ZenMindSword CMA Corner

The Gateless Mind

zenmindsword — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:00:23 +0000

For the moment all postings to this blog and twitter will cease. All discussion is now at The Gateless Mind. Subscribe by sending email to gatelessmind-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. This is an open group.

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The Karate Way

zenmindsword — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:08:44 +0000

The Karate Way – Discovering the Spirit of Practice by Dave Lowry

I like Dave Lowry’s writings from his earlier book Autumn Lighting and columns in a popular martial arts magazine. But a book on Karate and a wordy one too……….mmmmm……a quick flick through, read a few paragraphs here and there. Sold!!!

Today I’m going to start reading it. In fact, I just read the introduction and the example on page 4 “you don’t know how to hold a sword” struck a chord in me as this has happened to me too in the past as I am sure to many others walking the MA road. Like the teacher whose case is mentioned on page 4 and had a choice of three to make, I too made the third choice and has become the richer for it. I know I will love this book and hope that this tome will benefit those who are looking for the way. The introduction has things that I have also been saying in one form or another in the past. With this book, I can save my breath and just refer people to read it. As I read it I will post thoughts on things that struck me on the wall in Facebook. So onwards with Chapter 1 Traditional Karate. Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

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Wing Chun DVD

zenmindsword — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:57:36 +0000

There’s a Wing Chun DVD set. Forgot the price but it talks about the wooden dummy and techniques. Its a China production. Don’t recall seeing any lineage mentioned.
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Chinese Kung Fu DVD

zenmindsword — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:56:11 +0000

Also saw the Chinese Kung Fu DVD set. Price about S$30.
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Bagua DVD

zenmindsword — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:55:00 +0000

Saw a DVD set on bagua by Mdm Ge Chun Yan. Interesting topics – xingyi swordn bagua judge pen, bagua applications including chin na and anti-chin na. Retail price around S$60.
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No Second Chance

zenmindsword — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:41:03 +0000

No Second Chance – a quick 5 seconds browse thru. Good topics. Good, realistic self defence techniques. As usual, Mark Hatmaker has put together a good work. Check out his other manuals if you have the chance. They are available from Kinokuniya.
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Books Received

zenmindsword — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:38:39 +0000

A big thank you to Tom for the gift of books. Not to forget Bill Porter for the autographed copy of Zen Baggage. What do I think of the books? To quote from zen Baggage page 167 :- “Right now, there is nothing in my mind. ”

But a glance through this particular chapter first for obvious reasons shows a well written book. Looks to be an interesting read ahead though I have to read a particular chapter from Nei Jia Quan first to give an opinion which keeps getting pushed back with one thing or another that came up last weekend. Apologies for owing Tom that long delayed opinion. Just managed to go through Warriors of Stillness 2 today after sneaking in periodic reads amidst overseeing a seminar and even managed to shoot off a number of comments to Facebook. . Anyway, if you seriously want to understand the internal side of taiji and all this talk about intention try reading books on Zen and what better book to start off with than Bill Porter’s Zen Baggage. At least it looks highly readable even before I start to really read it unlike some Zen books which can tie your brains in knots before you even get started. I’ll have to ask Kinokuniya why they are not stocking Bill Porter’s other titles. I see at least one other title on the back of the dust jacket that sounds intriguing.

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Ip Man Wins Movie Award 2

zenmindsword — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:29:14 +0000

A closer view of the same article. Hope you can read it.
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Ip Man Wins Movie Award

zenmindsword — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:26:43 +0000

Whatdaya know? Ip Man the movie actually won an award. I saw clips of the fights on youtube and some of them reminded me of The Prodigal Son, the earlier movie that Samo Hung directed. Deja vu.
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Provocative Thought

zenmindsword — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:43:02 +0000

We all know that qi should sink to the dantian.

But can the reverse be true and applicable in that the qi should also float the dantian?

Before you quickly dismiss this seemingly ridiculous notion think about it first. I have already laid out my case on the CMARTG wall.

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