Don't know something?

Don't know what something means? That is fine, and good. 
See it as an opportunity to grow and expand.

Simply saying that you don't know and then stopping signifies an unwillingness to change, to evolve as a person, surely?

We all encounter things every day that we don't understand or don't know about.
Be curious. 
Explore.
Learn.
Expand your horizons.
Dare to grow, to change.
Don't just talk.

Confucius said:

"I do not enlighten those who are not eager to learn, nor arouse those who are not quick to give an explanation themselves.

If I have presented one corner of the square and they cannot come back to me with the other three, I should not go over the points again."

See this as a friendly challenge. An invitation to broaden yourself?

In friendship,

Master Waller

Somebody and nobody

Awareness offers at least two sides to all situations. 
Taoism shows us that we are all unique and special. We all have a gift to offer. 

At the same time, if everyone is special, then surely no one can be special? 
What is remarkable about being the same as everyone else?

We are all unique yet we are all the same. It seems to be a paradox but there is no paradox. 
Any apparent paradox exists in our own thinking.

It is possible to be two things simultaneously without any contradiction occurring. 
The contradiction lies with words and thoughts, not with reality.

Every person on this planet is both somebody and nobody.

Do not throw yourself away. No value will result, and you will lose your dignity.
Remain modest, quiet and correct.

(I Ching) 

Fear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUEK9Sab4Vs

Discipleship

A disciple cannot claim lineage because they are at the beginning of their lineage journey, not the end.

The life of a disciple is hard.
They must commit many hours every day to meaningful training, attend class every week, private lessons every week, workshops, lineage sessions, boot camp and any other opportunity for training.
They must undertake challenges, reading assignments and tests of sincerity.
The disciple also begins to assist with the running of the school, making decisions, covering lessons and perpetuating the art.

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)

Perseverance

Qigong gets easier with practice. 
Your body becomes conditioned and you no longer notice the difficulty.

Students who train regularly at home find that the exercises become ingrained quite rapidly. They gain a fantastic sense of relaxation and feel energised. Their bodies also become far stronger and resilient. 
When you feel good, it is easy to exercise. You want to exercise.

Becoming a disciple

The first step on the path to claiming lineage involves becoming a lineage disciple.
This is easy enough.
You simply need to meet the qualifying criteria, undertake the bai shi ceremony and start training at this level.

Quietude

A taijiquan person does not seek success and recognition. They have no use for such things.
Life is complex enough and riddled with hardships without inviting the scrutiny of others or indulging our own weaknesses and vanities.

The simple life is the preferred one. No fuss. No bother. No fame. No authority.

We do not live such a life because it is expected of us. That would be false. A conceit.
The decision to be this way occurs naturally and spontaneously.
No other way would seem appropriate.

100 day challenge

We encourage all students to commit to a daily regime for 100 days. 
No days off. No respite. No lies. No excuses. Day after day after day of training.
This will lay the foundation. 

After 100 days you should be fitter. The habit of training each day will be ingrained.

Power

Beginners focus upon gaining a basic familiarity with the exercises.

Intermediate students seek to improve their biomechanical efficiency in order to develop 'obvious power' (ming jing). 
This stage of practice is all about coordinated movement: "square on the inside, round on the outside."
The student avoids locking their joints, tensing muscles, leaning, stooping and using force.

Experienced students study hidden power (an jing), making the movements smoother, more flowing and less overt.
Every exercise is infused with neigong.

An expert achieves refined power (hua jing) by doing most of their work internally.

Cord: Who are you?

Blind shepherd: Whoever you think I am or want me to be, I am.

(The Silent Flute)

Kung fu in our school

Master Waller offers: 

• Chin na
• Shuai jiao
• Baguazhang
• Taijiquan
• Hard qigong
• Self defence
• Neigong• Jing
• Weapons
• San sau
• San da

Students work through a detailed syllabus.

Hard qigong

'Hard qigong' refers to qigong exercises that are martial in nature. They are specifically intended to augment the kung fu syllabus.
The main purpose of hard qigong is strength.
Unlike gym work or weight lifting, nothing is forced.

Many hard qigong exponents train this way in order to perform feats of strength and endurance. This is not really our focus.

The body mechanics of the internal martial arts are significantly more sophisticated than those of the external martial arts. 

(Bruce Frantzis)

What is kung fu?

Chinese martial arts are commonly referred to as 'kung fu'.

Kung fu (or gong fu) literally means hard work, time, skill. 
More specifically: combat skill.  

Is it really internal?

Studying taijiquan or baguazhang does not make a student an 'internal' martial artist.
It all depends on how you train the art.
It is possible (and common) to perform the martial art 'externally'.
Also, most taijiquan classes are 'tai chi for health' and therefore not an internal martial arts class at all.

Ming jing

Intermediate students must work towards acquiring 'ming jing' - obvious power.
 Requirements:

 • Some degree of exaggerated, large movement
 • Connection through the back
 • Rotation of the axis
 • Large waist turns
 • Distinct weight shifts
 • Remain balanced at all times
 • Take the balance
 • Do not strike a rooted body
 • Keep the muscles soft (relaxed)

 Be very careful not to use muscle tension (contraction), locked joints, disconnected arms or force against force.