Tag: Tai Chi

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Look To The Old to Understand The New

Steve Rowe

温故 (On-ko) is to ask old things. 知新 (Chi-shin) is to know new things. This is really interesting, the idea or principle of learning should be properly understood and permeate everything in our lives and particularly our martial arts. We are often guided toward modern business and spiritual gurus wasting a lot of time and money, not really understanding that there’s nothing ‘new’ in the universe and that truth stands for all time in all things. If we know how to look, the roots are deep and worth researching. For me, ‘truth’ in the way the world works, the underlying … Continue reading Look To The Old to Understand The New

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Eye Usage In Tai Chi

Steve Rowe

Eye usage in Tai Chi: It’s important to understand that your eyes lead your intention and your intention leads your chi. The more powerful and focused your intention, the more powerful and focused your chi. 1st level – you ‘look’ at the leading limb where it’s contacting the opponent to send your chi to that point. This has to then be internalised and sustained for the whole form. 2nd level – on top of that you then also ‘see’ the other limb using peripheral vision and how that is being used to manipulate the opponent in its passive form. This … Continue reading Eye Usage In Tai Chi

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The Creation Of The Universe

Steve Rowe

What am I asked infinity?The question started a spiral…As infinity swirled a conscious universe was born,Suspending and permeating everything in it.This consciousness was called ‘space’ and would remain unnoticed by everything within.Movement created time and change,Each creation naturally bought about its opposite;This pairing was a form of identification and recognition,One could only be experienced by its opposite.Through evolution, self consciousness arose;Allowing infinity to experience itself through the theatre of opposites. This theatre caused the suffering of desire and rejection,Until one self noticed a doorway,A portal back to the infinite,An awareness that space was conscious.Whenever opposites were balanced ,The portal appeared;A … Continue reading The Creation Of The Universe

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Understanding Meditation

Steve Rowe

Understanding Meditation…. Good posture and deep breathing will calm the body, emotions and mind. MindfulnessTo be mindful is to be careful and vigilant with the mind. To remain aware and present. The enemies of mindfulness are distraction and apathy. All the time that you are watching your thoughts and emotions you are mindful. Mindfulness is a good habit to adopt and is a process of refinement that will happen as long as you remain vigilant. InsightWith calm and mindfulness you will naturally create inner stillness, this will bring you insight from the deeper part of yourself. Insight brings wisdom and … Continue reading Understanding Meditation

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Tribal Chief To Beggar

Steve Rowe

Tribal Chief To Beggar… I used to be the leader of the tribe.I was the protector, the strongest,And everyone followed my example.I wore my scars with pride and my powerful spirit carried my body with ease.I was intolerant of the weak, convinced that everyone could and should exceed their personal barriers.If I could, they should. Time bought me to my knees.I realised that some battles can’t be won,As my body deteriorated bit by bit,Accidents, sickness, wear and tear and cellular breakdown took their toll.Until I could no longer lead,My spirit became a prisoner in my body,I needed other people to … Continue reading Tribal Chief To Beggar

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Healing Energy Meditation

Steve Rowe

Healing Meditation – video and further explanation. If you see space as conscious, it pervades everything in the universe. When we yield to this universal energy the inside and outside energies of our body harmonise, literally making us ‘at one with the universe’ encouraging our body to heal and balance itself. When we can’t yield, we only exist in our emotions and thoughts and therefore tend to get anxious, fearful and tense becoming ill. The ability to widen our perspective beyond our ‘self’, understand our place in the universe and yield to it is indeed a great healing. Continue reading Healing Energy Meditation

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Soft Cotton Boxing

Steve Rowe

A soft front and a strong back is my mantra for life, embodied in the yin/yang symbol of our Tai Chi. I teach from this, mentally, emotionally and physically, the old names of our art ‘Soft Cotton Boxing’ and ‘Deceptive Boxing’ are also good descriptions. To be kind, compassionate, empathic, polite and well mannered are essential social skills for the soft front and resolute, determined and powerful are learned skills to back it up. Our Tai Chi embodies the philosophy and skills necessary for a healthy, balanced life. Training needs to be sensuous and enjoyable, connecting and balancing the body … Continue reading Soft Cotton Boxing

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Constant Mindfulness

Steve Rowe

Mindfulness –Is not something you do for 30mins a day. You do it all day in an unbroken line. To be ‘mindful’ of something is to take care of it and we have to be careful and ‘mind’ our mind all of the time. We have to mind our perspective, our resolve, our speech, behaviour, livelihood, effort and concentration all of the time – that’s how we evolve as a human being. The qualities of our mind are awareness, focus, sensitivity and intensity. If we lack in any of these we become lazy or distracted. Mindfulness is the key to … Continue reading Constant Mindfulness

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Dealing With Pain

Steve Rowe

Dealing With Pain.Right from their first day of training we have to teach students the difference between good and bad pain. Good pain strengthens the body, emotions and mind and bad pain affects them negatively, student and coach need to know the difference between them. The understanding has to deepen with illness and injury as rehabilitation is essential and needs to be positive. Today I was fatigued from a seminar on Sunday and had a bad night last night, still recovering from cancer treatment, so training had to be very mindful. I needed to open and manipulate the core and … Continue reading Dealing With Pain