Striking Fingers When forming a fist, it is important to place the thumb outside the closed fingers and tucked away from the edge of the knuckles. We know this from experience… keep the thumb safe from getting caught or crushed. But, did you know that in the sword form, when using the striking fingers, of […]
Tag Archives: classics
Liberating the Emotion of Fear Exercise
Winter is the time when all moves inward (Yin). The element is Water; the organs that correspond to this phase are the Kidneys and Bladder; the emotion is fear. When out of balance you may find yourself less able to access your inner wisdom. Connect with the joy in your life to liberate the contraction […]
Yin Yang of it All – Part 2
Within both tai chi and chi kung there is an interplay of the mindful and the mindless. One cannot be totally mindful and we all know where being totally mindlessness can lead. Mindfulness is mechanics based; coordination, foundation, specificity in timing, intention, focus, letting go and force. Mindlessness is more of a flow, momentum, spacious […]
Cultivating Chi 2
The previous video blog offered one way of cultivating chi to nourish the internal organs. Again, there is some kind of “action” necessary to cultivate chi. In what way does the Tai Chi form cultivate chi. In this video Master Young explains some of the mechanics used in the form that cultivates chi leading to the […]
Removing Stagnation / Strengthening the Presence
(360 degrees Inspired by Lonny Jarrett) This video contains one technique for releasing downward. Afterwards use “Threading the Nine Holes in the Pearl” (found in the archive blogs on the peacefuldragonschool.com website) to open upward. Peace and love, Master Young (
The Solid, Liquid, Gas, and Plasma of Tai Chi
The Power of Yielding in Push Hands
Push Hands is a two person tai chi exercise. At the Tri-Alliance (Association of Women Martial Artists; National Women’s Martial Arts Federation; and Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists) Gathering (TAG) I taught a session on “The Power of Yielding Force.” It was well attended and received. __________________________________________________________________________ Too often I have had Push Hands experiences where […]
Imagery 1 – Using imagery and what can go wrong
Imagery 1 Here are a few images that describe alignment which can be used in both tai chi and chi kung… The tai chi classics state the following (keep in mind these are translations): The head is upright as if being hung by a string from above; Depress the chest and pluck up the […]
What to do if you can’t remember???
What to do if you can’t remember You are going through your form and all of a sudden you go blank… how uncomfortable is that?! Doesn’t have to be. There are a number of reasons why this might happen. Was your mind elsewhere? You wonder which Single Whip is this? Did you miss the class […]
Two Fields of Energy
There are two prominent outer layers to our energy fields – each encircles the entire body and function different. One is at arms length, the other halfway between full extension and the body. Somewhat like the eyes, the outer one extends out to “read” our environment and relays back to the inner field what is […]