Tag: shi kon

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Retreat And Repulse Monkey

Steve Rowe

Is a Tai Chi technique of stepping back to remain powerful with structural integrity and ‘politely’ pushing the monkey god of mischief away. We don’t want to invite mischief into our life so we ensure to repulse him politely and gently. This is a strategy of life. We are always encouraged to be active and push forwards, to attack and conquer both others and ourselves. But it’s not always the best action. Sometimes it’s better to step back, it doesn’t mean that we have to be weaker, we can keep our structural integrity, take a wider perspective to see things … Continue reading Retreat And Repulse Monkey

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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

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Know The Strength Of A Man But Keep A Woman’s Care

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Twenty Eight  “Know the strength of man,But keep a woman’s care!” Have a ‘soft front and a strong back’ “Be the stream of the universe!Being the stream of the univere,Ever true and unswerving,Become as a little child once more.” Return to what you were before you were born and the mind you had as a little child before society gave you an identity. “Know the white,But keep the black!” Understand and maintain the balance between yin and yang. “Be an example to the world!Being an example to the world,Ever true and unwavering,Return to … Continue reading Know The Strength Of A Man But Keep A Woman’s Care

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A Good Walker Leaves No Tracks

Steve Rowe

Explanation of Tao Te Ching Part Twenty Seven: A good walker leaves no tracks;A good speaker makes no slips;A good reckoner needs no tally.A good door needs no lock,Yet no one can open it.Good binding requires no knots,Yet no one can loosen it.” To remain at one with the universe is a skill like any other. It takes practice and consistency. Once found it requires skill to maintain it. The Buddha said that once a house is built it’s important to keep the roof in good repair. “Therefore the sage takes care of all menAnd abandons no one.He takes care … Continue reading A Good Walker Leaves No Tracks

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The Still Is The Master Of Unrest

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Twenty Six  “The heavy is the root of the light.The still is the master of unrest.  Therefore the sage, traveling all day,Does not lose sight of his baggage.Though there are beautiful things to be seen,He remains unattached and calm.  Why should the lord of ten thousand chariots act lightly in public?To be light is to lose one’s root.To be restless is to lose one’s control.” To be rooted and still means that we remain with the Tao and that we’re not distracted by shiny objects remaining unattached and calm. To be attached to wealth and worldly … Continue reading The Still Is The Master Of Unrest

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Something Mysteriously Formed

Steve Rowe

Explanation of Tao Te Ching Part Twenty Five  “Something mysteriously formed,Born before heaven and Earth.In the silence and the void,Standing alone and unchanging,Ever present and in motion.Perhaps it is the mother of ten thousand things.I do not know its nameCall it Tao.For lack of a better word, I call it great.” Trying to put what is infinite and immortal into words means that we have look it through many different ‘windows’ to give the reader a ‘glimpse’ of what it is or at least plant a flag at the destination so we realise where we are when we get there. … Continue reading Something Mysteriously Formed

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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

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He Who Stands On Tiptoe Is Not Steady

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Twenty Four  “He who stands on tiptoe is not steady.He who strides cannot maintain the pace.He who makes a show is not enlightened. “ In the current zeitgeist we are constantly encouraged to do more than we think we can. “No pain, no gain” in the gym. To go further than we think we can at work, in business. We admire the people who ‘heroically’ push themselves further than anyone else. The idea of pacing ourselves or having the patience to pick the right timing, and practice self care is not respected. “He who is self-righteous … Continue reading He Who Stands On Tiptoe Is Not Steady

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The 5 Standing Postures

Steve Rowe

Zhan Zhuang, the 5 Standing Postures There is lower and upper yin, lower and upper yang and neutral. In my system they play an important role, they train:BreathingPostureMental awarenessFocusSensitivityIntensityLeft and right harmonyUpper and lower body harmonyHow to use these skills to move energy around the bodyHow to use emotion to colour energyDifference between yin and yang energy Being sensitive and skilful with energy means that we don’t just stand for long periods but as the energy ‘peaks’ in each position we transition to another as this is what happens all the way through the Tai Chi form and when push … Continue reading The 5 Standing Postures