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    Archive for April 2015

    Improve the Qi in Your Forms : TKF 47

    Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 5:33 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith

    qi,chi,kata,form,focus,confidence

    This afternoon we are scheduled to present culture of chinese martial arts and taiji at St. Augustine University. They have a study abroad program and we were asked to present. So happens that one of our students Danny, lived in China for a while and is familiar with the program.

    Podcast #47 Three Topics


    What are some of the students up to?

    Past Weekends Workshop

    Qi and Kata

    Bob has been asked to do a presentation on “Strategies and Tactics Against Multi Assailants” at the SHURI-TE CONFERENCE. He has included me in the acknowledgements and has also agreed to allow our content members a PDF of version of the presentation.

    Recent Workshop

    Advanced bagua reeling silk workshop was awesome. We went through

    Going from simultaneous to sequential

    Add the Rippling Grip exercise (Grippling)

    Butterfly Hands

    Move stances and body work to free form.

    KATA and Qi

    We had a friend ask if I could help them address a particular question. They are testing for a belt in Karate and was told that her Qi was low in the Kata.. could I help..?

    I have No kata experiences, however I know movements, martial arts and a bit about the concept of Qi. So I said, ‘of course’ :)

    We quickly identified a few area's

    Self Questions

    Confidence

    Footwork and Stance Questions

    Focus - Where are the 3 tips

    Exponetially compounded cause they are a perfectionist.

    I told the practitioner they could flip it, not worry about the kata, but doing it with complete confidence and passion. The result would be : "Qi was awesome, Form totally wrong."



    Download #47 : Increase the Qi in Your Kata and Forms


    I refer to these previous podcasts

    TKF 27 : Define Qi

    TKF 29 : Accumulating Qi

    Imperfection of Perfection : TKF 21

    Original Artwork by Captain Sketch

    Edited on: Friday, June 26, 2015 5:34 PM

    Posted in Podcasts

    Martial Arts Question on Jui Jitsu, Aikido and Bushido : TKF 46

    Posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 5:59 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith

    aikido,jui jitsu,martial arts,kungfu

    Student moves to the Mid-West

    What started as a simple meeting during the TKF 006 BaGua Cornerstones :

    turned into a good student and new friendship. We will miss you Dawn. Be safe in your travels and your pursuits :)

    A Listener asks the following question :

    "Good Evening Sifu,

    How have you been? I have really been enjoying the last couple of podcasts that you put out about physiological learning and the physical senses used in martial training. I am fascinated with the mind/body connection. I also really enjoyed the ep 45 that included the ingredients needed to master the arts(any).

    I have heard about Aikido being the martial arts of "love" (gentleman, philosopher, martial artist), lacking strikes and using the opponents aggression against them. I even watched a documentary on it last night. And, we have a martial arts center very close to my house that teaches this and other styles.

    But then I made a mistake of watching a video of Aikido vs Jui Jistu, the Aikido practitioner didn't stand much of a chance.

    What are your thoughts on this form? I am very interested in Bushido, but am afraid that my life doesn't align with this life style.

    Even if you don't have much to say about this, I would love if you could give me a tip on where I could find a style that matches my personality and life values. I really with that I lived in your neck of the woods. I love you passion for the arts, and I your philosophy really rings true to my spirit.

    Thanks ahead of time for your time.
    Patrick"



    Direct Download : TKF 046 : Bushido, Aikido, and Jui Jitsu

    Awesome Sketcher Artwork, used with Permission : Drawzer

    I call on a couple of folks to weigh in :


    Lori O'Connell : very sharp lady and I like her approach to martial arts, She teaches Jiu Jitsu at Pacific Wave Jiu Jitsu 

    and another a man from the UK, that I have gotten to know,

    Iain Abernethy, he is a Karate man, and part of the World Combat Association, an organization that promotes martial arts for combat that I totally get on board with, because it is more aligned to how I was trained in martial arts and so were my classmates in the early 90's.

    Then I break down the question from my perspective, without my kungfu bias... um, um... okay.. I little bias.. :)

    Edited on: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 6:49 AM

    Posted in Podcasts , Style: Hop Gar

    12 Ingredients To Turn Movements to Martial Arts : TKF 45

    Posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 11:16 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith

    movements to martial arts combat   You have techniques, forms, kata's, mats, even a good yell.. but do you have a martial art prepared for civiilian combat?

    12 Ingredients to Turn Your Movements to Martial Arts.


    During this Podcast I followup on Podcast #44, How Do You Learn a Physical Movement?

    To taking your Physical Movements and turning them into a martial art prepared for civilian combat.

    Here are some of the Highlights of this Podcast. The rest will be in a audiobook and ebook format :)


    A Story of an 11 year old boy that see's how changing his mindset, changes the results, without any physical changes.

    7 Overlaps between practicing Martial Movements and Martial Arts for Civilian Combat

    Including Overlapping Practice Errors



    Download : 12 Ingredients to Turn Movements into Martial Arts

    12 Distinct Ingredients to Turn Martial Movements into Combat Oriented Martial Arts

    and a little more Martial Arts Science along the way.

    Mentioned in todays Podcast :


    The Neurosky : Mindwaves EEG Monitor

    Podcast #44 : Martial Arts Science : How Do You Learn a Physical Skill : TKF 044

    Original Artwork : Judo by Look

    Edited on: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 12:03 PM

    Posted in Podcasts

    Neurosky : Mindwaves EEG Monitor

    Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 10:41 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith

    The NeuroSky instrument is one that I ran across during research for a podcast at KungFuPodcasts, title : Flow Like Water

    A young Korean lady whose name is Lisa Park uses it for a Zen (Chan) Buddhist demonstration.

    After doing the podcast, I ordered one and personally used it to verify and monitor various activities and meditations postures as I did my work.

    neuorsky eeg monitor app map Then I let my 11 year old son work with it, and a couple of app that would make it more interesting. I was very impressed with how Kian made awareness of his mindset and the response, what he described as 'emptying his mind'..

    Then we applied that same awareness to him going up bat at his first baseball game in 2015, then later to his math work. He is doing better, but more importantly for me, as a Dad, that he recognizes :

    neurosky brainwave children "The Mindset while you practice anything is ultimately as important as what you are practicing."

    Below are my affiliate links to the Neurosky EEG. I greatly appreciate you using my link to go there, because it provides support for what we do, at absolutely no extra cost to you.

    Here are also the apps that I have tried and used, and comfortable recommending.

    Posted in Resources

    Martial Arts Science : How Do You Learn a Physical Skill : TKF 044

    Posted on Wednesday, April 08, 2015 at 8:33 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith

    martial arts science, learn movement,physical skills Understanding the Phases that your body and mind go through to learn a physical movement can help you identifty where and why to work on different aspects.

    This is not only martial arts, it could be anything from shuffling a deck of card or playing twinkle-twinkle-little-star on the piano.

    During this podcast I will discuss :

    Onguards

    How the "OnGuard Workshop" went on saturday and why it spawned this podcast.

    The importance of a "Martial Arts Onguard" versus a "Sporting / Boxing Onguard"


    Sciences of Learning Movement

    Then we will look at the neurobiological development of movement..

    The old Kungfu classics say "The Training of the Mind, must Precede Training of the Body. Eventually Training of the Body will be Superior to Training of the Mind."

    What does that mean? Why is it important? How do you do it? When does it apply?



    Download Martial Arts Science of Learning Physical Movement


    I will share how Perceptual Skills are the same and different as Physical Skills. How the learning phases are similar : of Learning

    Phases

    Declarative Phase : The 'What to Do' aka : I call 'snapshot phase'

    Procedural Phase : The 'How to Do it' aka : I call 'soaking phase'


    Plus how they both work in almost everybody. What you need to do to make them work. What enhances the learning of movement.

    Then the segway of When does a physical movement begin to get trained as a martial art?

    Edited on: Wednesday, April 08, 2015 9:42 AM

    Posted in Podcasts

    Planned Interruptions : TKF 43

    Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2015 at 6:23 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith

    martial arts,interruptions,beachtrip,workship Our Largest turnout ever.

    The Workshop Weather saturday was beautiful. Little cold bite saturday sunrise morning. But it had been worse. By end of qigong and taiji, it was gorgeous.

    Martial Arts and Qi Gong Practices on Beach

    Elemental qigong, zham zhuang, bagua teacups training and walking the Zhuan Tian Zun circle.

    Zhuan Tian Zun is the Taoist "Circle about as Observe and comply with day(sky)." Plus we did Reeling silk taiji.

    Afternoon practice was flow drills that led to trips and throws. Then dinner.

    Autumn homemade pie awesome. Dawn made kickbutt salsa. Dwight was on the smoker. Posting as he oversaw the fire.

    Planned Next Spring

    Next year, weekend of april 9th, 2016.

    A Summer Surprise

    We have already arranged this summer in June a myrtle beach trip. Space will be limited to 12-14 students. No sooner did it get setup that 5 people already signed up literally within minutes. This is a student only event.

    #21Day Qigong Program

    How did i do on 21 day qigong program?

    Too many tasty foods.. Spirits and fun. I overindulged in treats friday evening and saturday.

    Planned Interruptions

    Why didnt i just wait? I knew it was coming.

    What am i going to do?

    "Sunday morning at 4 am i am typing these notes. I knew this was going to be a blemish on the program but am glad i decided to see it thru. Today will be xtra clean.



    Direct Download : TKF 43


    Life happens and you can't plan only to move if things are perfect. You cant live by so many rules you cant live or occassionaly enjoy life. You cant live out of bounds of your guidelines either for too long. I will see these last 14 days thru with a commitment.

    Meditation and Depression Study

    March 2015 : Study demonstrates meditation benefits regardless of sex, religion and other personal variables.

    Edited on: Wednesday, April 01, 2015 7:16 AM

    Posted in Mindfulness - Attention , Podcasts