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How do you incorporate Zen philosophy into your practice?
Submitted by ashe on Sun, 12/11/2011 - 21:31The short answer is we learn how to pay attention to our bodies much more acutely by becoming aware of Tai Chi principles in the body.
Tai Chi has yin and yang, and yin and yang have distinct qualities. Yin has the quality of drawing, absorbing and condensing. Yang has the qualities of projection and expansion.
For the purposes of martial art, in the body we’re concerned with the ligaments, tendons and bones. The bones are neutral, and we have yin muscles and yang muscles. By learning to recognize which muscles are yin, and which yang, we can place our attention on them to balance out the body posture.
This practice improves your physical self awareness moment to moment, and this is Zen. Just be there, fully in this moment.
Is Meditation "Religeous"?
Submitted by ashe on Thu, 11/10/2011 - 18:39Yes and no. Although some kind of meditation is a part of all religious practices, the type of meditation we practic at Falling Leaves Kung Fu is a type of concentration practice, which is not in and of itself a religeous practice, but simply a skill.
Let's look at Mirriam-Websters definition of meditating and concentration -
Autumn Workshop With Master Sam FS Chin
Submitted by ashe on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 21:17Please see the comments section below for more specific information or reviews about this workshop.
I Liq Chuan (literally translated as Mental-Physical Martial Art) is an internal art that has become known for its effectiveness as a martial art. The practice of I Liq Chuan develops the ability to react spontaneously to attacks, not relying upon pre-arranged
responses, through its specialized partner practices of Spinning Hands & Sticky Hands.
This weekend Master Sam Chin will guide us in learning how to develop specific qualities the internal arts are known for, through solo exercises and partner practice.
How Do I Join?
Submitted by ashe on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 18:02Falling Leaves Kung Fu in Tempe, AZ currently operates as a private club, offering semi-private instrction to small groups in the martial art of I Liq Chuan.
Don't be fooled by the fact we are not a large commercial school! We are still the source for the most comprehensive authentic Tai Chi - Kung Fu program in Arizona.
At the current time, the small group, semi-private lesson format allows for the best outcomes for the time invested for both instructor and the other members.
The club is still be open to new membership but will involve a vetting process including an written application as well as a small application fee which will cover the trial period of training.
Applicants who fail to complete the orientation program during the trial period will not be asked to continue training.
Tiger Above, Tiger Below
Submitted by ashe on Sat, 08/06/2011 - 11:16The real trick of pursuing a martial art like I Liq Chuan over the long term is recognizing the end of the duality of "on the mat" and "off the mat", so that one is always training.
The I Liq Chuan system guide opens with the following;
意力合一
yi li he yi “awareness and the physical (actions) as one”
意控制力
yi kong zhi li “awareness gains control over the physical”
用意用不力
yong yi bu yong li “use (only) awareness and not physical (force)”
Zen and The Martial Arts - Mindfulness Of Breathing
Submitted by ashe on Fri, 07/22/2011 - 12:29The breath is used as an indicator for when you are going beyond the limit of strength. Part of tai chi is to recognize things as they are, or as such (Dao 道, or the nature of things).
I have strength, why can't I use it? We all have a certain amount of strength, this is our nature. The thing is when I try to go BEYOND the limit of my strength that my action turns into struggling, and I will lose the tai chi balance in my body, because everything has it's limits.
Understanding the limits is tai chi, so I use the breath to keep the body in yin/yang balance. when I start to struggle in my action, such that it starts to restrict my breathing, I know I need to change so I can relax again.
The Importance Of Smiling During Meditation
Submitted by ashe on Sat, 06/11/2011 - 12:23
Ever notice the gentle smile on the face of most Buddha and Bodhisatva statues?
"Imagine, for a moment, the young Bodhisatta resting under the Rose Apple Tree as a young boy. He was not serious and tense when he attained a pleasant abiding [jhana] and had deep insights with a light mind. Want to see clearly? It’s easy!
Just lighten up, have fun exploring and smile! Smiling leads
Spring 2011 Workshop
Submitted by ashe on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 17:58Students of I Liq Chuan martial art classes in Tucson and Tempe attended our Spring 2011 Martial Art of Awareness workshop with Master Sam FS Chin.
Departing from the tradition of teaching in depth knowledge to only a handful of inner circle disciples, Master Sam Chin decided early on in his teachings to make all “secrets” known to as many students as possible, as he often says, he teaches so “we can learn how to fish for ourselves” rather than just feed us the fish. In this way, a typical seminar with Master Chin is filled with “pearls of wisdom” and tools to discover how to recognize “things as they are” simply through the movements of the body.
Master Sam Chin comes to the valley twice a year to share his families martial art with students in an in depth format
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