Bruce Chiu Modern Arnis Forehand Side Abanico Stick Drills

DAS: Agaw Sumbalik (Disarm Counter) 1 - 8, Part 1

Gao Yisheng, Double Rattan Sticks

Bagua training--GM Liu Yun Qiao

Basic empty stepping from Crane Animal Frolics

 

Modern Arnis Knife Disarm #3

Sunrise Saturday 12.12.20

Warmer this morning (low 60's) with almost no breeze. The sea was flat and the no-see-ums were out and about. Hungry little devils!!

After shooting few photos I proceeded to my warm up with The 10 and the first two sections of the Tai Chi form on the left side.

Came back to the house to participate in Sensei Jeff's online class from Greenfield but he was having technical difficulties so it was just Phil R. and me. Had a great discussion on the practices and then we did a Round. I shared a few ideas that I've been working on. Discussion ensued;^) All in all a very pleasant hour....Thanks Phil.

Hope your day is going well.

Take a minute or two to stop, make yourself comfortable and take a few deep breaths. letting it out slowly. Breathing in calm, breathing out worry, anxiety and tension.

Just BE

Sunrise Friday 12.11.20

 

Sunrise Thursday 12.10.20

Hang in there....There's a new day coming!

Just before sunrise. Clear as a bell, a bit warmer (low 50's) with a slight NW breeze. Quite pleasant for practicing and snapping a photo or two.

Started with The 10, Song Gong and a bit of Qigong and Standing and of course shooting a couple of sunrise photos. I finished with a with a weapons practice using my new Dragon Sticks from Sifu Ray. I did rows of basics from Modern Arnis followed by the Arnis Anyo on the left side and the Tai Chi Cane form on both sides. Being super careful not to strain my wrists/hands/elbows/shoulders, the Dragon Sticks are heavy. They are making me be more conscious of momentum and flow; Following the weight and momentum of the sticks. Good stuff!!

With gratitude and appreciation.

Hope your practice and your day goes well.

Keep breathing;^)

My new Dragon Sticks - Bow to Sifu Ray - Thanks for the inspiration!

 Dragon Sticks - A gift from Sifu Ray - Bow from the waist!

They are Japanese Ironwood - Very heavy - I took them down to the beach this morning for my first practice with them. It took a bit but I got used the weight of them after about 15 minutes of Redonda and Abaniko. Got to be careful not to strain my wrists. Concentrating on a smooth flow, feeling the weight of the sticks, following the momentum. Had a GREAT practice with them! Thank you Sifu Ray;^)

Sunrise Sunday 12.06.20

The view for my morning practices. Cultivating the Chi of mother nature while the sun is rising = FABULOUS!

Take a few moments to consciously breath - In and Out through the nose - Exhale longer than you inhale - Feel your abdomen expanding on the inhale and contracting on the exhale - Slow, Fine, Even and Soft - Enjoy being alive and aware!  
 

Sunrise Saturday 12.05.20

I almost got rained out. It was sprinkling on my walk to the beach, but then stopped. So I got in a pretty good practice; The 10, Qigong, Song Gong, a Round and a Qigong Beach Walk with a stretching and slow kicking session mid way. I did a bit of Standing Meditation and Building the Chi Ball when I got back to 22nd Ave.

Sending healing energy to Mom>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 

Sunrise 12.04.20 - ********Final installment - Tips for Qigong Walking

 Warm (60's) with a slight breeze, just enough to keep the no-see-ums away.

The entire sky was pink as I was walking towards the beach. By the time I actually got on the beach most of the color was gone. Here's what was left and it only lasted a minute or two.
I had a very pleasant practice followed by a Qigong Beach Walk some stretching and another round of Qigong before coming back home.

Sending healing energy to Mom>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

*

More Qigong Walking tips:

Principle:

Break down the bottom of the foot into three segments. 

1. Initial heel strike 

2. Roll onto the full flat foot (Bubbling Springs) 

3. Continue rolling onto the ball of the foot.

In order to get my mind to connect with which part of my foot is in contact with the ground. I start by counting 1 & a, 2 & a etc.  

On 1, the heel strikes

On 2, the foot is flat

On 3, roll onto the ball of the foot

Of course this alternates between the right and left foot.

I count out loud and/or tap on my torso 1&A, 2&A, etc. calibrating my mind to pay attention to the area of my foot/feet my center line is on; It's critical that you maintain Zhong Ding (central equilibrium) continuously. [See my earlier posts]

Feel the forward momentum to smoothly move forward as if you are standing on a conveyer belt.

Once I'm tuned in I add Qigong Breathing [See my earlier posts] to the count.  

I usually start with 4 (steps) IN and 5 OUT, and progress to 3 IN 6 OUT, but it depends on how I'm feeling, the pace I'm walking at, etc. 

(I regularly add the small heavenly circulation to my breathing pattern. More on that later)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope you are all able to get out and walk, wherever you are. Just being outside and breathing fresh air, marveling at natures wonders, big and small, simply enjoy being and breathing, working towards a state of inner contentment, a place inside where you are at peace with yourself and one with mother nature.  

So in conclusion; When you are standing, moving, sitting or lying down, use your posture and your breathing to make yourself as comfortable as you can.  Only YOU can make yourself comfortable. 

Nice and easy, nice and relaxed, be as regular about your practice as you can. 

*Above all Be Kind to Yourself;^)

Sifu

Sunrise Thursday 12.03.20 - *******7th tips for Qigong Walking

Just as the sun was rising, there was a splash of color. Truly a magnificent experience to practice Qigong and witness the earth aligning with the sun, exactly where I'm standing. There's nothing like the first light of day.....Nothing! Then add Mother Ocean and if you're lucky enough to know how, you can personally connect with the energy (Chi/Qi/Prana) of nature. 

Bow from the waist to all the teachers that have shared their knowledge and experience with me. 

I appreciate you every day when I practice. [BOW]

*******

Where should you Qigong Walk?

The definitive answer is:

Wherever you will walk!

The main principle in all of these practices is very simply to DO them. 

Simply walking will help to make you healthier....IF you walk regularly. Without regular practice no method will work. Period.

 

The secret is to develop the 'habit' of whatever you would like to 'DO' to get healthier or acquire a higher level of skill. 

FYI - It takes between 60-90 consecutive days to develop a habit. Then it gets easier....mostly;^) 

I suggest marking the days on a calendar or journal or ??? whatever, just keep track. The goal is to develop the habit of 'IT'. Like brushing your teeth or showering/bathing, it'll make you feel better. You will be attracted to doing it. 

Where I prefer to Qigong Walk:

I am fortunate enough to live close to the Atlantic Ocean 6 months of the year. This particular beach (NSB, FL) is my 1st choice for Qigong Walking because of Sights, Sounds, Smells, Colors, Textures, Sea Air, Bromides, Negatively Charged Ions etc. The beach here is hard packed and flat with very few obstacles (occasional sand sculpture of hole).

I key in-to (calibrate), all of my ancestors that have walked along all the oceans of the world, going back to the beginning of time. I can feel a deep connection to the evolution of walking in human beings. Walking is one of the things that I can be certain that we evolved to do. 

We are WALKING / BREATHING creatures.

I study the way I naturally walk, I try to get out of the way (mentally) and simple observe and tweak. 

Then I apply Qigong principles:

ALIGN TO

RELAX,

RELAX RELEASES,

RELEASE EXPANDS,

EXPAND CONNECTS (white tissue).

WALKINGS FORWARD MOMENTUM ARTICULATES AT THE THORACIC VERTIBREA 

SHOULDERS AND HIPS ROTATE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS

TWO PILLARS,

THREE STRANDS OF PEARLS.

STRETCH AND RELEASE

EVERYTHING SWINGING FREELY 

LOOSE, SUPPLE AND RELAXED

 

Sunrise Wednesday 12.02.20 - ******Sixth installment Qigong Walking

Cold (for here - mid 40's) with a stiff NW wind, resulting in a nearly empty beach. The cold wind surely keeps the riff raff away;^)

Once again I went to shoot the sunrise and a message came up on my cameras screen "NO CARD" Oy! But, I had my trusty Motorola phone with me and captured the first light anyway....Ha!

I was dressed enough to keep warm, after a few photos I started with The 10 Exercises, followed by a Round of T'ai Chi (left side today), then Standing Meditation followed by a Qigong Beach Walk, a bit of stretching/kicking and stick twirling.

Life is Good!

With gratitude and appreciation!!

******

Once I've adjusted everything physically, and calibrated my mind, connected my breathing to my actions, one of the next things I do is add, (by releasing more), Peng energy to my hands, then my arms. It's important to fill the arms with emptiness NOT tension. The skin expands, beneath the skin is hollow and empty.

Song (downward sinking energy) = Peng (upward expanding energy)

The more you Song the more Peng energy will rise up from your feet (bubbling spring).

Feel the earth pushing up against your feet.

Ting = Song

The more you evolve your Ting the more Song will be available.

The secret to relaxing (Song) a muscle is to know when that muscle is tense.

Yang style Taiji Spear (long pole) class lessons

Sunrise Tuesday 12.01.20 - *****Fifth installment Qigong Walking

 Sunrise Tuesday 12.01.20

Still amazes me how each and every sunrise is unique! Like a finger print or a snow flake. No two are alike.

How is it possible that, since the beginning of time, EVERY SINGLE SUNRISE has been unique. HOW??

I captured this moment just before sunrise. It was cold (mid 40's) and windy (steady 15+) on the beach.

I needed ear muffs, long pants, wind proof jacket and gloves and still.....I froze my fingers snapping photos and then tried to warm up (The 10 Exercises) and decided I needed a round of Bagua Zhang (Yin Fu first set) to get the blood moving. It worked;^) Then I went on to a round of T'ai Chi and a brisk Qigong Beach Walk, followed by some Standing Meditation and a round of The 21.

Life is Good.....With gratitude and appreciation!

***** Qigong Walking

Once you are aligned, relaxed, released and expanded, feeling the forward momentum articulated at the thoracic vertebra with the hips and shoulders gently stretching and releasing in opposite directions (like cross country skiing - Opposite hand and foot foward/backward) then add in awareness of how you are breathing.

1. Inhale and exhale through the nose. This is extremely important!

2. The abdomen expands on the inhale as the diaphragm contracts and descends. The inhale expansion is centered from the lower Dan Tien and expands in ALL directions. The movement of the abdomen is active any movement of the rib cage and back are passive. Abdomen expands first then the back and sides of the rib cage. Caution to keep the shoulders and upper chest DOWN and relaxed/released.

3. Exhale in the reverse order.

4. Exhale longer than you inhale.

5. Strive to make the breath cycle approximately 10 ish seconds. But....Do Not Strain

6. Breathing should be:

    Slow,

    Fine,

    Even,

    and Soft

NOTE: While Qigong Walking I simply count my steps. A typical pattern is 4 steps to inhale 6 steps to exhale. Then I adjust according to how I feel that day. Some days I expand the time other days I reduce to say 3 steps in, 4 steps out. Main idea is to stay relaxed, breath without strain, but breath out longer than you breath in.

Now the hard part:

DOING IT

Advice:

DON'T WAIT for the perfect time, day, etc...Just DO IT:^)