I’m not happyI’m not unhappyI’m not depressedI’m not joyfulI’m not thisI’m not thatI’m not binary This worldPeopleMy mindWant me to chooseThis or thatBecause it’s a binary dimension But there is a curved line inbetweenSeparating yin and yangBalanceThe optimumA line of no thingnessThis line is a portalWhere everything disappears It’s stillSilentMindfulZenicInsightfulAnd full of wisdom And in this refugeIs the secret to lifeAnd beyond By Steve Rowe Continue reading I’m Not Happy…
Fa Jin (發勁) in Tai Chi refers to an energy discharge and the more you study, the more you find. It’s cultivated in layers from meditation to standing exercises, to martial qigong exercises, to tai chi form, push hands, springing hands and weaponry. There is no short cut as it’s a combination of every skill we learn in the art. The problem with social media is that it’s dumbed right down into ‘body whipping’ or people hopping around like demented frogs when in fact it’s much, much more and has an incredible amount of depth. My teachers referred to it … Continue reading What Is Fa Jin?
This can be hard for a lot of people to understand. Some people didn’t want to be born. They’ve never wanted to be here. They’ve never liked life, they’ve never liked people. They’re not ‘damaged’ they’re not unhappy, the idea of happy, unhappy and persuing happiness is ridiculous to them. Life to them is like a prison sentence, stuck in a meat vehicle, they keep their head down, try to fit in and get by, they don’t want to cause harm and as long as they are left alone, they won’t bother anyone. They don’t understand the need to accumulate … Continue reading The Truth Seers
Potential…..When practising martial arts and for life in general, we must always have the potential for hard or soft. This is the deeper meaning of having a ‘soft front and strong back’. To have potential is a state of mindfulness, to have a mind that is aware, focused, sensitive and intense. Aware of what is going on with our own mind, emotions and body and of the situation that we’re in with everything and everyone around us. Focused on what is important inside that awareness. Sensitive to our situation and of that of others and ourselves. Intensity is the guardian … Continue reading Potential And The Switch….
Your body and instincts have their own language! Be still, be silent, breathe deep, and wait for body to calm down, then your emotions, and finally your thoughts – and then wait for your body and then your instincts to speak. They don’t use words, their language is usually drowned out by your thoughts and emotions, but when they finally calm down, you can learn the language. It’s the same that your dog, cat, all animals and nature uses. You really can learn to be at ‘one with the universe’ by listening to it. We are indoctrinated to abuse our … Continue reading Your Body & Instincts Language
Anyone that has worked or had to function in a violent environment will definitely know this and I would have thought that almost everyone would, but sometimes I wonder. Intent and venom rule above all everything else, followed by rock solid basics that produce power. I look at so many videos showing fancy shit and think that I’d walk straight through them as would any of my Kohai from back in the day. They take the p*ss out of ‘old style’ karateka practising relentless basics and using the makiwara but they have no idea of how we trained and tested … Continue reading Venom & Intent
What is dis-abled? Our language, writing and speech is carefully crafted to reflect ‘positivity’ about disability and we usually see the disabled Olympics and sports people who are wonderful examples of what young, fit amputees are able to do, but where is the voice of the others? Those that are sick, diseased, fatigued, unable to move without extreme pain, the elderly, arthritic and cancer ridden people trying to survive? What’s it like for them? I see the government and community gradually turning against them, seeing them as an expensive inconvenience, taking away their paltry independence payments and labelling them as … Continue reading What’s It Like Being Dis-Abled?
Life changes, what you were yesterday, you’re not today, love, relationships, friendships all change. People die, pets die, your health changes, what you used to be able to do, you can’t do now. When Ragnor Lothbrok was in a boat with his sons going to war, one turned to look back to his mother on the dock and Ragnor turned his head back around and said “don’t look back, you’re not going that way”, good advice. If my mind inadvertently strays that way I imagine holding the strings to all the balloons of my past and let them go one … Continue reading Emotional Balloons
One of the great things about martial arts is the ability to vary the training. Forms/kata can be:Large, middle or small frameSoft, natural, or focused energy, healing or dischargingFocus on posture, breathing or balanceFast, normal or slow speedWork on snake, tiger, crane, leopard or dragon stylesWork on ‘pulling’ inwards (strangling, choking, throwing applications)With the same techniques work on ‘pushing’ outwards (striking, pushing applications)Focus on different body parts (feet, legs, hips, waist, upper torso, arms, hands, head)Change intent, focus on body, skill level, opponent, power and venomWork on mobility, rooting or ‘pulsing’ to create movement. Other forms of solo exercise training … Continue reading Form/Kata Training
You Can’t Help….. How many times have you looked at someone suffering and thought “I can really help you”…. “I could teach you some posture/breathing/mindfulness techniques and some basic neigong/qigong exercises that would really help to take away your mental and emotional anguish and physical pain”. But they don’t want your help. They’re locked into their suffering and think that you’re an annoying twat if you keep offering help, even worse if you get annoyed because they don’t want it. My advice is only offer help gently once and after that don’t mention it again because you’re not helping but … Continue reading You Can’t Help…
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