Tag: steve rowe

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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

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I Have A Dream…

Steve Rowe

That one day Martial Arts will not be thought of as ‘separate’ Martial Arts, that the politics of structures like Karate, Ju Jitsu,  Kung Fu, Taekwondo and Aikido are consigned to history – that Martial Arts will retain it’s diversity without the politics and have just one Governing Body dealing only with club structure, safety and the various types of competition…. That there will be no politics of styles, no Wado, no Shotokan, no Hun Gar, no GKR, no Tomiki, that everyone will be working to be the best they can and eventually transcending the ‘style’ of their teachers with … Continue reading I Have A Dream…

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Eating Bitter..

Steve Rowe

Eating Bitter The Martial Arts are full of certificates and awards, Photographs with Masters, Everyone holding a fist up, What’s it supposed to mean? A certificate is a piece of paper, A belt holds up your trousers, A photo means you met that person, The value is what it means to you. A grade defines the relationship, Between student and the Instructor, It determines what classes are attended, And what the student is taught. It can also define status, The managerial structure, Instead of foreman, manager and director, We have sempei, sensei and renshi. If the instructor puts too much … Continue reading Eating Bitter..

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Direct Transmission…

Steve Rowe

Direct Transmission… Martial arts training teach manners, Manners and courtesy are a given, This enables people to get along, But then respect is earned. Respect is a two way street, It has to be earned both ways, An Instructor earns the student’s respect, And the student earns that of the Instructor. This is deeper than it first appears, There has to be faith both ways, Nothing is understood at first, Until both invest time and effort. When an Instructor gives physical correction, Sometimes the student is too stiff to correct, Sometimes he is too floppy, Often his mind is not … Continue reading Direct Transmission…

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No One Fights With Swords Anymore

Steve Rowe

I love the whooshing sound that a shinken blade makes as it cuts the air.  The soundless drawing of the blade as it unsheathes with the skilled use of both hands that allows it to slip seamlessly from thesaya, the rapid expansion of the body causing the blade to power through the air and the way that theIaido practitioner slides along the Dojo floor on knees or feet with the suriashi (gliding step) movement, utilising the hakama sabaki to prevent tripping over the divided trousers gives a beautiful feel to this deadly art. It’s spellbinding watching Sensei practice, his perfect … Continue reading No One Fights With Swords Anymore

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The Deepest Door..

Steve Rowe

The Deepest Door.. Sit straight, Breathe deep, Focus the mind, And wait for it to settle. As moment passes to moment, Increase the intensity, Guard the senses, And think without words. The mind is the hardest muscle to train, Weak people give up easily, Training the body is easy, Training the mind is the real challenge. In stillness find the power, Find the deepest door in your mind, It will be protected by demons, But when opened is the font of wisdom and power. Your demons will always try to distract, Other people will play on your demons, Real power … Continue reading The Deepest Door..

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Putting The Egg In The Eggcup..

Steve Rowe

Putting The Egg In The Eggcup.. Putting the head in the foot, Is like putting an egg in an eggcup. The head is the egg, The arch of the foot, the eggcup. Why is this important? Is it even possible? The combination of head and foot, Is one of the most important in Tai Chi. What makes the ‘substantial’ and ‘insubstantial’? The ‘weighted leg’ or ‘double weighted’? If you can feel the weight of the head in the foot, You have to be connected through the body. Only when the egg is in the eggcup, Is that leg truly weighted, … Continue reading Putting The Egg In The Eggcup..

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Like A Never Ending Circle…

Steve Rowe

Like A Never Ending Circle… The universe is a spiral, It’s what creates time, The energy inside is always changing, Continually creating life. When energy touches the spiral, It creates the opposite force, In movement one creates the other, In a never ending cycle. When you look at the yin yang symbol, The oldest known to man, The symbol itself is spinning, In a three dimensional way. The outside circle is infinite, Because a circle never ends, The centre line is curved, Because of it’s spiraling motion. It is the ‘Way’, Representing the journey of life, From infinity to infinity, … Continue reading Like A Never Ending Circle…

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Emotional Intelligence in Martial Arts

Steve Rowe

In Martial Arts we talk about developing the student ‘holistically’ or developing the ‘whole person’.  What does this mean? Some schools say that the sole purpose of training in the Martial Arts is to learn to fight and the rest is just ‘fluff’ and extraneous, but is a ‘fighter’ a Martial Artist? Most people don’t come to the Martial Arts to learn to ‘fight’, 99% of the phone calls we take are from prospective students who want to be fit and healthy and to be able to defend themselves.  These two purposes are not mutually exclusive and there is a … Continue reading Emotional Intelligence in Martial Arts

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Vicars, Tarts and Martial Arts

Steve Rowe

This guy from the local paper rings me up and wants to take some self defence type pictures for a “Vicars Are To Learn Self Defence” article.  “No problem” I say…. Any (reasonable) publicity is okay… The reporter comes up and like all newspaper (and magazine) journalists and photographers wants the stupidest pictures that you wouldn’t be seen dead doing.  But being a veteran I was ready and irrespective of what he asked for gave him the right ones. “Can you…….  (Steve immediately strikes up one of his poses with uke) Oh… OK…  fine….”  (Click, click) “Then could we have…..  … Continue reading Vicars, Tarts and Martial Arts