This past week a university student doing research asked me to comment on 'modern' martial arts like UFC compared to 'traditional' martial arts.
I think central to traditional arts are their links to their history, traditions and culture. And these links make them vehicles for self-improvement in a way that is broader than just martial.
The other thought that came to mind later was that UFC and related sports promote a sub-culture of violence at a time of (relative) peaceful day to day living within North America. Which contrasts with the context in which most traditional martial arts which were developed. These come from times that had much higher personal risks, but many of these arts developed a culture of trying to limit and rise above violence.
I don't want this to seems like an arguement that there is some kind of inverse relationship between more stable societies and violent sub-cultures. There has always been a need to counter feelings of personal disempowerment. Martial arts can act as a response to this. Whether this response promotes or limits violence, is another question.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Strengthen the container
There are a huge variety of Qigong forms and approaches. They range from the atheletic to the etheric.
I've always focussed on the physical over the mystical when it comes to health Qigong practices.
The body acts as a vessel to contain consciousness (Shen). As it says in the Tao De Jing's chapter 11 "a pot's value comes from emptiness." Qi arises when consciousness fills the body - the result of the two inertacting with each other.
The body nourishes the Qi which in return enables the body to move. The consciousness attracts the Qi which in return enables the consciousness to experience emotions.
To build an awareness of Qi, you need to train the mind to permeate the vessel. But to build Qi, you need to enlarge & strengthen the vessel. And a physical element within a practice is central to this line of thinking. Both consciousness and the physical form are amazing and inter-linked. So self-cultivation should not focus solely on one at the expense of the other.
I've always focussed on the physical over the mystical when it comes to health Qigong practices.
The body acts as a vessel to contain consciousness (Shen). As it says in the Tao De Jing's chapter 11 "a pot's value comes from emptiness." Qi arises when consciousness fills the body - the result of the two inertacting with each other.
The body nourishes the Qi which in return enables the body to move. The consciousness attracts the Qi which in return enables the consciousness to experience emotions.
To build an awareness of Qi, you need to train the mind to permeate the vessel. But to build Qi, you need to enlarge & strengthen the vessel. And a physical element within a practice is central to this line of thinking. Both consciousness and the physical form are amazing and inter-linked. So self-cultivation should not focus solely on one at the expense of the other.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
5 Animal Play: About the Deer
The Five Animals Qigong (wuqinxi) is based on the Five Phase theory which is also a foundational theory for Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Five Phases describe the cyclical tranformations of Yin and Yang using the icons of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
The Deer corresponds to the Water phase which is maybe best summarized by it's association with Winter. In the Winter, Yang recedes deep into Yin as trees go dormant, their energies withdrawn into their roots.
In Chinese Medicine, this Phase corresponds to the Kidney network. It is the deepest of the organ network, manifests in the bones & marrow and extends to the low back. It is the holding place for reserves of Yin and Yang inherited from our parents and governs our reproductive system and the creation of the next generation. Because of this, the movements of the Deer originate from the back and travel through the bones. There is a focus on alignment and finding solidity within the movements. If we use the image of a river, the strength of the river lies in it's depth.
The emotions associated with the Water phase is fear, while the kidneys are said to house intention or will (Zhi). When this phase is imbalanced, either fearfulness or a lack of fear is experienced. Where there is a lack of fear, the will is expressed in a reckless manner, while in fearful states, the will is unable to act. So the movements of the Deer should be done in a deliberate but careful manner to cultivate an emotional state that allows intention to move clearly and freely.
The Deer corresponds to the Water phase which is maybe best summarized by it's association with Winter. In the Winter, Yang recedes deep into Yin as trees go dormant, their energies withdrawn into their roots.
In Chinese Medicine, this Phase corresponds to the Kidney network. It is the deepest of the organ network, manifests in the bones & marrow and extends to the low back. It is the holding place for reserves of Yin and Yang inherited from our parents and governs our reproductive system and the creation of the next generation. Because of this, the movements of the Deer originate from the back and travel through the bones. There is a focus on alignment and finding solidity within the movements. If we use the image of a river, the strength of the river lies in it's depth.
The emotions associated with the Water phase is fear, while the kidneys are said to house intention or will (Zhi). When this phase is imbalanced, either fearfulness or a lack of fear is experienced. Where there is a lack of fear, the will is expressed in a reckless manner, while in fearful states, the will is unable to act. So the movements of the Deer should be done in a deliberate but careful manner to cultivate an emotional state that allows intention to move clearly and freely.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
5 Animals Play: About the Crane
The Five Animals Play (Wuqinxi) is based on the theories of the Five phases. The Five Phases describes the cyclical transformations between Yin and Yang. The Crane corresponds with the Metal phase.
In Chinese Medicine the Metal phase is associated with the Lung Network. The dynamic of this network is outward and downward distributing Qi and fluids throughout the body. Because of this link between the Lungs and the Metal Phase, the Crane's movements come from the chest and involve extension and settling.
I also think of the initial dynamic that is described in the 'Jade Pendant Inscription on Qigong' which, in part, says:
'...storage leads to extending outward, extending leads to settling downward...'
The influence of Lung Network extends to the surface of the body, where the defensive Qi circluates, controlling the opening and closing of the pores. So in addition to extension to the limbs, the Crane's movements should open outward to the surface of the body.
The emotions connected to the Metal phase are slightly complicated. Grief is commonly the single word summary of Metal phase emotions. But only describes an emotion experienced when the Metal Phase is unbalanced. A broader understanding relates this phase to giving and receiving value. Grief can only be experienced when something of value is lost. Valuing of oneself and of others involves an outward and inward dynamic that mirrors the physical function the of lungs, breathing air in and out. Supporting the Lung network through the movements of the Crane can smooth this dynamic, allowing for, as Buddhists would put it, non-attachment.
In Chinese Medicine the Metal phase is associated with the Lung Network. The dynamic of this network is outward and downward distributing Qi and fluids throughout the body. Because of this link between the Lungs and the Metal Phase, the Crane's movements come from the chest and involve extension and settling.
I also think of the initial dynamic that is described in the 'Jade Pendant Inscription on Qigong' which, in part, says:
'...storage leads to extending outward, extending leads to settling downward...'
The influence of Lung Network extends to the surface of the body, where the defensive Qi circluates, controlling the opening and closing of the pores. So in addition to extension to the limbs, the Crane's movements should open outward to the surface of the body.
The emotions connected to the Metal phase are slightly complicated. Grief is commonly the single word summary of Metal phase emotions. But only describes an emotion experienced when the Metal Phase is unbalanced. A broader understanding relates this phase to giving and receiving value. Grief can only be experienced when something of value is lost. Valuing of oneself and of others involves an outward and inward dynamic that mirrors the physical function the of lungs, breathing air in and out. Supporting the Lung network through the movements of the Crane can smooth this dynamic, allowing for, as Buddhists would put it, non-attachment.
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