The Chinese doctor of old was trained on a very different mode than we use in current medicine…
Displaying posts written by
Ted Mancuso
who has written 212 posts for KaiMen.
Jun
19
2013
19
2013
May
22
2013
22
2013
Retreat
There are times when the only way to advance is to back up…
May
15
2013
15
2013
Precision and Poetry
If you are the kind of person who believes that what is said in poetry could be said a lot simpler and more to the point, then you are not going to like this article. Because my contention is the opposite: that there are analogies, similes, metaphors and other devices of communications that are actually [...]
Apr
3
2013
3
2013
Indirect Thinking
Yang Taiji The Untold Story by Jason Tsou and Arthur Schonfeld is not the easiest of Plum’s offerings. It is an in-depth breakdown on just exactly what is occurring in the martial art of Taiji. I believe that many of the principles explained are known—or should be—to most advanced martial practitioners. Seeing these ideas formulated [...]
Mar
27
2013
27
2013
QA: Bagua Mud-Stepping
Dear Sifu Mancuso, I have a few important questions as a novice practitioner of Ba Gua Zhang. First, although one of the principal features of Bagua is Tang Ni Bu (Mud-step walking) why is it that when you watch the films of so many teachers, you do not see them doing this step? Please understand: [...]
Mar
14
2013
14
2013
Practice Your Perspectives
A grand-teacher of mine, Ed Parker, used to say that you had to look at each technique from three perspectives: your own; the opponent’s; and then someone watching the fight from some distance, like across the street.
Feb
21
2013
21
2013
INB: Slapping Your Foot
To the student this is often just a neat effect, not to mention a little test of timing. But to the instructor it has more meaning, and therein may lie a lesson.
Feb
11
2013
11
2013
Why I Like the Staff
As I am beginning this product I thought a lot about the staff, my first weapon in the martial arts.
Jan
31
2013
31
2013
Surviving a Seminar
… have you ever attended those seminars where the “secret, special, high level information to be released!” turns out to be how to perform the step punch or a simple combination kick?
Jan
26
2013
26
2013
A Few Observations on Shoulder Training
From a martial perspective some people can generate far more power than others. The reverse side is that, because of this, they may use the shoulders too much, the old hammer and nail response.
Jan
14
2013
14
2013
The Other Side of the Martial Story
There is another side of martial practice, a very good and important side, which might be called the “Yin” portion.
Jan
6
2013
6
2013
Terrible Terrain
“Under everything is the land” may sound like the slogan of a professional real estate organization but it is also the truth of martial practice. Thousands 0f years ago it was pointed out by one of the first major military writers, Sun Zi: “The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally…”
Dec
25
2012
25
2012
Martial Arts: How Good Can You Get?
Of course children rarely wonder. When you are nine just about anything is possible…
Dec
18
2012
18
2012
The Real Power of Martial Arts
There are many histories to the world, different from the “official” story. One history might be written about non-scientists who have made major breakthroughs. Another might be about the importance of popular media and its effect on the dreams and ambitions of people. Martial arts also has a history much larger and more influential than [...]
Dec
8
2012
8
2012
Tutorial: Spear Lesson #5, The Dragon’s Tail
We begin the next stage of spear training with the first compound shape, the Dragon’s Tail, a low deflection action that “bites back” immediately…
Nov
7
2012
7
2012
QA: Qigong and Neigong
Dear Sifu Mancuso, Is the difference between qigong and neigong simply a matter of intention, so for example, could many qigong routines become neigong ones by simply a change of focus or mental attitude, and vice versa? Thank you, Thomas Kiefer A great question, Thomas, if for no other reason than I am sure my [...]
Nov
1
2012
1
2012
Sticky Telepathy
This is one of those things that veteran martial artists know; once in a while we mention it but we don’t talk about it…
Oct
21
2012
21
2012
Yin and Yang, Water and Fire
Fire and Water are the Yin and Yang of the real world…
Oct
12
2012
12
2012
Why My Knees Still Work
I am superstitious; I have two records which I assume will instantly break (literally) once I mention them…
Oct
5
2012
5
2012
When is a punch…?
One of our DVD authors and a darn good self defense instructor, likes to ask the following question. “When is a punch a punch?”
Sep
11
2012
11
2012
Stance Training
I am now going to tell you things about stance training you have probably never heard…
Aug
13
2012
13
2012
Training: 8 Tips on Memory
There is probably not a martial arts teacher on the planet who has not had a thousand students complain about the difficulty of memorizing “all those moves.” It’s to be expected…
Aug
8
2012
8
2012
Qigong: Shutting Out the Noise
It’s a noisy world, and getting noisier. The gal next to you in the restaurant is almost yelling into her mobile phone, making you wonder why the phone is even necessary…
Jul
19
2012
19
2012
Spear Tutorial #3: Spiral and something new…
Why do we love the spear? You may get a hint as I demonstrate the Spiral movement and, for the first time…
Jun
28
2012
28
2012
Being Lousy
I was talking to a friend. He quoted a phrase he had just read in a book on golf. “The only people who are always at the top of their game… are mediocre.”
Jun
26
2012
26
2012
Why the Spear?
What does the spear teach? A list of things you would hardly guess…
Jun
2
2012
2
2012
You and Standing Practice
Standing practice is very personal, obviously. It is the purest expression of the Taoist principle that, “Everyone finds his own way.”
May
23
2012
23
2012
AWESOME WEAPONS
I knew when I wrote “The Bandit Knife” book I would have to cough up the DVD of the weapon at some point…
May
14
2012
14
2012
What Do You Practice and Why?
I remember reading an interview where someone asked Hawkins Cheung what Wing Chun made up his practice. In other words what was his regimen. “That’s for beginners,” he said. “I practice whatever I want.
Apr
10
2012
10
2012
Everything About the Guard Stance Except Guarding
I love to teach the guard stance because it brings the students’ minds into focus on the whole idea of self-defense.
