As you might have guessed after you've wiki'd my screenname on here, I study Bagua (taoist kung fu). I'm looking for other practitioners of taoist yoga (dragon body) or any of the daoist chi gung sets. Anyone here doing the taoist dragon body series, study internal martial arts or anything like that?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baguazhang In any case, my teacher has me doing a bunch of taoist yoga. I was just curious is anyone does anything similar.
I've learnt a Bagua Qigong set from the Nine Palace System, I'd like very much to continue my Bagua study, however it's on hold for the moment... may I ask what system you study?
It's hard to say. I know that my teacher (master) has done the Nine Palace stuff. So, in that, I am not 100% sure what school he comes from, because there's like 90-bajillion different Bagua schools. How can I tell? My teacher told me that he considers Eight Diagram Palm (by Liang Zhen Pu) to be the bagua bible. Where are you located?
I'm in Seattle & I studied the qigong set at the Xin Qi Shen Dojo. Their bagua system comes through a few different lineages too. May I ask, do you practice any other martial or qigong forms/systems?
I have studied a very "American-ized" vesion of Tae Kwon Do 10 years ago or so. I also have a purple belt in Bak Fu Pai (Shaolin). Blah... Even with those, I don't study or perform any of their forms or do any of the Shaolin qigong... Currently, I just do the taoist (bagua) meditations. I felt like some of the Shaolin meditations were making me violent. And well, the forms are weak/inferior compared to baguazhang's moving techniques.
I've learnt some Northern Mantis, a Five Animals form and a little bit of other Shaolin stuff. I don't think I'm experienced enough to comment of the martial effectiveness of the different forms, but I've greater liking for Bagua. I love walking the circle, the philosophy of Taoism bought into the body itself. However, I maybe returning to Shaolin in the short term, for my son's benefit and continue with Bagua later in life. At least that's the way things seem to be panning out, you never can tell.
I asked my teacher, and he said it's closest to Jiang Style. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiang_Style_Baguazhang
You seem to have a teacher that is well versed in many aspects to his martial tradition, beyond just throwing his fists around. I appreciate that, as a martial tradition in the days gone by was not just a few fighting techniques, it was a complete way of life and survival mechanism. I am glad you realise how fortunate you are. Circle eace:
My teacher is super talented. Best fighter I've met. There is no "flailing of fists." although, recently, I've been sticking with more of the yoga and chi kung than the kung fu training. What do you study?
I have studied Aikijutsu, karate, Muy Tai, Judo, and finally Chi Kung. Here's a theory in support of Chi Kung Human bones are capable of generating piezo-electric current when sufficiently stressed. Thustly "Chi" is generated. This Chi is said to strengthen bones and tendons, as well as all the internal organs I gotta tell ya, gettin' slammed to the mat with a good "Seoi Nagi" really does make you feel alive! Unless you forgot your "Ukime" (break-fall)! There are studies in western science supporting this. This is why I believe almost any strenuous exercise promotes overall health. Haven't you ever heard that Tai Chi is just Chi Kung for dummys? hahaha just kidding... But seriously, if you get deep enough into Chi Kung, your gonna find some really weird shit, like trying to force air into your nads(physically impossible I'm pretty sure) or lifting weights with your pecker! Just be careful of Chinese superstition....:willy_nilly:
Oh yes, I have seen some of that weird stuff. I've experienced chi-gung in the gwoon, during my meditation, and read up a little enough to see some of those [funny] exercises that you mentioned. I follow with the 'bones' thing you're talking about as well...
Thanks for the heads up on piezoelectricity, I'd not heard of it before. Thanks be to search engines.
