mjjbecker

It's not something I can say I know for certain, but I would speculate it is possible and as such it would influence my own choices regarding who I learn from. I also think we do pick up on other peoples energy and it can influence us, good and bad. When I spend time around my teacher I find myself feeling more at peace with myself and the world. There have been times I have went to see him pissed off with circumstances, and such feelings have gone within a fairly short time. Best, Mike

What he said. Some very good points. Another splendid post. Thank you for sharing.

My pleasure and thank you for your very pertinent observations also. Human nature can be very depressing as well as very inspiring. Adversity teaches us far more than the comfortable times ever can. Everyone has their own life to lead and the 'good' and 'bad' that goes with it. Anyone reading this should be grateful they weren't born in Darfur. Perspective gives some proportion to our 'woes'. I remember watching some victims of an earthquake in Pakistan being interviewed by the BBC. Their spokesperson quietly thanked the BBC for giving them the opportunity of letting the world know of their predicament and thanked the viewers in advance for any help they could provide. These people were villagers in a fairly remote region. This was a stark contrast to one obese woman in New Orleans after the floods and destruction there, whereby she derided the Federal government over the fact she has not eaten in several hours... 'Debate' and argument are part of it. Progress for me is that my pulse rate rarely changes these days no matter what I read, (not bad for a supporter of Newcastle United, believe me). Beats the old 'Nuremberg Rally' moments of the past when the 'inner Adolf' would insist on having his say. Attachment to fixed ideals is a dangerous thing. Best, Mike

Spectrum, I was thinking more along the lines of how various body positions, breathing, tension and relaxation, effect the psychological state of the individual. For example, the different mind states created by an upright posture and a crouching one in combat. A crouching posture is supposed to generate a more aggressive attitude according to some people. Bruce Frantzis in an interview some years back commented on how practising qigong from some of the White Crane gongfu schools brought about a very aggressive attitude in the practitioner, along with a psychotic, sociopathic attitude towards others. From my own experiences, using similar breathing methods, I've found this to be true. I wonder how following Mr Sonnon precisely in his movements, tension level, etc. would bring about a similar mental state to his, good and bad? Best, Mike

You are very welcome. I enjoyed reading your posts very much. A lot of good questions and issues raised. Procurator, You read like a deeply cynical man, someone who clearly feels disillusioned with their experiences in life. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so rude and obnoxious without any real need to be, or provocation from others. Sorry to see you didn't have the success with your penis enlargement program that you were hoping for, however that does not entitle you to act like a penis with other people. You might find that your experience of life improves as you start to treat other people with basic civility and respect. Having stepped on the mat with judoka that have competed at a Olympic trial level, been joint locked and thrown by an aikido master of over thirty years experience, hit by experts of various disciplines, including a former S.E. Asia full contact champion, I think I have an understanding of what does-or does not-constitute being hit hard. As for my friends, they are well enough known in certain martial arts circles, one of them having published numerous articles and several books on the martial arts. Both are very capable in 'real' situations. The reason they choose to see what other people are doing is because they have open and enquiring minds. Better than having a stagnant toilet-like one where the only things gestating are unpleasant and best left in the dark where they don't poison the atmosphere. The good Systema people hit in a manner like capable internal martial artists. This I know from experience, as opposed to just being an opinionated troll. If you had ever bothered to step on the mat with some of the Systema experts you would know this. Your opinion shows you simply have no experience, just an opinion. If you had any worthwhile experience, then you WOULD KNOW. Therefore what you say is worthless. You however, are the worst of the internet. The person who sits behind their assumed internet identity and who therefore feels free to insult and demean others, safe in the knowledge of their anonymity. In short, a coward. Now, don't let my above comments fool you into thinking that your opinions on Russian martial arts, myself or my friends bother me in the least. They don't. I'm quite comfortable in the knowledge of my own, and their, experiences. You haven't touched a nerve. I simply write this in the hope you realise that how you interact with other people will dictate how they interact with you. Best, Mike

Very true, though I wonder how following someone else's movements exactly could achieve a similar mental state?

I second that.

How did your friend handle the situation? You don't say.

How so? Please elaborate. Are you questioning the history or the actual methods? Having met Mikhail Ryabko and some of his people in the flesh, I have no doubts to their effectiveness as fighters. The Russians could definitely do the business. Their ability to hit very hard from close range is real-I've felt it myself. The two people with me at the Systema seminar had over 20 years of jujutsu experience and they didn't doubt its effectiveness either.

Ellis Amdur in his excellent book, 'Duelling With O'sensei', wrote about some advice given to him by the famous internal arts master Hung I Hsiang, (one of the masters written about by R.W. Smith and featured on the BBC's 'Way of the Warrior TV show). Hung was famous on Taiwan for turning out champion full contact tournament fighters, people who could effectively apply the internal arts against other martial artists. Sensing that Mr Amdur was only concerned with fighting and improving his ability in this area, Hung cautioned Mr Amdur that he should be careful of who he studied under. Regardless of intentions, one would find oneself taking on the characteristics of ones teacher, regardless of intent. I read Mr Amdur's book at a time when I was having to make a similar decision regarding studying with a teacher. I admired the teachers abilities, he was witty, educated and good company. However, there were certain aspects of his behaviour I could not reconcile with my own moral compass. In the end I followed Hung's excellent advice and went elsewhere. It has turned out very much for the best in the long run. My own feelings are that you really do have to feel comfortable about your teachers personality and behaviour. If you have doubts then it will effect your ability to follow that person and their method. There is no getting around this. Be it the person, the method, or both you have issues with, you should address them. If you cannot then I suggest you would be best off moving on to something else. Don't discount your 'gut feeling'. If something doesn't feel right for you then it probably isn't. The world of Russian martial arts certainly isn't limited to Scott Sonnon, so go and have a look at what else is out there. You seem to be very interested in the biomechanics side of what he is doing. There seems to be a strong emphasis on this side of study by the Kadochnikov school. See if you can find some people representing him near you. Not Matt Powell though, (I know he's moved on from Kadochnikov and set up his own school). I had a long running bad experience with him after trying to purchase his Ksys manual. It never turned up and neither did the promised refund. After nearly a year of chasing I got sent an ebook and promises of his new paper manual and a refund for all my trouble. Promises, promises... Good luck with your search and keep at it until you find what you are looking for.

I wouldn't draw too much into his visa difficulties. There was a nationwide clampdown due to the Olympics, something which effected people across China. It was well publicised in the media around April this year. The government decided that people would have to go back to their country of origin in order to process paperwork-no exceptions. Going over to Hong Kong or Korea was knocked on the head. You still cannot go to Korea to do a visa run as of writing, but I have been told visa renewals can be done in Thailand now. Someone I know is doing that this weekend. He is going abroad to do his visa because he has changed employers and so a new visa must be issued. To extend an existing residency visa you don't have to leave the country-I know this because I did so for my visa this week. Assuming that Mr Verdesi was using a business visa, these were suspended for the duration of the Olympics through to the end of September and would explain why he could not get back into China. If Mr Verdesi was working for any institution such as a university, school or college, he could have extended a residency visa without having to leave China, assuming he was staying with the same institution. Business, education and Z visa's are issued by provincial governments rather than Beijing. The prospective business/employer/institution has to get the appropriate letters of invitation from the provincial government. These are then presented to the consulate at the country of application, who will then issue the appropriate visa. If you have a Z visa it is changed into a residency visa when you arrive in your place of residence. Please note this is not written as any kind of commentary or otherwise of Mr Verdesi, merely an explanation of the current visa situation.

What my brother said.

If by Rudyard Kipling IF you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!' If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, ' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch, if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! I watched Randy Pausch's last lecture on Youtube around the time of his death, in July of this year, just under a month ago. I didn't realise at the time that he had died, and just in fact found it out this evening by chance. It is a marvellous lecture and so poignant. Here was a man dying who had every reason to live, not least a young family. He puts things across so more eloquently than I can. His obituary in 'Time' magazine is here: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1826574,00.html A website with a link to the lecture is here: http://www.thelastlecture.com/

Short and I hope sweet. I apologise unreservedly to those I have offended here. It was not my intention to do so. Specifically, findley, I apologise for causing offence. Irrespective of intentions, you are right, there is no excuse to look like, or be, condescending. I was wrong. I wish you the best in your search. To Jim McMillan. Jim, I am sorry about not being able to help you. I truly am. I hope one day you will be able to appreciate that. As for your propagating the Mo Pai teachings, I believe you are wrong because the techniques are not only very dangerous to the practitioner but also those around them. We all have to live with the consequences of our decisions. FWIW, I also think that race plays no part in a persons worth. Whatever reasons the Mo Pai ancestors had, and they are far more qualified than I to judge, I disagree with them removing non-Chinese. John Chang's Chinese students have no claim to being better or more morally worthy then the non-Chinese. I wish everyone all the best in what you do. I'm going to focus on what is most important and too much time has been spent here of late. Anyone who so chooses can contact me via email. Best, Mike

Hello! I've been loitering on and off for some time but some of the posts of late have been quite interesting to say the least! Given they refer to some people I know and some I have met, and also to matters I have had some involvement with, I thought I might as well throw my two penneth in as well. Hope you find it interesting.

Anyone who would like to contact me privately can do so via this email address: [email protected] I will not be checking or responding to private messages, so please do use this email. Best, Mike

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Hello, By popular request I'm posting a little bit regarding the Sedona Method. There is a LOT more, and I realise the main teacher was in 'The Secret', but I DON'T want to get bogged down with that. The information here comes from Hale Dwoskin's take on the late Lester Levinson's creation. There is also another well known instructor, Larry Crane, who teaches his own interpretation. Lester Levinson was a VERY interesting man, who apparently achieved a state of enlightenment. Do a google and you can find more info. Larry Crane used to have a bio of Lester on his site but it seems to have gone. Shame. What I want to look at here is how a part of the method is applied towards letting go of emotions that we feel. From personal experience I have had some success, which is why I present it now. The method works from the position that our emotional state is a primary cause of problems in our life. By directed releasing we can let go, or release, these emotions. The clear state of mind then clearly benefits our lives. The basic questions you ask yourself to let go of a feeling you have at any one time are: What is my now feeling? Could I welcome/allow it? Could I let it go? Would I let it go? When? Answers are simply yes or no. It is NOT about analysing the feeling, but simply acknowledging it, allowing it to be, and letting go. There is no judgement of right or wrong regarding the feeling. I relation to habits, before we do a habitual action, we can release on it. Once the feelings have gone, then the drive to do the action is gone. Of course sometimes we will do something and not think about letting go of the feelings behind it. That is ok. You simply release afterwards. Often feelings of guilt cause us to continue doing the things we feel guilty about. A case of what the hell, I'm a bad person, I've started now, etc. While there are many names given to the different emotions, according the the method, there are four root emotions: The desire for control, approval/love, security/survival and separation. When asking what feeling you have, it is useful to look for the core emotion at the root. Dig out the root and you get rid of it. Leave the root and it can come back. While releasing, it is likely that a myriad of feelings will arise. Just let go of them until a feeling of peace happens. If you feel 'stuck', allow the feeling to be and then release on that. Aside from the pricey audio courses out, there is a book which I have and which has a lot of detailed information in it. http://www.amazon.com/Sedona-Method-Happin...8175&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sedona-Method-Happ...8306&sr=8-1 It isn't expensive and I recommend it whole heartedly. It isn't the answer to every issue or problem, but it is a piece of the puzzle. At some point in the future I would like to touch more on Lester Levinson but that will have to wait for now. Best, Mike

There is only one significant issue here-for me. That Mo Pai neigong is dangerous to practice, both in regards to the practitioner and those around them. Because of this, people would be ill advised doing it. There ARE other good systems around that will get you further than 'level 2'. I don't agree with the non-Chinese policy that the school has taken, but it is their choice to make. When you become part of a school you have to respect these things, no matter how much you disagree. I really have had enough squabbling about a school and a method I am no longer associated with. Time for a break from all of this. May God bless you whatever you decide to do. Best, Mike

HouTian, Is it because there is no money to be made that you don't post the name of this other student? It can't be in regards to respecting privacy. Not given your willingness to tout information for four figure sums. It can't be in respect for not trying to discredit others, something you seem to spend plenty of time trying to do...or have you forgotten your previous threads...? I know plenty enough, thank you. Names, conversations, situations, etc. I'm just not willing to peddle it, unlike yourself and others. I don't have a photographic memory, but I do have superb information recall. Anyhow, enough about me. How about you step out from behind your assumed forum name and tell us your REAL name? Come out into the light and show yourself. It is easy to attempt to discredit and slander others hiding in the dark. No offence. Mike

Nearly forgot. I saw a photograph back in the day of the pair of them facing off before the fight. Cheung was not sucker punched. He had warning and was unable to defend himself.

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