The Essential Components for Effective Kung Fu
I was reading an article online the other day and there was a sentence that struck me. It said something like- there is a tendency to define martial arts on how they are unique or what sets them apart from other styles rather then how they are similar. This got me thinking, first- that is […]
Stretching and Flexibility in Kung Fu
There are many different ideas and approaches to stretching. In this article I will attempt to discuss several of them and also share some of my research on the subject of stretching. There are two main schools of thought on stretching- stretching is not necessary in and of itself stretching is vital for improved performance […]
Qi Sensations in Qigong
When people practice Qigong, something that always is of interest is- “How do I feel my Qi?”. Because of popular media on the subject the consensus seems to be that Qi is the answer. We need to cultivate it, store it, circulate it, and it will give us power for the internal martial arts (without […]
Shaolin Kung Fu An Overview
Shaolin Kung Fu. When you hear this, pictures might flash across your mind. You might imagine an old monk teaching a small boy in a remote temple, you might smile as you think about the old Shaw Brothers movies that you used to watch on TV, or you might think about athletic monks in […]
6 Tips For Improving Your Kung Fu Stances
The most important part of Kung Fu is the foundation and the stances. Ask any Master, they will agree. In this article you will learn 6 tips for improving your Kung Fu Stances. 1 – Foot Position is Key To have a correct stance, you must place your feet in the correct position. When the […]
Secrets of Kung Fu – Nei Kung by Yuan ChuCai
Secrets of Kung Fu – By Yuan Chu Tsai Translation – 2004 – Franklin Fick a selection from the text (rough translation) Introduction Martial art of our country is divided into internal and external, light and hard, obvious and mysterious. When it’s mysterious, it’s considered internal, to train for this one uses Jing, Qi, and […]
Taiji Quan As Internal Cultivation
Taiji Quan is an art with Taoist origins. Like the Tao, Taiji Quan is hard to talk about because it encompasses so many different aspects. Taiji Quan can be described as a physical exercise, qi gong, a martial art, and a spiritual practice. The origin of Taiji Quan is very obscure but the benefits gained […]
Taiji Breathing Techniques
When you first start practicing Taiji Quan your emphasis is on perfecting the form. Usually on the first day you are taught the basic Wuji posture and told all the requirements that you must fulfill to hold the posture correctly. Just standing still it feels awkward, uncomfortable, and some times overwhelming to get everything right. […]
