Thrice Daily

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Hiya just wanted to say, thanks to all those who contributed on this thread. I went through at the weekend and made a playlist featuring most of the suggestions over the last 7 pages. There are some real beauty’s and many of the recommended writers and speakers have entire courses on YouTube. So I added a video or two from each one, if you want to use the playlist as a springboard into more. Here it is. It’s quite comprehensive to get to know the material suggested here; TAOBUMS LINKS AND RESOURCES PLAYLIST

Totally resonate, brilliantly put…

Yeah it’s funny you know, when I think about most of my training in Wing Chun, considering all the simulation of smashing people faces, heads and jaws off it’s always put me off fighting rather than turned me on to it. My intention is always to get on the outside of my opponent and control motherline from there , somehow my teachers lessons went that way with me. I respect the basic Buddhist premise of it, always seeking to block first and adjust footwork, but never with aggression. It would be good with the right club I agree. I’m hoping so, she will know when times right, for now she can copy along bits with me, the cool thing is she is interested . I know of other Dads and that was never the case. It’s my fault really, I show her bits to just give her a healthy take on physical conflict and they are just sticks (hands and legs) and she has the right to knock them away.. then I show. Hopefully she continues to be interested and is a life long martial artist. That would be ace , we will always have training partner while spending time. That is cool to think. She is young now so we see. Haha no not at all, dancing is great. I love it too and tried many types of group dancing over the years. Mainly in workshop and therapy settings. Not quite rock and roll proper but it rocks all the same. Now what you mean though, it’s a good tip.

For a martial artists perspective on Yijinjing you might want to check… This article; Martial Artists Perspective On Yijinjing Its a nice read and has three parts to it. You can click links to the other 2 parts at top of page. This is an excerpt from page 3; You can see that to practice the Yijin Jing correctly we first need to cultivate Qi. That’s why we work on sinking the Qi for a long time. Through different Qigong exercises (postures or breathing exercises) we will accumulate Qi, develop and form the Dan Tian, learn how to sink the Qi and cultivate it to an abundant level. Naturally, the exercises serve one purpose in the beginning, and a different purpose further down the line. Once Qi is sufficient, it will be sent to develop the Huang which then develops the muscles to get a tendon-quality. Qi can not be forced or actively led into the Huang. Huang is literally everywhere in the body. Because of the complexity of the Huang system, which most likely involves a handful of other connective tissues, it is important that Qi mobilizes to move into the Huang of its own accord. That’s why it’s important to focus on the previous principles and ensure to follow them closely. Only when the muscles “hang” and you are finding a light stretch within deep relaxation, will you be able to create the right conditions for the Qi to enter the Huang. Naturally it is also essential for the Qi to build. There must be a sufficient amount of Qi in order for it to move into the Huang. This is what emphasizes the importance of the Yin side of training. It is very beneficial for the Yijin Jing practice to complete the small circulation meditation. The medical Qigong classics usually mention “Huang” and “Gao” and divide them into 2 different kind of tissues. “Gao” literally means “fat” and refers to adipose tissue. This is the tissue that is used for the storage of fat. “Huang” is usually translated into “membranes” and also refers to superficial and deep fascia, the mesenterium, omentum and stroma which are tissues that attach the organs to the body wall and the stomach with other abdominal organs, as well as other supportive tissues. They cover the whole body with a layer immediately below the skin and consist of an inner layer that is wrapping and anchoring the organs (connecting them), the muscles and the bones. You can see that the Chinese were already very well aware of this interconnected web of tissues throughout the body. In relation to the Yijin Jing and the mechanism for body-development, it is safe to assume that all these tissues are meant by Huang. They are completely connected and can not be isolated. It is impossible to move any part of the body without affecting the Huang in the entire body. If you move your index finger there will ultimately be a response in the bottom of your foot, even if it’s ever so subtle. These fully interconnected connective tissues between the muscles, around the bones and in those “empty spaces” within the body are what ties up the whole body as one. The Classic of Categories says the Huang is in between the abdominal cavities and the muscle patterns (Li, muscle fibre) and they extend up and down in the crevices. There is a particularly large amount of Huang in the abdominal cavity between the organs and the muscles. All of these layered tissues with different conductivity shape the real lower Dan Tian. This is a pretty nice look in if you are thinking about approaching Yi Jinjing . I should pay more regard to the yin side of my practice now as the tendon changing I use is likely to be a Shaolin version , it’s dynamic with lots of twisting and bending, very Yang good tempo for warming up.

@TheGrayJediKnight how are you getting along now, is your practice still feeding you well?

I absolutely agree. In fact you can argue that everything affects the nervous system. I mean it’s always operational and regulating breath helps us switch over from sympathetic to parasympathetic , look at “the sympathetic sigh” as an example. So a more relaxed response comes next, in the nerves. No more need for flight or fight mode, relaxing breath suggests safety. There is always this two way feedback loop system in operation , I’m surprised you haven’t noticed ChiDragon, you must have surely, and you’ve just not assimilated it into you talking about it yet? Relaxing breath is like opposite to ‘brace for impact’ like before a cold shower I’ll not do relax breath as it’s not time to relax, it’s time to fight (or flight ) , I’ll do at least a quick round of bellows breathing. It gets my sympathetic nervous system a signal to get ready for the shock of cold water. And works every time, it’s prepared, it’s way easier. Coming out of stress, breathing works that way too no? Something stressful going on… take some deep breaths to Calm Down. Shucks. It’s very connected. I think what fascinates me most about breath though is something more subtle, the differences you might notice In meditation with focusing on breaths sensation in different parts of the body over successive hours / days. Focusing primarily on sensation of air entering nostrils vs focusing primarily on sensation in lower Dan Tien for example. Massively different experiences (if you know you know) and tangible differences in nervous system activations. So it’s not only breath that effects differences but the attention you rest on it, degree of intensity of focus, duration and location IMHO I wonder if there are studies on this?

Haha, no. I’m more ahead of the curve on that one. She gets storytime if she is bad, and story time if she is good. Just different stories Yep we only fight for fun. She got some anger though. We diffuse it with comedy. I allow rage and outbursts directed at me only if comical and not too painful, making it up as I go along. I think it’s good strategy long time though. She will be ok eventually… 🤞 That’s pretty hardcore, I’m guessing it was necessity more than design that did that?. Either way it’s a good job things come full circle and often seed their opposites. I’d rather be born back then, than now with these sorts of shenanigans. Nature takes its course and irons us out way better than surgery and drugs imo… Kids these days have got it tough in that regard.

I’m looking more for a human answer if your personal introspect, retro sight and innate understanding thus far… Than purely academic ones. My questions are more speculative and alive. That is what I think is important, presently and now. Asked with Love and Light ❤️ 👂 🍎 💡

Okay so I’d like to jump in for a minute. I know this debate can get serious and it’s plain to see why it would. It has been a labour of arduousness for you and @Nungali so far and I’d like to suggest a mild detour just a moment, hope this is good, I’ll keep my suggestions/questions short, relevant and hopefully worthy of discourse, (but they are myriad). The language of Hebrew, contemplated in it’s entirety is a vast network of mathematical precision. Between letters, words and sentences, correct? Please ponder the mystery of this being possible to create? It’s no less unfathomable [or likely] than a Virgin Birth. Listen? What could be Hebraic’s origin? Is there likely one beyond space and time? Or does time and space just work this way? In a perfect cosmic pattern? The construction of Hebrew as a drawn out human haphazard process defies all logic? Surely it was created simultaneously as a completed system by an intelligence that had such a huge mathematical overview no? Or did it evolve from a more primitive code? And if so how do you explain the intricate maths? [I always carried this and when I heard the statement “language of the gods” I never thee it away, what exactly are we even talking about here, has it got anything to do with an actual unsubstantiatable creative force that’s so much easier to define and relate to in the NT , and even as Ain Soph Aur in the Kabbalah, what is it with so many names for this obviously basic and clean idea that we came from infinite light] [if they are different conduits for god that filtered through human intelligence back then and not other beings in the manifest universe, is it wise even talking about or calling on them at all?] I guess the overall impetus for these questions is less to provide levity at this point and more to ask seriously, amidst all this very important hashing out of historical checkpoints to establish cleaner cut facts and just truths… Is there not something that permeates this story ,that operates beyond this logic we seek and all fact based linear rational? I think it’s somehow important to also respect this infallible beauty that is adorned in the language whilst contesting existence itself in such ways, but can this archaic language be trusted in our present and forever evolving times as a source of truth? Can it be trusted? And if so why?

💎 💎 💎 The treasury unobservable … Compassion is easy with kids, if kids are good, my daughter is, I’m lucky. Judo would be so good for her. It looks like she may be going the kung-fu path though. She has a Great responsibility, even now.

Just watching this. It’s not bad. I tried to sign up to have a look at the price, only there was a glitch on the sign up form. I quite like the guys energy and format. It’s a nice bit of info in this video if you’re interested in Yijinjing:)

Fair, there is so much in this thread that is of value. It would be great to have it all assimilated and somehow fact checked then rewritten into easy to follow paragraphs as the absolute truth. it would be so interesting to read, if only it were possible. Perhaps one day AI will be sharp enough to do such a thing.

If you don’t try Skull Shining (kapalbhati) breath retention or similar in qigong, or alternative nostril breathing (anulom vilom) you may want to read about them instead, and the benefits… it’s unwise trying to draw your own conclusions about them when they have been solidly practiced for specific purposes for millennia in India . I’ve tried both and the experience is valuable plus the results speak for themselves. In Yijinjing, today I may extra effort to make the breath as silent as possible. It’s remarkable how much deeper the physical reality of the practice gets with a little tweak like silent breathing, not even deeper, just silent.

I trained this method in my 20’s so I think I am alright to practice. LogRay, May be correct though, I may have to re-evaluate… Thankyou.

Yes, in my sets there are 2 movements when this happens. 1 is I retain a breath (hold inhale) and also suspend a breath (hold end of exhale) briefly in another part of the set of Yi Jin Jing. , (scrap that, I noticed today it is not so much a hold on the exhale) I will hold full inhale in when I am seeking to focus chi in different parts of the body accompanied by contracting anus as a separated seated preparation for massage. This has some beneficial effects and certain increases blood flow very quickly to that area when normal breathing resumes. I follow this method from book, “Chi Self Message” it’s a great companion for life once it is committed to memory.

Have you heard of the locks in Yoga? I think this gives a great explanation. Some of this I carry over into Qigong, to enhance practice. Pilates also has some similar locks. May be worth visiting them and trying to follow their instruction for a while. It may feel wildly different to what you are used to . Then you can return to your Taiji with even more skill and experience in breathing. Here is a yogic explanation of how breathing is altered with the use of four locks , either separately or simultaneously applied. https://www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/practice/the-four-main-bandhas Are there any Chinese texts you can recommend on the Yi Jin Jing? Or any translations of classic texts you think may be helpful on the subject?

I like how the Chinese deal with morality and I try to understand it in terms of emotional expressive. I use this simplified version as a compass. Courage over Depression (lungs) Calmness over Fear (kidneys) Kindness over Anger (liver) Happiness over Hared (heart) Grounding over Loss of Centre (spleen) Good for the organs and good expression of organs leads to good virtue outside and inside … like a positive feedback loop. From self to inside self, And from self to outside in the world. So many positive feedback loops… This leads me to believe virtue (de) is even physiologically based and morality arises naturally from a healthy person. From an unconscious state somehow, to a disposition, to intention and action outcome. The more healthy emotion is projected on the world the more the person will generally experience looking back at them. Reminds me of that old adage, “it’s what’s on the inside that counts”

Cool thanks for the share, he has some resources on YouTube, like this short intro; And this longer vid…

yes, slipped my mind to share the article that mentioned 48; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26813095/ Sweet, this is very interesting to me, I wonder what would be a good way to dig deeper into this in this thread? Hmm I’ll have to have a think 🤔 Cool, did you have the name of that book to hand? This always made me a little dubious when practicing Shibashi. I found it to be an excellent practice for overall mobility (especially arms and shoulders for manual work) and fitness to some degree. I’m not totally certain I trust it though. I’d have to be frothed convinced. Hmm interesting, I did have a moment when I was going to try to sit down and closely pick my brocade apart and identify the specific muscle tendons stretched in each movement in greater depth. Although it doesn’t seem needed to get the results. The way I practice is also a little too dynamic to really slow down and bring a very meditative focus to it. I view it more as physical regimen. I’m hooked on it now again. I feel ten years younger. I’ll be aiming to do this for three months a year I think from now on, such fabulous mobility work and really seeks to balance the physical system , left to right and front to back… Please share the book here and anymore you may know about Yi Jin Jing, Tendon Changing Practice 🌟

Cool, share some pictures of you dare 😎

Well I just got up to grab a coffee and my lower back felt just slightly stiffened from this mornings MA practice. Nothing serious , still I thought I’d roll the large Pilates ball to the centre of the room, sit on it, lean back and do a nice back stretch with arms over head. While I was in this lovely stretch. I remembered where I first got the idea. It was back when I first joined Taobums with my first account. It must have been 2007 or 2008. I remember signing up and getting these really cool links from Trunk, it may have been in the welcome email or shortly afterwards. There was great value in there and I remember thinking it was such a nice touch. The Pilates ball back stretch breathing was one of the moves to help stretch and breathe into the abdomen facilitating the LDT awareness/development. Well I got my coffee and I thought I’d sit and write this. The other day I clicked another link that Trunk had previously shared about ‘chi balls’ and the various ways the hands can be involving in this process. Such a great bit of writing by him ✍️ , I wonder do you guys have links, . pdf’s , articles etc that Trunk shared that you wanna share here? I heard when I joined back that Trunk was just stepping out from being mod. Thought it would be nice to do a thread as the material he recommended in the past was so bang on. Care to share?

@Paradoxal that sounds like fun. Specificity training is good for the soul I think. I went through a phase of only training chin ups. Most days I’d do it 3-4 times a day (grease the groove) Training ‘ladders’ so the warmup was in the exercise. Do one chin up, have one breath, two chin ups have two breaths, three, etc , trying each day to get closer to 10. So I got a question for all on the thread. If there is one martial move you have in the bank and favour the most what is it. it could be a training drill or a single move, punch, kick, lock, throw etc what would be your top drill or move you would recommend a fledgling martial artist to train into their arsenal, and why?

I absolutely agree, yielding is the skill and art I seek most highly to develop. Chi Sau taught in WC , leads to a sticking with opponent long enough to change energy and positioning from almost every up close scenario. Yielding for me, lies not only in body structure and physical dominance of the situation by superior positioning , but in the deep intention to diffuse the situation. It’s more psychological than anything else and staying as relaxed as possible. I don’t meet many angry fighters on the streets these days though so what do I know, not feel too cocky 😂