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Master Li Gui Chang on Tai Ji Quan
Master Li Gu Chang is generally known for his high-level of skill in Xing Yi Quan, so it is easy to forget that he was also a “Master-Hand” in Tai Ji Quan. Li Gui Chang
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Guo Gu Min’s Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang: More Palms for Home Study Part 2
Even More Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang Homework! Guo Gu Min’s Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang changes are a great subject for home study. Guo’s emphasis on the Yao is incredibly useful for the development
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Recursion in Internal Martial Arts: Going Back to the Beginning
Recursion in Internal Martial Arts: Going Back to the Beginning by Tom Bisio One of the difficulties that students encounter in internal arts is that the very first, foundational, basic training exercises and principles that
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Dao Yin, Daoist Yoga and Daoist Meditation: Three Aspects of a Single Practice
In this article we will address two common questions that have come up recently since we launched our online programs on Daoist health and meditation. What is the difference between Dao Yin, Daoist Yoga and
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Pushing out the Old to Make Way for the New – Recent Thoughts on Two Chinese Herbs: Chai Hu & Da Huang
Recently in treating two cases of Covid with herbal formulae and Qi Gong, I not only gained a much greater appreciation for the efficacy of two herbs (Da Huang and Chai Hu), and some of
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Meditations on San Ti – by IAI Instructor Valerie Ghent
I’ve contemplated writing about the practice of San Ti Shi in the context of the Xing Yi “Triangle” for many months. Not an easy subject! Previous attempts to convey some of the images and sensations
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Guo Gu Min’s Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang: More Palms for Home Study
More Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang Homework! Guo Gu Min’s Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang changes are a great subject for home study. Guo’s emphasis on the Yao, is incredibly useful for the development of
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An Analysis of the Mandarin Duck Knives & Training Concepts by IAI Instructor Keith Norris
The mandarin Duck Knives (or Deer Horn Knives) are “short range bladed weapons with long power” that are perfectly matched for the techniques and palm changes in Ba Gua Zhang. The Mandarin duck knife form
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How Yoga Stretching Oil Improves Flexibility and Suppleness
Yoga Stretching Oil Flexibility combined with strength is part of the equation that allows us to move with coordinated ease, while simultaneously maintaining joint integrity. Some people are naturally flexible and easily able to maintain
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Training vs Application in Internal Martial Arts by Tom Bisio
Over the years I have found one of the things that confuses Xing Yi and Ba Gua students is the difference between training and application. Training does not at first seem to relate to fighting,
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Ding Shi Form Analysis – Homework for Ba Gua Students
Our recent posts by IAI instructors Kelly McDonald and Thad Wong, “Resurrecting a Ba Gua Form from the Past” and Keith Norris, “Detailed Analysis of Guo Gu Min’s Ba Gua Ding Shi Form” were a
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Reflections on Daoist Meditation by Tom Bisio
Writing and filming our upcoming Daoist Meditation Online Learning Program over the last year has given me a lot of opportunity to reflect on what makes Daoist Meditation methods so unique and powerful. Daoist Meditation
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Detailed Analysis of Guo Gu Min’s Ba Gua Ding Shi Form by IAI Instructor Keith Norris
I asked for a homework assignment and was given the task to review Guo Gu Min’s Ding Shi form, practice it, ponder it, and come back with my observations to discuss with Tom Bisio and
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Wind In Chinese Medicine: Part 3
Wind in Chinese Medicine by Tom Bisio Read Part 1 HERE Read Part 2 HERE Characteristics of Wind 1. Wind Prevails In The Spring However, Wind can occur in any season. 2. Wind Can Be
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Ba Gua Zhang & the Art of Adapting to Change – by IAI Instructor Eric Deutsch
While Ba Gua Zhang is an effective martial art system, its benefits extend far beyond fighting and self-defense. It is also well regarded as method of self-cultivation, meditation, health and longevity practice. While my initial
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Wind in Chinese Medicine: Part 2
Wind as Internal Atmosphere or Pressure In traditional Chinese medicine, the body is viewed as a landscape that is continuous with the landscape of heaven and earth outside of us. On some level there is
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Gathering the Moon Cream Qi Gong
In China the Mid-Autumn Festival takes place with the arrival of the full moon between mid-September and early October. This full moon is known as the Western Harvest Moon, which this year (2020) falls on
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Resurrecting a Ba Gua Form from the Past
By IAI Instructors Thad Wong & Kelly McDonald As is so often the case in Ba Gua Zhang, it all comes back to Ding Shi. Over the past couple of years, fellow Ba Gua Instructor
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Herbal Soaks for Sports Injuries
In my kung-fu teacher’s clinic there was always a pot of herbs ready to be heated at a moment’s notice. Often as we treated one patient, another would be sitting with his hand or foot
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Wind in Chinese Medicine: Part 1
Seasonal Energy Each of the seasons has a characteristic energy with its own characteristic climate. Spring is temperate and changeable; summer is hot; autumn cool; winter, cold. During the cycle of the seasons the energies
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The Metal Element
Metal Element Students of Traditional Chinese medicine and internal martial arts often have questions about the Metal Element. Why is the Metal Element confusing? One problem is that the associations attributed to Metal often don’t
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Fundamental Body Alignments of Ba Gua Zhang
Another excerpt from on the Fundamental Body Alignments of Ba Gua Zhang that stimulates new thoughts about the basics. This article is excerpted from Miraculous Secrets of Dong Hai Chuan’s Ba Gua Zhang (董海川八卦掌神功秘诀 )By
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Masters of Ba Gua Zhang: Gao Ji Wu
Gao Ji Wu was born in 1942. He began learning Chang Quan (Long Fist or Long Boxing) as a child and later progressed to learning the internal martial arts under his father. Having practiced martial
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Guo Ge Min’s Basic Requirements for Ba Gua Zhang
After decades of practicing Ba Gua Zhang I still find small gems that increase my understanding of the art in books by different Ba Gua Zhang teachers. In this brief discussion of the legendary Guo
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The 3 Stages of Healing Sinew (Soft Tissue) Injuries: Stage 3 – Chronic
Chronic Stage 3 Injuries This stage begins 3-4 weeks after the injury. Swelling and inflammation are generally gone, but stiffness and aching pain may still be present. A minor sprain should be resolved by
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Ba Gua Zhang Kicking Bag Video – Home training with Tom Bisio and IAI Instructor Valerie Ghent
More Ba Gua training you can do at home. Use the Ba Gua Zhang kicking bag to train kicking skills that are natural extensions of the Mud Wading Step. The kicking bag helps you train
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How Ba Gua’s 12 Standing Postures Open the Meridians
One of the interesting things about the Chinese internal arts is the many different levels of practice possible even in the most fundamental exercises. Ba Gua’s 12 Standing Postures are a good example of this.
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Ba Gua Zhang Ball Exercises – Video
Here are two more Ba Gua Zhang Ball Exercises that one can do at home using weighted balls to develop internal body connection. These are traditional exercises common to many styles of Ba Gua Zhang.
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Xing Yi/Tai Ji Ball Exercises – Video
The Xing Yi / Tai Ji Ball Exercises come from Xing Yi Master Shang Ji. These ball exercises are useful for internal body training, and require no special equipment beyond an ordinary basketball. The ball
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Mother Palms of Ba Gua Zhang – Part 2
This is the second installment on the Mother Palms of Ba Gua Zhang. The Eight Mother Palms are an essential part of Ba Gua Zhang training and the primary foundational Nei Gong exercise. The Mother
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Gathering Sun Essence Qi Gong
In the Spring, during the Waking Insects (March 5-7 to March 20-21) and Spring Equinox Seasonal Nodes (March 20-21 to April 4-6), the Yang energy in the natural world around us gains in strength and
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Spring Flu Prevention Herb Formula from China
We recently received this Flu Prevention herb formula from a contact in China. Some TCM doctors are using this preventative herb formula to protect against contracting the Coronavirus when working in their clinics. Although I
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Qin Na Wizard: Master Zhao Da Yuan
I first met Master Zhao Da Yuan in 1996, but did not get a really chance to study with him until 2012, when I brought a group of IAI instructors to Beijing to train intensively
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Mother Palms of Ba Gua Zhang – Part 1
The Eight Mother Palms of Ba Gua Zhang are an essential part of Ba Gua training and the primary foundational Nei Gong exercise. develops both the footwork and the internal strength that are critical to
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Treating Overstretched Ligaments & Tendons with Chinese Medicine Part 2 by Tom Bisio
In Treating Overstretched Ligaments & Tendons with Chinese Medicine Part 1, we discussed the use of Liniments, Soaks, and Gao (Poultices) in treating these kinds of injuries. Continuing our multi-modality approach to treatment, this article
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Lao Ba Zhang & Kai-He (Open Close)
Kai – He 開合 (Open-Close) One way to summarize the synergy between the circular expression of the Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang) and their various linear expressions is to understand the meaning of Kai He.
