raven91

Into-Do - the amazing art of running into any and every kind of door possible without fatal injury.

Horai-Do - vigorously paddling towards the horizon and believing that you will finally reach the end of the world...

Wow! Thank you very much for sharing that! It inspires me to keep trying my best. As for the monks of earlier times, I agree completely with you that they were chosen with the ability to stay honest as a determining factor. Do you consider, though, that being a bad person means you have a weaker Chi? Can't you be bad and still have strong Chi? It might be a negative Chi though...

No, I have not had the chance to start Tai Chi yet, but I want to very much. Actually, I'm planning on doing that during either Christmas break or the next Summer. Goju boi - thank you very much for a great tip once again. I did indeed find that I am more flexible than most of my fellow students and teachers, but they are also very fast (especially the higher ranking belts). I suppose that I need to develop my technique to the point when I don't really have to think about a movement to make it.

I agree with all of you, simply because I can do some things without making a "Kya", and yet I find the need to vocalize this powerful expression when I feel like I'm about to fall over from exhaustion. Today, for example, at my Kwoon, my Sifu was drilling us for over an hour strait. Form after form after form - and still I was hesitant to Kya. But...when I came close to simply giving out, I decided to try it out and it really did help me! It felt as if making that sound somehow gave me new strength! Please keep sharing your opinions! I love to hear from you guys! We are - in a way - kindred warriors lol.

That sounds like some workout!

I am 18 years old. I do fight grown men - although they try to go easy on me. We do indeed have a belt system and a sash system, but sashes are for internal arts.

The will to learn is probably what could be considered the equivalent of spiritual potential...in the past that is. I'm still pretty sure that Chi is important. As is breathing and meditation. That's just me though...

Hahaha...it's more like 30 in my case. Younwhagrl, my teacher says somthing very similar during testing. Yesterday, I remembered that my Sifu usually says: "Just keep moving...don't think about what you're doing...if you mess up, keep going...and if you fall...well...then you can stop."

There is a lot of sense in what you are saying, giang_hu. Stance is very important - especially bow and horse stance. I also agree with viskous about the difficulty of achieving such a level of control over your energy. In a way, I suppose that Chi is everything: stance, experience, and also...well...Chi. I read that children were chosen into the Shaolin by their spiritual potential. Do you believe that such a potential could be a determining factor in one's ability to fight? Also, do any of you actually feel the Chi when you fight or train? I'm curious as to your points of view.

I agree with you. Sometimes I don't feel confident at all, especially when I am sparring with a higher rank such a second degree belt. My Kwoon is composed mainly of guys (maybe five women total) and all of them are really tall and muscular. It can be rather intimidating sometimes to fight them, even though I know that my moves (even if less perfected) are still just as effective. Confidence is a major issue I suppose.

My Sifu is a fourth degree in Internal Arts (Tai Chi). It really is scary to see him sparring with my other Sifu (also a fourth degree). He has trained for many many years to master this art and to utilize it in a fighting form, and from what I saw, it was very effective. Because he has mastered his breathing techniques so well (something that is underestimated by many people), his hits are extremely powerful. Although it sometimes seems as though he is slow and harmless, that really is far from the case.

All Shaolin monks channeled their Chi (spiritual energy) in order to gain strength and a deeper understanding of their religion. I believe in the ability to harness this energy in order to produce more focus and a more forceful hit. The monks apparently put in this energy while they fought, and that was partially why they were so successful. I was wondering how in the world you can focus on concentrating Chi into your limbs or even your body to be more successful in your attacks and defensewhile fighting at such high speeds as most sparrs tend to go. Thank you for you help in my other post as well, Sir!

I am usually really shy about making "kya's" and other vocal noises when I'm in the Kwoon, simply because I am naturally a rather silent person. My Sifu always gets mad at me for that, saying that I have to release my tension and energy in that "kya" in order to gain more force. He always says: "That squeal is just so terrifying. Make me shake in fear! You have to intimidate your opponent!" Anyone else feel strange making "kya's", or am I the only one?

"You have to do it over and over and over again...so get to work!"