Tag: shi kon

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Sharing Is Caring

Steve Rowe

In the 80’s I was an Operations Manager in a security company with around 500 staff in all manner of contracts. Often at night I’d drive around the sites to visit our guards who were on minimum pay and 12hr shifts on various duties, many were Indian and Pakistani. They would always insist on sharing their meagre rations that they’d bought in to last the shift and would be very offended if I refused. In the beginning I felt embarrassed and tried to refuse but soon realised how important it was to them to share. Food is the staff of … Continue reading Sharing Is Caring

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I Never Wanted To Be Here

Steve Rowe

I never wanted to be here…..My body, thoughts and emotions just never ‘fitted’;I was never happy;As I child I didn’t fit in with my family,Always wondering what the hell I was doing here;Everything was clumsy and wrong;I certainly didn’t fit into school and never got along with teachers or education;Seen as a ‘rebel’ it wasn’t intentional I was dysfunctional according to the social norms;I ran with the other ‘rebels’ because there was nothing else to do but even that wasn’t me;I didn’t love or hate I was simply in the wrong place. I was drawn to oriental philosophy because it … Continue reading I Never Wanted To Be Here

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Use Your Calendar

Steve Rowe

In my 50 years of training I always put the years training and seminar dates in my calendar first and then worked everything else around them where possible. Every year in June I do my following year’s calendar and give the dates out to all my students well in advance so they can do the same. Anyone that trains with me knows that every seminar will contain a lot of information that will never be given again. I view my calendar a month in advance, then each week and each day to remind me of what I’m doing and teaching. … Continue reading Use Your Calendar

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Tai Chi Is A Martial Art

Steve Rowe

Yang style Tai Chi is a ‘standard’ form of Chinese Kung Fu. It is a distillation of other arts and the techniques and principles are clearly recognisable in both Chinese and Japanese arts. Every hand shape in the gold standard Yang Chen Fu form and the internal mechanisms that work them can be found in a good version of Tensho (Rokkishu) kata that also has its origins in White Crane Kung Fu. Every technique in the form can be effectively used through the ‘gates’ of the arms generally can be applied in locking, throwing, blocking, striking, strangling, choking, cavity pressing, … Continue reading Tai Chi Is A Martial Art

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Shamanism In Tai Chi

Steve Rowe

Shamanism in Tai Chi. We focus mainly on the snake, crane and tiger, these 3 animals are within every technique in a variety of ways. Snake is bound to the earth, our primalenergies and reptilian brain. It represents our qi energy, the way we move against the earth, the way we ‘coil’ bonelessly in movement, wrap around the opponent and escape grips and holds. It also represents the ‘spit’ and venom of a sudden attack. Tiger represents our mammalian energies, our powerful intention, qi projection, bone, tendon and muscular power, our structural integrity in framing our body, tearing techniques and … Continue reading Shamanism In Tai Chi

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The Expectation Of Happiness

Steve Rowe

The expectation is often that people with depression aspire to be happy.Not always true.People with depression often see happy people as more depressed than them.Why?Because they see them as running away from reality.They can often see the darkness behind the smile because they know it’s name.People with depression need to balance and manage their emotions.Not mask them.They don’t always want to talk about their feelings, often those that want to help are the wrong ones to turn to.Because they haven’t been to those dark places, where ‘no life’ is a better option than ‘life’.They have to get to a place … Continue reading The Expectation Of Happiness

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Why I Choose A Dojo v Gym

Steve Rowe

Why I choose a Dojo over a Gym. A Dojo is a community of mutual support. Respect and dignity are paramount. We learn how to discipline the mind, develop emotional intelligence, relate to each other and develop a vigorous health that’s fit for purpose as opposed to vanity. Martial Art training is a fun way to learn these skills rather than the ‘punishment’ we tend give to ourselves in a gym for not matching media expectation. They can be practiced anywhere without the need of expensive equipment. Classes are not random, grades and syllabus are specific so we always know … Continue reading Why I Choose A Dojo v Gym

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Digging Deep…

Steve Rowe

Sometimes you have to dig deep, like REALLY deep.Trying to stop the body going into shock with pain.Reducing one day at a time to one breath at a time.Controlling the adrenaline from fear.When you want to run or curl up, facing it as a warrior.When you feel so angry you want to burn your world down.Controlling reckless rage and the desire to kill or maim.When I see advice from those that have never been there, I almost wish it on them.Because until you’ve REALLY been there, you can never know.Trash your ‘feel good’ memes, your fake rose tinted spectacles, and … Continue reading Digging Deep…