Wu Ming Jen

My advise would be pick a sword that resonates with you. As far as flexible practice metal sword its the best to begin with. advance to a live weapon a much heaver blade. I have quite a few old swords. One seven star sword has a small handle for me but is perfect for my wife. Wood swords that are not one piece are dangerous. When moving fast the handle separates from the blade and is sent flying in that direction. The internal aspects of sword requires no sword at all. when moving with proper body mechanics and breath move as if you have a sword in your hand, thrust, carry, cut, lift and so on then when you pick up a sword you can make it "sing" yes the marvelous sound of the sword. If I use my flexible sword I can easily bend the blade with a simple cut and then twist in the opposite direction which is annoying so I cant use it, this happens with out using force just turning my waste with moderate speed.

Non interference is one aspect of Wu Wei. Non contrivance,natural spontaneity doing what needs to be done. Wu Wei contains doing as well as non doing The way of nature does without contrivance, agenda, something to be gained or lost. In the english language we would need more than one word to describe wu wei Seeing the unseen is confusing in english just as non doing is confusing, the descriptions are a fragment of the whole and meant to be an absolute as in can not be its opposite This is the difference between polar complete worldview of the east and the absolute fragment world view of the west. The absolute fragment philosophy Greek/ western) THINK that things are independent and not related to its opposite. The polar complete philosophy (Taoist) observes reality, opposites are a harmonious whole. This creates the communication breakdown between east and west. One system is life giving the other is destructive, pairing opposites as enemies instead of long lost lovers.

Right, I thought it was all about me?

Thank you universe, Thank you universe, Thank you universe. I am responsible for all actions and situations (life) that I create in this world. Mostly western prayer is asking for things from an external entity. In god we trust makes humans not responsible. The Tao gives us everything we need so to ask for more is just rude. I didn't know there was Taoist prayer. What are the monks chanting about in the temples, its a bit complicated but it includes all of humanity and the natural world we are apart of, no matter what sex, race or religion. What?? men and women are = parts of the whole? What?? I am Nature not separate from it ? What??? there is no hell below us and the earth grounds things out? It just don't sound like western developed religions at all. Balance and harmony with all things.

manitou, wrapped it all up in a beautiful package, in just a few words. nice job

While doing my tai chi chuan forms the power is un- manifested, potential, hidden and secret. While sparring the power is manifested,obvious and apparent this is Fa Jing. Fa Jing, so many types, too many to list, friendly fire is a wave that passes through the body, but then we have strikes where the waves stays internal to bounce around and cause damage.

Mind has no physical location, so we enter the non physical just like the energies in the body like vitality, energy and spirit being no physical location. we are born with these energies without doing any thing.. The formless realm is truly spiritual. Spiritual is non physical, material being things that have a location. We can change our mind.

Fire rises and water sinks thoughts do not make this so it just is. This is a law that is the same for every living thing in the world. When we have laws or rules benefiting one and harming another, true to one and false to another that is called fucked up, welcome to earth. Stick with nature it tells us everything we need to know.

I looked for my mind and found nothing,now I have pacified your mind for you. The mind I can find is a joke and utterly stupid only when mind is peaceful and tranquil does true awareness arise. That is when I discovered how mind is the filter that does not allow one to see the celestial design. the mind that is not unified will cause wars and unleash actions that bring great harm to humanity. So in my opinion the 1% with unified mind, awareness and understanding have a very important job to do to save the world from humans with the worst disease ever known ...... THE DIVIDED MIND.

Conflict could be viewed as a negative but walking is conflict two opposing forces going in opposite directions, one leg moves forward and the other leg moves back. the harmony is achieved by one body united in moving in a direction. The universe works the same way, without conflict the planets would not be able to move or stay in orbit. The harmony is the unified mind it does not come from looking outside with mental contrivance . Balance and harmony with all things what is your relationship with what is contrived as negative in your life?

Standing up from a chair we inhale, rising naturally without thinking, sitting down from standing we exhale, without thinking,sinking. When we lift something we inhale, when we push something down we exhale. Body and breath moves as one unit naturally. We are born abdominal breathing and moving our bodies from the LDT this becomes chest breathing and center rises along with it,becoming off balance on many levels in life and the last breath is from the mouth. Chi Gung reverses this process to remain youthful in old age among countless other positive attributes of practice.

The ability to issue or swallow force at any given moment in motion, being rooted. The ability of any part of the body to become empty or full. Energetically many advocate bare foot in the grass we all do it as kids or if we are still energetically connected with the earth, Post birth Chi comes from breathing, 90% of our energy comes from breathing the other 10% food and water if this was not true this planet would have run out of food and water thousands of years ago. Some like to pretend the planet can not support its own creation out of fear today. Pre birth chi we are born with, we can add or subtract this. Both pre and post birth Chi depend on each other and maybe why Chi can be translated as breath or the energy that animates the body. More random thoughts

Stroking the beard,walking brush knee, repulse the monkey with correct body posture, breathing and calm mind. Rooting in transition, heel first forward, toe first backwards, touching ground and only then weight transfer. Proper turning the waist, arm position being connected as one whole unit. Breathing coordinated with movement. During waking brush knee low stance training with arm movements a butterfly landed on my shoulder and stayed for the ride up and down the court yard, leg conditioning to the max, whole body benefits, body becomes oxygenated with proper lower abdominal breathing benefiting the internal organs as well via massage from Taoist breathing. Release of toxins generated by shallow breathing and eliminating the conversion of sugars for energy, lack of breath creates the toxins in the first place. Just some thought of walking chi gung. Did I mention Breathing with the Taoist method? That is important

Thanks, I know Master Chen personally, His teacher was the famous nun that would not leave Wudang during the cultural revolution.The female alchemy was passed onto him as well. He is a linage holder and returns to the mountain yearly. Master Chen's Chi cultivation and healing is high level. Many from his generation were very discourage with the tourism and the cable cars to the top. Master Chen grew up on the mountain.

Hey its all good, we are all entitled to or own perspective. point / counter point is an very open minded approach to learn of topics. The tourist are just that they do not belong to a school or it is a personal pilgrimage during special festivals. Never give up the near for the far is right on. My experience is much different then the tourist or short term student. When people arrive with so much head knowledge but physical not able to keep up I have to question there actual abilities in these arts because they come of as a novice. When we are proving philosophical content to our selves in the physical world the mind stuff is weak with nothing to show for it or no practical application achieving balance and harmony with all things and the ability of truly living a rich and fulfilled life. If you have skill in a subject and you go to a seminar you learn more then a beginner will. Same with Wudang If you want a master degree from an ivy league school pick one. If you want a master degree in Taoist Arts Wudang is one of those. It is fine to beat up on Harvard or Yale, Wudang or Shaolin but we are talking about Ivy League schools here with a history like no other. Enlightenment, stay on the mountain and do nothing you will see why last year there was 3 million visitors.

I read thru the link provided by Bagua, all fair observations from outsiders and short term people that visit Wudang. Over 130,000 people will visit during the spring festival alone. Taiwan is where many masters fled to during the cultural revolution as well as all over the world. What can seem like a bad thing (cultural Revolution) is a blessing to the world. The same thing happened when the Ming dynasty ended. The Taoist no longer had the emperor's mandate,sending masters out into the world, leaving the mountain and spreading the numerous arts we know today. Great efforts were made to ensure Wudang arts would be preserved at the risk of death or life imprisonment during the revolution, I have met a few formally from Taiwan on Wudang. Wudang will always be the mountain of the immortals. What is hidden and not apparent is still present. It may seem at first that to become an insider is impossible but for those who stay at least 3 months, insider information and statis becomes available. sooo many magical places with no tourist, that is easy. Student instructors that teach short term students have been training since they were young kids practising 7++ hours a day so your skill level needs to be amazing to get any attention at all and to be introduced to a Master that specializes in your own personal interest. Wudang is a very relaxed atmosphere the drive and dedication has to come from oneself. If you seek to become a perfected warrior, it is far from easy.

Possibly spend some time On Wudang Mountain. You pick what forms to learn, 7 hrs a day training, Thursdays off to explore. Many Schools to choose from, I will refrain from promoting my school. With an invitation from the school you can get your visa up to 3 months the first time in China. Completing your chi gung sets and demonstrating skill you will get a certificate.Lodging with training and 3 meals a day are available. Lots of Masters on the mountain depending on what your major is. Good luck

We are anonymous here, no self promotion, taking an entertainment break from the actual physical content of cultivation / may be teaching a lineage that has been handed down for hundreds of years. With passion and love for our art we may choose to engage or just read TTB forum. In the information age mis information is calculated with specific agendas. This is an intellectual platform the physical is lost which is the main component of actual teaching. Who we teach, There are specific rules of character and their intention. Students unaware of meeting the criteria may not make it past introduction skills taught freely to everyone because they are happy with basic skills. Lets have some tea and hash out some thoughts with each other. How do we handle mis information just let it go when there are people that attach wires in some manner to themselves for grounding as an example? Attracting teachers... well we, they, you, can not be anonymous. published material could be displayed but posting and commenting on articles written is in bad taste. Q&A Masters great but those with web presence have blogs and contact information. I think its all a great idea and if I knew quality information was being exchanged even better.I do not really want to say this but space panda ad cheapens this place. what type of products do we want to endorse, it says a lot about who we are.

What are some videos that you have seen and Inspire you?. I am always searching around and thought this would be a great resource to find some new to me and interesting things. I will start with a couple and http://youtu.be/YZA_f0vAerA Thanks

Nice, maybe in October we could meet up. Do you stay on the mountain or in town? I Stay across the street and down the hill from Purple Heaven Palace.

Thanks for sharing the videos so far. Great to see some new stuff, Great respect to all the old school guys they serve as inspiration as we age and demonstrating incredible skill. Vitalii, When where you at Mount Wudang? I usually go in late August and if you do not mind me asking what school do you attend when you are there? Thanks Chi Dragon, I practice Taiyi from WuDang. I also realize that one style is not better than another and chi gung is chi gung no matter what it might look like. Great post Thanks for sharing

Very cool, I bookmarked it as well.

Right, all things depend on each other starting with the basic physical benefits of practice then mind is not agitated and spirit can become clear..I did not realize thinking was involved. Everything is as it is but the thinking mind can make distinctions. Such a great ability smart people have to make things so. Aetherous I assumed you where looking for a more mystical sauce but for me all that knowledge is useless with out practical day to day applications, when it does then it blends nicely into any sauce.

Does weak sauce mean strong body, mind and spirit living beyond concepts of being and non-being and living in the eternal home land of nothing what so ever? This practice has profound effects physical and non physical simply blended into one. Maybe its just a scratch on the wall

I love the set named Wu Dang Yang Shen Gong. Great post, firmly grounded with no mystical BS. Time to get real around here?