Alan Armstrong

A chi kung master met a Samurai warrior. They started debating on what was the most efficient hand held killing weapon. The Samurai chose the sword the chi kung master chose the fly swatter. The Samurai feeling insulted went to draw his sword to behead the chi kung master in an instant, but the chi kung master sensing the urgency swatted the Samurai's face before the Samurai had a chance to blink. The chi kung master was very apologetic to the Samurai for the swatt and explained that this particular fly ( now dead at the feet of the Samurai ) had been tormenting him all morning, calling him stupid names and making rude remarks about Samurai swordsman. The Samurai walked away shaking his head in disbelief. The chi kung master gently picked up the fly and holding it between his hands, quickly resuscitate the fly with his chi power and the fly was as good as new again. The fly said to the chi master "Same time tomorrow then?" The chi kung master replied "OK"

Gravity is a force, a type of energy. Then gravity is also chi. If I harness the force of gravity in a fight and my opponent doesn't chances are he will lose against me. Gravity is free energy! If I can move in a relaxed way and simultaneously be aware of using my body weight in martial art structural ways, I will be move efficient and effective in every moment. Gravity used with balance and structure has increased my chances of winning a fight also. Gravity/Balance/Structure all free for martial artists to use for efficiency and stability; it is free chi power. In a clinch boxers use chi power by using their body weight, the opponent is literally holding up the other boxer and wearing him out. By using structure with balance and bodyweight gravity tactics, it will use up the opponent precious energy, with little energy expense to himself. Now try to imagine a martial artist using this and the multitude of other gravity tactics in all of his moves. Small investment with huge gains in return. This is chi power! If you haven't grasped this concept yet, I suggest for you to practice falling down and getting back up again at least 100 times a day, until you grip this idea 100%

Hi Bushido! Please let me elaborate a little more with this bungee stretching method. As I am about 60 my muscles are more tighter than my younger days. So I need to stretch with more wisdom and patience. I have tried and tested the Pilate/yoga bands, I break them too easily. I have tried the rubber tension bands and a I snap them also. I bought a nice stretching device that contains the three metal bars and pulling the middle bar stretches the two outside bars. Problem with this is that it is very static not much PNF options and being tense when pulling the legs apart is not giving any chance to relax the body totally. With the bungee cords I can relax my entire body while being stretched by them. The two bungees I use are only 2 ft long less than a meter in length. While sitting on the ground I attach them to my ankles then attach them to a metal fence directly behind me. Then with my hands behind me I push myself forward. Try to point your toes straight up to the sky and keep the small of the back straight also. That's about it really. A few other tips also. I listen to music to keep my mind occupied and at times I shake my legs as fast as possible to the music. I also have three pieces of string. I tie a loop on end and make a knots on the other; this is so I can do some side stretching also. I attache the loop end over each foot and use the other knotted end for pulling on. The third piece of string is attached to something in front of me and then I can pull my self forward with it.

I believe it to be lactic acid working out for your benefit. I suggest to have someone massage the backs of your legs when you have finished the workout. Lay face down with your arms in front of you. Point the palms of your feet to the ceiling. Have someone hold your feet and let that person walk on the back of your legs, just like the way they made wine in the past. Then have that person cross your ankles and press your feet downwards into your backside.

Found a practical way to help doing the splits. While experimenting many different methods to improve my splits, I came up with a novel idea. Using 2 bungee cords, the type used to hold things down on a car roof rack. Hook the bungee's around each ankle while sitting in the split position and hook the other ends on either side behind you to something like a metal fence. Now use your hands behind you to push yourself forward. You can always hold a weight in front of your chest to help with the stretch. If you lay flat on your back and still attached to the bungees, you can raise your legs and PNF. Trying to pull your legs together then relaxing back in to the splits. Also if you have some rope or thick string attached to something solid you can pull yourself forward with it, while in the splits. If you can handle the strain of it all. your ankles are going to need some padding like a hand towel wrapped around each ankle, otherwise the bungees will be strangling your ankles and cutting off your curculation. I would suggest to give yourself at least one hour to gradually make your flexibility improvements. With practice and patience you will become flexible. With the bungee cord stretching idea the possibilities are as limited as your imagination. Sometimes I use ice to numb the muscles I want to stretch and where I feel any discomfort I just use ice on that area only. Beware of giving yourself frostbite. This method to improve flexibility really works... don't give up! Remember: tension/relaxation/breath.

Once there was twin brothers. Both twenty years old. They both have the same weight and intelligence. They had a problem of sibling rivelry. The first born developed his muscles to be bigger and stronger than his brother. The second born just grew up naturally. The first born knew that he could defeat his brother easily because he is stronger. The second brother not strong enough using muscle power to protect himself, asks for advice from a chi kung master. The master told him about the three vitues of the world. The way of balance that everthing is connected to the force of gravity. Everything has structure or it will fall down. With the proper leverage anything can be moved. This is the way of nature. The chi master told the second born to study nature and it's virtues and to return when these three laws of nature were understood. The first born heard of what his brother was doing and laughed out loud. Time passed and the weaker brother met a Daoist monk. He explained to the monk what the chi master requested and asked for his help. The monk lightly touched him on the shoulder and instantly he fell to the ground. The daoist monk smiled and walked away. After much contemplated meditation the three virtues became a little clearer to the weaker brother. He returned to the chi master and told of his experience with the daoist monk. The chi master explained that when trying to swim against the current you will be exhausted quickly. Know which way the energy flows or leans towards and use gravity and gently sway in that direction. Strength without structure will fall without much effort, gently lean on a tree that has little structure and little roots and it will almost fall down on it's own. Leverage is how small things in nature can effect big things. Have you ever tried to sleep in a room when you know there is a mosquito in there with you? More people have died from mosquitos than elephants. Combining the knowledge of gravity and structure makes a little leverage in the right place move mountains. The chi master told the weaker brother to be gentle with his stronger brother, because softness can overcome hardness, this is the way of nature. The chi master told him to give his brother a big hug and not to be hard on him. Then come back tomorrow and start your chi kung training!

Chi is what keeps us all alive, it is our life force energy. Many deplete this energy and die young. Bruce Lee is considered to be guilty of this, by burning his candle at both ends, so to speak! Chi is energy and how we use that energy is called Jing. Pung is Bounce. Ge is press. Lu is Pull. Ann is Push. These are the most common Jings in the internal martial arts. Pung jing the bouncing type energy is what martial art masters use in demonstrations to bounce opponent away. Chi energy can be transmitted from one person to another. There is good chi and bad chi 'good vibes' and 'bad vibes' we have all felt them! Chi energy it is also associated with feelings. Chi is also connected with steam and vapour. We freely use the expression when someone is exhausted "Have you run out of steam"

Meditation is letting thoughts flow freely in and out of your mind. Not really what you need in my opinion. At this event you have reacted normal. What you have experienced is normal. Mistakes are normal. The frustration of it all is normal. The experience gained is valuable. Watch if not already seen the movie 'Ground Hog Day' starring Bill Murry. Practice makes perfect, all the best.

Defending against being attacked depends on the situation. Do you know the person or not. Is their intent dangerous. Did they provoke the attack or was it your fault. Are they far weaker than you or are they superior than you in size and strength. Above all stay out of harms way and don't use more force than necessary. 1) Stay at a distance strike the attackers forarms, shines and knees. 2) Close the gap fast with chops to the neck and direct elbow strikes to the face followed up quickly with any type of limb lock (arm or head lock) and pin the opponent to the ground. 3) Control the fight in every moment and keep your structural integrity/ strength and balance/ intact at all times.

MA schools become known through reputation good and bad. If students are easily influenced by a leaflet from another school and they want to join them, let them go without a fuss. Marketing/recruiting skills in some schools can seem very aggressive; personally I avoid them. MA schools with fewer students tend to lean towards traditionalism in styles and values. They are not get rich schemes because they treat what they do as an art.

Another exercise idea is to use "Battle Ropes" It is practiced with a 50 ft length of rope 2 inches wide. Just by wrapping the rope in the middle of a post and holding on to the two loose ends, you will be good to go with your workout. It is a cardio workout to the extreme. Power slamming, rotations and making waves with the ropes is just a few examples of many. There are a few videos on YouTube to give you a better idea.

Solid Post! Well done! Chi Sao is about garhering information and controlling the opponent by sensing their intent. Propreceptive training can give a Wing Chun fighter in some circumstances an added advantage. When a Wing Chun fighter fight's another Wing Chun fighter they rarely make any Chi Sao types of contact.

There is a saying that muscles not used will turn in to fat. Also that large muscles can hamper agility and speed. Callisthenics training develops muscles suited to martial arts. I suggest a Calisthenics training programe incorporating rope exercises for Wing Chun practitioners. The pulling and jerking movments found in Wing Chun techniques work well using ropes. I have an open minded viewpoint about Wing Chun practices and if you can incorporate some of them in to your training, you are more than welcome to give them a try. If you wrap an elbow pad on to the rope it will give you a more realistic feel to you training. In the Wing Chun system, the elbows are a very important factor. The Wing Chun master is focused on his opponents elbows. This is his secret to controlling and winning a fight. Twisting a rope also tightens it making it similar to the human arm and leg.

6. Always greet the attacker on their way towards you and escort them on their way out. If there is no contact, chase them.

Watching YouTube and chi power demonstrations clouds the benefits of this concept. Keep your bull%#*t dectector in good working order 100% of the time. If you dismiss chi power altogether, then you will be missing out on one of the most wondrous qualities that martial arts has to offer. You could be a martial artist all your life and the power of chi could allude you. Straining your brain to understand chi is a hopeless. The knowledge of chi power is usually transferred from teacher to student and not from a book or YouTube. All I am trying to covey to you is that from one martial to another, is that chi power exists and by knowing and harnessing it you will be a force to be reckoned with. All successful martial artists use chi power knowingly and some not, we like to call them "Naturally gifted"

I recommend cross training Tai Chi with other martial art styles. I simultaneously cross trained Tai Chi with TKD. Won my first gold medal for sparring in a TKD tournament. I owe and credit the win to my Tai Chi Chuan practice. Something many martial artist miss out on knowing or fail to understanding due to never been taught the principal is "STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY" This is what makes the difference between you knowing, practicing and using it's principals and winning and not knowing you will be constantly falling down and losing all your battles. Without structural integrity you are as good as a sitting duck out in the middle of a pond during hunting season. Tai Chi practioners also practice Chi Kung. Tai Chi without Chi Kung practice can lead to flowery movments that look pretty but lack the STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY !!!!!!!!!!!

When using chi power in martial arts, an example. Focused power. Ki in Japanese ma styles. Practicing revers puches on a makawari board is also focusing your chi power. Focusing energy where the mind goes the chi goes with it also. To practice chi power can also be expressed slowly and gently. Or hard and fast. Or a combination of the two. Chi power can be used in an instant without hesitation or telegraphing your intent. Pandiculation is considered to be a body yawn. Cats and dogs do a little stretch every 3 or 4 hours. Muscles contract while inactive and pandiculation stretching resets their length. Suppose you are going to jump over a wall. To pandiculate before the jump awakens the muscles you need to be successful. Otherwise you will most likely fall flat on your face. People, in this example martial artists pandiculate their shoulders before punching. They telegraph their intent. Using chi power without telegraphing intent is the trick here. Instant power without giving away any prior or pre warm up movements. Using chi power or having instant punching or kicking power will make your techniques super fast. The danger of using chi power when punching can cause whiplash to the neck. Also when kicking can cause a pulled groin muscle. With practice and knowing oneself these issues can be overcome. With practice a person can pandiculate without moving a muscle. An adrenaline dump in to the system is how this is accomplished. Bruce Lee was doing this 100's of times in all of his movies.

Had a chance on weekend to do a little Wing Chun training theory, using the rope idea. Not disappointed at all. In fact it enlightened me to other ideas. Ropes and Knotts they go together. The hundreds of Chin-na locking techniques can be practiced with a rope as a grappling partner. No problem hurting your rope partner's wrists, arms or shoulders. Also climbing about like a spider on a web was a great exercise. Swinging and holding on to the rope was very challenging and a rewarding exercise at the same time. I am going to build/make a simple rope dummy and try some grappling techniques with it. There seems to be a more realistic feel to holding on to a rope as opposed to a metal or wooden bar. I feel my hands to be alot stronger in a gripping and or ripping type of way. Climbing up a rope squares wall the type they use on the side of military ship was interestingly enough to keep practicing again. Having to climb in this awkward way uses all of the bodies muscles and the stretching and pulling while balancing has got to be some kind of workout. I see this type of rope workout to be of great benefit for gaining overall strength, because unlike picking a weight up and swinging it then putting it down again. While with ropes there is a constant stress on the body that is transferred to different muscle groups while in motion, developing a type of strength stamina. Wing Chun theory opposes the development of muscle because it will affect and slow down a fighters touch and speed capabilities. There is also another Wing Chun theory that states that Wing Chun should be practiced, tested and improved upon.

All of the opinions so far are totally valid. Tai Chi involves chi power; of course. Tai chi is one of the most popular martial art style's in the world. My Tai Chi teacher had 40 years experience. He was also an engineer. I believe he new a thing or two about how things work. He was very humble about his Tai Chi. He said that after 40 years practicing martial arts that he must know something. The best advice he gave me was about "The Too Late Syndrome" words to meditate by!

Just the other evening I was giving free ma lessons in an exercise park for adults. Out of the approximate 40 people there I must have made an impression. No sooner finished teaching one small group, not noticing but another small group was awaiting their turn. ( I did get in big trouble later from my wife, as I completely lost track of time ) It was a bit risky on my part to interact with groups of complete strangers late at night alone. There were those watching the show with a disbelief of what was happening. I may or may not do this again but the experience has heightened my awareness of the dangers involved. I believe it was my willingness to share in a friendly manner without having an ego problem, that spared me from getting beaten up.

Dantien = sea of chi. The way of Chi Kung practice is to cultivate chi and store it in the dantien. Flowing this chi around the body promoting health and longevity. With the idea of flowing water never becomes stale, those that practice daily flowing movment, enjoy a quality of live unlike the average citizen. Drinking plenty of fresh water helps to keep muscles hydrated and flexible. We are about 97% water with about 600 muscles to keep hydrated. Chi Kung practice involves and emphasize many breathing techniques. Without air within just a few minutes we will die. Water will keep us alive longer than just food. Air water food, our survival depends on them. With Chi Kung practice and knowledge it is the quality and not the quantity that matters most. Fresh air, fresh water, fresh food. Out at sea there is plenty of fresh air unlike the polluted cities. Drinking rainwater and eating fresh fish is going to improve a person's life with quality. Many of us flock to the coastlines of many countries just for a few weeks for this quality. What has all of this to do with Wing Chun you may ask. The Wing Chun practitioner in my opinion is better suited to mariners than it is to any other style of living. Those that work in offices and practice Wing Chun incorporate the healthy aspects physical and psychological. Wing Chun's economy of motion aspects can be used as a business tool also. Wing Chun ways should involve every aspect of our lives and at the top of the priority list should be health. Self defense in all of it's aspects starting from a healthy life style and protecting it with martial arts. While we learn new things we should in turn unlearn things also. Your quality of life can be improved without extra financial costs. Wing Chun's economy of movement and directness could be used in many aspects of our lives with a little imagination. Being neutral and ready to adapt to the situation. Being balanced and centered. Understanding Wing Chun centre line theories and helping hands concepts. Developing and cultivating sensitivity. Wing Chun is not a philosophy as philosophy is a Greek concept. Wing Chun is style of Chinese wisdom.

Oceanic Wing Chun? Are you a believer yet? Are you going to get your feet wet in this topic? The way Bruce Lee could move sideways like a; O.k a crab. Most Kung Fu styles are attributed to one animal or another. The crab sideways movement is also in the Wing Chun style or system. The crab can move very fast-sideways. Speed and Wing Chun crabs; what next! The straight on Wing Chun stance will make most martial artists feel very vulnerable. Having one's shoulder's directly in front of an opponent can feel like an open invitation for disaster. The Wing Chun fighter on the other hand is comfortable with this idea. How else will the center line be protected if not in an almost head on symmetrical stance, like a crab. Everything about Wing Chun I find to be deceptive in one way or another. It is as if the style is a contradiction unto itself. This is why as a martial art style I find it to be the most fascinating. Every time I try to pull away from the Wing Chun style a type of gravity pulls me back in to it again. For example, imagine you on a small boat and you are steering it. You pull the rudder to the left and the boat steers right and point the the rudder the other way and the boat turns to the left. In Wing Chun the whole body pivots on the heels when deflecting and countering just as if one is steering a boat. There is the deceptive aspect in all Wing Chun movements that are by nature to seem unnatural but are for the initiated perfectly natural.

My view of using chi power may differ from other martial artists because there are many ways of using it. First of all the concept of pandiculation is needed here. This is what we usually do before doing anything physical. It is like a mini warm up. It is also telegraphing your intent. When using chi power in a punch for instance, pandiculation or telegraphing warns your opponent of your intent and we don't want that do we! Chi power is fast and direct. Nothing pulled back like using a bow and arrow, because you should already be loaded to unleash your blow. Pow! Quick fast and direct. Using chi power is a very fast moving throughout motion without using any breaks. Muay Thai kicks use the same chi power concept, by using this follow through motion. Baseball players use chi power also; to hit a ball out of the park. An explosion is chi power therefore chi power should be used explosively! In other words an instant release of energy. Muscle power, pushes, pulls, holds and lifts things, so using muscle tension is involved, that doesn't play any part of using chi power and should be avoided at all cost. The none use of muscle power is the successful way of using chi power to your advantage. This is one of the correct methods of using "soft to overcome the hard"

Chi Sao? What does it mean? Is there an English equivalent term for Chi Sao? Same goes for yin/yang and 5 elements?

What is chi power, yin/yang and five elements from a western perspective then? What harm does Eastern ancient terminology do? How do you explain these things in modern times in a scientific and logical, rational manner?