Valley
Spirit Journal
谷神
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April 2007 |
April
2007
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By Michael P.
Garofalo
Red Bluff,
California |
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Mike Garofalo in Bandon Bay Harbor, Oregon.
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Valley Spirit
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April 1,
Sunday, 2007
We visited with the Flinn family in Portland. Sunday
brunch at Salty's Restaurant on the Coloumbia River. We all went to the
Tulip Festival in Woodburn.

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Publications
Cuttings
Above the Fog
Pulling Onions
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Mike Garofalo
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April 2,
Monday, 2007
We visited with Alicia and Katelyn during the day. Sean's
birthday at night.
"The secret of happiness
lies in taking a genuine interest in all
the details of daily life, and in elevating them to art."
- William Morris
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T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Yang Style
Sun Style
Sword
Staff
Saber
Cloud Hands
Valley Spirit Center
Qigong
Links
Chen Style
Bagua
Yang 24
Sun 73
Cloud Hands Blog
Bibliography
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April 3,
Tuesday, 2007
Mick, April, Betty, Karen, Katelyn and I all went to Washington Park: Rose
Garden, Japanese Garden, and World Forestry Museum. Dinner at Mick's
house: homemade noodles.

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General
Beauty
Chan Poetry
Cold Mountain
Buddhas
Concrete Poetry
Earth
Fitness
Flowers
Green Wizard
Haiku
History of Gardening
Labyrinths
Meditation
Seeing
Simplicity
String Figures
Taijiquan
Trees
Walking
Will Power
Yoga
Zen Poetry
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April 4,
Wednesday, 2007
Drive from Portland to Salem, from Salem to Lincoln City, and from Lincoln City
via Highway 101 down the Oregon Coast to Crescent City, California.

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Valley Spirit Journal
Archives
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
2005
2004
2003
Index |
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April 5,
Thursday, 2007
Drive from Crescent City to Red Bluff.
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Gardening
Air
Beauty
Clichés
Earth
Fire
Flowers
History
Humor
Green
Way Blog
Green Wizard
History
Index
Jokes
Months
Olives
Seeing
Simplicity
Timeline
Trees
Tree Lore
Water
Weeding
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April 6,
Friday, 2007
Relax around house, clean up from trip, reading, email, photo work,
Taijiquan, watering, yard work.
This type of qigong has been passed on by a Taoist
priest by the name of Wang Zhenyi. While practising
this type of qigong you should concentrate your
attention on making the upper, middle and lower
dantians linear. When you have made your three
dantians linear, you will attain a very special and
comfortable feeling and will almost forget
everything. Your small and large circulations will
automatically be open to qi. This type of qigong can
help you recover quickly from fatigue. No mater how
tired you are, you can completely recover after
practising this qigong for fifteen minutes. You can
do this type of qigong while standing, sitting,
lying down, or when practising taijiquan or riding a
bicycle. This qigong does not require any
preparation or special procedure before stopping.
Procedure:
1. Soon after concentrating your mind in your upper
dantian, shift your attention to the lower dantian (huiyin
acupoint).
2. After getting the feeling of qi in the lower
dantian, shift your mind to the middle dantian and
arrange it in line with the upper and lower dantians
in order to make the three dantians linear. Then
imagine the three dantians as three spheres. You
should carefully put the sphere of the middle
dantian between the two spheres of upper and lower
dantians. The middle sphere will slide out if you do
it carelessly.
3. When the three dantians have been made linear,
you will get a very special feeling and comfortable
feeling. You should hold this feeling as long as
possible. It can help you return to the “original
state”, to cure diseases and promote your health.
You should maintain this feeling and eliminate any
distractions.
Reference:
Relax and calming qigong by Wang Peisheng & Chen
Guanhua
ISBN 9622381812
Making Three Dantien's Linear
http://neigong.net/2007/01/18/making-three-dantians-linear/
Santi Shi or Trinity Pile Standing
http://neigong.net/2007/01/12/santi-shi-or-trinity-pile-standing/
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Biographies
Reginald H. Blyth
Han Shan
Sun Lu-Tang
Chang San-Feng
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April 7,
Saturday, 2007
Walking and Taijiquan at daybreak.
Teach Taijiquan and Yoga at TFFC.
Yard work in the afternoon.
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Mysticism
Nature Mysticism
Green Way Blog
Green Wizard
Spirituality
Tree Lore
Eight
Trigrams
Taoism
Green
Way Blog
Taiji
Classics
Valley
Spirit Center
Bagua
Walking
Meditation
I Ching
Religion
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April 8,
Sunday, 2007
Walking and Taijiquan in the morning. Relax and socialize in the afternoon.
Debbie, Jordan, Betty, Karen and I all enjoyed a really fine Easter dinner at
our house. "Most Yi students,
Confucians and Daoists would know or have heard about the Junzi or the superior
man in their studies. There are many things that a person needs to do and/or
cultivate before he or she can become a Junzi. It is not easy otherwise
Confucius would not have elaborated so much about the ways of a Junzi as
recorded in the Analects and said that he aspired to be one. If you have not
discerned it, the Judgments, Images and the lines in the Yijing delved into the
proper conduct of a Junzi and the ways to master his or her fate.
If one aspires to become a Junzi apart from watching one’s actions, we also need
to be discreet with our words.
“The reason why the ancients did not readily give utterance to their
words was that they feared lest their actions should not come up to them.” ‘The
cautious seldom err.’ And ‘The superior man (Junzi) wishes to be slow in
speech and earnest in conduct.’ [Analects 4. 22, 23 & 24 Legge]"
- Allan Lian,
http://atouchofancientszhouyi.blogspot.com/2007/01/words-of-junzi.html
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Indexes
Quotes - Gardening
Taijiquan
Months
Zen
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April 9,
Monday, 2007
Exercise in the morning. Mow back yard. Prepare for TCCA meeting.
Chair Tehama County
Commission on Aging meeting in Los Molinos.
Gym Workout: Weightlifting for 45 minutes, then teach spin cycling
class.
Follow up on TCCA business.
"Because bioregional animism is focused on personal and communal
relationships with the land and sky and the other then human persons that
inhabit land and sky, the bioregional animist tribe does not attempt to find one
way for every one, it does not attempt to adopt or culturally appropriate any
existing cultures, but instead asks that we do as our ancestors have done, begin
anew, go directly to the source or culture and animism and shamanism, and find
our own way. The project asks that we become native again and put down roots in
the psychic soil of the place that we live. The project asks that we stop out
sourcing our traditions and adapting practices from out side of our own
bioregion and find the spirit of shamanism and animism in our back yard."
http://nothingness23.blogspot.com/
Biogregional Animism
http://bioregionalanimism.blogspot.com/
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Search
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Apirl 10,
Tuesday, 2007
Taijiquan in the morning. Work on Sun 73 Taijiquan form and
Chen Staff form.
CUESD work. Training in Red Bluff on the Follett Destiny software from
8 - 3.
Gym: Treadmill walking for 20 minutes, weightlifting for 45 minutes,
teach yoga class for 75 minutes.
Sun 73 form work on webpage.
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Webmaster
Notes
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WordPress
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April 11,
Wednesday, 2007
Taijiquan in the morning. Work on Sun 73 Taijiquan form and
Chen Staff form.
CUESD work. Training in Red Bluff on the Follett Destiny software from
8 - 3.
Gym: Treadmill walking for 20 minutes, weightlifting for 45 minutes,
teach power yoga class for 45 minutes, and Sun Taijiquan class for 60 minutes.
Sun 73 form work on webpage.
"Success is neither magical or
mysterious. Success is the natural consequence
of consistently applying the basic fundamentals." _________ Jim Rohn
"To train only when other people are
watching is not budo, it is side show!
All men must learn to train alone."______________ Jon Crain
Previously I posted a fairly simple bo drill:
Bo-Bo Kumite. Since then I have been asked if I have any more drills like
this, not only for the bo, but also for sai and tuifa. It seems many
practitioners would like to have practical application drills to work
weapons in a more realistic scenario.
We develop practical application in weapon or empty hand kata using the same
process. Pull sequences from the kata and break them down to the basic
principles (i.e. Rise and fall or push and pull for example). Then work them
into drills. Once we establish the drill, a bunkai or practical application
can be introduced producing a 2-man drill.
This is fairly close to how the martial arts were practiced prior to the
introduction of Sport Kumite. If you read Funakoshi's books you discover he
felt free sparing was dangerous - seeing what was being practiced was
considered a deadly art. Funakoshi therefore developed predetermined 2 man
drills. We can apply the same to today's martial arts.
A Drill
In Tokumine no kun there is a sequence of three sliding or snap thrusts.
Isolate these from the kata. Practice them with the intention of mastering
form, balance, power, and cadence. We have developed a drill. To take it one
step further introduce a partner who is defending themselves against these
strikes.
The Flow Drill
Taking the parry that occurs in Tokumine and having the opponent use
this to defend, further helps one to practice techniques in the kata. It
also teaches the opponent to parry while moving back through the same
sequences of cat stances that the attacker is going forward. We have created
a flow drill. When repeated, we will have an attacker moving forward three
steps and then reversed so that the same person is now stepping back three
steps.
This carries on so that both partners practice both sides of the drill
repeatedly. This is known as a "flow" drill.
If we break down the entire kata in this manner we have a kata that can be
practiced with a partner and, in fact, a second kata to practice.
Ying and Yang. This is the unseen side of the kata. Recently I
visited Norm Losier in Hope BC. While comparing notes and kata, one of our
discussions centered on Tokumine Bunkai. Sensei Losier began the kata and I
did the bunkai. When we were done, we discussed a few minor differences.
Basically, his bunkai and the bunkai I performed were almost identical,
although we had never sat down and agreed on any particular sequence. It was
the process that was identical, therefore the logic of which bunkai fit
where was similar.
Each of us is different and each will inject personality into kata and
drills and application. I was originally taught bunkai for Tokumine by
Advincula Sensei and for the most part this is what I do. I do however adapt
those techniques that my particular body style finds more easily executed or
those techniques that for me seem more-natural.
There are perimeters to this process. One must learn mechanics of body or
weapon to reach a viable and logical conclusion. A technique has to be tried
"in the field" or in a scenario that will prove it is a working technique,
not just a frivolous idea someone came up with. All techniques must be able
to withstand scrutiny.
Tokumine no kon
Notes on drills and bunkai development
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1. Attention.
2. Bow with bo under right arm.
3. Flip bo 180-degrees on right side.
4. Execute a left low block.
5. Step back with the left foot and execute a right hand overhead strike.
6. Step forward with the left foot into a reverse cat stance and snap
punch.
7. Step forward with the right foot into a diagonal Seisan stance and snap
punch.
8. Step forward with the left foot into a reverse cat stance and snap
punch.
9. Step back with the left foot into a diagonal Seisan and kumai.
10. Step 45-degrees right with the right foot forward and execute a reverse
right hand side strike to the head.
11. Step to a point 45-degrees left of the centerline and executes a
reverse left-hand side strike to the head.
12. Step to a point 90-degrees to the left of the original centerline and
execute a left side block, overhead strike, uppercut, overhead strike,
reverse side strike and a side strike. The strikes are done with the bo on
the right side of the body.
13. Snap punch and kumai.
14. Reverse your handgrip on the bo and step with the right leg forward
180-degrees, executing a right side block. Execute the same sequence as #12
only on the right side of the body.
15. Snap punch and kumai.
16. Draw your right foot in and face the original centerline at attention
with the bo held along the right side of your body, right hand on the
bottom and left hand held across the body on top.
17. Step forward into a horse stance and execute a right side block,
holding the bo behind the leg and not infront. Stand up sharply by bringing
your right foot back to your left. As you do this draw your left hand to
your hip and your right hand to your solar plexus.
18. Step forward with the right foot into a diagonal Seisan stance and
thrust punch. KIAI:
19. Bring the left foot forward into a reverse cat stance and thrust punch.
20. Step forward with the right foot into a diagonal Seisan stance and
thrust punch.
21. Pivot 180-degrees into a left foot forward cat stance with the bo
"cocked" on your shoulder.
22. Step forward with the right foot into a diagonal Seisan stance and
execute a forward side strike.
23. Swing the body 180-degrees, step back with the left foot and go down on
the left knee, executing a straight side strike, left hand forward.
24. While still down on the knee execute reverse side strike with the right
hand forward.
25. As you stand up perform a left side low block with the right hand low
and the left hand on the right shoulder.
26. Perform the sequence of overhead strike, 2 side strikes, uppercut,
overhead strike, snap punch and kumai.
27. Step back with the right foot into a horse stance. You should be facing
90-degrees to the right of the original front centerline. Perform a "flip
over" head strike to your left.
28. Step into a horse stance with the right foot so you are now facing the
original front centerline and execute a 2 handed push with the bo.
29. Without changing stance or grip on the bo, spin the bo and execute a
reverse strike, 3 parries and another reverse strike (the first reverse
strike is done in front of you, the second one is carried through the
target and ends up 90-degrees to your original front centerline.
30.Spin the bo over your head as you change grip and complete #29 sequence
only on the left side of the body.
31. Upon completion on the second reverse strike, bring the left hand
behind the head over the right shoulder as if you were doing a big wind up.
Step 180-degrees with the left foot, to the rear and execute a left-hand
forward reverse strike.
32. Slide your left hand under the bo, in preparation of changing grip.
33. Step again 180-degrees with the right foot, to face the original front
centerline, and execute a reverse side strike with the right hand forward.
34. Immediately draw the right hand to the hip.
35. Shuffle forwards and perform a right hand strike, a left hand reverse
block, and another right hand strike. It is optional to shuffle once, twice
or even three times on this move. It is also optional to shuffle not at
all. Either is acceptable.
36. Step back to attention and close.
Training Drills
All of the drills and sequences are taken from the description.
Using steps 5 to 9 from schematic description, perform a one man
training drill. To turn this into a two man bunkai drill use blocks and
parries to defend against the strikes and counter with a snap punch when the
kumai is performed.
Using steps 10 and 11 perform a one-man drill. Because this to moves only
and by the nature of the move it can be used as a warm up drill as well as a
technique practice drill.
Using steps 12 and 13 perform a one-man drill and also incorporate this
sequence as a two-man bunkai drill. This is the signature sequence of attack
in this kata.
Use drill #3 and incorporate steps 14 and 15 to complete the maneuver in
multiple directions. As you work this drill you may want to advance it to
the point of using the 8 gates and begin working the sequence in multiple
directions.
Using steps 16 to 18 perform both one man and two man drills.
Using steps 17 to 21 perform both one and two man drills.
Using steps 18 and 19 perform both one and two man drills. This is also a
good warm up drill.
Using steps 22 to 25 perform both one and two man drills. An excellent warm
up drill for the knees and legs. Try as you stand up, turn 180-degrees and
repeat in the opposite direction or use the 8 gates as direction.
Using steps 27 and 28 perform one man and two man drills. Keep the horse
stance low and use as a warm-up drill, repeating in different directions.
Using steps 28 to 30 perform both one and two or even three man drills. Keep
it moving and again using different directions.
Using steps 31 to 33 perform a one man and two man or three-man drill. If
you repeat the grip change sequence you will be able to move back and forth
in different directions non-stop. This is also an excellent warm up drill.
Using steps 33 to 35 perform a one or two man drill. Practice the side to
side techniques concentrating on the difference between a block and a
strike. Also practice shuffling in and generating power from the hip as you
move.
_______________________ Mike O'Leary
If you have any questions, additions, thoughts or want to know more, please
contact Sensei Michael O'Leary of the Abbotsford Isshin-ryu Karate-Do :
Phone 604-864-7590 or 604-853-6972 E-mail kakuredojo@uniserve.com
http://veritas.swiftsite.com/one.html
The art of karate does not mean the ability of technical
excellence, which can be developed by physical training, but an ability of
attaining a spiritual goal through the practice of the kata, so that the player
plays against self and succeeds in conquering self... He who conquers self is
the greatest warrior. This is the highest platitudes for the karate master."
____ Richard Kim
Dojo Rat Blog
http://dojorat.blogspot.com/
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Qigong
Eight Section
Brocade
Wild Goose
Cloud Hands Blog
Five Animal
Frolics
Standing
Meditation
Breathing
Links
T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Relaxation (Sung)
Silk Reeling
Bibliography
Eight
Trigrams
Taoism
Valley Spirit Center
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April 12,
Thursday, 2007
Taijiquan in the morning. Work on Sun 73 Taijiquan form and Chen Staff
form.
CUESD work from 7:30 to 4 pm.
Gym: Weightlifting for 45 minutes, teach yoga class for 75 minutes.
Take Betty to Bus Depot in Red Bluff.
Sun 73 form work on webpage.

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October
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December
Index
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April 13,
Friday, 2007
Taijiquan in the morning. Work on Sun 73 Taijiquan form and
Chen Staff form.
Fasting all morning.
Take Karen's car in for repairs and take Karen to work.
Redding Medical Center appointment for me at 9 am.
CUESD work. Training in Red Bluff on the Follett Destiny software from
8 - 3.
Shopping in Redding.
Gym workout: Teadmill walking for 20 minutes, weightlifting for 60
minutes.
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Blogs
Valley Spirit
Journal
Photographs
Cloud Hands Blog
Green Way Blog
CUESD Info/Zone Blog
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April 14,
Saturday, 2007
Walking and Taijiquan at daybreak.
Teach Taijiquan and Yoga at TFFC.
Raining in the morning. We relax most of the day. Loading
software on Karen's computer.
Pinyin is better, and is becoming standard in newer books. Ren is,
mercifully, ren, not ìjen.î But , as Molly Isham explains, there are still six
symbols that Americans find difficult: Q like 'ch' in 'cheese'; X like 'sh' in
'sheep'; Z like 'ds' in 'beds'; C like 'ts' in 'cats'; Zh like 'dg' in 'edge'; E
like the 'e' in 'the' when it appears before a consonant.
- George Leonard
http://www.georgeleonard.com/readingperils.html
Yang Cheng Fu's
Sword Demonstration
By Mr. Yao Mung-Goo, Taipei, Taiwan
Published in Taiwan Tai Chi Chuan Journal, No. 80, April 1992, p.3.
(Article is from a lecture at celebration of Professor's 90th Memorial
Ceremony.)
Translated by David Chen, 2000
Proofread by Lauretta Jenkins.
The Story Told by
Professor-----
In 1931 Yang Cheng Fu was invited
by Central Wu Shu Academy in Nanking to attend a Wu Shu convention. Among many
special guests Master Lee Jing Lin, a wonderful Wu Shu specialist, particularly
in the sword, was included. Master Lee had earned a reputation for being the
"God of Sword." The host of the convention, Mr. Chang, was a good friend of
Master Lee and invited Mr. Lee onto the stage to perform his famous sword form.
Master Lee stepped to the stage
and began his form, using his arm to inscribe a "sword flower" (sword shield)
while at the same time turning his body through 360 degrees, he moved so fast
that his body and the sword were a blur. The whole audience made a standing
ovation several times, because no one had ever seen both the artist and his
sword disappear into what looked like a tornado.
At the end of Master Lee's
demonstration, he asked the audience if there were any one who would volunteer
to play with him. The audience was silent. After a few minutes two martial
artists from Hunan approached the stage with their swords. The Hunan area is
historically famous for its sword players. The first player's sword was within a
few seconds sailing far across the auditorium. The second swordsman played with
Master Lee for three of four minutes, but with the same result. At this time the
whole audience was in thunderous applause because this was real kung fu and not
just speedy play. The people really believed that this was how Master Lee had
earned his title as "God of Sword."
The host, Mr. Chang, started
asking for more volunteers, but no one would come up to test anymore. Knowing
that Yang Cheng Fu was in the audience, Mr. Chang went to him and politely
asked, "Master Yang, I have heard that your tai chi sword is so wonderful; can
we have the honor of you in a demonstration with Master Lee?" Yang Cheng Fu
reacted with panic, saying "I'm sorry; I'm not good. Don't ask me." People
surrounding the group understood that Yang Cheng Fu was being modest and humble,
because everyone knew that he was the most reputable master in the tai chi
field. So they started applauding and urging him on. Once again Yang Cheng Fu
declined, saying the Master Lee's sword was number one in China and he respected
that very much. Mr. Chang would not let him go and insisted that Master Yang
Cheng Fu go on the stage. The atmosphere was getting unpleasant. Professor Cheng
Man Ching, sitting next to Yang Cheng Fu, was worried because Master Lee was
indeed one of China's very best sword players. Cheng Man Ching was concerned
that if Yang lost his sword like the other two it would be a great humiliation
for Yang's family. So he believed that it was correct for Yang to be modest. But
the more modest Yang was the more applause and urging came from the audience,
not just from the tai chi groups, but also from shao lin and xing-I
practitioners. At this point Yang Cheng Fu had no room to escape. He slowly
stood up, borrowed a sword from Mr. Chang, the host, and reluctantly approached
the stage.
Mr. Yang Cheng Fu faced Master
Lee on the stage, and saluted with his sword to show his respect. Master Lee
immediately started his sword-fan defense shield, which was his invitation to
Yang to approach with his sword. Master Yang Cheng Fu did not, like the previous
two artists, rush in with his sword. He held his sword in his hand and looking
intently at the defense shield of Lee's sword, expressed, "Hmmm." At a certain
time, Yang just sent the sword in. There was a sound, "clang," and Master Lee's
sword was flying 30 meters away. The whole audience sat in stunned silence, but
soon thunderous applause erupted mixed with sounds of awe. Everyone was
surprised at how easily Yang Cheng Fu made Master Lee's sword fly.
Professor Cheng Man Ching was
stunned as well and kept asking his teacher how he did it, but Yang did not
answer him until they were on the way home, when Yang started explaining: "Let
me just tell you one phrase, that is do not separate your mind from the sword
therefore your spirit can be focused. What do you focus on? When you swing the
sword, you need to use your wrist. When you turn the wrist, there must be a gap.
Therefore, I focused on the gap and sent my sword into it. Since his sword was
still turning, but my sword was still, he deflected his own sword by his own
force."
Master Yao said that Professor
learned from Yang Cheng Fu and memorized in his own heart the phrase: do not
separate your mind from the sword therefore your spirit can be focused.
Professor always emphasized that the sword player must connect the focusing to
the sword, because when you see the gap and send in the sword, the gap is
already gone. No, you must have the sword already there when you see the gap.
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Photography
Valley Spirit Photos
Home Gardens
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April 15,
Sunday, 2007
Endurance Games for 24 hours.
Walking and Taijiquan in the afternoon.
Yard and gardening work.

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Michael
P. Garofalo
Brief Biography
Resume
Internal Arts Practices
Work
Valley Spirit Center
Yoga Instructor
Home Gardens
Websites
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April 16,
Monday, 2007
CUESD work from 7:30 to Noon.
Pick up Karen - her car is in the shop.
Gym: Weightlifting for 45 minutes, teach spin class for 30 minutes.
Watching documentaries on the Doc Channel on Dish.
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April 17,
Tuesday, 2007
CUESD work from 7:30 to Noon.
Appointment with Dr. Okonski, cardiologist in the afternoon. Nothing
wrong "architecturally" with my heart per CRT scan report. Increased blood
pressure medicine dosage.
Gym: Walking on elliptical for 20 minutes, teach yoga class for 75 minutes.
Watching documentaries on the Doc Channel on Dish.
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April 18,
Wednesday, 2007
CUESD work from 7:30 to 4 pm.
Gym: Walking on elliptical for 20 minutes, teach yoga class for 45
minutes, teach Sun Taijiquan class for 60 minutes.
Watching documentaries on the Doc Channel on Dish.
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April 19,
Thursday, 2007
CUESD work from 7:30 to 4 pm.
Gym: Weightlifting for 45 minutes, teach yoga class for 75 minutes.
Watching documentaries on the Doc Channel on Dish.
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April 20,
Friday, 2007
CUESD work from 7:30 to 4 pm. Finish Small School District Bus
Replacement Grant. Meet with Jim and Rob on PE Teacher grant.
Relaxing, reading, watering, and writing in the afternoon.
Yang and Sun Taijiquan practice.
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April 21,
Saturday, 2007
Walking and Taijiquan in the morning.
Teach Yang Taijiquan for 60 minutes. Teach Hatha Yoga for 75 minutes.
Gardening, outdoor and indoor work projects.
Sun Taijiquan webpage work.
Write 1st Draft of PE Teacher grant application.
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April 22,
Sunday, 2007
Walking and Taijiquan practice in the morning.
Gardening, outdoor and indoor work projects, reading, and writing.
Sun Taijiquan webpage work. Work on
Garofalo Gardens
Comparison: 1998, 2003, 2007.

Sometimes what we call doing "good" results in real evil.
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April 23,
Monday, 2007
CUESD work from 7:30 to 4 pm. Finish PE teacher grant
application.
Gym: Weightlifting for 45 minutes, then teach spin cycling for 30
minutes.
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April 24,
Tuesday, 2007
CUESD work from 7:30 to 4 pm. Finish PE teacher grant
application. Start Toyota Family Literacy Grant Application.
Gym: Weightlifting for 45 minutes, then teach hatha yoga for 75
minutes. .
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April 25,
Wednesday, 2007
CUESD work from 7:30 to 4 pm. Finish PE grant
application. Paperwork, grants, and follow up.
Gym: Weightlifting for 45 minutes, teach hatha yoga for 45 minutes,
then teach Sun Taijiquan for 60 minutes.
This is an excellent chart provided by the Center
for Contemplative Mind in Society.
They offer a variety of electronic versions of this "Tree of Contemplative
Practices."
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April
26,
Thursday, 2007
CUESD work from 8 - 3 pm. We are trained at TCDE in Red Bluff
on Follett Textbook management software.
Gym: Weightlifting for 45 minutes, then teach hatha yoga for 75
minutes.
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April 27,
Friday, 2007
CUESD work from 8 - 3 pm. We are trained at TCDE in Red Bluff
on Follett Textbook management software.
Gym: Weightlifting for 60 minutes, treadmill walking for 20 minutes.
A reader wrote to me:
"I hope you could shed some advice on my situation concerning internal martial
arts practice, particularly the standing practice. I have read a number of books
on the subject, and found your website. I have been involved in martial arts for
some time, but not as enthusiastically as now.
I have been practicing bagua, xing yi and tai chi for the last year or so.
My concern is the standing practice. I am 99.9 percent sure I am practicing it
properly, and seem to enjoy the results of it. I found that when I wake up
in the middle of the night, or immediately in the morning, or after a sauna
bath, that the body seems to be at its most relaxed state. All tension
and weight is sunk to the feet and below. This is what I perceive as total body
relaxation and try to achieve that same feeling through standing and moving
practice. In those states, back, shoulders, head, neck, arms and legs
automatically conform to the posture aesthetics from the xing yi, tai chi, and
bagua writings. Sometimes I sink so much that I end up in a stance similar to
the photos in the xing yi nei gong book.
My basic daily practice at the moment includes three types of standing postures:
san ti, bagua where the arms appear as holding a ball, and a tai chi standing
posture, five minutes for each posture, one following another. From there
I go into five minutes of very slow tai chi movements, followed by five minutes
of xing yi movements and finally five minutes of bagua movements - a total of 35
minutes of practice.
What's amazing about standing practice is how solid and balanced I feel
when it comes to the movements in tai chi, xing yi and bagua. Everything
mentioned in your book appear to happen. The movements seem very strong,
although my upper body is so relaxed and free of extra muscular tension. I
also feel very much at peace during these drills, and my breathing is exactly as
mentioned in the books, with a pronounced feeling fulfillment in the dan tien
area.
My legs, especially the thighs, have become very strong. They do, however,
become taxed, and feel very strained at times during the standing practices,
but I read that's to be expected. My concern is that, since I have been
practicing the standing postures, I have noticed a significant increase of vein
appearances on the legs. I had some varicose veins for years, but
after doing these exercises, there seems to be more. I read that with varicose
veins, one of the worst things to do is to stand or sit for long periods of
time, and this seems to go against standing practice and seated meditation
practice.
I'm concerned that this condition would get worse as I continue this practice. I
thought that maybe I'm sinking too low, but that doesn't sound right to me,
because that is one of the goals in this practice. If you have any insight into
this matter I would greatly appreciate it. I am also going to see Frank A. about
this matter and a teacher named David B.C.. I like what I have read on
your site, and felt compelled to contact you about this. I'll
understand if you are too busy to respond."
- Robert M., 4/27/07
Dear Robert M., You seem to have a good awareness of the need to be
relaxed (Sung), maintain steady breathing, and keep good postural
alignment. The benefits you report seem positive overall. The
total period of standing for all four activities is 35 minutes - normally
not excessive.
One's age and previous medical conditions should cause one to reconsider
particular kinds of exercises. For example, for me, at age 61, my medical
conditions have caused me to avoid very heavy weightlifting with low
repetitions ... despite my macho competitiveness with the young jocks in the
weight room. Likewise, chronic vascular problems (i.e., varicose
veins) might necessitate a change in your exercise routines, and taking
actions to reduce or avoid exercises that worsen your medical condition.
Consulting with a medical doctor might be very valuable to you, before you
make your own decision on how to proceed.
Generally, slow, gentle, relaxed movements, steady concentration, and
regular deep breathing while practicing mind-body movement arts like
Taijiquan and moving Qigong (8 Section Brocades, Wild Goose, 5 Animals,
Dragon Qigong, etc.) or Yoga are reported to be beneficial to both body and
mind for most people of all ages in the long run.
Standing in Wuji or SanTi or Post positions has a long history in
Taijiquan and Qigong. I tell my Taijiquan and Qigong students about
standing Yi Chuan and Qigong practices, refer them to books or videotapes on
the subject, demonstrate some of the postures, tell them about some Yi Chuan
and Qigong masters who stand for up to 60 minutes, and encourage them to
explore extended seated or standing mediation on their own.
As a personal fitness trainer and yoga teacher, I don't know of any
trainers that recommend holding challenging isometric poses for longer than
3 minutes, e.g., standing in one difficult posture and not moving.
Consequently, I never have my Qigong or Yoga students hold such single
static poses for longer than 2 to 3 minutes in any of my classes.
Personally, I've always thought and felt that long periods of standing
Qigong were not productive for me. Most modern students quit post
standing quickly, from boredom and/or pain, including myself. I would much
rather do incline squats, decline leg presses, reverse leg curls, walking,
spin cycling indoors, vigorous kung fu, and standing yoga postures, etc., to
improve leg and lower back strength and cardio-vascular conditioning and
have fun, rather than static isometric Yi Chuan or Post Standing for long
periods of time.
As for the "spiritual" or "esoteric body development" or "qi storing and
circulating" benefits that are obtained by doing more standing qigong versus
the benefits or values of other mind-body exercise options - only you can
decide what you value more. Often, students choose to value what a
beloved teacher says, because they want to impress or please that teacher,
because they want to be like that teacher, because they respect and highly
value the teacher; the particular practices are often irrelevant, the
practices may have no direct benefit to them, and the practices might even
be injurious or self-destructive to them. Siddhartha Guatama Buddha
himself, a man trained as a warrior, used many vigorous ascetic practices
for years, sitting or standing for many hours, but gave up on them and
recommend a "middle way" for spiritual progress. It is the mind,
intentionality, attitude and concentration that must "Stand and Deliver" for
spiritual progress, not the legs.
Best wishes for continued progress and good health,
Mike Garofalo
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April 28,
Saturday, 2007
Walking and Taijiquan practice starting at 6 am in the morning.
Teach Tai Chi and Yoga at TFFC from 10 - 12:15.
Mowing Lawns, watering, and weeding.
Work on
Sun Taijiquan
Website.
Dojo Philosophy
Andrew T. Dale, Chief Instructor
Xin Qi Shen, Seattle, Washington
http://www.wuji.com/
"Training in the Internal Arts isn't
just physical but mental and spiritual.
Each practice is to strengthen and train our body, mind, energy and spirit.
Nurture excellence.
Respect the founder, the art, your teacher
and classmates, but think for yourself.
Shoshin: Beginner’s mind. In a
beginner’s mind there are many possibilities. In an expert's there are
few.
The principles remain constant but the
methods can change.
Seek to improve the art and improve the
standard.
Question authority. Always examine
what is taught and what you are told, find your own understanding.
The study and practice of the internal arts
is to become independent and free, not dependent on or limited by the
system.
Keep thoughts and comments positive and
healthy.
Train diligently, refine your body, mind
and spirit. This is your responsibility.
Your teachers can show you the way and help
you, only you can develop the skills.
Argue for your limitations and sure enough
they’re yours. Next time you say "I can’t” replace it with
“I don’t want to try.”
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April 29,
Sunday, 2007
Walking and Taijiquan starting at 6:15 am in the morning.
Mowing, drenching, weeding, and watering outdoors.
Take Karen to Willows so she can help Debbie drive a
truck back home, shop at Home Depot.
Learning Pro Show Gold Software
Work on
Sun Taijiquan
Website.
Pulling Onions:
- Pulling
Onions, by Mike Garofalo
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April 30,
Monday, 2007
Feedback from Readers in
April, 2007:
Feedback from Readers:
"You have a marvelous web site! I ran across your website when I was
perusing links related to quarterstaff combat training. I wanted to comment on
how deep and excellent your site is, even though I have only begun to explore
the many branches there. I find the mixture of links, articles, quotes, and
poetry to be very satisfying. Thank you for taking the time to build such
an excellent place on the web.
Respectfully yours,"
- Jim Frank, CBRE, Chief Engineer, Cherry Creek Radio, Montrose, 4/17/07
"Mike, I wanted to let you know that I really
appreciate all the information and links on the Jo staff. It has been
of tremendous benefit. I am studying Go Ju karate and have had interest in
Aikido for years. I just recently started studying the Jo staff and came
across your site while looking for more information. The kata videos
are very useful.
I could go on praising your web site and research, but will simply say best
regards,"
- Phillip Pinheiro, 2nd degree black belt, Kern Karate
Federation in Bakersfield, 4/20/07
"Michael, I would like to thank you for all the work that you put into
your Cloud Hand website. I have learned so
much from your efforts, particularly the Eight Section Brocade and Zhang
Zuang sections. Wish I lived closer
to Red Bluff, however home is Phoenix, AZ. Again, thanks for the great
site."
- Eric Hodgins, 4/21/07
"Hi Mike, I would like to thank you for all the wonderful information you
have added to the web. I teach Taiji and have used your site on
numerous occasion's... I cannot thank you enough for all you have done...
Best Regard's,"
- Wayne W.Gorski, 4/27/07
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