Philosophy
Five Element Theory vs Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock
2011/04/Fri 15
How far can a tai chi metaphor go? When you practice and art and follow its philosophy long enough, you eventually start to see it everywhere. You may even be tempted to manifest it in places where it probably shouldn't belong. Case in point: tai chi fanatics on a dance floor.
Another case is the natural attempt to apply five element theory to a game made famous by the hit comedy series, "The Big Bang Theory." In the episode entitled "The Lizard-Spock Expansion", Sheldon proposes adding the variable "Lizard" and "Spock" to the classic "Rock Paper Scissor" game in order to increase the randomness of the outcome.
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Another case is the natural attempt to apply five element theory to a game made famous by the hit comedy series, "The Big Bang Theory." In the episode entitled "The Lizard-Spock Expansion", Sheldon proposes adding the variable "Lizard" and "Spock" to the classic "Rock Paper Scissor" game in order to increase the randomness of the outcome.
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Yin and Yang of "Four Strong Winds"
2010/07/Thu 15
It is sometimes said that the only thing that is real is that which does not change. Yet so much of human experience is measured by what is destined to change. We are creatures of illusion, clinging to that which has no inherent reality, and unable to accept the unchanging reality that defines the true nature of our existence. .......... ....................................................................................................... Read More...
Stillness and emptiness
2010/05/Thu 27
Tai Chi is the path of balance, peace, and harmony.
But these things are not achieved by waiting for them.
Peace is a struggle.
Balance is a verb. . ....................................................................................................... Read More...
But these things are not achieved by waiting for them.
Peace is a struggle.
Balance is a verb. . ....................................................................................................... Read More...
The Yin and Yang of National Pride at the Vancouver Olympics 2010
2010/03/Tue 02
Speaking as a Canadian, I was watching the closing ceremony and laughing at the cartoonish joking about Canadian stereotypes, I realized that we would have some apologizing and explaining to do. ....
I'm sorry for the heavy use of ironic humour. I know that irony does not work in many parts of the world the way it does in Canada.
........ If there is anything that is typically Canadian, it is our pride in our ability to make fun of our own nationalism. We typically have a low pride threshold, and we are exceedingly proud of that fact.......Every once in a while, we notice that we have done something right, and we will feel really good about it as a nation. Then we wake up the next morning with a nationalism hangover and find ourselves feeling cheap and ashamed of ourselves. ......We did a very good job with the Olympics this year. So the hangover threatened to be quite debilitating and we had to work the next day. So this time we decided to be ironic about it so we wouldn't feel so bad about ourselves the morning.
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I'm sorry for the heavy use of ironic humour. I know that irony does not work in many parts of the world the way it does in Canada.
........ If there is anything that is typically Canadian, it is our pride in our ability to make fun of our own nationalism. We typically have a low pride threshold, and we are exceedingly proud of that fact.......Every once in a while, we notice that we have done something right, and we will feel really good about it as a nation. Then we wake up the next morning with a nationalism hangover and find ourselves feeling cheap and ashamed of ourselves. ......We did a very good job with the Olympics this year. So the hangover threatened to be quite debilitating and we had to work the next day. So this time we decided to be ironic about it so we wouldn't feel so bad about ourselves the morning.
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What is Qi?
2009/12/Wed 09
Qi (pronounced “Chee”) [气 , 氣 qì ]
Qi is sometimes spelled “chi” or “ch’i”. In this article I write it as “qi” to attempt to conform to modern academic standards and to help avoid confusion with taijiquan (pronounced “tai jee chuan”), which is often spelled “tai chi chuan”. Qi and chi may sound similar to non-chinese ears, and this has led to some confusion. “Qi” is a different word altogether from the chi in tai chi chuan.
“Qi” is often translated as “energy” or “vital force”. It is sometimes referred to as the substratum of the Universe.. ....................................................................................................... Read More...
Qi is sometimes spelled “chi” or “ch’i”. In this article I write it as “qi” to attempt to conform to modern academic standards and to help avoid confusion with taijiquan (pronounced “tai jee chuan”), which is often spelled “tai chi chuan”. Qi and chi may sound similar to non-chinese ears, and this has led to some confusion. “Qi” is a different word altogether from the chi in tai chi chuan.
“Qi” is often translated as “energy” or “vital force”. It is sometimes referred to as the substratum of the Universe.. ....................................................................................................... Read More...
The Yin and Yang of Hummingbirds
2009/06/Tue 16
I find myself doing a lot of contemplating these days, as I anticipate the arrival of my first child. Even though work has never been more hectic, I find that I am provoked into philosophical musings more and more easily. This week I found myself particularly distracted by three little birds.
I was working on a lesson plan for an upcoming tai chi seminar when a nest of hummingbirds drew my attention. How could it not? I have never had such a clear view of a hummingbird nest, and have never had the opportunity to observe one feed its young. . ....................................................................................................... Read More...
I was working on a lesson plan for an upcoming tai chi seminar when a nest of hummingbirds drew my attention. How could it not? I have never had such a clear view of a hummingbird nest, and have never had the opportunity to observe one feed its young. . ....................................................................................................... Read More...
A look at Wong Zongyue's Theory of Taijiquan
2008/05/Tue 13
The story goes that the brother of Wu Yuxiang (founder of Wu/Hao style tai chi chuan and also the student of Yang Luchan and Chen Changxing) found a copy of the "Taijiquan Lun" (Tai chi chuan treatise) in the back of a Beijing salt store. For this reason, it is sometimes called the "Salt Shop Manual" or "Salt Shop Classic." . ....................................................................................................... Read More...
No Such Thing as a Martial Arts Style Beating
2008/03/Sat 01
It was with great dismay that we learned of the attack on Sunday morning by assailants who are alleged to have used “nunchucks” in the attack.
But we were also appalled to read the article describing the attack as a “Martial-arts-style beating” and claiming that the alleged assailant, who is charged with attempted murder, “tore a page form a martial-arts textbook”
There is no such thing as a “martial-arts-style beating!”, and there is no martial arts textbook that advocates such a beating.. ....................................................................................................... Read More...
But we were also appalled to read the article describing the attack as a “Martial-arts-style beating” and claiming that the alleged assailant, who is charged with attempted murder, “tore a page form a martial-arts textbook”
There is no such thing as a “martial-arts-style beating!”, and there is no martial arts textbook that advocates such a beating.. ....................................................................................................... Read More...
The Warrior's Peace (Part 1)
2008/03/Sat 01
The Warrior's Peace - Part I
by Ian Sinclair
“I am not a pacifist. I don’t believe in passive anything.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
When I tell people that I teach “martial arts - not violence,” it becomes clear that few people truly understand the nature of martial arts, just as few understand the real nature of peace.. ....................................................................................................... Read More...
by Ian Sinclair
“I am not a pacifist. I don’t believe in passive anything.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
When I tell people that I teach “martial arts - not violence,” it becomes clear that few people truly understand the nature of martial arts, just as few understand the real nature of peace.. ....................................................................................................... Read More...