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.
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Q&A General Section One
Q&A General Section Two
Q&A General Section Three
Q&A General Section Four
Please note that your name will also be given as the questioner
unless you ask otherwise.
Q: Peter Hermann Alstonville, Australia: Hi Erle! I have emailed you before, but I am putting this one on your Q&A page as it may help others. Please feel free to edit as you wish. BTW I like your "no frills" approach and attitude; not wanting honorific titles etc. If this is truly trans cultural, then they will be the death of it, in Australia at least! Around 3 weeks ago in training, I bent my big toe (mainly) and second toe (R foot) back, and stretched some ligaments beyond which they were wont to go (it's probably happened to us all sometimes). I've had localised problems (bruising, acute soreness and bulk swelling, which flares up if I train excessively. I've treated it with Collagenic, cold packs, Arnica (taken and applied). It looks like a 6 - 8 week recovery period. After reading some of your stuff, I've concluded that I probably should be having other problems (not just the foot) but it all seems to be completely localised to the foot. Q1 Can "normal" training injuries like this cause other problems, and what should we be looking out for? Q2 Apart from any other suggestions re treatment, should I be expecting/looking for other problems e.g. liver, spleen etc? Q3 If so, what, and what is the treatment? Regards, Peter Hermann Alstonville, Australia
A: Dear Peter, Thank you for your message. No, you will not experience any difficulties from the bent toe. The body usually protects the other points around the foot area so that other more serious damage will not occur. Unless you have been seriously struck at one of the major physiological points such as ST 9 or 10 etc., then there is not much chance of a torn ligament damaging other dim-mak points etc.. And in most cases it requires that you be struck by someone using adverse Qi before one point will affect another etc.. This takes training or absolute intent as in the case of some homicidal maniac really intent on doing you harm. It takes some time for a ligament damage to heal up and simply requires time and rest, this is the way of the body. And remember, just when you THINK that it is healed, as in the case of a torn hamstring for instance, and you go to kick again, it will tear again. The best possible treatment is simply by relaxing with your foot up and thinking "down into the toe", this will bring Qi into that area. If you are struck with malice while training (this should not happen), or if you are struck at a vital physiological point accidentally, this can cause other problems associated with that particular point. Now, please all of your hypochondriacs out there, do not write in about some bump you received ten years ago! I had one student who received an accidental strike to "Neigwan" on his wrist and about ten weeks later could not stop crying! This was a simple matter of reversing the effect of this strike and he was OK. But do not worry about your toe, ti will not do anything. Kind Regards Erle
Answers after appropriate questions:
Q: From
Q:1 Two questions with respect to the standing qigong:
A: If you are gyrating from side to side
and up and down then this is too much and you have adverse cyclic
Qi. If however, it is a strong vibration then this is OK.
Hands held, (holding a tree), over your head with the palms over your crown.
Hands in front of the chest (Not the face).
Hands in the lower holding ball position near the navel and lastly
Hands held (for males) right palm covering left with longest right palm finger slightly digging into CV 4 or tantien. Hands resting gently onto tantien area.
Second,
I noticed you recommended doing some of the chi-gong bare-foot; well,
what do you do when ants/other insects bite? (It can be
distracting....and sometimes, there is just no escaping the
mosquitoes and flies). Would it affect the practice if I moved to
swat them?
A: Yes swat them, however, you can use some kind of natural insect repellent!
Q: From John Mack: USA: Dear Erle, I have recently purchased some tapes of yours from a company called C&S advertised in Black Belt Magazine! I tell you this because the quality was just awful! Are they a regular and registered customer of yours?
A: Dear John, I have received many such messages regarding C&S and other such companies who sell my tapes. All I can say is that they have NEVER bought ANY tapes from me. I have tested some of these tapes and have found them to be pirates. A company in Kansas (Ryukyu) bought some tapes from me many years back (two copies of each tape up to MTG66!) and they have sold to both C&S and Budo. But surely by now two tapes would have been sold out?? So all I can assume is that someone is making pirate copies of my tapes. But, that's life and there is not much I am able to do about it from here. There was a chap advertising my titles in Black Belt some years back and he was stopped, but then he WAY also selling major film studio pirates as well!
My advice here is to only purchase tapes either directly from we here in Australia as it only takes one week by air mail. Or from Zanshin Productions in MN. In the UK you can purchase from Green Dragon White Tiger in Swansea Wales.
Q: Conny, Sweden wrote: Hey Erle!! This time I have some questions to you. When doing the handform I have started notice that something is happening with me, 1. I know that one will feel a heaviness when practising and I feel it but only in my arms. 2. In some postures when doing the form I can feel something like a "shake" in my arms and hands.' 3. sometimes when I'm doing my handform it feels like I have no control of my body, it's like it happens by itself. 4. when practising my hands feels like they are electric. Is this "good" or "bad" things to happen??? I have only practise for seven month. Conny in Sweden
A: Dear Conny, The things that you are experiencing are OK. Not bad. However, you should not allow the shaking to get too out of hand nor the hands moving by themselves etc.. The heaviness in the hands is the first area to look for as Qi is heavy, or rather FEELS heavy! Qi is electric energy so your hands SHOULD feel like they are electric. You are getting somewhere. Kind Regards Erle.
Q:Joseph: USA wrote: Hi Earle, I, recently, viewed one of your videos and found it extremely interesting and generates two questions. 1. When is your next seminar in the New York City area ? 2. In the video I saw, you demonstrated a very dramatic knockout with a very controlled strike to the neck area. Are there any other points, not on the head or neck, (for example, the point behind the knee shown on your website) where a similar action can be effected but would not cause irreversible damage ? Do any of your videos exhibit this ? I, thank you for very valuable website and your time. Very Truly Yours, Joe. P.S. Even after watching just one of your videos, it is blatantly obvious that you are a true master.
A: Dear Joe, Thank you for your kind words. Any KO's that I have ever done have been under very controlled situations. All KO's are dangerous regardless of where they are performed! And yes there are other points that will affect the KO like on the arms and legs and torso, however, these are extremely dangerous! But then, I only ever teach self-defence for when one's life is threatened, or with children, I give them the most dangerous strikes, as it is a sad sign of the times in which we live. When I was young, I could leave home on my bike with my trusty dog at my side and ride until sundown, returning home after dark. My parents knew that I was OK. But today, I would never allow my children to ride their bikes that far away from home nor for that long. I have many videos that show many different strikes, so many that I have lost track!! However, perhaps the series that goes hand in hand with my Encyclopaedia set, "Dim-Mak, A to Z" Kind Regards Erle
Q: B Brusan, Croatia wrote: Dear Erle, Can you please give me a brief explanation of Thirteen postures (what is their meaning and purpose. I also heard that you said that internal martial arts are not invented by Taoists. Can you tell more about this subject. Is there any of your videos that explain Taiji classics or things like yin force. Thank you Kind regards R.Brusan ,Croatia
A: Dear R. Brusan The thirteen postures were the original postures of the first attempts to put together a single set in H'ao Ch'uan which later became known as Taijiquan. Those thirteen postures remain today and in fact they remain more-so in advanced push hands.
They are: P'eng: Yin defence: Using P'eng jing, you are able to ward off any kind of attack using a 'yin' method. This also acts as a sensor which can then be turned into an attacking yang hand. It is said that if you only learn about one kind of jing, then this should be it. On a physical sense, the arm is held as if holding a tree, slantingly upwards. In push hands this gives one the idea of how to use the posture of P'eng. Most people make the mistake of holding the arm in the correct position but then lifting the whole arm upward. The elbow should stay where it is while the wrist is lifted upwards slantingly. This 'lift' the attacker's Qi causing him to feel like he is 'floating' making it easy for you to then attack to vital points.
Lu: Or to Roll back: This is also a yin, however it is an attack. Both of your hands attach to the attacker's arm or any part of his body. Your own body then moves from the centre (very important) activating the lower tantien area. Using the 'no-mind' state, this will have the effect of joining with his Qi and causing him to topple forward past you. As he does this , your yin hand, that which is turned upward, immediately turns into a yang striking hand and strikes with great force using his own falling power against him.
Chee: A Yang attacking motion, to 'Squeeze'. Most people get this translation wrong and call it 'press'. However the Chinese character means to squeeze. Again, the power comes from the centre at lower tantien. The elbows are squeezed inward as the lower tantien also squeezes. Just like when you squeeze a tube of toothpaste. One hand is placed inside of the other's wrist and is yin while the other is yang. As both hands attack, they change shape and thus state forcing great adverse Qi into the attacker's vital points. This must be a whole body movement however and not only an arm movement.
Arn: This posture is normally called to push. However this is also incorrect as it means to 'press'. This is again a yang attacking movement coming from the whole body issuing yin and yang Qi into the attacker's vital points on his chest. Many make the mistake of looking after their legs when they hear about no being 'double weighted' but neglect their hands. Never in Taijiquan is there a two handed strike or attack using the same power in each hand at the same time. There is a 'fa-jing' shake of the waist causing one hand to strike just before the other. The hands are firstly yin, then yang thus releasing yang Qi into the attacker.
The above methods are the four primary methods. as a general rule, P'eng jing is the major jing used in all of the others. P'eng is moving Qi while Lu is 'collecting Qi', Chee is receiving Qi while Arn is striking Qi. Although both are used to strike.
If your technique is not good and either of your four main methods have been defeated, then you must use one of the four corner methods as the form main methods are the four primary directions.
Tsai: Sometimes called 'inch energy'. Like picking fruit off a tree with a snap of the wrist. Often on hand will be placed right on top of the other wrist to assist in the power of this jerking motion. It is not a pull of his wrist but rather a violent jerking fa-jing movement that can knock him out by its violent action upon his head jerking backwards and kinking his brain stem. Again, the power must come from the centre and not only from the arms and hands, and a follow up attack is also necessary.
Lieh: Sometimes called 'split'. This one has a physical meaning and a internal meaning. The physical meaning is when your "Lu" has been defeated, you can turn it into (from a corner position) Lieh. You break his energy between his elbow and his shoulder and his wrist, thus forcing his own Qi back onto him via his shoulder which physically is torn out of its socket. On an internal level, this is often called 'the small strike Qi' as a strike is issued from very close to the opponent. You split his power up into two by measuring the space taken by his body and that of between yourself and his body. This is a very advanced method as if you get the distance wrong, then you will be defeated. You can then issue great attacking force with only one hand from a very short distance.
Chou: This is often called 'elbow': This is where we use the very devastating elbow strike. Many say that it is a second line of defence/attack in that it can only be used when you are quite close to the attacker, perhaps after your initial hand strike has been defeated. However, I like to use elbow strike as a primary strike by using one of the many 'opening up' methods first.
K'ao: Often called 'Shoulder strike: This method is used as a third line of defence and can be quite lethal used at the correct distance. The power must again come from the centre using the power of the legs and waist together. Shoulder can be used from the front or from the back depending upon how the attacker has moved in defence. This method is a good way of knowing if your transferring of Qi is working as it will only work to a small degree if not. If the opponent pulls your arm causing you to rotate, then you can use 'back k'ao'. If he pulls you so that you are moving across your own centre, then you can use 'front K'ao'. Always twist the waist though and never use the tip of the shoulder to attack as this will cause you to over-extend and be off balance. In order to issue adverse Qi, you must sink into the ground both physically and internally.
The five directions: These make up the thirteen. Step forward, move backwards, look left, gaze right and central equilibrium.
With each of these five we use a number of different stepping methods.
For Step or attack forward, we can use the following stepping methods. Pushing Step, Breaking step, Chasing step and Connecting branch step.
For Step Backwards, or Retreating we can use only backwards stepping method.
For Looking Left: We can use; Rolling step, Gathering step, Slant step, Arch or curved step, Pulling or Withdraw step, Roll the body step.
For Gazing Right: Rolling step, and all of those in the above method.
For Central Equilibrium: Raise up step, Ride the horse step, Division of body step, Falling flower step, Fairy step.
All of the above stepping methods cause the different jings to activate in the body. For instance 'collecting step' is used to pull the body inwards and collect the Qi ready for attack. To understand the 'steps' is to understand Taijiquan at an advanced level. It is not however, only understanding which step is used with each posture, it is internally knowing how to use the jing of each step to cause other internal things to happen within your own body as a result of what the attacker is doing to you. No martial art was invented by Taoists! They were non aggressive. Later, people looked at the movements of Taijiquan and said that they were so relaxed (sung) that they must have been invented by Taoists! These people did not know the devastating nature of Taijiquan boxing in that it is a dim-mak or death point striking art. My MTG162 contains the 'yin force' data, it is a push hands tape. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: Curious, South Korea wrote: Mr. Montaigue, Hello. My name is David and I'm studying Traditional Asian Medicine as well as traditional fighting systems in the Republic of Korea. First, I must say yours is by far one of the best if not the best web site on martial arts, qigong, etc. I thank you very much for your generosity and the depth of your knowledge. You set the standard for many to strive. My question is thus. In qigong treatment what effects are there for the treater (ie.doctor). Many knowledge people I have talked with have said that qigong treatment drains your personal Qi and therefore it should be exercised with caution. However, I have read that it's possible for one to become a conduit of Nature's Qi. Any information would be appreciated, thank you. David in Seoul, Korea
A: Dear David, Thank you for your good question. I have had such questions before. Qigong will only drain your own Qi when treating someone who has a serious illness if you have not done the preparation prior to healing! Obviously if the doctor is not strong and does not have strong Qi, then he WILL be damaged by treating such a patient. However, when treating someone who has a mild illness, firstly, ANY qigong doctor MUST be healthy and at this maximum amount of Qi to begin with. Then he or she must practice his or her own qigong for at least 40 minutes prior to performing qigong on a mild illness. However, if the illness is great, then the doctor must firstly go onto a pure diet (like only cold climate fruit) for ten days prior and also perform his or her own qigong at the four specific times for 40 minutes each session.
Those times are: Dusk, Dawn, Twelve Noon and Twelve Midnight. Only then will the qigong doctor not only effect a healing but also not be affected himself. The reason that qigong doctors usually are NOT affected by the bad Qi of patients is that the doctors themselves, many of them are NOT real healers! And thus are not healing the patient, they are not opening up themselves for the healing. This must be done to affect a healing and at this time, the doctor is at risk. But not if he has prepared in the correct manner. Kind Regards Erle
Q: Tim Williams, USA wrote: Hello Erle, I have found your web page to be an invaluable resource. Thanks for your generous supply of information. My question is in regards to selecting the correct pressure point for a low side kick strike against an attacker's lower leg (striking with the heel). I had thought that that either Liver 6, Stomach 36, or Stomach 38 would possibly be the best choices. Which one of these would be the best and what kind of result should be anticipated with the best choice. If I've missed a better target then please let me know that too. I appreciate your time. Thanks again, Tim Williams Charleston, IL USA
A: Dear Tim, Thanks for your question and for your kind words. I will simply give you what I have written in my Encyclopaedia of Dim-Mak as to the lower leg strikes done with a short heel kick, they are quite devastating. We have these kicks in the Bagwa Wooden Man routine and one can generate a huge amount of power using the whole body and not just the leg muscles. In fact I have to tell my students when they practice this routine that they should hold back when using the low leg kicks from Bagwa as they can generate some pain.
ST 35 Chinese Name: DUBI (Calf Nose) or XIYAN (Eyes of Knee) Location: When The knee is flexed, the point is in the depression below the patella and lateral to the patella tendon. Connections: None.
Direction Of Strike: Straight in just under the knee below the patella.
Damage: This point is a special point for knee problems in acupuncture. It is a trauma point. Local pain and knee injury immediately followed by severe kidney Qi drainage and damage causing immediate loss of power and tiredness.
Set Up Point: KD 10. Antidote: Massage KD 5 and KD 10.
Healing: Innervation: The lateral sural cutaneous nerve and the articular branch of the common peroneal nerve. Irrigation is by the arterial and venous network of the knee.
Used for: Pain / numbness and motor impairment of the knee, leg Qi (beriberi). Traditional Indications: Pain of the knee, leg Qi, paralysis of the lower limb. Traditional Functions: Invigorates Qi and removes obstructions from the JINGLOU (channels and collaterals). Massage: With the knee bent and facing the client clasp the leg so that the thumbs press on this point and also the medial XIYAN PT, the fingers grabbing the back of the knee and pressing on BL 40, BL 39, KD 10, move hands in a circular fashion as if reeling in or out on a fishing line, can also just press with thumb of fingers on the point and do clockwise or anticlockwise rotations for XU or SHI conditions, fingertip percussion. See ST 34 for treatment of knee disorders etc.
Applications: 1/. It’s difficult to get at both the set up point and the major point. However, if the attacker is kicking you, then you are able to take his leg and strike behind his knee using your on knee, followed by a strike to just below the knee with your palm.
ST 36 Chinese Name: ZUSANLI (Three Measures of the Leg)
Location: 3 cun below ST 35, one finger breadth from the anterior crest of the tibia. Between the tibialis anterior and the tendon of the extensor digitorum longus pedis.
Connections: A branch from here to the middle toe.
Direction Of Strike: In from the side of the lower leg. Damage: This point is a major point in acupuncture and in dim-mak. It is an earth and he point and ‘sea of nourishment point’ along with ST 30. A strike here will cause great weakness which will slowly get worse untreated. The spleen is also damaged. Obvious immediate physical leg damage and pain. But it is the internal organ problems that this strike causes that is the main area of attack.
Set Up Point: ST 30. Antidote: Treat the same point on the other leg along with ST 30.
Healing: Innervation: Superficially, the lateral sural cutaneous nerve and the cutaneous branch of the saphenous nerve, deeper, the deep peroneal nerve. Irrigation is by the anterior tibial artery and vein. Used for: Gastric pain, vomiting, abdominal distension, Indigestion, borborygmus, diarrhoea, constipation, dysentery, mastitis, dizziness, mental disorders, hemiplegia, beriberi, aching of the knee joint, ulcers, acute and chronic enteritis, acute pancreatitis, indigestion and other disorders of the digestive system, hemiplegia, shock. general weakness, anaemia, hypertension, allergies, jaundice, seizures, asthma, enuresis, diseases of the reproductive system, neurasthenia. Traditional Indications: Abdominal pain and distension, vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea, paralysis, seizures, abscessed breast, swelling of the limbs, difficult urination, pain and distension of the lower abdomen, loss of urine. Traditional Functions: HE SEA (uniting) PT of the ST MO, Tonifys the SPLEEN and STOMACH, regulates the, Qi and Blood, strengthens weak and deficient conditions, eliminates wind and damp, Earth PT of the ST MO. Massage: Press and hold, rotation clockwise and anticlockwise for XU or, SHI conditions, fingertip percussion, press slowly with both thumbs and release quickly pulling the thumbs apart. Use with CV 12, PC 6, LIV 3, ST 21, ST 25, BL 20, BL 18, GV 4, CO 4, for nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, etc. Use with CO 4, PC 6, CV 12, ST 25, BL 25, BL 32, LIV 3, for acute intestinal obstruction. Use with BL 20, BL 25, BL 17, BL 18, CV 12, LIV 3, LU 7, LU 1. CV 17, GB 20, CO 11, CO 20, for allergies.
Applications: 1/. A heel kick just below the knee will suffice. You could perform a double kick, firstly to ST 30 and then chop down to ST 36.
SP 7 Chinese Name: LOUGU (Sleeping valley) Location: 6 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus, 3cun above SP 6, at the posterior margin of the tibia.
Connections: None. Direction Of Strike: Straight in to the side of the lower leg.
Damage: Great immediate pain and Qi drainage.
Set Up Point: Neigwan. Antidote: Rub the leg upwards at the lower leg. Healing: Innervation and irrigation are the same as for SP 6.
Used for abdominal distension, borborgymus, urinary tract infection, cold / numbness and paralysis of the lower limb. Massage: Same as for SP 6. Used with GB 30, GB 29, GB 34, GB 39, SP 6, SP 3, ST 36, ST 41, GB 38, GB 35, LIV 2, LIV 4, BL 60, GV 14, GV 12, GV 9, SP 9, GB 41, BAFENG (extra) for multiple neuritis where the lower limbs are involved. Use with ST 25, ST 36, CV 12, CV 4, CV 6, BL 25, BL 20, BL 18, LIV 3, SP 4, ST 21, for abdominal distension, borborgymus. Applications: 1/. Same as for SP 6. SP 8 Chinese Name: DIJI (Earth's Mechanism) Location: 3 cun below the medial condyle of the tibia, on the line connecting SP 9, and the medial malleolus, between the posterior. margin of the tibia and the soleus muscle. Connections: None. Direction Of Strike: Straight in to the lower leg from the inside of the leg.
Damage: This is a ‘xi cleft’ point (accumulation point) for ‘Zhen Qi’ or ‘meridian Qi’ or ‘real Qi’. In healing, it is mainly used for uterus problems. When struck however, will cause an obstruction in the meridian and thus spleen problems such as stomach disorders, varicose veins and bladder problems. A numbing of the lower leg is the immediate effect with a full feeling around the point, local pain is also felt. This point is often used as a set up point for a strike to ‘the third eye point’ just between the eyebrows. It is said that this combination will ‘explode the head’ (direct translation). Needless to say, the fight is over when this combination has been used. However, one must have a certain higher level of fighting skills to use this combination.
Set Up Point: This point can be used as a major point strike, it is however regarded as a set up point itself and as such does not have a set up point.
Antidote: Place the left hand over the third eye point using mild pressure downwards into the forehead as the right hand applies mild pressure to SP 8.
Healing: Innervation: The cutaneous branch of the saphenous nerve, deeper, the tibial is posterior to the point. Irrigation is by the great saphenous vein anteriorly and the genu suprema artery, posteriorly, the tibial artery and vein. Used for: Abdominal distension, oedema, anorexia, dysentery, irregular menstruation, dysuria, seminal emission, dysmenorrhoea, abnormal uterine bleeding. Traditional Indications: Distension of the abdomen and flanks, oedema, difficult urination, irregular menstruation, colic, haemorrhoids, nocturnal emissions. Traditional Functions: XI CLEFT PT of SP MO so treats acute problems of ST and SP, harmonises the blood, regulates the uterus. Massage: Same as for SP 6. Use with CO 4, KID 13, KID 15, LIV 4, LIV 3, SP 6, CV 4, CV 6, SP 10, BL 18, BL 17, BL 25, BL 23, SP 9 for irregular menstruation. Use with ST 25, CV 4, CV 6, CV 12, BL 20, BL 25, BL 18, BL 21, ST 36, LIV 3, SP 4, SP 9, for abdominal distension, colic, etc.
Applications: 1/. Here we could use one of the Baguazhang methods which makes use of both the feet and hands. As he attacks with perhaps a straight right, your right palm will slam his inner forearm at neigwan, he might attack again with his left hand, so your right palm again slams the inside of his left inner forearm at neigwan as your right heel scrapes down the inside of his right inner lower leg at SP 8. Now you have set up this strike so your right palm attacks to the third eye point. This whole routine has only taken but one second. I hope this has been of some help. Kind Regards Erle.
ST 38 is also quite good, however just a kick will only do physiological damage. To have the desired effect of causing power to be drained from the upper body mainly shoulders and arms, you would have to have some form of internal training so that you could put adverse Qi into the point using your leg. This is not that difficult, it involves pumpung from the lower abdomen as you strike. If this happens during training the antidote which is necessary to restore power to his upper body is ST 12.
Q: Steve, England wrote: Hello Erle I have just ordered MTG3 - Pauchui from Tony Court and have made the decision to learn the entire empty hand part of your system tape by tape. I want to progress step by step , learning all the Taiji , Bagwa , Dim mak and Qigong methods plus all the other fighting methods that you teach. I have totally stopped all other training that I practice and now devote all my training time to your methods as at last I have found " the truth " in internal training.
Weapons training does not really interest me , will this hinder my progress if I do not practice weapons ? Is the San Shou a two person extension of the Pauchui ? I have learned the Yang Lu Chan form but I'm unsure if I need to learn the Yang Chen Fu form as I believe the Yang Lu Chan form is the superior of the two forms and the Yang Chen Fu is a watered down or inferior form in comparison. Am I correct in assuming this ? Please do not think that I am attacking the Yang Chen Fu form as I would never do this. I just believe for martial and healing purposes it does not add anything to the original Yang Lu Chan. What do you think ? Thanks once again for your time and patience and for the generous way you share your knowledge. Sincerest thanks Steve
A: Dear Steve, No, it will NOT hinder your progress at all not learning weapons. I have learned them all over the years and only keep the short stick form and applications.
Yes, Large san-sau is a two person extension of the Pauchui while small san-sau is its own training method also done with or without a partner. Of the two, the small san-sau is the more realistic 'street wise' self defence applications.
Yes, you are correct in assuming that the Yang Lu-ch'an's form is superior, However, often it is easier to learn the Cheng-fu form first. But this is up to the practitioner. Some prefer to do it this way while others do not, preferring to go straight to the top. I still practice Cheng-fu's form as it does have something, he was after all a genius. So I do Cheng-fu's form when I just want to relax and listen to the birds. But then you can do Lu-ch'an's form in this way, leaving out the fa-jing moves. I guess I know Cheng-fu's form better having studied it longer. However, you are correct, having learned the Lu-ch'an form it is hard to go back to the all slow moving form. Kind Regards Erle
Q: Rick, USA wrote: Dear Erle: As a 3-year student of Yang-Style Taijiquan (Yang Cheng-Fu's final Long Form version, coupled with Push Hands), I wonder if weight training is compatible with my Taijiquan practice? I train mostly with dumbbells, and use moderate poundages that allow me to perform my exercises anywhere from 6 to 12 repetitions, in good form, without undue strain. I don't train with heavy weights, or attempt maximum all-out single lifts, such as power lifters perform. I would be most grateful for your opinion and insights. Thank you very much. Respectfully yours, Rick USA
A: Dear Rick, Thanks for your message and questions. I always say, if you want to lift weights then lift them. However, if you want to do Taijiquan or any internal martial art, then do Taijiquan! Weights train adverse muscles for self defence. The best way to get in your weight training is to have a strong partner with whom you can practice push hands using power. You will find that pound for pound, push hands done correctly with power is far superior to dead weight training as it trains all of the correct muscles and groups for self defence. It may not have you looking like Adonis, but it will have you very powerful. Who is strongest, the lumberjack (those who still use and axe!) or the weight trainer? Of course it is the lumberjack because he is doing something that is real, something that the brain can understand WHY he is doing it! Just pumping iron, the brain does not know why you are doing it, as to have a good body is not a good enough reason! However, if you must lift weights, then do it with the martial arts in mind. For instance, we should never hold weights in our hands and punch outwards as this is training adverse muscles. To do this exercise, you should lie on your back and pump upwards etc. Kind regards Erle
Q: Chris Langdon, Australia wrote: > Dear Erle, > 1 People have been saying that they get 'overheated' during 3 circle > qigong. 10 minutes in the upper hand position is more than enough, although > they feel better when they're in the lower hand position. What do you recommend? > 2 They're beginners, so how soon should they be doing the upper > hand position for 20 minutes? > 3 At present we have classes around the Shoalhaven in Nowra, > Currarong and Milton(after Easter) during the week and every morning on the > Shoalhaven river. > Kind regards' > Chris Langdon
A: Dear Chris, When I first began I was put into a qigong stance upper hand position and left there!! So I suggest that if you want to keep students, allow them to do it for less time. However, if you want them to gain the great benefits from this exercise, then have them do it correctly for 10 minutes in the upper hand position and 5 in the lower at the least. Nice to hear from you on the net!! Kind Regards Erle
Q: Buggee338 wrote: > Dear Erle, > I received the tapes you sent me. I could not > believe the material in them. Everything in them > is what I have been looking for. Several questions > have been answered just from view the tapes. I have > spoke to several people relative to your books. Several > of them have called me, after buying them and they are also > happy with the books. Now I have read from the Kyusho List, > people writing about the Mother/son and grandmother of meridians > the 5 element theory and other theories relative to T.C.M, what do they > all mean? I would like the application to join you organization..thanks > for everything! > > Your friend > Jerry,...
A: Dear Jerry, 'mother, son, grandfather, etc., are all acupuncture terms. They do not sit too well in dim-mak though as it is pertinent only to healing in my books. The theory is all explained in my encyclopaedia of Dim-Mak. The five element theory is used to denote which points will affect which other points on other meridians. There is a helpful cycle of five elements and a damaging cycle. It is all to do with acupuncture theory and many have tried to bring it into dim-mak but it just does not work out. Or perhaps it is just that my own level of competence is just not there yet as I have only been practicing for 30 years! You see, they say that if you strike a 'fire' point while holding a 'water' point, they the person will be KO'd!! However we were not made that weak as there are fire and water points very close together on the arm for instance and to simply shake someone's hand would KO someone!! And that just does not happen. I am afraid that these people are not living in the real world, the one you live in! Doing what you and other friends of mine do for a living, you need to know that your methods WORK otherwise it could mean you life. So stick to the ones that you know work and you will be OK. Sure learn about the 5 elements and the cycles etc., out of interest. But do not use that theory in any real situation as it will just not work for you out there in the streets. These guys have their students 'attack' them with some inane attacks and then KO them with a perfectly times and placed strike, but in the street we know that it just does not happen like that! Kind Regards Erle
Q: Peter, USA wrote: Erle, I enjoy all your free articles tremendously and am interested to know more including to healing aspect. You wrote in DIM-MAK INTRICACIES that striking TW 17 will cause death and does not have an antidote. By pressing TW 17 I could conclude that striking to this point is a no no. But you have indicated that it could be used for restraint technique by pressing and pull it toward me. Could you tell me what happen if I pull up, press down, push back, and press in? and also what happen when strike in these directions? Thank you in advance. Peter.
A: Dear Peter, There is only one direction to strike to TW 17 and that is from rear to front and this requires a special method from the Taijiquan. However, when restraining people you can use one finger into this point. Pressing it forward, drains so much energy that the recipient is restrained to the point of going down onto his knees if he is still trying to strike you etc. Kind Regards Erle
Q: From Donald Jeffrey "Soke", USA. Dear Master Montaigue, I have been involved with internal energy for about > 16years, in the martial art's around 30 years, and was impressed with you > recent article in Blackbelt magazine. > > In the article you mentioned how the path of electromagnetic energy in the > head changes from a forward direction to the back. > > Do you have any further information on the flow of electromagnetic energy in > the body and its directions of flow ? (if in one of your books, which one ?) > > You may wish to take a look at my web page at > > http://www.webnova.com/ki > Yours in the > Higher Art's > > Donald P. Jeffrey, Soke / > Kaiden (10th) > 2nd Gen. Headfamily , O' > Kando Ikiru-Ryu > President / > Founder > Ki Development > Assn.
A: Dear Donald, Thank you for your message. There are nine electromagnetic flows in the human body. >From right to left and left to right across the fact from Cheek bone to cheek bone and from eyebrow to eyebrow. Then down and up both sides of the torso, from around the temple area (left only) to above the eyebrow, in a 'C' shape from left eyebrow to lower chin (left only), From upper right side of head to lower left side of abdomen, from both collar bones fanning out over the hip bones, a 'V' shape across the back of the head from his right to left, from rear of head to front over head over the top, straight down the backbone. These are all included in the "nine Qi disruptive katas' which are the original katas from whence all internal systems have came. I have all nine on tape, however No. nine is not for sale until I have it published in book form. Kind Regards Erle. PS, I will take a look at your site.
Q: Andrew King wrote: > Dear Sir-- > > I had a couple of questions that I thought you could answer for me. I > hope you don't mind the questions: > > 1) Is Tai Chi the same thing as Taiji? > > 2) How does Qi Gong differ from either Tai Chi or Taiji (since I don't > know the answer to the first question). > > 3) What is the best way to know whether or not the instructor of Taiji, > Qi Gong, etc.. is the real-deal? > > 4) Last question; I have heard of something call Nei Gung (Taoist Yoga) > have you ever heard of such a thing. If so, what is your opinion. > > I hope it was all right to ask a couple of questions. I thank you in > advance for any time you take to answer my questions. > > Thanks, > Andrew King
A: Dear Andrew, Thank you for your questions.
1/. T'ai chi Ch'uan is the old "Wade Jiles" way of pronouncing the Chinese language. Nowadays we tend to use the Chinese way, that of 'Pinyin'. So Taijiquan or Taiji is the same.
2/. Taijiquan IS qigong, in fact it is the highest level of moving qigong. However, most people's view of qigong is of a static stance with breathing techniques. I always give standing qigong before learning and as one is learning the Taijiquan form as we do not get much from the Taijiquan form in the beginning as we are still thinking about learning etc.. Once the form is learned properly and we do not have to think about it anymore, then Taijiquan begins to heal you. And as you progress through the various levels of Taijiquan (there are five), the greater the healing benefits and also the martial benefits.
3/. Taijiquan was founded as a fighting art. That's what it is! It just so happens that we also gain great health benefits from its practice as those of genius who invented it also knew about the various energy flows of the body, so invented not only a fighting art of the highest level, but also a healing art of the highest level. They considered that it was not good to defend oneself and one's family if he was not well enough to fight! So in looking for a good teacher, it is important that he or she know about the fighting aspects as well as the softer aspects as you can never take one from the other. To do that is like taking night away from day or yin away from yang and either cannot exist without the other.
4/. Taoist Yoga is just another way of saying Dao Yin or Qigong. Qigong is just a newer way of saying Taoist Yoga. Taoist Yoga tends to have more animal postures though than Qigong. Like the 'Tiger' Posture or the 'Turtle Posture' etc. If you look up my book on my web site called "Chinese Self Healing Methods" you will find many such 'Taoist yoga' postures listed there and how to do them. Painting on a cave wall many thousands of years ago in China depicted 'Dao yin' exercises and these were the forerunner of today's qigong exercises.
Kind Regards Erle
Q: R. MARK wrote: > Dear Erle: > > Hello again. I hope all is well. I saw the Shaolin Monks on their > World Tour last night here in Chicago. Real impressive "feats". One > monk invited the audience to come up and strike his abdomen as hard as > they could. 10 men went up and nobody could phase him. Not too hard to > duplicate. However, next he had these same ten men lift a large log and > battleram him in his abs REAL hard. That was impressive. There were > also demonstrations of the monks breaking slabs of concrete and an iron > bar with his head! Also, you saw the non-piercing skin by the rejection > of spears poked at them and lying on sharp swords. I ask you Erle, > What do you think? I now from myself that when I sink and become "full" > in the dan tein I can withstand (with a little neutralizing and > absorption) of full power Thai kicks; but I doubt that I could break > iron bars with my chi-jing-flow. Possible or trickery? Don't get me > wrong. Their weapons and fighting forms are beautiful and spectacular. > They appear to be quite strong, but IRON BARS? I noticed that some of > the wooden poles used to break on their heads, arms, legs, etc. did not > splinter but broke off in little pieces (looked like balsa wood). Have > you ever seen any thing like that before? Is it real?
A: Dear Mark, I have seen all of those so-called feats and indeed I do the old stomach trick quite effectively, and the sword in the neck trick and many others. They are ALL tricks of physics mate! I have not found one person who could do anything that was supernatural as far as objects are concerned. Yang Lu-ch'an once said when asked what men he could not defeat. "men of iron, men of bronze, and men of wood!" Meaning of course that Qi can only ever be used against live people! All of those that you describe are classified as tricks of physics. Kind Regards Erle
Q: Ras5331 wrote: > Greetings from the U.S.! My name is Ras and I am a novice Tai Chi > practitioner. Well, I am having a little trouble. I am getting very confused > as to which "style" of tai chi I should undertake. There are so many: Yang, > Chen, Wu..... I am looking for a style of tai chi that I can get into and use > for self defence and healing. That is very important to me. I want to learn > how to help people and heal ( as crazy as it sounds!). Can you please forward > me some information that can help me in my pursuit? Also, can you recommend > any books/ videos on Tai Chi to me ( I of course plan to join a school. Videos > cannot replace sifus), especially any by Erle Montaigue? > > Thank you for your help! > > Yours truly, > > Ras
A: Dear Ras, Thank you for your message. There are not many teaching Taiji as a self-defence art as opposed to a martial art (they are different!). Any of the Taiji styles can be turned into self-defence arts however, the Original Yang style is the pinnacle of all Taijiquan arts. However, again, not many who say they teach Yang are really teaching Original yang. They teach a watered down form of dance! But if you see the teacher wearing a spiffing little white or black Taiji suit, walk out! A good Taiji instructor must know how to use Taiji for fighting as well as for healing, the two can never be separated. Leave me your address and I will send you free of charge my Beginning Yang style video tape. All of my tapes are very comprehensive and are the next best thing when a good teacher is not around. By the way, it is better not to have any teacher and teach yourself rather than have a bad teacher. Kind Regards Erle Montaigue
Q: Glenn, USA wrote: Dear Erle, I am 52 years old, and although out of shape, otherwise in moderately good health. I would like to take up one of the internal martial arts for health, but desire to have the benefit of the martial applications as well. About ten years ago I studied Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, but only advanced to the intermediate level. I am fortunate to live in the New York metropolitan area, so that a variety of choices taught by legitimate are available. I am torn between T'ai Chi and Ba Gua...which do you think might be the most appropriate for a man in my situation? Thanks in Advance, Glenn.
A: Dear Glen, Most people begin with Taiji as it is regarded as the mother of the other two internal systems. However, it is difficult finding someone who knows the art for self-defence! Either they give you a bunch of postures or techniques and expect them to work in the street, or they do not even know that area! Baguazhang is more difficult to learn as it is just so different to what we perceive the martial arts to be all about. however, if you can find a good teacher, then you would probably be better off learning it than Taiji as you would more likely find someone who also known about the fighting side of Bagwa than of Taiji. That is the only reason that I recommend bagwa over Taiji though. If you COULD find a good teacher of Taiji who knows how to teach it for self-defence as opposed to a martial art, then I would recommend Taijiquan. Perhaps get in touch with Al Krych in NJ. His Email is: 74640.2154@compuserve.com Kind Regards Erle.
Q: C B wrote: I am a former police officer and self defence instructor. I have 19+ years studying Okinawan style Karate. It is only during the past four years that I have learned of and began the teaching Kyusho jitsu. I believe that law enforcement needs this tool. My concerns are these: I have never knocked anyone out during my instruction as I have always felt a little uneasy about doing so even though I know the basic restoration technique. However, I have 'buzzed' students and have found that to do so with a light touch, I invariably need to apply one of the principles of: Cycle of destruction, diurnal cycle, ying and yang or the three hit method. I have gotten students to 'buzz' by.. striking (L-5 while holding L-7 and SI-6), (GB-20), (GB-13,14,15 cluster), and S-9 with a light strike after using a set up off of the three yins (KI,Li,Sp-6 and LI[CO]10) I have seen people KO'd on these and other points under medical supervision with no ill effects. Now I have become even more concerned than before after reading your caveats, esp. to S-9. Although I believe "Death Touch" does exist, I also believe it would take a highly trained individual intentionally 'sealing' a meridian by using one or more of the 'cyclic' paradigms. And although medical research does indicate that 'nerve attacks' are 'for real' much still lies in the realm of 'ancient secrets' categorically.
Q. Although I do not intend to use S-9 again in class, in your opinion could I have done harm with the 'buzz'. The student is fine, it has been several weeks and the reaction was very slight. He stepped back, eyes slightly dilated and after applied restoration told of the typical (for S-9) tunnel vision and disassociation feeling. He never lost consciousness or even stumbled. (I always go easy just to show effect). As I stated I am very careful and have seen the very dangerous S-9 & S-10 combination used as a knock out with no apparent ill effects. (I would never experiment with it myself) I would however appreciate tapping your brain and your library, as I am going to expand my instruction and hope to convince more police to utilize Kyusho BUT IT MUST BE SAFE!! I have just recently begun using the Internet for Kyusho information and I must say your site is amazing!! What you are giving for free is a credit to your sincerity. Well so much for brevity....
A: Dear Ray, Some people have done more damage to the art of Dim-Mak because they over emphasis the acupuncture part. I.e.. the five element theory! There just isn't enough time in the REAL WORLD for that B.S. Just hit the ST 9 point and it will work regardless of whether you strike a fire point first or use a three strike method, that's rubbish! ST 9 is a physiological point that any doctor will tell you about! It is used when someone has extremely high blood pressure and they will only use it in these cases. They lay the person down and get their fingers into ST 9 and tweak it. This is enough to bring the blood pressure down by the action on the cardio inhibitory centre in the brain sending messages via the vagus nerve to the heart to tell it to either slow down or stop momentarily, hence the KO! NO, you have not done any damage by simply 'buzzing' ST 9. It has to be struck as some people do for ego in demonstration etc.. If a lump rises after the strike then the person could be in danger of stroke some years later or right now! As far as police officers are concerned, it must NOT be 'safe' as they are putting their own lives on the line every day! So they have to have the most deadly strikes in order to protect themselves and inevitably their families. In just the same way that I teach my children the most deadly strikes. Better to be up on a charge of excessive force than to be dead! Kind Regards Erle.
Q: Rick, USA wrote: Dear Erle: I find that when I practice my Yang Long Form outside at night (with no lighting, other than the Moon when it's out), my balance is significantly shakier than it is when I practice during the day. Do you have any thoughts on why this is? Thank you in advance. Respectfully yours, Rick, USA
A:Dear Rick, This is a common problem simply due to the fact that we use our eyes too much for everyday balance. Try doing it with you eyes closed! eventually you will rely less upon your eyes and more upon your internal balance etc. Doing it with a blind-fold was one of my tests when I was younger. It's very difficult. The trick is to "think under", i.e.., think of what is under your feet, this will pull the Qi downward so that you will maintain an internal balance rather than an optical balance. Kind Regards Erle
Q: From Dan, USA: Can you tell me your ideas on moving people from a distance.
A: Dear Daniel, Thanks for your message and I am happy that you can glean something from the tapes. Yes, mate, it has been my destiny to debunk these frauds who knock people down from a distance etc..! Only ever do it to their students who play the game and will never do it to me for instance. Their usual excuse is that I have not been trained in their system and that their Qi would kill me! There are 'tricks' that look very real and work upon tricks of physics which I perform to show people how they work, like the sword in the neck trick or the burning of cotton wool from a distance, or the walking on eggs etc.. Think about it, someone shows himself moving a gun to the side using empty force, then comes in with strikes! Why does he have to use strikes? Why not have the gun turn on the attacker! Or why not throw the attacker several metres away? And if he could really do this, how long would it take the US military to offer him millions of dollars to teach their men! It's all auto-suggestion. Get someone who does not know anything about it and does not know what he is supposed to feel or do in reaction to this and nothing will happen. People usually move a little when standing naturally and as soon as they move even one inch, the person using empty force says, "SEE, He moved!" Or they are adept at moving their own body so that people watching do not see them move because they are watching the person. So he then says, "See how the gun is now pointing away from me". Healers CAN use Qi to heal someone from a distance, however it can never be used for self defence or to hurt anyone or especially for demonstration for ego purposes as these people do. Anyone can be a member of the WTBA family just as long as they are a good person etc.. I have been searching for 30 years now for that something special and I have found it. However, it's not moving people from a distance, it's all there in the forms themselves and in the healing area which I have had great success at. There is an old saying. "If you haven't healed you patient before he walks from your door to you, then you aren't a healer". A true master heals by just being there, nothing special , he just has it. The real masters who can do healing from a distance, never advertise this as they would have the whole world at their doorsteps and not living for money as normal people do, they are not concerned with this area. Those who would do it for money advertise it greatly and are usually charlatans. My only advise to you is to check them out for yourself but be really careful that the use of auto-suggestion does not come into it. And remember, that if someone can move you using Qi power even one inch, then there is absolutely no difference in moving you ten feet! So why not do that as it is more spectacular. And if someone manifests a diamond ring (as many do) out of the air, why not build hospitals and schools? As there is no difference in manifesting these to a ring! I have travelled the world looking for the next super-man in the hope that perhaps he will have something but I have always been disappointed. But not disappointed in my own art as it is really special in simply being normal! Kind Regards Erle >
I have a standing challenge to anyone who can even move me so much as one inch without touching me. I will bow down to them and call them master! But it must be done under scientific testing with media present! And in 30 years, I have never called anyone master other than my own teachers who I had chosen. If Chang Yiu-chun could not do this, if Yang Sau-chung could not do this, two of the greatest masters of the internal ever, then who can? We in the west seem to need these spectacular so-called super-natural feats to convince us that the internal arts are great, but in China, they do not need these stupid things, they laugh at such practices. Do not waste your time trying to do something that you cannot, look for the special things that you cannot see yet as you are not seeing the wood for the trees. People can receive great benefit from simply doing REAL Taijiquan, and I stress, 'real'. But they spend their lives searching for something that will turn them into super-man. I did it but thankfully, found out soon enough to develop my own art to a high level so that I could then see that the normal art is miraculous!
Q: Jeremy wrote: Erle Montaigue wrote: > Just hit him in the neck mate, this will stop any maniac!! > > Kind Regards > > Erle > In your opinion, who would be a more dangerous opponent to face on the street ( both of you unarmed) A high-ranking martial artist (striker or grappler, what-ever!') or a homicidal maniac? This may seem strange but I'm trying to get verification on a thought I'm having! Later Gator
A: Mate, definitely the homicidal maniac. In fact ANY good streetwise fighter is always the most dangerous, simply because he does not care what you do to him as he has done it all, so he thinks, so he is not wary of you to begin with and his fighting methods are not logical! Kind Regards Erle
Q: Steve wrote: Dear Erle, Could you recommend some internal exercises or Qigong methods for strengthening the body for combat. I think that anyone who believes that if attacked by multiple numbers they will escape without getting hit is being very stupid. Are there ways of conditioning the body in preparation for this ? I've heard of Iron Shirt ( even though I do not know what it is ) and various other methods like striking your body with sand bags etc but what are your thoughts on this. Is it possible to strengthen your body in this way ? kindest thanks Steve
A: Dear Steve, Yes, the most common way to do this is by training in iron shirt qigong. You are able through both physical and qigong methods to withstand attacks to vulnerable areas of the body. However, I must stress, that it is impossible to build up areas such as the neck, face, head etc. Iron shirt is really good in the torso area. So at least you do not have to worry about that area, you can concentrate upon protecting your head and neck. Better to firstly learn how to defend yourself properly without iron shirt. Kind Regards Erle
Q: R. MARK wrote: Dear Erle: Hey mate! I hope all is well. What are your thoughts on cross training? I often find by doing the internal arts I feel powerful and great inside and structurally, but my muscle tone has decreased a bit. What are your thoughts on exercises like push ups, sit ups, pull up, jogging, etc to keep muscle tone? Do you do any of these? Also, what kind of ginseng do you drink? Best regards, Ron
A: Dear Ron, Thanks for your message. Mate, if you are doing any internal system then you do not need ANY other cross training! If you aren't getting much muscle toning from your art, then you should go to another teacher! My arms are usually to the point of falling off after a good hard push hands session or a good hard san-sau session! Even the fa-jing forms give your body a total isometric workout to the point where the next morning you KNOW that you have done a good muscle workout.
The internal martial arts are not all slow and calm, They are violent at times. There are two kinds of exercise, passive and active. Those that are passive are things like push ups or working out with weights etc. These are deleterious to the martial arts training because the sub-conscious brain does not know why you are doing them, as there is really no reason to do them. You are not doing any kind of work really, as work involves having a valid reason for doing the exercise. So if you want to do exercise, then you must do 'active' exercise like for instance if you had to chop wood for the fire, this would be a good active exercise because you have some reason for doing it.
The sub-conscious brain does not consider body building as a valid reason to do exercise so the muscles are pumped up but do not become powerful! Look at a lumber jack's body (back in the days when lumber jacks were real and did not use machinery), his body is not so-called 'beautiful', but he is very powerful because his brain causes his body to be powerful for the work he is doing. Ego is not a valid reason to have big muscles so the brain will not give them to you. Push hands and any other exercise that involves doing something for a reason, like defending yourself, is a valid active exercise and will produce the right muscle tone for the correct job. So cross training is an oxy-moron in this case.
About the ginseng, how do you drink ginseng? It's a root! The only way to eat ginseng is to get the pure root and suck on it. Do not take tablets or in liquid form. However you must know what to look for. If there is any white on the root, then do not buy it. It must have a dark brown colour with some red bits. The smell must be strong and sweet smelling and the taste must be bitter/sweet. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: Canada: I was re-watching one of newer videos and you talked about five element theory at one point and made a joke about how did you get water from metal? Someone off-camera offers that it's because metal is liquid when smelted -- which is true, of course. Mercury in particular was a prized ingredient in many Taoist "pills" because it can exist as both a solid (cinnabar) and a liquid (quicksilver) at room-temperature. However, there's another explanation for this less-than-logical connection: the ancient Chinese Taoist priests/shamans used to put large bronze mirrors out in the early morning to collect dew as this water was supposed to be particularly refined liquid Qi -- hence metal producing water. Is there an "official" listing of the names of the postures in Large San-sau and if there is can you email me a copy so I can add it to my handbook.
A: Dear Mike, Thanks for that information. I will look up the names for the large san-sau movements and post them on the site. Kind Regards Erle
Q: Peter wrote: Erle, The tape is working out OK, thanks again! There is a Chinese fellow here in my city teaches the 24 Chinese standard forms (empty hand and sword). But he doesn't teach the martial application. Once you finish he send you on your way. He also claims to teach the "Iron stomach" Qi kung. He demonstrates that with the point of the Taiji sword in his stomach then bends it to show that he is not cut by it. What I was wondering was what so special about that? I have seen how flexible a Taiji sword is. I want to know if he could do the same thing with my kitchen knife. Peter.
A: Dear Peter, I have just had a TV show done on me where I debunk many of the so-called super-human feats of strength! Including the sword in the neck! It is easy to do and I can do it to any child or woman who has never done martial arts! I can even do it wit the sword up against a wall so that the holder is not able to adjust the sword with his hands as is the case in most of the se tricks. But into the belly is the easiest! I have seen all of the tricks of the trade mate, and not one I could not replicate! I burn cotton wool at ten paces, and walk on eggs and punch while holding an egg, all tricks. You, right now could pull a motor car that is attached to your back by steel pins! All tricks. You could right now, have a steel pin thrust through your elbow and lift a bucket of water on it! All tricks. Kind Regards Erle
Q: Peter, Canada wrote: Dear Erle, I have watched the form tape last night, I love it! It may seem strange, somehow the Yang Lu-Ch'un form bring all my silat and kali training into context. How would I describe the feeling? If I could draw a picture, it would look like Yang Lu-ch'un Taijichuan in the middle with steel threads extending out to connect with each of the art I have trained in. I see the silat Jurus and principles, I see the context of kali hand drills. And I also see all the principles of Bruce Lee's JKD. A nagging question came to my mind, where did Bruce Lee get all his stuff? I suspect...... Erle, with all your knowledge and experiences in tricks. May be you should write a book or articles explaining the principles of how all these tricks work. Expose the secrets of the martial magicians! Peter.
A: Dear Peter, Remember that Bruce Lee was well versed in Taijiquan. However, it was simply the fact that he was such an innovator and a martial genius. He HAD to come to what he came to. One of my late friends, Ed Parker once said to me that Bruce Lee would see him (Ed Parker) do a move that had taken him 10 years to perfect. Bruce would do it once and do it as good as Ed, then he would do it again and do it better! He was certainly a phenomenon in his short life! Kind regards Erle.
PS, I have performed tricks at tournaments in public and have jumped up at seminars where someone is doing these stupid tricks and challenged them to allow ME to push the sword, or knife or to push me over without touching me just the same way that Bruce Lee used to, but they still keep coming back generation after generation!
Q: Dear Erle: This is not a question, but an observation. In a number of your answers to people in your Q & A sections, you state that such manifestations of Qi as resisting sword and knife blades, and producing diamond rings out of thin air, are nothing more than tricks. I couldn't agree with you more. As one interested in sleight-of-hand magic, I could produce a diamond ring, or a coin, or a small ball, etc., "out of thin air" -- not by Qi, but by rudimentary magician's sleights. As another example, there is also a popular magician's trick wherein you (apparently) visibly pierce the skin of your arm with a large, sharp, foot- long knitting needle, and blood spurts out of the holes; then you withdraw the needle and your arm is healed. And this can be done right under the spectators' noses, and is totally convincing when done correctly. What magic power causes this amazing thing to happen? Highly refined Qi? No, a magician's prop that costs around $20.00, coupled with plenty of rehearsal. And which, in actuality, causes not a scratch on the magician's arm.
Take it from me, there are quite a few VERY clever inventors of magician's props and illusions; and quite a number of magic shops and dealers who sell them to anyone with the money. As far as Tai Chi masters being able to fling attackers about like playing cards merely with hand gestures, with no contact, this, of course, is just show. Would the loyal students of such a master dare to stand in front of him and merely laugh as he waved his palm? Not, I suppose, if they wanted to remain his students. I also find it curious that, whenever such masters are asked by outsiders to demonstrate this feat, the masters always refuse. Either their Qi could "seriously harm" the outsider, or the weather conditions aren't right, or the sunspot activity is too heavy, etc. I think such trickery has done much to harm Tai Chi's status as a martial art, causing it to be looked upon as some New Age hand-waving occult magical art. (Just think, do a few serene, effortless exercises and you, too, can send muggers flying in all directions with a mere wave of your Qi-charged hand!) Sorry about being so long-winded here, but I think your exposing of these exhibitions as the tricks and frauds they are is a very good thing for Tai Chi. Sincerely, Rick Helley, USA
Q: R.on wrote: Dear Erle: I love this website. More health articles, more main articles, more articles from the past, please. Erle, I have a friend with knee and ankle problems and is having problems when sinking and shifting the weight in the bow and arrow stance when doing the forms. Any suggestions? Thanks again, Ron
A: Dear Ron, Thanks for your kind words. The trick in moving the foot with the weight placed onto it, is to have the weight placed onto the heel which leaves the toes free to turn pivoting on the heel which puts no strain onto the leg by trying to twist it etc. Many people have this problem and it is always the same remedy. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: Keith USA, wrote: Fascinating! So you're saying that the Taiji sword form has more than just "fencing" moves of cut, thrust, and parry? Would the sword tip when using fajing to cut electromagnetic/acupuncture actually cut skin or be used to set up finishing blows? Thanks, Keith Boggess
A: Dear Keith, Only at a very advanced level, the tip of the sword is used in three ways. To slash and cut vital organs, to upset electromagnetic lines throughout the body as a set up for other strikes, and to cut the skin's surface in order to cut through many vital points, such as an 'L' shaped cut down the side of the neck! Kind Regards erle
Q: James USA, wrote: Mr. Montaigue, I recently purchased two videos from you, dim-mak intricacies and the old style yang lu'chan style form. I am learning a lot and really enjoy learning the lu'chan form. The martial art I initially learned is "hard" but I have always thought the "soft style" forms where more mysterious, of course you explain everything and it is greatly appreciated by everyone who has viewed any of your tapes or been to one of your seminars. I intend to order more tapes in the near future. I have some questions, how do you become a member of the W.T.B.A. ? also a licensed instructor in your style ? Now a "tai-chi trivia" question, in the 1980's I recall reading about a white male who won a full contact tournament in .... I believe Hong Kong, his style was tai-chi and it was compared (here in the states) to a Chinese or Japanese coming to the states, entering professional baseball and breaking the "home run record". It seems I recall he stated " I improved in my fighting when I realized I was trying to hard and I just relaxed. I can not recall his name and would appreciate if you could advise me on this. Thanks in advance. respectfully, James U.S.A
A: Dear James, Your address is still Atison TN? I will have our Secretary send you a WTBA joining form. The only criteria is that you have to have been studying a martial art and that you take out the WTBA's quarterly magazine "Combat & Healing" at $25.00 per year. To become a WTBA instructor is a little more difficult. We have to see you doing things. So at such a distance, it will have to be via the video tape medium, unless you can get up to see one of our instructors, perhaps Al Krych in NJ? You simply put yourself down onto video tape and we view it, then the office bearers vote on your inclusion as a WTBA instructor. There is no charge for this service, no charges for gradings (as in other schools). However, we do maintain a high standard with many instructors over the years being asked to leave the WTBA for various reasons. And many have been rejected outright! That person was probably Dan Docherty, a large policeman who was at the time living in Hong Kong and working as a copper. He's a nice man and doesn't take any B.S. from those who would claim to be superhuman, as with myself, "Do it on me", then I might believe! He was a full contact fighter before he discovered Taijiquan and began winning two years after his training began. He is the only one that I know of though. He now lives and teaches in the UK and is still quite outspoken doing things like pouring glasses of water over the heads of those who claim outrageous superman feats etc.! Kind Regards Erle.
Q: James, Canada wrote: Dear Erle:First off I'd like to say I find your website very informative and interesting and I enjoy it very much. I have two questions for you:(1) When Pressure point hitting how do the bio-chemicals of the body (adrenaline & endorphins) effect the end result of hitting a particular Dim Mak point. e.g. When hitting a point that would cause immediate extreme pain, wouldn't the endorphins kick in enabling the person to continue?(2) My next question is, in comparison to Taiji, how would you rate the Wing Chun system when it comes to combat. My particular lineage of Wing Chun comes from a country mate of yours, Grandmaster William Cheung. Although my Sifu's way of doing things differs from Grandmaster Cheung's methods, the principals are still the same.I've been studying Wing Chun for 10 years now and I'm a full instructor of the system. I'm curious to hear your opinion because I believe the W.C. system is the most effective for combat, while you believe the Taiji is the most effective. Good fortune to you and your family, keep up the great work. JAMES , ONT.,CANADA
A: Dear James, Thank you for your message. No, endorphins would not matter. They sure kick in as you say, however, it is not just pain that is caused by dim-mak strikes. When there is pain, during dim-mak strikes, there is also great energy drainage causing the recipient to lose all power, so even if the pain goes away, the power loss is still there often causing him to fall down! William Cheung is an old friend of mine. Wing Chung and Taiji have a lot in common and both are very effective methods when LEARNT CORRECTLY! There is a lot of rubbish out there in both systems! I have seen wing chun practitioners who when they strike you, you do not even feel it because they have practiced at getting extreme speed and have lost power! Then I have seen so called masters of Taiji who could not defend themselves against an ant! So stick with your wing chun as you have come thus far. All I might suggest is that you take on some qigong as this would give you some internal aspect. Kind Regards Erle
Q: -----Original Message----- From: Steve: EnglandTo: montaigue@ozemail.com.au Date: Thursday, June 04, 1998 8:07 PM Subject: PROGRESSION >Dear Erle > > Just a quick question. As you already know I have taken the decision to >learn your entire system , form by form , every qigong and every fighting >method. This will obviously take me years but as I'm still only thirty I'm >hoping that if you make no more tapes I should have completed everything >before my seventy fifth birthday !!!! >The question I have is if a person like myself decides to start from the >beginning , learning the basics , like the Cheng Fu form , Lu chan form , >basic push hands , Bagwa etc , will this way of doing things be of a >greater benefit in the way I advance in my skills and knowledge. I know >for example that some people just purchase your specific Dim Mak titles and >do not study the basics or the forms. Or some people just concentrate on >the Qi disruption methods or the newest tapes that you produce. >Even though it is very tempting to do this I honestly believe that if I >start at the beginning and work through the system at my own pace , >learning new things as and when I am ready ,from the earliest tapes upwards >surely this will give me so much benefit in the future !!!! >What do you think ? > >cheers > >Steve >
A: Dear Steve, Only learning dim-mak is like learning how to change the gears on a car but never learning how to turn the key in the ignition! This is the problem with many of the harder stylists who discover dim-mak and try to add it to their systems, it just does not work properly until they learn at least the basics of where the art came from! Most forward thinking karate people for instance, sooner or later discover this aspect and begin at the beginning. I have many many highly ranked karateka who have done this and although they might go backwards for a short time, eventually they catch back up and go ahead like the proverbial steam train now that they have the basics of the internal methods. Dim-mak does NOT work properly without some kind of internal work and that usually involves Qigong or Taijiquan. The reason is that it is not WHAT you know but HOW you know and if you learn correctly in the beginning, even though it may take a little longer, the art will teach you. It only SEEMS as if there are SO many tapes of mine but really, once you begin to learn and the art begins to teach you, you will find that they are easy to understand and the more advanced ones often say the same things only in different ways. Kind Regards Erle
Q: From Serge, Russia: Dear Mr. Erle ! First of all, excuse me for my not so good English... I write this letter to you, because I seems to me that you are very "open", benevolent man ( I understood this after my investigations of your web site). It is a little about me. I am forty years old. I am engineer working in the field of telecommunications in the state company in St. Petersburg. Twenty years ago I studied karate, had the certain successes and participate in official competitions. Then because of the different reasons I had to interrupt my studies. Afterwards I was very much interested in internal styles. All was begun from Russian edition of the Sun Lutan's book. Unfortunately this variant of the book contains not so good pictures, though the translation not so is bad. For example, for the Snake form is present only 4 (!) Figure. Now I have only this book. I understand, that the main advise from your will be to find a good instructor. Unfortunately to find the good instructor practically it is impossible, as in my country the Bagwa in not well known style. And the teaching in Russia for the good teacher (from China or America) is not so profitably. And my purposes are not so high. I don't want to be a very great master. All that I want, so it to execute some base forms and to be pleased life. I found on your site very useful book about Bagwa. Unfortunately, there are not any photo... I don't have possibility to buy any book on-line, because I don't have any international credit cards ( it's very typical situation for a lot of Russian people now ) and I earn not more than 300 $ per month... I very important for me because now I decide to stop smoke and, again, to start a new, normal life.. If if possible, could your help me and send me some additional photos or pictures for your book ? ( or may be any additional information about execution some Bagwa forms...). And answer to my questions, please.... 1. Are the Sun Lutan's "Eight Animals forms" the same forms, which were taught by Tung Hai Chuan ( original style) ? I heard that Cheng Ting-Hwa and Yin Fu have changed Tung Hai Chuan style for themselves ? ??? 2. Whether has Sun Lutan's forms other name - "Old Palms" ? 3. And why we are needed to learn two forms - circular ( for improving body movements) and linear ( for fighting ). It seems to me that the movements of "circular" form have many differences on comparison with "linear" form and they very applicable for fighting... In my opinion the mind of Bagwa in circular movements.... Thanks a lot and best regards, Sincerely, Serge P.S. Please, help me, if it possible...
A: Dear Serge, Thank you for your message. Leave me your address and I will send to you free of charge my basic Bagwa video tape MTG4. I hope that you have access to a VCR? The Bagwa book has not as yet been published in physical form, hence there not being any photos as yet. And to publish all of the photos on my site would take up too much room! Sun Luc-tang learnt the same forms as invented by Tung Hai-chuan. Yes, Tung's form HAD to be changed as it was only eight separate movements so people like Chiang Jung-chiao changed to form to incorporate the original forms of Tung but also to make them more formal and in a continual form. As far as I know, the names of the postures stay the same. All of the movements in the circular form are included in the linear or fighting form. The circular form is to get us moving in a manner that is conducive to self-defence without disrupting the sub-conscious mind. When we think about martial movements, it blocks the mind from teaching us the correct movement, hence the reason and need for the two forms. One to learn how to move, the other to teach us about fighting. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: Andrew To: Erle Montaigue Date: Thursday, June 11, 1998 6:03 AM Subject: About Breathing >Mr. Montaigue-- > >First of all I want to say thanks for responding to my inquiry. I am >grateful for the info you have shared with me. I hoped you wouldn't mind >answering some question(s) about breathing. > >1) I understand that while practicing Taiji breathing should be nose only, >however when actually applying the principles to combat should the breathing >remain nose only? > >2) I have been told that depending on the strike you are using and the >target you are hitting, you should alter your breathing to "tune-in" to the >proper Chi for the strike. This was only explained to me briefly but I will >try to give an example, if you are trying to hit a certain meridian with a >certain weapon (palm of hand) then your breathing should also slightly >change, like the sound you make when breathing out. I was curious if some >one was telling me the truth or feeding me a line. If he was telling the >truth could you please explain it better. > > > >Thanks for your insight. > >Andrew
A: Dear Andrew, Form practice and fighting are two completely different things. We do form to gain the necessary movement and co-ordination of mind and body necessary for fighting. So when we do form, we breathe through the nose only. This is unless you are doing form either for a 'tonic' whereby we breathe in through the mouth and out the nose, or as a cleansing method whereby we do the reverse. When we strike, we use fa-jing, the most powerful striking method of any martial system. Here we use a reverse breath, and exhale out of the mouth making a sound like 'pah'. As for the different breathing methods for different meridians!! This is rubbish as you simply do not have time enough to think about what breathing method you will use in a real situation where your life is threatened! We simply put adverse Qi in to the meridian or point by using fa-jing and the breathing method associated with fa-jing. Fa-jing is an advanced method of striking whereby we generate a tremendous amount of power over a short distance, which is the distance you have in a real situation. You do not have time to draw back your fist etc.. Adverse Qi will be put in and will affect any meridian regardless of the breathing technique. So there is only one breathing method for fa-jing which makes it easier! Kind Regards Erle
Q: -----Original Message----- From: Karel, Czech Republic: To: montaigue@ozemail.com.au Date: Tuesday, June 16, 1998 12:38 AM Subject: Hello from Zlin - Czech republic Dear Erle, Many greetings from Karel - Zlin, Czech republic. I have received nine videos and one book (QI) from you. (with Zdenek Kurfurst help). All is O.K., thank you. All is really great as well as plenty of super information. Last two years my life is concentrated almost only on my family, work and Taiji. And therefore I very appreciate any good information. Answers on the most of my questions I try to find during my practicing or better is to say with help of my practice (it is the best way as I feel) and in your web articles and now also from your book and videos. Well, but when I am writing you, I am attaching also some of my recent questions and I hope that you will have time to answer.
1.I try to practice according to your recommendations, but sometimes I have no time for everything what I want to do. What do you prefer in this case. qigong or forms? For instance: sometimes I have only 30 minutes. Is it better stand in position or practice the form? (Sooner I preferred form but now I eager for qigong)
2.And during Qigong is it better to stand in one position as long as possible or to change positions. (I feel when I stand in one position 30 or 40 minutes and next day in different position that my progress is better and also looking at my watch is not necessary. But it is only my feeling from short practicing and I do not know if it is correct.)
3. Is it good when I try to stand in one position longer period of time (1 hour and more)? And is there any reasonable time limit?
4.You suggest to practice the YANG slow forms three times (fast,medium and slow). Do you mean that there is no any break between or is it possible to practice for instance firstly fast and medium forms and than small, large pauchui, stick and the slow form on very end of my training?) And the last question:
5.I have found on the web your logo Erle Montaigue's fa-jing Chuan. Is it possible to use this logo on T-shirts only for me and for my training friends? - no business naturally. and I also do not want any walking advertisement money from you! (just kidding) That is all. I wish you and your family good travel to Wales and I hope that after some time I visit you in your new home as it not so far from Czech republic. P.S. This year again (in August) we have one week training camp with Francois Hanry. I am looking forward because he is very good man and training with him is great. Best regards Karel Nuhlicek
A: Dear Karel, If you do not have much time, I would suggest that you always do your Qigong. The reason is that it takes many years to perfect form to get it to the level of standing Qigong. If you only have a short amount of time every day, then I would suggest alternating Qigong and form. You cannot go past normal 3 circle standing Qigong. However, if you wish it is also beneficial to change the hand positions to represent the "Mother or Yin" hand, the "Father or Yang" hand, The "Daughter or small yin hand", and the "Son, or Small Yang" hand. These can be done in any of the four main positions of; over the crown, hugging the tree (chest height, Navel, and the Tantien position. The only reason to stand in one position in the beginning, is to get used to the pure 'physicalness of the stance', after, it is necessary so that you can get only 30 seconds of it correct! Once you are getting it correct all the time, you can cut down the time standing in Qigong stance. After all, Qigong is essentially an internal exercise. So once you can do it, and I mean really DO IT, you would only perform a longer Qigong in order to keep the physical toning good. When you are doing so much training, I would suggest that you do the three forms with a break of 2 minutes in between on one day, then do all of your other forms like stick etc., on the next day. This is not important however. But it is important to at least have done the medium form practice. Yes, that is OK to use the logo as you are 'a WTBA member'. I agree, Francois is a good man and a wonderful student and instructor Kind Regards Erle
Q: From: Andrew: USA Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 1998 3:25 AM To: Erle Montaigue Subject: Thanks Mr. Montaigue-- Thanks for responding to my question. I had a feeling that the thing about making different sounds when striking was bullshit, but I thought I would check. At first I thought energy (Chi) disruption was crap too, but I soon learned otherwise. I did have another question if you don't mind: A lot of Gung Fu guys make a big deal out of Iron Palm training. Do you believe it to be a worth while training method? And does it build Chi in the limbs as some suggest? I really don't know anything about it, other than what one or two guys told me. I was also curious if you have in students here in the Midwest/Great Lakes Area of the USA. I would like to visit him sometime. Thanks, Andrew
A: Dear Andrew, It depends upon which 'iron palm'. If it is the type where you smash your palms into iron filings or sand etc., then it's not good! All that does is to cause you to have hands that are unusable! If it is the Bagwa type of iron palm, then sure that works fine. You still have hands that you can use, with an outward appearance of 'cotton' while inside they are like iron. Bagwa gains 'iron palm' by the use of your own body and your mind. The peculiar way in which we hold the palms and what the mind does, sends the Qi into the palms in particular, as Bagwa only uses palms for the most part. You want to know about palms, the Bagwa is the art. Mid-West? Give me some cities and I will see. We have a good teacher in MN if that is any good. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: From: Steve Sent: Saturday, June 27, 1998 6:29 PM To: montaigue@ozemail.com.au Subject: TACTICS and QI DISRUPTION Dear Erle In the first Qi disruption form , the actual Qi disruption method used is the two hands moving across the opponents face. When you teach the form you keep the left hand on top from start to finish yet when you demonstrate the technique with a partner , you keep the left hand on the bottom as this seems easier to grab the neck for the next attack. Near the end of the tape MTG101 you explain the correct way is for the left hand to start underneath the right arm for the first " wave " and then to move above the right arm for the second " wave ". This is the way I am currently practising the form with left hand starting underneath the right and finishing on top. Is this correct and can I presume from the way you change the hands in the tape that as long as the movement is executed correctly with speed and faijing , then it is irrelevant which hand goes on top or underneath ? This question is something that I have always wondered .... Whenever I see a man who looks aggressive and is a lot larger and heavier than me , I always ask myself would I be able to protect myself if he was to attack me. What advice would you give eg targets to aim for , tactics to adopt ? Have you ever been attacked for no reason ? Half the problem with your system ( if you can call it a problem ) is the fighting methods you teach are so dangerous and I hope to God that I never have to use it against anyone but the confidence it brings knowing that I am able to protect my loved ones in these dangerous times we live in is more than worth the hard training it takes to understand your teachings. thanks for everything Steve
A: Dear Steve, Of course, if you CAN talk it down that's the best way. However, never be afraid to use the most deadly methods when attacked, if you are in the right! The Reptilian brain is far stronger than the most aggressive bouncer. And yes, I have had to use what I know on several occasions when I was younger and more stupid. If you can reach his neck then I always teach ST 9, that is the best strike for anyone, children and all. If you cannot reach the neck, if he is very tall, then a quick shot to the side of his knee will do the trick. LIV 13 and GB 24 area also good points lower down on the torso. I recommend that you only learn five points and train in them for hours at a time so that if and when the crunch comes you will have those points as reflex actions and will not have to think about them. However, you must make sure that you have the willingness to kill when doing any of these shots as your life could depend upon it!
The way you are doing the disruption in No. 1 is correct. Kind Regards Erle.
Questions & Answers 2.