THE LOTUS AND THE HORSE {Metaphors for 2020}
Well, 2020... what a blast that was! I’m sure that I join many people around the world who have reflected on the bizarreness of our reality and reevaluated life to some extent. I personally had the busiest six months of work ever followed by the quietest six months, a...
TAI CHI FOR REFORESTATION {Planting Trees In Your Local Community}
I don’t remember what it was exactly that made me decide to plant trees, but I suppose it was a combination of things. In the past I have sponsored a piece of the rainforest in South America and ten years ago when I quit my day job and started travelling more, I...
TAI CHI FOREST SYSTEM OF INTERNAL MARTIAL ARTS {The Tree Analogy}
There are five parts to the Tai Chi Forest system of internal martial arts, which are best described using a tree analogy. The practices and their study can be understood by looking at how a tree flows from the roots and up the trunk to the branches, leaves and fruit....
LIFE BENEFITS OF INTERNAL MARTIAL ARTS
The growing number of studies researching the effects of tai chi and qigong all testify to the health benefits that these arts can offer. From reducing heart conditions and stress levels to performing better on a mental and physical level, tai chi, qigong and all the...
A FORTNIGHT WITH MASTERS {Sharing The Martial Joy}
My recent training in Malaysia concluded with just over two weeks of celebrating Penang’s martial arts heritage and our organisation’s 30th anniversary. Banquets were had, speeches were made, demos were performed and awards of recognition were given. Master’s from...
SPIRIT TRAINING {Tai Chi Zombies}
That moment when you find yourself in the dark, with your eyes half closed, moving slowly, without a thought. When you know that there is a long journey ahead of you and there is no end in sight anytime soon. I’m trying to feel what’s going on in my body as my mind...
WEAPON MINDFULNESS {Searching For Tribal Blades Part III}
The rental company said that because the bike broke down over 80km away, I had to make my own way back. This wasn’t explained to me when I rented it, I more than assertively expressed. I was in the middle of nowhere and everyone just zoomed by when I stuck my thumb...
HEADHUNTER SWORDS {Searching For Tribal Blades Part II}
The strain of the last three hours was no longer an issue. I had arrived in Lachau, the small village near the Malaysian and Indonesian border of Borneo. I read that this place is where the Iban headhunting tribe come from the Indonesian side, over the mountain ridge...
ROADTRIP IN BORNEO {Searching For Tribal Blades Part I}
Over the years of practicing Tai Chi I have learned to move in certain ways and to react naturally in different situations, both physically and energetically. I do this all the time in every day activities when it goes almost unnoticed, or if dealing with soreness and...
BITTERSWEET SURRENDER {Meditate On The Blade Part II}
From now on we would not only leave the jovialness to a certain time and place, we would be expected to take the training a helluva lot more seriously and do exactly as he says if we were wanting to get good at this stuff. So no being late, no stupid jokes, no...
