Newcastle Tai Chi

Tai chi - 4 week induction course

2012-01-30T04:46:00.000-08:00

Monday 6th February 2012
This is an opportunity to join the most in-depth tai chi school in the North East.
A comprehensive martial syllabus.
17 years teaching experience.
Cost £25.

newcastletaichi@hotmail.com
http://www.newcastletaichi.co.uk/

10,000 hours

2012-01-30T01:15:00.000-08:00

Being a kung fu expert is more than just talent. You need to put in the work.

A good instructor should have at least 10,000 hours of practice behind them.
Dr. K. Anders Ericsson found that this was true of any art; whether kung fu, dancing or playing the piano.

Do the maths: if you trained kung fu for 2 hours a day (every single day) for a year, that would mean 730 hours a year.
At that rate, 10,000 hours would take you 13 years of practice.

Consider: Sifu Waller has trained martial arts for approximately 3-4 hours a day (and occasionally longer), 365 days a year, since the early 1980's.
His main focus since 1990 has been kung fu.
He has over 40,000 hours of practice under his belt.

Softness

2012-01-30T00:13:00.000-08:00

The philosophy of using soft against the hard was originated from Lao Tzu. It is from this concept that tai chi chuan was created.

(Yang Jwing-Ming)

Concentrating for a sustained period of time

2012-01-29T05:47:00.000-08:00

To practice the kung fu skilfully, you must cultivate presence.
Being in the here and now.
Calm, quiet and still.

You must also be capable of keeping your mind on what you are doing, without distraction or boredom.
In our culture of television, mobile phones, videogames, computers, fast food and caffeine, you may find this to be very difficult indeed.

Depth

2012-01-29T01:39:00.000-08:00

Many excessively bounce around learning the next 'new' form or movement set without ever extracting the real internal value from any of them.

(Bruce Frantzis)

2012-01-29T01:30:00.000-08:00

A good place

2012-01-29T01:17:00.000-08:00

A kung fu instructor needs to cultivate an atmosphere of friendship, care and respect.
The classes need to be akin to an extended family, with students feeling quite safe and comfortable with one another.
No matter what is happening in your life, the school remains a good place to be.

Application

2012-01-29T01:14:00.000-08:00

A sifu must be capable of doing/applying all aspects of the art taught in the classes.
Their skills must transcend those of every student in the school.

Theoretic knowledge is not acceptable.

What does your school offer?

2012-01-28T23:06:00.000-08:00

Our school offers:

Lineage
- this is about who taught who
- your instructor's knowledge can be traced through generations of teachers, right back to the founder
An experienced instructor
- Sifu Waller trained with Peter Southwood for 20 years
- he has been teaching tai chi since 1995
- he has been training martial arts since 1975
A qualified instructor
- Sifu Waller holds a post-graduate certificate of education
- he is an advanced instructor with The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain
- he taught under Peter Southwood's close guidance and supervision for several years
A fully-differentiated syllabus
- a syllabus offers an incremental learning program that enables all students to become skilled at tai chi
- the layers and levels of the syllabus are interlocking and interconnected
- there is an ongoing accumulation of both knowledge and skill
Assessment
- regular, consistent, thorough assessment is essential to ensure quality and understanding
- progress can be proven
Grading
- this ensures that all students study material appropriate to their own ability level

In the moment

2012-01-28T01:41:00.000-08:00

One of my friends studied judo for years and years. She was waiting for a chance to use it, but for a long time nobody tried to attack her. Then one day somebody grabbed her in a parking lot - and she slugged him with her purse!

And then she thought, "Oh! What happened to my judo?"

She must have been practicing judo as if it were an isolated thing. We should always practice to let the immediacy of the moment come through. Then you always have a sense of what you are doing now.

(Chungliang Al Huang)

Not doing

2012-01-28T01:19:00.000-08:00

People often work on a false premise, which is the notion that you can rest by 'doing'.

In kung fu, we aim to relax by stopping doing.
To 'try and relax', to 'do' in any fashion is not to relax.
There is no method, technique, approach or skill involved.
Relaxing is accomplished by doing nothing at all.

Doing is akin to "fighting for peace".
Peace is the end of fighting, the absence of conflict. It cannot be fought for.
To fight is to perpetuate conflict.

Responsibility

2012-01-28T01:13:00.000-08:00

Being sifu is all about responsibility.
The role of instructor demands a very serious dedication to the art and an ongoing commitment to the students.

A martial arts class needs to have clear boundaries and a code of conduct.
Sifu is the person who ensures that these are adhered to.

They are also responsible for delivering the syllabus.
In some cases, sifu may have written much of the syllabus themselves.

Muse

2012-01-27T05:43:00.000-08:00

Sifu Waller relies on Rachel for creative assistance and they work well together.
The home pages of the Newcastle Tai Chi and Internal Kung Fu websites are the outcome of their combined efforts.

All major policy decisions are discussed at length with Rachel before being implemented.
Sifu Waller values his wife's advice and listens to it.

Feints

2012-01-27T01:42:00.000-08:00

When fighting an opponent who feints, stay calm, don't respond.
If your opponent is in range it doesn't matter whether the attack is a feint or not,
just step in and attack.

(Lau Kim Hong)

2012-01-27T01:29:00.000-08:00

Relaxing

2012-01-27T01:18:00.000-08:00

The 'relaxing' in kung fu is a culmination of various factors:

Emotional awareness
Physical ease
The ending of thought

The art does not offer you a way to relax.
It creates situations in which you need to relax.
Relaxing is achieved by removing the obstacles that prevent you from letting-go.

Business

2012-01-27T01:13:00.000-08:00

Martial arts have always been taught for money.
The instructor needs a certain income to sustain the school, pay hall rental and their own fees.
Some people teach part-time whilst others teach professionally.

Typically an instructor founds a school or is appointed by a governing body or a chief instructor.
The instructor has a lot of responsibilities.

It is important to respect that the instructor is running a small business.

New Year Meal

2012-01-27T00:21:00.000-08:00

I think I can safely say everyone had a very nice time at Wagamama. Delicious food and great company, really looking forward to the next one.

sincerely,

Alan

Training for the first time

2012-01-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

The main consideration is this: go slow and easy.
Do not push anything.
Do not force anything.

Allow things to happen nice and slowly.
Developing coordination, balance, martial insights and sensitivity will take time.

Administration

2012-01-26T05:42:00.000-08:00

Rachel handles the registration of students in class and undertakes a limited degree of tuition.

She makes many suggestions pertaining to the organisation, procedures and practices in class.
Rachel is responsible for locating venues, filming, answering e-mails, running the Newcastle Tai Chi blog and YouTube pages.

Her creative input has resulted in many positive changes for the school.

Chinese New Year 2012

2012-01-26T03:26:00.000-08:00

Marc & Yu-chun

Rob

Eddie, Marc, Yu-chun, Leigh

Leigh & Rob

Mrs Waller

Eddie

Eddie, Marc, Yu-chun

Dominic, Sylvia, Spencer, Alan

Leigh

Alan, Rachel, Sifu


Dominic, Graham, Sylvia, Spencer

Dominic, Spencer, Alan

Dominic, Brian, Graham

Barny & Rachel

Sylvia, Spencer

Rob

Leigh

Rachel

Andy, Eddie, Marc, Yu-chun

Cake

Marc

Leigh's wife

New Year Meal

2012-01-26T02:21:00.000-08:00

It was a very pleasant evening and nice to get to know people a little more than we have time for in class.

All the best,

Spencer

Getting rest

2012-01-26T01:20:00.000-08:00

Good sleep, healthy food, exercise and fresh air are essential for rest.
Kung fu helps you to be calm and to appreciate the value of relaxation.
Allow yourself to slow down and become still inside; let tranquillity replace agitation.

Whole-body movement

2012-01-26T00:13:00.000-08:00

Your entire body - from the feet, legs and waist to the fingers - must work like a unit, and move as if threaded together, like a soft whip.

(Yang Jwing-Ming)

Etiquette

2012-01-25T05:35:00.000-08:00

Etiquette literally means 'prescribed behaviour'. It refers to how you should act when in class.

Many parents send their children to martial arts classes in order to learn good manners and respect.
As an adult, you are already assumed to possess these qualities.

Training hall etiquette serves to ensure a harmonious training environment.

2012-01-25T01:29:00.000-08:00

You & the computer

2012-01-25T01:22:00.000-08:00

The computer serves you, not the other way around.
Sit so that the monitor and keyboard are directly in front of you.

Make sure that the monitor is not too close.
You should not have to stretch to use the keyboard or twist your torso to any degree.

When you feel bored, tired, restless, stiff or have sore eyes - get up and take a break.
If your employer will not allow you to get up, find out your rights.
The more tired you get, the more you neglect your body and poor posture will only tire you further.

Do not ignore your body; you need it beyond the office.

Proof

2012-01-25T00:58:00.000-08:00

Neo: I know kung fu.

Morpheus: Show me.

(The Matrix)

Tai chi - 4 week induction course

2012-01-24T04:47:00.000-08:00

2012-01-24T01:31:00.000-08:00

Office life

2012-01-24T01:21:00.000-08:00

Office life is fraught will a variety of health problems that stem from air conditioning, fluorescent lighting, flickering computer monitors, lack of fresh air and apathy.

Sitting at a desk all day is not good for your body and working at a computer is worse; especially a laptop.

Definition

2012-01-24T01:11:00.000-08:00

The term 'sifu' is similar in some ways to the Japanese title 'sensei'.
A sensei is a black belt exponent of at least 3rd dan (sandan).
Sensei teaches the class.

Sifu is pronounced 'seefoo' in Cantonese and 'shihfu' in Mandarin.
It means master/instructor/father.

Sifu is the correct form of address when talking to the founder of a kung fu school.
A health-only teacher should not be called 'sifu'.

Timeless

2012-01-24T01:01:00.000-08:00

It is important to remember that a martial arts class is not modern in nature.
When you enter the training hall, you must leave modern culture at the door.
You are partaking in a tradition that has continued for centuries.

Chinese New Year

2012-01-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

The Year of the Dragon

2012-01-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

Do not neglect material from previous grades

2012-01-23T07:57:00.000-08:00

With kung fu, you must constantly refine an improve your basic skills.
The most simple-seeming and obvious drills are actually quite complex and sophisticated.

As you move through the grades, Sifu Waller will be looking for increasing skill in all areas of knowledge.
You cannot just learn a skill and move on.
You must also go back and re-consider.

Disciplinary measures

2012-01-23T05:33:00.000-08:00

It is rare for a martial arts school to impose disciplinary measures.
But they do need to exist in the event of misconduct.

If a student becomes unruly and refuses to follow instructions, everyone is put at risk.

2012-01-23T01:28:00.000-08:00

Tension

2012-01-23T01:23:00.000-08:00

Beginners wear themselves out training qigong and partner work with too much tension.
Remember to use only the minimal amount of strength; use only what is necessary to hold your limb in place.
Anything more is wasted.

Balance

2012-01-23T00:12:00.001-08:00

When your partner loses his root his mind will be scattered and confused, and this will provide you with a good opportunity to attack.

(Yang Jwing-Ming)

The Year of the Dragon

2012-01-22T22:27:00.000-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year

Chinese New Year

2012-01-22T12:31:00.000-08:00

How would you introduce your instructor to a friend?

2012-01-22T07:05:00.001-08:00

You would refer to your instructor as Sifu Waller or Mr Waller.

How does your partner/wife/husband address the instructor?

2012-01-22T07:04:00.000-08:00

This is the protocol: non-class members/strangers should call my husband Mr Waller or Sifu Waller (unless they're personal friends).

A partner/spouse/family member of a student should call our instructor "Sifu" - just as a student would - because of the partner/spouse/family member being a class member.

In Chinese culture this is considered friendly because it acknowledges their indirect association with the school.

Courtesy

2012-01-22T05:32:00.001-08:00

Being courteous to other people ensures a more pleasant training environment.
People are less prone towards abusive behaviour, swearing or insults.

The slight formality of a martial arts class encourages good character.

You behave with dignity and show respect to people who are placing their trust in you.

Refresh

2012-01-22T02:22:00.000-08:00

Chinese new year preparation is a time for buying new clothes and getting your appearance tidied up.

2012-01-22T01:33:00.000-08:00

Qigong

2012-01-22T01:24:00.000-08:00

Qigong is intended to condition your body, to develop stamina and endurance.
But be wary of trying too hard.

If you find that your body is aching considerably and you feel really tired, you are doing the exercise incorrectly.
Let-go of your tension and relax into the posture.
Imagine that your arms are on strings or resting on something.

Sifu

2012-01-22T01:10:00.000-08:00

The role of the instructor in a martial arts class is crucial.
In addition to teaching the class, they often write the syllabus, run the school and decide how to approach the art.
Their personality is imprinted on everything they do.

Unlike a school teacher - who implements someone else's curriculum and follows someone else's rules - a martial arts instructor is more like the captain of a ship.

Your safety, their safety

2012-01-21T05:31:00.000-08:00

The advantage of boundaries is that everyone benefits.
You are protected from harm.
Other people are protected from you harming them.

Without clearly defined boundaries, a martial arts class cannot operate safely.

Refresh

2012-01-21T02:22:00.000-08:00

Chinese new year preparation is a time for buying new clothes and getting your h

Tai chi

2012-01-21T01:38:00.000-08:00

Tai chi is about changing our internal environment so that life becomes a joy to live and not a burden to drag into old age and death. It is about helping your body to let go of the past and your mind to slow down and cease churning. Tai chi encourages your internal focus to shift toward cherishing and remembering all that is wonderful in your life. It predisposes you to look forward to ways to make life better, rather than remembering how unsatisfying it has been.

Most importantly, tai chi gives us the ability to realise a greater human potential in ourselves and to have genuine compassion for others. Tai chi, with its gentle strength, moves us closer to feeling more truly alive.

(Bruce Frantzis)

2012-01-21T01:28:00.000-08:00

Pushing

2012-01-21T01:24:00.000-08:00

Impatient people push for results.
Yet, who are they really pushing, who is suffering the pressure of their impatience?
They are.

Pushing is a form of exertion.

Etiquette

2012-01-21T00:59:00.000-08:00

Most schools have some sort of class etiquette. This may seem a bit stuffy or formal.
Yet, rules are necessary in a class.
It is easy to get carried away. It is easy to be injured or cause injury.

By remaining composed, loose and friendly - safety can be encouraged.
Play, rather than fight.
Aggression has no place in our school.

Feedback

2012-01-20T23:52:00.000-08:00

The first impression a new starter gets of Sifu Waller's class is how professional it looks. Students are in uniform and there are people actively teaching the syllabus and practicing. There is a very comprehensive program of study to work through.

(Sylvia)

2012-01-20T21:45:00.000-08:00

Resentment

2012-01-20T04:03:00.000-08:00

Correction requires humility and the earnest recognition that you have much to learn.
It can be tempting to resent your instructor.
After all, they have the skills, they have the knowledge and they make it all look so easy.

But remember; those skills were earned by hard work, money, time and sacrifice.
Skill cannot be given. It must be taken.

Your instructor is giving you the benefit of their own experience.
They are offering numerous opportunities for learning.
Are you stealing their art?

Lazy

2012-01-20T02:01:00.000-08:00

Most people do not like the idea of exercising every day. They feel cheated because the body deteriorates and ages naturally.

The leisurely-oriented attitudes of modern life is responsible for many of the problems we are now encountering.
We are rearing a world of spoiled, lazy children and child-like adults.
Easy is not necessarily better.

Obesity, depression and mental illness are on the rise globally, as people sit back in their chairs and do less each year.
In some cases - cleaning, laundry, ironing, washing dishes, gardening are all being done by other people.
Time is freed up, but to do what?

2012-01-20T01:32:00.000-08:00

Hobbies

2012-01-20T01:25:00.000-08:00

People typically do not treat kung fu as a hobby. It is usually classed as a sport, keep fit, a martial art or a club.
Yet, 'hobby' is a good approach.

Consider hobbies:

When somebody has a hobby, they consider it to be fun.
They look forward to doing it and have a genuine enthusiasm.
Nobody forces you to spend time with your hobby; you want to commit the time.

As a hobby, kung fu has an appropriate place in your life.

Preparation for the new year

2012-01-20T00:17:00.000-08:00

Chinese families usually spend weeks before the new year cleaning their homes and business premises.
Some people give their houses a fresh coat of paint every year.

I am planning to be a little bit more modest in my preparation.

Meaningful form

2012-01-20T00:14:00.000-08:00

The forms must be made alive and useful.

(Yang Jwing-Ming)

Set realistic learning goals

2012-01-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

Each grade involves only a limited number of topics, exercises and drills.
Aim to pass a couple of new items every time you grade.
Look to existing skills.
Correct any mistakes, remove gaps in your knowledge.

Tai chi - 4 week induction course

2012-01-19T04:47:00.000-08:00

Dithering

2012-01-19T01:58:00.000-08:00

Hurrying is a form of dithering. Your mind is divided between concerns.
Dithering weakens your ability to act.

Imagine that your only concern in the world is to sit on the sofa reading a book?

You sit, you read. You are complete. Nothing else interests or concerns you. Nothing else needs doing.
The experience is without distraction or complexity. You read. Nothing more.

There is no stress, no anxiety. Why? Because you have nothing else to do but read.

As soon as you add a second concern, your mind starts to plan and prioritise, allocate time...
The more concerns you introduce, the greater the number of variables. The greater the distraction.
Mistakes happen. You forget things.

A divided mind is not whole. It flits between here and there, this and that. This is dithering.
Indecisiveness.
Kung fu form solves dithering by flowing smoothly from one moment to the next without pause, doubt or hesitation.

Form collecting

2012-01-19T01:37:00.000-08:00

If all you learn is a lot of forms, you just become a good dancer.

(James Wing Woo)

2012-01-19T01:27:00.000-08:00

Yang Cheng Fu form

2012-01-18T04:58:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIrC8KZKNpA

Perception

2012-01-18T02:22:00.000-08:00

A complete martial art is not about fighting.
Therefore, the strategies and tactics are geared towards completion of the event.
Force is never blocked.
Struggling is circumvented.
If something does not work, it is immediately discarded.

An entirely different mentality is required.

The student must think about the art as a martial art, not as a sport.
The aim is to evade and escape, not to win prizes or accolades.
The opponent may attack from an unexpected angle, they may be armed, they may not be alone and they will not stop when you have had enough.

Your repertoire must be varied and extensive. Your skills must be honed and comfortable.
Students must use their bodies intelligently and skilfully, employing optimal body mechanics to ensure the best 'effort to reward' ratio.

Slow fix

2012-01-18T02:00:00.000-08:00

Kung fu is a slow fix; it will not improve your health overnight.
Students must be committed to putting time aside every day to address their health.
If you become responsible for your own health and wellbeing, it will improve.

Only through a commitment to weekly lessons can you hope to benefit from kung fu; it is a slow steady process of growth and development.

Students

2012-01-18T01:16:00.000-08:00

Everyone is different.
Everyone has their own agenda.
Some people are easy to work with, whilst others are not.

One student may try hard but continually fail.
Another might be totally lazy but have a knack for the art.
Occasionally, a student neglects their training and blames the instructor for their lack of progress.

An instructor must find a way to help everyone fulfil their potential.

2012-01-17T23:19:00.000-08:00

Patient

2012-01-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

Focus on a topic, learn it and then move onto the next one.
Be patient with yourself.

Not fighting

2012-01-17T02:23:00.000-08:00

The word 'fighting' has the connotation of reciprocity: two people trading blows. Taking turns.
Many schools are training 'fighters' for competitions.

Kung fu is about cultivating a healthy body, a sharp, clear mind, settled emotions and self defence skills.
Students work towards inner peace, strength and relaxation.

The self defence training is extensive, sophisticated and will require a lot of hard work.
The three skills of combat are an integral part of the syllabus.

Staff play

2012-01-17T02:12:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-WHI4czHGA

Gratification

2012-01-17T01:36:00.000-08:00

If you are seeking gratification, you will naturally find what you desire, but do not let us call it truth.

(Krishnamurti)

Drop-in?

2012-01-17T00:57:00.000-08:00

We do not offer drop-in classes.
A casual student is not capable of learning our syllabus.

Drop-in/casual tai chi classes are a modern invention.
They deny a student the opportunity to gain an in-depth, comprehensive understanding of the art.
In order to learn tai chi properly, you need to join a school and make a commitment.

Relax

2012-01-17T00:15:00.000-08:00

In order to be soft, you must first relax. In order to be relaxed, your joints must first loosen. When your joints are loose, you can move your body as one unit and manifest your jing like a soft whip.

(Yang Jwing-Ming)

2012-01-16T23:19:00.000-08:00

Precious

2012-01-16T01:57:00.000-08:00

Your life constitutes a one-way journey from birth to death. The beauty of life lies in its fleeting nature.
In Japan, the cherry blossom symbolises the poignant realisation that we will bloom for only a short time.
Our mortality should not be ignored.

Rather than pine for more life, be inspired to use what you have, to live it well.
If you consider your life to be passing every day, do you really want to waste it watching television each night?
If you are idle and bored, 'killing time' - ask yourself why? Every moment takes you closer to the end.
Make those precious minutes count for something meaningful. When you die, will you have regrets?

When can you join?

2012-01-16T01:34:00.000-08:00

Induction courses are offered in February, June and October.

If you want to join sooner, you may do so.

2012-01-15T23:18:00.000-08:00

A martial art should already be 'complete'

2012-01-15T02:21:00.000-08:00

Unlike fighting, self defence requires the student to finish the opponent off decisively.
There can be no drawn-out combat.

The exponent must be capable of rapidly, spontaneously switching tactics and skills.
Trading blows is time-consuming.
It is necessary to adapt, change and improvise constantly.

Skill in all three areas of combat are necessary: chin na, jing and shuai jiao.
In self defence, the situation is unpredictable and there are no rules.
You must incapacitate the attacker immediately.

Awareness

2012-01-15T01:55:00.000-08:00

Meditation is the process of growing awareness.

You must root your attention in the 'here and now' unless deliberately allowing yourself to dream.
As you sit right now, what is your body doing? How is it is positioned? Are you relaxed or tense?
What are your thoughts? Do you feel at ease?

2012-01-15T01:44:00.000-08:00

Improvisation

2012-01-15T01:36:00.000-08:00

He was a young man,
but completely the master of the seven strings and of the complex music.
He would improvise before each song;
then would come the song,
in which there would be more improvisation.
You would never hear any song played twice in the same way.
The words were retained,
but within a certain frame there was great latitude,
and the musician could improvise to his heart’s content;
and the more the variations and combinations, the greater the musician.

(Krishnamurti)

Commitment

2012-01-15T00:57:00.000-08:00

With a keep fit class or the gym you can attend intermittently, and train as much or as little as you like.
It makes no real difference.
The student is just a number in the register.

Learning tai chi is a little different to attending a night school course or a keep fit class.

2012-01-14T23:18:00.000-08:00

Go easy on yourself

2012-01-14T07:55:00.000-08:00

Kung fu cannot be forced; it takes as long as it takes.
Take small methodical steps.

Proceed at a pace that suits you and your level of ability and commitment.
Do what you can without becoming anxious or stressed.

Re-inventing the wheel?

2012-01-14T02:21:00.000-08:00

Bruce Lee saw this division of grappling or striking/kicking as being an imbalance he wanted to correct.
However, traditional martial arts were already complete.
They did not need anything adding to them.

Tai chi chuan and baguazhang teach 3 martial expressions:

Chin na involves cavity press, dividing the muscle, misplacing the bones and sealing the breath.
Jing teaches sensitivity, awareness, manipulation and all forms of striking without tension.
Shuai jiao is about putting the opponent on the floor.

Positive attitude

2012-01-14T01:55:00.000-08:00

It is easy to become annoyed and frustrated in a culture that has embraced competition and selfishness as a way of life.

In kung fu, we are encouraged to remove the difference between thinking and doing.
We try to figure out the nature of obstacles and work with them rather than against them.
This creates a constructive attitude.
Creativity, and freedom from conditioned thought is crucial in kung fu.

No neigong

2012-01-14T01:39:00.000-08:00

The way most people do tai chi, it's not a martial art. They could never use it the way they're doing it. Everything's in their hands, they just fill in the rest with fantasy talk.

(Paul Gale)

2012-01-13T23:17:00.000-08:00

Jeet kune do

2012-01-13T02:20:00.000-08:00

Why did Bruce Lee develop jeet kune do?

Bruce Lee had studied wing chun and felt that wing chun did not fully address certain aspects of combat such as grappling, kicking and floor work.
To resolve this, Bruce Lee sought to develop his own martial arts system.

Many modern martial arts focus on certain aspects of combat and neglect other considerations.
Typically, an art is concerned with grappling or striking/kicking.
Broadly speaking, judo, ju jitsu and aikido are grappling arts... whilst karate, wing chun and tae kwon do are striking arts.

Common health problems

2012-01-13T02:09:00.001-08:00

Students frequently come to class with backache and tight shoulders, or they simply cannot relax.
Our training releases the muscles, calms the nerves and dissipates tension.

Nervous system

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Relaxing will have an effect upon your nervous system.
The nervous system is spread throughout your entire body and affects the internal balance.
Calming the nervous system changes how you move - you will feel less jerky and more fluid.
There are two ways in which we can work on the nervous system:

The body can be slowed by practicing kung fu every day and the mind can be calmed by reading books that encourage healthy thoughts, by watching nature and by meditating.

Sorrow

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Questioner: My mother has been dead for some years. Quite recently I have lost my father also, and I am full of remorse. My sorrow is not only remorse, but also the feeling of suddenly being left alone. What am I to do? How am I to get over it?

Krishnamurti: If one may ask, do you suffer for your father, or does sorrow arise from having no longer the relationship to which you had grown accustomed?

Questioner: I don't quite understand what you mean.

Krishnamurti: Do you suffer because your father is gone, or because you feel lonely?
You are suffering, surely, not for your father, but because you are lonely, and your sorrow is that which comes from self-pity.

(Krishnamurti)

Learning any skill

2012-01-13T00:56:00.000-08:00

Learning to drive a car, speak a foreign language or play a musical instrument involves time, patience, practice and expense.
A night school college course requires commitment.
Joining a gym often involves becoming a member.

2012-01-12T23:14:00.000-08:00