Yuen Biao

Ooh yeah I agree. Spent ten days travelling around Sri Lanka in April/May and I must admit that the Ceylon is really nice! The Dilmah fiery spice tea was great too. Chai Fiery Ceylon I bought back heaps of this! Been the 'spice island' Sri Lanka has many fine ingredients to add to normal black leaves such as cardamom, vanilla, ginger etc.

I Agree with what has been said. Apart from what has been said my points are: The medium is the message and unfortunately most people believe that what they see on TV is reality! Sport v. self defense are different entities. And comparing them only results in confirming the huge contrasts between them. However, many UFC fighters are actually aware/study internal arts; BJ Penn is a Yoga practitioner and has utilised 'pigeon pose' to escape from 'single leg takedowns' to give just one example. Diego Sanchez practises Qigong and Taijiquan. Lyoto Machida also practises meditation etc. The problem is trying to learn techniques, the philosophy of these systems and utlising them in the UFC which is not straightforward as the UFC relies much on the physical aspects rather than the subtlety of internal arts. Also any martial arts form be it Hung Ga, Wing Chun, Taijiquan etc will all have their responses to grappling but learning it might be only after many years of foundational exercises such as form etc so. My own experience is mostly in Taiji rather than the others but Shuia Jiao and Qin Na are a big factor in understanding the holistic nature of CMA. I hope that makes sense?

Firstly I wondered how many people here work in an office environment and how you find it best to deal with others? Personally I have just returned from my Honeymoon to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and was away from work for about one month. Upon returning my outlook has changed in the sense that I really try to avoid pointless conversation much more than previous whilst maintaining the very Taoist carefree attitude. However of course this is difficult when you work in such a diverse environment; people just seem to love to talk about material aspects of their life and themselves as much as possible. Apart from this sounding like a rant which I was hoping it was not how do you best deal with people whom you may have nothing in common with or indeed who may annoy you even though you try to not let it do so? Any thoughts? Namaste.

Indeed, that's the problem I am struggling with. Well defined though! Re: The Maldives was beautiful, but yeah maybe a little boring but after a hectic wedding and an awesome ten days in Sri Lanka travelling about we needed a rest for two weeks. Snorkelling was excellant too. We could walk around the island in about eight minutes and there were only fifty guests at any one time which was nice because you barely saw other people.

That's absolute BS of the highest order! I've only been married a month but been with my lady for over six years and the deal is she has the babies and I'll get the vasectomy. Of course after we've had all the children we want to have.

Yea, both books are awesome! I really like Opening The Dragon Gate - The Making of A Modern Taoist Wizard - Wang Liping

I agree with most here that press-ups are a good thing; it's all a matter of balance after all. I vary the press-ups from ones to work the triceps as 'Sloppy Zhang' mentions and also wider to work across the front of the chest. Hindu press-ups are the best though. I also know someone who trains just a physical way and I can see the tension in their body and their heavyness when they walk; it's certainly not a good thing. Balance is the key. Press-ups will greatly improve your striking power in my opinion.

Hey y'all. Yes I know another topic that is defined by sex, however in light of the post made by John Zen I was inclined to write or ask about the correlation between procreation and Qigong. The reason I ask is I remember reading a really old Qigong magazine that gave some guidelines of how best to eat and practise in the run-up so to speak in trying for a baby. Obviously with retention being a factor for many male Qigong practitioners is there a problem with stored jing and using that for procreation? For instance I had heard that it was maybe best to "let one fly" first as the great Mike Patton once proclaimed in 'Jizzlobber' to get rid of stale/potent jing before trying properly. I've been increasingly interested in this subject over the last few years and have never really found any information regarding the subject so if anyone has anything to add I would be very pleased to hear. Thanks for reading, Namaste.

Welcome 'Makyea'... Eat natural foods and not processed garbage; moderate alcohol, dairy, sugar and meat - this will help prepare the body, mind and spirit for your future. Drink tea not coffee, my favourites are Tie Guan Yin Oolong, Jasmine and Pu-er all of these are very healthy. Learn to relax the mind and calm yourself of any thoughts which worry or cause you stress. Hopefully you can begin to practise Taijiquan (Tai Chi), Qigong, Yoga etc - maybe just pick a meditative practise first? Read: One of my favourite books: 'Opening the Dragon Gate: The Making of a Modern Taoist Wizard' - Amazon A very small and short book full of love and good advice: 'The Art of Peace' - Amazon 'Path Notes of An American Ninja Master' - don't be put off by the title its a very general book Amazon I'm sure others can add a few other very good books.

I think you need to focus the mind elsewhere and not worry about matters such as this. Think of it as a waste of time to burden your mind with these thoughts! I too get 'morning wood' absolutely everyday, always have and probably always will. I'll acknowledge it but then like 'durkhrod' suggests it is best to meditate and "cool off". I myself meditate every morning and this helps one check those desires and impulses etc.

Ace. Michael's a really nice guy; I did a little Qigong and Wing Chun with him a few years back (he learned from Ip Chun). His books are good too. Thanks for sharing 'ShaktiMama'.

I must say I have never, ever read of this being as a result of the practise you mention; if anything I would have thought the opposite would have been evident. Interesting post overall though.

Hi all, can anyone recommend some really relaxing music? Not necessarily for meditation but just to put you in a relaxed state before sleeping. I personally really like the Chinese style of music that we often see on instructional DVD packages for Taijiquan and Qigong. Thanks for reading.

"Same wine, different label".

Hey no problems it's nice to hear someone interested I very rarely have the chance to talk to someone about Ru Yi style. If Mr. Yu did pass away it is only what I heard, not sure if accurate? I never heard that Shi Ming died under these circumstances! Tragic if so but I find it difficult to believe that a great master could die of ill health. I never met Shi Ming so I also am not sure of the truth. Mr. Yu though I heard spent many of his early years at Shaolin so martial arts were his life and he sure was a very tough guy and a definite one of a kind. It is very sad that Ru Yi style seems to be also in a vast decline. Maybe if you go to China you can start off its popularity in the Western world? This is a link to Siao Weijia's school in Moscow (unfortunately all in Russian) - http://www.dao-meditation.com/dao-meditati...lish/Links.html Wu Ji stance mainly (macrocosmic and microcosmic orbit) although I think Zhan Zhuang is also encouraged. That's a funny story and indeed probably likely considering Li studied at The University of Physical Education, Mr. Yu did lots of security work at the universities and for the government. I have heard that Jet Li still practises Taijiquan and Qigong even now and is very good!

Interesting thread. I remember the first time I trained in Beijing we visited in the winter months of November/December where the temperature was about minus six-ten degrees. Funny thing is though after one hour standing in Wu Ji stance you do not feel the cold once the energy is moving. I remember hearing a story about Shi Ming's son who often would turn up at Black Bamboo Park in the cold of winter wearing flip-flops, shorts and t-shirt yet practising for hours oblivious to the cold. True Taijiquan mastery! Personally whenever I practise outside whether cold or hot I always feel much more relaxed yet energised and powerful.

I second your opinion and hasten to add what a waste of a few minutes of my life.

Daoyin Yangsheng Gong. There you go trying to prove yourself again; it sounds desperate and hollow though! You misunderstand, I was not asking for your help at all and nor do I need it the fact that you imply I do is actually very telling! On your former point about 'borrowing an opponent's energy' I have seen that in respect to what my teacher can do with their Taijiquan; and again their teacher Shi Ming would often demonstrate this on video (it's on youtube).

I do not think Shi Ming was young when he passed away (mid-sixties I believe). Unfortunately I heard Yu Lianqing has also passed away, I'm still not sure if that is true though. According to 'Steam' Yannick does still teach 'spine circles' so that at least is someone who has had direct study with Shi Ming. Regarding Shi Ming's son I know he was also very talented as my teacher knew him; as far as I'm aware he is still in Beijing. There is also Siao Weijia, who I know very little about; he helped Shi Ming compose his book 'Mind Over Matter: Higher Martial Arts'. Ruyi Taijiquan was a very low profile school and after Shi Ming's passing was not actively advertised and as a result I think numbers of practitioners began to dwindle. They were also in direct competition with Chen style which is often much more appealing to those who begin to take interest in Taijiquan as it often looks more impressive to the untrained eye!

That's an interesting story, thanks for sharing. I trust my teacher and I have studied many different arts over the last twenty years but Taiji is definitely the one I always come back to because of its power; your account from Yannick is consistent with the stories of those who studied with Shi Ming. The force or Qi from a skilled individual can often look fake or staged but there is no way of knowing for sure without direct experience. Peace.

I do not disagree at all with anything you say. I think the correlation between Taijiquan and Qigong is closer than many think that's for sure. Now you are showing signs of delusion. There is no need to have the opinion that the two systems are completely different. People who talk like this do so because they have something to prove, it's really just waffle isn't it? I am not saying that there are not any great masters in the Western world...besides if you really have been practising Taijiquan for twenty-five years I'm surprised you are not aware of the great conditioning that it can give your spine, shoulders, hips etc. Maybe you should seek a better more holistic style of Taiji? Sure in a literal sense but try think metaphorically perhaps? Taiji is deeper than you again give it credit.

Quite succinctly I always understood the 'supreme ultimate' to actually refer to the spine because of its important role in every movement we make. I understand thouroughly your information but it was not my main motivation for posting a reference to the 'supreme'. It was merely in answer to 'new dawn fades' who expressed the incorrect view that Taijiquan does nothing for your back. How absurd!

Lyoto Machida has spoke about this too. I believe it is also common in some Yoga practises. 'Drew' I'm really not sure on your posts at all. Do you really hang around fast food restaurants but ironically still preach the benefits of healthy eating, this part does not quite add up. Finally have you ever taken LSD in your youth? It would explain quite a lot.

In respect to my account I guess it must be true that a stranger can feel the effects also. It's not too elaborate a scenario is it that one who has complete mastery over themself can begin to affect others easily especially considering their skill level is lesser. Who knows for sure though, I am no authority on Kong Jing. Interesting point.

I think that was a little before my time. So I take it Yannick does not teach Ruyi then? You are not the first to have raised a doubt. I can only really say that my teacher spent two years training with Ming; my teacher is highly skilled as a result and has high admiration for Ming. As I have said previously I have practised with one of Ming's top students Yu Lianqing and he was the real deal that is without question. When we studied with him there was one in our party who was the largest (heaviest) of the group who Yu picked out to initially demonstrate with, consequently this huge guy was launched at least ten feet with the slightest movement; not a palm strike or punch in sight only the slightest flick of a finger! I also felt this power too at first hand and can only really conclude that Shi Ming must have been for real.