Tag: martial arts

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Sanchin To Tensho

Steve Rowe

“Tensho!”  We all prepared for the ‘5 animals’ kata. “Snake, crane wing, tiger, leopard, standing dragon, laying dragon, remember to sink from the chest, find the feet, float from the waist, use the ‘asking’ hand, come on now, stay connected….  Manipulate, swallow the energy, now…. Release it, spit it out! Breathe from the stomach… now the back, soften the midline, use your eyes, tongue to the top palette…. C’mon guys…. Don’t make it hard work! Who remembers what the trinity of kata is?”  The hands shot up.  “Marcia? “Firstly medical, secondly, skill and thirdly, boxing Sensei!” “Well done!”  Sensei gazed … Continue reading Sanchin To Tensho

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The Speed Of Chi

Steve Rowe

“Padwork!”  We paired off and collected a set of hook and jab pads. “Warm up with half speed techniques, using only straight jab, cross and hook punches, low front and round kicks.”  The pad holder held the pad full on for the straight jabs, angled for the cross punches, side on for the hooks, full on low for the front kick and angled and down for the low round kicks.  The pad position let the hitter know which strike was required. “Okay, now change distance and angle…”  This meant that the hitter had to constantly adjust distance and angle to … Continue reading The Speed Of Chi

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The Learning Process

Steve Rowe

The Learning Process The learning process of the mind, Is a specific process, It is important to understand, To be able to learn effectively. Shi Kon use a mnemonic acronym, As this is the best way to remember, If you refine this process, All learning will be easier. The acronym we use is ATARC, This is a specific order, One cannot be done effectively, Without the preparation of the other. A is for attitude, This is the most important, Unless this is in the correct state, Everything else will be wrong. Attitude is emotional intelligence, Putting nothing in the way … Continue reading The Learning Process

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Tai Chi Makes You Beautiful

Steve Rowe

“Okay…..   Let’s warm down with a bit of tai chi….. the Yang 108 form first section….”  This was quite usual in our class, it helped us to work on the internal aspects of our training plus the posture breathing and relaxation required to source our power properly. “Mol gik….” Everyone stood correcting their posture, making their breathing deeper, softening and stretching to make the ‘greater heavenly cycle’ of chi function more efficiently.  This was an excellent form of standing meditation, often called ‘wu chi’, an experience of ‘everything and nothing’ at the same time. “Tai gik.”  Everyone prepared for movement … Continue reading Tai Chi Makes You Beautiful

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The Happy Button…

Steve Rowe

The Happy Button… Happiness is a choice, So is misery, Happiness is a habit, So is misery. Which do you choose? Which is your habit? If you’ve slid into misery, How do you change it? Every day you should take the time, To wake up and practice neigong (inner work), Check out your condition, Both mental and physical. I have a ‘happy button’, It’s right there in the middle of my chest, Not where you dirty buggars were thinking! And I press it first thing in the morning, however I feel. When I press it I smile, And remember to … Continue reading The Happy Button…

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Dojo Visitor

Steve Rowe

There are times when you’re talking to someone and you suddenly realise that they aren’t listening to a word you’re saying.  They are only waiting for an opportunity to speak. The guy had come in for a free ‘guest’ training session and actually worked quite hard.  The only problem was that he hadn’t heard a word of the instruction given to him.   The words ‘using a sledgehammer to crush a grape’ sprang to mind – everything he did was simply full of effort with surprisingly poor results He had cruised over to sensei after the session and started to discuss … Continue reading Dojo Visitor

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Why Questions Are Important

Steve Rowe

“Any questions?” A sea of blank faces look back. “Did you understand the principles taught?” Did I almost see a nod from one person? The Martial Arts is a funny old game.  We are told that it is traditionally taught by blind acceptance/faith.  The Instructor stands out the front of the class and barks orders occasionally moving an arm or leg of the student and if anyone DARES to ask a question he is immediately used as the demonstration model as to how the technique works and is left in no doubt as to what the consequences of asking questions … Continue reading Why Questions Are Important

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Dealing With Fear

Steve Rowe

Dealing With Fear Fear is healthy, Everyone has it, It keeps you on your toes, Unless it gets out of hand. Then it freezes you, Or makes you into a monster, Either way it doesn’t help, And turns you into a victim. There is no ‘quick fix’, No ‘little trick’ to solve it, It requires Kung Fu, That is time and effort. Every day you learn to watch your emotions, What you do and how you react, Unnatural fear is a learned response, That has to be unlearned. Every time you train, You train your emotions, Neigong means ‘inner work’, … Continue reading Dealing With Fear

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The Chakras

Steve Rowe

I’m not going to give you collected information on the Chakras, no wiki information from the internet, no aura colours or gemstones – all that ‘academic’ information can be gathered via the internet and in my opinion can be untrustworthy. What I will give you is my direct experience from 40 years of martial arts training and healing in a way that I hope that you can directly relate to and experience for yourselves. I’ll also map out the alchemy and healing of a human being through the practice of the Martial Arts and how it reflects through the Chakras. … Continue reading The Chakras

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Cultural Stories In Tai Chi Postures

Steve Rowe

“Okay lets do the form” said Sifu after we had completed the neigong and qigong exercises… We were about to practice the ‘Yang Chen Fu 108’ form, probably the most popular Taiji form in the world today. 108 because it’s a magic number to the Chinese, there are really about 335 moves but then – who’s counting! Taiji has names for techniques that are sometimes self-explanatory, like ‘Lift Hands’ or ‘Brush Knee’ but also have names that explain how the technique is done, often with cultural stories. Techniques are also often grouped by a name like ‘Grasp Sparrows Tail’ which … Continue reading Cultural Stories In Tai Chi Postures