Question & Answer Section No. 3.Erle Montaigue receives many questions by email mainly, but also by phone and letter. Those that are deemed to be of help also to others will be listed in these pages. Come back regularly as we are updating this section daily. NB:// IF you see a very dark background you are probably using Firefox for your browser. It works fine with the 3 other main browsers of Safari, Internet Explorer and Opera. Q&A General Section One Q&A General Section Two
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Q: from Randall: Subject: Training Hello Erle, I have a problem that is bugging me. How do you train (through all age ranges) in a manner that will turn out an effective fighter, yet not cause damage, particularly as one grows older. Even through I am trained to fall, roll etc., I can tell that this is not something I want to do at 60 years of age. I think that every fall taken in training, no matter how well executed is going to come back to haunt you some day in the form of arthritis or other type of pain. My instructor says that any throw or fall you can walk away from is a good one! However, being a 7th Dan, he is always the one doing the technique. Where's the happy medium? Randall Dear Randall, When one studies my system, you learn NOT to fall! To fall is to be defeated. The whole idea is to hit him first so that HE falls. That's the whole idea of the 'reptilian brain', you strike with deadly piont strikes with so much yang enertgy that the opponent/s have no time to even know what has hit them! Keep your feet on the ground and use your hands, that's what they're for. Your body is not made for falling down. The thing is mate, having been in a number os scraps in my time, it is very rare that you ARE ever thrown! IN fact in all of my time, I have not had anyone even try to 'throw' me. If you Do ever fall, it is always holding on to the attacker anyway. And in that way, you are still able to use deadly strikes even while rolling around on the ground wrestling. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: From Larry: Erle, First, Great Site! Don't know if I agree with you on everything but you definately seem to be a cut above what most people teach as Taiji! Here's my questions. 1. Have just recently started single standing postures. I am NOT trying to do this as Qigong(at least not yet) I am basically trying to develop a good root to bounce my power out of. I am using smaller stances with all of the weight on 1 foot, letting the back leg carry only the "dead" weight of the back leg. How do I know if I'm getting this right-as in letting the muscles just hang from the bones as opposed to actively supporting them. Also(this happened only once) I got the shakes from my back foot up to the small of my back on the rear leg even though all of my weight was on the front leg and I was not trying to do Qigong. Any ideas? 2. Anything about how the pressure points affect the bodies movement? i.e. pressing LI10 & 11 can bend the elbow without causing pain or P6 to enhance wrist locks instead of the hit a point & it hurts type of thing? I had Tao Ping Siang do the first one(LI 10 & 11) to me in a seminar and I just went WOW! Thanks a lot --Larry--
A: Dear Larry, Much better to begin standing postures with the normal 3 circle standing Qigong posture as this is the forerunner to the more advanced one-legged ones. You should NEVER 'try' to do Qigong as you will never do it, 'trying'!! The way to begin is to simply do the postures and try to be what is called 'sung' (not feeling your body). You will know when it is correct as you will fell a 'rushing' sensation down your backbone and then up to GB 20 points at the base of your skull, this usually sends a shiver as well causing you to shake a little more. The 'shakes' should happen pretty well all the way through your standing Qigong and when you finally stand up, you should feel as if you have done a good work-out in your legs. Yes, dim-mak points can cause limbs to move, but I have never been able to work out why one would wish to do this? I used to use this method as 'tricks' to impress people, but then decided that there was no real reason to do this in the self-defence area. SP 19 will also cause things to happen in the legs etc. Good luck with the Qigong, it really is the King of all movement therapies. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: From Laurie: Dear Erle, I have been practicing for only a short time but I have a question my teacher merely brushes off as unimportant. It is this: What physical sensations accompany the movement of chi during various stages of ones growth in the art? In other words, are there different sensations of chi for the different levels of skill in the arts? Also, what is the importance of hand positioning when holding them over the Tan Tien? Male versus Female? A: Dear Laurie, Thank you for your e-mail. There are Many sensations that you will experience culminating in 'the Tao' or nothingness! Feelings like warm hands and feet, a warm feeling all over the body, or the hands will vibrate all by themselves and you will not be able to stop this! Every posture works upon a different organ so those 'emotions' associated with that particular organ will show themselves as your body clears of old and stored emotions and feelings etc. In the beginning this can be a bit daunting and many have stopped their training because of this. However, if you just persist, you will work through this stage and come to a wonderful balanced stage which will lead you to the final stage of the Tao. You will also find at times that your fingers will perspire, this is also a way of ridding the body of old emotions etc. Take a look at my site and hidden in there somewhere you will find the answers to your questions as I always put my own experiences with form down for others to learn from. Placing your hands over the tantien is important in the way you place them. You must have both PC 8 points over the top of each other, for you as a female, the front of your left palm should be over the back of the right palm. Your left ring finger should gently poke into Tantien. Males it is the reverse. So your left hand should be outside. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: From: R. Dear Erle: I hope all is well. How many different types of jing are there? How can one distinguish using let's say cold jing versus intercepting jing, etc.? Do you have anything on your tapes or books on this topic? Sincere regards, Ron A: Dear Ron, it is said that there are 1000 different types of jing. However, the Chinese have a way of using large numbers just to get our attention! There are around ten main jings that we use every day. However, it is not a case of trying to use those different types of jing as Qi cannot be manifested, it must 'happen' by what we do! So the beauty of Qi is that you will naturally use the correct type for the correct work by simply doing it in a 'sung' manner (relaxed) and with mind intent. You just haven't enough time to be physically thinking about what jing to use in a fighting situation. However, if you have done the training, it will all be there when you need it in the correct amounts and in the correct type. There is an old saying from China. "Think, and you will lose, 'do' and you will win". Kind Regards Erle Montiague top Q: Thanks! &Chi Sao Mr. Montaigue-- I wanted to say thanks for putting my in touch with Floyd in Cleveland. We are making plans to get together at the end of next month. I did want to ask a quick question: I believe that you "train" Chi Sao in Taiji, is this true? Is the primary purpose of Chi Sao to devolpe sensitivity? Or are there other reasons? Thanks as always, Andrew. A: Dear Andrew, Chee Sau the Taiji way is to teach us how to fight, either physically or ourselves! You must however, not have any idea of competition or tension, you must allow your opponent's energy to move you without trying to defeat him using force, move the body in accordance with what he is doing to you. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: Ted, USA: Erle, > >I've been progressing through the material I have thus far and would like to >purchase some more tapes. Could you send me an updated catalog? If so, I >listed my mailing address below. > >Also, I have two questions. First -- the short stick weapon tapes, Could you >tell me a little more about the weapon (size, application, etc..) ? >Secondly -- and on a totally different subject. Could you tell me what kind >of energy effect the moon plays on us? For instance, when the moon is in >full phase -- I can't sleep very well and my energy seems heightened and >scattered. I know from talking to some friends in law enforcement that many >more crimes are committed when it's a full moon. > >Many thanks and I appreciate the valuable information on the website. I go >there almost daily. > > >Best, > >Ted A: Dear Ted, Nice to hear from you. The short stick is measured from your armpit to the ground, you should be able to move the stick under your arm, sliding it in and out while it is held on the ground on the other end. The stick is deadly and would only be used if one's life was threatened! Like Taiji, it attacks the most dangerous points on the body. Volume one contains nine training methods for the stick, themselves deadly movements, but also generate the power and correct muscles etc, for using the stick, strengthening the wrists and shoulders etc. The other voluems contain the form and two person fighting method. The moon affects everyone, mena nd women, women to a lesser extent however. The reason is that when there is a full moon, the sun is on the other side of the earth so there is less pull upward, so th espirit and everything else in the body is pulled down to the ground causing men in particular to be more animal like, hence that some men who are already animals, go crazy on the full moon. More vandalism happens on the full moon than any other time. Women are already on a higher plane than men so this does not affect them as much. On the new moon, we tend to do more artistic things and me more philosophical etc, because our spirit is drawn upward. New catalogue off to you today. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: Stuart, UK:>Dear Erle > >Thankyou for your prompt delivery of MTG23. It has proved extremely useful >and informative. The reason for writing is that I have recently learnt >some basic Chi Gong. Whilst practicing I have felt heat and energy around >my hands but nothing more until last week. I was at a martial arts >training camp on an island off of the West coast of Scotland. On this >island is a visitors attraction of a set of standing stones dating back >hundreds of years - a bit like a mini Stonehenge. We had been told to >practice our Chi Gong there. I felt much more power with my limbs shaking >and a magnetic attraction between my hands. One girl who usually feels it >quite strongly swears she regressed and had a date in 1172 in her head >which she is going to research. She certainly seemed quite spooked out for >the rest of the day. Everyone else who tried seemed to have a more >powerful reaction than they had ever previously experienced. > >Have you ever heard of anything like this before or is it just our >expectations playing tricks with our minds. I would be interested in your >thoughts. > >Stuart A: Dear Stuart, I did exactly the same thing back in 1974 down on the Dartmoor Moores! It's OK mate, that happens with large stones, they contain much energy and when doing Qigong on top of them, it all comes into you. Trees and stones are good for Qigong. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: From: John To: Erle Montaigue Date: Friday, August 14, 1998 10:11 PM Subject: Re: QIGONG QUESTION??? >Mr. Montaigue, > >I've come across a lot of information here and there on "Empty Force." I >can't say that I've ever experienced it. I used to train in "Ki-Aikido" and >my sensei was pretty powerful. Sometimes it felt like he didn't even touch >you when he threw you. What is "Yin Force?" You'll have to forgive me for >asking so many questions. I live in Central New Jersey, and there aren't a >lot of places to train in the arts that I would like. The Aikido dojo that >I used to attend was 50 minutes away. I have read articles about you, and I >wish I could be your student. > >Thanks for the responses and I hope its not an inconvenience. > >John A: Dear John, Empty force is a so-called supernatural force emitted by the body in order to move people and objects from a distance. Yin force however, is more tangible and is a way of using hte attacker's energy against him, he feels as if there hasn't been a touch, but there has. It's just that his attack and energy is much moreyang than your own yin energy so he does not feel it when you attack him. However, yin is just as powerful as yang, hence his being thrown. Many so-called masters use this phenomenon to trick us into believing that they are not touching the opponent, but they are. Those who do it without touching are charlatans, I have proven this many times and still have a challenge to anyone to move me without touching me and I will bow down to them and call them master! So far, no-one has come forth. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: From: A. Re: Intro practice. >Very, very cool!! I'm so excited!! Do you think it is a bad idea to study >two styles at once? I found some Ba Gua classes in town as well but I kind >of thought it would be better to just focus on one at a time. What do >you think? Thanks so much for the videos. If you want me to send some >money I'd be glad to. Otherwise, I'm sure I'll be ordering some later. >Thank you! Thank you! > A: Dear A, Your tapes went off to you yesterday and no, I do not require money, I am rich beyond belief with such a beautiful wife and children! It is possible to study two internal arts. In China they always study Taijiquan as it is regarded as th eMother of all internal, then they will also study either Baguazhang or H'sin-I ch'uan but never three as so many in the west do. It is however best to begin Bagwa for instance some time after beginning taiji, at least when you are through the first third of the form. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: Renato: Subject: dim mak points >Dear M. Erle, > >I'm just a beginner in taiji and I admire Your excellent work. >I have a question, or rather, a curiosity that I hope You can help me >with. I have read that "neurological shutdown" points and "physical >damage" points can be "activated" even without special techniques or >martial art training because they just do physical damage or knockout. > >I was wondering if points which should produce effects such as Qi >drainage, etc. (like luozhen) work the same even if hit by accident, >i.e. if the effects on Qi occur even if hit during, say, a training. > >Thank You. > >Best regards, > >Renato A: Dear Renato, No, not generally. Those points that require electrical stimulation would not be affected by someone who did not know how to transfer Qi. However, having said that, some people can do this naturally! Most of the stuff put out on so-called 'tuite' are only using physical points as their mother arts have no way of learning how to use Qi. You need an internal art to learn about how to use Qi, a hard style can never be used to transfer Qi! Many points are activated by for instance running into a clothesline! These are the purely physical points such as ST 9 and CV 22. You must also remember that many of these demonstrations, those that are anything other than the ST 9 shot, make use of a phenomenon called 'student participation'! Not many, if any instructors will attempt to KO someone with a light tap on the arm for instance using someone out of the audience, it is always the old ST 9 shot which will work, usually with anyone who is not ready for it. This is evident by the fact that those who DO pretend to be able to KO by light strikes to for instance the arms, would have to be doing great and permanent damage to their students as a huge amount of adverse Qi has to be used to damage the body. So if they were REALLY doing this to their students, they would run out of students quickly!! So it is actually safer (although no strike is ever safe) to use physical point strikes as the affect upon the body using electrical points to cause a KO is just too great and the whole energy system would be upset causing death some weeks or months later or instantaneously! Kind Regards Erle. top Q: Subject: Dear Erle > > > Dear Erle, > > > How do you think the world originated or how humanity came to be? This may seem rather strange but I had a dream last night that I was talking to you about this very subject! > > Later Gator, > Jer A: Dear Jer, In just the same way that many have tried to dis-prove the existence of God, so did I in my early youth! being AN INTELLIGENT person, I tried my darndest, however, just like 'Paul' I cam to the absolute conclusion that God made everything! When you look into it scientifically, you can only come to the conclusion that everything we see was made by a superior intelligence, like ours but a billion times more powerful! Just a simple blade of grass puts tingles down my spine as to 'why it is'! Or why do we have little marbles in our ears to keep our balance or why our bones were made hollow. Trial and error is the answer in just the same way that we work in trial and error, so too does God. We humans think we are all so bloody smart, but we are mere specs on an orange as far as being smart is concerned compared to God! Why does an elephant know where the water is in times of drought when it has never had reason to go there in the past? It's all there programmed into it's cells by God! We as humans seem to be moving further and further away from God and this is not good! We are all becoming too 'sophisticated' for our own good. President Clinton thinks that he is powerful having control over the World's most powerful nation, but all of that power is only a spec of dust compared to the power of God! So to answer your question mate, God made us and everything else, it's so bloody obvious! Kind Regards Erle. top From R: USA: Hi Erle. I've been a registered nurse for over 20 years and have lots of critical care experience. You're right about the carotid sinus; it needs no set up, just hit it and the person goes down or is totally useless. In my early days in the emergency rooms, only a physician was allowed to massage the carotid sinus in cases of tachycardia due to the danger (even with a person already lying down on a stretcher). The danger is that you are working with someone's ticker and that's nothing to play with! Putting someone to sleep is always dangerous; that's why surgery is usually not the most dangerous part of an operation. Putting a patient under and keeping them hovering near death is most risky part. I'm also wondering how in the hell a civilian got permission to perform an autopsy; this is not something the average person can do legally! Like your article said, it's easy to get an aneurysm by slapping the carotids, or any blood vessel for that matter. For your infomation, we also used to slow down a person's heart rate (in the emergency room) by the Valsalva's maneuver. You can have someone hold their breath and bear down like they are taking a crap. It increases the intrathoraic pressure, decreases flow of blood to the heart and slows the rate down. Unfortunately, I've also seen people die on the toilet after heart or other types of surgery while straining to have a BM! Another way that used to be used (I don't know if it still is) is to have someone with tachycardia bend over and place their face in a big pan of ice cold water. It kicks in the "diving reflex" and slows the heart rate down. (might be a good fight technique to throw your cold drink in their face!) This is what happens, for example, when kids fall through the ice over a frozen lake face down and the diving reflex slows their heart rate down and they are able to survive a long time and be revived with little damage to show for it. Anyway, it's good to have someone like you to challenge these nuts instead of just sitting back and keeping quiet. Regards, R. top Q: From Victor, USA: Erle, > >Several weeks ago you were so kind as to explain that the points could be used >in either of the main meridians. Unfortunately with only 25 years working on >my art at so many different levels, I really haven't had much direct >experience with Dim Mak. That was why I had purchased your Encyclopedia, but >there is so much to grasp, and I only have one head. > >The problem occured last night in the dojo. I was working with a young woman, >20yrs old, great health and preparing for her Sho Dan examination on Monday >(Labor Day in the States). > >I was trying to make a point about kata Wansu (Isshnryu) and tried to show how >the section "Step out with your left foot and right reverse punch, followed by >a left cross punch " would be applied. > >I demonstrated how I would step outside her attack, and slowly pushed a punch >into her abdomen (on her right side) and then had her bend over to simulate >what a punch might do there. > >While bent over, I slowly began to extract my right punch from her abdomen and >used my left fist to touch her in the neck, I believe that is the St9 point. > >What happened was she almost collapsed and I had to grab her. I hadn't hit >her, it was just a touch. She told me she experienced a shock and seemed to go >out. > >Would you be so good as to explain what I need to look at in the Encyclopedia. >Was my right hand being withdrawn from her bent over abdomen in conjunction >with my left hand touching her neck responsible for what happened? > >It's somewhat confusing to me, as I don't try to strike (beyond touches) to my >students. And this is the first time (outside of kumite years ago) when I've >done this to someone. > >I'm quite sure that this is old hat to you. But I would like to understand >what to look at to see what I did. I do not desire to experiement, especially >unkowingly on my students. > >If you can offer any advice, I'd appreciate it most sincerely, > >Yours in the arts, Victor. A: Dear Victor, A very small percentage of people have hypersensitive ST 9 points and can even KO themselves. I discovered this years ago when I touched one of my most advanced studetns onto ST 9 after a light push to GB 25, he passed out. Since then he KO's himself by simply turning his head suddenly!\\ However, these people are one in ten thousand I am told by medical authorities. SO a touch to GB 25 COULD have been activated when you touched the right side of her abdomen? Then of course th eST 9 touch. That's all I can think of. It's somewhere in the encyclopaedia. Perhaps in the ST channel info. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: From Barry: Finger Qi >Hi my name is Barry from Fort Worth TX, USA. I was thinking >about Dim-Mak and thought if some one can break a brick or two from the >high-level Qi involed in Dim-Mak. Erle, is it possible to break bricks >with your fingers? If so do not exceed how many? Thank you for your >time. > Dear Barry, breaking is purely technique! Nothing at all to do with Qi! There is an old saying in China with reference to who the great old masters could fight and defeat: "The only men they cannot defeat are those of wood, those of metal and those of stone". Meaning that the old masters could use their Qi to defeat only men of flesh and not against inanimate objects. It is easy to break for instance river stones using only one finger, however, it is a trick of physics nothing more. And remember, "Bricks do not fight back" top Q: From Law wun, Mauritius:i would want to participate to your questions and answers page > >questions : i practice everyday tai chi long form , now , i feel >confused because my muscles are not relaxed (limp) they are a little bit >tense and big , my joints too , i feel like a malabar very heavy , is >it normal ? >what do you think about breathing in tai chi form ? i synchronise my >movements with the breathing , is it a technical error ? >is it bad to practice the form the slowest possible ? > >recently , i started to learn a chen simplified style but i can't >generate chi because it is too fast and very different from yang style , >above all , i get in trouble when i practice yang form after chen form >,what do you think about practicing yang style and chen style , is it >compatible or not ???? > >last question :erle, do you practice surf in australia ? since this year >, i am fool of bodyboard , woaow , it is funny , i recommend it to all >taoist martial artists >thanks erl to answer my questions! ! best regards and take care of you > > > A: Dear Francois. Thank you for your message. Yes your price is correct. Your questions. When you begin training in long form there will be a time when your muscles DO feel 'worked' as you have described. This is simply because you are exercising new muscles etc.. This will go away after some time. However, be sure that you are not standing down too low. You should only stand down so that knees do not protrude past the tip of your big toes. A 'worked' muscular feeling is good because it means that you are getting some exercise! And Taiji is not meant to be easy, it is meant to be difficult as this is the only way it has of working your meridians, it never gets easy for as long as you live! Your muscles should not be 'relaxed' as you would fall on the ground if they were! They should be in a state of 'sung' which is totally different to relax. It is like having a motor car with engine running but in neutral. The car is ready for action but just standing there. When you put it in to gear it goes. That's what sung is, alive but not dead. Yes, the breathing is synchronized with the movements. However, you should never try to force your breathing to go with the movements, but rather adjust your movements to your breathing. On any of the movements where you are pushing outward or down or stepping down, you should be exhaling. On any movements where you are pulling in or lifting up as is a kick even, you should be inhaling. This is only a general rule however as there are exception such as the postures known as 'fishes in 8' where there is only one exhalation for the whole move. When you do a very slow form (for the spirit), in around 40 minutes to four hours, the breathing will adjust so that although you might be making two or four breaths for one movement, you must be sure that on the final outward push for instance you are exhaling and visa-versa. It is my opinion that Chen Style' is not Taijiquan, it is more Shaolin, hence your not feeling good when doing it! They are NOT compatible! So simply do not do Chen style, especially any shortened forms. My advice is always, do not do ANY short forms as they are damaging to the Qi system. The original Yang style was invented by people of great genius who knew about the flow of energy around the body. So they made the movements to represent those activations in each organ during a 24 hour period. So when people began to shorten the original form, they completely corrupted the flow of Qi around the body causing it to jump all over the place and this is not good for the body! You practice Taijiquan at 3 speeds. 10 minutes for the bones sinews and muscles, 25 minutes for the mind and 40 minutes to 4 hours for the spirit. Yes, we surf here in Australia as we live near the coast and some of the best surfing beaches in the world. Kind Regards Erle. top Q: John: New Jersey: Re: Thyroid Problem ! >Elre, >Thanks for the advise, I have been following, and I do feel better. I Just >purchased your encyclopedia, and find it the most descriptive book on >accupressure point's I have ever seen. I do have a few questions in applying >the use of the points for healing. > >1. When I go through the book, I find a point I want to apply, based on a >specific aliment. For example (GB 25) for back pain. I see you combine >points. How do I apply multiple points? Do I use the main point first, in >this case (GB25), then do I use the other combining points in there order? Or >do I press multiple points at the same time? > >2. How long do I apply pressure to that points? > >3. How hard do I apply pressure, light, medium of hard & how do I determine >the pressure setting in my fingers? > >This was not covered in the encyclopedia, do you cover it in the second >volume? Or could you recommend any other reading material to support the >accupressure procedure. > >What about for striking use in taiji, do I need to develop fa-jing for the >points to be totally effective? > >And if so how do I acheive fa-jing, do you supply any material for instruction >of fa-jing. (I am instructed in the yang style form & I don't believe they use >fa-jing) > > >Sorry to be a pest, but there are not to many Dim Mak Masters in New >Jersey.(If ya know any in the area I could contact, I would be very >appreciated). > >Thank you for all the help! > >Sincerely, > >John >New Jersey >USA > A: Dear John, Thank you for your message. As the Encyclopaedia was not a book on acupuncture or on acupressure, we did not include text on how to actually press the points. That should come from a course on acupressure or from a separate text. However, I will try to explain a couple of things here in answer to your questions. You treat the main point first, then the others one after the other using enough pressure so that it is between pain and pleasure! Use usually your thumb flats, however, any flat of fingers will do and even often an elbow or knee is used. Just begin very slowly so as not to shock your patient, just build up the pressure slowly and use your own judgment based upon the movement of the patient and what faces he or she is pulling! Often they will let out a yell, so obviously you have gone too hard too soon here. Normally you will apply pressure for a count of 7, or tell the patient to exhale and apply the pressure for the length of the exhalation. Yes, Taijiquan is the only art that has REAL dim-mak and fa-jing is the 'motor' of Taijiquan. Many other styles now are saying that their art had it all the time but their teacher would not teach it because it was secret etc.! However, it all came from Taijiquan and others only copy. If you are not doing fa-jing then you ain't doin Taiji! Especially Yang style, you are doing a hybrid version of Yang. In New Jersey we have one of our best instructors, Al Krych who is my representative for the USA. His E-mail is: wtbausa@comcast.net I have the most comprehensive range of video titles for the learning of fa-jing. The production is not good, but the content you can really learn from. Mainly, MTG34 and MTG67. I hope this has been of some help. Kind Regards Erle top Q: From John: USA: Dear Mr. Montaique: Erle, My name is John ****. It has taken me a long time to discover your work. I've seen your book titles in some places I used to visit and would look threw them occasionally but I didn't give much thought to reading what you had to say. Not too recently my wife and I purchased two of your types, MTG 1 and 2. This also took some time to do because I didn't believe it would be a worth while purchase. However, I couldn't have been more incorrect in my assumption. If one were to set about a goal of trying to least gain as much as he could from what you have been able to discover, relay and rediscover about dim-mak, taijiquan, Baguazhang, qigong the martial arts, etc.: how would one proceed? i.e.. if one could only learn of your work by videos and books. I imagine that you may get this type of question all the time "HELP! : ) or Can you please help me?" I suppose if this would not be a burden, knowing what one needs would be important information. In regards to knowing what one needs I'm not so I know what I need or want because those concepts seem to always be in perpetual motion. I've been on paths where I knew exactly where I was going. Other times, I've been on paths where I could not see but wasn't lost and others where it had felt like I was lost but a sound not heard or voice seemed to help guide me, for lack of a better word, home. I don't have the slightest idea what tapes I should view when. Then "when" or the average time one should spend before moving on would be the next question (I would guess continued training and or learning of the previous others would not cise. Feeling confident in the direction I was/am going has for me always been better than feeling like I was walking blindfolded. I am sending an "application for acceptance" to the WTBA and letting whom it may concern abit about myself/ life. I have some formal training in the martial arts and I have been studying and or trying to comprehend some of you books--Dim-Mak d.p. striking, DM how to,.., The Encyclopedia of DM Vol. 1 and 2. I'm in the process of trying to acuire the book you suggested written by Carol and Cameron Rogers and eventually, if I can, acuire all your books and or suggestions. I was not aware of Baguazhang but based on what you have to say, which abviously is a result of your experiences with the art, I want to attempt to see what this art can do to my edification of the martial arts. Based on another of your suggestions my wife, Jocelyn, and I purchased the book, Healing with Whole Foods *the revised edtion* by Paul Pitchford: it has had a another tramatic effect on my whole family. Thank You. My life and research of karate has revealed to me so many styles, teachers, overnight black belts, etc.: many with majestic claims buying for the attention of those who wish train. I'm not so sure I can continue to be a part modern "karate" or more accurately put; being associated with what many people think is karate but it is not. As I understand it, sport karate is not real karate. Yet, the answers for the question of what is real karate seems to be more varied than the styles of karate. Yet, where are the healing questions in selfdefesive combat karate; the ones that the accupunture/Dim-Mak explore? I'm not so concerned with the different styles of Taiji because I can tell from what little I been exposed to that the T'ai Chi Ch'aun that you practice diffinantely tells of something. I don't know what that something is but I want to attempt to discover how that something will affect my life or world view as I think it is something positive. This feeling was not as nearly as strong as when I began training in the karate way. My karate training can not be forgoten. Yet, I going to be devulaging more and more time to what I precieve as your idea and those which you learned from into my training/life and that of my families. (Seeing my little girl practicing hard style karate never seems to fit into my ideal of her. Happily, for her, she will become/discover her own person someday and I will be proud of being part of that discovery.) I realise that books and videos can't replace hands on and many things can never be purchased but right now that is all I can do. I've poured over your excellent web sight only to discover too much. Not that there's too much there but that there is so much to learn. If you were able to provide me with some type of map or way in which to procede, helping me to in discover a potiental positive goal, I would be very grateful. I hope that I haven't taken up too much of your time today. To you and your family, all the best. Sincerly, John top A: Go to: Tapestudy: Q: From Andrew, USA. During training the other day, we had a free fighting lesson for about an hour. I was fighting with some bloke, and I don't know how it happened but I hit somewhere, and he totally froze!!! > >I heard about it before that there was some kind of pressure point on the body, that just seizes up all of the ligaments and stuff, but never knew where to find it. > >I was wondering where the point was on the body, and is it dangerous or not to strike it. Also how long will the other person be stunned like that for, and is there anyway of relieving that tension faster after the strike had gone through???? A: Dear Andrew, Firstly, sparring and 'free fighting' is not good, in fact I regard it as the most detrimental thing for self-defense as you get into bad habits of not wishing to hurt each other etc.. IN other words it can never be realistic. What we do to get the feel for real fighting is that you instructor must put on all the protective gear and then really intimidate you by telling you that if you do not defend yourself well, then you WILL be struck hard etc.. I have done this for all of my advanced students when they are ready of course and they all say that it is the best training that they have ever done. I attack them as they would be attacked in the street with totally illogical fighting methods not methods that another martial artist would use as it is most unlikely that you would ever be attacked by another martial artists. And if you were, then that person would not BE a martial artist anyway! However, there are points on the liver meridian that will cause tendons to freeze. Like Liv 13 and Liv 9. The Gallbladder is also responsible for the sinews and tendons so points like GB 30 and 31 when you kick them will paralyze the whole leg. There is a routine called 'Meridian Balancing' which is too involved to go into here, however, I will consider putting it onto my site. Kind Regards Erle > top Q: From Ron: Dear mr. Montaigue: If you would be so kind as to help me understand the >difference between the following words as they apply to TaiChi: Stick, >Adhere, Connect, and Follow. Douglas Wile in his book "Lost Tai-chi >Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty" gives definitions on page 67. In >TaiChi the difference must be suttle and maybe have to be experienced, but >could you offer your option to help me to get some insight into the >differences of these terms. A: Dear Ron, They are indeed subtle. However, many do not understand this and try to place 'logical' methods onto these words. These words are also in the empty hand Taiji forms also not understood by many. The adhere means that when you are 'blocking' you NEVER only block, it means that you must strike and block at the same time, thus adhering to the attacker's body in a way. To connect means that you 'connect' with the attacker's energy not only his body! You can do damage by simply striking his stick sending Qi into his body via the stick. To follow means that we do movements that are in accordance with what the attacker is doing to you and not put our own methods onto what he is doing to you regardless of what he is doing. I hope this helps. Kind Regards Erle top Dear Mr. Montaigue: Again in the subtle differences between stick, adhere, >connect and follow. Is there a sequential order of occurrence? For >example, if we were sparing, would I first "connect" to your energy, >"follow" your movements and as you attack would I "stick" you to do damage >to your energy and at the same time "adhere" to you.? It appears to me that >these can be used in different combinations? Is there any information that >I could get on connecting or exercises that I could do to develop sense of >connection? > >Sincerely, >Ron Dear Ron, I go over these in some of my push hands tapes, I must go through them and find out which ones! It does not matter in which order you use them. However, to think about them is not to do them! Westerners place too much attention to this and as such miss the real meaning. The whole fighting method is based upon these four, however, the whole fighting method is sub-conscious using the reptile part of the brain which must be re-developed first. In 'sparring' (on e of the most damaging thing to do for real self-defense) you can never use these four as sparring has to be totally conscious so that you do not hurt your sparring partner! If you go on with sparring, then you will eventually also 'spar' if ever attacked for real!. Kind Regards Erle top Q: From Eric, USA: I cannot thank you enough for your generousity. Truly you are a deeply >sincere Master to care so much for your students. I will take you up on >your offer. I look forward to viewing your tape and hopefully learning Fa-Jing as well >as ending my frustration with punching. > I have been reading some of the Dim-Mak material on your site and I have a >question: Though there is a decisive advantage in knowing these points and >knowing how to strike them, in the mix of hand-to-hand combat, is it >feasable to strike such small (moving) targets or is it just a matter of >having great accuracy? During my senior year in High School I studied >Aikido and my instructor made it very clear that due to the opponent's >physiology, how one applys wrist locks and pressure points will vary. As >you know, muscles sometimes cover nerves and wrist bones don't always >'lock' at the same angle for every person. Though Dim-Mak points aren't >pressure points nor joint locks, does this same phenomena hold true for >Dim-Mak? How do we deal with it if it does? > Thank you so much again for your generiousity, I look forward to learning >Fa-Jing. Be sure to let me know if the shipping is too much. Take care, > > Sincerely, > Eric.> Dear Eric, Thank you for your letter. MTG34 is on its way to you today. In the internal martial arts we strive to make movements that would normally be non-reflex, into reflex actions using the sub-conscious mind in just the same way that an animal does when attacked. In this way we never have to think about what points to strike nor where they are. We do of course have to learn where they are in the beginning, however, it all becomes sub-conscious and you will find that when attacked, your fingers, or palm or fist will just be there at the correct point. And there are just so many points around the area of for instance a main point strike that even if your accuracy is not quite there yet, you will hit some points that will do damage. The whole of the internal martial arts and indeed should be, ANY martial art is based upon the use of the 'Reptile Brain'. without this area being activated, we are just weak human beings, unable to defend ourselves. We try a martial art and think that all it involves is learning some techniques, or some kata or some sparring. However, we are still only human being 'playing' at being strong! When we use the Reptile Brain, we become like an animal in survival mode and all of our hidden survival techniques come to the fore and even the smallest 'weakest' person will turn into a very dangerous person when attacked. Kind Regards Erle. top From Kevin: Date: Wednesday, November 18, 1998 2:16 PM Subject: Breathing - Yang Lu Chan Form >Hello Erle, Greetings from Ottawa, Canada! > >I have a question regarding breathing while doing the Yang Lu Chan form >and/or the Yang Chen Fu form. > >I have read your advice/heard on your MTG 2 video, that breathing should >be natural (not forced) and the movements should follow the breath: >exhalation when moving out away from the body, etc. and inhalation when >gathering in towards the body, etc. > >My question is this, should one use "natural abdominal breathing" >(diaphram expands outward on inhalation, and contracts inward on >exhalation"), or "reverse abdominal breathing" (diaphram contracts >inward on inhalation, and expands outward on exhalation)? > >Is one method more suited to "healing" while doing form (natural), and >one more suited to application/martial function/fa-ching (reverse >breathing)? > >The reason I am curious, in Tsung Hwa Jou's book "The Tao of Tai-Chi >Chuan", he seems to advocate (if I understand correctly), the use of >reverse abdominal breathing when doing both chi-kung and/or form? > >Am I getting too bogged down with the "correct" method of breathing?? > >Looking forward to your comments on this matter. > >Sincerely, > >Kevin. Dear Kevin, It is essential to use 'Natural Breathing' when you begin Qigong or any Internal Martial art. The reason is that to begin 'Reverse, Pre-Natal or Tortoise Breathing' too soon will cause tension and energy blockages! The way to do it is to begin with Natural Breathing, for at least three years, then try doing for instance only 3 minutes of your morning Qigong session using Reverse Breathing. If you feel OK with no tension build up in your upper body, then you are probably ready to change to Reverse Breathing. You can increase the amount of time in Qigong doing Reverse Breathing each day until you are doing more Reverse than Natural. But never stop natural breathing completely. The general rule is that you should do each type of breathing method for three years before going on to the next. As for Yang Lu-ch'an's form, again, we begin with natural breathing barring the fa-jing movements which are done using a reverse breath. Then after 3 years, if you feel comfortable, you could change totally to Reverse Breathing. Pre-Natal Breathing: This is done because we have two flows of Qi in the center of the body, ones that nourish to Tantien. The lower one flows in a reverse direction to the upper flow with the diaphragm being the border between the two. For instance, when you use natural breathing or reverse breathing, the whole abdomen is pushed out or in on each breath. So we have two different flows of Qi with the 'activation' points of this flow never meeting at the 'border'. So when we breathe in for instance in natural breathing, the abdomen expands. However, both the lower and upper Qi activation points of their respective flows flow upward together so those activation points never meet! The whole idea is to take some external Qi and add it to the Internal Qi and we cannot do this if both flows never meet! So we have to have some way of reversing the flow of Qi so that when for instance you breathe in, both activation points of the external flow and the internal flow (under the diaphragm) meet at the border. When you exhale, the lower (internal) flow, will take some of the external Qi with it and so slowly build up your internal Qi. So when we do Pre-natal breathing, upon the inhalation, the lower abdomen is sucked in (reverse breath) while the upper abdomen (above the diaphragm) is pushed out (natural breathing) like a wave. Doing it this way, the activation points of both flows are reversed and both flows of Qi the activation points of each, touch and meet at the diaphragm. When you exhale, the reverse applies with the upper abdomen contracting while the lower abdomen expands and both activation points leave each other again. And so on. Tortoise Breathing: This is simply an advanced method of Pre-natal Breathing where we hold the inhalation for a count of 7 seconds before we exhale. In this way more Qi is mixed and taken internally from the external Qi. Kind Regards Erle. top This letter was sent in to a radio show that was condemning boxing matches with young girls aged from 7 to 11! Many were under the misconception that boxing and martial arts taught self-defense. So what follows ins my answer.November 19, 1998 The John Laws Show From Erle Montaigue I am Erle Montaigue, head of the World Taiji boxing Association. I have 14 books published worldwide (two of which have been banned in my own country), plus 182 video titles on self-defense. I also teach Law Enforcement Officers how not to be killed in the line of their duty. Almost all of your callers have the misconception that boxing and martial arts teaches self-defense! This is totally incorrect. Boxing and Martial Arts are sports, and as such cannot be taught as self-defense. So it is useless for someone to learn a martial art or in particular, boxing to learn how to defend themselves. For a martial art to be turned into a self-defense art, you have to teach other methods of self-defense. However, the non-sport martial arts have a better chance of being turned into self-defense than sport martial arts or boxing which has no hope. The caller who mentioned that one must spar in order to advance is the martial arts is totally wrong! This is only in the sports martial arts. My little girl is able to knock me out cold with one strike to a vital point, a death point. She has never been into any kind of ring and has never had her face smashed in the boxing ring! But she can defend herself at this young age. My eldest son at when at age 7 knocked me out cold when I tried to abduct him as part of his training. You are correct in everything you say about boxing, it is a brutal dinosaur sport, something that small children should not even watch let alone compete in! The same goes for those stupid sparring matches in the martial arts tournaments, these are singularly the most damaging thing to learning about real self-defense than any could take on! On the subject of 'confidence' so-called built using boxing, it is a false sense of confidence that only serves to put young girls in particular at risk because the THINK and are told that they can defend themselves! Better to spend the time educating young girls (and boys) to not be in those areas where they are likely to be attacked! Or, have them taught a real self-defense art like death point striking! And that's just a sign of the times, when young people have to learn such deadly arts simply to walk down the street at night. Or simply stay away from the street altogether.v top Date: Tuesday, December 01, 1998 7:35 AM Subject: Qigong >Dear Erle, >All but a few of the tapes have arrived now. Please thank Ben for the >exceptional job he did packing them, I hope it didn't take too long. Our >Postman remarked on how well packed and solid they were. > >My wife, and I have started with 3 Circle Qigong, about which I have a >question. >When doing Qigong we both find substantial amounts of saliva build up in our >mouths behind the tongue. When is it best to swallow this? (We both find >just after exhaling to be best. Or does it not matter?) > >Regards, >Jon Dear Jon, There is a definite time to swallow saliva. You should wait until there is a sufficient build up, then breathe in deeply, then swallow, then exhale. The Chinese say that this is a way of getting the Qi to sink. Kind Regards Erle. top December 02, 1998 8:09 AM Subject: order Dear erle, I was wondering if you could explain something for me, I am practicing the animal chi kung styles. My teacher told me they are traditional done in a specific order. The order is: -Tiger -Dear -Bear -Monkey -Bird I would like to know if you could explain to me why they follow this order? Because i thougt i would follow the Yang or creative cycle but it doesn’t. And if you know where i can get some additional information about this subject? What are you views on the Yang style of Tai chi thaugt by Yang jwing-ming? With my kind regards and greetings from Belguim, Ronnie, Dear Ronnie, Thank you for your message. The reason for learning the animal Qigongs in that way is that we must have a balanced Qigong. The Tiger is always first as it is the Yang son, balancing that follows the Yin, daughter (Deer), followed by the Yang Father (bear) and then the Yin Mother, (Monkey), the bird is like heaven or the spirit to cap it all off. This is the reason that it is always done in this manner. As far as I am concerned there is only one Yang style. The Yang style of Yang Lu-ch'an (the founder). however, I do also teach to beginners, the Yang Cheng-fu version. (Much the same as that which Jwing-ming teaches). Never having met Yang Jwing-ming I cannot comment on his Taijiquan, only to say that many from all around the world like his stuff including some of my own students. Leave me your address and I will send you free of charge one of the Taiji to the Max series which shows the beginning moves of the Yang Lu-ch'an form at its highest level. Keeping in mind of course that the very beginners level is quite different. This will however, give you some idea of what to look for. Kind Regards Erle. top December 02, 1998 11:02 AM From Erwin the Netherlands. Dear Erle thanks for the information last time.But I have some new questions, please can you answer them for me? -To let chi flow out of your hands, is it the PC8 point where it flows out? -And are iron derection balls a good exercies for this point to let the chi flows out easier? -Is there a way to check if it flows out of your hands or can you only feel it? I hope you can help me out another time. kind regards Erwin. Dear Erwin, Yes, PC 8 is the point where the Qi comes from. If you look at your palm, it should be blotchy (red) with one large red spot right over PC 8, this is the sign that it is working. I do not have any faith in those metal balls. I had some once though but they now make my room look pretty. The best way to learn how to project your Qi is simply to practice real Qigong and Taijiquan. Kind Regards Erle top Date: Thursday, December 03, 1998 1:44 AM Subject: frontal gallbladder cluster @gb 14 >Dear erle >even after reading your point location text and CAREFULLY practicing, i still cannot locate and utilize the frontal gallbladder cluster, in torite we are taught to strike these points with a palm slap (yang palm)to cause KO. i figured if anyone can help it would be you. in my technique i always try to use the 5 elemental cycle of destruction. therefore gb14 having wood properties i usually set up with a grab to li10, or co10 in dim mak lingo, then slap. but i cant get it to work. i try not to slap hard, i dont want to hurt anyone, but the usual result is my partner looking at me going ow my hand hurts please advise me of any altercations i can use > Rich. Dear Rich, The GB is one of those meridians that has both physical and electrical points. GB 14 is one of those points that is both physical and electrical. TO affect a physical KO using GB 14 it has to be struck medium to hard! This will have almost the same effect as when you strike to the ST 9 point or kick to the lower abdomen. I do not use the destructive element theory as it is my belief that it only works in the healing area, people just weren't made that weak or vulnerable! You also have to have the technique of striking to GB 14 correct and the direction! This can be any number of ways depending upon what direction you strike to the Set Up point. So if you strike to for instance CO 10 up his forearm, then the strike to GB 14 must be in a downward manner and visa-versa. A straight in physical strike however, must be hard and then you could do some damage. There is also a method of extending the Qi by what you do to your own point, Laugung. There is a way of pushing this point out and into the point you are striking to, it is a Bagwa technique that puts adverse Qi into the point. But when using this method, the set up point must be the reverse, i.e.., The Laugung on the set up hand must be 'sucked'. Kind Regards Erle. top Hey Mr Montaigue, do you remember me? my name is Richie, we use to talk to each other via e-mail, i met Dan Insonato and he does remember you, as i took part in his 3 day seminar in "the field of screams" training ground. I have a story for you. 1 year ago u sent me those 2 tapes.....fajing and how to beat a grappler. with only those 2 tapes, i have won 3 out of my last 4 point contests and free fighting tournaments. thank you "sensei" kind words Richie Canada From Adrian, Date: Thursday, December 10, 1998 5:32 PM Subject: Reptilian Brain >Dear Erle, >How are you? Great I hope. Erle the question I have is how to tap into the >reptilian brain in a controlled sense. What I mean is I have experienced >the qi rising up the back and the feeling of rising. It would happen during >a confrontation usually after I was struck the first time. Then I could >feel heat coming up my back and my shoulder area being very alive and >activated. I am wondering why it took being struck to ignite this. Could >it be that being involved in friendly sparring matches caused this lax >alertness until being struck? > >Thank you for being there to mentor many people in the internal arts. > >Sorry, my background is: >1993/1994- present Started learning Yang Chen-Fu Form(My teacher did not >teach form first but I did one single form over and over and over) Long Form > >1993/1994- present Also started learning Shanxi Hsing I > 1998 Started learning Gao Style Pa Qua > >Adrian > > >Chang knew about the reptilian brain, but could not relay this information >in speaking terms, not even in Chinese as it is an internal thing that is >very difficult to transmit to others, when I feel the 'back rising' or >rather 'the qi rising up the back', I say to people, "see that", "no" they >reply. Of course they cannot see it, it is happening internally, Chang could >feel something great, but it did not manifest physically, bar only a slight >change in body posture, his back would become slightly curved 'C' back, his >eyes would become slightly crazed like a crazy man, at these times I would >not go near him because I knew what the consequences would be. > > > Dear Adrian, yes, friendly sparring is the reason! Sparring is the most damaging thing to self-defense! You get used to 'fighting' your friends, so there is no need to go into survival mode (Reptile Brain), so when the real thing happens, your brain is so used to friendly sparring that it takes time for it to register that this is for real. You cannot 'control' the part of your brain that is the reptile brain, it is a sub-conscious brain in just the same way that you cannot control your heart beat etc. Kind Regards Erle. top Date: Monday, December 14, 1998 2:14 PM Subject: Dear Erle, >This is Ibrahim, Right now I’m watching MTG1: Basic Qigong and >T’ai Ji. I am very interested in T’ai Ji! What is the purpose of slapping >your foot? If I start at the age of 11 how long will it take me to get as >good as Ben? I adore you because you went to china and didn’t give up on >learning t’ai chi. Does T’ai Ji use nun-chucks and if it does could you make >a videotape for me? Why is it that when you step forward you put your heel >down first and when you step backwards you put the ball of the foot down >first? In the tape you talk about Grasping swallow tail and all these >different types of animal names. Who made these names up. Now I still don’t >understand the difference between a Yin & Yang hand. What’s the difference? >Well, that’s all for now. I hope you enjoyed reading my letter mate. > > >Sincerely, >Ibrahim. Dear Ibrahim. Thank you for your message. The slapping of the foot is to develop the Qi for gaining power in certain moves. You step forward onto the heel because you are going forward, if you stepped onto the ball of the foot while going forward, it would mean that when you placed your heel last, you would actually be moving backwards. I'll tell you a story to highlight this. Many years ago, I was training a young karate man whose teacher insisted on stepping by placing the ball of the foot first. This young man had arguments with his teacher because I told him the reason why he should not do this. Anyway, many years later that same karateman went back to Japan to learn more and was then told that the advanced stepping method was the way I had told him to step! So he phoned the student an apologized to him. Nuchakas are not Chinese, they are a Japanese tool used to thrash the wheat! They turned it into a weapon when those peasants in Japan were forbidden to use weapons by the government. So , no, we do not have nunchakas. In China, animals and birds are very important to their culture, hence the using of animal and bird names in their martial arts, it's just a way of remembering the moves. A Yin hand is one that is limp while a yang hand is one that is flexed. Kind Regards Erle. top 30 From Doug:
Sent: Saturday, January 30, 1999 10:10 AM To:
From: Jeff:
Sweden: Sent: Sunday,
Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 8:41 AM Dear Doug, Thank you. No, not all
strikes are fa-jing, like the 'sweeping' moves in 'Part Horse's mane'
etc. Only the very short striking centrifugal methods are fa-jing. You
can see me doing them on the tape MTG3 when I perform the whole form or
bits of it. When you do a fa-jing movement, there is a exhalation of
breath using a reverse breath., i.e., the abdomen is pushed out when you
exhale violently. So this is why all of the moves are not fa-jing
otherwise you would not have time to breathe! They are usually lumped
into sections of three or four fa-jing movements with each fa-jing
movement using only the one breath. One shake is either left, right
left, or right, left, right. This is what the waist does. But is has to
be explosive and the hands should never even move unless the waist is
the ruler. Kind Regards Erle. top 33 Hi Erle, I
just obtained your MTG1 tape and I think I have obtained a great deal
out of it. The details that you put into the transitionary moves were
especially good. Before actualy learning the taiji form I have always
heard about the power of the palm from you and various other Chinese
martial artist but could never really comprehend it. Now I can actually
feel the potential power behind a palming technique performed the way
you taught in the tape even when performed slowly. What I notice that
what you refered to as the 'yin' hand contibutes a lot to the power of a
palm technique. I have learned various external Kung Fu forms where the
palms comes from the waist and I just coud not feel that power. Dear Kevin, Thank you. 34: Dear Erle, I was hoping that there was a way to defeat an aggressor without maiming or killing. Would it be possible to combine the less dangerous points in a way that it just causes the opponent to become too fatigued to continue fighting, say neigwan and a couple other wrist/leg/arm type targets? John. Dear John, Look at it this way
mate. 35 Dear Erle, Thanks so much for the videos on the YLC form! I'm working with MTG2 and I'm about half-way through the second section of the form. I'm finding it's quite refreshing to learn a "new" form! I have a question about the hands. In the YCF form I have learnt, the fingers are extended to be almost straight; when I do this I feel the chi in my fingertips. It seems the hands are to be more concave in your video and when I do this I feel the chi in the center of my palm. Are they both used in taiji and if so, are they used for different functions i.e. finger strike, side-of-palm strike, etc.? Also, you mentioned grading the form after I learn it. What is the process for this and what types of training should I expect to incorporate to meet those requirements? John Dear john, Thank you. Please note our new E-mail address:
taiji@moontagu.com 35 Subject: Beginner's Questions Hello again, Mr. Montaigue. I've e-mailed before and found your honesty to be quite exhilarating in the martial arts world so I've decided to ask more questions if you do not mind. I've begun taking classes in Feng Zhiqiang Chen style taiji. I have been introduced to Chang ssu jin (silk-reeling) exercises and the movements for Peng, Lu, Ji, and An. I've noticed that during qigong and the silk-reeling exercises that I notice only sensations in my hands (i.e. warmth, tingling, etc..) but with Peng, lu, ji, an, I feel a total sensation throughout my body. I am able to concentrate on the flow of qi more during movements than with standing qigong. With my limited knowledge, I believe this to be a problem or more of a hindrance to progress. Is this a normal reaction for beginners? I still do the qigong and silk-reeling in hopes that I will suddenly understand the purpose with my body, but I perform the movements of peng, lu, ji, an at an almost constant rate because of the information I have read pertaining to the types of energies involved withthe aforementioned movements. I have also read your FAQ sections and have heard a lot about the "reptilian mind". I, in my limited training and expertise ( if I may use that word), find it difficult to understand. Is anger involved in the use of the "reptilian mind"? And if so, would this not lead to tensing of the muscles and disruption of the flow of chi? I apologize but I have never heard of this mindset though I may have experienced it. Also, I have read that it is not advisable to try to use chi while angry. Does this mean that qigong cannot be used to calm down after a very intense situation where anger was involved. I often use anger to get psyched up at work. It helps my speed and strength. It is not my intention to become angry though. It is just my personality and a byproduct of the workplace. Afterwards, I use qigong not much more than 30 minutes later to help calm down and to relieve muscle tension. Can this be potentially harmful? I appreciate your time in answer these questions in part or full. I also deeply appreciate your display of generosity with the information you possess. All too often, I have seen information within the martial arts community withheld due to excessive financial gain and it is a blessing to have someone like you to come to questions such as these. I thank you. Dear Friend, Thank you. This is
normal in the beginning. In fact the things that we feel when beginning
usually even disappear as we progress and are replaced with more
permanent feelings and experiences. You must check your legs to make
sure that you aren't slowly creeping up and that your knees are always
in a vertical line with the front of your toes. This is usually the
problem. But, if you are getting something at this early stage from
P'eng Lu Chee and arn, then this is good and the rest will come later.
Dear Sabin,
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Questions & Answers 3