UPDATE: EUROPEAN TOURE MAY-JUNE 2024 I will be in the UK and Northern Europe this spring, seeing the sights, making videos, attending events, visiting old friends making new friends, and sharing tai chi and internal arts.
The plans currently in the works involve: • the UK (London, Southampton, Devonshire, Norfolk, Newcastle, Doncaster, Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Cairngorms, and such.) • Belgium (Antwerp) • Sweden (Stockholm) • France (Paris)
I might also make it to Cologne, Prague, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Northern Italy.
I’m happy to save money on hotels. So, if you want to host me, (on your couch, or to share knowledge and experience), please contact me.
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Recent Posts
“The technique is not about the technique”
Techniques do not work. But practising techniques gives you the context within which to study the principles and the method. Eventually, you embody the principles and apply the method in ways that manifest as techniques.
“Internal Power Contains External Power”
This is a statement that can get you into trouble if you misunderstand it or use it to infer some superiority of so-called internal styles like tai chi (taijiquan). There are a few different ways to define “internal power.” But some of its characteristics include an emphasis on class one levers and class two levers, . . . read more
Lest we forget. Balance is a verb.
Martial arts training is a microcosm of international socio-economics. The lessons we learn in class can be applied to peacemaking on a global scale.. When I hear discussions about the swing toward extremism and authoritarianism, it makes me think about beginners in martial art classes. Some students come to the art because of fear, and . . . read more
Adaptive pedagogy for tai chi and martial arts – (with a 12-minute video)
It is impossible to find a teaching method that works the same way for everyone. Traditional standard teaching methods, like those found in many martial art schools, are designed for large groups. Many are geared toward retention more than education. If you have a constant supply of new students, eventually you might find some that . . . read more
Resistance is Moot
Attachment to technique is typically self-defeating. One should be constantly mindful of tactics, strategy, method, and internal principles. If all is done well, the opponent’s resistance can be rendered irrelevant.
The delusion cuts both ways. Understanding how internal and external martial artists defeat themselves.
This is about the two errors that can result from martial art training. 1. If you base your training too much on sparring, or on training techniques against a non-compliant opponent, they you will tend to associate the success of a technique with the effort you apply. You might fail to recognize the subtle biomechanics . . . read more
Tai chi tuishou vs class 3 lever syndrome.
Tension in the arms forms class three levers that reduce the mechanical efficiency, increase your total shear modulus, and interfere with the centripetal geodesic. Proper relaxation means that the opponent cannot push you in any direction that does not follow the centripetal geodesic into the earth. When you do it properly, the opponent either bounces . . . read more
New Lesson: “Brush Knee Push” – the 8th mechanical efficiency.
INCOMPLETE TAI CHI, LESSON 29 Introducing Zhou 肘 using “Brush Knee and Push.” Click here to go to the lesson. When I teach this movement to beginners, I often do what many teachers do, and describe it in terms of a specific martial techniques, like brushing the opponent’s knee and pushing them off balance. This . . . read more
Fighting is like Wordle
Life is like Wordle. Perfectly legitimate decisions don’t always work. In business, we can make all the correction decisions, and still go bankrupt. In combat, we can make all the proper tactical and strategic decisions, and still lose. Making wise decisions can greatly increase our odds of success. But our success is never guaranteed. Likewise, . . . read more
Power vs Leadership
There is a lesson that has been taught over and over throughout the ages: Power is not a product of increasing control. Control is an illusion. The more rigidly an autocrat tries to control a population, the more counter-productive and weak that leader becomes. The ultimate power exists when controlling the population is not required. . . . read more
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