SUCCESS STORIES

From Jim Hegarty New Zealand

From David Long:

My 'story' is mostly about my experience with the Bagua Essentials series. I started Bagua with the Basic Tape(MTG4) and Erle was kind enough to send a complimentary copy of Bagua Essentials 1 with it. It was really good for me, because I had a whole lot of trouble with keeping my balance when walking and doing the form.  I later got a copy of Bagua Essentials 2, which dealt specifically with the circular walking. For those of you who are just starting out, don't neglect the circular walking...focusing on it will do wonders for your form training, since it trains your 'post'.  In the beginning, the entire training experience was rather frustrating, since I lost my balance many a time, but after a few months(yes, months, not days!) I began to get the hang of it, and training became more enjoyable (but still far from perfect!). For anyone who's bothered to read this, don't be discouraged if you feel like you won't 'get it', because you will, with practice!

The remaining 3 volumes in the Essentials series(last one coming tomorrow I think) pleasantly surprised me, because I thought that the more intricate movements would throw me off balance all over again.  In fact, the more advanced fa-jing shakes and spiraling movements have seemed to help me build a more stable base! For instance, I used to have a big problem with the posture 'Flock Of Wild Geese Bursts Out' as well as outside turns in the circle walking because I twisted only my hips and not my waist. In the intricate form, the posture is done with an added up-down spiraling movement. This taught me to use my waist as well and I can twist back all the way to the centre of the circle.

The posture applications were absolutely invaluable, so I really recommend not skipping the Essentials series to go straight to the Bagua To The Max tapes. There was a time when I wanted to go as advanced as possible as fast as possible(bad choice!), but I learned(mostly by frustration) to really 'get into' the level I'm at now and focus more on quality.  I have a similar philosophy regarding self defense. Many experts believe that a good system is one that you can use after just one lesson.  I don't believe this is wrong, but I figured that since my life isn't in immediate physical danger, why not spend a bit more time and invest in something more effectively?  Anyway, back to the applications: The main benefit of the apps to the form itself(for me) is that the apps teach you what body parts to focus your intent on.  For instance, in the 'Rooster Stretches Out' posture, I used to focus on the lower hand as a strike to the groin, with the other hand's fingers pointing into your waist just to look 'nice'. After watching the application, I learned that the intent should be both on the lower hand striking to the groin as well as the other elbow, striking into the torso(hence the finger position). Other small(but important!) details were similarly gleaned from the apps.

Why did I write this? No particular reason...just wanted to share my experience :)

Dear Nick, (One of our WTBA Instructors in Wales)
I have spent many years being taught how to defend/attack people but our style of taiji is the
ultimate.This is coming from a shy family man who has spent tours of the Falklands and Northern Ireland,and
I am E mailing you to thank you for brining this wonderful art to Margam,I had high blood pressure and
asthma prior to training in taiji but have been off the tablets and inhaler since starting (I do qigong
every day )my blood pressure is now 120/80,and no-one had better mess with me(they would be pretty stupid to
do anyway!)but just a message to say thanks,as I can't do it up front(I've got a reputation you know).See you
after work on Wednesday.
All the best
HUW.
______________________________________________________________________________________

Byron UK:

When I came to see you for the 1st time in mar 98 in Manchester, I had read
some of your literature and actually came to be healed, but did not say
anything. I am now healed. I now enjoy my training more than drink. Thanks.

Kind regards

Byron

Charles: UK

dear Erle i just wanted to tell you of the fantastic improvement in my tendonitis problem since stopping tea at first it was agony but the health shop where i go agreed with what you said and gave me some herbal tea with none of the draw backs but that is not used very often its also improved the mood swings though they were not bad i used to get irritable without a cup of tea you have helped me so much your advice about grief sapping my strength and letting me take my grading your advice on health show you are the complete teacher. It's so nice to have good news to email you with
 i pray it will give you a warm feeling in your heart to know the gifts you have passed on to me your respectful student Charles.

Basha: USA

Hello Erle, I have a little interesting story to tell you about my
experience on fasting.  It was Wednesday in my networking class that I
decided to get 2 dozen doughnuts to support the senior class.  I thought
"Hey I love doughnuts, I can eat 6 and give some away".  Well up to that
point I was thinking off and on whether I should go on the "food for
spirit" diet.  The next mourning I decided to go on the diet not
realizing doughnuts are going to be delivered the day after.  I told my
neighbor that I was on the short fast and he said "Didn't you order
doughnuts?".  I remembered that and for about an hour I was craving
doughnuts. That day was a little hard but I went through it quite well.
The next mourning I realized the benefits one by one.  I had a fresh
mourning and did not feel a need to go back to sleep after waking up at
5.  Before that mourning, I fell back asleep every mourning after being
on drugs after the wisdom teeth operation.  That was another one of the
reasons to go on the diet, eliminate the effects of the drugs I was on,
and fortunately it worked.  On that Friday mourning, my mind was clear, I
wasn't hungry, and I was less tense than usual.  During the day, I
didn't need to crack my back as much as I usually do.  I also prepared
the lemon water formula in case of headaches the day after.  That night
while I was slicing lemons, I felt like I was tasting the lemons with my
fingers!  It was really interesting.  The fast ended when I had some
dates, raisins, and an apple that night.  The food was just SO GOOD.  I
also told my mom about the fast that night (she lives in California).  I
told her about gradually reducing meat in my diet so I can produce
protein instead.  Then she reminded me of something I use to eat when we
lived in Japan, natto.  The fermented soybean that has more protein than
tofu has and even has live enzymes living in it.  So the next day I went
out to the martial art supply to buy 2 more of your titles (they are
awesome, of course) and then to the store I went to when I was 5.  The
place called "Koko's" was a oriental food store that my Japanese step dad
use to take my mom and I to on occasions.  My mind was so clear that I
remembered almost exactly where it was.  I got the beans and some brown
rice and had some that night.  The next mourning I had a little bit of
mucus from my eyes and nose to get rid of, but nothing serious.  I'm
going to try using fresh cracked wheat next time.  Well during the last
few days I had no problem with joints or headaches probably because of
the high content of potassium in the dates (I had a lot of them).  It was
really rewarding to have an experience like that for the first time,
thank you very much.

From Simon: Australia:

I had a huge session with Keith tonight & we went through the first 6 moves of the Stick Form with some helpful corrections from him. I can't stress just for your own
knowledge on a WTBA level what a brilliant teacher Keith is, he is warm,
gentle, caring, humane & extremely knowledgeable about the Internal arts. I
wanted you to know that from this student he's a boon to the WTBA! & here's
why.

I decided I am not going to seek *other* training after all as tonight was
such a huge session. I asked Keith about the deeper aspects of the Martial
training & he showed me an entire slew of things after class, some of which
included the 2nd Qi disruptive which he work shopped last week & frankly I am
just going to focus all my energy on Taijiquan. It was merely that I was
keen to understand at what point certain things are taught & how best to be
a well rounded fighter.

Keith was quick to explain that what we are learning is quite abstract
rather than linear because the brain needs to be tricked into learning how
to *really* fight. Basically he made piles of sense & explained the
importance of just getting things focused in all these separate areas that
we train in. In short it's all there right in front of us just that
sometimes we can't see the forest for tree's! Keith is a great teacher! With
Keith you are always overflowing with information, I turned up 40 minutes
early to class & he began helping me with the Stick Form. He stayed nearly
40 minutes after class out of his own time showing me advanced applications
which convinced me that I don't need anything else or supplemental training,
I'm sure you feel this way too.

From Mark: UK:

From: "Mark" 
To: <montaigue@ozemail.com.au>
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2000 11:58 PM
Subject: Fwd: Re: blood sugar

dear Erle , thanks for previous advice ,, i made it to Wednesday  on fruit , mainly apples , and yes, fruit surely works wonders especially apples my favorites being the green granny smith variety ! i have met no other food which seems to offer so much. however due to previous conditioning , and good old fashion variety ,, after 3 days of becoming more like the person i remember , i  resorted back to simple smaller meals of other whole foods . within 2hours of my dinner ... WHAM !... im having another hypo .. aware that this is not going to go away overnight i would like to  ask, in your opinion how long you would suggest me stay on this fruit/apple diet . 
other references you have made suggest that the apple is the only food we humans can live on forever is this really possible ? how should i go about introducing other foods at the appropriate time ? in your experience with diabetes /blood sugar problems what is happening internally within me ? thank you in advance mark. (See Q&A section for answer)

From Joseph. Philippines:

Dear Erle:

Thank you very much for the unselfish act of posting the Old Yang style Tai Chi
form on your web, I've been practicing it after I was hospitalized from over
fatigue and dehydration.  My body feel young again after practicing it for
just a month.   I was hospitalize before for exhaustion and dehydration and my
body just didn't recover.  After trying Tai Chi Chuan I regain everything.

Over the years we receive many letters, emails and phone calls from customers and students telling us about the great success that they are having with their training and healing methods gained from our tapes and classes etc.

So I have decided to put up a page of these stories so that others can gain inspiration and confidence from them.

If you have a success story, please let us know so that we can include it on these pages. Your name will be withheld if you wish or only your first name will be used. If I need to add something, I will write it in blue.

Erle,
     I received the copy of Internal Gung-Fu on Friday. Thank you very much
for the copy and for autographing it!  I've already started studying it and
it looks like it is just what I have been needing.
     Also, I ordered from Amazon.com copies of your Enclclopedia Vol 1, and
The 12 Deadly Katas.  I found by doing an author search on "Montaigue" that
Amazon has all of the Paladin published books.  They arrived on Friday as
well, so I had a great weekend of studying!  They are exactly what I was
hoping they would be.
     The Martial Arts have been fascinating to me for some time, but I have
never studied any of the arts before.  I have just turned 54 years old and
recently started a study of the Goju Shorei Weapons system (using an
ordinary walking cane, the I can even carry on an airplane!) and from there
learned about the Dim Mak points and from there found my way to you.  You
have opened up the Internal Martial Arts to me (which I was only vaguely
familiar with before).  This looks like the martial art I have been
searching for!  I figure that I will have another 20 or 30 years to work on
developing my skills, and this looks like the perfect art to work on for me.
  (My parents are 84 and 83 and still very active and alert, so I should
last at least as long as they have.)
     A year ago, I was as certain as I could be that ANY form of martial art
was beyond me and was equally certain that I would never get to feeling any
better.  I was highly stressed out, in extremely poor physical condition,
overweight, had been in severe depression for about 10 years. I was in
general a physical and emotional wreck.  I DECIDED that I had to make some
fundamental changes and began a proper diet and began losing weight.  I then
began to feel well enough to think about starting an exercise program and
began strength and aerobic training.  As I progressed, I decide to start a
martial art study and began with the cane.  It looks like the Internal Tai
Chi is going to be the next stage of my program. I can't quite express why,
but it simply SUITS me and what it is that I need at this point in my life
and for the rest of my life.
     My plan right now is to continue with my Goju Shorei Cane studies and
also to learn as much as I can from your books about Qi and the Internal
Martial Arts.  I am going to save up some money to get some of your tapes
next and am going to begin a search for an instructor.  (Can you recommend
anyone who is reasonably close to Atlanta, Georgia?)
     Anyway, thank you for your work and for your encouragement, and thank
you in advance for the difference that it is going to make in my life. 
    Right now, it looks like I have a LOT to begin work on!  Thanks again.

Mike

Comments: Dear sir,
Over the past six months or so I have had the opportunity of training under Roger Billingham.  My martial Arts background originally came from Budo Kai Aikido, and of course the obligatory boxing which everyone in Liverpool has done as a matter of course over the years. Anyway to get to the point, I would like to convey the greatest thanks and respect to my teacher and yourself for teaching such excellent principles, which really do have undoubted positive and beneficial effects on the lives of the practitioner and associated parties.  I have been having personal lessons with Roger and attending as many classes as I can whilst using your Yang Cheng Fu Video at home to practice.  Roger has become a guide of thought and action which has greatly benefited my form. Since reading several different articles by yourself regarding diet/ lifestyle I have lost over half a stone and stopped, "smoking the odd cigarette".  Although I appreciate I am Just Taking my first tentative! step on a lifelong journey, I felt I should write so you know who I am, when I have earned the right to attend one of your workshops.
Yours sincerely Robert 

Dear Erle,
In your video MTG23,you went over how GB20 relieves dizziness and
headaches, well this morning i had a bad one and i just massaged those points
and it instantly worked. Thanks

Ryan.

The point called 'Yang Shih' is one of the most powerful calming points used in cases of seizure, or fits etc. That is the point that was pressed in the above case. it should be pressed fairly deeply about one inch back down the inner wrist area on the ulnar side using the thumb, works every time.