Here’s an interesting subject that was sparked by a post I found via the Wujimon blog. Mike Murphy suggests that Tai Chi requires physical conditioning in order to be ‘authentic’ because the original practitioners were very strong and fit (mainly due to farming).
This kind of historical context is often overlooked when claiming ‘authenticity’, any set of ideas will change if the backdrop changes. There are major examples of this with religious texts, which are both followed and criticised without any regard to context. Put aside modern scientific discoveries and many old ideas would appear pragmatic and sensible rather than mystical. And occasionally, just occasionally, they stand the test of time.
“…any set of ideas will change if the backdrop changes.”
Wow. What a perfect companion for ‘ever changing cycles.’
–h
By: hcarstens on October 10, 2009
at 9:53 pm
between these two videos
1) the big fat man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3331hHtPcbU&feature=related
2) the thin old man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq7N3Dmd-eM&feature=related
I am sure neither one did any resistance training
, nor do they look like farm boys 
. Martial arts ability aside, I would not consider
them as unhealthy either.
This is how I understand it. Internal arts requires the muscles to be loose ad relax (for one thing, it allows the transferring of force from the feet – pushed against the ground – to the hands); it is not the amount of muscle as long as they are loose and relax. Weight training invariably tenses up the muscles; that is why it is not encouraged.
If one does weight training then somehow make sure the muscle become losoe and relax then it would be ok (I think); however I am not sure this is advisable.
There is a difference, I think, between farmers and people who do weight training.
,
Most weight trainers do it to have a good looking
body, farmers does it because they have to do it.
Therefore asking weight trainers to relax their firm macho muscle, likely they would not agree (or unable to) – thus preventing progress in internal arts. I would argue that farmers don’t have the kind biceps like most weight trainers have
or buns-of-steel like I see on TV commercials of NordicTrac.
Personally I am not opposed to weight training. Whatever one does to feel/be healthy and good about oneself is ok with me. But to me, internal arts trainers look for more than just gaining muscle mass.
About body conditioning (as opposed to resistance/weight training), internal arts does a lot of conditioning training because after all without strenght how can one fight. ZZ on onel leg
, ZZ on bricks, Running on the beach (using the the upper body and hip to drive the legs), etc. However, all body conditioning is aimed at discovering the all-body unity, notjust single-part movement/development. Sometimes weight is used to accomplish the purpose
[ My teacher, at the beginning of my training, did ask us to do punching while holding 2,3 lbs weight in each palm, the purpose is to loosen the shoulder.
He said to stop doing that after three months. ]
one can claim that all conditioning are resistance training; how could it not be, the mere fact that we stand up can be considered as weight training
, we have to pull up against gravity.
Again, the internal training ultimate aim is the body unity (one-part-mov- all-parts-move).
I, for one, would not oppose to using modern equipments/methodology/etc. for training. However, one needs to understand the purpose behind the traditional training first.
The above paragraphs are merely based on my current thinking based on my current body state.
).
I reserve the right to change my mind as I progress (or regress
By: roamingwind on October 11, 2009
at 5:37 am
Henry,
Seems like everything’s moving simultaneously and these thoughts give me serious doubts about our ability to analyse dynamic systems. To get to a high level chess players need ‘intuition’, and that’s for a world with 64 squares and 32 pieces.
Roaming Wind,
Whilst I have zero interest in weight training (even the point of it, to look good, is an image not shared by the opposite sex) I have been considering taking up yoga as a complimentary activity. And one thing I wonder about is the extent to which ‘external’ fitness would be useful for an actual fight; unlike chess where we try to kill each other on a daily basis, there seems to be little way to gauge the actual combat abilities of the players.
Nigel
By: ND on October 11, 2009
at 6:58 am
I think yoga is excellent complementary exercise to internal martial arts. From what I can tell, not being a yoga practitioner, it will help develop whole body strength (as opposed to individual muscle group) and balance. Also, it will help to open certain acupuncture points in the body.
For ‘external’ fitness, I think swimming is excellent.
.
it develops strength, stamina, help the spine being supple, loosen the shoulders. Whenever I do swimming for sustained period I can’t help but feel very good. I just need to be more motivated
I don’t have any fighting ability so I don’t know if
external fitness will affect fighting ability.
It does take a different attitude/training to fight.
I have no illusion that – even though I do feel the connection of the body and the ease with which I can move nowadays – I am able to fight.
As you mentioned sometime ago, the time put in vs the benefit seems low. The reason I am still doing this is for health and exploring the body.
I often consider seeing my teacher again, he would probably say “now you are ready to begin the first step” “-).
By: roamingwind on October 12, 2009
at 5:15 pm