Floating Monk

First of all, nothing could be further from the truth. The Solar Salutation, a.k.a. Salute to the Sun, is, has been and will be the foundational movement for Yoga of various types.  For the measure of recorded time, 2 + 2 = 4.  The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West.  The point I am driving at is one of foundations, there are fundamental bases for mathematics and chemistry (H2O = Water), just as there are fundamental elements to practices such as Chi Kung (Qigong).  Many Qigongs were developed for specific reasons, whether medicinal or martial.  On some occasions the two were combined, i.e. strength, long life, health and internal power were brought together in one place.

In what martial artist call “A Complete System” there is Internal Qigong and External Qigong.  The Internal practice(s) were for health, long life and even the “real power” within the Kung Fu System.  The external was comprised of forms, fighting and weapons.

I recently answered questions relating to foundational Chi Kung, specifically; what more is there and when will I learn it? As a rule one learns to add, subtract, multiply and divide, once these are effectively developed the process moves forward to algebra, geometry and the like.  One does enter Juilliard because they “know” how to dance, act, etc’  they enter because they want to learn, grow, develop and perfect.

Imagine a first week student, never having danced before, waving his or her arms and legs about as they run across the room in front of Mikhail Baryshnikov proclaiming loudly: Look…I am doing ballet!

I agree, it is an uterly imcomprehensible thought. Yet just yesterday I read about some fitness instructor in L.A. who had incorporated Qigong (from whom and how long this person studied was never stated) into weight lifting and other exercise. Actually, this can be done and we at Chi for Health have programs to prove it, however, this person was quoted as saying this about Qigong:  “It’s just breathing and movement, you just move and breath freely”

I am so mad at myself, if I had only known that I just had to move and breath freely I would never have spent the last 30 years practicing and teaching “how” to do Qigong.  I guess all those years under the watchful eye of the Grand Master, waiting for one of his “tips” and being amazed at the insight and the changes those little bits of information brought to my practice were time wasted. Dang!

I guess I’ll book the next flight to L.A. and start fresh, or…perhaps I will prepare my audition piece for Julliard where I will run about the stage flailing my arms and legs about and exclaim, look: I am moving and breathing, I am doing Chi Kung!

Sifu Jeff larson teaches Chi Kung (Qigong) in Atlanta, GA and Minneapolis, MN and is an Enter the Gate Disciple of Grand master Henry Poo Yee (see  CKFA.com)  For Sifu Jeff see “chiforhealth.com”

Just this morning I read through the various job titles, including pictures of those that do such jobs, in the Sunday paper’s Parade Magazine.  his article shows the various salaries, from celebrities to dog groomers. One job title I noticed was not shown was that of Chi Kung (Qigong) Instructor.  Other types of exercise instructors were listed, but none for Chi Kung.  A moment of thought easily reveals why there is no such listing.  For so many years we as practitioners have been competitors for students, and I guess in part that element remains.  However, the small geography in which this is valid is essentially a 10 -15 mile radius, when considering that our nmarket is the entire United States (and beyond) the issue of competition is not really valid.

What does hold water is the fact that here to fore we have al just been trying to make a living, that needs to change.  I propose using this site as a way of listing your school, location, hours, etc’.. and beginning to refer potential students, as well as people who just want to learn about Chi Kung.  I understand that some such sites exist aleady and I am even a member of them, but my information, after 4 minths as a member is still not correct and contact is rarely met with a quick reply.

Anyone who reads this or knows someone who would be interested, please have them email, I will arrange a call after that.

I hope everyone is having a Great Easter.

Sincerely

Sifu Jeff Larson

(Buyer Beware !!!)

I address this subject lightly, but the issue is one that is becoming more and more relevant. New video clips of Chi Kung, (Qigong) practitioners and instructors are rolling out daily on You Tube, My Space, Face Book and numerous other web sites, with links to purchase DVDs offering to teach mystical, magical Chi Kung Powers that we have only dreamed of.

The people selling videos and DVDs whose content appears beyond their field of understanding or expertise fall into three specific groups. The first of the three groups I call “The look at me gang.” This group breaks the oldest unwritten rule of martial arts which is to clearly and respectfully acknowledge your Sifu by name, tell how long you have trained with your Sifu and state your respect and dedication to your Sifu. Experienced martial artists always recognize when fellow Martial Artists fail to identify their Sifu and acknowledge them as the source of their strength and knowledge. In the world of sincere, dedicated Martial Artist this lack of respect makes apparent the self-serving agenda of any teacher or instructor who is selling a book, video or DVDs in which they offer to share their “expertise”. When a practitioner achieves the designation of a Sifu and they wish to share their knowledge, experience or personal journey with the world, we greet their efforts with warm congratulations. However, even in the role of teacher it is still expected that they will shine the light on their teacher (Sifu) and pay respect to the teacher who brought them to this place.

The look at me gang falls short of these standards and centuries old traditions. As I research the sites of these individuals offering to share their knowledge and insight I noticed that they rarely ever mention their Sifu. They also fail to mention how long they have trained their art, how long they’ve been a teacher, if they are a certified teacher, and if they have in fact taught at all. This group fails to fulfill in one of the most revered unwritten rules of the martial arts, which is to give credit to your Sifu. Those who fail this first test risk falling into the category of charlatans and pretenders and loosing the respect of traditional martial artist.

There are two other groups of pretenders which I call 1) the smoke and mirror gang and 2) the inside out gang.

The smoke and mirror gang have one line that identifies them immediately, that line is “has studied a variety of”. There’s no need to go further once you come across this statement. Basically this group of individuals is doing what is often referred to as ‘Chop Suey’, they have a little bit of knowledge from numerous sources and no real or deep knowledge of any of them. The worst thing about this group is that they try to make a case for all the little pieces. Most often they will say things like, ‘has brought together the best of this system and the best of that system, etc. In most cases, this group did not have the discipline to stick with any one system or teacher long enough to learn it well. They usually leave as soon as the training gets difficult. To turn around and try to sell this shortcoming to the unsuspecting public as an attribute is an insult, plain and simple. There is no way to bring together “the best of this system and the best of that system” unless you have trained each program for a long time and to a very high level. Only then would you have the knowledge and experience to know what “the best” of this system and that system is

The inside out gang take a little more effort to identify. What this group does is train or study one program or system and then turn around and use the names of other systems, usually to try and sell whatever topic is hot at the time. For example, I recently viewed a web site selling DVDs promising to teach the Secret Internal Chi Kung Power of Kung Fu.

The problem here was that the professed teacher had studied yoga for years and capped it off with a brief period of Tai Chi, where is the Kung Fu? Where is the Chi Kung secret power that is rooted in the Kung Fu that they never trained? The fact was that the person selling this product had studied neither Chi Kung nor Kung Fu.

The inside out gang seems confused about who or what they are, such as in the case above. One cannot go around professing to teach something that they clearly never trained and have no real knowledge of. Perhaps in some other universe they imagine that all arts are somehow one and the same so they can just make up names and even produce training videos and DVDs offering to teach something they know absolutely nothing about. This gang really makes a case for examining the linage of person with a web site or an instructional product out in the marketplace.

Most disciplined, dedicated long time practitioners and teachers of any system can appreciate what I have written here, however, it is really intended to aid the unsuspecting buyer who enters into our world with good intentions, hoping to learn something of value that they can incorporate into their lives, only to come across the pretenders in the three groups I mentioned above. To you, this well meaning group, I would simply suggest that you avoid the groups I have mentioned above.

Remember, all true practitioners of the martial arts, ALWAYS pay homage and respect to their Sifu. Check the instructors biography and training history to see if they are qualified to be marketing the expertise they suggest, and don’t be afraid to ask the question, ‘Who’s your Sifu?” before you buy!

Learn more at http://chiforhealth.com/

Sifu Jeff Larson is a Certified Black Sash Sifu in Kung Fu and Chi Kung (Qigong), An International Gold Medalist in Chi Kung and a dedicated Enter the Gate Disciple of world renowned Grand Master Henry Poo Yee (visit Grand Master Yee at “CKFA.com”) .

Sifu Jeff has trained the Southern Praying Mantis System for almost thirty years. He is a certified Black Sash Sifu, Enter the Gate Disciple and lifetime student of Grand Master Henry Poo Yee. Sifu Jeff has been an instructor for more than 20 years opening his first school in Atlanta, GA in 1985.

Our Desire for Balance

and the Process of Finding it

The term “finding balance” is used extensively in books and magazine articles ranging from exercise to self help to business. Finding balance in our lives sounds great and occasionally we even make time to do the things that we believe can help us to achieve a greater sense of it. We consider changes we can make in our lives in our efforts to realize greater balance, but too often the weeks pass without action and we find ourselves back at square one.

The problem is not our intent, we do want a greater sense of balance in our lives. What we need to understand, however, is that balance does not come from external actions or simply making lists of things we intend to change. Balance originates in our mental and spiritual foundation. When we make changes here at the foundation a greater sense of balance manifests as an expression of who we are and what we hold to be most important. True balance comes when our external actions are in harmony with our core values, our spiritual beliefs and our fundamental view of life. The final step in this process is, tying these beliefs into our vision of the life that we desire, and understanding that we are both capable and worthy of our vision.

Having a program that can assist us physically, mentally and even spiritually in finding and maintaining balance is something we all desire, but meeting all of these needs is a pretty tall order. In the past we have used prayer, meditation, yoga, tai chi, running and various other routines. All of these programs have unique benefits, but there is a new kind of program available which combines these benefits. Actually it is really not new in fact it is centuries old, this program is called Chi Kung. Some sources use old world spelling thus Chi Kung is written Qigong.

Although Chi Kung is just now becoming known there are already numerous programs in the market. The most powerful and thus beneficial programs, according to the Kung Fu Masters that teach them, are programs based in Shaolin Temple traditions. Until very recently these Shaolin practices were well kept secrets, so why release this information to the public at this time? In one well known case, one of the most powerful and respected Masters in the Martial Arts decided to share his powerful Chi Kung with the general public for the first time in over three centuries. The student allowed to bring this information to the public, Sifu Jeff Larson, explains “it is simple, the world needs the benefits that this Chi Kung can provide, and it was Grand Master Yee’s love for humanity and his desire to help people, reduce stress, find peace of mind, improve their health and live better, fuller lives that lead to the Grand Masters decision. to release this information after centuries of secrecy”.

Traditionally these Chi Kung programs were long and often complicated, so Sifu Jeff Larson developed shorter programs that can fit into the busy lives and hectic schedules of most Americans. When a person has more time they can do the practice for longer periods, but consistency is the key to losing weight, reducing stress, toning and firming up the body and achieving a sense of abundant energy. We were careful to design programs to help people to experience these and many other benefits.

Author Sifu Jeff Larson is a 30 year practitioner of Kung Fu and has trained with Grand Master Yee for over 20 years. He is the President of Floating Monk and Chi for Health. Visit “chiforhealth.com” for additional information.