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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.
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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.
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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:
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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
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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
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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,
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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,
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36 Songs 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. This translation of the 36 Songs of Ba Gua Zhang are
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Daoist Meditation Lesson Four Theory: Returning to Emptiness – Wu Ji
Lesson Four of Nine Lessons on Daoist Meditation: Wu Ji Meditation – Returning to Emptiness. Chinese Cosmogony and Wu Ji In Chinese cosmology there was originally hun-tun, an undifferentiated luminous cloud, a void with no
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Daoist Meditation Lesson Three Theory: Quieting the Mind & Gathering the Qi
Lesson Three of Nine Lessons on Daoist Meditation Theory: Quieting the Mind and Gathering the Qi. When observing the breath in Lesson One and Lesson Two, you may have noticed that the mind has a
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The Analogy of the Wheel in Daoism and Ba Gua Zhang
The image of a wheel is important in both Daoism and Ba Gua Zhang. This essay by Tom Bisio explores this image and its relationship to Ba Gua and the Dao. The image of a
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Song Zhi Yong Remembers His Teacher, Master Li Gui Chang
In this brief interview, Song Zhi Yong, a disciple of Xing Yi Master Li Gui Chang, remembers his teacher and talks about Master Li’s character, ability and views on martial etiquette. Song Zhi Yong currently
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Why Meditate?
This article begins our series on Daoist Meditation as it is practiced in the internal martial arts. It answers the crucial question one should ask before practicing meditation – why meditate at all? Starting this
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What is an Internal Art? by Tom Bisio
Nei Jia Nei Jia 內家 literally means “inner family or inner school.” It is a term used to refer to styles of martial arts that in English we call “internal,” particularly if we add the
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Interview with Ba Gua Master Zhao Da Yuan – Part 1
Zhao Da Yuan is a fourth generation inheritor of Liang Style Ba Gua Zhang. Zhao Da Yuan began his martial arts training at an early age, studying a wide spectrum of different Chinese martial arts.
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Wang Shi Tong Performs the 64 Hands Straight Line Method: Line 1 – by Tom Bisio
Wang Shi Tong was an important master of Ba Gua Zhang who is unfortunately little known outside of Beijing. Even in old age, with an unsteady gait, his power and skill level shone through, revealing
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Combing Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine – 梳法 SHU FA
Combing therapy is an ancient method of health care that can be practiced by anyone to improve their health. In the Sui Dynasty, physicians discovered that the simple act of hair combing produced beneficial results, including brighter hair, less hair loss and a reduction in headaches and improved sleep. Combing the scalp regulates the meridians and acupoints on the head, thereby harmonizing the functioning of the internal organs. Combing Therapy is really an extension of Tui Na (Chinese medical massage) and self-care therapies often characterized as Dao Yin (guiding/leading or guiding/pulling), or Yang Shen (nourishing life) techniques.
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Dong Xiu Sheng on Methods of Training and Nourishing the Body During the Four Seasons
From Essentials of Xing Yi Quan by Wang Li with Li Gui Chang and Chen Cheng Fu Translated by Huang Guo-Qi and edited by Tom Bisio Dong Xiu Sheng (1882-1939), also known as Dong Jun, was
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An Interview with Ba Gua Master Gao Ji Wu
Ba Gua Zhang Master Gao Ji Wu was born into a famous martial arts family in Beijing, China in 1942. He began his study of traditional Chinese martial arts at age seven under the tutelage
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The Perfect Exercise: Ba Gua Circle Walking Nei Gong
Origin of Ba Gua Nei Gong The primary internal exercise in Ba Gua Zhang (Eight Diagram Palm) is to walk in a circle holding fixed postures. This practice is known as Ding Shi Ba Gua
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Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang: Part 1
Ding Shi or “fixed posture” Ba Gua Zhang is one of the most important aspects of Ba Gua Zhang training. Some say Ding Shi is the starting and ending point of Ba Gua practice. Ding
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Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang with Gao Ji Wu – Part 1
Master Gao Ji Wu presents Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang – the practice of walking the circle holding fixed postures. This is the key Nei Gong training in Ba Gua Zhang. In this first lesson
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Qi Gong: Ancient Exercises For Modern Times
Qi Gong and Nei Gong are terms used today to describe a category of exercises originally referred to as yang sheng, “life nourishing” exercises. Although records of Qi Gong exercises date back to the Han
