WHEN IT COMES TO CHI: DO ONLY WHAT YOU CAN DO & BE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!

One can assemble a great deal of reference material,such as, books, photos, magazines, newspapers & clippings, and the like, not to mention anecdotes and testamonials galore, to bolster the claims of both distinct camps on the issue of Chi, Ki, Ghi, Prana, Kundalini, etc.,etc. These camps consist, of course, of those who believe wholeheartedly,if not fanatically, in the existence of such forces, powers, abilities, and the like, and of those who disbelieve entirely in such, which is dismissed a fraudulent, undemonstrable, explainable in physical or scientific terms or as sheer nonsense. Marvelous feats and deed, often described as psychic, supernatural, mystical, or magical, have a strong appeal for people, regardless of culture, religion, or socieity and the literature of nearly all peoples is apt to be most overwhelming. For those in martial arts, of whatever persuasion, style, school or system, especially for nearly all beginners, young or old, THEPATH IS FRAUGHT WITH PERIL for those who seek to cultivate extraordinary powers of any kind, beyond physical prowness and mental focus and strewn with both failures and successes as well as pitfalls awaiting many.

TAISHO (also, TAISO)

TAISHO is basically forms of 'ORIENTAL CALISTHENICS" designed to make the body lithe,agile, & flexible and should be prevalent or present in any MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING or program,whether group or solo! Done for conditioning,muscle-compounding exercises(also found in the martial arts forms and techniques) may also be done for one's own personal 'recreation'(in the actual sense of RE-CREATING) or in groups. There are several advantages of these exercises when done over a period of years, from an early age to advanced years, a LIFETIME actually, if possible and life permits. THESE FORMS can be varied, done slowly or fast, with rhythm and/or intensity, with or without tension, as well as performed with wrist or ankle or weighted vests and even with paired dumbbells, in sets of high or low repetitions and increase or decrease of weight amounts within one's limitations and desired goals or aims. Moreover, one need never consider su;ch as a basis for competition or award but as one's own ritual and training that needs little or no outside or extreme assistance from others, save in some rare and extreme cases or situations,etc.,such as, workijng around special or painful injuries and conditions,etc. You can do all of this in a very limited areas, in a closet or a bedroom or your living room,celler,or garage or backyard, patio or even attic. You can also do certain stepping and moving patters to break monotony and add other devices as well. Wearing weight belts and vests,for example. But nothing need be carried to any great extreme unless desired. You can do these outside or inside,in heat or cold, sunny or rainy weather, provided you can endure such conditions NATURE imposes. You can do them in darkness or in daylight as well. When you impose things on any of this training be sure to keep a record at first and also make note of your personal feelings, moods, energy levels,etc. until the time you reach an age where all such things can be dispensed with or ignored!

THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAINING DEVICE IN MARTIAL ARTS

The most important training device or tool is not what is usually considered in most discussions on martial arts. It is not what usually comes to mind in dojos, gyms, etc where exercise and equipment of all kinds abound. It is not mats, assorted punching bags, weights, ropes,weapons,etc. although such are useful and usual nowadays. Taking a tip from dedicated body builders of the past, the tool is simply this: A LARGE MIRROR. THIS MIRROR(we might well term it, a 'magic mirror' of sorts) is NOT for admiring your looks, yoiur physique, yourself,etc. but a way to look at certain things now apparent to the usual eye. THE IMAGE IN THE MIRROR is your greatest opponent and represents all opponents you will ever encounter if you will look further than to what initially 'meets the eye' and do not become beguiled by your self image reflected in the mirror as Narcissus of myth did). The mirror is important for special reasons. You can develop a technical precision in all your forms, strikes, blows, hits, stabs, kicks,etc. and you can also undergo marvelous exercise at the same time that will benefit you greatly. To understand how to deal with multiple opponents, take another mirror and position it so that you can see multiple images of yourself reflected in what appears to be an infinite series of images of yourself and you will see that each image represents all the opponents you need consider for purposes of mastery and self-defense,etc. if you analyze and work at things beyond the obvious. If you take average scenario of attack or defense and merely think in terms of just a single opponent or if you worry and fret over multiple opponents, always adding up, in this way, 'Oh, there are two guys, there are three, there are six,etc.! What shall I do?" and also if there is a mob, how do you survive and fight? Do you face each one separately or do you deal with all of them as is THEY ARE A SINGLE OPPONENT and for that you will deliver a SINGLE STRIKE OR USE A SPECIAL WEAPON OR WHATEVER IN THIS CONFRONTATION? In the early days of karate training KUMITE was just that and one eventually went to dealing with several opponents at a time, not just one or two. Then a progression on such was done to have everyone in the group or exercise fight each other at the same time, taking no side but trying to defeat everyone,going from one to another and back and forth,etc. You learned to take punches, blocks and kicks,etc. and to deal with sticks and knives,etc. as you progressed along this vigorous path. But all this presupposes that you have some understanding and mastery of THE BASICS! You can achieve mastery of the basics by using the mirror if you are fortunate enough to have one where you train,especially at home. You need not involve others in this special training. You will also see that no single target on your mirror image need be looked at but that you can develop the ability to see multiple targets and deliver multiple kicks and strikes, and blows,etc. to several in various successions and directions,etc. You will have to undertake your own efforts to understand and utilize what is said here. No one can do it for you. More on aspects of this SOLO TRAINING which is much neglected these days for group training and learning,which is apt to become mechanical and 'militaristic' in nature.

THE SECRET OF MARTIAL ARTS ALSO MEANS UNLEARNING MARTIAL ARTS!

Some are so locked into styles, systems, masters, tournments, MMA, etc. that they cannot see b eyond the walls that comprise their mazes which they run in like rats and mice,scurrying for food and sex and water, etc. Some are totally fascinated by the glitz and glamour of martial arts and bedazzled by cinematic representations of such, they appear like zombies shuffling through life listening to the 'control commands' of others, su;h as parents, teachers, politicians, governments, instructors, etc. and do not know themselves always relying on promises of an immortal soul and a future heaven or paradise to solve everything for them.

THE SECRET TO LEARNING MARTIAL ARTS ALSO DEPENDS ON RELEARNING MARTIAL ARTS!

Sometimes, everyone thinks and strongly believes they have 'learned' martial arts of some kind or many kinds when in fact they have merely scratched the surface, despite al the hours spent in the dojo,kwoon, etc. and kneeling at the feet of'masters' and undergoing various rituals and trials and garnering a wide variety of medals and trophies at tournaments or studied a vast collection of DVDs and read magazine and books by the midnight oil,etc. All well and good, but sometimes all of this stuff merely clutters up your original intentions and understanding and basic experience which led you to martial arts in the first place. Again, you may be so crusted over with opinions and practices that you stumble through the 36 CHAMB ERS of actual martial arts initiation, if you know what this is, then you may know what I am talking about, or end up dying b efore you reach your goals. DEATH COMES AT ANY TIME and martial arts are simply put, another way of dealing with death, anticipating your death, preparing for death, and remembering youself because you may die at any given time, and if you die unaware of your death etc. that might be of great importance. How you die,whether like a dog or a man depends on you not so much when you die or where you die, though these are not to be ignored if possible. Too many try to escape the world, avoid suffering and pain, and settle for 'WE ALL HAVE TO DIE SOMETIME'! The way you die, how you die, are just as important. Martial Arts can prepare you for this in many ways.

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DO NOT MISTAKE THE TECHNIQUE FOR THE GOAL!