It is commendable the way Bruce K. Frantzis speaks in the clear, direct, and simple language of the common man. He is a rare genuine authority having not only made a study of but done that of which he speaks. He does not insult the listener's intelligence either through false humility nor through pretentious grandiosity. Listening to him can take a minor mental adjustment if one is more accustomed to hearing from "experts" who merely understand but have not internalized and thereby truly known their subjects. I'd hardly recommend anyone dispense with getting an intellectual grasp on their chosen subject but "book learning" is only the first step. One who knows only the book cannot compare to one who practices what it says. Merely intellectual experts are skimmers while the knowledge of those who do runs deep. That's simply a fact.
I do not know BKF or his background in Old Yang, but I agree absolutely with what he is saying. What he says about lengthening qi, joint opening and coiling - all represent the essence of what translates most easily from the Old Yang to the New Yang of Yang Chen Fu.
in regards to cultivating chi.. you have to project your mind from it, or it will make you crazy. it will fill you up like the Black Mahakala is the fierce aspect of one of the gentlest of Buddhist Deities, the Compassionate One Avalokitesvara or Chenrezig. We have to have mastery to keep chi sunk and just use the smallest amount we can. its very pressious and we are too weak to use it fully turned on, makes you go into RAGE mode if you get it to flow to head too much. i learned this from Master Nan Huai Chin and the proper use of mantra Om Ar Hung.
cyanide i can whole heartedly agree with this. Tried tai chi, tried qi gong. Too much chi went to my head. I heard elsewhere that the element of fire in the body resides there. I couldnt get close to physical fire or I will tremble and get shakes which tells me im too abundant in that element. It also made me quite psychotic at times, delusional and an extreme noticeable anger that my environment noticed quickly. If not with a teacher I wont attempt anything spiritual. Thats coming from someone who practiced bruce's material abundantly. Thnx for reading and God bless!!!
Suggest try stretching your quad muscles, for example by siting on your legs from the knees to the floor and the tops of your feet to the floor. which ever way you do it stretch those quads and over a week or so you shouldn't have that pain. The tight quad muscles occur from the hard work required to support your body's weight which then pulls at the interior cruciate ligament causing the pain. It might be something else but this so common give it go, it's for free ;-). My qualification, 40 years of doing and teaching t'ai chi in my home country New Zealand. Good luck.
To walk the circle correctly you need to sink into the kua but frankly that's very hard to do with circle walking IMO because of people using the mudwalking step which is awkward. Doing the stepping mechanics in a taichi format can help you sink down into the kua without the requirement of twisting in the posture at the same time. This allows you to pull your knees back so that the knee cap isn't under as much strain.
It's sad how throughout the ages knowledge of the martial arts have been getting lost and or ignored. interesting about how to become a high level martial artist is harder than getting a Ph.D.
I remember years ago an old master talking about external styles and "martial arts poison" If done correctly your external styles should not be damaging your joints. If done incorrectly you are killing your knees, hips, shoulders and wrists. American diet is killing our joints and unhealthy teeth affect well being. I switched to internal five years ago after 25 years of TKD. Few teach it where it is not killing your joints. That is one of many reasons people drop out. If you can't do Bagua why not post stand? If you don't have static standing balance it is something to strive for through post standing...or there is always total knee replacements.
It is commendable the way Bruce K. Frantzis speaks in the clear, direct, and simple language of the common man. He is a rare genuine authority having not only made a study of but done that of which he speaks. He does not insult the listener's intelligence either through false humility nor through pretentious grandiosity. Listening to him can take a minor mental adjustment if one is more accustomed to hearing from "experts" who merely understand but have not internalized and thereby truly known their subjects.
I'd hardly recommend anyone dispense with getting an intellectual grasp on their chosen subject but "book learning" is only the first step. One who knows only the book cannot compare to one who practices what it says. Merely intellectual experts are skimmers while the knowledge of those who do runs deep. That's simply a fact.
I do not know BKF or his background in Old Yang, but I agree absolutely with what he is saying. What he says about lengthening qi, joint opening and coiling - all represent the essence of what translates most easily from the Old Yang to the New Yang of Yang Chen Fu.
You said you are teaching a 36 posture old Yang style form? Bruce shortened it? It was originally a long form. Thank you for your reply : )
When will the Ba Gua Zhang Master Program be availiable again ???
in regards to cultivating chi.. you have to project your mind from it, or it will make you crazy. it will fill you up like the Black Mahakala is the fierce aspect of one of the gentlest of Buddhist Deities, the Compassionate One Avalokitesvara or Chenrezig. We have to have mastery to keep chi sunk and just use the smallest amount we can. its very pressious and we are too weak to use it fully turned on, makes you go into RAGE mode if you get it to flow to head too much. i learned this from Master Nan Huai Chin and the proper use of mantra Om Ar Hung.
cyanide i can whole heartedly agree with this. Tried tai chi, tried qi gong. Too much chi went to my head. I heard elsewhere that the element of fire in the body resides there. I couldnt get close to physical fire or I will tremble and get shakes which tells me im too abundant in that element. It also made me quite psychotic at times, delusional and an extreme noticeable anger that my environment noticed quickly. If not with a teacher I wont attempt anything spiritual. Thats coming from someone who practiced bruce's material abundantly. Thnx for reading and God bless!!!
Can anybody tell me about YMAA -schools ? And about Dr. Yang Jwing Ming teachings in comparison to Old Yang Style or any other styles ?
sorry bruce I had to leave bagua - my knees are seriously injured & I can't walk - not even very carefully : (
Maybe the knee problems come from your teeth.
Suggest try stretching your quad muscles, for example by siting on your legs from the knees to the floor and the tops of your feet to the floor. which ever way you do it stretch those quads and over a week or so you shouldn't have that pain. The tight quad muscles occur from the hard work required to support your body's weight which then pulls at the interior cruciate ligament causing the pain. It might be something else but this so common give it go, it's for free ;-). My qualification, 40 years of doing and teaching t'ai chi in my home country New Zealand. Good luck.
To walk the circle correctly you need to sink into the kua but frankly that's very hard to do with circle walking IMO because of people using the mudwalking step which is awkward. Doing the stepping mechanics in a taichi format can help you sink down into the kua without the requirement of twisting in the posture at the same time. This allows you to pull your knees back so that the knee cap isn't under as much strain.
It's sad how throughout the ages knowledge of the martial arts have been getting lost and or ignored. interesting about how to become a high level martial artist is harder than getting a Ph.D.
I remember years ago an old master talking about external styles and "martial arts poison" If done correctly your external styles should not be damaging your joints. If done incorrectly you are killing your knees, hips, shoulders and wrists. American diet is killing our joints and unhealthy teeth affect well being. I switched to internal five years ago after 25 years of TKD. Few teach it where it is not killing your joints. That is one of many reasons people drop out. If you can't do Bagua why not post stand? If you don't have static standing balance it is something to strive for through post standing...or there is always total knee replacements.