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
21
2013
21
2013
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
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
27
2012
27
2012
Spring Leg into the New Year
We may be crazy but we love the Tan Tui form. Sifu Jason Tsou and Arthur Schonfeld, the creators of the Jian Shu sword fighting text, have returned with a complete 10 Road Tan Tui package that includes the form from the Han Ching Tan to Adam Hsu lineage along with a DVD and some [...]
Dec
21
2012
21
2012
Dec
15
2012
15
2012
Tutorial: Spear Lesson #6 More on the Dragon
The last spear lesson left you halfway through a new move …
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
15
2012
15
2012
That Deadly Double Weighting
But I find the “double weight problem” to be considerably more interesting and definitively more useful than most people make it out to be
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
7
2012
7
2012
Aug
19
2012
19
2012
Spear Tutorial #4: The Big Ghost
The thing I love about spear practice is that it reinforces both empty hands and weapons skills. Traveling with the spear, for instance, gives the added bonus of coordinating hands, feet, open, close and a pointy stick.
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…
Jul
16
2012
16
2012
Liu Chang Yi and The Feeding Crane
Here is the inheritor of the Feeding Crane style and a new DVD chock full of applications which—as a Karate, Kenpo or Kung Fu stylist— may make you go hmmmm.
Jul
3
2012
3
2012
Spear Tutorial #2: Three Circles
Continuing our tutorial series on how to practice the basics of the Kung Fu spear. This time we take on the techniques of circling and thrusting.
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.
May
7
2012
7
2012
PLUM Seminar, May 12th
We know that a lot of you are not exactly in driving distance but we thought we would keep you informed on our seminars in Santa Cruz, anyway. After all, you are family.
May
7
2012
7
2012
Video Tutorial: Primary Spear Moves
Here’s another of our video tutorials about the King of the Weapons…Learn the “Ghost Shakes Body” exercise…spearvid1 (This might take a minute to load.)
Apr
27
2012
27
2012
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.
Apr
1
2012
1
2012
The Southern Art of Ten•Wood•Rice
Southern Kung Fu styles turn, dodge and side step quickly with “rat steps.” At the same time hands flop out and haul in forming themselves into a menagerie of claws, paws, wings and edges.
Mar
28
2012
28
2012
Standing Still
Personally, I continue to believe that standing practice is important and useful. The trouble is that there is a deep, deep contradiction in the way it is taught in many schools.
Mar
12
2012
12
2012
The Search for Jin
Fa Jin or Issuing Energy is a crucial part of Chinese Martial Arts. But what is Fa Jin, really, and —as far as combat goes— does it actually work?
Jan
17
2012
17
2012
The Speed of Thought
The point is not that they should try to hurry up their moves, but that they should abandon speed as something they can “control” or “will” into happening.
Dec
31
2011
31
2011
Training: Arms like Banners
This may sound like I am a candidate for the Wrong Way Corrigan Award but I sort of like that about Kung Fu practice. It reinforces that very true statement that the direct route is always nice, if you can get it. But there is no guarantee.
Dec
28
2011
28
2011
QA: Tai Chi Ball
Q: I have what I hope is a quick and easy question for you. I see that you and Ted are fans of tai chi ball training. What advice would you have on the kind of ball one should use for starting out and then as one progresses as far as weight, size and material [...]
Dec
5
2011
5
2011
50 Ways to do Things Wrong, One Right Way
There’s an old saying, “Learn from your mistakes.” And of course I see the sense of this. But some students have the slightly mistifying habit of wanting to back track for everything.
Nov
19
2011
19
2011
Iron Palm Training: A Word
Some people really feel this concentration of energy and find it invigorating. And, for five to ten minutes a day of training, it all seems worth it.
