VCraigP

Pietro You have misinterpreted my message. I am responding to something that HAS BEEN done by RFunaki. PM coming your way Craig

Dear RFunaki NOTE - OFFICIAL MODERATOR COMMENT We have exchanged some dialog in PM about this issue. You have now directly admitted what you did. This is an ABUSE of TTB system. Please apologize to all involved. If anyone ever needs/wants this type of information the ONLY proper way to proceed is to make a request of the moderator. No gaurantees that anything will be done for you, but this is the ONLY proper channel. I will be discussing this issue with the other moderators and you will hear back from me/them. Craig

Houtian Please tell me how you have access to this information seemingly from the bowels of the secure area of discussion on another forum (foundation forum?). Maybe you have said so previously, but this seems to bring things to a whole new level. Thanks for considering my inquiry. Craig

Why not point the finger. How could it possibly make things more inflamed than they already are? Craig

WE are all one. We are the tao bum. You will be assimilated. Really. All these individuals have different I.P addresses from which they are posting. Not to mention totally different styles. If they really are all the same person, he/she/it is a mad evil genius and I admire their skill. Craig (Part time moderator of TTB )

I knew it. You really don't know any Taiji sword form. And yet you ARE a Teacher Craig

Dig deeper. Read this; http://www.healtoronto.com/durban/ click on the "Full Text" to see the whole article. This article exposes a lot of the bad science associated with AIDS, especially with regards to Africa, diagnostic work and worldwide inconsistencies in the diagnosis of AIDS. I'm no expert but this really left me scratching my head. Also I have a great mistrust of Big Pharma. Leave it at that. Craig

My sword is functional enough but the handle won't take too much more intense work, it is getting loose. So I need something more robust. Guess this goes on the list of things to do next time I get down to SF. Ciao Craig

It's not. Drew is fixated on it. It is useful I suppose, but I've never done it. According to Chia theory and practice proper structure in the "Throne" posture is sufficient. But can one really go very very deep and maintain erect posture while seated in a chair? I don't know. I think there is some good crazy wisdom to be gleaned from Drews meanderings. I just soak it up and let it percolate along with all the other TTB madness... Craig

Interesting elemental interpretations. I think perhaps assignment of elemental aspects is just as relative as Yin-Yang aspects. IN fact I have been told that practicing the discipline of MA or any disclipine is Metal element. Working with a sword made from metal, or any weapon made from metal can be considered connecting to the Metal element. This doesn't also mean that forms can be or have been created to elicit a connection to a particular element. There are no absolutes here, only principles. As my teacher says "don't make it mechanical". Meaning everything is subject to interpretation and differing perspectives. This applies to Yijing, Medicine, Elemental theory, etc. You got a web address for Bendan Lai's Martial Arts supplies? I need a better sword for sure. I tried to go to MasterForge which is owned by TTB member MasterForge but when last I contacted him he couldn't be bothered to respond (sorry dude, bad customer service). But his stuff does look gorgeous. I am hoping to convince my teacher to purchase one for me the next time he goes to China (maybe I will be with him, not sure). Thanks for the input Craig

Yep, I think a lot of hobbyist martial artist have a woo hoo attitude about weapons. I never trained weapons until I learned this form in 2008. As far as cultivation goes one obvious aspect of sword practice is tapping into the Metal element. Analysis of my Chinese astrological chart indicates a benefit from more metal energy. Thus I have been advised to bring more of this element into my practice, life. Another aspect of weapons training is Qi projection. Apparently you should develop the ability to project Qi through the weapon to make it an actual extension of your body. I often think of it as a cosmic antennae bringing energy into me as well. Especially in the "holding the incense pose" which is where you sink down into the ground in cross legged position and hold the sword handle at chest level with the point straight up (see my video appros 1:07). Also this position can be used for meditation zhan zhaung style - difficult but not as painful as you might suppose. Craig

Ok, this has gone on quite far enough. I am neither pro nor anti tassel! Mine broke and fell apart, thus no tassel. I am a beginner beginner beginner with only a little instruction over three weeks travelling in China and some refinements here and there from senior students. Yeah, I think Darin may be anti tassel. I believe his audience is begginners. Therefore starting out with basically handling the sword it might actually be a good idea to go without tassel, at first. If you really want to accomplish in Taiji sword I think the tassel is essential, eventually. I am SOOO FARR from that place that I cant even talk about it. Craig

PUrring cat, that is funny. Nope, it's my silly camera deciding it wants to keep refocusing. Whirring sound is the lens focusing in and out. Craig PS- I never liked the tassel either, but I like the idea of messing with your opponents vison by using the tassel. Otherwise, it just looks better hanging on the wall with a tassel attached.

Love the irreverance. I don't use my tassle because it fell apart! Here I am from a year and a half ago doing a very high stance version of a short form I learned. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKyVhfDbLY4 No instructions, just felt like sharing. Craig

Arent the three treasures Jing Qi and Shen Or are they Heaven, Earth, Human being Perhaps they are Sun, Moon and Stars. I was taught each layer has the three treasures. Earth has Wind, Water Fire. Man has Jing, Qi Shen Heaven has Sun, Moon and Stars. off the point of the OP perhaps but thought it needed saying. Craig

Maintain your balance. Take away your opponents balance. More importantly, take it away and keep them off balance until the job is done, that's the real trick. Not advanced. Actually as basic as basic gets, IMO. What are the tools, techniques, methods and arts to achieve this ability? IMA perhaps focuses on this principal better. BUT...it is certainly not only found as a concept in IMA. If you are a student of MA and the idea of balance, how to have it and keep it, and how to take it away from the opponent is not a subject of focus then you are no student. I don't know who these "two deadliest masters" are, but they certainly ain't the only masters who understand this principal. Craig

Little 1, Pietro, Rain...Thread Hi jackers. I used to use Holosync, the Centerpointe version which came out in discussion perhaps even before TTB came into being on that Other board (HT). It was to me very effective to help quiet the mind and get to deeper states more quickly. In my case it was overall beneficial. Like others I felt no need to go beyond the first level, though I did actually buy the program and didn't just use the free sample. Eventually I stopped using the program, for whatever reason. I would still recommend these to beginners, but eventually you need, IMO, something more real. Grow out of the training wheels and do your own work. In support of Little 1 I have seen it written in a few different ways but the concept that men lose energy through inappropriate/unbalanced use of sexual energy while women lose energy through inappropriate/unbalanced expression of emotional energy is I think accepted in Taoist circles. That doesn't mean that men can't/don't also have emotional energy drains and women can't/don't have sexual energy drains. It is a statement about yin and yang and how we have the tendencies towards distinct weaknesses. Little 1 is not being misogynist here, but merely re stating a Taoist observation about energy dynamics in general vis the two sexes. Or were Kate and Rain just being ironic? Ps - Maybe I am not qualified to talk about this as I can't say F... without getting emotional

Dude. At least do a little research. Sifu Hata teaches SSTT in L.A. And that's about as involved as I am gonna get here... peaceout Craig

These are achievements. If one has achieved a level of naturalness such achievements will flow from you in a natural way. IMO if you hold up concepts as things you must do this is a level of un naturalness. Proper practice leads to compassion, moderation and humility, it just happens naturally. It should also enable you to be natural when interacting with a person who is being an Ass. Not overreacting, nor unatturally constraining your actions, but responding appropriately to the moment. Therefore my answer is no I don't actively contemplate them. Craig

Taoism is not my Taoism. My Taoism is my practices. I am a practitioner of certain Tao arts. Where these arts derive from the answer to the poll questions would all be yes. My practices do bind and connect me to Heaven, Earth and Human beings, Sun Moon & Stars, Water Fire & Wind, Jing Qi Shen. To me this is not religion but exploration of Nature, what is, all that is. But by your definition the answer is yes, even though my perception is the answer is no. Craig

Just like to say I agree with this. My teacher says, why dig a channel if you have no water? build up the reservoir first, the channel is already there. More water will eventually spill over to fill and move in the channel(s). This is the problem with the popular Chia style MCO practice. If done just with mind and visualization you will likely be moving nothing more than the mind, or only a trickle. Build up Qi in Dantien first. Craig

Do you mean Anthony Yu & Journey to the East??

OK, but you have to ask two people to leave for every one that you invite. It's too crowded around here. Craig (PS - you can't ask me to leave. Well you can, but I won't)

But it means hello and feed me in cat. Pietro I think you created a really cool new word couldrum. Is this a combination of conundrum and cauldron? You have added to the english language, and not even being an English native speaker. Well done. It actually makes sense. It's a cauldron filled up with paradoxical conflicting and confusing ideas. Craig