Every year Tom Elias and The Kung Fu Studio run mini Self Defense workshops for the women at the Salvation Army. I ran an introductory standing meditation and KOLD Channel 13 did a Live piece on this issue. Thanks to all who attended and those students who helped out.
This demo took place at the International School of Tucson on March 6th, 2010 for International Day. We were invited to present since we run the in-school Kung Fu Kids program at IST. Also shown are students of all levels training Heavy Spinning.
The fajin demos came at the end of our brief presentation and were meant to illustrate that great power comes from the quiet and contemplative practice that is Internal Kung Fu... The Power of a Gesture.
Demo movements are big and obvious so that students and their parents can get an idea that refined force looks gentle, yet produces big results. Special care are was taken so that no one was sent off the stage and that violent force or intention was not in evidence. Violence has no part in our training.
From the I Liq Chuan International website:
I Liq Chuan embodies its philosophy in application, and you use its philosophy throughout your life. The art is a "moving meditation". It is no different than I'm walking and you're walking, it is only the concept of mindfulness. While there is no outer difference between the two persons, there is an inner difference. One person may walk with his mind in another world, not even realizing he is walking. He may be thinking about other things in his life and thereby forgetting to be in the moment, while the other person may be totally in the moment. To see the true nature of things, we have to be in the present moment (process) that's with the right state of consciousness to flow with the process to observe and merge with the conditions.
In this art we learn to break away from the unconscious, we learn to activate the subconscious mind to be conscious at all times. If you can be conscious at all times, then you will not be attached and you will be able to recognize and breakaway from habits and emotions that effect you.
This year the 4 Day Intensive was great! Ashe and I met new students and reconnected with old. Training was great and we got to visit the Monestery where sifu first shared his familiy art.
On Chinese New Year I completed the Discipleship ceremony and am now a formally adopted member of the I Liq Chuan Family.
Another great workshop with Master Sam F.S. Chin has come and gone. What a great time! I was happy to meet some new practitioners and revisit friends and was sorry to have missed several this time around. I am also happy to announce that I have been graded by Master Chin and received Student Level Five ranking in the I Liq Chuan system.
Stanford Researchers Record 'Optimal Force' of Tai Chi Master
By S.L. Wykes
Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News
Article Launched:05/03/2007 01:33:41 AM PDT
Jessica Rose, an orthopedic surgery professor at Stanford, could not believe her eyes.
Tai chi master Chen Xiang, sensor balls taped to key body joints, was demonstrating palm, elbow and fist strikes so fast - and with such force - that the sensors kept flying off his body.
And then she glanced at her computer screen, where Chen's movements were mirrored by an animated stick figure. Like a light-footed dancing skeleton, the figure's grace was undeniable. And frightening. The explosive power of the strikes was stunning - 400 pounds of force generated by Chen's body accelerating from 0 mph to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds - faster than any Lamborghini out on the street.
This level of power was a first for her lab. It's also just plain unusual. In its mainstream form, practiced by millions looking to boost their health, tai chi moves typically are performed in slow motion.
This story was told by Master Sam Chin at the 2006 I-Liq Chuan Intensive retreat in NY (I recall it fairly well, let me know if I've missed something): There are 8 brothers working together to run a store.
The first five brothers are in charge of the inventory and customers, stocking the shelves etc. and represent the five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing.
The sixth brother is the mind and his role is to tallys up the totals, execute the plans. The mind is the 'sixth sense' and manages the other five).
The seventh brother is responsible for judgment and feeling, helping to determine what's important, consider strategy and plans for the future.
The eighth brother is the storage center (input/output). Whatever the seventh brother checks in the eighth brother stores perfectly and returns upon request.
The aim of our training is to kill the seventh brother.
Why kill the seventh brother? The seventh brother is only about the past and future, never the present moment. Awareness of and engagement with the present moment helps us capture the 'suchness feel'. 'Suchness Feel' or perceiving 'Things As They Are' is the explicit result of our practice.
In order to progress you must clearly understand the relationship between your 'intention' and your 'attention'. Think of I-Liq Chuan as a wonderful and sophisticated toolset for the development of the 'Suchness Feel'..
Check out our videos from Phoenix promoting I Liq Chuan and Master Sam F.S. Chin's terriffic book!
First two feature Ashe and yours truly... The last, Ashe and Benjamin.
Enjoy!
