If you've been doing Tai Chi, meditation or yoga for any length of time you'll have heard the old adage to 'put your tongue behind the two front teeth'. The explanation given for this is usually that it "connects the two meridians that go up the back and down the front of the body called … Continue reading Tongue behind the two front teeth
Qi and Jin
The internal qualities of martial arts
Photo by Thao LEE on Unsplash One observation I have on 'internal' martial arts is that there there is often very little focus on the ‘internal’ qualities to a human being. Or if they do address them then it is, not directly and often in passing. I'm not talking about things to do with forces, … Continue reading The internal qualities of martial arts
The Power of Chi – Damo Strikes Back!
Notable Tai Chi teacher, Damo Mitchell, just released a new video with Adam Mizner where he addresses some of the controversy over The Power of Chi documentary that is worth watching, if you care about these sorts of things. Damo Mitchell and Adam Mizner are a couple of the most well-known modern Tai Chi teachers … Continue reading The Power of Chi – Damo Strikes Back!
Sinking the Qi and rooting in the foot
A bit of AI-generated Tai Chi art! How does rooting work in Tai Chi? In the Tai Chi Classic is says: The jin should berooted in the feet,generated from the legs,controlled by the waist, and expressed through the fingers. This does present something of a dilemma - how can we both be rooted in the feet … Continue reading Sinking the Qi and rooting in the foot
The power of connection, with Henry Akins
I like it when you can find those rare moments where martial arts seem to cross boundaries and blend into each other. I came across this video recently of Henry Akins explaining the concept of connection in BJJ, as taught to him by Rickson Gracie, and it doesn’t half remind me of Tai Chi… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGteSakwQPE … Continue reading The power of connection, with Henry Akins
A simple exercise for opening and closing in Tai Chi
The plum tree in my garden is blossoming, and that can mean only one thing: Spring is here! Without getting too poetic about it, the potential energy trapped within the tree over Winter is releasing and opening out to the world. So, in keeping with the cycle of the seasons, let’s return our Tai Chi … Continue reading A simple exercise for opening and closing in Tai Chi
Internal power and the 3 internal harmonies: Going beyond words like Xin, Yi and Qi to direct experience
Almost by accident I watched Onama vs Landwher from UFC: Marlon Vera vs Dominick Cruz this morning and heavens above, that was one hell of a fight! Possibly the fight of the year. I’ve no idea how you’d score it. Landwher won by decision, but it was possibly the MMA fight of the year. Wild … Continue reading Internal power and the 3 internal harmonies: Going beyond words like Xin, Yi and Qi to direct experience
The Taoist subtle body, by Dr Simon Cox
This is a very interesting interview with scholar and practitioner Simon Cox, PhD, whose book on the history of the concept of the subtle body is available on Amazon. Simon lived and trained full time in the Wudang mountains for over five years and has lots to tell... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSdFFW82_g4 I'm hoping to have Simon as … Continue reading The Taoist subtle body, by Dr Simon Cox
The most successful martial arts movement of the first half of the 20th century, that you’ve probably never heard of
I find I’m getting increasingly fascinated by the concept of ritual, magic, and how it relates to Chinese martial arts. I think I've just never been satisfied with the explanation that forms in Chinese martial arts are there for cataloguing techniques. There are many martial arts in the world that do not require forms to catalogue … Continue reading The most successful martial arts movement of the first half of the 20th century, that you’ve probably never heard of
Tim, tell me you’re in a cult without telling me you’re in a cult.
Tim, tell me you're in a cult without telling me you're in a cult: A comment from "Tim": "I'm disappointed in your entire take on internal power, as indicated by your dismissive way of talking about those who actually do possess some genuine internal power as using "tricks". To be blunt, you're just ignorant--that is, … Continue reading Tim, tell me you’re in a cult without telling me you’re in a cult.
The Tai Chi Notebook 