The Kung Fu Discussion Group – Episode 3: Embodying Philosophy Through Martial Arts
In this episode, Maeko& Uncle discuss how the practice of a Martial Art involves physically embodying the philosophy of that Style, MUST READ BOOKS, sensing…
The Kung Fu Discussion Group – Episode 2: School Etiquette, Teaching Signatures, & Embodying the Philosophy of Your Martial Art
Episode 2 of the Kung Fu Discussion Group is now available to celebrate this Foolishness Friday. This episode sees the trio of Uncle Sickness, YogaMidnight,…
形意拳三體/Xingyiquan San Ti – Xingyiquan’s Three Bodies
三體者, 天地人三才之象也。在拳中為頭手足是也。三體又各分為三節, 而內外相合。 頭為根節; 在外為頭, 在內為泥丸宮是也。脊背為中節; 在外為脊背, 在內為心是也。腰為梢節; 在外為腰, 在內為丹田是也。肩為根節, 肘為中節, 手為梢節。胯為根節, 膝為中節, 足為梢節。是三節之中, 又各有三節也。此理乃合於六書之九數。丹書云: "道虛無生一氣, 使從一氣產陰陽, 陰陽再合成三體, 三體重生萬物張。" 此之謂也。 What are the Three Bodies?…
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The Kung Fu Discussion Group – Episode 1: Xingyiquan
The Kung Fu Discussion Group - Episode 1: Xingyiquan is here, just in time for Sacred Kung Fu Saturday! Join your Kung Fu Uncle, YogaMidnight,…
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岳飛八要論/Yue Fei Ba Yao Lun – Yue Fei’s Eighth Essential Thesis
身法維何，縱橫高低，進退反側而已，縱則放其勢，一往而不返，橫則裹其力，開拓而莫阻，高則揚其身，而身若有增長之勢，低則抑其身，而身若有攢捉之形，當進則進，殫其身而勇往直冲，當退則退，領其氣而回轉伏勢，至于反身顧后，后即前也，側顧左右，使左右無敢當我，而要非拘拘焉為之也，必先察人之強弱，運我之機關，有忽縱而忽橫，縱橫因勢而變遷，不可一概而推，有忽高而忽低，高低隨時以轉移，不可執格而論，時而宜進，故不可退而餒其氣，時而宜退，即當以退，而鼓其進，是進固進也，即退而亦實以賴其進，若返身顧后，顧其后而以不覺其為后，側顧左右，而左右以不覺其為左右矣，總之機關在眼，變通在心，而握其要者，則本諸身，身而前，則四體不令而行矣，身而却，則百骸莫不冥然而處矣，身法顧可置而不論乎。 What is the Body Method? Vertical, Horizontal, High, Low, Advance, Retreat, Reverse, & Lateral, nothing more. Vertical is releasing the power in one direction so…
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The Central Lesson of The World of Martial Arts: 武德/Wu De – Martial Ethics
A standard plot point for many Martial Arts movies goes like this: A person masters a powerful Martial Art; this person takes one or more…
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形意拳八要檢/Xingyiquan Ba Yao Jian – Xingyiquan’s Eight Essentials Examined
八要者何? - What are the Eight Essentials? The Eight Essentials are the core of Xingyiquan's Neigong, & an excellent Health Cultivation practice. Today we're going…
Continue reading → 形意拳八要檢/Xingyiquan Ba Yao Jian – Xingyiquan’s Eight Essentials Examined
形意戰略: 六字簡述/Xingyi Zhanlue: Liu Zi Jianshu – Xingyi Strategy: Six Character Outline
If someone put you on the spot & demanded that you summarize yourself in only six words, would you be able to do it? All…
形意拳七疾/Xingyiquan Qi Ji – Xingyiquan’s Seven Quicks: The Long Version
七疾者, 眼要疾, 手要疾, 腳要疾, 意要疾, 出勢要疾, 進退要疾, 身法要疾也。習拳者具此七疾, 方能完全制勝。所謂縱橫往來, 目不及瞬, 有如生龍活虎, 令人不可捉模者, 唯持此耳。 The Seven Quicks are The Eyes must be Quick, The Hands must…
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形意戰略: 抓住主動權/Xingyi Zhanlue: Zhuazhu Zhudong Quan – Xingyi Strategy: Seizing the Initiative
Recently, while perusing Twitter, I happened upon a retweet from the illustrious Ed Latimore regarding Offensive Strategy. Here's the tweet in question: Now, I'm a…
