Category: Taiji

  • Liberate your mind

    Liberating your mind.
    You set your seul free.

    Let your spirit realm free,
    join nature without effort.

    Wuwei of the small mind.

    How do you do it?

    Broaden and extend your vision.
    Let your deep mind rest in Shen.

    This is when the Master has returned to your house.

    My Heart is calm. Fear and grasping voluntarily left Xin.

    My  intent rests in my Center. Yi commands central equilibrium.

    Dantien is full and steady.

    Always calm and ready to act according to circumstance. It remains calm.

    Is that not the state of the Universe?

    One calmness dictates all movement.

    If the focus is on the Qi, it will stagnate.

    Get the foundation. And you will find the initiative naturally in order to do what needs to be done.

    “Let go” of your self.

    Not having the servant as the master of the house is perfection.

    Shen fills out the whole space, my awareness is everywhere.

    Somehow everything is just perfect. When I allow it to be imperfect.

    It will always remain so.

    If I do not strive, I arrive.

    Everything arrives. Nothing is undone.

    This is the message for those who understand.

    Without trying you succeed.

    In realty, it’s nothing really.

    And of surely it’s everything also.

    Hold on to the paradoks, and you will inevitably stumble into it.

    Joy and happiness are everywhere to be found.

    Yin and yang in harmony returns.

    The great mystery of the female Mother prevail.

  • 16th International Push Hands Meeting in Hannover

    International Push Hands Meeting push-hands.de

    This was my first time at the yearly International Push Hands Meeting for Taiji Quan practitioners in Hannover, Germany, running from Wednesday the 6th. through Sunday the 10th. of April 2016. Workshops in the mornings and free push hands in the afternoon. There was a wonderful vibe all week – and it only grew in the weekend! The love of Taiji. I had a great time, meeting many push hands practitioners, and making new friends.  I even learned a couple of new words in German during a nightly bar raid with some new Taiji friends. I look forward to get the chance to go next year.

    The event is well organized. You can really tell its the 16th. push hands event in Hannover. The organizer, Nils Klug, runs a tight ship. If you fall out of line Nils will certainly let you know. I had a Hotel problem when I arrived Wednesday morning. Nils readily sorted this out in a few minutes time. He even booked a room for me in his name. Hotel Lindenkrug was just a few stops with the tram. What he did not tell me, was that the Hotel was next to the tram station. It did not matter much thou, because I was so tired in the evenings from all the excitement during the day.

    HannoverPushhandsParkI choose to participate in Adam Mizner’s workshop in the weekend. Adam had the most attendees and therefore he was given the main hall all three days. I was not disappointed with my choice. I quite like Adam’s straight forward teachings with emphasis on Song Gong. Adam told us that it’s almost the only thing he does nowadays.

    It was truly wonderful to be able to touch so many different bodies and souls during the push hands event in Hannover.

  • From nothing to something and back

    I let go and enter the domain of no one.

    Heaven and Earth are one.
    The circle and square are equals.

    They separate as necessary without effort.
    First boundless stillness, then endless movement.

    It makes no sense to talk about form or formlessness.
    Substance or no substance – what’s the difference?

    Body, energy and mind – what are they?
    I am just a conduit of the forces of Nature.

    My mind drives and fills out Form.
    Empty but full, it pervades the Universe.

    I stand in the Center.
    Watching the Master and the servant at work.

    When we offer no resistance,
    we meet no resistance.

    Miracles and Mystery.
    The mundane stuff is welcomed like a friend.

    I have no mind of my own.
    Eventually this will fall away too.

    Perfection in imperfection.
    Imperfection in perfection.

    It seems as if I am there, but I am not.
    I am not, but am I right here.

    Others cannot fathom it.
    I cannot fathom it either.

    Naturally – it’s ok.

    (Poem about the liberation of mind, heart and intention “Shen, Xin and Yi” in spiritual work like: Standing Meditation, Qigong, Neigong, Neijia and Taiji )

  • The self-proclaimed Modern Master of Taiji

    Chinese Internal Martial Arts, Taji, Bagua Xingyi and a few other internal styles, has for the past decades enjoyed an ever growing popularity in China and abroad for a good reason. Its good for health.
    Everybody seems to be a master of something today. Lots of people boaster their ego by calling themselves master of this or that without the slighest merit or recognisable accomplishment to their name. A couple of years of study or even a few weeks on an island and all of the sudden they emerge to the public as full fledged masters. As a master of “some thing” they naturally want to open up a new school to teach and earn a living. The same seems to be the case in the Chinese Internal Martial Arts all over, from the mountains to the valleys, from the big city to the tiny town and onto the Internet.
    In the world of sports there often is an elite that tries to propagate and develop the sport to new heights and records. This benefits the sport and is really wonderful – as long you don’t resort to cheating, match fixing and etceteras to win and get the price unfairly. This testing ground is none existing in the Chinese Internal Martial Arts. Its like everything goes!
    In the old days in China and elsewhere you could only become a master of the martial arts by merit. You should as a minimum challenge a few well known established masters, win one or more renowned martial tournaments or win a number of important real fights without any defeats. And you had to accept challenges to defend the honour of your school. Time has certainly changed. Nowadays someone who has done Taiji for a number years seems to be a master or even a Grandmaster automatically by their own submission. It seems that if you have the slightest affiliation to a well known internal martial arts master, school or family you must be a real master or even a grandmaster.
    When these self proclaimed masters are asked about their martial arts background, they often won’t say,  mention a tradition or linage they have no claim to, or hard pressed they come up with another bunch of self proclaimed nobodies who calls themselves masters of Chinese Internal Martial arts.
    Quite a few excel in their arrogance. And when these self proclaimed Taiji masters are asked about their teachings, they show off their arrogance, and relay their own petty experience and limited understanding as the profound truth of the art. When asked about the principles of the art in detail, they most often have to remain silent because of their blatant ignorance. Nobody of these self-proclaimed masters study and understand the Taiji Classics. Some even have the audacity to come up with lies, pseudo science and other esoteric mumble jumble as a pretence of knowledge. Others just pay lip service to banalities or babble about the basics of the art.
    Looking at these self proclaimed masters of Chinese Internal Martial Arts, you see the best moments on youtube.com, Facebook and other social media and websites. Others remain in hiding for a good reason. Their skills only excel when shoving their own students and novices around like prime bulls in a ring.
    If you have a trained eye and you look closely you see these self-proclaimed masters of Taiji brace themselves in wide stances, some cannot even stand straight but bend over like mediocre wrestlers, having cracks and breaks in their structure everywhere, disconnected, butting and being bottom heavy and unable to move naturally they drag their tail around like snails in the mud believing they are rooted, all using brute and stiff force when pressed a little, unable to neutralise an incoming force their body wobbles when meeting somebody’s force, mostly relaying on partial movement of the limbs, second hand techniques and tricks rather than the principles set forth by the old and renowned masters of Taiji.
     If you adhere to the principles of Taiji; you are doing Taiji. If you’re ignorant, dot not understand, not willing, incapable of putting the principles into practice – what are you doing? Not Taiji!
    When do we ever see a bout of Grand Masters in Taiji? ( I can only think of one pathetic video on youtube.)  Or have you ever seen a video on the Internet where a Taiji master takes on one of the top 10 guys from Karate, Kickboxing, Tai Boxing, Judo or MMA  and uses Taiji to win like it was a walk in the park? I guess not! They say its too dangerous! Yes, but not for the opponent!
    To avoid criticism the self-proclaimed masters of Taiji often project their own scepticism, ignorance and inability onto their students and even ridicule their students for what they cannot do themselves.
    On top of not knowing what they are doing, quite a number of these self-proclaimed masters of Taiji feel inclined to write “expert” books on Taiji or give online lessons in “real” Tai Chi fighting to the world.
    Its really pitiful and its a huge loss for the wonderful fighting art of Taiji and all the dedicated students who wants to learn the real thing. A bad student often only reflect a bad teacher. If the teacher is not doing Taiji, how can he teach Taiji to others?
    Since the last century its gone down hill from bad to worse as the art of Taiji has grown in popularity. Fortunately, there are glimmers of hope of an emerging renaissance for the Chinese Internal Martial Arts. But the vast majority of Taiji teachers today are still to be considered as scam artists and snake oil sellers.
    The Chinese Internal Martial Art needs to develop a firm testing ground and rediscover the true origins of the art if it wants to be reborn, evolve and gain the respect it deserves as a sublime fighting art.
    If you do not take my word as the truth, then listen to the words of Master Wang Xiang-Zhai:
  • Yun Yin Sen of Shanghai

    Yun Yin Sen performing Liu He Ba Fa Primordial Essence “Qigong”

    Thomas og Yun Yin Sen

    In 2009 I was traveling in Asia and I had the opportunity to visit Shanghai. Before coming to Shanghai I had found an interesting video on Youtube with Yun Yin Sen. I want to meet this guy I thought. I guess fortune was smiling because I was able to find Yin Yun Sen in the park near the central square the next morning. I felt an instant mutual connection with Yun Yin Sen. We spent the entire morning and the next together. Yin Yun Sen taught me his Water Boxing, Push hands and Qigong and a lot of insights willingly – thank you!

  • Feng Zhi Qiang Taiji Neigong

    Xinyi Hunyuan Taiji Internal Training performed by Feng Zhi Qiang

  • Sam Tam’s basic yielding in Taiji

    Sam Tam’s yielding is exceptionally smooth and precise!

    The circle and the square
    Always abide by your center to maintain central equilibrium! Do not not run away and do not resist! Catch your parters central equilibrium and his whole form is helplessly clued to your circle – and you can do as you wish! The secret is the understanding of the Taiji symbol. Yin adheres to yang – and does not separate from it! Yang sticks to yin – and yang does not separate from it!  When yin and yang do not move they unite and return to wuji – the infinite potential of emptiness.

    Links:
    Sam Tam internalmartialart.dk
    Sam Tam Taji youtube.com

     

  • The 10 Tenets of Qigong

    1. Tranquility
    2. Experiencing
    3. Nothingness
    4. Emptiness
    5. Rootedness
    6. Openness
    7. Oneness
    8. Compassion
    9. Harmony
    10. The Way
    p. 53 – 63
  • Reaching the bright end

    as effortless as light
    and as certain as time’s passing

    we walk forward to a stillness
    we can never know

    with the clouds yawning in the distance
    and the sky, forever quiet

    we drift, less certain than foam
    reaching the bright end

    of the sea

    The Voice of the Sea: Poems of the Tao by Yu Jinghai

  • The Jade Tablet

    The Jade Pendant InscriptionTo guide the Qi, allow it to enter deeply and collect it. As it collects, it will expand. Once expanded, it will sink down. When it sinks down, it comes to rest. After it has come to rest, it becomes stable.

    When the Qi is stable, it begins to sprout. From sprouting, it begins to grow. As it grows, it can be pulled back upwards. When it is pulled back upwards, it reaches the crown of the head.

    It then touches above the crown of the head and below at the base of the spine. Who practices like this will attain long life. Who goes against this will die.

    Reference: Sitting in Oblivion – The Heart of Daoist Meditation by Livia Kohn 2010 Se also The Jade Tablet neigong.net

  • The Master of Demon Valley

    The world has no constant values, events has no constant guide.

    When others act, I am still; When others talk I listen. If you know your nature, you’ll have few troubles; if you know your destiny, you won’t worry.

    Reference:
    Alchemists, Mediums, and Magicians: Stories of Taoist Mystics
    by Thomas Cleary
    ISBN: 9781590306598

    p. 14

  • Play Ball

    Other play ball links:
    Kim Strother’s Swiss Ball Workout youtube.com

    Any suggestions?

  • A real human being

    I dwell in spiritual tipsiness, looking into the meaning of mellowness.

    I do not know why there is a profound smile on my lips,
    neither do I care to find out.

    Lighting up me entire body,
    filling it to the brim with nothing.

    I die to my self.

    Not knowing who I am,
    or where I am.

    Lost to the world,
    entering Heaven.

    Walking the earth,
    returning from bliss.

    The spark of tipsiness has lit my life.
    How can anything be the same.

    Learning how to die moment by moment. In an instant a real human being.

  • Cutting Up An Ox

    Cook Ting was cutting an ox after a sacrifice to be used as food for Lord Wen of Hui. At every touch of the hand, every heave of the shoulder, every move of the feet, every bend of the knee, he slipped the knife along effortlessly and all was in perfect rhythm as though he were performing the dance of the mulberry grove to the flow of the melody of Yao’s music.
    “Ah, this is marvelous,” said Lord Wen of Hui. “Imagine skill reaching such heights!”
    Cook Ting laid down his knife and replied, “What I care about is the natural path which goes beyond skill. When I first began cutting oxen, all I could see was the ox itself. After three years I no longer saw the whole ox. Now I go at it through intuition. Perception and understanding have come to a stop and intuition moves where it wants. I go along with the natural construction, strike in the big hollow places, guide the knife through large openings, and follow things as they are. So I never touch the smallest ligament or tendon, much less the main joints.
    “A good cook changes knives once a year, because he cuts. A mediocre cook changes his once a month, because he hacks. I’ve had this knife of mine for nineteen years and I’ve cut thousands of oxen with it, yet the blade is as good as new.
    “There are spaces between the joints, and the blade of remain in peace. Undeveloped people cannot do this; there the knife is just as if it had no thickness really. If you insert what has no thickness into such spaces, then there’s plenty of room, more than enough for the blade to play about. And after nineteen years, the blade of my knife is still as good as when it first came from the grindstone.
    “However, whenever I come to a complicated spot, I size up the difficulties, tell myself to watch out and be careful, keep my eyes on what I am doing, work very slowly and move the knife with the greatest subtlety until the whole thing comes apart like a clod of earth flopping to the ground. I stand there holding the knife and look all around me, my mind completely full with the satisfaction of accomplishing a perfect job, and then I wipe the knife and put it away.
    “Excellent,” said Lord Wen of Hui. “I have heard the words of Cook Ting and learned how to solve the problems of life!”

    Chuang Tzu or Zhuang Zi

    Reference:
    Entering the Tao: Master Ni’s Teachings on Self-cultivation
    by Hua-Ching Ni
    ISBN 9781570621611

    Links:
    Cutting Up An Ox about.com

  • Change

    Tune the Body (Toro Shen)
    Tune the Breath (Tiao Xi)
    Tune the Mind (Tiao Xin).

    The easiest way to change your mind is to change your body.