I’m A Man’s Man

I’m a man’s man. We don’t show pain.Not physical, emotional or mental.We don’t accept help of any kind.We’d rather die than ask. We aren’t afraid of getting hurt in a fight.We are afraid of being beaten.We don’t read instructions or maps.We’d rather die than not be the breadwinner. All emotion is sucked inward.It comes out as silence or rage.You can’t make us talk about them.You can’t make us express them. We just don’t have the capacity.We’re a dying breed.Often through passive suicide.Because we also don’t go to the doctor.Better to die early before we need assistance.Or get frail, or useless. … Continue reading I’m A Man’s Man

Do I Want My Youth Back?

Insight while training this morning… Thank goodness the morning nausea has gone (except fort the day of the Tensho seminar 🤷‍♂️), but I still wake up with chronic fatigue, meaning that even my morning wash and dressing has to be done in stages with rests between each stage, followed by a rest with coffee and toast before I can train. Tai Chi opens my spine, deep front line and through the connection, all the joints and myofascia. Despite the underlying fatigue and pain from the surgeries, amputation, cancer treatment and chronic arthritis in all of my body, the training makes … Continue reading Do I Want My Youth Back?

Look To The Old to Understand The New

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

Eye Usage In Tai Chi

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

The Creation Of The Universe

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

Understanding Meditation

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

Tribal Chief To Beggar

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

Healing Energy Meditation

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