Chinese Internal Martial Arts

" The most important thing in conflict is not to conflict. The most important element is the Yi, for in any combat, the one who has the will to go one inch further than his opponent, has already won before the hands meet." -Dr. John Raymond Baker,DC - SiFu, year of the Dragon, 2000

CLOSED HEAD INJURY ARTICLE FOR THE MARTIAL ARTIST
If you are a boxer using Western Boxing methods, an Ultimate Fighting contestant, or just a student studying
martial arts, there is always a chance that you may sustain a closed head injury. It has been said that boxers
who sustain hits to the head, but are not knocked out, may in time sustain more injuries to the brain because
if they are not knocked out, they continue fighting and can sustain more shots to the head. Trauma to the
brain may be cumulative. Those of us older guys who have followed boxing for years, know what the term
"punch drunk" and "cauliflower ears" and "boxer's nose" are. The great Mohammed Ali (formerly Cassius Clay)
was one of the truly great boxing showmen of all time. He also prided himself on "staying pretty" , meaning
he avoided getting lots of scars, broken nose, enlarged ears, etc.. But, even he apparently sustained
brain damage from years of boxing. Because of this, I have uploaded an article I did years ago about
closed head injuries. I uploaded it as a PDF file-- http://www.drjohnbaker.com/closedheadinjury.pdf
(note, you may have to view the PDF at either twice or four times the page size (200 or 400 percent) to read
the PDF. The file is around 3 megabytes and has seven pages. A full sized copy, suitable for printing from
is http://www.drjohnbaker.com/closedheadinjurylarge.pdf This copy is around 7 megabytes.

Chinese Internal Arts Article - Shier Duan Jin , the Twelve Pieces of Brocade Internal Chinese Art

copyright 2000 dr. john raymond baker,dc

CHINESE ORIGINS

There are around 365 styles of Chinese martial arts in China and these are truly arts. It has long been my contention that China is not only the true home of all oriental martial arts, , but of mankind in general , the claims of Lucy's African origin not withstanding. But, for now, my notion of a sinogenesis to mankind is not the topic of this page . Tae kwon do, hapkido, tang soo do, hwarang do , aikido, judo, shorin ryu, isshin ryu, and just about every other style, can trace their roots originally back to either the Shaolin Buddhist temple or to some Taoist monk.

ARTICLE ON CHINESE MEDITATION

ARTICLE ON TRIGGER POINTS FOR THE
MARTIAL ARTIST

INTERNAL and EXTERNAL STYLES

In china, there are two basic classes of Chinese styles. There are the so-called "external" or wei chia, and the "internal" or nei chia. The distinction is basically one in which the arts which rely on muscular force and strength coming from hard physical strikes and exertion are the external arts, and those styles which stress the use of leverage , complex stepping patterns and "internal power" or "qi" (also spelled "ch'i" and pronounced "cheee") are the internal arts. Of course, this is a somewhat arbitrary distinction.

Since these are physical martial arts, of course, they all use human muscle, sinew, physics, and physical force to accomplish self defense. I suppose that the real difference is one of which aspects are stressed and what specific techniques are employed more than anything else.

Pose from Xingyiquan (Hsing Yi Ch'uan)

Hsing Yi Ch'uan is translated as Five Elements Boxing. This style utilizes the five elements of traditional Chinese Taoist cosmology as basic interlinking postures to promote self defense and to promote health. The five elements are wood,earth,metal,water,and fire. The Chinese military have selected this art as a good hand to hand technique.

YOUNG MEN AND OLD MEN
It is said that the external styles are a young man's game and the internal arts are an old man's game.

What this means is that since the external styles rely more on physical strength, that ones prowess will decrease with age. With the internal arts, as one learns how to accomplish more with less effort through learning, and as one gains more control over the internal energy with practice, one actually gets better at the internal art with age and diligent effort over years.

THE MYSTERIOUS CH'I
People have debated about internal energy for years. It is not just a topic of esoteric oriental monks. Peoples all around the world and throughout the ages have postulated that there is a unique circulating energy associated with living things. That such an energy may exist is not a bizarre or unbelievable concept. The Greeks called it pneuma, the Hebrews called it ruach, other peoples have called it such things as Odic force, bioelectric energy, ki, animal magnetism, and on and on. People have claimed to have felt it through therapeutic touch, to have seen it in the form of an aura, and internal martial artists discuss it as their stock and trade. It is the force which acupuncturists and Chinese traditional medicine attempts to manipulate, balance, and facilitate the flow of.

HEALTH AND SELF DEFENSE

For the maintenance of health and self defense, the Chinese martial arts are some of the best means of accomplishing both. For those who like the gentle stretch of yoga, there is K'ai Men and Dao Yin. The Chinese arts have yoga as good as Iyengar Yoga style.

For those who enjoy meditation, there are various styles of Chinese meditation which calm the mind and which promote health.

For those looking for long life, there are Chinese Taoist long life exercises and arts which are great for just that.

Please look for a teacher or school near you.

Butterfly kick from Wu Su- This kick is performed like the "flying camel" of ice skating. Wu Su (Wu Shu) or war art is the national sport of China and is an artistic blend of gymnastic, traditional Chinese opera, and martial arts techniques. It is a beautiful style and while it may not specifically be included in the traditional internal arts, I like the look of Wu Su and wanted to include this picture.

Tiger Style Kung fu (Pose common to Hung Gar Style)
LINKS :

NEW LINK -
http://www.jiulongbaguazhang.com

and another great resource :

http://www.southshoreinternalarts.com/

GREAT PAGE FROM A NICE LADY- ABOUT NINE DRAGON BAGUAZHANG