These links are for U.K. buyers to buy signed copies. They are available internationally from Amazon. Icebergs Instead of Mountains https://py.pl/1dJ78P Soft Front, Strong Back https://py.pl/4XI86saeMx7 Concepts Of Karate https://py.pl/1HvFug 3 Book Bundle https://py.pl/rC777 Continue reading Links To Books By Steve Rowe + Video
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
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
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
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
We need to work on our entire being in our martial studies. We have to educate, discipline and train our fear, anger and desires to be able to listen to and rely on our instincts and ‘gut feelings’. This becomes our driver and is how we become who and what we are meant to be rather than being manipulated by others and our own ignorance. Martial arts is a personal alchemy where we become a strong individual forging our own path and taking responsibility for our own development and studies. The ball is firmly in our court. Continue reading Personal Alchemy
What you post on social media as a martial artist is importantYou should be genuineBy reading or watching what you postGives you the opportunity to be objectiveAnd learn about yourselfIf you put others down, even surreptitiouslyYou only demean yourselfWe often do it without realisingInsulting people followed by a complimentIs a double insult and most people know thisTelling people what ‘not’ to doOr that something is wrongIs insulting those that do itWhy not be positiveAnd put out there what you doAnd let others judgeWhat’s good or badWhat’s right or wrongThe only time you should look down on someoneIs to give them … Continue reading Posting On Social Media
Form can be practiced by anyone of any age or condition on their own without the need of equipment. They have 3 treasures:Health – they are moving yoga improving posture, flexibility, strength, breathing, increasing emotional intelligence,and mindfulness. Skill – techniques are combined to increase skill levels of basics moving multi directionally to long and short turns jumping and dropping. Application – breaking down each technique and applying it on an opponent to make it work. They can also be ‘coloured’ in different ways. Monk – like a moving meditation to reduce negative emotions. Warrior – as you would use the … Continue reading Form And Kata
It took me a long time to get this. In a lesson with Ma Lee Yang we were talking about the differences between mol gik, tai gik and tai chi. Mol gik is the infinite and tai chi movement creating yin and yang and tai gik inbetween the two. I asked if tai gik was the intention to move and Ma Lee said “no it’s when tai chi arrives”. This really troubled me, did it mean that I was to wait for tai chi to arrive? What happens if it didn’t? I realised the idea of ‘you don’t do tai … Continue reading When Tai Chi Arrives
Tai Chi teachers often remind me of the blind men and the elephant. Tai Chi by its very nature is impossible to define and however we try, we will always make it less than it is. We can only lead a student toward their own enlightenment from opinion and let them make their own journey to see what we are unable to fully describe. It’s the same for a teacher in any art. We have to be careful that we don’t let our ego get in the way and give people the impression that only we have the ‘real’ Tai … Continue reading The Blind Men And The Elephant
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