Age With Dignity…

There’s nothing more undignified than an old person trying to behave like a younger one.  If you train well over the years, it’s only natural that you lose the aggression and ignorance of youth and the bullishness gives way to wisdom, emotional intelligence, cunning and skill.  A problem only arises  if you don’t continue learning and hanker after that which is past, then it can become embarrassing if the OAP is trying to convince everyone that he still ‘has it’ – a bit like your Grandad trying to dance on a nightclub floor to the latest music. When someone has been … Continue reading Age With Dignity…

Buddhist Alchemy In The Martial Arts

“I don’t like any of that religious stuff in my martial arts…” You may not, but Buddhism is inextricably linked to the Martial Arts and it’s not religious in the formal sense.  Buddhism is simple, logical thinking in search of the truth – and that is in line with martial arts study.  A Buddhist is required to challenge what he is taught and to discover the truth for himself.  The term ‘Buddha’ means the ‘awakened one’, one who is awake to the truth. It’s often referred to as the ‘atheist religion’ as it has no gods or deities, it doesn’t … Continue reading Buddhist Alchemy In The Martial Arts

Internal Or External?

Internal and external has many translations in the Martial Arts, You cannot be one or the other, Because we all have an inside and an outside, If you are more one than the other, you are unbalanced. If you’re taught externally, Your instructor will correct you by how you look on the outside: If you’re taught internally, Your instructor will correct you by how you feel inside. Ideally, you need both. If you train externally, You will utilise the power of emotion, If you train internally, Your mind will be calm and focused. If you train externally, You will use … Continue reading Internal Or External?

Simple Neigong – Insomnia Buster!

In our seated Tai Chi programme we teach a lovely seated Nei Gong exercise.  It is an exercise that reinforces correct posture and breathing and also serves a method for calming the body and mind.  It can also be incorporated into a pre-sleep ritual for those who suffer from insomnia – it help’s prepare the body for a peaceful night’s sleep.  It can also be used at your desk and in your car. Simple Seated Nei Gong 1 – Firstly you will need to be seated – either sitting on a chair or on the edge of the bed.  Ideally … Continue reading Simple Neigong – Insomnia Buster!

Continuous Neigong…

Neigong cannot just be trained for an hour a day, because for the other 23 hours you could be doing ‘anti neigong’ – and which would prevail? As you learn the skills, you need to practice ALL the time.  You are always doing posture and breathing and your life can only be enhanced by more mental awareness, concentration and sensitivity.  This is then an excellent exercise in ‘mindfulness’ to constantly and dispassionately recreate a mindful state of being in everyday action. This practice will instantly and in the long term effect your mental and physical wellbeing, affecting your emotional intelligence, … Continue reading Continuous Neigong…

A Black Belt…

I used to think everyone could be a black belt. The ‘way’ was simple; All they had to do was train every day for 3 – 5 yrs, Attend 2 or 3 lessons a week, Pay attention to instruction, And they would make the grade. Over the years I realised that was not true. Many won’t make it as long as they have a hole in their backside. Some are just scared of the responsibility of being good, Some are scared of their spouses and family, Who don’t want a stronger version of them. Some are just so weak willed … Continue reading A Black Belt…

The Language Of The Body…

The way that can be spoken about is not the eternal way….. – Tao Te Ching Entering and understanding the wordless mind is a very important stage in the training of a Martial Artist, it’s the point where the direct, intuitive knowledge of doing and being exist.  It’s one thing to know about something, to understand the meaning of the words and to actually do or be the reality that the words are inadequately trying to express. Your body is your oldest friend and has a wordless language of it’s own – how fluent in that language are you?  Training … Continue reading The Language Of The Body…

The Art Of Listening

When I was in the Fire Brigade and worked in the Security Industry before the advent of mobile phones we used to use ‘RT’ (Radio Transmitters) where you would talk with the ‘transmit’ button pressed down and take your finger off the button to listen to what the other side of the conversation had to say.  This procedure has great relevance to learning and training in the Martial Arts today. Do you ever have that conversation with someone where you are acutely aware that they’re not listening to what you are saying but are only waiting to talk?  Or maybe … Continue reading The Art Of Listening

Connecting Hands And Feet

On the wall in our training centre facing the students when they train is a list of 8 words, these 8 words represent the 8 principles that we need to fully understand to make our Martial Arts work. The first of these words is ‘Feet’.  Our feet is our contact to the ground that we stand on and the pressure of our feet to the floor is what gives us the power and energy to stand upright and move around.  Most people usually do this mindlessly not realising that the skill as a Martial Artist starts at this point.  Each … Continue reading Connecting Hands And Feet

Julian Dale – Eagle Claw

This interview was conducted in 2008 –  Eagle Claw Kung Fu is one of those styles that you could easily build a martial arts movie about.  It has the lineage and history that any martial artist will enjoy reading.  The words Kung Fu mean ‘time and effort’ and Julian Dale has certainly put in the time and effort required to attain a level of mastery in the art.  He has sought out the top instructors in the Eagle Claw lineage and travelled to get the required instruction from them. His story along with that of Eagle Claw makes fascinating reading… … Continue reading Julian Dale – Eagle Claw