Articles & Videos
How Qi Gong and Chinese Medicine Helped Me Heal Injuries from a Bad Fall in Record Time: A Personal Narrative and Case Study
by NYIA Instructor Marcus DeGrazia L.Ac
Introduction
Six years ago, when I started my studies in Acupuncture, I also began to study Qi Gong and Ba Gu Zhang. For this reason, my understanding and practice of Chinese medicine has an important visceral aspect. One’s understanding of the movement of Qi Gong happens over time and is exponential. Typically, a beginner must practice daily for three or four months to experience the first profound change in their movement. This change broadens the awareness of the mind in terms of movement potential and, ultimately, provides an understanding of primary principles that are shared by all learned disciplines. Read More…
Daoist Meditation Lesson Eight Theory: Golden Fluid & The Micro-Cosmic Orbit
Lesson Eight of Nine Lessons on Daoist Meditation: A Theoretical Discussion of Micro-Cosmic Orbit Meditation.
Saliva: Elixir of Immortality
Saliva is a key element in Daoist meditation and internal alchemy. Swallowing saliva is a part of virtually every Daoist exercise, including many forms of Nei Gong. Hence saliva is referred to by many names in different Daoist texts: Read More…
Master Chen Quan Gong on Xing Yi Quan Theory and Training: Part 1
A rare treat!! Li Gui Chang’s senior disciple, Chen Quan Gong, leads an in-depth discussion of Xing Yi Quan theory and training. Master Chen talks freely and openly about how to train Xing Yi correctly and the subtle changes that take place in the body during the practice of San Ti Shi and the Five Fists.
Originally posted online in Chinese, this English translation is offered by Huang Guo Qi, Tom Bisio and Martin LaPlatney.
李桂昌先师论形意拳
记陈全恭师伯在太原市太极拳协会的讲话 白建云
Master Li Gui Chang On Xing Yi Quan
Speech of School Uncle Chen Quan Gong, at Taiyuan Tai Ji Quan Association
Compiled by Bai Jian Yun Read More…
Daoist Meditation Lesson Seven Theory: Three Treasures and the Circulation of Water and Fire
Daoist Meditation Lesson Seven Theory: The Three Treasures and the Circulation of Water and Fire.
The Importance of Symbolism in the Chinese Internal Martial Arts – Part 3
Continuing the discussion of the importance of Symbolism in Chinese Internal Martial Arts, Part 3 delves into Yi Jing (I-Ching) symbolism which pervades all of Chinese thought and culture, including the internal martial arts. Read More…
Daoist Meditation Lesson Six Theory: Dissolving & Clearing Blockages
Lesson Six of Nine Lessons on Daoist Meditation: Dissolving and Clearing Blockages.
In the last lesson we learned that the Qi/Breath does not flow easily through tight, tense muscles and joints. Similarly in Lesson Three: Counting the Breaths, we saw how thoughts and emotions can interfere with the harmonious movement of the Qi/Breath, causing it to move erratically, to dissipate, or even block.
Lesson Six builds on the previous one, by working more directly with dissolving and clearing blockages that interfere with the movement of the Qi/Breath. Read More…
The Importance of Symbolism in the Chinese Internal Martial Arts – Part 2
Continuing our discussion of the importance of Symbolism in the Chinese Internal Martial Arts from last month, Part 2 further explores animal symbolism and then looks at Chinese characters or ideograms as symbols that contain a wealth of important information for the practitioner of internal arts, especially Xing Yi Quan and Ba Gua Zhang. Read More…
Daoist Meditation Lesson Five Theory: Wu Ji and Song – Relaxation
Lesson Five of Nine Lessons on Daoist Meditation: Wu Ji Meditation – Relaxation and Letting Go.
In this lesson, we will look at the concept of letting go, unbinding and relaxing the body mentally and physically – an important part of Daoist Meditation practices. Qi/Breath flows more easily when the body is relaxed. Tight, tense muscles and joints that are not aligned inhibit the flow of Qi/Breath and cause it to block. Since the movements of the Qi/Breath are equivalent to the movements of the mind – to thoughts and emotions – if the Qi/Breath stops or blocks, the mind also stops and blocks, or fixates. Read More…
The 48 Methods of Ba Gua Zhang
In Ba Gua Zhang, the 36 Songs and 48 Methods are rhymed mnemonics that delineate key points for training the forms and fighting methods. Each song and method details a specific aspect of body alignment, application and strategy. Students traditionally memorized the rhymes so that they could recall these important points while training.
Many teachers in China answer questions about Ba Gua by paraphrasing these rhymes. The first time one reads the 36 Songs and 48 Methods they seem abstract and confusing. Over time, as one trains and practices the forms, movements and applications, their meaning begin to unfold.
The 48 Methods are accompanied here by a commentary of unknown origin, possibly attributable to Gao Zi Ying or to Guo Gu Min and can also be found in print in The Essentials of Ba Gua Zhang, by Gao Ji Wu and Tom Bisio.
Read More…
The Importance of Symbolism in the Chinese Internal Martial Arts – Part 1
Overview: Symbolism is an important and often misunderstood aspect of the Chinese internal martial arts. This, the first installment of a three-part article, discusses the importance and relevance of the symbols of heaven and earth, yin and yang, the five elements, and the dragon and the tiger.
Read More…
