Kung Fu hides many of its secrets in terms of opposite qualities such as fast/slow, open/close, light and heavy. But don’t let the words obscure the story. The names are significant, but it’s their entwined relationship that holds the real stash. Take heavy and light. In the martial arts community, especially the Chinese branch, there […]
Oct
24
2018
24
2018
May
5
2017
5
2017
Meditation’s Secret Treasure
Meditation’s Secret Treasure, by Steve Strasnick, is the story of someone who was not already indoctrinated with mystical assumptions, who did not bring a cosmology (at least, not a religious one) to the table. Yet, he found himself “Awakening to the Mystical World,” despite his feeling about himself that he was not “inclined” in that manner. […]
Jan
9
2017
9
2017
Stillness & Movement: Part Two
Thinking About Movement Learning movement–and therefore footwork–is a progression through four modes of stepping. First, when the beginner has just walked in off the street and you ask him to punch, he will shoot arm first, before stepping. Envision tense shoulders, chest out and arm fully extended as he steps/falls awkwardly. Here’s the first, or […]
Mar
18
2016
18
2016
Reprint: Stillness in the Martial Arts
Here is a piece I wrote for the now defunct Journal of Asian Martial Arts. A number of people have asked about the “myth” at the front of the piece. I believe it hints at the dialog between stillness and movement that can–and must– be found at the heart of martial practice. If nothing else, […]
Nov
7
2015
7
2015
Deep Practices
Learning Kung Fu can be a unique experience or, if you are not paying attention, it can be just another subject with the same tired educational template thrown over it. By a “unique experience” I do not mean the kind advertised on vacation posters. I mean an experience that shoots through your veins and hovers […]
May
30
2014
30
2014
Finding Freedom Everywhere
A good question to ask once in a while, knowing that the answer may be different this week from last week, is “What makes me feel free?” This varies a lot from person to person. It also varies a lot, if you stick with the martial arts for a long time, with your personal evolution […]
Jul
23
2013
23
2013
Spirit Training
We can mystify the whole question and explain esoteric practices in sophisticated terms but it is the simplest spirituality that is also most intriguing…
Dec
13
2012
13
2012
Books: Secrets and Chinese Meditation
Luk’s book is good for one obvious reason: it was written before meditation had become a commodity.
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…
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.
May
16
1998
16
1998
Meditation is Useless
One of my favorite Taoist stories is from the philosopher Chuang about the stinktree…
