The Empty Chair

There is the chair,He used to be there,Hair gone grey,Body wasting away,Cognitively impaired,But with humour shared. Strong when he was young,With punches that stung,A high standard of Kung Fu,With kicks that flew,But time took the skill,And made him sit still. He ended in the chair,And had to stay there,Until the part that cannot be destroyed,Finally returned to the void. Now his spirit is still there,As always willing to share,For those with respect,Are still able to connect. Continue reading The Empty Chair

Neurodivergence And Martial Arts

In hindsight I realise that I’m neurodivergent. To anyone that knows me or learns from it’s probably quite obvious. I’m not on any recognised ‘spectrum’ but as a child I didn’t get on with my family, couldn’t get on at school, couldn’t learn in the way I was taught, failed all my exams was always unhappy and was generally thought of as ‘stupid’. I hate crowds, bright lights and loud noise. I feel sick in cars, with flashing lights and with a lot of different smells and foods. I’m highly empathic and sensitive. It was only when I encountered martial … Continue reading Neurodivergence And Martial Arts

Insight

Insight is an important skill and can be trained. Most senior martial artists rely on it in many areas of their life and particularly in their martial art studies. Insight is the ability to pierce to the heart of any subject or problem without having to go through a laborious process. How do we gain this skill? The first step is to develop mindfulness, by calming the body, emotions and thoughts, without the mental and emotional clutter, clarity can arise. Mindfulness arises from a combination of posture and deep breathing until everything calms down and an appreciation that we are … Continue reading Insight

‘Spiritual’ People Don’t Like Me

Most of the time ‘spiritual’ people don’t like me.They make up so much shit to suit their flawed logic.They also tend to be very narcissistic.Somehow they’re always on a ‘higher plane’ than you.Can see your ‘spiritual guides’ and ‘aura’,And were often your ‘teacher’ in a former life.They can’t see that they’re like a computer chip trying to understand a computer, then the user and then the universe.Trying comprehend it with a thinking mind is crazy.Then the ego and easy money come into it when they realise how gullible others can be.You can’t define the infinite.But you can experience it.When you … Continue reading ‘Spiritual’ People Don’t Like Me

As Above, So Below

As above so below. How the human body reflects the creation of the universe. The singularity – the dantien point puts the bodyweight into a movement so we move and breathe from there. This becomes the duality at the waist, a 3 dimensional spinning, elasticated ball determining the weighted and the unweighted in movement, connecting and harmonising the body. This then becomes the four manifestations which are the limbs. The singularity and duality sends the power out through the limbs and when connected harmonises left and right and upper and lower limbs. Which creates the eight hexagrams of the upper … Continue reading As Above, So Below

Staring Into The Abyss

I hate bright light.I especially hate it when it flickers,Like when it flickers through trees when you drive.Life passing by is like that flickering light. I prefer the dark.The blacker the better.It wraps around you like a warm blanket.Sleep and death is like wrapping yourself in the dark to heal. Staring into the abyss is a compulsion.You can feel it looking back,Drawing you in.Inviting you to lose your individuality. Like standing on a ledge,You have a compulsion to fall.The illusion of life and time,Is like thinking the driver is the car,That the electricity is the computer. It’s not.You look into … Continue reading Staring Into The Abyss

Stages Of Tai Chi

In the beginning we have to learn about our mind, emotions and body and harmonise them.Then we have to make them all more intelligent and skilful.Then we have to stop thinking so much and watch them, allowing insight and wisdom to arise.Then we have to be able to recognise energy in all its stages, nurture and alchemise it.90% of this work is done in the unworded mind.When all of this work is harmonised we can enjoy Tai Chi at the highest level. Continue reading Stages Of Tai Chi

Getting Depressed

Sometimes you have to ask yourself “when was I last happy?” It’s easy to slide into depression without realising it.So many things can affect you without you realising it.A negative environment,Miserable people around you,A traumatic event,Fatigue, illness,Situations that you find hard to accept. It can be like the hands of a clock.Moving so slow you don’t see it.Day by day,Hour by hour,Your habits change. And suddenly you are depressed,Nothing lights you up,You don’t want to wake up,Get up, take care of yourself,You don’t want to go anywhere,You don’t want to see anyone. And you think “how did I get here?” … Continue reading Getting Depressed