RobB

Hi @Bruce Qi the Udemy course? There are three 'main' videos plus intro and general practice advice. Each video has roughly three exercises for exploring the theme: relaxation, rooting and connection. Explanations and demonstrations are very clear. I picked up some useful snippets which have made a difference to my practice. As an introduction, I think it's fantastic -these basic works are gateways to experiencing your body differently and building in valuable qualities. There are also gems in the other videos which help elucidate the Daxuan approach to Taoist practice - very pragmatic, very 'in your everyday life' approach to practice.

There was a video of a talk from Andrew Nugent-Head (https://www.traditionalstudies.org/about-ats/) where he talks about Qi. I cant find the original now but this page (http://taichiblog.spiralwise.co.uk/2012/10/demystifying-chi-must-watch-video.html) describes it. The main point, for me at least, was that Qi is , more than likely, not what you want it to be and you can spend a long time talking about it to no real profit.

Hi Nungali, Just wanted to say how much I appreciate the reportage. Thanks. Shocking stuff. Best of luck Rob

Auspiciously, one of Serge's disciples, Jeremy Rocul, has just released a Udemy course on Daoist physical exercises. It includes an introduction to the Daxuan Daoist method and sections on connecting, rooting, and relaxing the body. I've only viewed the first one so far but it is, as ever, detailed and directly applicable to personal practice. https://www.udemy.com/course/daoist-physical-training/

I think it was 'phosphenes' not phosphorus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphene

Ba Zi?

I'm interested! I read the original article and wasn't sure whether to be very impressed or very sceptical. Any data points which help clarify WTF is going on are always appreciated.

A while back I spent some time learning some of the EA material. Some Chi Kung, Tai Chi, mainly with Bruce's senior UK student. Not to any great depth but for a few years. I also attended a seminar with Bruce , teaching D&T, in the UK. I enjoyed it and received some benefit from the practice, especially the standing/dissolving. I was encouraged by my teacher to open a local practice group teaching TCC and some CK which I did. All the above is just to note that I have a little experience with the material. I now practice elsewhere. Like anything it's worth looking around at what is available rather than going for the product with the biggest marketing budget. BKFs material and organisation may be perfect for you but there is a lot of good stuff out there these days.

Good question - especially for us oldsters (50 here). You might want to consider kettlebells - lots of martial artists use them to supplement training and stone lock training has been a staple of CMA . You can over-do it though! I spent a couple of years doing loads of kettlebell work and got a lot stronger but also a lot tighter. I've recently committed to a new method of training and have basically been doing 30mins of jibengong every day and nothing else. I'm gaining strength & connection but not losing any flexibility. The tradition also uses kettlebells though and I'm going to a seminar in September to find out more about how this is done. Interestingly, the seminar teacher said that they work with KBs for a short period (a few days) then go back to normal training for the rest of the month. That way there are strength adaptations without any loss of flexibility.

[Edited because I didn't read your original post properly...] For the goals you have set yourself in your original post, ZZ is a good place to start. It's worth asking yourself whether you have a solid sense of what those goals are or what you expect to achieve by attaining them. Lots of people have an idea of what it might be like to 'open the meridians' or 'feel more grounded' but they are just ideas, mental constructions. If this stuff interests you, get into it and do it. Stand, observe, rinse, repeat. In 100 days, review and, if necessary at that point, re-orient.

I don't think you can go far wrong with that book. It is a good choice for someone starting out. The key thing is to get into doing something consistently - every day! Pick one thing and practice it, don't chop and change because 'it's not working' or whatever. I recall reading someone online describe ZZ training as a 'Mad Scientists Lab' which I like but the key thing about a lab is it is for making observations. I would concentrate on observing yourself during ZZ rather than looking for or visualising something specific (structures, flows, processes). Set your base line before you try and change anything. Most of all, enjoy!

Whenever you remember to do so, relax your buttocks and abdominal area.

I am currently two months into the online course. I find that it is worthwhile.

Alex is in Cambridge currently. Darren Rose (Serge Augier - Da Xuan Daoism) is in London. Cheers rob

HI, These guys are interesting: https://physicalalchemy.com.au/ I'd also recommend Kit Laughlin's book. Cheers Rob

If you can't do it slow - how do you expect to be able to do it fast? Cheers Rob

Ed, Cheer the fuck up mate! You need to get out of London. Are you coming up to Cantabridgium for Alex's one day meditation/neigung thing in March? Cheers Rob

Hi, Ask here: www.rumsoakedfist.org. Lots of very knowledgeable Xing Yi guys there. Cheers Rob

Find a few simple things and go deeply into them. A way of investigating stillness, a way of investigating movement and a way of training the mind. Find a good teacher. At the ripe old age of 46, I'm only just getting into this and my tools are WuJi standing, a little part of the TaiJi form, and simple breath-counting meditation. So much faffing abound in the past, half-arsed practice and looking for something better as a distraction from what I should be doing now. Good luck! Cheers Rob

Well then: http://www.daxuanschooloslo.com/ http://www.sergeaugier.com/news-en/the-real-deal-from-arne/ Just for clarity, I'm not one of Serge's students. I have attended a couple of seminars with him and my own teacher speaks very highly of him.

Where are you in Scandinavia? Serge Augier has students in both Oslo and Copenhagen. Google 'Da Xuan' Cheers Rob

is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope- it's the Flying Monk: Alex Kozma and Steven Benitez chatting about life, the Universe and everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx4HKOfcwBw&feature=youtu.be Cheers Rob

This week lots of talk about bagua circle walking - amongst other things... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwOYw02OoU0