Category Archives: meditation

martial arts scripture, meditation, religious martial arts, taoist martial arts, yoga martial arts, zen martial arts

Want to be a Kung Fu Student at the Shaolin Temple?

December 31, 2012 aganzul Leave a comment

It always amuses me when I find out what people think kung fu at the shaolin temple, or any temple, was like.

walking the circle image — Walking the Circle has Subtle Applications!

Usually these thoughts come from fellows who find their way into my martial arts school. They grill me mercilessly, then, no matter what I have told them, they tell me that they want to go to a temple and sit at the feet of the masters. They want to swing swords with the monks and experience all the bizarre training routines that will enable them to beat up elephants and dragons, and pound their fists into unbreakable lumps of death.

Now, the truth of the shaolin temple is this: it had to support itself. That means the monks had to feed themselves, and this means every day.

Yes, they did martial arts, but, only after a day in the fields, or after building and repairing the walls and roofs, and even after sweeping up the leaves.

And, yes, the martial arts they did study after that were absolutely incredible…wing chun, preying mantis, hung gar, and so on.

But they worked before they did the martial arts.

Now, do you think the fellow who comes into my school, who usually isn’t working and who didn’t get through school, is going to have the stick-to-ivity, the necessary amount of muscles and concentration, to make it through the daily work at the Shaolin temple?

Is he going to be able to fix picks and shovels that broke? Repair the brickwork of crumbling walls? Get up on that roof and stop the rain from pouring in?

Is he going to be able to saunter twelve miles to the local village to sell vegetables from the temple gardens, and walk back, and then feel like doing a three hour workout in the martial arts?

And, is he going to be able to pick up a sword and fight bandits successfully?

Is he going to have the ability to help sick people from the neighboring village?

Is he going to be able to listen to long (boring?) lectures about religion?

Is he going to be educated enough to study the sacred scrolls,and maybe copy them for future monks?

I hope you see what I am getting at here. The real kung fu of the Shaolin Temple was more than just a good work out, it was a commitment of soul that most people would be in awe of…if they could even understand it.

aikido, martial arts scripture, meditation, religious martial arts, zen martial arts

Restructuring the Martial Arts from the Black Belt Up

August 5, 2012 aganzul Leave a comment

The Need for Black Belt Standards in the Martial Arts!

When I started the martial arts I wanted to be a black belt in the worst possible way. I thought that was mecca, the ultimate, better than anything in the world

So I went to work. I signed up at a Karate school and I put in the time. Interestingly, I was to learn that it took more than time. It took a precise bit of knowledge.

To be precise, I spent a couple of years in one system (Chinese Kenpo), then several years in another system (Kang Duk Won Korean Karate), before I achieved Black Belt. When I got it, however, it was better than I had ever imagined

Interestingly, as the years passed, I realized that I had struck it rich, that all Black Belts were not the same, and that I had lucked out.

You see, the standards of what it took to reach Black Belt were all over the place. One fellow I knew got a black belt cause he could fight good. Another got it because he lent the instructor money. Honorary black belts were passed out to people who didn’t even study the martial arts. To be honest, real black belts were actually, in spite of there being so many of them, a rarity.

Eventually, in spite of hype and glamour, being a black belt didn’t mean much.

Oh, it meant somebody had sweated a lot, maybe, if they were lucky, but there was no single standard whatsoever.

Now, when I achieved a Black Belt in the Kang Duk Won, that system was directly derived from the instructors BEFORE Funakoshi. It wasn’t infected by the folly of tournaments, the shame of politics, or put together with other arts to corrupt its pure workings.

When I achieved Black Belt, when I studied at a specific branch of the Kang Duk Won where the art had not been corrupted, something happened to the students who made it. Simply, they changed.

They achieved something I called CBM, or Coordinated Body Motion. When this happened they began to move their bodies in totally different ways, and there was a feeling of massive energy within. This was usually accompanied by other phenomena, such as dreams, intuitive experiences, and so on.

All of what I have said here has guided me to establish a different standard for Black Belt.

To be sure, if somebody CBMs, I consider them a Black Belt in the old sense. I value that, I prize that. I consider that art of the highest form.

But, interestingly, I don’t make that the thrust of my teachings.

You see, so many people can’t make that step, or, at least, it will take them too long. They don’t have the proper teacher or teaching, even if they are a good student.

So, in putting together my temple (Church of Martial Arts dot com) I am focusing on making sure the student has the knowledge, and therefore the best possible chance, before I start pushing him towards any kind of CBM focused study.

I know that some will disagree with my path, but consider the alternative: 999 out of a 1000 students not making it, being shunted into some weird idea of what a black belt is, putting the emphasis on winning trophies…versus the forging and perfection of character that the Martial Arts are.

Thus, consider the steps necessary to progression in the Church of Martial Arts.

A Postulant is somebody who seeks. This is a fellow who is casting about, and frequently doesn’t even know for what. He encounters Monster Martial Arts or one of my other sites, is intrigued and orders a course or two. If he is ready, if he is a seeker of the true martial arts, something will ignite in his soul. I always know these people, even if only by email, because they start ordering more courses. The courses are inexpensive, they are usually whole arts, and the student starts to ‘drink’ them.

Sometimes people write and tell me what is happening, and sometimes they remain aloof and afar, yet their interest is flaming. Whatever the type of student they are, they are learning the truth about the how and the why of the martial arts. They are learning the physics, and many write to me and tell me how they have changed their art, restructured it, in piece and in whole format, to make it make sense.

And sometimes I receive letters telling me of experiences they have had that let me know that, whether they know it or not, they have CBMed.

Oddly, I get a big kick out of this anonymous relationship we have. I don’t have to be standing over somebody’s shoulder, and by this I mean I don’t need a big organization, to make sure that they are getting the truth of the martial arts.

The art is an art, and though we often, and especially in the beginning, study it as a group, it is a personal undertaking. You are becoming an artist, you are becoming something more than human. You are forging and perfecting your character.

These people who ignite, who begin ordering courses and learning the truth of the martial arts, I call Novices.

A Novice, or novitiate, is a beginner. More important, he is not now a seeker, for he has found the truth; now he is running up the path of the martial arts to the truth of himself as fast as he possibly can.

Now, if a person was to visit me, study under me, and by this I mean at the Church of Martial Arts, the course would be quick and to the point. They would be put on a list of martial arts forms and techniques that are all and completely matrixed

If a person doesn’t have the opportunity to study with me, they need merely go through the eight original Matrixing courses.

Do you see what I have done here? I have resolved the martial arts not to a random, whimsical study of what somebody thinks is cool, or has a bit of workability for an odd variety of people, but to a comprehensive and complete body of knowledge.

Knowledge. Art becomes science. The Way becomes a series of steps that are complete and to the point.

Once a student has completed either of these two methods, either the checklist at the church or the eight matrixing courses, they are considered a monk.

And, a person who has completed novice training in the Church of Martial Arts has a sure and certain knowledge of the complete martial arts, and this includes Karate, several varieties of Kung Fu, Pa Kua Chang, Tai Chi Chuan, and more.

The standard here is in the comprehensive knowledge that can be found nowhere else, and certainly not in the speedy frame of time I recommend.

At any rate, once a person has become a monk, and having a thorough knowledge of the martial arts on the whole, he is ready to pick his specialty. Perhaps he will delve into esoteric Kung Fu, perhaps he will concentrate on Karate, perhaps he will shift into weapons, or some other field of martial arts.

Whatever the Monk chooses to do, he will be well prepared, and he will be assured of his success in his further studies.

For a list of the eight original Matrix Martial Art courses go to MonsterMartialArts.com

martial arts scripture, meditation, pa kua chang, religious martial arts, taoist martial arts, walk the circle

Walking the Circle in Pa Kua Chang to Enter Insanity

July 12, 2012 aganzul Leave a comment

Pa Kua Chang and Walking the Circle

Pa Kua Chang, or Bagua Zhang as some describe it, is a weird martial art where in one participatings in walking the circle till one discovers the reality of one self.

Like a puppy chasing his tale till he discovers Buddha.

Like Black Sambo forming leopards into … liquid gold.

Like just what is the race of guy racing to?

Dong Hai Chuan was a likable chap with a fascination for martial arts. He engaged in Shaolin Kung Fu, so the tale goes, and reached a point where he was so really good he took to the road and started roaming, seeking instructors able to instruct him more.

His search led him throughout the Wudan Mountains of rural China, back where the mystic sanctuaries stood, and legends had it that old expertise existed in pure design. His search led him to a rare religious sect whose specialists thought that one could possibly find out the reality of the universe by … walking the circle.

So Dong walked the circle, day in day out, in search of his divine nature. For 9 years he walked the circle, and one might well picture the taunts of passersby.

“Examine the old man chasing his shadow!”

“Hey buddy! Place it on a straight line and you could get somewhere!”

“Har de har har!”

Yet, rain or shine, under blazing sunshine and during freezing snow, Dong carried on his trek, seeking the honest truth of himself.

At last, some 9 years into his voyage, he stated to the monks of the mysterious sect that … wasn’t it odd that … the tree he was walking around appeared to be chasing him? That the tree in fact appeared to bending over?

Was the tree bending over? Or was something in his mind bending over? Or was something in his mind just coming to be … unbent?

The monks eyed one other, and one lightly put forward, “An additional 2 years.”

So on went Dong, round and round, circle after circle, nose after tail. And possibly this is where he integrated his Shaolin with the never-ending walking of the circle. Probably this is where the circle came to be imbued with the art of violence, and came to be not simply a repository of religious fanaticism. Maybe this is where the creative mixture of self with the fanatical quest of God comes to be … whatever it comes to be.

Did Dong at last manage to catch the reality of himself?

No reference of ‘the bolt out of the blue’ striking the formerly young lad is made in the histories. Just what is understood, nevertheless, is that he attained a high degree of skills, that he was so profound at circle walking that he had the ability to defeat the Emperor’s bodyguards, and come to be main teacher of that celebrated ‘clan.’ And there are tales of him fading away under the attacking hand, of tiing up mighty warriors in fragile knots simply to observe them fall, of consulting his followers even after passing.

Bolt out of the blue or proficiency, this author thinks that skills is the more valued. However, that stated, we visit the heart of the fable.

We recognize not whether Dong discovered himself, however we do recognize that an individual who walks in a circle is insane. Such purposeless endeavor, specifically in this godless earth, is the heart of insanity. Yet … is insanity not simply a characteristic that others can not discover? Does not one have to go ‘in’ sane to discover real sanity?

The guy who pounds his palm upon a stone, hour after hour, day in day out, year after year … does he make powerful the hand? Or at last divine that the universe genuinely is built of space?

That young child who will come to be old doing his kung fu forms, does he battle hordes and legions in his mind? Or does he exhaust his mind of all hordes and legends?

That acorn … will it truly come to be an oak?

The acorn could fall down a deserted gopher hole, and it could root into fertile ground … however it is time that makes the mighty oak, and the infinite and insane wish to grub into the ground … merely to discover the sky.

We are all grubs … however have we discovered the earth? Will we see the heavens?

Trust Dong Hai Chuan for the answer to that one, yet only ask if you are walking the circle, if you are pursuing yourself with Pa Kua Chang, round and round, year after year, breath after breath.

The writer walked the circle, did Pa Kua Chang for 2 years, till human beings started to bend over, lightening filled his legs, and energy stripes barber poled out his arms … you can easily discover his Pa Kua Chang at Monster Martial Arts.

aikido, meditation, pa kua chang, taoist martial arts

Learn Pa Kua Chang Crowd Walking Method

July 4, 2012 aganzul Leave a comment

Martial Arts Crowd Walking Method

Many years before I did learn pa kua chang crowd walking methods, I was reading a martial arts journal, I think it was Black Belt, and I discovered this anecdote involving Morihei Ueshiba. O Sensei would go to different towns and put on Aikido exhibitions. I have no doubt the exhibitions were spectacular, however the thing that inspired the heck out of me was the story his uchideshi (inside student) provided involving O Sensei’s crowd walking procedure.

When traveling across a train station (for example) O Sensei would just walk straight forward, emanating his chi, and the masses would part. Individuals might turn and stare at this imperious titan, then the masses would close up. The Uchi deshi, loaded with trunks and bags, would struggle through the closing people.

The thing that awed me about this relating of occurrence was not that a man could easily emanate effective chi and sweep back a masses, but that it reminded me of my very own crowd walking experiences.

When I was in eleventh grade I used to love to run through groups. I might be late for class, or simply playing tag with someone, and unexpectedly something would come over me and I would be in complete sprint. The halls would certainly be jam-packed, and I would be turning on the nickel, hurrying full tilt, not able to be tripped (and a couple of the teenagers might make an effort). Young women might gasp and also offer little shrieks as I ran full tilt towards them, then turned and spun around them. The ground resembled a magnet to my feet, I never ever slipped, it was like I was flash, yet with magic glue on my soles.

O Sensei’s crowd walking blew me away, however it was so different from mine.

Radiating chi like he was a walking heating system. It was the start of my martial arts calling, and control of chi in such splendid way was yet a dream. Still, I had my very own strategy.

As time went on I obtained the capability to emanate chi, though not to the degree of O Sensei, yet, remarkably, I started to hold my very own procedure up as perhaps not so scruffy.

The key, of course, was in engaging in Pa Kua Chang, in walking the circle. Especially, I would focus on walking EXTREMELY slowly. I would feel the chi go up and down the legs, and I started to comprehend a few things.

One, there was even more finesse in my strategy than simply turning it on and blasting individuals back.

Two, Pa Kua Chang in fact didn’t instruct individuals to crowd walk like I was doing it. Classic Pa Kua Chang was more into tricky hands, and not into fine tuning the walk itself. Walking slowly, concentrating the mindset on the generation and control of chi in the legs, made lightening in the legs. And this lead to the next understanding.

Three, I could guide individuals ways to walk through crowds ten times more effortlessly and effectively, and there was a WHOLE LOT more pleasure in the teaching.

Chi blasting a group is entertaining, however it is pretty much a bully strategy.

Understanding ways to worm through the people at high speeds thrills the creative imagination, it is subtle, it needs more entire body method. And this last is fascinating, and actually essential to the expanding martial artist.

Contrast it to a musical instrument. Chi blasting such as O Sensei did is comparable to the opening chords of’ 2001: A Space Odyssey.’ (Thus Spoke Zarathustra). Crowd walking such as I explain and explain with my particular Pa Kua Chang resembles playing Flight of the bumblebee.

One is spectacular, the other is elaborate. One is outstanding, the other is subtle. One is overpowering, the other is shading subtleties of hue unto infinity.

And, of course, when it concerns crowd walking martial arts methods, one should study both. Have the ability to be subtle, and blast at a second’s notice.

This page has a real short cut to learn Pa Kua Chang method for crowd walking.

christian martial arts, martial arts scripture, meditation, religious martial arts, yoga martial arts, zen martial arts

Blog

June 28, 2012 aganzul Leave a comment

What is Wrong?

Not a one of us hasn’t asked that question…what is wrong with me?

Heck, it is an interesting question because, let’s face it, we are the most interesting thing in this universe. We’re more interesting than rocks or cars or how to make yellow pudding.

But the real point here is that at some point we question ourselves, ask whats wrong with me, and wonder why life is all fouled up.

Maybe the parents are rotten, maybe the kids show no respect, maybe the boss is ragging…maybe the durned politicians are acting up and raising taxes. There really is no end to the problems that this life can bring.

So what’s wrong with you? Actually, the only thing wrong with you is you don’t know where you are, what you are supposed to do, or even who you are.

I mean, don’t let me be gentle or anything, but we gots some problems!

Now, the solution is find out where you are, who you are, and make up your mind what you want to do. And, funny, thing, these things are easily resolved.

The short answer: you are awareness. You are in the universe. You are supposed to find something to do and do it.

Longer answer.

You are awareness. This can be ascertained by doing something as simple as assuming a yoga posture and sitting in it, and letting your imagination drift. Heck. You are awareness. And, truth, you could figure this out with a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and somebody you like.

Where you are is a universe. This universe is a bunch of space defined by objects that collide with you.

You can survive or not depending upon your ability to calculate the flow of objects (their direction and speed) and their probability of colliding with you.

Interestingly, this last formula: analyze and handle force and direction, is at the heart of the martial arts. In fact, the martial arts are the ONLY discipline on earth which results in enlightenment of the practitioner. Interestingly, not many people, even martial arts students, realize this. They think they are fighting. A few get the bolt out of the blue, but most just become calm and confident.
But isn’t calm and confident the result of knowing how to handle the force and flow of objects in this universe? Isn’t that enlightenment? Or at least the obvious result of enlightenment, whether one realizes they are enlightened or not?

So you are you, Aware. And you are in a universe that, if you study the martial arts, becomes easy to handle.

Guaranteed, once you have some martial arts under your belt, life works better. You get better jobs, you are less prone to get sick, your children aren’t so disrespectful, even plain, old people on the street treat you like you are something special.

Of course, I don’t expect you to believe me. I am not even trying to push martial arts on you. what I really want you to do is consider the logic of this article, and then think about whether you would like your life to work.

If you want your life to work, if you want to find out what you are supposed to do, then check out some of the neutronics on this site, see if the logic holds true, then consider taking up a discipline, or at least finding out what is behind the discipline (Neutronics).

Have a great day, and I hope you never have to ask yourself that question again…What is Wrong With Me?

meditation, yoga martial arts

Why Yoga Works, Tai Chi Chuan, And Your Left, Big Toe

June 20, 2012 aganzul Leave a comment

Yoga and Tai Chi Chuan!

Have you ever considered how and why Yoga works? It’s a good question, and one which I have never seen answers for. In fact, some youngster puts the question to some oriental sage fellow, and I see a lot of circumventing and philosophizing…and no real answer.

In answer to this question, I was trying to make yoga work the other day, and I was listening to some gal on a Yoga CD and trying to put it all together with what I knew from the martial arts, and the gal on the CD suddenly said something that made me blink. With a satisfied smile she said, ‘It took me three years to get this posture.’ I sat back, put the CD on hold, and thought about what she had said.

It took her three years of work and discipline to make her body work. She was proud, which is probably the sinful version of satisfied. And I don’t think she was really doing Yoga.

She was being a contortionist. She wasn’t talking about becoming aware as a spiritual being, but rather being ‘over satisfied’ about being able to do weird things with her body. What she was saying had to do with holding her body in a yoga asana, and nothing to do with the spiritual side of the subject.

One of the martial arts exercises I do is to practice my Tai Chi Chuan in a dark room with no lights and my eyes closed. I do this because I started with Karate, which means ’empty hands,’ and I realized you couldn’t have empty hands without an empty mind. I am merely trying to reduce extra and distractive sensations, and develop awareness having to do with the sole and concentrated practice of the tai chi chuan form.

To utilize this in Yoga, close your eyes and be aware of your left, big toe. You must be aware of your right, big toe without the use of perceptions. You must become aware, as opposed to being aware with body perception devices (eyes, taste, touch, and so on).

If you can hold the body still, negate sensation, and just become aware, then you are on the path of real yoga. If you can see the different between being aware through body perception devices (nose, eyes, etcetera), and just being aware, then you are on the path of real yoga. If you can become aware of yourself as a spiritual being, and not as a body, then you are doing true Yoga.

You don’t have to contort your body through painful postures. You need merely put your body in a position…doesn’t even have to be an official yoga asana…and stop looking through your senses, and let awareness grow. The difference between perception and awareness, this is the why yoga works, why Tai Chi Chuan is what it is, and even your left, big toe.

Church of martial arts