Master Logray

There is a famous Chinese saying that has Taoist connotation, "A Big Tree attracts the Wind" - a famous person draws criticism. If you are small and insignificant, sometimes you may be bullied, but most of time, you are being insignificant and always ignored. Once you grow in size and power and fame, it would attract all sorts of attentions, from love to hatred, but no longer being forgotten. Another point is about your friends and allies. With the "T" included in the LGB..., your people will receive all the supports and love the others are having. But the downside is all the negativity against the others will be affecting you too. So it is not exist all along. Situation has changed.

Recently I come across an old age centre which offers courses for old people. Not Taichi, not Qigong, but Wing Chun. Poor Wing Chun.

You are looking for the translation of the text (theory etc) or translation of the movements? For movements, I think there are some English versions, even in Kindle.

Your info is very useful. Zi Ning YJJ could be the more "original" one. This one has full English explanation and results expected. It is the most common set nowadays.

There are still people who train very hard. But the training is in wrong direction. They train hard for performance, competition, medals. No one train in fighting. Martial training needs actual experience, need to face fear, need to stand pain, need to respond in split second, need to see blood... Nowadays even the teacher themselves never fight (may be in their early days). There are many legitimate reasons, but the result is Taichi is no longer a fighting skill. China's videos often show Taichi "masters" totally at a lost on stage, they don't know what to do and are knocked down in seconds. You see there are people who practise Taichi for decades, can they fight a teenager who has no training? Do students practise flipping, rolling on mat? Push hand is uncommon, loose hands (freer fight between students) is almost non-existence. The long form of 100+ moves is reduced to 48, 24, 12 or even 4 moves. If everyone is happy using Taichi boxing for something else, so be it. But there are better systems around.

You heard of this Muslim Saint in Singapore, his mausoleum is rather near in Palmer Road. I have never been there. Any idea? Maqam Habib Noh Maqam Habib Noh is the mausoleum of Sayyid Noh bin Sayyid Mohamad bin Sayyid Ahmad Al-Habsyi (1788 – 1866), a saint whose lineage traces back to Prophet Muhammad SAW. He was well-known for his widely reported miracles and his immense compassion for people in his times. The mausoleum also houses the tomb of another saint, Habib Abdurrahman, a relative of Habib Noh.

Bodhidharma used to be credited as the writer of Yijin Jing. This subject has been widely researched and found not to be the truth. First, to quality as Jing (Sutra), a certain format must be adhered to in Chinese Buddhism. YJJ doesn't Secondly, YJJ is full of Taoist jardons. Thirdly, some of the teachings are impossible for monks in a monastery. e.g. hiring young boys and girls to do massage, offering different ways to exercise the male organ. It is generally believed the book was written by 明末道教天台山紫凝道人, of late Ming Dynasty, around 1624.

I know this temple. But it is a bit dark and deserted. The small garden next door is more refreshing.

I always think Chen Taichi is not Taichi, even though it is the father of Taichi. Not many people are doing that. It is why Taichi is dying as a martial arts system.

Those with colorful robes in ceremonies usually are Zheng Yi.

I read that all Singapore Taoists are Zheng Yi. Is it correct?

I will write about it later. For the book: 武林秘傳易筋經 roughly : Martial Fraternity Secret Yijinjing https://www.books.com.tw/products/CN10139852?srsltid=AfmBOoqKSkSjRvoCln6WFDIzCR5cF6fftRz5ddkrMpZN6wG5weA2KGGU 4 major types, 15 variations, from Shaolin, South Shaolin; Er Mei mountain related; Wudang related: other secretly transmitted etc. The publisher is Beijing Sports University Publisher. So looks more serious. But it could be out of print. 本書輯錄四類易筋經，共有15種練法。 第一類少林易筋經，4種練法︰少林達摩十二式易筋經、少林韋馱十四式易筋經、南少林金剛十八式易筋經、少林養生八段易筋經。 第二類峨眉易筋經，6種練法︰峨眉青城二十四式易筋經、峨眉黃林七盤易筋經、峨眉僧門十三式易筋經、峨眉杜門八大勁易筋經、峨眉洪門十二把易筋經、峨眉會門龍虎勁易筋經。 第三類武當易筋經，1種練法︰武當內功易筋經。 第四類秘宗易筋經，4種練法︰秘傳攥拳易筋經、南派豹式易筋經、熊氏世傳十四式易筋經、古傳二十四式易筋經。 For variation, another source say Shaolin itself already got 60 variations.

Breathing is a big subject by itself. Normal breathing, diaphragm breathing, reverse breathing, mouth breathing, breathing in through nose, out through nose, in - nose/out - mouth.... alternate nostrils breathing, silk breathing, forceful breathing, breathing with sounds or not, pattern breathing - hold breathing, holding while in or out, or both, variation in the length of in and out, visualizations, couple with movements, spore breathing, hibernation breathing and so many others. If you can't find Taoist or martial arts breathing techniques, you can refer to Yoga books. Yoga has as many, or probably more breathing techniques. But it is advisable to find a teacher to try some of the techniques. p.s. I am suggesting you to Read about breathing. Don't try these. You are too old. e.g. holding breath will raise your blood pressure, make you dizzy and fall, too vigorous breathing will cause muscle spasm etc. Please stick to normal breathing for all your activities.

@Thrice Daily says there are 48 variations of YJJ. They are not altered unintentionally. They are very different Kung Fu. Each has markedly different movements from each other, different breathing techniques, even different guiding principles. 50 years ago, there were about 35 variations. Now it becomes 48 (at least according to @Thrice Daily). I come across a recent book enlist 14 styles, all different. Comparing with Taichi, it is also not altered unintentionally. They are purposely altered by different people and generations. That is why there are so many Taichi schools. And the government also stepped in to alter the whole system to suit various purposes. YJJ is also not concerned with Chinese medicine. The purported history is that it is a Buddhist tradition. Scholars have proved that it was a not very refined Taoist inner training. Indeed. The increase in strength is very obvious. It is perhaps why martial arts like YJJ while Taoist and Buddhist are not very interested or even have adverse impressions.

How do you assess energy on a screen? I just think he ages a lot compared with 5 years ago, put on a lot of weight and is quite sluggish in movements nowadays.