Thoughts on Authentic Neigong / Damo / Chen Taiji ?

[meditatingfist]

Hi everyone,

 

Found this forum when I was researching to get my head around what I'm actually looking for and what would be a good fit. I'm pretty new to all this stuff and would love for some thoughts on how I can best go about setting up my path.

 

The first question (which I am finding it more difficult to answer than I expected), is what I'm actually looking for ...

 

A few months ago, I felt like I had some clarity that what I was looking for was to cultivate self-mastery so that I would naturally live in a healthy and purposeful way.

 

This was preceded by what could have been a mild period of depression which thankfully didn't have too much of an impact. I say this because I had been spending a lot of time building up a gaming YouTube channel (and actual gaming) and decided to go cold turkey as I got quite busy at work. Hence I was left with a bit of a void.

 

Filling in this void, I started spending about 2hrs daily learning the form of Chen taijiquan, zhan zhuang, and some simple meditation practices. Fast forward about six months and this is where I am at. I still feel like I am still seeking for a similar goal as above, but it feels more cloudy now. Not sure if this is because the 'how' seems to have many different paths, or it's me having cold feet, or something else.

 

Anyhow, to frame the paths I am contemplating, a bit of information about me:

• I'm in my 30's, married, living in Sydney, Australia, and working in the corporate world and have had a real draw towards personal development since I started working which has intermittently involved martial arts and meditation.
• In the past when I was really pushing to a specific goal like a promotion, or 'looking good', I found myself in the downward spirals of depression, anxiety, etc on multiple occasions. Took time of work to reset, and the repeated the same cycle.
• After one particular cycle, I went on a health retreat and was first exposed to some qigong.
• Later, I wanted to to combine qigong with martial arts, and did an internal style of Wing Chun for a few years. Perhaps it wasn't the right teacher, or perhaps I wasn't ready, but on reflection I was taught a lot of theoretical nei gong type things but I never really 'got it' and don't really have much to show for it.
• I've also done some 'Vipassana' (the 10 day Goenka style one) which helped my body awareness and ability to observe. I make a point of this as prior, I felt like my awareness was really lacking.
• For whatever reason, I think I've always had this conception that I needed to combine physical exercise with internal exercises (eg martial arts) but I am naturally drawn to the more 'internal' type stuff. There is then a contradiction that you don't really learn the internal stuff without first doing a lot of bodily work in the martial arts I've been exposed to.
• I have to admit that right now, I don't have any strong burning desire to reach enlightenment or such. There is a sense of curiosity shrouded with unknown and a wonder of if that's my calling. I saw a post that was refreshingly candid from @freeform along the lines of (well this was my takeaway anyway... if health/being happy is the goal, then other things like dance/socialising/other 'human' things, etc can often be a much more direct and cheaper path).

 

So what I think I am looking for right now is to test and learn both neigong and taiji to see what works best for me, and where I want to focus my efforts that's going to nurture my health and sense of purpose. I'm open to other options, but these were the main one's I have shortlisted after some (limited) research.

 

From a neigong perspective, I was considering:

1. Signing up to Damo Mitchell's program (lots of theory content, I like his style, comparatively cost effective)

 

2. Signing up to Adam Mizner's discovermind course (can't find much info/reviews on this?)

3. Signing up to @小梦想 neigong course (decent reviews, will get more 1:1 guidance)

 

From a martial arts perspective, I was considering:

1. Signing up to Damo's program (synergy with his neigong stuff, best bang for buck combo)

2. Signing up to Mizner's online taiji and possibly the HME group classes in Sydney (get hands on instruction, higher level taiji than Damo)

3a. Private/group lessons with Chen Xiao Wang's son, Yingjun (expensive, but get in person instruction and corrections). @Earl Grey - I think you're in Sydney from your posts. Did you ever try Chen taiji? I checked out your Sydney teacher as well, but for some reason, I didn't quite connect with what he teaches.

3b. Private lessons with Yingjun's student who charges very little. And then later move to Yingjun.

 

From a value perspective, giving Damo a trial run for a couple of months seems to make the most sense.

From a gut feel perspective, I'm leaning towards 小梦想 and 3a (which when I chat with wifey will probably end up being a 3b).  

 

Would love some thoughts and probing questions to help me on my way! Thanks in advance.

[freeform]

On 23/11/2021 at 8:12 AM, meditatingfist said:

the HME group classes in Sydney

That would be my first choice if I was you  

 

In-person is always better. Adam is from Australia - so I’m sure he visits too.

 

I’d start there and then see where you want to take things.

 

If you have access to any teachers from Damo’s school in Sydney, I’d check them out too.
 

Damo’s focus is more on cultivation using the Nei Dan path - and taiji is just a side thing. Though I’ve heard Adam say that Damo’s taiji is better than his own (and I’ve heard Damo say that about Adam’s taiji too). Generally from the people I’ve met, it seems their progress is much quicker with Damo - I assume because he does a lot of Neigong which kinda fast-tracks some of the development necessary for taiji.

 

But yeah - I say go and meet some people in these schools first… then orient from there.

[RobB]

Could also look at: https://www.daxuanschoolsydney.com/. It's quite an integrated practice and if it suits you - it suits you.

 

Good luck with your search

[Earl Grey]

On 11/23/2021 at 4:12 PM, meditatingfist said:

Hi everyone,

 

Found this forum when I was researching to get my head around what I'm actually looking for and what would be a good fit. I'm pretty new to all this stuff and would love for some thoughts on how I can best go about setting up my path.

 

The first question (which I am finding it more difficult to answer than I expected), is what I'm actually looking for ...

 

A few months ago, I felt like I had some clarity that what I was looking for was to cultivate self-mastery so that I would naturally live in a healthy and purposeful way.

 

This was preceded by what could have been a mild period of depression which thankfully didn't have too much of an impact. I say this because I had been spending a lot of time building up a gaming YouTube channel (and actual gaming) and decided to go cold turkey as I got quite busy at work. Hence I was left with a bit of a void.

 

Filling in this void, I started spending about 2hrs daily learning the form of Chen taijiquan, zhan zhuang, and some simple meditation practices. Fast forward about six months and this is where I am at. I still feel like I am still seeking for a similar goal as above, but it feels more cloudy now. Not sure if this is because the 'how' seems to have many different paths, or it's me having cold feet, or something else.

 

Anyhow, to frame the paths I am contemplating, a bit of information about me:

• I'm in my 30's, married, living in Sydney, Australia, and working in the corporate world and have had a real draw towards personal development since I started working which has intermittently involved martial arts and meditation.
• In the past when I was really pushing to a specific goal like a promotion, or 'looking good', I found myself in the downward spirals of depression, anxiety, etc on multiple occasions. Took time of work to reset, and the repeated the same cycle.
• After one particular cycle, I went on a health retreat and was first exposed to some qigong.
• Later, I wanted to to combine qigong with martial arts, and did an internal style of Wing Chun for a few years. Perhaps it wasn't the right teacher, or perhaps I wasn't ready, but on reflection I was taught a lot of theoretical nei gong type things but I never really 'got it' and don't really have much to show for it.
• I've also done some 'Vipassana' (the 10 day Goenka style one) which helped my body awareness and ability to observe. I make a point of this as prior, I felt like my awareness was really lacking.
• For whatever reason, I think I've always had this conception that I needed to combine physical exercise with internal exercises (eg martial arts) but I am naturally drawn to the more 'internal' type stuff. There is then a contradiction that you don't really learn the internal stuff without first doing a lot of bodily work in the martial arts I've been exposed to.
• I have to admit that right now, I don't have any strong burning desire to reach enlightenment or such. There is a sense of curiosity shrouded with unknown and a wonder of if that's my calling. I saw a post that was refreshingly candid from @freeform along the lines of (well this was my takeaway anyway... if health/being happy is the goal, then other things like dance/socialising/other 'human' things, etc can often be a much more direct and cheaper path).

 

So what I think I am looking for right now is to test and learn both neigong and taiji to see what works best for me, and where I want to focus my efforts that's going to nurture my health and sense of purpose. I'm open to other options, but these were the main one's I have shortlisted after some (limited) research.

 

From a neigong perspective, I was considering:

1. Signing up to Damo Mitchell's program (lots of theory content, I like his style, comparatively cost effective)

 

2. Signing up to Adam Mizner's discovermind course (can't find much info/reviews on this?)

3. Signing up to @小梦想 neigong course (decent reviews, will get more 1:1 guidance)

 

From a martial arts perspective, I was considering:

1. Signing up to Damo's program (synergy with his neigong stuff, best bang for buck combo)

2. Signing up to Mizner's online taiji and possibly the HME group classes in Sydney (get hands on instruction, higher level taiji than Damo)

3a. Private/group lessons with Chen Xiao Wang's son, Yingjun (expensive, but get in person instruction and corrections). @Earl Grey - I think you're in Sydney from your posts. Did you ever try Chen taiji? I checked out your Sydney teacher as well, but for some reason, I didn't quite connect with what he teaches.

3b. Private lessons with Yingjun's student who charges very little. And then later move to Yingjun.

 

From a value perspective, giving Damo a trial run for a couple of months seems to make the most sense.

From a gut feel perspective, I'm leaning towards 小梦想 and 3a (which when I chat with wifey will probably end up being a 3b).  

 

Would love some thoughts and probing questions to help me on my way! Thanks in advance.

Go straight for Rudi’s neigong because it’s one-on-one compared to lectures and videos from Damo. Much more engaging that way and more practical, though some people insist that theory is important, which is fine, but it makes more sense AFTER practice, which Rudi will second.

 

Dolic is someone you would need to talk with rather than go to his webpage as he is one of the most genuine, awakened, and gentle people I’ve met and I’d rather learn from him whatever he teaches than from someone else with a name or possibly more in-demand skill. To put it another way about Dolic, the well-known and superior fighter Erl Montaigne’s own students went to Dolic after Erl passed.

[SAMANTABHADRA]

I agree with @freeform.  check out Mizner's school there if you are interested in Tai Ji - I've met a few of his seniors and they have real skill and know how to teach well.  The training is intense and rewarding.  Just my 2 cents.