John Kells used to say that if you wanted to fight using Tai Chi, then you needed to train like a fighter.
This is an interesting article discussing a number of training methods at the Martial Way blog.
The article can be read here
Saturday, 15 July 2017
Thursday, 13 July 2017
Kinaesthetic Learning
This is an excellent post on Devon Boorman's blog about kinaesthetic learning.
Very useful, especially the bit about practicing all the wrongs around the right.
The post can be read here
Very useful, especially the bit about practicing all the wrongs around the right.
The post can be read here
Saturday, 8 July 2017
It's in the Stories
Today I visited my Sun style Taiji teacher Dave Martin. Now retired, he studied with the late Sun Jian Yun and had the honour to become a formal disciple. Dave was introduced to her by Cui Rui Bin, the Yiquan Master.
It's always enjoyable to hear the stories regarding his training in China, an oral history that brings names on a page to life. Today there was one about when Sun Jian Yun was teaching him Taiji Sword. The weather was bad so they were in her tiny one room apartment. The room was too small to practise in with a proper sword so she lifted up her mattress and pulled out one of the wooden slats and proceeded to use that instead as it was shorter.
Just priceless!
I've been studying traditional Sun style Taiji since early 2004 with Dave Martin and his wife Su Ying who is herself incredibly knowledgeable and skilled.
It's always enjoyable to hear the stories regarding his training in China, an oral history that brings names on a page to life. Today there was one about when Sun Jian Yun was teaching him Taiji Sword. The weather was bad so they were in her tiny one room apartment. The room was too small to practise in with a proper sword so she lifted up her mattress and pulled out one of the wooden slats and proceeded to use that instead as it was shorter.
Just priceless!
I've been studying traditional Sun style Taiji since early 2004 with Dave Martin and his wife Su Ying who is herself incredibly knowledgeable and skilled.
Wednesday, 5 July 2017
Tea Cup Exercise
This is a Ba Gua Zhang exercise. There are lot's of different ones - just look on YouTube.
I'm a bit lazy here, doing it fairly high up. Once you get used to the movement and as your flexibility increases, lower the height of your stance in a horse riding posture. Do this carefully and watch the back bend so you don't hurt yourself.
I'm a bit lazy here, doing it fairly high up. Once you get used to the movement and as your flexibility increases, lower the height of your stance in a horse riding posture. Do this carefully and watch the back bend so you don't hurt yourself.
Sunday, 2 July 2017
Hai Le Taoist Internal Arts
My good friend Heron Beecham has returned to the UK after living and studying Internal Martial Arts and Taoism in Taiwan for the last 17 years. He is now based in London.
His website is Hai Le Taoist Internal Arts
Please visit the website to find out more about Heron, the Arts he has studied and his Teachers.
Contact him via the website for details about classes and private tuition.
His website is Hai Le Taoist Internal Arts
Please visit the website to find out more about Heron, the Arts he has studied and his Teachers.
Contact him via the website for details about classes and private tuition.
Sunday, 25 June 2017
My Favourite Books
My Stroke of Insight by Dr Jill Bolte Taylor is her personal story of how she suffered a stroke and her subsequent recovery.
Whilst this is not a Tai Chi book it is a worthwhile and fascinating read. There is the usual stuff about the Brain and how it works, but for me what is really interesting is how she describes what is happening to her as her mind deteriorates in the course of a few hours. As the left side of her brain shuts down she compares her state to being in Nirvana.
The last chapter is called Finding Your Deep Inner Peace and she posits that we can use the skills of our motor output systems to transform our perspective to the present moment.so for example, this could be Tai Chi, Yoga, Walking etc.
This book is well worth reading.
Whilst this is not a Tai Chi book it is a worthwhile and fascinating read. There is the usual stuff about the Brain and how it works, but for me what is really interesting is how she describes what is happening to her as her mind deteriorates in the course of a few hours. As the left side of her brain shuts down she compares her state to being in Nirvana.
The last chapter is called Finding Your Deep Inner Peace and she posits that we can use the skills of our motor output systems to transform our perspective to the present moment.so for example, this could be Tai Chi, Yoga, Walking etc.
This book is well worth reading.
Monday, 19 June 2017
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