Author: Steve Rowe

Martial artist, philosopher, author, writer,
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‘Behind The Door’ Teaching

Steve Rowe

When we begin martial arts study we have to spend time learning the structured basic layers and developing a relationship with our teacher. We are taught using key words and phrases to learn the basic ideas and principles behind our posture, breathing, strategies, techniques, mind, emotions and behaviour. As we develop, the relationship with our teacher deepens to the point where our energy and understanding is in harmony and the methods can go deeper. It’s at this point that what is often described as ‘secret’, ‘behind the door’ or ‘discipleship’ can be offered. Every system has its method of recognising … Continue reading ‘Behind The Door’ Teaching

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Qi – Our Life Force

Steve Rowe

The air we breathe and the food we eat gives us the energy to think, feel, move, and function. Our ability to harmonise the different manifestations of this energy, to use them intelligently and alchemise their harmony is the base of all martial arts study. We call the energy qi, the ability to look inwards and study it neigong (inner work), we exercise it by stimulating, storing and releasing it with qigong (energy work) we diversify that with solitary technical self defence of our health, skill and body with forms (kata) and apply it toward others with partner work. If … Continue reading Qi – Our Life Force

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The Quanyin In All Of Us

Steve Rowe

Quanyin while standing before the gates of paradise heard a cry of anguish from the earth below. Turning back to earth, she renounced her reward of bliss eternal but in its place found immortality in the hearts of the suffering. Immortality is actually the ability to open and enter the door of infinity and communion within all of us that meditation and stillness brings, and by sharing, serving and being a part of our community instead of hoarding and isolating ourselves from it. The moment you let fear into your heart, you demonise others and society takes a turn toward … Continue reading The Quanyin In All Of Us

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Train Your Energy!

Steve Rowe

You could just replace the word ‘chi’ or ‘ki’ with ‘energy’. Our ability to stimulate it with emotion, store, release and discharge it is our skill in martial arts. Awareness brightens it, sensitivity connects our mind to it, we need to focus to harmonise the different ways it manifests in our body, bring it together and be able to move it. Intelligent emotional intensity empowers and guards it. We do all these things anyway as it’s a part of being alive. We do it badly unless we train it and become skilful. This is why we need to meditate, exercise … Continue reading Train Your Energy!

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A Library Waiting To Burn Down

Steve Rowe

Old Man…..Why are you still here?You’ve lived in a different worldNo internet or computersNo influencersOnly 1 or 2 TV channelsOnly 2 gendersA life of hardshipWearing the mask of ‘manhood’Don’t show weaknessDon’t show emotionDon’t show painDon’t show fearDon’t let anything get to youWalk the left hand pathBe politeSupport and defend friends and familyBe quietly loyalPay your billsLive frugallyBe a warriorExpect nothingBe happy with anythingNow you are ‘old’And ‘don’t understand’You ‘forget’And are ‘awkward’Hoping to die before you’re too weakThe world left you behindWith wisdom that can’t be graspedAnd you’re still hereA library waiting to burn down Continue reading A Library Waiting To Burn Down

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Tai Chi Is Like Any Other Martial Art

Steve Rowe

Tai Chi is just another martial art. Like all martial arts it relies on: HealthPostureBreathingBalanceMindfulnessEmotional intelligenceDisciplineA balance of internal and externalA connected bodySmooth movementTechnical skillsSpeedCoordinationPhysicsStrengthFlexibilityTime + effortA good coachStrategyA healthy philosophy toward life These are the basic requirements of all martial arts, tai chi is probably closer to judo than any other art but they are all connected by the above. It’s got its fair share of weirdos but that’s all they are, put them into an environment where they have to have their skills scrutinised and they’ll fail. There are no ‘secrets’ these days, but like any skill it … Continue reading Tai Chi Is Like Any Other Martial Art

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Training With A Full Bladder

Steve Rowe

“You should train with a full bladder”. This was advice from my teacher. It took me a while to understand. The pubococcygeus muscle controls the urinary flow and coccyx and is the lower bridge between the governor and conception vessels promoting the flow of chi. But it doesn’t act alone. The spiralling of the feet to the floor opens the hips and raises the pelvic floor the tightening of the PC muscle in this movement bows the bottom part of the spine helping to connect the 3 bows of the body (legs, spine and arms) connecting, stimulating, storing and releasing … Continue reading Training With A Full Bladder

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NTKO’s & Woo Woo

Steve Rowe

So much martial arts media is taken up on either ridiculing or supporting these subjects. Many of the originators came from a good martial arts background including karate, tai chi, systema and the military. Although I have a deep background in philosophy, Buddhism, Taoism and other systems, I also have a strong background in the fighting arts and the security and law enforcement fields. So I tend to have a very practical outlook. In tai chi we extensively use techniques to block neurology, blood, oxygen and lymphatic systems, we press, poke, strike, and rub cavities, shorten tendons, muscles and fascia … Continue reading NTKO’s & Woo Woo