Archive for September 2007
Army Military Contract - Kung Fu & Mixed Martial Art
Posted on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 6:47 AM by Sifu Smith
Most weekday mornings before the sun rises Sifu Chris Heintzmann and
others are teaching fighting techniques to US Army personel. They are
fulfilling a contract to assist the personel for what can be real life
(that means no referee or rule book) hand-to-hand combative skills. The
training takes place at the Master Chin's kung fu center in Fayetteville
and is going well.
The kung fu center is loaded with the equipment and has the space necessary to rotate groups through for their training. Sifu Heintzmann has developed experiences with his success at full-contact fighting around the world so he can stand qualified to teach these young soldiers. Sifu Heintzmann, who lives and teaches classes in Chapel Hill, makes the drive to Fayetteville to teach the personel.
Edited on: Sunday, September 23, 2007 6:56 AMWalking Hsing I
Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 at 10:40 AM by Sifu Smith
This morning I was training from 5-6 am and was walking Hsing I hands. It has always been emphasized on walking hands to improve understanding, firmness and softness. Building stamina, and massaging the fluidness of the movement. For any of your kungfu to work it is beneficial to practice walking hands. The students that practice walking hands, such as single whip, develop an understanding that is difficult to attain.
Walking hands creates 'body knowledge'. When you walk through it so often, with the right mind-set (very important aspect), then the body (bone and tendon) will digest the expression, regardless if it is tai chi, hsing i, or any kungfu. It reminded me of watching Michael Jordan shooting freethrows with his eyes closed. His body knew exactly what to do.
How long do you walk? It can vary greatly. With Sifu Chin and to this day, it is common for us to walk one hand for 1/2 mile to mile, then another hand. Sifu Heintzmann, myself, and other students have spent many hours walking a single hand, but it must be done with the mind-set to activate the bone. If you want to learn a hand, I would easily recommend 15 minutes 3-4 days per week until the 'un-natural becomes natural'; as Sifu Chin would often say.
Tai Chi Massage Unvealed in Beijing
Posted on Friday, September 07, 2007 at 5:57 AM by Sifu Smith
The Spa Institute in Beijing has announced they have successfully created the Tai Chi Massage. Using the principles and movements of tai chi, the therapist creates energy in themselves that is shared with the client. They have also found that the massage therapist are less tired after 5-6 massages as they were previously.
The Principle Assistant states: "With this type of movements, we can
move through all of our activities more effectively and enjoy increased
energy trough proper postures," Pong said. "This energy may not appear
forceful, but it is powerful."
While moving the body during massage by using tai chi technique and postures, comply with the breathing technique, the therapists are just like dancers. The rhythm can be adjusted to the client's breathing, letting them set the pace. The movement is from hard to soft, up to down, in to out. Yin-yang concept is fully utilized in this tai chi massage.
"Tai chi massage is creative," Pong said. "Each massage is different according to client's need. Therapists just follow the flow of client's body need."
Ancient Chinese Coins found in Central Vietnam
Posted on Friday, September 07, 2007 at 5:48 AM by Sifu Smith
Farmer digging in their field found a 50 lb jar of ancient chinese coins. They accidently broke a portion of the jar during the digging. These particular coins were found in central Vietnam and were used in the 16th-18th century.
Kung Fu Writer Donates 1.3 Million to study of Traditional Chinese Culture
Posted on Friday, September 07, 2007 at 5:46 AM by Sifu Smith
Famous Chinese kung fu novelist Louis Cha Leung-yung, more widely known by his pen name Jin Yong, has donated 10 million yuan (about 1.3 million U.S. dollars) to Peking University's Chinese Guoxue Academy to finance the study of traditional Chinese culture.
Born in east China's Zhejiang Province and carving out most of his career in Hong Kong, 83-year-old Louis Cha is one of the most influential modern Chinese-language novelists.
He co-founded the Hong Kong daily newspaper Ming Pao in 1959 and was the paper's first editor-in-chief, a position he held until his retirement in 1993.
Back in 1993, Cha donated one million yuan towards the establishment of the Chinese Guoxue Academy.
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