martial arts

Tai Chi is a wonderful practice that promotes health, flexibility, longevity, and moreSince my childhood, I have always been facinated by martial arts and have studied several different martial arts styles throughout my life. As a great fan of Kung Fu and of Chinese traditions, movement and healing arts, I have recently developed a great interest in Kung Fu (gongfu), Tai Chi (taiji), and Chi Kung (qi gong).

Learning Tai Chi has been the most eye-opening of all of the arts. Nearly all of us have seen some person performing this slow, dance-like movement barefoot in a park. Luckily, I have realized, none of us has tried to attack them.

Tai Chi is a wonderful practice that promotes health, flexibility, longevity, and more. Yet few people realize that Tai Chi Chuan is one of the more deadly (and subtle) of all of the martial arts. It requires little speed and strength, redirecting the attackers energy. It is truly an amazing art.

Chi Kung is an equally subtle and even more common, although definitely lesser-known art than Tai Chi. Chi Kung uses meditative breathing and coordinated movement to promote healing, gather energy and improve health. Some of the postures require extreme strength, flexibilty, coordination, or concentration, while others can be done while in bed or from a wheelchair. I am amazed when my hands naturally swing into some unknown self-defense form that I later realize is actually Chi Kung.

Kung Fu is as awesome as the famous Kung Fu movies make it look. Yes, even you can do some of Bruce Lee's moves with the proper training. The greatest martial artists ever have mastered this ancient art. My training includes northern and southern fists, several animal styles, weapons, self-defense forms, Tai Chi sparring, sticky hands, Chi Kung, and much more.

I am quite passionate about martial arts, and have developed a love for the Chinese cinema, especially classic Kung-fu movies. Below is a list of some of my favorites.

Iron Monkey (Rongguang Yu)
Twin Warriors (Jet Li)
Drunken Master (Jackie Chan)
Once Upon a Time in China (Jet Li)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Chow Yun-Fat)