The Fundamental Practice of Karate

 

The Most Rewatched Fight Scenes of All Time

Below is a compilation of the top 15 most rewatched fight scenes.

 

the Aikido of Tsurozo Miyamoto

 Ryote Dori variations.

 

Martial Arts and Aging

As I grow older (I'll be 68 in a couple of month), this topic becomes more and more important to me.

Below is an excerpt from a post that appeard at  Zen's Sekai - Japan 2 @ 70. The author has a deep and broad martial arts background and has shared some thoughts. The full post may be read here.

 

䷹ – Hexagram 61: Inner Truth (Zhōng Fú)a

Theme: Harmony between heart and action. True strength flows from sincerity, not force.

“When the heart is open and the mind clear, even the smallest effort carries great weight.”

Evolving the Way : Zen, Martial Arts, and Age

Trying to train at seventy-five as if you were thirty-five…or even fifty-five…is not only unwise, it is a quiet rejection of the very teachings we claim to follow. In Zen, we speak of impermanence. In martial arts, we speak of timing. Both point to the same truth: all things change, and to resist that change is to create unnecessary suffering.

But impermanence is not an excuse to stop. It is an invitation to evolve.

Youth and Power

In youth, practice is often a celebration of raw strength and boundless energy. We want to push our limits, to test what the body can endure. Whether in the dojo, on the archery range, or walking the circle in Ba Gua, every session is a chance to go faster, strike harder, or hold a stance longer. These are valuable years, building a foundation of skill, resilience, and discipline.

Maturity and Refinement

By middle age, we begin to see the art beneath the effort. Movements that once relied on muscle now draw on structure and timing. In Kyudo, the draw is no longer just about power, but about the settling of the breath and the stillness of the mind. In Tai Chi or Hsing Yi, our strikes and steps carry the weight of accumulated awareness, and we learn that conservation of energy can be as effective as explosive release.

The Gift of Age

At seventy-five, the practice changes again. The goal is no longer to prove what we can do, but to express what we have become. Breath becomes our ally, economy of movement our strategy, and patience our greatest strength. A shorter training session, done with full awareness, can be more profound than a day of youthful exertion.

 

 

Wu Family Style Taijiquan Applications

Here is a short video of some Wu style taijiquan push hands applications, from the 4th generation of the family, Wu Dakui.

 

 

Large Circle vs Small Circle Taijiquan

Over at the Classical Tai Chi Blog, there is a post explaining how the large and small circle practices differ. Below is an excerpt. The full post may be read here.

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Small circle Tai Chi minimizes arm movement, keeps shoulders down, and generates power from the core. The large Circle style has excessive arm moves, movement at the shoulders, and power from the legs. In contrast, the Classical Tai Chi taught by Master Stephen Hwa and certified teachers, emphasizes internal discipline. Every movement originates from the core of the body, specifically the abdomen and back, and the Yin/Yang Junction in the Core, a point where yin and yang energies meet, is located within the torso, not at the limbs.


 So many things are moving extraneously in the large frame. The primary purpose of the Square Form in Classical Tai Chi, the first step in the Classical Tai Chi teaching method is to teach the student how to delineate yin and yang by moving only one part of the body while keeping another still, a principle essential for internal movement.

 

When practitioners attempt to perform the Small Circle ( often referred to as small frame)  form using large, external movements typical of large frame Tai Chi, they practice a different art form. This can interfere with the development of the internal energy as external movements create localized yin-yang junctions at the joints (shoulders, elbows, knees, hips), which impede the smooth circulation of qi throughout the body.


The Small Circle form is internal with its energy and continuity. This is achieved by minimizing external movements and focusing on subtle, internal movements originating from the core. The ultimate goal is to achieve seamless transitions and a smooth, continuous flow of energy throughout the body, a state that cannot be attained through the large, external motions of the large frame style. 

 

 Large Circle contradicts the principles of internal discipline and core-driven movement that define the Small Circle art.

However, it's common for practitioners, particularly those who started with the more widespread 'large frame' Tai Chi, to perform large, expansive circles in their movements mistakenly. Recognizing and correcting these mistakes is a crucial part of the learning process, and it's a sign of your dedication to mastering the art of Tai Chi. 

    Initial Training Focus: Many styles begin with large frame movements, which focus on developing whole-body connection and stretching through a broader range of motion. These larger movements might persist while doing a small circle form if not carefully transitioned to small circle principles.
    Misinterpretation of "Roundness": Classical Tai Chi Round Form emphasizes rounded, continuous movements. However, misunderstanding this principle can lead to exaggerated circular motions that lack the specific internal mechanics of small circle Tai Chi, such as the use of the waist and spine to initiate and direct movements.Focus on External Form: Beginners sometimes focus primarily on the external appearance of the movements, rather than the internal mechanics central to small Circle Tai Chi. 

 

Why are large circles less effective in small circle Classical Tai Chi?

    Dispersal of Force: Large, uncontrolled circles can dissipate energy and weaken the practitioner's structure, making it harder to generate power and maintain balance.
    Lack of Internal Containment: Small circle Tai Chi emphasizes containing movements within the practitioner's body frame, maintaining structural integrity and control. Large circles can violate this principle.
    Reduced Effectiveness in Push Hands and Applications: While a large circle is valuable for building foundational connection and flexibility, a small circle is often regarded as more martial, as it teaches more efficient and precise force application, crucial for push hands.

 

The Aikido of Morihiko Murashige