Tag: karate

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

The Universe Is Sacred

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of Tao Tao Ching Part Twenty Nine  “Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it?I do not believe it can be done.  The universe is sacred.You cannot improve it.If you try to change it, you will ruin it.” Without a doubt the universe is a delicate balance. From the from stillness to movement, this movement creates an ever spiralling world of opposites always seeking balance. This is karma, the quality of nature, every action creates a reaction. It would take far more than any human mind to create better. “If you try to hold it, … Continue reading The Universe Is Sacred

ArticlesLeave a comment

Don’t Believe Anything

Steve Rowe

The passing down of mistakes and bad practice is what destroys martial arts. When asked why something is taught, to answer “because that’s how I was taught” is lazy and a cop out. I ask my students to not believe a word I say, but to pay attention to what I teach, then practice it enough and challenge it to see if it works. If they can’t make it work to come back and discuss and experiment with it here. It’s the only way they can fully understand what I’m teaching and it’s how we all evolve how to learn … Continue reading Don’t Believe Anything

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

The Virtue In Following The Tao

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Twenty One  “The greatest Virtue is to follow Tao and Tao alone.” We tend to complicate the Tao, we can’t believe how simple it actually is. To stick to the profundity of the way is hard because we tend to use the wrong tool for the job, the thinking mind that seeks to define rather than our consciousness that connects all things. “The Tao is elusive and intangible.Oh, it is intangible and elusive, and yet within is image.Oh, it is elusive and intangible, and yet within is form.Oh, it is dim and dark, and yet within … Continue reading The Virtue In Following The Tao

ArticlesLeave a comment

The Base Layer Of Learning

Steve Rowe

One of the things that came out on the seminar yesterday was the importance of the structure of learning, putting in the important base layers right from the start. We all advertise and discuss the importance of character training in the martial arts and yet many don’t teach how to educate and alchemise the character and only make vague references to it. We should look to the teacher and their senior students to see how the training system has worked for them. The most important base layer is emotional intelligence, as an angry or frightened martial artist is a danger … Continue reading The Base Layer Of Learning

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

The Great Pretence

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Eighteen “When the great Tao is forgotten,Kindness and morality arise.When wisdom and intelligence are born,The great pretence begins.” The ‘pretence’ is when humans think that their cultural and religious values are in accordance with the Tao and that’s not always true as universal values are different. People say “that person will get their karma” assuming that the universe works to their sense of justice – and it doesn’t work that way. “When there is no peace within the family,Filial piety and devotion arise.When the country is confused and in chaos,Loyal ministers appear.” Love and peace in … Continue reading The Great Pretence

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

The Very Highest Is Barely Known

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Seventeen “The very highest is barely known.Then comes that which people know and love.Then that which is feared,Then that which is despised.” This is the hierarchy of recognition. The lowest minds will be subject to their base emotions and despise and fear, the higher minds will recognise but still be subject to knowledge and love. The highest will be objective with a much broader view and able to recognise the ‘way’ that cannot be defined.  “Who does not trust enough will not be trusted.  When actions are performedWithout unnecessary speech,People say, “We did it!”  Those that … Continue reading The Very Highest Is Barely Known

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

The ‘Way’ of The Martial Arts

Steve Rowe

“The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and Earth. The named is the mother of the ten thousand things. Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one sees the manifestations. These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness. Darkness within darkness. The gate to all mystery.” This opening of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu changed my life. Gifted to me by my first Tai Chi teacher over 50 years ago when I was in my 20’s … Continue reading The ‘Way’ of The Martial Arts

ArticlesLeave a comment

Fingers & Thumbs In Tai Chi

Steve Rowe

Carrying on from my posts on cupping and flattening the palms of the hands to pump the energy and the power of mudras to manipulate it on discharge I thought I’d do a post on fingers and thumbs as they manipulate both. All these posts are on my blog. The thumb controls a large part of the hand and the ‘tiger’s mouth’ (the area between thumb and forefinger) and is used extensively for trapping and guiding the opponent. The forefinger ‘points’ and directs the hand and energy also stretching to work the other part of the tiger’s mouth. The middle … Continue reading Fingers & Thumbs In Tai Chi

ArticlesLeave a comment

Respect Is A 2 Way Street

Steve Rowe

Many martial artists learning capacity has an expiry date. They get what they want or need from a teacher or system and some stop progressing at that point or move on to someone or something else. It’s a hard pill for some teachers to swallow as they feel discarded and that the work they put into that person was wasted but that’s not true. If the student stops learning at that point they’ve reached capacity, but the teacher’s contribution still have added value to their life. Others have got what they wanted or needed from one teacher and now need … Continue reading Respect Is A 2 Way Street

ArticlesLeave a comment

My Day’s Training Schedule

Steve Rowe

I always start my Tai Chi coaching sessions by asking the students how they’re getting on with their training programme, any questions, any problems or any comments, and it helps me to shape the day’s study. I thought over the next few days I might share some of the most common thoughts. One of the most common comments is ‘I’ve been concentrating on one particular form or part of it’. The problem is that while they are doing this the other forms and skills slide. I practice everything in the syllabus every day, in the morning I’ll meditate, do the … Continue reading My Day’s Training Schedule