits
with the data I get
from people who order the courses.
Still…
no guarantees,
except for one.

Matrixing has never been on this planet.
Not even the Boolean figurers
had an idea
where I would go with this stuff.

Anyway,
CBM,
Matrixing
Mind of No Mind…

Look at the price I charge
and know that it is a gift.

And,
know something else…
that I hope you have sufficient martial arts
that you can fend off the ghosts and goblins
you try to throw you down
and steal from your sack of sweets
this weekend.

Happy Halloween,
my friends.
Boo.

Al

BIG SALE!
GO TO HOME PAGE AND SEE!

=o)

Humor is reason gone mad.
Groucho Marx

Jos ajattelet että et ansaitse hyvä asioita elämääsi, kuten rakkaus, onnellisuus, menestys tai yltäkylläisyys, ne tosiaan karkaavatkin käsistäsi. Itsensä rakastaminen tarkoittaa myös itsensä sekä kehon että mielen kunnioittamista. Jos sinä et kunnioita itseäsi vaan annat itsesi rapistua niin mieleltäsi kuin ruumiiltasi, minkä kuvan annat itsellesi ja muille. Käännä kelkkasi. 

Kirjoita lista kaikista niistä asioista, joista et pidä itsessäsi. Kun olet listan kirjoittanut heitä se pois tai polta se. Seuraavaksi kirjoitat listan kaikista niistä asioista, joista pidät itsessäsi ja kun olet kirjoittanut sen listan. Sanot joka päivän listalla olevat asiat itsellesi ääneen. Aina kun keksit uusia asioita, joista pidät lisäät ne listalle. Voit sanoa näitä asioita itsellesi kun kävelet tai hölkkäät tai kun katsot itseäsi peiliin ja kampaat hiuksiasi.

Ajattele aina että ansaitset parasta mitä elämä voi sinulle tarjota. Tarjoa parasta myös mielellesi ja ruumiillesi. Aloita karsimalla paheitasi samoin kuin karsit negatiivisia ajatuksia itsestäsi. Aloita uusi liikuntaharrastus, joka muokkaa sekä kehoa että mieltä (taichi, jooga, chigong). Ravitse kehosi hyvällä terveellisellä ruualla, hedelmillä, vihanneksilla ja marjoilla.

Human beings do not sustain life by the simple intake of water and food, and breathing alone. It is important to have a strong flow of energy within the body. Developing Chi energy is an ongoing process of creating a balance between the Yin and Yang energies within our being. In order to absorb and integrate the universal energy outside we must learn to integrate and strengthen the fundamental life force within our body.

So what exactly is Chi (also known as Ch’i or Che or Qi) energy. The human body houses 12 energetic channels or pathways wherein Chi flows. These channels are known as “meridians” and control both our gross and subtle anatomy. This subtle energetic body represents the whole of who we are — our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Each meridian is associated with one of the Five Elements and connects to a Yin or Yang organ of the body linking our states of consciousness.

 Good health is living and being in balance with all aspects of our internal world – the body, mind, emotions and spirit so that we may be in balance and have a good relationship with all aspects of the external world. Chi applies to the human body in 2 ways; inherited Chi and acquired Chi. Inherited Chi is the energy we receive from our parents at the time of conception. Acquired Chi is the energy accumulated by the quality of life we choose to lead, with the food and the air ingested.

In order to obtain this better quality of life you desire – you need a high-octane Chi/Qinong training course. Then the new to market ‘Chi Power INNER CIRCLE’ is for you!. In fact, this powerful Qigong system is one of the best kept secrets with regards to learning how to maximize your ability to develop and control your chi energy Unlike most systems which teach a linear style of Qigong, Chi Power Inner Circle training teaches the concept of circuling the Chi to dynamic results that other Qigong practices wish they could get. This curriculum is the finest Chi Power Training program on the market, and is guaranteed to teach you how to become more energized and create more vitality in your life.

This program is a multifaceted curriculum of highly effective and advanced methods via videos, manuals and mp3 audio files, with exercises and meditations from some of the most esoteric schools of energy development in the world. Many of the techniques you will learn are not known outside of the instructors and students: Benefit from the following:

• How to increase the Size and Strength of the nerve fibres.
• Why most Qigong programs are ineffective & how after this unique system, your Chi will be more developed than 90% of the instructors out there.
• How YOU can Evolve and learn how to develop your Chi body by simply applying these easy to learn techniques.
• How our students excel, while most other Qigong students (and Teachers) are stuck in traditional systems that rarely get the results they should.

Plus…………Many, many more interesting techniques, concepts and exercises that will allow you to supercharge your energy like a dynamo….. Daily.

To see a complete and detailed breakdown of the full course, selected case studies, and testimonials along with bonus videos – then put yourself in the hands of the ‘Chi Power INNER CIRCLE’. Experience it for yourself. Live it for yourself. Welcome to a world that will open your eyes to new amazing possibilities and sensations you thought were never possible, that will help you in the every day to day living stresses of your daily life.

Hier nun ein kleiner Hausartikel für Volkshochschulkurse. Bei Gelegenheit vielleicht mehr über die Qigong-Klinik Beidaihe. Für InteressentInnen an Liu Yafei sei tief das folgende Buch empfohlen: “Innen Nährendes Qigong – Neiyanggong”, (Urban&Fischer).

VHS Hagen

Das Neiyanggong (Innen Nährendes Qigong) ist ein seit 50 Jahren in der staatlichen Qigong-Klinik Beidaihe (Gründer Liu Guizhen, die Tochter ist Liu Yafei) klinisch erprobtes Modell zur medizinischen Anwendung von Qigong. Es dient der Prävention und Behandlung chronischer Krankheiten und von Wirbelsäulenproblemen.

Das Neiyang Gong besteht aus stillen und bewegten Formen und wurde von Liu Guizhen zu therapeutischen Zwecken aus traditionellen Qigong-Übungen der Ming-Zeit weiterentwickelt. Es zeichnet sich durch spezielle Atemtechniken aus. Eine Besonderheit liegt in der intensiven Bewegung der Wirbelsäule.

Holly de Bruyn Ouboter (PTCH) führt an anderer Stelle aus: „Diese Methode des stillen Qigong ist 500 Jahre alt und stammt aus der Ming-Dynastie (1368-1644) und wurde stets nur mündlich überliefert. Nach 1949 wurde diese Art des Qigong populär. Liu Guizhen entwickelte die Methode neu. Das Innen Nährende Qigong wird bei allen Störungen des Verdauungstraktes angewandt, außerdem bei Geschwüren (Ulcera), Magenschleimhautentzündung (Gastritis), Darmentzündung (Colitis), Leberentzündung (Hepatitis), bei Leberzirrhose, Herzkrankheiten, Anämien, Diabetes mellitus (Zuckerkrankheit), Bluthochdruckerkrankungen. Reguliert werden muss bei allen diesen Erkrankungen der Geist, die Atmung, der Körper und die Ernährung“.

Yi Jin Xing Qi Fa - Die Leitbahnen (Akupunkturpunkte) öffnen, durchlässig machen, um Qi anzuregen. die innere bewegte Form.

Es geht um körperliche Bewegungen, um den Ausgleich zwischen Yin und Yang: Yi, Zeichen von Sonne und Mond. Es geht um das Wechselspiel zwischen diesen beiden. Jin, das sind die Sehnen, Muskeln und Gelenke. Yi Jin, Qi und Blut (Xue) werden im Körper stimuliert. Xing, die (fünf) Wandlungsphasen.

• Klares Qi steigen lassen – Trübes Qi in die Erde führen
• Im Liegen den Sternenhimmel ansehen
• Das Qi durchdringt den Regenbogen
• Den Kahn gegen den Strom schieben
• Der riesige Drache taucht ins Meer
• Der innere Kreis von Himmel und Erde

Der Körper, besonders die Wirbelsäule wird (spiralig) bewegt, geführt. Die oberen und unteren Extremitäten werden trainiert. Regulierung des Qi, besonders das Atmungs-Qi. Alle übungen dieser Reihe als PDF: Neigong in Bewegung

taichi and bliss

Enthusiasm is what makes bunnies want to mate and flowers want to bloom. It’s the natural motivational energy of the universe that flows in all things. Enthusiasm drives smooth metamorphosis. Not just in insects but also in humans. It looks forward to becoming the new.

enthu bunny

Etymologically, enthusiasm comes from the greek words for “filled with god” it can only mean filled with the creative energy of the universe.

blissed out

People who are enthusiastic don’t whine, instead they are blissed out.

I’ve been practicing neijingong and taichi chuan for a long time now. If you can keep your chi levels up you simply forget how to despair!

Instead you learn that the breath focuses the mind and the mind guides the chi. Which is really the chinese word for enthusiasm!

enthusiasm

come over and do a taichi trial and learn how to bliss out with enthusiasm!

Ashwin 9845396360. Call for a free trial.

O nome Tai Chi teve as suas primeiras aparições no “Livro das Mutações” durante a Dinastia Zhou. Tai Chi significa supremacia, poder absoluto, medidas extremas e qualidade de ser único no género. O Tai Chi Chuan tem o seu nome pela superioridade implicada. Tai Chi Chuan assume o seu nome quando em Shanxi um secular mestre de Wushu Wang Zogyue utilizou a filosofia do positivo e negativo retirado do “Livro das Mutações” para explicar os princípios do Boxe da Sombra.

Existem várias opiniões quanto à origem do Tai Chi Chuan. Alguns pesquisadores pensam que foi criado por Zhang Sanfeng da Dinastia Song (961-1279) enquanto que outros outros acreditam que foi criado por Han Gonyue e Cheng Lingxi durante a Dinastia Liang (502-557). Em vez disso outros dizem que foi criado por Xu Xuanping ou Li Daozi ambos da Dinastia Tang (618-907). Por enquanto, todas estas proposições não podem ser provadas através de registos históricos autênticos. De acordo com a pesquisa do historiadors de Wushu Tang Hao, o Tai Chi Chuan foi primeiramente exercido e praticado pelos membros da família Chen no Vale Chenjia que está localizado no Distrito de Wenxian na Província de Henan. O primeiro coreógrafo do Punho da Sombra foi Chen Wangting que a nivel escolar e marcial foi um grande artista. Chen combinou o seu conhecimento em antigos exercícios psicológicos; a filosofia do positivo e negativo escrito no “Livro das Mutações” e a Teoria Médica Chinesa das passagens e canais sanguíneos, circulação do ar e energia dentro do corpo humano com os exercícios e práticas do Wushu. Ele absorveu os mais fortes pontos das escolas e estilos de artes marciais da Dinastia Ming, especialmente os 32 movimentos do estilo Qi Jiguang Chuan (derivado do Punho Comprido), para formar a escola do Tai Chi Chuan.

Depois de anos de disseminação, muitos estilos de Tai Chuan foram criados. Os mais populares e difundidos são os seguintes cinco estilos:

1. Estilo Chen, criado por Chen Changxing e Chang Youben -Tai Chi Chen.
2. Estilo Yang, creado por Yang Luchan (1800- 1873) – Tai Chi Yang.
3. Estilo Wu, criado por Quan You (1834-1902) – Tai Chi Wu.
4. Estilo Wu Yuxiang, criado por Wu Yuxiang (1812-1880) – Tai Chi Wu Yuxiang.
5. Estilo Sun, criado por Sun Lutang (1861-1932) – Tai Chi Sun.

Sifu

While MMA is popular, there are problems with it. Let’s be honest, while some fellow is using Jujitsu, he is rolling around and vulnerable to an attack from his opponents friends. Not to mention that it is not always the most intelligent thing to roll around on the ground with some fellow who has a knife or broken bottle.

I know I have offended some stylists out there, but these are questions that you cannot run away from. After all, the ring looks ferocious, but biting is a problem on the street. And getting your fingers broken or your eyes gouged is always a possibility if you are trying to do some Brazilian Jujitsu on some fool.

No, it is better to keep a distance, be able to evade, manipulate, and even run. Yes, you have to watch what kind of a surface you are on, but mobility in warfare is extremely important. And talking mobility, we are talking something like Shotokan, or Shorin Ryu, or Kenpo.

The problem is that people have bought into the idea that it takes decades, a life time, to learn good Kung Fu, like Shaolin or Mantis. But it doesn’t. All you have to do is find a system which understands the most important principles and concentrates on those principles.

We are not talking Jeet Kune Do here, because we don’t want a grab bag of sample all and take what you need. What we want are the actual core concepts of the art. We want the truth of such arts as Hung Gar or Choy Li Fut.

The best way to do this is to learn how to Matrix your martial art. When you matrix your martial art, be it Wado or Krav Maga, it suddenly makes sense. And, making sense, it will suddenly be ten times easier to learn.

And here’s something most people don’t understand, logic leads to prediction to intuition. Those sixth sense abilities of the martial arts are hard to find, but they don’t need to be. Once you start matrixing your martial arts, and I don’t care if it is tae kwon do or one of the Korean Kwans, your sixth sense abilities, your ability to understand and produce such things as chi kung, sometimes called gi gong, will start to blossom.

Really, what we are talking about here is bringing the martial arts into modern times. We are talking about evolution when we are talking about matrix martial arts. So, you can flog that mule, or you can ride the race horse that is Matrixing.

It’s about time I had a post that was a little more light-hearted… I have been studying Chinese internal martial arts on and off for around fifteen years now. I’ve trained in the Yang 85 tai chi form, Hun Yuan tai chi, Wu Dao Gong kung fu, Zi Ran Men kung fu, Nam Pai Chuan kung fu (with a Japanese club!), Bagua Zhang, Xing Yi and Liu He Tanglang Praying Mantis. I’ve practiced anywhere from one day to five days per week, but it’s a lifetime journey; there are some areas I feel quite proficient in, whilst others not even close.

I’m not on my way to being a kung fu master; this kind of person dedicates their whole lives to the art; every waking moment is spent in training. I am a typical Westerner practicing in my spare time for health and self-defence purposes; around Australia, doing kung fu doesn’t often pay the bills, and so we have to work most of our days. Doing martial arts has ironically made me a more peaceful person, and it’s been great fun as well as good for my health and confidence.

I’ve been fortunate to have a few very good teachers. Here are some videos of a few people I’ve been lucky enough to train under, or of forms/styles I’ve learned:

Here’s an old video of my Zi Ran Men teacher Liu Deming on a China trip.

This is Han Yanwu doing Bagua Zhang training; he came to Melbourne from Beijing a while back to help us out.

Grandmaster Fu Zhongwen doing the Yang 85 form

My Canberra teachers Brett Wagland and Fontaine Ip doing Hun Yuan tai chi

Some of our Zi Ran Men training drills here in Melbourne, Australia

This is how we sparred in the Nam Pai Chuan school over in Wakayama City, Japan

Have you ever trained in martial arts? How has the experience been for you?

The director of an eco-documentary about dolphins has offered to donate the Japanese profits of the project to the same people he exposed in the film – but only if they stop hunting the marine mammals. Filmmaker and activist Louie Psihoyos hopes that this will help encourage the hunters to abandon their now infamous dolphin trade, Associated Press reports.

Psihoyos teamed up with other activists, filmmakers, explorers, divers and adrenalin junkies to create a covert feature-length documentary about an annual hunting event in the town of Taiji. The film, called The Cove, exposes the cruel and unsustainable hunting practices of the local fishermen as they capture thousands of dolphins using drive-fishing methods and a natural cove along their coast.

The director was back in Japan for the screening of the movie at the Tokyo Film Festival amid strong opposition from Taiji locals. The last minute decision to show the documentary came after intense international pressure from conservationists and filmmakers, the Guardian reports.

Despite reservations from the organisers, the film sold out and became a highlight of the festival. According to Associated Press, however, coverage from the local media remains restrained due to concerns of a backlash.

The Japanese government has been quick to defend the dolphin hunt as part of their unique culture. “People in different countries eat all kinds of things, depending on their culture. I’d like people to understand that cultures are diverse,” says Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

A spokesman from the Japanese foreign ministry also added: “Please remember that only a very small number of Japanese people catch and eat dolphins.”

Psihoyos believes that most people in Japan will oppose dolphin hunting if the issue became more prominent in the social consciousness. “This is not an animal rights film. This is a people’s rights film for the Japanese people. Once the Japanese people see this film, I think they will shut down the cove,” he explains.

He also added: “If we can get the film out to the Japanese people, I think it will be a huge victory for the Japanese people.”

The film has already been released in countries like Australia, Germany, Singapore and the UK. It has also been shown in various international film festivals in Ireland, Italy, and the US. Producers are still awaiting a decision regarding a general release in Japan.

Psihoyos, a respected photographer and co-founder of the Ocean Conservation Society, was inspired into action by a dolphin trainer-turned-activist Ric O’Barry, who used to work for the popular TV series Flipper.

O’Barry had a change of heart when one of the five dolphins he trained for the show committed a form of suicide in his arms. He has been campaigning to save dolphins ever since.

Dolphins are sociable and intelligent creatures. They have a long history of showing compassion for humans, often saving lives in times of maritime trouble.

Despite an international whaling ban, thousands of dolphins are still caught in Japan for the purposes of food and entertainment. Hunting these gentle mammals remains legal in the country because they are too small to be considered as ‘whale’.

Approximately 23,000 dolphins are killed each year in Japan, and over fifty percent of those chosen for entertainment also die within two years of captivity. The annual hunt in Taiji alone attracts an estimated 2,000 dolphins every season.

Psihoyos hopes that his film raise international awareness and ultimately stop dolphin hunting in the twenty-first century. He concludes: “I think it’s going to be a huge win for the dolphins. Those are my real clients.”

Written for EMMA Interactive
by Patrick Camara Ropeta
October 2009

I’m doing another free distant energy healing session for everyone on my email list and all their friends, families, and anyone else who reads this. The main healing session will be onSunday Nov. 8, 2009 from 7-8pm Pacific Time or California Time (10-11pm EST).

You can join this free distant energy healing session by using your intention to be included. If you wish to join, just close your eyes for a minute when you read this and mentally say that you intend to join the session and want to be included. That is all you have to do to connect with the energy and you don’t have to do anything else. Healing energy can begin to flow to you once you do this as many people who have done this before have reported. I’ll be doing unscheduled energy adjustments leading up to the 11/8 main session and you can receive a lot of healing energy before the main session on Sun. 11/8.

You can include other people by following the instructions later in this email.

For those who want to know more about this work you can read my website www.QigongEnergyHealing.com . I was the past Secretary of the International Tibetan Qigong Association and found I had a gift for distant energy healing after recovering from a serious spinal cord injury.

This is not a telephone or Internet session. All you do is just relax and sit or lie down during the session and pay attention to what is happening in your body. Because there will be many people in the session, I please ask that you don’t email or call to join. I wouldn’t be able to handle all the email unless it is done this way. You join simply by using your intention after reading this email. Also because this will be a big group I won’t be able to answer questions before the session and I’ll give the details you will need in this email. Please feel free to email me your experiences after the session is over.

Besides the main healing session I’ll be doing regular unscheduled energy adjustments leading up to Nov. 8 for those who intend to join before the main session. People can begin to notice effects of the energy adjustments soon after intending to join. Sensitive people can feel the effects of this adjustment period strongly before the main session. Here are comments from people who felt the energy working soon after intending to join.

“This is my first experience with this type of healing and I was skeptical. I am sensitive and from the time I joined I have felt this flow of energy and coolness. It’s quite interesting.”

Hi, “just the minute i intended to take part, while reading the e-mail, i could feel the energy! i felt waves and waves of energy. thanks so much for sharing this blessing with us!” anna

M: “I just joined for the session and soon I started to feel tingling sensations in my upper arms and my legs. And when I set back in the chair, it encompassed my entire body.” Linda

Michael, “Shortly after I signed up, I started to feel some tingling sensation around my feet. The vibration got stronger and started to work its way up into my ankles, calves and thighs. And now 24 hours later, I’m still feeling the effects of it. If this is what you call unscheduled intermittent adjustments WOW. I can’t wait for the main session to start. Thank you very much” Verna

This is not a telephone or Internet session. To receive the energy you just sit or lie down and relax on Sunday Nov. 8 from 7-8 PM Pacific or Los Angeles, California Time (10-11pm EST) and receive the energy. Even if you have to be active during the session you can still receive great benefit. If you live in a different country you can convert the time on the Internet by searching for a World Time Clock. The USA is going off Daylight Savings time on 11/1 so if you are in foreign country you may want to check for the proper time after 11/1.

The energy works on many levels, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Even though this is a group healing session, the energy will work with everyone individually. The energy is intelligent and knows best how to work with your energy system. The energy infuses light and energy into your energy field and can clear and balance the chakras, acupuncture meridians and other energetic channels. The energy won’t get dissipated with a large group and can even get stronger with more people. Distance isn’t a problem and you can receive this energy anywhere in the world.

I ask for your help and please forward this to anyone you think may be interested. Anyone can join even if they haven’t done this work before. It’s easier to forward this email by clicking the forward button in your email program than use the link at the bottom of the page. You can post this wherever you think it would be helpful, message boards, blogs, Facebook and other social websites, chat rooms, twitter, etc.. If you want to just post a url instead of the whole message then here is a url to my blog that gives all the information about the free session. www.mohoric.wordpress.com

You can help many people by forwarding this email. Because we are in a time of major transformation predicted by many different ancient cultures, it is easier than ever to transform negative beliefs and energy patterns.

Many spiritual traditions teach that we are all connected and now some Quantum Physicists are saying the same thing. These ancient teachings often mention the most important thing we can do is help others. When we help others we are also helping ourselves because we are all connected.

In Chaos Theory there is a term called the butterfly effect. This term is used to suggest that small actions or variations in a system can affect giant and complex systems. It suggests that possibly a butterfly flapping it’s wings in one part of the world over time could create a tornado in another part of the world or change it’s direction. If you send this email to others we don’t know how it will affect the bigger picture. You could send it to your friends and they could send it to their friends and it could affect hundreds of people or many people could read it on a message board.

I’m only a conduit for the energy and not the source and give all credit to the Universe, Divine, Spirit or whatever term one may want to use. The energy helps people to adjust their energy field so they can heal themselves. I believe all healing is self healing. I’m very grateful for this gift and happy to share it.

I liken what I do to the transmitting antenna of a radio station. I’m not the source of the energy and just transmit the universal energy and frequencies. When you use your intention to join the session it is like a radio tuning into a radio station. When you post and email this to your friends then you are transmitting the healing energy to them. We will all be broadcasting healing energy to many thousands of people all around the planet.

A few other people wrote these comments after sessions.

Maureen Moss is the Executive Producer and host of World Puja Network, which is one of the oldest and largest holistic global Internet programs. She is the author of several books and wrote this about Michael’s work; “The power of his work has continuously astounded me and shifted me! Michael Mohoric is one of the best energy healers I have ever had the pleasure of working with in my life… Michael is a Master Conductor of Energy!”

Sandy Johnson, is the author of “Mystics & Healers, Travels Into The World of Mystics, Shamans, & Miracle Makers”, a book about healers with unusual abilities including John of God. She wrote this about this energy work after the book was published; “Even with all my exposure to healers of all types, this work leaves me amazed.”

Ingrid Bacci has authored best-selling books, CD’s and DVD’s on self-healing and is a respected healer. She is a former professor and graduate of Harvard and Columbia Universities. Ingrid wrote the following about this work.

Hello Michael: “I want to thank you from my heart for the session Wednesday, the first I have experienced with you. As a ‘healer’, or facilitator of energy flow from the Universe, I recognized immediately the purity and effectiveness of your work. Before the session started, on Wednesday morning, I could feel some old emotional toxins come up and then clear. During the session itself, I felt first some ‘kriya’ spasms, then very strong images of gushing blue water, and then felt the energy working to open up my entire cranium and rebalance me at a deeper level in that area. I am well aware that the more ‘open’ our system, the more energy we can both receive and transmit, and your work felt truly profound. I also found the work very ‘instructive’ in the sense of guiding me to where I need to work within myself to receive at deeper levels, and a higher energy for helping others heal. Feel free to share these comments if you like. I look forward to working together more with you. Blessings, light, and many thanks,” Ingrid Bacci

You can print this out and mail it to friends who don’t have email to join the session. You can also read this to people over the phone if they don’t have email and they’ll get the energy when they use their intention to join.

For those in foreign countries you can translate this into your native language and send it to your friends to include them. Just try and stay as close and true as you can to the meaning of this email. You can leave out the testimonials in your translation.

How to Include Others

If you want to include other family members living at home in the session then just write their names on a piece of paper and put “Energy Healing” at the top of the page. Leave the paper out in the open on a counter or desk. Please don’t send me their names in an additional email. You need to get other adult’s permission to be included (don’t tell me). You don’t need to get your children’s permission. Anyone else outside your home will have to join by reading this email and using their intention to join. You can also include your pets by putting their names on the paper. Animals love the energy and respond very positively.

This isn’t a phone session. You can be anywhere and receive the energy. Your intent to join is the connection. You could be in your car or on a plane and still receive the energy. It’s best to try and be quiet during the session on Sun. 11/8 and just notice what is happening in your body. You can sit or lie down. You can still be active and get good results during the session but optimal results are obtained by being quiet during the session. It’s ok to sleep during the session. It’s helpful to not bathe right after the session, wait until the next morning. Try to avoid cold drinks the night of the main session. It’s also good to take it easy the next day after the session and if you exercise do it very moderately. It’s best to use the energy for healing and not for a lot of activity. The energy can continue to work in your body several days or more after the session.

I like to hear from people after the session so please feel free to email me your experience and I may have some feedback for you.

If you are not on my email list and would like to receive notices about other free sessions and my monthly newsletter then you can sign up through my website. www.QigongEnergyHealing.com

Don’t subscribe with the link at the bottom of this email. You don’t have to sign up to be on my email list to receive the energy. I send monthly notices when I start new monthly sessions and I also do these free sessions about every two months. Once I’ve worked with someone I will then be able to send them energy in case they are ever caught in a disaster area to help them cope with the situation.

If after the session you would like to do more work with me then you can sign up through my website. I offer a monthly healing program for $99.

There is no set time for the unscheduled adjustments before the main session on Sunday11/8/09 and you can receive this energy at any time. The unscheduled adjustments before the session can be a very powerful time. You may notice many things before, during and after the session. Some people may feel peaceful, energized, centered, balanced and sleep better. Others may be more emotional, restless and lethargic as they detoxify, which is very good. There can be a lot of purification happening on many levels during this time, emotional, mental and physical.

Before and during the session people can feel different energy sensations working in their body. Some of these feelings can be tingling, electrical, vibrating, heat, coolness, cold, pressure, lightness and other things. If you feel very cold then this is a sign that old stagnant energy is leaving your system. Try to stay warm if you feel very cold.

It is ok if you have to be active during the session. Many people have to work or take care of their families during this time. It can still be very beneficial if you aren’t able to be quiet. It reduces the effects some but a lot of energy can still get in. You can also sleep during the session. This is good way to receive the energy because you will be relaxed.

Try not to work on anything during the session, just be receptive and let the energy do it’s work. The energy knows where to work where it is most needed in your system. I’ve worked with thousands of people this way and get many reports from surprised people when the energy often finds their blockages even though they haven’t told me their symptoms.

Usually a great majority of people will have very positive results from the session. Some people are more sensitive and can feel a lot of energy moving in their body. Others may not feel the energy but will notice good effects. Before and after the sessions people can feel calm, centered, energized and balanced. They can also feel their pain greatly reduced or eliminated. Like any modality this won’t work for everyone but most people see great results.

Don’t worry if you feel odd pains come and go leading up to the main session. This is good. As the energy clears the blockage in an area it can result in temporary pain. Also people can feel extra emotional during this time, which is also very good. From a Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medical perspective much dis-ease is caused by emotional repression. The energy from these repressed emotions get stored in the organs and tissues of the body. The energy from the sessions can help to release these stored emotions. When we release repressed emotions then we can bring about deep healing. It takes a lot of energy to hold down the emotions and when they are released we can have much more energy available to us.

Sometimes people can have very beautiful and peaceful dreams during the sessions. Others can have some strange dreams. This is also beneficial. The sessions can help people to release old negative energy. The energy works like a virus detection program on a computer and can remove and cancel negative energy patterns, beliefs and programming. Some people will notice that some of their old negative ways of thinking will simply be gone and sometimes addictions fall away. Don’t worry if you have scary dreams during the sessions. As one releases old repressed fear out of their energy system then the mind can give it a symbol. The symbols and fear are coming from your own mind. The energy work is not causing anything, only helping to release old stuck energy and emotions.

The energy helps to purify, cleanse and detoxify the body and mind. As the energy works through the energy blockages it can cause toxins to be released that are stored in the area. Some people may feel achy or tired at times leading up to the session. This is good and very, very helpful in the healing process. Tiredness is a sign that the body is using most of it’s energy for healing. Many modalities recognize the positive effects from detoxification. You may also find that you have to go to the bathroom more as you release toxins. During the purification process your organs of elimination will be energetically supported to help them release the toxins. I have done this process with thousands of people and the energy always works for people’s highest good. If you don’t feel good some of the time, try and hold the thought that you are healing.

The time leading up to and a little while after the main energy session can be a little bit like a roller coaster ride. You can feel very energized one day and then tired the next day as you release more toxins. Just realize that every time you don’t feel good that it is a powerful time for healing and that you are raising the vibration of your energy system.

You can join me on Facebook. www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Mohoric/1320542807

I am very grateful for this opportunity to work with everyone.
Michael

Disclaimer: I, Michael Mohoric, am not a medical doctor and do not practice medicine. I don’t diagnose, heal, cure or treat disease. I recommend people continue to see their medical doctors and follow their advice. My work is a complement to conventional medicine. This spiritual energy work is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment of any kind, physical or psychological. For such issues you should seek the proper licensed physician or health care professional. This energy work may help the bio-field to come into energetic balance. Qigong theory believes when one’s energy field is in balance, the body’s latent healing ability can heal itself. I make no promises or guarantees about the results of this work.

Here’s a question I should probably not address. After all, as a fellow who sells instructional DVDs on the martial arts, I should be trying to sell you large amounts of everything, right? Because I prefer satisfied customers over confused customers, let me answer this question.

The truth is that you don’t need much, when it comes to martial arts. The truth of the matter is that when a fight starts you only need a few techniques that are going to work. And, sad truth of the matter, most of the martial arts being taught these days are pretty much filled with filler.

Karate, such as Shotokan, Uechi or Shito ryu, has dozens of forms, hundreds of techniques, fancy ways of taking apart an attacker, yet, all you need are the five or six that work. You need to isolate the five or six techniques that suit your mind and body, and then work them until they are second nature. There’s where the true discipline of the martial arts is, in spending the long lonely hours working just the important stuff until it works…every time.

Kung Fu, such as Shaolin, has amazing routines filled with acrobatics, yet, when was the last time you saw somebody do a somersault in a fight, unless he was the one that was getting hit? Or, maybe you want the mysterious chi building exercises of such arts as Pa Kua or Tai Chi or Hsing I, but, again, how many fights have you seen where people use chi gung to win?

Or, take that combination of karate and kung fu which is called kenpo, such as that taught by Ed Parker or the Tracy brothers, which has over five hundred death dealing techniques, virtually none of which work in the ring. Or Tae Kwon Do, with its amazing arsenal of unbelievable kicks, but which kicks are of little value once the distance has gone to the ground. Or jujitsu, which has a throw for every attack, but who can afford to take the time to roll around on a parking lot when more attackers come along?

These arts that I have mentioned, you see have weaknesses inherent within them. And it would appear that I am just bad mouthing arts. Actually, there is a madness behind my method.

If you are interested in quick self defense, find a course, maybe even just hang a punching bag and get to work. A few months of sweat, and you are there. This is going to be all you need.

But if you are like me, however, completely immersed in the martial arts, just cannot get enough of every system you see, then I have removed you from my arena, and given myself less distractions in the pursuit of my art. You see,all of those faults I have mentioned, I study all the arts and figure out ways to fix what is wrong, and I am an artist of The True Art. You want to be able to knock somebody down quick, go away, if you want the real thing, then be willing to go all the way.

Novo Cliente OA :: Campanha digital 

I know there will be people who will disagree with me, but I was there forty years ago, and I know the truth. The truth is that the karate fighters of forty years ago, students of Shotokan and Wado Ryu and Uechi Ryu, and especially Kyokushinkai, could have taken todays mixed martial arts fighters apart quickly and easily. There are quite a few reasons for this, and I will go over just one of the main ones in this article.

Before I tread where fans don’t know about…let me say that yesterdays culture was drug free, full of physical cultists, and we had our share of martial maniacs. We did things that todays martial artists would not dare to do. All of the things that were done were done with fanaticism and dedication far beyond that shown by todays UFC fighters.

One of the most important things was that we didn’t stop our training and shift to some other field because we might get tired. Cross training was something you did for fun, go skating with your girlfriends, or something like that. No, if we were going to have the toughest strikes we would just stay in the dojo and pound the fist against the makiwara.

Toughening the fists, contrary to todays scared cat medico types, was done with relentless dedication. We would hit soft, but continually, taking the time to massage the fist, immerse it in various solutions to keep it from turning hard and inflexible. Eventually the fist, without becoming injured, would become capable of the most astonishing strikes.

Heck, you see instances of this type of conditioning today. You see people who can break numbers of bricks, boards, and what have you. These people have touched upon the true power that fanatic, dedicated training can bring to a student.

The only MMA fighter in recent years who showed any touch of the degree of mental toughness required for true Karate, a fellow name of Luke, was shown pounding upon boulders with his hammerfist. In the ring, he showed a doggedness and determination above his fellow competitors. More important, he showed a fist that overcame any lack of ability and threatened to do some very real damage, if he had just concentrated his training in that direction for any year or so.

Have you heard of Mas Oyama, or other fighters of his time? They would meditate under waterfalls in the dead of winter, commanding their bodies to an enduring toughness quite unknown to todays fighters. In Mas Oyamas case, he disabled or outright killed around fifty bulls, something MMA fighters aren’t doing.

You think that grappler is tough? If you train with the dedication and fanaticism of old time fighters in such arts as Uechi, or Wado, or Isshin, or Shotokan, then you would know that todays grappler is nothing compared to stepping into a ring with a live and snorting old bull. And the only way to deal with those old bulls was to knock the horns off them, or just kill them outright.

Até que ponto pode ir a crueldade do ser humano quando o único objetivo é o lucro?

Durante anos, a caça aos golfinhos no litoral da cidade de Taiji, que torna as águas do mar vermelhas por causa do sangue derramado a cada inverno, atraiu a raiva de ativistas ocidentais. Mas poucas pessoas entre o público japonês pareciam se importar, ou até mesmo saber, a respeito da matança. Isso pode mudar com as primeiras exibições públicas de “The Cove” (A Angra”, em tradução literal), um documentário americano que usou câmeras escondidas para filmar as caças de golfinho anuais em Taiji.

Na quarta-feira, os frequentadores de cinemas japoneses vislumbraram as cenas pela primeira vez no Festival de Cinema de Tóquio, realizado esta semana na cidade.

Taiji não é a única comunidade que caça golfinhos, milhares dos quais são mortos em todo o mundo intencionalmente ou por ficarem presos nas redes de pescadores. Mas os pescadores de Taiji são caçadores notórios, batendo em metais para agrupar golfinhos apavorados em uma angra e depois os atacando com lanças até sua morte, no que os manifestantes descrevem como uma atividade desumana.

O Japão matou aproximadamente 13 mil golfinhos em águas litorais em 2007, de acordo com a agência de pescas do país, dos quais aproximadamente 1.750 foram foram abatidos em Taiji. O Japão também caça baleias usando uma brecha na moratória de 1986 à atividade, que permite matar baleias para pesquisa – apesar das presas para pesquisa acabarem nos supermercados japoneses.

Apesar da recepção entusiasmada ao filme no festival – muitos aplausos foram concedidos ao final da exibição – ainda não se sabe se ele irá levar a um debate público mais amplo.

A caça de baleias e golfinhos é considerada uma parte importante do sustento tradicional do Japão e de sua cultura culinária, uma prática a ser defendida contra interferência estrangeira. (Embora apenas uma minoria de japoneses coma carne de baleia, e menos ainda comem
golfinhos).

Também há um tabu forte na mídia japonesa contra qualquer crítica aos fazendeiros e pescadores do país, geralmente descritos como defensores heróicos de um modo de vida que está desaparecendo rapidamente. A cobertura a respeito do filme tem sido escassa e seus produtores ainda não encontraram um distribuidor no país.

O Festival de Cinema inicialmente rejeitou “The Cove” por ser muito controverso, mas mudou sua decisão no último minuto depois do apoio de nomes importantes de Hollywood, como Ben Stiller, que se interessou pessoalmente pelo assunto. Porém, o festival divulgou uma declaração dizendo não ter nenhum envolvimento com a produção do filme.

A cooperativa de pesca de Taiji exigiu que o festival não exibisse “The Cove”, acusando os produtores de invasão de propriedade para conseguir as imagens e de fazer acusações falsas.

A cidade contratou um advogado e se prepara para uma ação judicial, afirmou um oficial na quarta-feira. O advogado, Shozaburo Ishida, não quis comentar o assunto.

Enquanto isso, a caça aos golfinhos irá continuar conforme o planejado durante a temporada que vai se setembro até fevereiro, disse a agência de pesca do Japão.

Em sua caça em setembro, pescadores de Taiji capturaram 10 golfinhos de um grupo de 100 para vender a aquários, enquanto 50 baleias foram mortas e enviadas aos mercados.

Fonte: IG – Último Segundo.

As far as I know, Taoist Master B. K. Frantzis, in his book Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body, was the first to document the importance of what he called “the 70% rule” and its application to all aspects of Tai Chi and Qigong practice.

In our advanced training, we describe this important practice rule this way:

The 70% Rule for Tai Chi and Qigong from Advanced Training Level 1

ESTIMATE YOUR GREATEST ABILITY to perform any given exercise, then practice at only 70% of that maximum level.

For example, if we ask you to bend over and reach towards your toes, and you know that you can only reach as far as your ankles, well, your ankles would be your 100%. So you should only reach down to your knees or shins.

Apply this 70% rule to everything: how far you stretch; how many repetitions you do; how long you practice in a given session. Any type of straining represents 100% or more, wasting energy and causing injury. And if you are injured or hurt, go only 40% or less. Practicing at the 40% or less level will give your injury the time and energy to heal without aggravating it.

The 70% Rule applied to the Spine Stretch in our Level 1 training

Through our work with various Tai Chi and Qigong masters, and in working with our students during the 6-year research project that produced our advanced training, we learned an important corollary to this 70% rule. It is what we call the Balancing 70% Rule of practice.

In our advanced training course, we first describe this rule while learning the exercise Looking Backward in our Level 1 course. Looking Backward is a simple Qigong pattern that is great for the head, neck, and tops of the shoulders. Many of these areas become frozen or stiff after long hours of sitting, especially at a computer. The simple neck turn of Looking Backward can help loosen and relax the muscles, tendons, and vertebrae in the neck and shoulders.

The “Balancing 70% Rule”
An Example from “Looking Backward” in Level 1

Please keep in mind the 70% rule when you practice. Use this rule for the amount of time that you practice and how far you turn your neck from side to side. Also remember to keep to 40% or less if you are injured or compromised in any way, especially with a neck injury, throat problems, head injuries, tinnitus, or thyroid conditions.

If one side of your neck is more stiff than the other, keep within the limits of the stiffer side on both sides. For example, let’s say your 70% limits (or your 40% or less limits if injured) are that you can turn 60 degrees from the center to the left, but only 30 degrees to the right. Then you should turn only 30 degrees to both sides.

This will allow both sides to eventually balance and get stronger. If you ignore this balancing rule, the strong side will get stronger, but the weak side will continue to get weaker. In Tai Chi and Qigong, however, we try to work on our weaknesses with the goal of balancing both sides.

We consider the Balancing 70% Rule so important that we introduce it within the first two lessons of Level 1 of our advanced training.

Fasse den Vogel beim Schwanz

Peng – Abwehren nach links

Wenn Sie mit der Solo-Form beginnen, vergegenwärtigen Sie sich im Geiste der Bewegungen des Taijiquan, bevor Sie überhaupt mit der Bewegung beginnen. Sie stehen nach Norden! Zuerst, ausgehend von „Wecke das Qi“, das Gewicht auf den linken Fuß verlagern und auf der rechten Ferse das rechte Bein 90° Grad nach Osten drehen. Der Rumpf folgt der Bewegung. Für das unten ausführlich angesprochene Schwung-Rad im Rumpf empfiehlt sich eine Drehung von ebenfalls 90° Grad.

Die Handflächen, in deren Mitte sich die Laogong-Punkte befinden, formen einen Energieball! Die untere Hand ist funktionslos, tragend, haltend. Die obere Hand wehrt einen Fauststoß auf die rechte Schulter ab. In der Kampf-Technik die gegnerische Faust am Handgelenk ergreifen und nach hinten und unten ziehen, wobei gleichzeitig das Körpergewicht auf den rechten Fuß verlagert wird. In der Soloform wird an dergleichen nur gedacht, aber nicht ausgeführt.

Nigel Sutton schreibt hierzu: „Drehen Sie Ihr Körperzentrum (Gürtelgefäß/Daimai) oder den Bereich um das Dantian (Unterbauch) nach rechts und verlagern Sie Ihr Gewicht auf das rechte Bein. Damit beginnt das Üben der Gewichtsverlagerung auf ein Bein. Das zu bewegende Bein (Fuß) wird in den Boden „geschraubt“ – so wird Taiji-Sprungkraft gespeichert, um sie dann auf die nächste Bewegung zu übertragen.

Diesen Vorgang bezeichnet Cheng Man-ch`ing als „Schwung und Energie“, wobei potentielle, durch eine Bewegung aufgebaute Energie in kinetische (Bewegung durch Kraft) Energie umgewandelt wird, welche die nächste Energie hervorbringt. Wie bei allen Bewegungsübungen der Form folgen die Hände der Drehung des Rumpfes.

Deshalb ist auch die Rumpfdrehung von Norden nach Osten wichtig. Wenn Sie den Übergang zu Abwehren nach Links ausführen, versuchen Sie Ihren Rumpf der drehenden, schraubenden Bewegung folgend, denken Sie an die Kampf-Technik, weit nach hinten in Richtung Südosten zu drehen, umso einen optimalen Schwung zu erreichen. Links stehen Sie nur noch auf der leeren linken Großzehe. Das linke Bein in seiner Gesamtheit ist leer. Das volle Bein ist Yang, das leere Bein ist Yin. Aber nun führen Sie das linke Bein nach vorne in den linken Bogenschritt!

• Obwohl sich die Bewegungen grundsätzlich rund anfühlen, suchen Sie immer die gerade Linie in der Kurve.

So sinkt die obere, rechte Handfläche sacht vor dem Körper nach unten und deckt den Winkel nach Nordosten ab. Die untere, linke Hand hingegen steigt in einem Kreisbogen nach oben bis auf Höhe des Brustkorbs, um einen Stoß auf denselben abzuwehren. (Die gedachte Kreislinie wanderte dann weiter nach Nordwesten). Hier aber steht der Handrücken korrekt nach Nord. In diese Richtung zeigt auch der Rumpf. Sie erreichen dies durch eine Korrektur des rechtens Fußes auf der Ferse, nach Nordosten. Hierhin zeigt auch der Oberschenkel. Das rechte Knie ist entspannt, das linke Knie gebeugt. Die Gewichtung der Beine beträgt 70:30.

Sie befinden sich in der Position: „Abwehren nach links“.

(Text als Summe eigener Erfahrung, sonst Nigel Sutton, Cheng Man-ching und Toyo Kobayashi) abwehren-peng-tai-chi-technik-und.html

An dieser Stelle Einblicke in die Taiji-Kampfkunst.Beliebiges Beispiel:

Fa jin Taijiquan

Have you ever read books or seen science fiction TV shows like “Star Trek” that show “energy shields” protecting a spaceship? In the imagination of the science fiction writer, these shields protect spaceships from being hit by unwanted objects. The energy shield is often the first line of defense in these stories, protecting the ship against everything from small debris from the environment of space to attacks by hostile aliens.

When you think about all the pathogens we pass through in our daily environment, it’s enough to make you want your own personal “energy shield” for protection!

We are attacked from all sides by physical pathogens such as cold and flu viruses, airborne microorganisms, and ecological toxins from poor air quality. Even more subtle – but no less damaging – are the emotional pathogens. We are bombarded by daily stress from our modern day living conditions, by negative images and words from the media, and even by our own internal, self-defeating thoughts and emotions.

So wouldn’t it be great to have an “energy shield” to help protect you from these “alien attacks”? Well, with the right Tai Chi and Qigong practices, you can!

What is the Tai Chi-Qigong Energy Shield?

In a previous article on colds and flus (click here), I discussed the Wei Chi field. Wei Chi (pronounced “way chee”) literally means “guard energy” or “guardian Chi.”

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Wei Chi field is like an energy shield that may help protect us from pathogens and toxic elements in the environment. The field acts as a protective layer against all types of toxins, whether they are physical, psychological, or energetic in nature. The strength and thickness of this protective chi layer often gives us an overall indicator of our health and well-being.

he Wei Chi energy field is said to emanate from and be powered by the “energy reservoirs” in the body. Tai Chi and Qigong view the lower dantien as one of the body’s most important energy collection reservoirs, especially in relationship to storing energy to “power” our protective chi field.

Dantien is a Chinese word that roughly translates to “field of energy.” According to Traditional Chinese Medical theory, we have three important “energy fields” which act as collectors in the body. They are the upper, middle, and lower dantien. Tai Chi, and much of the chi work we do in the ChiFusion program, focuses on the lower dantien.

The lower dantien is located roughly an inch or two below your navel. The lower dantien is about half way back into your body – in other words, half way between your navel in the front and your lower back and spine. The actual position of the lower dantien varies from person to person, but this positioning will do as a rough guideline. As you gain experience in Tai Chi and Qigong, you will eventually be able to feel the exact position in your own body.

In addition to location, the actual size of the lower dantien also varies from person to person – and even from moment to moment within each person. For most beginners with little or no experience in lower dantien work, the size is often roughly that of a pearl – though with training and practice it often expands to a much larger size.

In powering the Wei Chi field, the lower dantien and other collectors in the body collect energy from the field and surrounding environment, and then may circulate energy back out to the field, to keep chi both in and outside the body from stagnating.

Some of this energy exchange between the dantien and the Wei Chi field happens passively, which is why even the average person who doesn’t practice Tai Chi or Qigong will have a slight Wei Chi field. In addition, many Tai Chi and Qigong students who learn general energetic skills often see a slight increase in their Wei Chi. This results merely from working on dantien energy collection, one of the basic skills in these energy arts.

Increasing the Thickness and Strength of Your Wei Chi Field

But to see serious results in your energy shield, some Tai Chi and Qigong styles have developed specialized “Wei Chi” energizing skills. In these styles, you develop the skills through combining physical movement with mental and energetic intention.

On the physical side, certain movements of the hands and arms are intended to “charge up” the Chi exchange between the energy collectors and the Wei Chi field. Often times, the hand is used to direct this energy exchange through one of the primary energetic points in the hand, known as the Laogong.

According to Tai Chi and Qigong masters, the Laogong acts as a primary center where the body exchanges chi with the surrounding environment. These exchanges include both gathering and emitting chi. As such, when the Laogong point in the hand passes near any of these dantien during practice, it creates a process referred to as “collecting internal energy” (Long Chi in Chinese). When the hand passes over the dantien, the Laogong stimulates the gathering of chi in the dantien. When the hand then moves away, it stimulates then movement of a portion of the gathered chi away from the dantien to the appropriate location in the body or, for our purposes, outside the body.

Unfortunately, the Tai Chi movements in most styles establish these “Dantien-to-Laogong-to-Wei Chi” connections for only brief periods of time. These brief connections are not long enough to develop the specialized Wei Chi skills we are talking about. Therefore, most instructors either incorporate specialized Qigong for Wei Chi development, or adapt Tai Chi movements to help develop these skills.

In our advanced training courses, we actually use both approaches. In Level 4 of our advanced training, we use a specialized Qigong called “Centering Elements” that aids in Wei Chi development. “Centering Elements” actually does much, much more than Wei Chi development, because it is the most complex practice in our program. Because of the complexity of “Centering Elements”, we instead use a much simpler practice to introduce Wei Chi skills earlier in the program, in Level 3 of our advanced training. For this introduction, we use a modified version of the Tai Chi movement “Cloud Hands”.

The version of Cloud Hands we use, taken from Yang Style Tai Chi but modified for specialized energetic skills, actually has a complex energetic “signature” involving multiple exchanges of chi both inside and outside the body. And as a matter of fact, you’ll find a number of these exchanges discussed in our Level 3 course. But our Level 3 program culminates in the last lesson by using Cloud Hands specifically for Wei Chi field exchange.

To learn more about energetics and kinesthetic details in Tai Chi and Qigong, just click here.

Once you have the 6 harmonies, and 8 methods figured out, you need to move onto the 9 essences in Hsing-I. The nine essences are as follows:

Body:

Should be straight. never leaning in any direction.

Shoulder:

Should be dropped downward. It is thorough the shoulders that the strength is transferred to your hands.

Arms:

The lead arm is stretched forward, the rear is close to the ribs.

Hands:

The rear hand should be at the Tan Tien. The Lead held Chest level. The palms should face downward, with even strength.

Fingers:

Are separated and shaped like hooks. The index finger and thumb form a crescent. There must be strength in the fingers.

Legs:

Are kept straight, yet slightly bowed like a chicken.

Feet:

The toes point forward, the rear foot points at a 45 degree angle. The toes must be firm.

Tongue:

The tongue is rolled and touches the roof of the mouth. Chi can then sink to the tan tien when the eyes are lowered.

Hips:

The hip tilt slightly forward so that chi moves to the limbs.

MARTEDI h 13.00, h 17.30, h 19.00

Die 8 Brokate und ihr Wirkungsbereich

Der Gelbe Kaiser: „ Wenn der Wille eines Menschen nicht durch Vitalität und Energie angetrieben wird, kann seine Krankheit nicht geheilt werden”.

1.Übung. „Halte das Universum mit beiden Händen und reguliere die Drei Erwärmer“.

Zweck und Wirkung: Die Lunge ist das wichtigste Organ zur Erhaltung der Vitalität. Beim Einatmen nehmen wir Sauerstoff und Qi auf, die beide für unser Dasein lebenswichtig sind. Die Übung ist gut bei Verdauungs-, Herz-, Lungen-, Wirbelsäulen- und Rückenproblemen, bei steifem Nacken und Sehschwierigkeiten. Das Dehnen und Atmen trainiert den ganzen Körper und bringt Sauerstoff ins Gehirn, das dadurch wacher wird. Das Lungenvolumen steigt, wenn die Arme sich beim Ein- und Ausatmen über dem Kopf befinden. Die Übung vermindert den Druck der inneren Organe auf das Herz und verbessert den venösen Kreislauf. Außerdem massiert und stärkt sie die inneren Organe.

Wenn Sie die Finger verschränken und nach oben ziehen, rückt die Übung Muskeln, Sehnen, Skelett, Nerven und Wirbelsäule zurecht und bringt sie ins Gleichgewicht.

Wenn Sie die Arme senken und ausatmen, stoßen Sie verbrauchte Energie aus und beseitigen damit Erschöpfung. Gleichzeitig entspannen sich die Bauchmuskeln und das Zwerchfell, was die Durchblutung im Bauchbereich verbessert.

2.Übung: „Nach links und rechts den Bogen spannen, als wollte man auf den großen Vogel schießen“.

Zweck und Wirkung: Die Dehnung des Brustkorbs und das Drehen von Hals und Kopf verbessern die Durchblutung, vor allem im Kopf- und Nackenbereich, sowie die Tätigkeit von Herz und Lunge. Die Verbesserung der Haltung und des Gleichgewichtssinns beugt den strukturellen und funktionellen Störungen vor, die mit einer schlechten Haltung einhergehen.

3.Übung: „Einen Arm heben, um Milz und Magen zu regulieren“.

Zweck und Wirkung: Die diametral entgegengesetzten Bewegungen der Hände wirkt auf Magen, Milz, Leber und Gallenblase ein, koordiniert sie und bringt sie ins Gleichgewicht. Sie regt auch die Peristaltik an und unterstützt dadurch Magen und Darm bei der Verdauung.

4. Übung: „Blicke auf die 5 Übertreibungen und die 7 schädlichen Einflüsse”.

Zweck und Wirkung: Die Übung baut Streß und streßbedingte Beschwerden ab. Sie ist besonders hilfreich bei langfristiger Überforderung, emotionaler Unruhe und bei Alterserscheinungen. Die Drehung regt den Kreislauf an (Körper, Nacken, Augen, Kopf, zentrales Nervensystem) und beugt hohem Blutdruck und Augen- und Nackenproblemen vor. Außerdem stimuliert sie die inneren Organe und die Oberschenkel und ist gut für die Taille. Auch die Durchblutung wird durch sie verbessert.

5.Übung: „Die Arme aufspannen, in den Pferd-Schritt gehen und das Herzfeuer vertreiben“.

Zweck und Wirkung: Diese Übung hat eine umfassende positive Wirkung auf den ganzen Körper und seinen Energiekreislauf. Sie baut außerdem Spannungen ab und kann den Blutdruck senken. Der TCM zufolge trägt die Drehung der Taille dazu bei, die Yin- und Yang-Energien des Körpers ins Gleichgewicht zu bringen, das Herz zu beruhigen und das Atemvolumen zu erhöhen. Der Übung wird auch der Abbau von Wut nachgesagt.

6.Übung: „Mit beiden Händen die Füße fassen, um das Nieren-Qi zu stärken”.

Zweck und Wirkung: Stellen Sie sich bei dieser Übung vor, daß Sie mit Ihren Bewegungen die beste Energie von Himmel und Erde einsammeln. Dadurch nähren Sie Ihr Qi. Taille und Bauchbereich stehen im Mittelpunkt. Das Ziel ist, die Nieren, die Nebennieren und den arteriellen und venösen Kreislauf im unteren Bauchbereich anzuregen. Der TCM zufolge wirkt die Beeinflussung der Nieren sich günstig auf die Zähne, das Gehör und den Blasenbereich einschließlich Harnverhaltung aus. Die Anregung der Nebennieren unterstützt sowohl Blasen-wie Lungentrakt. Auch der Bereich des Sonnen- und Lendengeflechts wird angeregt.

Wenn Sie sich nach hinten lehnen, leiten Sie Energie von den Füßen nach oben und zum Kopf heraus. Auf der körperlichen Ebene beeinflußt das Vor- und Zurückbeugen die Blutzufuhr zum Gehirn. Es stärkt das Nervensystem, reguliert den Stoffwechsel und verbessert die Koordination der inneren Organe. Die Übung stärkt außerdem die Organe im Bauch und die Sexualkraft, klärt den Verstand und verbessert die Sehkraft.

7.Übung: “Mit ausgestreckten Fäusten die Kraft vermehren”.

Zweck und Wirkung: Dies ist eine emotionale Übung, die die Atmung reguliert, um die Vitalität zu steigern. Sie regt das zentrale Nervensystem, die Lunge, die Knochen- und das Muskelsystem an und fördert den Qi- und den Blutkreislauf.

8. Übung: „laß Dich 7mal auf die Fersen fallen und vertreibe alle Krankheiten”.

Zweck und Wirkung: Die Schwingungen, die durch die Landung auf den Fersen entstehen, wandern an der Wirbelsäule entlang und tragen dazu bei, die Meridiane zu öffnen und das Nervensystem, das Skelett und den Kreislauf anzuregen und mit Energie aufzuladen. Die Übung stimuliert alle Teile der Wirbelsäule und beseitigt Wirbelsäulenprobleme. Außerdem regt sie das Wachstum von Knochenmark an und bringt die inneren Organe ins Gleichgewicht.

Jiao Guorui “Die 8 Brokatübungen”, ML Verlag, 1996

When I was growing up, in the middle of the last century, there was this strange beast called the martial arts. People could defend themselves merely through the use of this strange energy called ki. Heck, women could beat up mugs and rapists, and even children could defend themselves using this thing called Karate.

I explored Kenpo, and Goju, and judo, and several other styles of the combative arts, and I found little trace of this mysterious energy. Mostly, you just took your place in class and hit the air, and I began to believe that ki might be more of a myth than a reality. Still, I heard the tales of people breaking bricks, and doing other things which, even though they seemed a bit muscular, touted this strange energy called Ki.

As years passed, and as I practiced my martial arts techniques thousands and thousands and thousands of times, a strange thing began to occur. I began to feel the world beyond myself, and not just through the common senses. I began to see the world without eyes, and with a sense of myself that went beyond body. Slowly, I began to understand how this ki thing might be, and to understand that circus tricks were the icing, and enjoyable, but that real intrinsic energy was something else.

I studied Tai Chi Chuan and Aikido, and other internal arts. I began to feel a strange energy permeate my body, and I began to enjoy a profound health which made me feel more spry than even when I had been young. And I began to realize certain things about this mysterious subject called ki, or chi, which should be understood, should people wish to really delve into the truth of the subject.

When you do your forms you must lower your frame, for this will create a better energy connection to the planet. A better energy connection means more real energy will pass through the legs and into the tan tien. And the tan tien is nothing but a simple generator of energy on the body level.

If you can excite the energy center through the use of forms, then you can cause an energy to seep upward through the body. This energy will excite a tan tien in the upper body, and then cause a person, through the excitation of the tan tien in the head, to view his body from outside his body. Thus, the body is filled and becomes a battery charged with supernormal energy which is called ki or chi.

The energy of the body can be used in many ways, and this provides a whole new education for a student of such things. To explore this education one should attempt to not use muscles, for energy locked into muscles stops the intention which drives the energy, and stops the emission of intrinsic energy. Instead, when striking, one should use ones body like a noodle, not even tightening the fist, merely driving it through the attacker, and occupying the space of his body, and to loosen the motion and sensitivity of the body so it is empty, and able to seek an imbalance of the attacker even in combat, and further the guidance of his energy in a profound and magnitudious manner.

Ki, whether it is called pneuma or chi or prana or intrinsic energy or whatever, is not mysterious. It is simple to find and define and use, if one only pay attention to the simple things I have written in this article, and are willing to practice endlessly. Whether you study goju or uechi or shotokan, whether you practice tai chi or yoga, this thing called ki, or chi, is available to you, and it defines The Path of The True Art.

One of several clips to be found featuring Fu Zhongwen doing the traditional long form of the Yang style which he learned directly from Yang Cheng Fu.

Se intampla in timp ce voi cititi. Si putini sunt cei care cu adevarat fac ceva pentru a opri astfel de actiuni, pentru a inchide astfel de stabilimente, pentru a salva unele din cele mai frumoase creaturi ale marii, pentru a ne salva pe noi.

Mai multe detalii aici: http://www.takepart.com/thecove/

Tu faci ceva pentru asta? Tu te implici?

Por iniciativa da equipe do Posto de Saúde da Família doVale do Capão e o apoio da DIRES 27, da Escola de Formação Técnica em Saúde e da Secretaria da Saúde de Palmeiras, ocorrerá nos dias 22 e 23 de outubro, naquela localidade, o II Encontro de Profissionais de PSF do Vale do Capão.

As palestras serão sobre “Humanização da Saúde”.

Público-alvo: Médicos, Enfermeiros e Dentistas da área da 27a DIRES (Seabra, na Chapada Diamantina).

PROGRAMAÇÃO

>Dia 22, quinta-feira: 9h:

Palestra: “Humanizar o Atendimento”, por Maria Caputo (Diretoria de Gestão da Educação e do Trabalho na Saúde-SESAB).

12h: Almoço.

12:30h: Espaço para práticas de relaxamento e massagem. O participante poderá receber massagem de relaxamento, Reiki, ou outras práticas por profissional residente no Vale do Capão. As vagas são limitadas.

14h: Apresentação - “Como Estamos Cuidando das Pessoas com Hipertensão em nossa Área de Atuação pela Equipe do PSF-Vale do Capão”

15h: “Stress e Qualidade de Vida”, por Dr. Sérgio Carneiro (LAC-Seabra).

16:30h: “Fitoterapia, Plantas Medicinais e SUS”, por Dra. Mayara Silva(SESAB/UFBa).

17:30h: “O SUS é uma escola – o Curso Técnico dos ACS, uma Proposta de Inclusão”, por Dra. Tércia Lima (Escola de Formação Técnica em Saúde-Ba).

>Dia 23, sexta-feira:

7:30h: Prática de Tai-chi-chuan.

9h: Debate - “Lidando com o Cliente Difícil. 15 minutos de introdução” por Dr. Aureo Augusto (PSF-Vale do Capão, Palmeiras) e em seguida debate com todos os participantes.

10h: “Dermatologia Sanitária”, pela Dra. Shirlei Moreira (Ministério da Saúde).

12:30h: Espaço para práticas de relaxamento de massagem.

14h: “Uma Medicina para Escravos”, por Dr. Aureo Augusto.

15h: “Epilepsia, o Atendimento Pensando na Pessoa”, pela Dra. Vera Lúcia Rocha (Ministério da Saúde).

16:30h: “A Política Estadual da Atenção Básica em Saúde para o Estado da Bahia”, por Dr. Ricardo Heinzelmann (SESAB).

17:30h: “A Síndrome Metabólica”, por Dr. Manoel Alfonso (Clínica Santa Bárbara-Seabra).

Informações: PSF-Vale do Capão, telefone (orelhão): (75)33441030. 27a DIRES: (75)33311623.

———————

Material enviado pelo médico Aureo Augusto, por e-mail

Being grounded doesn't have to mean being "stuck." It's about strength, stability, and rootedness, all of which can actually create the foundation for growth and creativity.

20 days into unearthing my Root Chakra, and, though I had fun letting my feet go wild in my previous post, I’m still discovering and confronting my First Chakra challenges.

I’ve read that one essential energy component of this chakra is related to being “at one” with a group or tribe; basically, feeling that you belong.

True confession time [lowers voice to whisper]: I rarely feel as if I belong or fit in anywhere.

(That uncomfortable silence is all in my head, right?)

Ok, it’s not really a surprise that I would have difficulties with my sense of belonging; I have an underactive Root Chakra, after all. But, as I’m observing the energy of this chakra, I’ve also noticed lately that I seem to actively resist belonging. I put up a mental wall. I find myself recoiling from rules or terms, silently nitpicking about the group’s plans or needs, quietly or outspokenly playing devil’s advocate, and generally placing myself at arms’ distance, often before I’ve even gotten to know how I honestly feel in the community. This is a new realization for me.

Most of us know the great benefits that tribes and groups can provide: safety, comfort, assistance and aid, cameraderie, and, potentially, a sense of identity and empowerment. However, when you don’t have a strong Root Chakra, it’s common to feel unsafe, anxious, fearful, and/or distrustful. If you don’t feel that you can be yourself in a group, have your own voice, or contribute your unique qualities, a group/family/tribe/community can be cloying, oppressive, and threatening.

These thoughts bring to mind some of the negative connotations of being grounded: “If you do that, you’re going to be grounded until you’re 40!” “I’m stuck in a rut.” “Too dug in to ever get out.” “The plane was grounded.” “He’s a stick in the mud.”

Images of being stuck and held down resonate with me. (Think of the hungry trees in the Lord of the Rings that devour Merry and Pippin: the extreme side of being grounded!) And, yet I know that being rooted is what makes it possible for plants and trees to grow and bloom. To extend this idea: being grounded is what makes it possible to take a dream from the seed of an idea and nurture it into a flowering finished product. The ground is where the nutrients and stability come from. And plants or trees with weak roots topple over. (Stop me now, please, before I feel compelled to start a gardening blog…)

So, how to tap into the positive and nurturing part of grounding that enables growth? How to find a sense of empowerment in belonging? And, how to create the nourishing foundation essential to living life to the fullest? Here are some ideas I’ve been exploring:

Declare your belonging. A simple way to feel more a part of the communities you interact with is to reinforce that you are safe as you are and where you are. Try “I belong here,” “I am safe,” or “I fit in wherever I am.” (This has been working for me!)

Ground yourself regularly to the earth. My previous post went toe-to-toe with the foot as a body tool for getting grounded, a state of being that can connect you to your body, your present, your life, and the world. If you don’t like baring your feet (or it’s too cold to do that), connect with nature in other ways — dig into the soil with your hands as you plant vegetables or flower borders, go for a trail hike or walk on the beach, play in the woods — or nurture yourself by cooking, feeding your body with good, healthy food. (Autumn is a great time to cook with earthy foods like root vegetables which tap the energy of the First Chakra, but even in the spring and summer, you can integrate lighter, cooler roots like fennel, jicama, and radishes that activate earth energy.) Or, get some body work done on a regular basis: massage, Reiki treatments, acupuncture, even mani/pedis at your neighborhood nail shop .

Connect with the earth everyday to ground yourself and energize your Root Chakra.

Seek out groups that are a match. Now more than ever it’s possible to connect with individuals and groups who share your particular interests, so you can more often feel a natural sense of community and belonging. Using networks like Meetup and Craigslist, or the group features on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Yahoo, Flickr (to name just a few) make it possible to quickly tap into the communities around you, or to create your own.

Let it in. If you’re resisting the feeling of belonging or getting grounded out of fear of being trapped or stuck, a technique from Zhineng Qigong might come in handy: release and absorb (it’s technically called Chi Lel La Chi). Sit quietly with your hands held loosely in front of you, palms over your abdomen (level with the belly button), fingers pointing towards each other. Slowly open your hands outward, imagining yourself releasing all your stress, discontent, fear, or ills — whatever’s bothering you — to the air around you, to the Universe, or to the Cosmos. Then, slowly bring your palms back towards your abdomen, imagining that you’re absorbing glowing light, or a beautiful color, or stars — whatever makes you feel wonderful. Just let in the good.

Body talking/art therapy. Finding or re-establishing a solid foundation is about coming into your physical self and present circumstances, so you can recognize your needs and feel secure in them. One excellent way to do that is to talk to your body and let it express itself through words or art. It’s not hard and doesn’t require much: something to write on, something to write or draw with, and your willingness to tune in and let go. But, if you’re not sure how to get started, you could find an art therapist who could guide you, you could start with one of many great books on the subject, or you could do an online search for journaling for healing or art therapy. (I’ve read that working with clay is also a great way to energize the Root Chakra. Want to try that!)

Have you found grounding techniques that have positively influenced your sense of belonging and empowerment? Please share them!

P.S.: since beginning this post, I’ve become one of three founding members of a trio of aspirants who are looking to move from dreaming to realizing (“power-of-three“: how cool is that?). I think this is so serendipitous, as I explore the Root Chakra. My new group is not only providing a foundation for my goals, but also bringing me a great sense of belonging. (Only 20 days into GET GROOVY CHAKRAS!, and I’m feeling a little bit of groovin.’ It’s not too late to join me!)

My first introduction to the importance of strength was through the old comic book ads. Charles Atlas, the bully kicking sand in your face, and the need to lift big hunks of iron. Why, lift enough iron and you suddenly could do the bully to the bad guy, win the girl, and life would be grand. Then, as life proceeded, I found out that people who lifted weights were considered stupid. They were the new bullies of the world. And, heck, they even started taking steroids and all that drug stuff. The truth of weight lifting is, of course, not in the first two paragraphs, but rather somewhere else. It is true that you have to lift weights; you have use muscles or…lose them. But, there are alternatives to lifting dead hunks of iron that are much more efficient, much less dangerous, and, in this writers opinion, much more fun. I began my practice of the martial arts in the sixties, and I was unaware that I was lifting weights. I was, in truth, lifting the weight of my body, and throwing it around in a manner that simple weight lifting could never duplicate. The ranges of motion, the competence of motion, it was something that in my few brushes with weight lifting I had never experienced. A few decades into my practice, already realizing an enduring health and physical conditioning that was far beyond my walker using, oxygen tank toting compatriots I heard of body calisthenics. This was simple exercises that brought home the theories I had been practicing without realizing it. Furthermore, I wasn’t experiencing the muscle to flab syndrome, health problems, injuries to muscles and joints that unreal stress can achieve. Interestingly enough, I had started doing Tai Chi some years previous, and had discovered what I called Suspended Strength. When you hold a limb up for a while, moving it slowly, this is suspended weight, and increases strength without increasing bulk, which is good if you want to develop health and speed and other things specific to the martial arts. So I was doing Extreme Suspended Weight Body Calisthenics, to make up a rather nifty sounding phrase. The truth of this whole matter, however, eluded me until I injured myself. A separated shoulder, and I was reduced to rehabilitation, and I started doing light Yoga exercise. Here was something slower than Tai Chi, in which I suspended strength even longer, and did something that moved me into ever higher realms of fitness and martial arts ability. I realized that true strength is increased more by awareness than anything else. This is the key, you know, for the body is a device in which, in most people, energy is stopped, blocked, not flowing, even no matter how much weight they lift. By doing yoga, and realizing the truth of increased awareness unblocking energy flows, I began to experience the true strength and wellness that the body is capable of. Karate and Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Yoga, life is made whole by the increase of awareness, and I recommend this sequence of practice to all.

Coughs, runny noses, sneezing, sinus congestion, fever, body aches, chills … for us in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., and in much of the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the cold and flu season. As the weather turns cold and damp, these respiratory viruses grow and thrive. The effect that these viruses have on our lives can range from a few days of minor inconvenience from a common cold, to several days of bed rest with a light “Type C” flu, all the way up to the life-threatening illness of “Type A” flu.

Thus to protect our health and well-being, many of us take precautions to prevent getting and spreading colds and flu. And we can find quite a variety of precautions: common-sense steps in personal hygiene; regulation of contact with others; immune-boosting diet and food selections; medical approaches such as flu shots and over-the-counter cold medicines; herbs and supplements from a variety of health and medical traditions; and even more vigorous hygiene practices, such as nasal irrigation and steam therapy.

Your “First-Line” Defense Against Colds and Flu

Tai Chi and Qigong students and instructors may take some or all of these precautions to prevent colds and flu. But high-level Tai Chi and Qigong practitioners consider these types of precautions as “second-line” defense. They use these precautions as backup/support methods should a cold or flu break through the first-line defense they develop in their practice.

So what can you develop as your “first-line” defense through high-level Tai Chi and Qigong practice? Quite simply, through a properly designed program of practice, you can develop two important pathogen-prevention skills to help keep your mind/body strong and healthy: (1) a highly efficient immune system, and (2) a strong “protective covering” Chi energy field surrounding your body.

“Pumping Up” Your Immune System

Just about any style of Tai Chi and Qigong – and indeed, almost any type of exercise – will help boost your immune system. But to rev up your immune system to a highly efficient level, your Tai Chi and Qigong styles must be designed to include several important physical practices. And we consider lymphatic pumping as the most important of these practices, from an immune system perspective.

What do we mean by lymphatic pumping? Before we describe this practice, let’s consider our immune system. The immune system consists of a complex set of interactions among our thymus, spleen, bone marrow, white blood cells, antibodies, and hormones.

But all of these immune response systems rely on lymph, basically blood plasma minus the red and white blood cells, to transport nourishment and remove cellular waste throughout our entire body. Any bacteria that enters our body winds up in this cellular fluid. To prevent the spread of this bacteria, our “lymph nodes” filter out the bacteria in our lymph. When we have some sort of bacterial infection, these nodes, especially in the neck, armpits, and inner thighs, swell to the point where you can actually touch and feel them.

So for lymph nodes to effectively strain out these bacteria and protect your health, lymph must be pumped throughout your body. Unfortunately though, unlike the circulatory system which has its own built-in pump with the heart, the lymph system has no pump. Instead, the lymph system relies on body movement to circulate lymph. Through movement, we can cause a pumping action to occur in our lymph system, flooding our body with nutritious blood plasma and clearing out cellular waste and bacteria.

WHILE ALMOST ANY TYPE OF EXERCISE can provide some lymph circulation, high-level Tai Chi and Qigong practices pay particular attention to movements that increase lymphatic pumping. These movements specifically target areas in the body with the greatest collection of lymph nodes, such as the neck, armpits, and inner thighs. But just as important as “where” the movement is targeted, high-level Tai Chi and Qigong pays special intention to the “how” to move in these areas.

The Tai Chi-Qigong Energy Shield

One of the most useful skills that you will learn as a high-level Tai Chi and Qigong student is to create a strong “protective covering” of Chi energy surrounding your body. While general Tai Chi and Qigong classes and videos rarely teach such a highly-specialized skill, it is one of the most useful skills you can develop for your physical, emotional, and energetic well-being.

The skill of creating a “protective energy field” is built upon the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). According to TCM, the chi in our body creates an energy field that actually extends out past your skin in all directions. This field may extend anywhere from a few inches up to a few feet from your body in all directions. In Chinese, this field is called Wei Chi (pronounced “way chee”). Wei Chi literally means “guard energy” or “guardian Chi.”

According to TCM, the Wei Chi field is like an energy shield that may help protect us from pathogens and toxic elements in the environment. The field acts as a protective layer against all types of toxins, whether they are physical, psychological, or energetic in nature.

For example, the Wei Chi is said to help protect against such pathogens as colds or viruses, extreme changes in weather and temperature, daily stress, negative emotions from others, and even negative thoughts of our own. The strength and thickness of this protective chi layer often gives us an overall indicator of our health and well-being.

For the average person in the street, who doesn’t practice Tai Chi or Qigong, this protective layer is often less than a 1/4 of an inch or 1/2 of a centimeter thick around the body. The small field of the average person often cannot withstand even the slightest “attack” from environmental pathogens.

For the average Tai Chi and Qigong student, who practices these arts but does not train in specialized “energy shield” skills, the Wei Chi field may approach the thickness of an inch or a couple of centimeters around the body. We estimate that the average Tai Chi-Qigong field provides protection from 25% of the physical, emotional, and energetic pathogens in the environment.

However, for the student that develops the specialized “guardian Chi” skills, the Wei Chi field can quickly grow from many inches to several feet from the body. This size of field provides the optimum in protection from environmental toxins. And with even more experience, high-level Tai Chi masters and senior instructors can actually fill an entire room with their personal Wei Chi!

Bienvenido a mi blog Fuente Nueva. Este blog ha sido creado para informar del abanico de actividades y cursos que se han programado para el curso academico 2009-2010 en el Servicio de Deportes.

Den tidigaste film där jag kan erinra mig om att jag sett tai chi (taijiquan), i alla fall när det gäller västerländsk film, är Milos Formans Hair. Alldeles i början av filmen skymtar som hastigast ett par, en man och en kvinna som gör tuishou, eller push hands, som är en grundläggande tai chi övning. De enklaste varianterna går ut på att man i ett bestämt mönster alternerar tryck mot varandra. Och den andre måste avvärja trycket utan att spänna sig, utan att använda kraft. Med följsamma rörelser och långsam takt alternerar man trycken. Övningarna utvecklas på så sätt att man försöker dominera och ta varandras balans.

Ang Lees genombrottsfilm hette just Tuishou, ‘Pushing hands’. En kinesisk man tar hem sin pappa till USA. Pappan och mannens amerikanska hustru har svårt att komma överens. Den gamle mannen fördriver sin tid bland annat genom att lära ut tai chi. En komisk scen är när den gamle har gått vilse och en rad poliser försöker ta med sig honom ut. Den gamle mannen är så stadig att dom inte ens lyckas lyfta honom. Tai chi ger också utövaren en enorm benstyrka och stadga. Vi kallar det att utveckla ”rötter” på tai chi-språk.

Tai chi kräver också balans och utövaren tar sin styrka och kraft från benen, eller sina rötter. I den moderna Kung-Fuklassikern ”Tai Chi Master” drar man parallell till just detta. I slutstriden får Jet Li stora problem med sin kampteknik och kraftalstring när han slåss mot sin onda Shaolin-bror uppe på ett nät.

Tai chi tillhör i själva verket en speciell familj av Kung-Fustilar som kallas ”neijiaquan” (Nei Chia Ch’uan), bokstavligen ”den inre familjens kampformer”. Tai chi tillhör alltså de s.k. mjuka eller ’inre” stilarna. Systerstilar är Xingyiquan (Hsing I Ch’uan) och Baguaquan/zhang (Pakua Chang) I The One slåss en god Jet Li mot sig själv i sin onda motsats. De stilar Jet Lis motpoler använder sig av är just den runda cirkulära Bagua mot den linjära, raka Xingyi.

I Shaolin Soccer (spoilervarning: ) är det varken Shaolin eller någon annan ”yttre” eller hård Kung-Fustil som så att säga tar hem spelet. I Underläge är det en oansenlig dumplingbakerska som vinner matchen genom att besegra det oövervinnerligt hårda genom sin mjuka stil.

Men även i Kung-Fu Panda ser vi något liknande. Det är när pandan slutar försöka övervinna sin motståndare och istället ’leker’ med honom som han lyckas besegra sin motståndare. Förutom Tai chi-liknande manövrar är också kreativiteten en klassisk ingrediens i äldre Kung-Fu filmer. Många gamla klassiker handlar just om att hjälten själv måste skapa sin egen stil genom utveckling eller kombination av andra, för att kunna vinna över sina motståndare.

Det är svårt att göra Tai Chi rättvisa. För det mesta, även i Hong kongfilmer, förvandlas Tai Chin till någon modern form av mainstream Wushu. Vi skymtar ett par klassiska tai chi-poser i Matrix-fighter. Och enligt Dödligt vapen skall Mel Gibson kunna Tai chi. Han förnekar det i alla fall inte, även om vi inte får se ens en gnutta tai chi. För Tai chi-utövare och fans har det också alltid funnits en besvikelse att så få ens försöker göra konsten rättvisa. Men visst, i verkligheten är det också svårt att slåss med Tai-chi. Endast ett fåtal utövare klarar av att använda sig av denna svårbemästrade stil. Och det är inte heller säkert att det skulle synas särskilt tydligt att det verkligen var Tai chi utövaren använde.

Som jag antyder finns det en hel del kinesiska filmer med Tai chi som ingrediens. Måhända kanske jag tar upp vissa filmer eller t.o.m. recenserar någon i framtida inlägg här i Filmmedia Filmblogg. Men jag antar att de som är riktigt intresserade redan känner till filmerna.

Jet Li möter Sun Jianyun, dottern till Sun Lutang – skaparen av “Sun shi Taijiquan”, eller Sun Tai chi, den femte mest populära Tai chi-stilen i Kina:

Om Tai Chi på film och TV. Del 1 – TV

David, FilmMedia Filmblogg

Okay, we gots problems in this country. Why? Because the people who are running it are nincompoops. Let me say that in a more better way…stupids. They is all stupids. Quite honestly, near every politician is corrupt, or…and here comes the message, incompetent. Now, in the martial arts, people are bred out of incompetence. You study Shotokan Karate and you learn that your punch must be one shot one kill, do or die, it better fng work! This attitude breeds competence. And, if you are studying Aikido, then you better examine your circles and blending skills until perfection is found. And in Tai Chi your focus must be on attaining form so perfect you can issue vast amounts of energy. And in Wing Chun Kung Fu, you learn that if you don’t guide properly, if you are sloppy and incompetent in your technique, why, you’re going to get hit in the face. Now, there was a stink a while ago in England. One of the bonny princes didn’t want to finish his military training, and it is expected of the monarchy that the princes will finish their training. Quite simply, the power on the throne has realized that people who train in the military will have the discipline and the competence to rule their country. And, I don’t mean to shove it in your face, but politicians in our country who have been through the military are more competent. They aren’t always honest, but at least they are competent. Martial arts training, you see, on any level, makes a person competent and makes him better able to handle the vagaries of life. And, if you doubt me, then I want you to pick up the book, not the popcorn movie with light butter on it, called Starship Troopers. The book, aimed to educate and not just entertain, which separates it from the movie, puts forth the proposition that people must earn the right to vote. Simply, if you offer service to your country, contribute to your country, then you have a right to a voice, and if you don’t…shut yer pie hole. Now, there will be some who say that I am putting forth the proposition that stupid people shouldn’t be allowed to vote. No, I am putting forth the dividing line of competence. Stupid, contrary to stupid opinion, is usually and merely just a different viewpoint, and this is something you will understand after a thorough bout of training with such arts as Shotokan, or Aikido, or Tae Kwon Do, or Jujitsu, or…whatever your discipline happens to be.

Dead dolphins after hunting

By Rahsian Parris

With the new movie The Cove due to hit UK screens this month, the riveting depiction of the horrors surrounding Japanese Whale and Dolphin slaughtering has come at an ideal time. The beginning of hunting season.

Under the light of the warm summer sun herds of small children and adults alike pour into dolphinariums, theme parks and marine mammal parks to get a small glimpse of these spectacular creatures in action. The applause crescendos into a roar of happy cheers, a sea of smiling faces, as one of the most intelligent animals on the planet performs an array of playful tasks. Swimming backwards? Check! Balancing a ball on its nose? Check! The benevolent mammals seemingly have no qualms about jumping through hoops for their superiors, but when the sun starts to set, the doors begin to shut and the chill of the night air sets in, the only reminder of the joys of the day are the empty candy floss sticks stuck to the concrete floors.

Fast-forward a few months and in the small fishing town of Taiji, Japan, Dolphin hunting season has begun. Select fisherman of the 3,500 populated town, are poised in position, watching with stealth and trained eyes for a pod of dolphins. When the group are identified they are debilitated by fisherman who bang metal rods together in the water, disorientating the mammals and effecting their ultra sensitive sonars. The crippled animals are quickly driven into a cove blocked off by other boats and nets, trapped, they are left overnight to calm down. The next day the Dolphins are individually captured and then killed one by one. A sharp metal pin is driven into the neck of the Dolphin. It dies almost instantaneously. This method of killing is said to be less brutal than the previous method which has been made illegal in Japan, where after the Dolphin is separated from the other captives, its throat is slit and the Dolphin is left to violently convulse before its imminent death.

The hunt starts at the beginning of September, with the first day bringing in at least 100 Bottlenose Dolphins and maybe some Pilot Whales, but Japan’s annual quota is approximately 20,000 Dolphins. Aquariums can pay up to £90,000 for one of these Dolphins, but most of them are killed, their meat being sold for about £330 per carcass. Tickets for a show at a dolphinarium can cost as little as £20.

It has been argued that Whale and Dolphin hunting is part of the Japanese tradition, that the meat gathered during the hunts becomes part of the local dishes, which are part of the culture, which is paramount to the identity of the nation, however, after capture, the slaughtering takes place very much under wraps, behind (several) closed doors (barriers), as far away from prying eyes as it is from patriots. Although there are several organizations that continuously strive to put a stop to the slaughtering of Dolphins and Whales in Japan, and on a smaller scale, in other places, drive hunting, as it is known, continues to be a serious, global, animal welfare issue.

One activist in particular has been making a stand for over three decades. Ex-Dolphin trainer, Ric O’Barry is a dedicated campaigner against the atrocities of drive hunting, saying “I’ve been working with dolphins for most of my life. I watched them give birth. I’ve nursed them back to health. When I see what happens in this cove in Taiji, I want to do something about it.” In his new film The Cove he seeks to uncover the truth surrounding the multi-billion dollar Dolphin entertainment industry that he himself use to endorse (O’Barry captured and trained all 5 Dolphins that were used in the television series “Flipper”). The movie seeks to expose, educate and inspire people into action, showing the reality of the blood thirsty industries that hide behind sugar coated notions and sun kissed dreams.

Over a montage of breath taking clips of Dolphins swimming out at sea, coupled with grim, savage scenes filmed on hidden cameras by O’Barry’s team of activists, we hear the voice-over “If I destroy anything in nature, I’m taking it away from myself and the human race has to wake up to that, because we’re losing it all and we’re losing it at a horrifying rate.” and suddenly you are taken back to those fond, sun drenched, childhood memories where the summers are extra long and the future is a certainty, yet the in the back of your mind an image lingers and in this image there are no hoops, no beach balls, no tomorrow.

The Cove is in cinemas from the 23rd of October

Chi, that mysterious force that the ancient masters used to defeat attackers without touching them. A secret vapor of the body that enables people to live long and healthy lives. Heck, there is even evidence that Chi was the secret of the Jedi Knights…grin.

Lots of mystery surrounding Chi, lots of things that people don’t understand. Yet, it has to follow rules. If it manifests in the universe, then there are ways to define and describe the way chi functions.

Chi is all around us. Have you ever heard of the glow of good health? Have you ever finished a task and stood back in satisfaction and noticed that the world is just a little more relaxed, a little brighter.

The trick is to make this feeling last all the time. Tai Chi can enhance your health immensely, and this will make you glow. And, if you can throw yourself into work and avoid distraction you will feel immense satisfaction, which ability is immensely enhanced by the practice of tai chi.

Chi is not invisible, it is merely not seen by those who haven’t honed their perceptions. One can easily see chi if they hone their perceptions, and perceptions are easily honed by doing tai chi. When practicing the form, for instance, one creates a space about themselves, and this space is quite extra sensory in nature.

As one grows and cultivates this space they begin to perceive within it without using the normal senses. People feel what is happening, sense, like radar, the movements of the world about them. This is an appreciation of the universe on the level of chi perception.

Chi is made simply, by the simple act of breathing, and relaxing, so that the body can function the way it was designed to function. Do you see a tiger performing calisthenics? The reason is that he does movements that are relaxed, and which allow his body to function the way it was designed to function.

There does not have to be a lot of mystery concerning chi. Indeed, chi responds wonderfully on a mechanistic level. Chi is one of the most empirical concepts in the universe, the problem is that people don’t know how to view it empirically.

Acht Übungen statt Tai Chi Chuan

Der bekannte Tai Chi Meister Zheng Manqing, der zwischen 1965-1975 in New York unterrichtete, war auch Arzt in der Traditionellen Chinesischen Medizin. Vielen seiner Patienten wollte er für ihre Heilung Tai Chi Übungen „verschreiben“, aber für viele waren die Übungen des Tai Chi Chuan zu lang, zu kompliziert oder seine Patienten waren gesundheitlich nicht mehr in der Lage, sie zu praktizieren. So lehrte Zheng Manqing seinen Patienten acht einfache Übungen, die in sich die Grundprinzipien des Tai Chi Chuan vereinigen und vor allem auch dessen gesundheitlichen Wirkungen.

Cheng Man-ching

Übung 1: Gehen auf dünnem Eis: Man geht über den Boden und stellt sich dabei vor, der Boden wäre eine Eisschicht über einem See. Das Eis ist an manchen Stellen so dünn, dass man einbricht, wenn man darauf tritt. Man muss also beim Gehen den Fuß immer mit der Ferse zuerst nur auflegen, dann den Fuß langsam weiter belasten und abrollen – immer bereit, dass Körpergewicht wieder auf den hinteren Fuß zu verlagern, falls das Eis unter dem vorderen Fuß einbricht. Die Arme bleiben dabei entspannt am Körper und dürfen nicht bei der Aufrechterhaltung des Gleichgewichts helfen. Wenn das Körpergewicht ganz auf dem vorderen Fuß liegt, dann kommt der nächste Schritt.

Übung 2: Mit dem Mond über dem Kopf gehen: Man steht aufrecht mit erhobenen Kopf und stellt sich dabei vor, dass man den Mond, etwa in der Größe eines Basketballes, auf dem Kopf hat und man sehr fein balancieren muss, damit der Mond nicht vom Kopf herunterfällt. (Man kann sich auch vorstellen, dass der Kopf über einen Faden mit dem Mond verbunden ist und so vom Mond leicht nach oben gezogen wird.) Die Augen müssen geradeaus blicken, wenn sie nach unten schauen, fällt der Mond herunter. Die Arme hängen entspannt herab. Dann geht man mit dem Mond auf dem Kopf umher, mal schnell mal langsam. Mit “dem Mond auf dem Kopf” sollten auch die anderen Übungen ausgeführt werden und außerhalb der Übungen alles Gehen, Stehen, Sitzen oder das Öffnen einer schweren Tür.

Übung 3: Rudern: Man begibt sich in die Position des Stoßens, in der Tai Chi Chuan Figur Fasse den Vogel beim Schwanz, und stellt sich dabei vor, man steht mit einem Ruder in der Hand in einem Boot und rudert das Boot über einen Fluß.

Übung 4: Das Segel setzen: Man begibt sich in die Tai Chi Chuan Figur Schöne Dame am Webstuhl und stellt sich dabei vor, in einer chinesischen Dschunke zu stehen und das Segel zu setzen, es hoch zu stoßen.

Übung 5: Die Wolken mit einem Besen fegen: Entspricht der Tai Chi Chuan Figur der Wolkenhände, nur dass man stehen bleibt, die Beine also nicht versetzt, aber die Arme wie bekannt bewegt.

Übung 6: Am Rande eines Abgrunds stehen: Man begibt sich in die Tai Chi Chuan Figur Der weiße Kranich spreizt seine Flügel und man stellt sich vor, dabei über einem Abrund zu stehen (oder auf Ziegelsteinen). In dieser Figur ruht fast das gesamte Gewicht auf dem hinteren Bein. Während man in dieser Position verharrt, stellt man sich vor, dass sich die Füße mit dem Boden verbinden. Wenn man nicht mehr kann, dann wird die Position seitenverkehrt eingenommen.

Übung 7: Den Strom durchwaten: Man geht und stellt sich dabei vor, knietief durch die Furt eines reißenden Strom zu waten – immer mit dem Widerstand des Wasser kämpfend.

Übung 8: Den Wind reiten: Man nimmt die Tai Chi Chuan Figur Diagonales Fliegen ein, bleibt so stehen und stellt sich vor, durch die Luft zu fliegen und zu gleiten.

The annual slaughter of dolphins and small whales in Taiji, Japan has been going on for hundreds of years. Only recently has the world taken notice of it, largely thanks to the US documentary “the Cove” which shows graphic footage of the brutal, savage killing of thousands of these animals, which takes place every year.

Japan’s whaling industry has slowed, due to a global ban on commercial whaling which was issued in 1986, but the local fishermen of Taiji take advantage of the fact that dolphins and other small cetaceans, or aquatic mammals, are not specified in the ban. The locals also point out that their killing of dolphins is no different than the slaughter of cattle, chickens, and other domestic animals in the United States. Japan is just a different country with different resources.

The Tokyo International Film Festival has decided to allow the showing of “the Cove”, a documentary about the annual killing of dolphins and whales in Taiji, Japan. The film was originally rejected but due to worldwide public interest the TIFF has changed its mind.

-Hollee

Hi Guys and Gals, here’s the latest newsletter, come go crazy with me. Al Monster Newsletter #242–Jump on the Monkey Train! It is a most excellent morning, is it not? I mean, working out… there is nothing better. You know what I like to do? I like to get a brick, or a board, one that is too thick to break, set it up for breaking, and just start pounding on it. I don’t hit it too hard, rather, I just keep hitting it. Not hard enough to hurt the hand, but I keep hitting it. Hit, hit, hit. After a while, maybe a half hour or so, I am no longer in my head. I am a few feet behind it and I am possessed by this purity of purpose, I feel like a megatrain on steroids trying to stuff myself into the tunnel of life. Now, I haven’t got much to say today, gonna meander a bit. (Uh oh, Al ran out of words? That’s like a monkey without diarrea.) So let me jump around. Remember the sale? Get three courses and I give you the fourth free. I’ll probably change the web page for a month to cover the advertising, then stop. Go back. End of sale. You know what I like to do? I like to go backwards in form. I don’t mean do the movements in reverse, I mean reverse the motion of my body. Looks really weird, Like a whole body moonwalk. I do that for an hour or so, and I get a little out of my skull, I get a little unsure of what real motion is, I’m standing back from my body trying to figure out right from left, up from down, it’s like the gears have been rearranged in the transmission of my mind. Gonna rain today. Ever work out in the rain? I’ve worked out in the rain, heat, snow, fog, whatever. Tops of mountains, garages, basements, rooftops, in animal cages, in trees. In the ocean, rivers, every kind of surface. I just like to see how it effects my form. What kind of surface effects my feet, stance, weight shift, and so on. Gichin Funakoshi used to work out holding a tatami mat on his roof during a hurricane. Ya gotta go out of your skull doing that! Not be out of your skull, heck, you’re that just for doing the martial arts, I mean go out of your skull. Separate from the body. One time I spent an afternoon doing Tai Chi, and I imagined myself looking down at myself from fifty feet up. I imagined myself holding myself on strings like a puppet. I imagined myself outside myself moving my body and limbs from outside. I tell ya, after that one I got in a car found I couldn’t drive. I was just so messed up didn’t really know if I was in my body. Everything was golden and perfect, and I’m laughing like a fool trying to figure out how to turn the steering wheel. I tell ya, I drove slow that day. Look, I apologize, I try not to swear except in the most delicate way in the newsletter. In class, that’s another story, I swear like a two year old being potty trained. But, right now, I’m about to swear. Gonna say something in French. Here it is, When doing the martial arts are you willing to go fucking crazy? I know a lot of people don’t understand our obsession. Then there are people that do. People in Japan stand under freezing water falls martial meditation, man over nature, mind over matter, what is the meaning of the universe? It is in this form that I make do what I want it to do, and no power in the universe can stop me. In China people stand on a finger, scratch the bark off a tree, drill a finger into a brick. In Tibet people wrap a wet sheet around their naked body and meditate in the snow and make the sheet dry. So, my message is this… don’t work out for a class, for an hour here or there… instead, work out for life. Go crazy, get out of your skull, tell your wife you will see her in 24, then go into the woods eat the bark off of trees, and do your forms 24 straight. You want the chi? You want the ability? You want what the martial arts are really all about? Go crazy. Dedicate yourself, commit yourself, go crazy. Hey, you won’t get there in twenty years if you dabble your workouts. You’ll get there in a weekend if you do what I say. Hey, got something for you. a bit of verse. Martial Artists write verse. Haiku, The Tao, Tai Chi secrets, and so on. Here’s a bit of verse, I call it, Eight Steps to the True Art… If in the martial arts you want to be great. Consider these rules that I now will state. Defend these rules and defend the faith. First you must always attend to practice. the art will come when you start to relax. that’s not a lie that is facts. As you relax you must breath down. Creating energy that goes to the ground. Reaching the ground you’ll be unbound. Energy swells in the tan tien center. Goes out to the limbs and the art you enter. swells in the body which is a decanter Work without sweat and in the art steep align the limbs in perfect sweep perfect curves make an art deep move your body in harmony mind and motion in syncronosity this is the art that sets you free Never attacked yet you have stepped forth you know the truth of a man’s worth the offer of a fight gives you great mirth You practice the art each and every day and life becomes nothing but a joy of play life becomes nothing but what you say Think I’m going to discontinue the Tai Chi course. I am finally getting around to Matrixing Tai Chi, completely, and I want to do a new course. Maybe keep the applications there, those are great. But, put logic, the logic of matrixing into that great art. Hey, I had a lot of people tell me they liked that stupid joke I told last newsletter. Want another one? This one is so stupid, but, I hate to admit it, I can’t stop laughing at it. I heard it some forty years ago, and I still laugh at it. I’m grinning right now. Do you know what part of the body the ‘yet’ is? I’m curious because I heard on TV that some girl got shot and they hadn’t gotten the bullet out of her ‘yet.’ Oh, sweet heysoos, I am pounding my knee and holding my belly right now. Heh. Okay, did you enjoy the lack of structure, the insanity, the meandering, of this newsletter? I did. So, let me just say one thing, the core form of all Karate is sanchin. You don’t know Karate until you know sanchin. Unfortunately, even the people who know it don’t really know it. They do it for breathing, or muscles, or something else, and, truth, it is not for breathing, and certainly not for muscles, or anything like that. It actually follows the verse I wrote earlier. You breath, ground, relax, make your body a decanter, and you ‘cook’ the tan tien and make steam (chi) rise. You do that, you gain the true power of karate, which is not present in all the other karate forms, and then you’ll be ready for pure technique. You’ll be ready for Seisan, which has the exact techniques which utilize the exact power that sanchin generates. Look, pop on over to this page, Pan Gai Noon Take a look, realize what a phenomenal deal this is, a whole art, a core art, an art that has been resurrected through matrixing principles, and, heck, you might even consider the whole package. You might, if you’re crazy enough. I tell ya, take these forms into the woods, and you’ll walk out bigger than Sasquatch’s granny! Okay, guys and gals, you have a rip snortin’ day, make your dreams come true, and love your fellow man. Even the ones you don’t like. Peace. Al =o) Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. John F. Kennedy

Translated from the original blog post at http://www.LiYeSen.com

There is speechless to describe the beauty of TaiJi 太极!

It is the KEY! The key to open my wisdom door…

Traditional Chinese Medicine is originated from Yi-ology 易学. It is one of the branch of the Yi-ology 易学.

TaiJi, the simplest… the prettiest…

After forty years of intense study of the martial arts, of studying Karate and Shaolin and Aikido and other arts, I have learned one very interesting truth about fighting. This truth is that people become better fighters if they study martial arts forms. And, sadly, people who don’t study forms don’t always get better at fighting.

The very interesting thing about all this is that most people don’t understand what fighting really is. They are locked into the punch and crunch of such things as reaction time, and they never approach the subject of intuition. Only through classical forms, such as are taught in Karate or wing chun or other classical methods, will a person make serious inroads into and start to develop the reality of this subject of intuition.

Most training methods, you see, rely on making muscle, on increasing speed, on being bigger and better and faster. Yet, the sad truth is that the best fighters are not always the biggest, bestest fastest. The best fighters in the world are the ones who see what is coming before it arrives.

Most martial arts training methods, you see, rely on the development of reaction time, have reaction time built into them. Reaction time means that you are moving in response to something, which means that you are moving too late. To not learn to move too late you must train in a classical method, such as ninjitsu or Aikido, which teaches you to move before.

Thus, to accelerate yourself as a fighter, to improve yourself on every possible level, you need to study martial methods, such as in hung gar and wado ryu, which approach you on a level other than just muscle and reaction time. The forms of the classical arts address fighting potential on these levels. Yes, they sometimes seem unreal, and one does have to change and adapt to make techniques work, but the benefits are great and far in advance of meat and muscle and bone, and a person will be vastly improved, on an intuitive level, as a fighter.

When you do a classical form, you see, you are traveling down the same street. After a while of traveling down that street you see the same sights. After a while you can predict what is going to happen on that street before you make passage.

This kind of prediction is just the start of the martial arts, however. The real key lies in finding the silence of the form, which is available through such arts as Uechi ryu and Goju ryu. In the middle of silence you can find and define the exact thought that must precede every action.

Nothing in this universe moves without thought. Thus, the study of the classical martial arts, done correctly, with correct form, with correct training methods, approach the fighter on the basis of developing intuition. Yes, studying forms, such as in Isshin ryu and shito ryu, opens your mind and allows you to access greater abilities.

A escola de Pa-kua de Brasília fica na W3 712 Norte – Bloco A – Entrada 30 Sobreloja

Asiaa on tutkittu ja päädytty sellaiseen lopputulokseen että naiset, joiden vyötärönympärille rasva asettuu hyvin, mutta ei meinaa lähteä millään pois, reagoivat voimakkaammin stressiin kuin muut. Heidän kortisolitasonsa ovat hyvin korkeat ja se lisää vielä stressiä ja ahdistusta sekä rasvan kertymistä ennästään. Heidän pitäisi oppia rentoutumaan ja vaihtaa suorittaminen lajeihin, joissa ei voi kilpailla, kuten jooga, taichi tai rentoutuminen.

Luke, Feel the Force. Close Your Eyes, Luke. May the Force be with you.

Wow, something mystical, like an invisible ocean that surrounds you. And everything in the universe is made of this ocean! And, heck, with the proper Jedi training…you can control the Force!

Well, now that we’ve completed the introduction to Martial Arts 101, we can get down to the reality. Chi, or Ki, is an invisible ocean from which everything in the universe is made. And, oh yeah, you can learn to control it.

The difference, of course, between the movie and the reality is that one takes hard work, and the other one you get fat over popcorn. And, of course, the movie never comes true.

But, hey! You got to spend $10 bucks, and then rent it for $5, and then see it on cable for a buck, then, finally, see it for free, uh, with a few dozen advertisements to break it up and editing so you don’t see the good stuff, and so on! The question, however, is when are you going to start doing the work and make the dream come true?

So, they have this thing called instructional DVDs. To get into a field of study, such as Karate or Tae Kwon Do or Aikido or, the list goes on, a DVD will cost you about as much as a movie. The difference, of course, is that you are paying for the movie again and again until it is free, and once you have the martial arts DVD there is no more cost, it’s like the difference between renting a car and owning a car.

Now comes the fun, you actually get to do something. You are no longer a slovenly popcorn eating machine, you are able to hone your body into a sleek exotic car that runs good, drives the chicks (guys, if you’re a girl) wild, and that good conditioning is going to last you long into your lifetime. Slowly, a few minutes here or a half hour there, you copy the DVD, go along with the instructions, and, zingo bingo, you feel the changes.

Good health takes over the ocean of your body, infecting your hearing and vision, and you can work longer, harder, and more efficiently. Discipline infects you, making you able to conquer new tasks, tasks which you previously thought daunting and difficult. And, here is the fun part, the world starts changing to match the new you…new friends, more money, the ability to make enough money to go to a real play, maybe a huge sporting event, or even the best restaurants…and now the Force is with you.

A shot from "Faust"

From the world of classical opera we learned that music has the potential to not only be an aural pleasure, but a visual one as well. Through lyrical theme, musical composition, costume and props, a greater theme or story can be expressed trough music. But it doesn’t stop in the opera house. Since the early 1980s Japanese rockers have taken pairing music and visuals to a whole new level. What started as an insane-seeming sub-culture movement became, by the mid 90’s, an established genre, and today, 30 years later, one of the-most-listened-to facets of Jrock.

That genre is what we refer to as “Visual Kei”.

Visual Kei band "Malice Mizer", circa 1997

Let’s start with the name. ビジュアル系[bijuaru kei]. Visual Kei is a term created by bringing together the English word ‘Visual’ and the Japanese word ‘kei’, which means ‘type’ or ‘style’. Nowadays the term refers almost solely to a genre of Japanese rock music— now that Visual Kei as a genre has become popular and more mainstream, I get the impression that a lot of Western fans want to single out the god-father bands as non-”Visual Kei”. Like how back when “punk” first began there was no “punk”, and now it’s a mainstream style full of posers. But even at the very onset of Visual Kei culture, because of the nature of the genre and the way it effects and is affected by the term Visual Kei, the label existed upon advent.

Dead End: 1984-1999

You see, we’re allowed a sort of grace period by the Japanese language. Look at it this way—alongside sometimes-creepy Visual Kei, there is another Jrock sub-culture which is eternally cheerful, and that is referred to as ‘Oshare Kei’, [en. Fashionable type]. In Japan, when you want to tell someone that they are fashionable, you say, “wow, you got some new boots! So oshare kei!” It would be silly if I got angry and said, “But I’m not the oshare-kei genre of bands and music. Ugh!” The genres happened out of the terms, in a way. Similarly, were you to remark that X Japan was “wow! So visual kei!” Would a true old-school fan scoff and say, “Ugh, Visual Kei? No they’re not. There’s nothing visual there!”?

X Japan

Much the same as the early punk movement, true Visual Kei had and still has no “definition” nor set limits. It is important to understand that Visual Kei is first and foremost a means of expression not only through music, but through image as well. It is at the Visualists’s discretion how he or she chooses to express themselves. Visual Kei is an ultimatum in creativity, and one of its defining points is its lack of boundaries.

However, it is only natural that certain qualifications come into the picture… In the way of trends and obsessive-genre-ization-disorder of today, Visual Kei has found certain parameters and sub-genres exclusive to its scope. Like anything, there is the fluff and filler impossible to evict, ban, destroy, or avoid– but individual creativity and expression is still running strong among Visualists. In a way, the pre-sets and development of stereotyping has encouraged boundaries between what is Visual Kei and what is standard Jrock. Not just every Jrock band with a crazy look is Visual Kei—that’s genre abuse.

In this write-up, although I can’t tell you all the “is” and “isn’t”s of this boundless and extreme genre, I will do my best to sketch out the general idea, as well as define the boundaries that separate Visual Kei from what we know otherwise as Jrock and Jpop.

Luna Sea

Visual Kei is a bit like genealogy in that it has generations. And as the generations became younger and younger, the look changed and developed. That’s why I, as well as many people who write about the Vis Kei movement, choose to differentiate between the generations. I’ve simplified it into a 3-category hierarchy of 1st generation, onward. We could be real jerks and break it down into the quantum level of Visual Kei Generations and Sub Movements, but for clarity’s sake, we’ll use the 3-generation rule here. If you want to get quantum with me, notice how I include release and activity dates in the artist information run-downs….

Back “before” there “was” “Visual Kei”, the pioneer band X appeared– the year…was 1982. For the purpose of disambiguation (due to the existence of the American ’70s band by the same name), they did the obvious thing and clarified who they were by a quick name change– by which they are immortalized: X Japan.

X-Japan

This was “the movement”, “the influx”. X Japan brought to Jrock the heavy yet melodious sound that we are so familiar with today. They brought the extremist fashion and 50% dedication to image. Yeah, they had freaking big hair. They made the glam-metal look popular (for an indie rock band, anyway) and exciting in the Japanese music scene– but they did what the Japanese do with everything they import: they, as one Japanese friend put it, took what Westerners made like monkeys and improved it. They Japanified it.

In the image to the right, you can see the powerful beginnings of what we know now as Visual Kei. The androgyny (especially in Jrock idol Yoshiki [center], the historic appeal, the extreme everything. These were the founding fathers.

They inspired everybody. X Japan brought great momentum to this sub-culture of Jrock, which steadily infected a stream of other great bands. This was Visual Kei’s foundation, when it picked up speed and accelerated into pop-culture. The bands everyone know of as “true” Visual Kei appeared at this time– between 1982 and ‘87: Luna Sea, Buck -Tick, Dead End.

This was the well-spring of Jrock. It began in the ‘80s, and it was a mash-up of imagery and ideas. These bands set the foundation for the use of visual components in Japanese rock music, veering off the beaten path and forging new roads.

Although the look and sound has developed, become refined, and more focused, there was one element that has remained the core spinal column of the Visual Kei aesthetic. This element was essentially ‘beauty for beauty’s sake’. Visualists would like what they liked, would dress how they liked, would act how they liked. They appreciated things as genderless, ageless, anonymous modes of creative expression. There were no concepts such as “I can’t dress that way, I’m a man.” or “We can’t play this song, we’re too hardcore.”
This aesthetic would later become the palette upon which the 2nd Generation would paint the defining portrait of Visual Kei, and sculpt it as an actual genre.

Buck-Tick

There is this thing called The True Art, or The Perfect Art, or The Way. Oddly, though most every martial artist refers to it, there has never been a real definition for it. Until now.

After all, if there is a definition for The True Art, it will make it that much easier to attain. It is always much easier to find something if you know where it is, or, in this case, what it is. Thus, I offer this article as a definition, and hope that it will speed up your progress to The True Art.

One of the first definitive things I ever hard concerning this thing called The True Art was that it can’t be heard. I found this interesting, because it provided sound feedback in the case of developing an Aikido shoulder roll, it didn’t necessarily hold true in the case of Kiai (spirit shout). However, I eventually realized that placing the foot firmly without noise provided for a purer transmission of energy, and thus was somewhat true, and I was on The Way.

Another thing I heard was that The True Art cannot be felt. For years I struggled with this, working my way through such concepts as the most gained for the least effort (Economy of Motion–Wing Chun). Finally I realized that the concept in the Tao–Do nothing until nothing is left undone–did have some veracity in it.

A tough concept was that The True Art could not be seen. This was a killer, and summed up by the oblique statement that energy is invisible. But, with enough practice, you do start to move in a different time frame than others, the practice of the martial arts does establish a different universe that does coincide, yet be superior to, the universe in which we all live.

Finally, there is my personal method for encouraging people on this subject of defining what The True Art is. I tell people that The True Art is like a wobbling wheel, the less wobble, the more True it is. Thus, through the study of physics and our bodies, real time physics can be applied to the analysis of our motions.

Now, thus far, we have a definition that can’t be heard, felt or seen, but can, after a fashion, be measured. Combine that with the definition of God (that which cannot be named), or the definition of chi (it is everything and everywhere, but it cannot be seen), and we have something that is real in the abstract, and which can be measured. And, thus, we have a definition of The True Art.

In the end, having measured ourselves and sought perfection, we achieve The True Art. The question is how long is it going to take? The measuring methods of ancient cultures often take on the form of mysticism, and so tend to obfuscate as much as enlighten. However, through the religion of physics we can forge our own path, and this path can, indeed, be a speedy path.

Hi Guys and Gals,

here’s the latest newsletter,

enjoy,

and come see me at Monster Martial Arts.

Monster Newsletter #240–How to Go Crazy Using Neutronics!!

Yippeee!
Today is a chance to work out!
And if I get all my chores done…
I can work out twice!

Working out really is that fun.
But I don’t have to tell you,
cause you’re a work out fool!
A WOF.
Is that a good word to make up,
or what?

You WOF.
Heh.

You sweaty, stinky,
but irredeemably happy…
WOF.

Yeah,
I think that’ll go in the Matrix Dictionary.

Now,
before I get started,
let me give a loud shout to…
Australia!
Man,
I get a lot of orders from you crazy guys and gals down under.
So thanks and g’day,
and have great work outs.

Now,
let’s talk about the relationship
between Matrixing and Neutronics.

But,
before we get started,
let me advise you that I’m going to be talking Neutronics.
Look,
I talk hard core martial arts all the time,
but there is a segment of readers
that need the kind of stuff
I’m going to be covering
in this newsletter.
So,
this is their turn,
and if you start getting a little antsy,
don’t like what I am saying,
go have a beer.
It’s safe to bail,
and don’t worry,
I’ll be back to talking face stomping martial arts next newsletter,
but for this newsletter…

Okey doke,
here we go…

Matrixing is..
the analysis and handling
of force and direction (flow).

So you use the Matrixing tools,
to analyze everything that is coming towards you.
You make those funny, little graphs I show
in Matrix Karate,
to figure out every possible potential of motion.

You even find out what you didn’t know,
you isolate
those blank spots that you didn’t even know were there.

Now you have got the prediction on what is happening.
You have the complete picture,
no blank spots,
and you are going to start seeing
the lean in your opponent.
What angle he is tending towards,
what technique is imprinted on the mass
of his mind
before it becomes reality.

You can see what he is going to do before he does it,
you can isolate the flow of the attack before it starts.
So…what then?

Then you go Neutronic.
Neutronics is…
the study of motion from a fixed position.

Now,
don’t get me wrong here,
even if you are moving,
because you’re the center of the universe,
you are fixed
and the center
of whatever motion is happening.

The universe is fluid,
you see.
Not chaos at all,
but,
rather,
a very predictable bowl of jello
swirling
with a few rockish minds in it.
And you are the container.
Got it?

And,
that being understood,
while Matrixing has graphs and vector analysis
and charts and predictions,
Neutronics only has two things,
the analysis of force and flow.

What is the path of that object coming towards you,
What is the potential collision,
and…
the solution.

You saw him lean,
you predicted him,
so focus on him.

Do you guide the flow?
Stop it?
Manipulate it back into him?
Let it collide and control the degree of force (collision)?

This is a world of choice,
you see.
You don’t learn just one art,
you see,
and just one technique
and that is your only solution,
for there is no choice in that.

And you must have choice,
or you are just reacting,
a robot,
a animul.
No joy in that.

Yet,
you would be shocked
at how many people
are that blind.

Enlightenment
is causing people
who see in black and white,
to see in color.

In the martial arts,
this means having choice.
And not just the choice of
destruction v control.

It is a choice of vast variety.

A guy who studies two arts,
or three,
he is limited in choices,
because he has only filled in two boxes,
or three,
in a matrix with a dozen boxes.

A dozen easy,
and usually more,
because every box in the matrix
is going to change
and create boxes
exponentially.

You see,
the matrix doesn’t just illuminate
the blank spots of techniques that
you didn’t know were there,
it illuminates the flows,
vectors, potential collisions,
improbably possibilities
of the arts that you don’t know.

Bigger picture,
you see,
than most people understand is there.

And,
one of the drills I used to make myself do
when learning Aikido,
and various other grab arts,
I would start a technique
and change it in the middle,
of my own volition,
and make it go
in the cardinal directions.

Consider this drill
through the made up arts
of all the arts
in your matrix.

And most people,
even in the most advanced arts,
are reacting, fitting the glove to the hand,
but the glove they are fitting
is of a specific make and manufacture,
got the right amount of fingers,
and all that,
you see.

My glove doesn’t have the right amount of fingers.
When a punch comes in
you never know if I have four fingers,
or six,
or a thumb,
or whatever.

Choice.
But,
choice that includes
even all the blank spots I have learned,
that nobody else even knows exist.

I’m not tooting horns here,
I am saying
that there is a lot more in this world
than Horatio thought.

You want something liquid?
You want something fundamentally Neutronic to the core?

The first thing you think,
once you go Neutronic,
if you can stop laughing at the concept
of somebody trying to collide a fist with you
is…
that fist doesn’t exist.

Oh,
I ain’t kidding.

For something to be true,
you see,
the opposite must also be true.
And if the fist is coming at you,
then it is not coming at you,
and once you understand this,
well,
that’s when even though the barn door is open,
all the animals are standing around
shell shocked,
too stunned by the concept of color
to even move.

You see,
here is the odd truth,
when you go Neutronic
in the middle of the fight,
when you begin to observe motion
from a fixed position,
you end up being the only one moving
and everything else is fixed.

Weird,
eh?

Now,
I know that a few of you are shaking your heads,
wishing you’d taken the blue pill,
or at least,
gone and gotten that beer I mentioned so many years ago.

But,
I also know that there are a large number of you,
quite a large number,
actually,
who are sitting there,
spaced out,
not really knowing where your thoughts are going,
but,
man,
they are going.

Hey,
it’s not too late for that beer,
heh.

But,
listen,
the first time in my life
that I ever talked Neutronics to anybody,
it was my room mate,
the guy who actually got me into the martial arts,
and we were driving along,
and I started talking,
I don’t know why,
about the fact that everybody was a spot in the universe,
and they were all connected,
every person in the universe was glued to everybody else in the universe,
by these invisible, instantaneous, telephonic lines,
and everybody was moving,
and so every person’s lines
to every other person in the universe
was shifting,
twisting,
reconfiguring,
everything.
All of it.
Moving.
At once….
and I looked over at this guy,
who was actually driving a car at the time,
and he had this most beautiful vacant expression on his face,
and I could see he understood,
that he got it,
and that he was watching all those connections
between all those people in the universe
shift.

He was so far out in outerspace
and yet he was driving a ton of metal down the street,
endangering lives
with his vacant expression
and gone mind.

And he jerked to himself back to reality
and started laughing too.

Neutronics.

When you go Neutronic,
stuff happens,
the universe comes alive
and you see it in color.

And,
here’s the absolutely hysterical thing about it all…
you get to this insanity
this Neutronics,
through the cement solid study
of the rigid empirical science known as Matrixing.

You need the discipline of the martial arts,
ordered through matrixing,
to find Neutronics
to see color.

Well,
I have two things to ask you,
at this point.
Head on over to Monkeyland.
Look around,
see if there is something sufficiently out there to intrigue you,
and know that that is the philosophy
underwriting the martial arts.
That’s where the True Art goes.

Monkeyland!

But be careful,
there’s things there that can bite you.

And,
the second thing,
send me a happy thought
when you hoist that beer.

Now,
if this Neutronics thing doesn’t like you,
don’t worry,
next newsletter
I’ll tell you how to rip somebody’s face off,
how to break ribs and stomp guts
and all that other good stuff.

Until then,
have a great work out, and…
g’day.

Al

=o)

Monkeyland

All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.
Albert Einstein

There are different kinds of difficulties with balance. One kind is the balance to stand on one foot or walk a line. Another is losing balance because of carelessness. That one can be dealt with – just be more careful. The first kind of balance is a sensing / reaction deal in the body … it’s usually automatic. How do you improve that kind of balance?

Taiji does provide the opportunity for practice of both kinds of balance. Being carefull and deliberate is fundamental in Taiji practice. The other kind of balance is more involved but here in our practice, there are many tips that we’ve learned.

“The head is pulled up, the tailbone is pulled down by a heavy weight”. I think of the feeling as if our bodies are like a heavy chain pulled up at the top, and hanging like a heavy weight straight down to our tailbone and down to the ground. Between the chain of the spine, we have our waist and legs and on the ground – our feet. For the weight to be perfectly alligned and in balance, our feet should be directly under this chain at the point where the chain would touch the ground.

“The knees are slightly bent.” Notice that this puts your feet directly in the chain line.

“The body is completely relaxed.” ”You feel like a wet noodle.” ”You feel like everything is pulled down”. These images help to emphasize the pull of gravity to your feet. A physical meaning of “centering” is that the weight of the body always has a center of gravity. If the center of gravity is not in the line of the chain – head – tailbone – feet, you are off center, and off balance.

This is a physical meaning of ”centering” and the taiji posture leads directly to good physical centering fundamentals.

A last tip helped me to understand “balancing” is to make the adjustment as low as possiblem either in the foot itself – especially the ball of the foot and toes, or next best – in the ankles. A small move there is the best balance adjustment. A big move in the upper body is harder to control and makes you more prone to over-correction and can be too much too late.

(why is it easier to balance with your arms spread out? It doesn’t lower the center of gravity but it “spreads” out the center of gravity so any adjustments you make have a more subtle effect on the shifting the location of the center – you are more “stable” and less prone to over-correct. )

I had a fellow write me the other day, and he told me of a fellow who won’t let his daughter go on a date until she is a black belt in karate. Well, I have to tell you, there is brilliance in this idea. No more rape, because when this girl says no…she means NO!

Don’t you just love it? Little Johnny, eh, Loveherfaster takes daddy’s little girl out on a date. His hands start to wander a bit more than drunk on a foggy night, and, suddenly…bam! Daddy’s little girl uses a little kung fu to knock the sweet living bejesus snot out of our horny, little knucklehead.

Now, there is humor here, I know, but there is something else, too. What most people don’t know is that once you get past the violence and fighting in such arts as kenpo or tae kwon do, there is moral certitude. You know the difference between right and wrong.

Oh, I know there have been exceptions to this fact, that there have been martial arts instructors who have committed crimes, but they are just that…the exception. And, to be honest, they probably weren’t studying the martial arts, they were probably just studying how to beat people up. They were thugs, polite but thugs, in uniform, and that’s all they were.

In ancient times people who taught karate or kung fu or other arts used to screen their students to make sure no idiots could infect the art. In modern times, however, the only screening process is whether a person has money. And, the sad truth is that most schools use the fact of fighting to try to sell the art.

The True Art has fighting in it, but it is only by the way. The True Art is actually an education in physics, it requires immense patience and attention to detail, things which are not normal to the thuggish personality. And, in the end, the True Art teaches one how to see things before they happen.

Oh, not some silly psychic stuff, but the ability to observe such things as appearance, body motion, and what these factors indicate are going to happen. Once little Janey has done sufficient art, and I mean the True Art, not just the fighting art, she gains the ability to see people for what they are. She will be much less prone to being fooled by a wolf in cheap…uh, sheep clothing.

So, make your daughter get her black belt in Karate or tae kwon do, or judo or ninjitsu, or whatever, before she goes on a date, but make sure she learns from a school that has some steel in the cement. Make sure that the instructor is smiling and joking, and not some lantern jawed bully talking about the need to hit first and talk later. Make sure that there is a bit of moral certitude, the ability to know right from wrong, as well as good, firm martial knowledge, in the fellow who is going to give your daughter the ability to protect herself throughout her life.

Walter Allievi e Lapo Baglini - Trainers

Partendo da questo assunto, verso la fine del 2008, io e l’amico Lapo Baglini abbiamo cominciato a pensare a come, in concreto, si potesse portare l’esperienza formativa delle Arti Marziali in Azienda, con profitto per sia per l’Azienda come sistema che per i singoli dipendenti, stimolando le abilità fisiche e mentali dei partecipanti con esercizi marziali che si ponessero al tempo stesso come sfida senza essere rischiosi nella realtà della pratica. 

Focus sull'obiettivo - Sessione di Formazione Marziale con il Kung Fu

Contesto di riferimento

Taichi e Formazione Marziale - Il Tui Shou in una sessione di Formazione Marziale

Ma quali arti marziali sono definibili interne? Non molte per la verità, si tratta sostanzialmente di tre grandi famiglie: il Pakua, lo Hsing Yi e il Tai Chi, appunto. Tutte di origine Cinese. L’altra arte che probabilmente è possibile definire come interna è l’Aikido fondato in Giappone dal Maestro Morirei Ueshiba a metà secolo scorso. L’Aikido pone ancor maggiormente l’accento, rispetto alle arti cinesi se possibile, sull’utilizzo dell’energia dell’avversario per controllarlo e neutralizzarlo, sempre nel rispetto dell’essere umano e del principio “minor dispendio di energie con il massimo rendimento” (efficienza ed efficacia).

Cheng Man-ching

Cheng Man-ching

Nigel Sutton – Die geistige Einstimmung und Ausrichtung: den Körper von Kopf bis Fuß auf folgende Punkte überprüfen:

• Der Kopf fühlt sich an, als sei er an einer Schnur aufgehängt
• Die Augen entspannen sich und blicken geradeaus, ohne zu fixieren, so dass der Blick weit wird und man auch die Peripherie wahrnimmt
• Die Gesichtsmuskeln sind entspannt
• Der Mund ist locker und entspannt oder, wie in den klassischen Schriften beschrieben, „nicht offen, nicht geschlossen“.
• Die Zungenspitze berührt den Gaumen
• Die Schultern sind locker und entspannt
• Der Rücken ist natürlich gewölbt und der Brustkorb entsprechend gespannt
• Zwischen Achselhöhlen und Rumpf ist ein wenig Abstand
• Die Ellbogengelenke sind entspannt und leicht angewinkelt
• Die Hände sind locker geöffnet, die Finger „weder gestreckt noch gekrümmt“
• Das Tigermaul, der Bereich zwischen Daumen und Zeigefinger, ist leicht gedehnt
• Der Taillenbereich fühlt sich entspannt und geschmeidig an
• Das Becken ist ein wenig nach vorne gekippt, so dass die Wirbelsäule auf natürliche Weise gerade „herabhängt“
• Die Knie sind leicht gebeugt
• Die Fußsohlen haben guten Bodenkontakt
• Das Körpergewicht ruht auf natürliche Weise auf dem vorderen Teil der Füße (Niere 1,Yongquan)

Wichtige Ratgeber der klassischen Lehren:

• Der Körper sollte wie eine in Watte verborgene Nadel sein
• Bewegen Sie sich wie eine Katze auf der Pirsch, und schauen Sie wie ein Adler
• Wenn sich ein Körperteil bewegt, bewegt sich der ganze Körper
• Der Energiefluss ist wie Seide, die sich von einem Kokon abspult
• Die Aufmerksamkeit konzentriert sich im Dantian (Unterbauch).

Here’s the latest newsletter for you guys. Enjoy. Al

Man,
it is that perfect time of year,
not too hot,
not too cold,
every day perfect for working out!

Do you know what clunking is?
Of course you don’t,
I made up the term.
It describes the feeling of a real hit,
a strike that goes through the body,
a punch or kick that shakes the very bones,
sets up a wave of destruction,
shivers the heart of the person being struck.

You think I am being a little too exuberant in my description?
Nah.

Listen, there are three depths of strike.
One to the skin,
one to the muscle,
and one to the bone.

Punch skin deep and you are playing,
no bruises,
nothing but gotcha, with no impact.

Punch muscle deep and you create bruises.
Little welts to purple blots.
There is room to descend here,
into the muscle to varying depth,
and it is a very educational time
when you are playing with this strike.
Got to be careful,
too,
because it hurts.

Now,
to strike bone deep is something else.
You actually have the perception of hitting the bone,
not even bothering with the skin or muscle.
Oddly,
there are very few bruises.
but,
you can actually feel the bone shake,
and the guy who is struck has a queasy feeling,
and he rubs his arm
as if there was pain.
It hurts,
but none of that sissy ouchie stuff
that the kids cry about.
This is the deep touch,
the hello to one more bit of depth
and that bone is going to break
and if I did this to your kidneys you’d piss blood and die.
Not pain,
but knowing that the body is going to break.

Now,
how do you practice this depth of punch?
Well,
I’ll give you a couple of good clues.

One,
you relax.
You don’t put your perception in your arm,
in the sensation of muscle tightening,
except by the way.
Instead,
you put your perception in his arm,
you feel him with your fist,
and this leads to the second hint.

When you hit somebody,
plant your fist on his body
and gently push.

Now, you are working the exact muscles
of the punch
at the point of impact.
Can’t get more specific with any type of muscular training.
The exact and perfect range and motion of muscles
at the point of impact.
But,
remember,
don’t concentrate on the sensation within,
concentrate on the sensation of his body.
Feel the muscle and tissue retreat before your fist,
feel the touch of bone with your knuckles.

After a while
you can actually feel the wave,
the vibration
of the bone.

Bone doesn’t like to be touched in this manner.

Muscles and flesh, you see
hide the bone,
protect the bone,
and you have just passed all the safeguards and
touched the bone.

Now,
there is more to it than this,
but if you just practice this kind of punch,
gently,
then you will get it.
And,
when students get this kind of ability,
to punch a guy right to the bone,
I call it Clunking.
Clunking
is just sort of the appropriate word
for the sensation.

Think of it like this–
clunking is like
dropping a rock into a pond,
and having the rock strike the rocks
just below the surface.
You hear a splash
and a…clunk.

Well,
that clunk,
that sickening, splitting sound
of rock breaking
(or almost breaking,
other rock,
is what you want.

Clunk.
Deep,
dull,
thud.

You feel his bone,
he feels his bone worry and revulse,
and
clunk.

Okey doke.
Holy sweet heysoos,
I like talking about
breaking bones.
I’d think there was something wrong,
but such fun…such fun.

So,
dig into your wallet,
get out twenty,
hit the monster
and find the page on the punch.
It’s right here…

The Punch!

cause what I have been telling you here
is just a sweet taste
of how to break bones
with a simple punch.

Viva Monkeyland!
And have a downright immortal work out!

Al

=o)

Life must be understood backwards; but… it must be lived forward.
Soren Kierkegaard

Approximately 2,000 dolphins are killed each year by Japanese fishermen in the small town of Taiji, according to a documentary made by the famous Flipper trainer.
The dolphins massacre in the fishing town of just 3,500 inhabitants located on the southeast coast of Japan was for decades a well kept secret by the Japanese authorities. Taiji was once the largest center for hunting whales in Japan.
On the southeast coast of Japan, the dolphin hunting season lasts from September to March. The dolphins that fall in the fishermen’s net are trapped in a small bay near Taiji, from where they are kept from escaping with electrified wire nets.
Young females are then separated from the group to be sold to water parks and the rest captured mammals are killed for meat. The blood of thousands of dolphins killed annually reddens the water of the bay.
The entire massacre was surprised by Ric O’Barry, aged 70 years, who has investigated years before could surprise on film the whole atrocity. The documentary made by him is entitled “The Cove” and has already won several awards at the Sundance Film Festival.

There is, of course, the simple yet devious concept of blindsiding. This is to sneak attack, from the rear, by misdirection, or some other means. Assuming that you are going to have enough awareness to survive and avoid the blindside, what are you going to do?

Where are you going to place your eyes when some mugger or thug wants to blindside you on the street? The other guy wants you to blink, to be unaware. You have to remain aware, and you have to figure out where to look, where to place your gaze, how to keep the visual line of perception open.

The first place I was told to place your eyes, when doing kenpo karate kumite, was on the chest. One was supposed to open up the gaze, see peripherally. In this manner one could use the eyes to perceive a larger area, and not be fooled by an attack from a smaller area, or vector.

The problem here is that when you look at the body you don’t see the human being, and it is the human being, after all that is attacking you, not the body. The body is just a meat machine, and, especially in the martial arts, it is being thrown by the human being. You must perceive the human being if you are going to see who is making the decisions as to how the body is going to be thrown at you.

One Kang Duk Won karate instructor told me to look at the body when doing kumite, and especially the Sticky Hands drill out of Wing Chun kung fu, because the eyes could fool you. I found this extremely interesting, and not good data. It was years before I figured out the error in this type of thought.

The error in looking at the body during freestyle or combat is that the eyes are the windows of a man’s soul. The soul is the human being, it is the soul, the being himself, that is making the decisions. If you look at the eyes long enough, cultivate the concept, through good, solid karate kata training, that you are looking for the source of the thought that is driving the action that is the attack, then you see the human being, and you see the thought behind the action.

In the martial arts, no matter if it is kang duk won or hung gar or Silat, there is no action without a thought behind it. Even a drunk behind the wheel, as unconscious as he can be, is making the decisions. And a fighter, even and especially an MMA fighter, honed to a technical perfection, is going to exude a stillness which, with a little practice, you can perceive the thought within.

So in martial arts, even and especially Mixed Martial Arts, you must look at the eyes if you wish to see what a fighter is thinking. You must look, and train yourself to keep looking, and not be distracted by anything, through all the phases of freestyle. This is the way to cultivate martial arts intuition and the sixth sense you are going to need in survival oriented combat.

Most of the people frequenting my blog are probably wondering if I have come out of my gloom and sorrow and pain over MJ’s death. Well, here’s a post to tell them that those dark clouds of gloom faded relatively quickly and I was back to my good old self in no time. What has kept me from writing is basically:

a) A lack of inspiration
b) And lack of time and patience

Or maybe I am not managing my time well enough. Trying to do to much all at once can also lead to a situation when you are not sure what exactly you want to do first. It’s the kind of feeling when an 8th grader picks up his chemistry book only to realize soon that he has plenty of work to do in biology and mathematics too. I’ve been trying to pick up a few books too lately, details of which are probably beyond the scope of this post. In short, all of them are technology related, some from computer sciences, and some related to piping design codes and standards. Prioritizing which ones I should read first is turning into quite a challenge, and I am trying to make myself realize that slow and steady (and consistently) usually wins the race.

There is something that is taking up a lot of my ‘brain space’ nowadays, and it happens to be something related to my old passion for the martial arts. I have been studying Taijiquan (better known as Tai Chi) nowadays, and so far have learned how to do the most basic 24 form sequence of the simplified Yang version of this beautiful art. Mr. Yang was a great fighter in his days (a long long time ago), and he developed a simplified version of the original Chen style of Taijiquan (Tai Chi Boxing) for some people who were interested in learning this art.

If I had known about Taijiquan earlier, I wouldn’t have taken up Karate. But I think I am lucky to have learned a hard external art like Karate first, because it has certainly given me a clear understanding of basic body mechanics involved in techniques which most of the martial arts share, be it internal or external martial arts. But the transition from Karate to Taijiquan can be a challenge, because I am used to quick powerful blows and strong breathing, and the Yang form’s Silk Reeling involves extremely gentle and slow movements. But this gentle and slow movements are an amazing, amazing workout. I have been working on my legs for some time ever since I came to Islamabad, but all those workouts were nothing as compared to the hard work my legs had to do when practicing the 24 Yang form correctly. The muscles in my legs were sore for a couple of days, particular the frontal muscles, the glutes because of the stretching, and the hamstring. And I have noticed a marked improvement in my movements and balance.

So in order to advance my knowledge of this beautiful art, I went out one night looking for a good book on Taijiquan in Islamabad, although I wasn’t very hopeful. I have one book in sights which you can look up on Amazon at this location. I’ll ask one of the booksellers to order that if I’m unable to find it in the shops. I first went around the Super market but found nothing but old Yoga, Atkins diet and other sissy books meant for commercial rather than informative purpose. Disappointed, I headed off the Saeed Book Bank in Jinnah Super and started searching there in the hobbies section. Nothing but Taekwondo, Shotokan Karate, and general books on martial arts. Then I found the wonder of all wonders… a computer with a search feature in it which the shop had installed for the benefit of its customers. Searching up Tai Chi spilled out a number of books in the found list, and I asked one of the attendants to direct me to their location. He took me to a corner of the large shop where no one usually came, and showed me a few books on Tai Chi, Qi Gong, I-Ching, and the Tao philosophy. When I pulled out one of the Tai Chi books, I was amazed to see that it was a book about the 24 basic movements which I had learned, and cost around a thousand rupees. What was most disappointing was to read the first few lines which were something like:

Tai Chi is an ancient form of exercise…

I think I need not go any further. Most of the books on that shelf were the types which portrayed Tai Chi as an exercise system, and not a complete martial art. It’s disappointing to see something so beautiful commercialized to this extent.

Anyway, I walked out of the shop, thinking of ordering that book from Amazon instead of wasting my time looking in shops in Lahore and Islamabad. Oh yeah, forgot about Lahore. I went to Readings too a week ago. They’ve set up a nice little coffee shop and reading place in one corner, but the books are mostly the old ones. I wanted to buy Kafka, but my priorities on finishing those technology books made me change my mind.

So I guess that’s what’s on my mind nowadays, and now you know. Taijiquan has been beneficial to me in a variety of ways, and I have only started it. I am excited to learn the more advanced forms but I want to concentrate on the basics and solidify them before I move on.

Att skriva om Tai chi (Taijiquan) i film är en rätt gammal idé till en artikel eller, ja som nu, ett blogginlägg i filmbloggen. Idén aktualiserades igår då jag lyckades stöta på två personer som frågade mig om tai chi. Den ena var en gammal elev från en tidigare grupp. Och den andra var en vän som jag inte sett på rätt länge. Det är definitivt inte varje dag jag får förfrågningar om tai chi och det var ett år sedan jag gav upp min gamla Tai chi- och neijiagrupp och sade adjö till mina elever på grund av egen tidsbrist. Så gårdagens förfrågningar tog jag nog smått som ett omen att jag nog allt borde försöka ge mer plats för träning.
… Och sedan blev jag ändå sittande vid datorn och skriver istället.

Hursomhelst så var det inte så många som kände till namnet Tai chi när jag började träna 1987. Jag själv hade aldrig hört talas om det och nästan ingen i min omgivning. Det var åren alldeles där på som folk började bli något så när medvetna om att det existerade något som kallas Tai chi, eller Taijiquan som man skriver med officiell kinesisk transkription, eller pinyin. Det var genom media som det tog fart, främst genom Tv-inslag, men också genom film.

1988 visades Taijiqigong på UR – det var korta qigongrörelser som marknadsfördes som. Yvonne Linn tog snabbt upp kampen om pensionärerna och gav dessutom ut den första boken om taiji på svenska “Tai chi – kinesisk folkgymnastik” – inte ett ord i den första upplagan om att Tai chi i själva verket är ett traditionellt kampsystem.

Annars var 1989 ett bra år. Det var då Tracys hämnd visades på svensk TV för första gången. I förtexterna utförde hon Tai chi rörelser i Yangstilsformat. Min egen lärare fick minst tre nya elever på grund av Tracy, varav två av dom stannade kvar länge som elever. Jag har för mig att det var 1989 eller 1990 som min första lärare i Tai chi, Leif Ekerling, hade ett kort inslag i ett kaféprogram. Det var första gången någon svensk i TV berättade att man faktiskt använde Tai chi för att slåss med.

Men fortfarande under flera år trodde de flesta att Tai chi var morgongymnastik. De flesta lärde inte ut självförsvaret, eller kunde det. Jag kommer ihåg att jag var på någonting som i alla fall lanserades som ett öppet “mästerskap” i Kung-Fu, i början av 90-talet. Svenska Wushuakademin visade taiji. Och speakern, från just denna Linns organisation som organiserade tävlingen, sa att “Tai chi var från början ett kampsystem. Men nu tränar man inte det längre.” Gissa vem som satt i publiken och var förbannad…

En annan serie som Tai chi skymtades i var annars Falcon Crest, redan i någon av de tidigaste säsongerna. Jag komme rinte ihåg vilken. Även om halva Sverige, utom just mina föräldrar, engagerade sig i serien gick inslagen obemärkta förbi.

En annan TV- serie, säkert den första som sändes i Sverige som gjorde Tai Chi intressant för en yngre publik, en publik utan artros och artificiella höftleder, var Star Trek – The Next Generation. Här visades i flera avsnitt både “äkta” Tai chi och en klingonvariant, MoQbara, som upprörde klingonkunniga trekkister världen över.

Fortsättningen i FilmMedia Filmblogg, del två om Tai Chi på film och TV kommer att behandla Tai Chi på film. Det kommer definitivt bli något fylligare och längre. Förhoppningsvis behöver den intresserade vänta allt för länge. 

David
/FilmMedia – Filmblogg

La baia di Taiji è una tranquilla e nascosta insenatura sulle coste giapponesi. Qui, da settembre a marzo, l’acqua diventa rossa con il sangue delle migliaia di delfini uccisi in una macabra mattanza. I giapponesi sono ghiotti della carne degli iruka i cosiddetti “maiali di mare”, e sono disposti a pagare profumatamente per un trancio o un derivato. I pescatori e i cacciatori di delfini sono stati accusati più volte dalle associazioni animaliste e ambientaliste, ma ora un documentario ha finalmente visto e filmato tutto. E li ha messi con le spalle al muro. The Cove uscirà nelle sale europee a fine ottobre. Al momento però non è prevista la proiezione in Italia. Gli autori del video capitanati da Rick O’Barry hanno adottato ogni tipo di accorgimento e mimetizzazione per filmare una zona sinora off limits ai non addetti ai lavori.

I really shouldn’t tell you this, I should save it and write a course and sell it to you. But,
call me Mister No Self control, I am impelled to speechify. Here is the simple secret on how to glow using the martial arts.

First things first, ask yourself what is going to glow. Well, there is the body, the tan tien, which is the energy generator, which is going to start up and that is going to cause your body to glow. This will not be very noticeable, though you could make it so, and it really doesn’t matter except as an ignitor.

You see, you make the body glow, and the discipline and the techniques make you glow. What is you, you might ask at this point. Good question, and if you have the correct answer you can move to the head of the class, you probably do not need to be reading this right now.

Second things second, you aren’t going to glow if you aren’t leading a good life. If you aren’t virtuous, then you aren’t going to be able to reach ignition. A dark soul leads a dark life.

Third things third, when you are doing the martial arts, have somebody push on your frame. This is called body resisting, or resistance training, and it is key to what we are going to do here. The person pushing must push lightly and so that the force goes through the body and into the ground.

As the energy goes through the body it ignites the tan tien, and, zingo bingo, we have glow. Let me repeat, the push must be light, we aren’t doing muscle building, we are merely building peaceful, relaxed resistance. And, the body must be arranged for max resistance with least effort, which is to say the body must be aligned.

Now, here is the key. If you are efforting, then you aren’t resisting properly. You must resist by not using the muscles except in the most relaxed manner.

You are going to need a partner to do this drill, and herein lies the key. You thought you were going to glow all alone, sitting in the dark and reading a book without no stinking light bulb? No, you need people, you need give and take for this method to work, you need humanity, and that is no secret.

Leia a matéria na íntegra abaixo:

PA-KUA
Arte chinesa chega ao DF
Técnica milenar adaptada à cultura ocidental oferece diversas modalidades de treinamento. Método é ensinado em Brasília há menos de duas semanas

Paulo de Araújo/CB/D.A Press – 25/9/09

Every once in a while somebody in the martial arts will touch upon The Golden Sphere. Aikido is big on this theory, as is Pa Kua Chang, and Tai Chi Chuan done resolutely will, eventually, create The Golden Sphere. And even the basest and coarsest of arts, such as Tae Kwon Do and Karate, will, done long enough and with enough attention to detail, and with sufficient eye to the virtues of humanity, result in The Golden Sphere.

Most people, unfortunately, don’t know of The Golden Sphere, have not heard of it, and are not blessed with even the rudimentary knowledge of how to attain it. Yet the Golden Sphere is nothing but an casement of energy, a glow manufactured and sustained, and the rules for that attaining are simplicity in itself. Indeed, with a bare outlining of the basics necessary, any one of any art could attain it, though, to be honest, it is easier if one has acquired all the knowledge, and studied all the arts.

First and foremost is the grounding of the machine that is your body. You must undertake a severe study of stances, through all potential ranges of motion. You must course the energy up and down the legs, learning when to brace against the ground, and when to liberate yourself from it.

Second and equally important is the glow of the energy center. This energy center is called the tan tien, or the One Point. This energy center is actually an energy generator, and you must breath as if to it, center your awareness on it, cause it to glow from the excitation of energy running up and down the legs, make it work.

Third, most important of all, one must learn how to relax while doing the martial arts. If one is not relaxed, then energy is not concentrated in the tan tien, but rather dissipated throughout the body to points that are not relaxed. In other words, energy is locked up by points of the body that are not relaxed.

Now, you are grounding, focusing, breathing, and creating truckloads of energy within the center of the body. You will glow, regardless of any wish or desire to the contrary–and only a fool would not want to glow in this fashion. So liberate this energy, course it through the arms, and like sparklers on a dark night, surround your body with geometric configurations of energy, and let that energy encapsulate you, protect you, and yet not bar you from the world, but rather open you to a different world, a world beyond senses, a world of ethereal perfection.

Eventually, as you practice endlessly and without thought of time or other such mundane limitations, you become art. You become the unique and special individual you are. One thing that will help unlimit you, and increase your progress in this quest a hundred fold, is to study what virtue is, and how to manifest it in your life.

It is easy, you know, if you just get out of your way, if you do your forms with attention to the details I have listed here. It is easy if you put aside the problems of the world, solve them quickly and efficiently, and consecrate your time on this planet to what really matters, the creation and evolution of art. I advise you then, do what I have instructed here, and…and to do it through the learning of as many arts as you can, for to seek The Golden Sphere through but one art is slow, to seek it through understanding all is The True Way.

Yoon Bying In wanted to study kung fu in the worst possible way, yet the kung fu master in his town refused to teach Koreans. Time after time Yoon had been caught peeking in windows and had been chased away from the dojo. Then Yoon got a brilliant idea.

During class he snuck up and lined up all the shoes of the students. He then retreated and watched when the master of kung fu came out of the dojo. The kung fu master was pleased at this display of respect, and he wondered who had shown him such respect.

Yoon continued doing this day after day, and, eventually, the kung fu master found out who it was. In this way Yoon became accepted, and the only Korean so accepted to study kung fu in this town. He threw himself into his studies and proved bright and strong in many ways.

Yoon grew older and went to college. He like to practice his kung fu on a tree, and he pounded on the tree so mercilessly that the tree eventually began to bend over. One day a fellow student came running up to him.

We are both Korean, and you must help me. Those Japanese karate students are after me. At that moment a band of the karate students came charging up.

Yoon put himself in the way and told the students that the martial arts should be studied for peaceful purposes. Immediately, the students challenged him and began trying to fight him. Using his kung fu Yoon dodged and darted and managed to avoid combat without hurting anybody.

The karate master heard of Yoon, and became friends with him. Eventually, Yoon went to study with Toyama Kanken, who had studied with Ankoh Itosu. Toyama was so impressed he traded knowledge with Yoon, and made him Shihan in his system, which Yoon taught upon his return to Korea.

Yoon contributed greatly to Karate, causing the founding of the Kang Duk Won and contributing to the fund of knowledge which became Tae Kwon Do. Eventually he was swept up by the Korean war, where he became a prisoner of war and was forced to work in a cement factory. It is rumored that he never returned home, yet his contributions will always be embedded in the DNA of Karate.

C’est parti !
Pour bien commencer la saison, bienvenue sur le blog de Pleins et déliés.

Vous y trouverez des présentations générales des activités de l’association, mais aussi, comme sur tout blog, des articles qui réagissent sur l’actualité de la pratique, les rencontres, les événements marquant en France ou ailleurs. Sans oublier les liens aux sites référents ! bonne visite et merci de tout vos commentaires qui seront les bienvenus !

Taijiquan – Vorstellung und Kraft

Es ist vielleicht bekannt, dass man im Taijiquan keine übermäßige Muskelkraft, dafür aber seine Vorstellungskraft yi einsetzen soll. Dies in der Praxis zu verwirklichen, ist nicht einfach. Es besteht die Gefahr, in Schlaffheit abzugleiten, wodurch den Bewegungen jegliche Energie fehlt. (Anm. yishou ist das Bewahren der Vorstellungskraft).

Yi ist eine spürbare Kraft, die Bewegungsabläufe im Körper zu einer effektiven Aktion zusammenführt.

Im Westen haben die meisten Übenden immer wieder den Grundsatz gehört, dass man beim Taijiquan-Training mit Yi und ohne den übermäßigen Einsatz von Li, körperlicher Kraft, üben sollte.

Was mit dem Begriff Yi gemeint ist, kann man an einem alltäglichen Beispiel demonstrieren. Man halte eine Hand vor den Körper und stelle sich geistig vor, diese Hand nach vorne zu bewegen. Der dabei ablaufende geistige Prozess ist ein Ausdruck von Yi.

Die eigentliche Bewegung erfordert den Einsatz von Li. Diese Kraft, für sich genommen, ist nicht lebendig und wird auch als grobe Kraft bezeichnet.

Tai chi, one of the oldest Chinese Martial, like all other art forms is now gaining popularity today. Many people consider Tai Chi to be a soft and gentle art… but those who have encountered this art form believe and feel otherwise.
Tai Chi an internal martial art generates a lot of power with mindful movements and the cultivation of Chi.

It is believed that Chi is the basis for everything that exists, it is said that everything begins and ends with Chi. Chi is known by various names, Qi in Japan and most popularly as Prana in India.

The Chi can be cultivated, manipulated and used in different ways. It is said that there are different kinds of Chi, which affect individuals at different levels. They are:
Wei Chi- This refers to be the collective power of all other Chi.
Jing Chi- This refers to chi that is acquired from our parents, that is, hereditary a part of our body. It is usually said to be stored in the kidneys, any imbalance in this level is said to cause problems for generations.

Dao Chi; Gu Chi and Shem Chi, is what is cultivated by us, after birth.

Dao Chi is said to be stored in the lungs, any imbalance on this level causes anxiety, insomnia, shortness of breath etc

Gu Chi is said to be present in the spleen/stomach region- it is determined by what we eat, drink and our lifestyle.
Shem Chi is said to be present in the heart, it is the emotional centre.

Chi moves in 12 major meridians of the body. Of which, there are 8 psychic meridians, which is considered to be very important for a martial artist, this refers to the 8 openings of the body, that is points of attack.

Tai Chi consists of 5 basic footwork, which is said to represent the 5 elements and 8 major hand movements, which represent the 8 meridians. Meridians are considered to be pathways of energy, they are said to be the electro-magnetic lines on the major nerves of the body.

The study of Tai Chi Chuan primarily involves three aspects:

Health: An unhealthy or otherwise uncomfortable person may find it difficult to meditate to a state of calmness or to use tai chi as a martial art. Tai chi’s health training therefore concentrates on relieving the physical effects of stress on the body and mind. For those focused on tai chi’s martial application, good physical fitness is an important step towards effective Self Defence.

Meditation: The focus and calmness cultivated by the meditative aspect of tai chi is seen as necessary in maintaining optimum health (in the sense of relieving stress and maintaining Homeostatis) and in application of the form as a soft style martial art.

Martial art: The ability to use tai chi as a form of self-defence in combat is the test of a student’s understanding of the art. Tai chi chuan martially is the study of appropriate change in response to outside forces; the study of yielding and “sticking” to an incoming attack rather than attempting to meet it with opposing force.

Though Tai Chi, is famously known as a Chinese Martial Art, myth has it that portions of the Shiva Tandavam, the cosmic dance of Shiva, depicts Tai Chi movements. Also, the Yajur Veda, the first known text on Martial Arts talks about various forms of movements.

Today, the modern styles of tai chi trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools of China: Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu and Sun. The first five major family styles share much underlying theory, but differ in their approaches to training.

Tai chi’s theories and practice are believed by these schools to have been formulated by the Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng in the 12th century, at about the same time that the principles of the Neo-Confucian school were making themselves felt in Chinese intellectual life.

In these legends, Zhang Sanfeng as a young man studied Tao Yin breathing exercises from his Taoist teachers and martial arts at the Buddhist Shaolin monastery, eventually combining the martial forms and breathing exercises to formulate the soft or internal principles we associate with tai chi chuan and related martial arts.

Zhang Sanfeng is also sometimes attributed with the creation of the original 13 Movements of Tai Chi Chuan . These 13 movements are in all forms of Tai Chi Chuan. Its subsequent fame attributed to his teaching, Wu Tang monastery was known thereafter as an important martial center for many centuries, its many styles of internal kung fu preserved and refined at various Taoist temples.

Chen Style:

The Chen Family is the oldest and parent form of the five main Tai Chi Chuan styles. It is third in terms of world-wide popularity compared to the other main styles. Chen style is characterized by its lower stances, more explicit Silk Reeling (chan si jin) and bursts of power (fa jin).

Origin Theories
The origin and nature of tai chi is not historically verifiable at all until around the 1600s when the Chen clan of Chenjiagou (Chen Village) Henan province, China appear identified as possessing a unique martial arts system. How the Chen family came to practise their unique style is not clear due to lack of documentation from the formative period and irreconcilable views on the matter abound. What is known is that the other four modern orthodox family styles of tai chi chuan are traced to the teachings in the Chen family village in the early 19th century.

In contrast to some Tai Chi Styles and teachers the vast majority of Chen Stylists believe that Tai Chi is first and foremost a martial art; that a study of Self-Defence aspect of Tai Chi is the best test of one’s skill and knowledge of the Tai Chi principles that provide health benefit. In compliance with this principle, all Chen forms retain some degree of overt fa jing expresion.

In martial application, the Chen Style uses a wide variety of techniques applied with all the extremities that revolve around the use of the eight gates of Tai Chi Chuan to manifest kai- expansive power or he- contracting power, through the physical postures of Chen forms.

Chen Style aims to develop internal power for the execution of martial techniques, but focuses especially on cultivating fa jing skill. Between the new and the old frame traditions there are 105 fajing methods and 72 basic Qinna methods present in the forms.

Yang Style:

The Yang style of Tai Chi in its many variations is the most popular and widely practised style in the world today and the second in terms of seniority among the five family styles of Tai Chi Chuan.

The Yang family first became involved in the study of Tai Chi in the early 1800’s. The founder of Yang style is Yang Fu-kui also known as Yang Lu-chan, who studied under Chen Chang-hsing starting in 1820. Yang became a teacher in his own right, and his subsequent expression of Tai Chi Chuan became known as the Yang style, and directly led to the development of other three major styles of Tai Chi Chuan.

He came to prominence as a result of his being hired by the Chinese Imperial Family to teach Tai Chi Chuan to the elite Palace Battalion of the Imperial Guards in 1850, a position he held until his death.

Yang Ch’eng-fu removed the vigorous Fa-jing (release of power), energetic jumping, stamping, and other abrupt movements to emphasise Ta Chia (large frame style).

Yang style Taijiquan, as a internal martial art (Nei Jia Quan), is grounded in a group of core practice principles: relaxation (Song), circular movements, martial applications, rooting (Gen), moving from the waist (Yao), chi and springy (Jin) energies, softness (Rou), fluidity and expansiveness, vital energy on the move, good timing and coordination, fullness and emptiness, deep and coordinated breathing, becoming calm and quiet (Jing), mind/intent (Yi) leading bodily movements, and other principles found in the Taiji Classics.

The Yang style of internal martial arts includes short hand forms, a fast hand form, a sword form, a saber form, a staff form, two person practice sets, drills, push hands practice and competition, and sparring. There is a considerable body of literature about the Yang style of internal martial arts, with many practical, cultural, health enhancing, Daoist, and philosophical insights for scholarly enthusiasts.

The Long Tai Chi Chuan Form

This ‘long’ form (so-called to distinguish it from more recent ’short’ forms) is traditionaly considered to consist of 108 movements. It develops all the basic principals of Tai Chi: balance; centeredness; empty vs. full (wieghted & non-weighted); alignment; careful attention to precise movement; rootedness of the legs; flexibility of the waist; sinking one’s energy to the ‘tantien’; internal stillness; smooth movement rhythms, etc. It consists of three ’stages’ of increasing length and difficulty.

The Tai Chi Chien Sword Form

Traditionally the Sword Form is composed of 32 movements divided into four stages. It is very subtle, nuanced and graceful and drwas particular attention to the movements and positions of the hands as they are expressed by the sword and ’sword-finger’.

The Staff Form

It is short and energetic and extends the flow of chi into a wide sphere of space.

Push Hands

Also, two person exercise in sensitivity and responsiveness which is known as push hands. This can be done with either one or two hands and in its more advanced stages actively incorporates the movements of the Tai Chi Chuan form into a sparring martial-arts like exercise.

The Tai Chi Tao Sabre Form

It is very energetic, balance intensive and develops the concepts of attack and retreat very ably.

The 24 Posture Simplified Form

The 24 posture Simplified Form of Tai Chi Chuan, sometimes called the Beijing form for its place of origin, is a short version of Yang Style Tai Chi composed of twenty-four unique movements.

Movements:

Commencing (Qǐshì), Preparation, Beginning

Part the Wild Horse’s Mane (Yémǎ Fēnzōng)

White Crane Spreads Its Wings (Báihè Lìangchì), Stork/Crane Cools Its Wings

Brush Knee and Step Forward (Lōuxī Àobù), Brush Knee and Twist Step

Playing the Lute (Shǒuhūi Pípā), Strum the Lute, Play Guitar

Reverse Reeling Forearm (Daojuan Gong), Step Back and Drive Monkey Away

Left Grasp Sparrow’s Tail (Zuo Lan Quewei), Grasp the Bird’s Tail: Ward Off (Peng), Rollback (Lu), Press (Ji), Push (An)

Right Grasp Sparrow’s Tail (You Lan Quewei)

Single Whip (Danbian)

Wave Hands Like Clouds (Yunshou), Cloud Hands, Cloud Built Hands, Wave Hands in Clouds

Single Whip (Danbian)

High Pat on Horse (Gao Tan Ma), Step Up to Examine Horse13. Right Heel Kick (You Dengjiao), Separate Right Foot, Kick with Right Foot

Strike to Ears with Both Fists (Shuangfeng Guaner)

Turn Body and Left Heel Kick (Zhuanshen Zuo Dengjiao)

Left Lower Body and Stand on One Leg (Zuo Xiashi Duli): Single Whip Squatting Down, Snake Creeps Down, Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, Golden Bird Standing Alone

Right Lower Body and Bird Stand on One Leg (You Xiashi Duli)

Shuttle Back and Forth (Yunu Chuansuo), Fair Lady Works with Shuttles, (Walking Wood), Four Corners

Needle at Sea Bottom (Haidi Zhen)

Fan Through Back (Shan Tong Bei), Fan Penetrates Back

Turn Body, Deflect, Parry, and Punch (Zhuanshen Banlanchui)

Appears Closed (Rufeng Sibi), Withdraw and Push, as if Closing a Door

Cross Hands (Shizishou)

Closing (Shoushi).

The Wu or Wu (Hao) style:

Wu Yu-hsiang’s style was third among the five t’ai chi ch’uan families in seniority and is fifth in terms of popularity.Wu Yu-hsiang was a scholar from a wealthy and influential family who became a senior student (along with his two older brothers Wu Ch’eng-ch’ing and Wu Ju-ch’ing) of Yang Lu-ch’an.

There is a body of writing attributed to Wu Yu-hsiang on the subject of t’ai chi theory, writings that are considered influential by many other schools not directly associated with his style. Wu Yu-hsiang also studied for a brief time with a teacher from the Ch’en family, Chen Ch’ing-p’ing, to whom he was introduced by Yang.

Wu Yu-hsiang’s t’ai chi ch’uan is a distinctive style with small, subtle movements; highly focused on balance, sensitivity and internal ch’i development. It is a rare style today, especially compared with the other major styles.

Wu style Tai Chi Chuan

The Wu family style Tai Chi Chuan of Wu Ch’uan-yu and Wu Chien-ch’üan is the second most popular form of Tai Chi Chuan in the world today, after the Yang style,and fourth in terms of family seniority. This style is different from the Wu style founded by Wu Yu-hsiang.
Wu Ch’uan-yu was a military officer cadet of Manchu ancestry in the Yellow Banner camp (Qing Dynasty Military) in the Forbidden City, Beijing and also a hereditary officer of the Imperial Guards Brigade. At that time, Yang Lu-ch’an was the martial arts instructor in the Imperial Guards, teaching Tai Chi Chuan, and in 1850 Wu Ch’uan-yu became one of his students.

In 1870, Wu Ch’uan-yu was asked to become the senior disciple of Yang Pan-hou, Yang Lu-ch’an’s oldest adult son, and an instructor as well to the Manchu military. Wu Ch’uan-yu had three primary disciples: his son Wu Chien-ch’uan, Wang Mao Zhai and Guo Fen.

The Wu style’s distinctive hand form, pushing hands and weapons trainings emphasize parallel footwork and horse stance training with the feet relatively closer together than the modern Yang or Chen styles, small circle hand techniques (although large circle techniques are trained as well) and differs from the other Tai Chi family styles.

Martially with Wu style’s initial focus on grappling, throws (shuai chiao), tumbling, jumping, footsweeps, pressure point leverage and joint locks and breaks, which are trained in addition to more conventional Tai Chi sparring and fencing at advanced levels.

Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan

The Sun style Tai Chi Chuan was developed by Sun Lutang, who was considered expert in two other internal martial arts styles: xingyiquan and baguazhang before he came to study tai chi chuan. Today, Sun style ranks fourth in popularity and fifth in terms of seniority among the five family styles of tai chi chuan. He was also considered an accomplished Neo-Confucian and Taoist scholar, especially in the Yi Jing and the Tai chi classics. Sun learned Wu/Hao style tai chi chuan from Hao Weizhen, who was Li Yiyu’s chief disciple.
Sun style tai chi chuan is well known for its smooth, flowing movements which omit the more physically vigorous crouching, leaping and fa jin of some other styles. The footwork of Sun style is unique, when one foot advances or retreats the other follows. It also uses an open palm throughout the entirety of its main form, and exhibits small circular movements with the hand. Its gentle postures and high stances make it very suitable for geriatric exercise and martial arts therapy.

Here’s the latest newsletter:

Monster Newsletter #237–Long distance Healing and the Hum of Perfection!

Hey Everybody!
Good morning and good life!
And I mean it!

Okey doke,
I asked you,
last newsletter,
why I would put a big picture of Obama
on my dojo wall.
To throw darts at?
Or to burn candles too?

Got some great thoughts out of this.
interestingly,
everything was fifty/fifty
burn candles/throw darts,
then the incredible Samuel B
held forth that I wanted to do some long distance voodoo healing
on Mr. Bam.

Hah!
Don’t you love it?
My hat is off to
the brilliant and compassionate Mr. B.

But,
look,
the truth of the matter is that
I support Bam to the degree he supports the constitution.
I oppose him to the degree that he breaks the constitution.

And that’s all.

If I am blind to his actions,
or get angry
or hate him,
then I am creating that emotion
in the world,
and the world will mirror it
right back to me,
and there is even the danger
that I will infect somebody else
with that emotion.

Much better to just work out.

When you work out
you do the physical,
and
somewhere along the line
you ask yourself the question…
who’s really moving my body?

Just asking that question
is a solution in itself.
A solution for the whole, wide world.
But answering that question…
ah,
there is paradise.

So you do your form,
and you ask and answer your questions
until there is silence within.
Emptiness.
And,
within the emptiness
energy starts to move.

The pulse of energy
from the fist
across the stance and the posture
to the other fist,
energy darting back and forth,
welling and swelling
pulsing and moving
back and forth
through the form,
through the emptiness.

Chi,
ki,
a hum of perfection
a sense of well being.

You don’t hate because you understand,
and,
know this,
if you hate,
then you don’t understand.

So,
do you get angry?
want to change things?
Start with yourself,
seek perfection through a form.

Now,
I do the Matrix forms,
slow to start out,
and only as fast
as I can maintain the silence,
pulsing the energy
back and forth.

And,
done with that,
I move into the classicals,
tweaking them
to accomodate
the pulse of my energy.

I recommend the classics.

Here’s the classics page for you.

On this page I offer two different systems.
the five forms from Kang duk Won
and five forms I spent years researching and developing.
And,
there is a truckload of applications.

These are the forms I use
to create silence,
to pulse energy.
To create the hum of perfection
within my everlovin’ soul.

Now,
I haven’t figured out where to put this page,
got a couple of websites I am working on,
but here it is for you,
to create perfection
within your everlovin’ soul.

Take care,
my friends,
and share the art.

Al

Here’s the Temple Art page again

http://www.monstermartialarts.com/Temple_Karate.html

=o)

It’s time for the human race to enter the solar system–Dan Quayle

Wudang Pai Intensiv-Workshop in Muenchen

mit
Dennis / Zi Heng
16. Generation Wudang Xuan Wu & San Feng Linie

23.-25.10.2009 in München
Kontakt und weitere Informationen:
wudangziheng@gmail.com

Themen:

Wudang Taijiquan + Anwendungen
Wudang Hui Chun Qigong
Theoretische Grundlagen

Zeiten:

Fr. 19-22 Uhr, Sa. 8-12 & 15-19 Uhr, So. 8-12 Uhr
100 € exklusive Übernachtung und Verpflegung

Flyer-Download hier:

http://www.file-upload.net/download-1905617/Wudang-Intensivworkshop.pdf.html

Mit besten Wissen und Gewissen kann ich euch diesen Workshop ans Herz legen. Dennis ist ein toller Trainer, der es versteht, das Training individuell auf die Beduerfnisse der jeweiligen Teilnehmer anzupassen. Selbst blutige Anfaenger werden viel aus diesem Workshop mitnehmen und die Aelteren unter uns duerfen sich auch angesprochen fuehlen.

Hier ein paar Videos von ihm:

Ob ich selber Zeit finden werde nach meinem Japanaufenthalt kann ich noch nicht sagen, werde aber Bescheid geben !

How can you “do nothing and achieve everything”? At first, this might seem like some kind of fortune cookie wisdom that hippies pass around with a bong. It may be that, but that’s not all it is. This saying is the key to not only understanding Zen and Daoist philosophies, but to living them. And the “living them” part is the part in which I have always been interested. I can wax philosophical all day long. I have read some of the cool books, and I know lots of cool words and phrases – so what!? Anybody with a fifth grade education can do that – hell, I could probably get a parrot to do that. Repeating neat phrases and correcting people’s pronunciation of foreign words does not a master make!

Daoism has the concept of De (德). De (pronounced “duh”) is a particular focus of power and efficacy in overall field of experience (Dao 道). The degree to which something or someone is focused, concentrated, and efficacious is the degree to which they have attained “enlightenment” or “convergence with the Dao.” That has less to do with talking and more to do with being. But being what? Being what you already are without adding anything to it is what effortless means. This doesn’t look any particular way from the outside, and we can’t make any fixed rules such as, “enlightened people are non-violent” or “if you were one with the Dao, you would see things as I do.” No. None of that works. Only you know what you are. Only you can be you. When we meditate or practice the arts of effortlessness (Yiquan, qigong, Taijiquan, etc.), we are just being what we are and nothing else. That is important. The more we can do that, the less we are adding on. The less we are adding on, the closer we are to the Dao.

When we are just ourselves, we can accomplish feats in our lives that could not be accomplished any other way. These accomplishments very often feel as though they happen through us, rather than because of us. That is effortlessness. When we have no choice but to take the action we are taking, we are effortless. This lack of choice is not a restriction imposed on us from the outside. It is just that effortless action is right on the line between voluntary and involuntary. We can’t really tell the difference. Our instincts have this quality to them. We can’t really see from whence they arise, but we know they are true. Very often our rational mind understands our instincts and we act on them. A lion roaring at me engenders fear. My rational mind understands why I feel fear. My action (running like hell) satisfies the whole of me. This satisfaction is the hallmark of effortlessness. When we take action or non-action that is truly effortless, we are comfortable. We are comfortable physically and psychically. Effortless action engenders no internal struggle. It fans no flames of internal rebellion. Effortlessness has a peaceful effect on us. Our actions may not seem peaceful (running like hell from a lion screaming), but they are. We are ok with our actions when they are effortless, regardless of what those actions may be. We don’t have to seek effortlessness. It is what is here when we stop stirring the pot.

So, stop. Be still and move.

Esta semana o pessoal da Record foi até a minha escola rodar uma reportagem sobre o Pa-kua.

I made it by myself..Please watch it and leave your response..