Dr Love's QiGong rap

I feel appalled even posting this, but hey it is a "western interpretation of chi gung" :-) ! Thanks to Integral Qigong where I found it originally.

Transferring force with structure

A beginner recently asked me what the principles of tai chi were (or something along those lines). My view, from the scientific stance, is that it is essentially about controlling mass and force and putting a structure in place to be able to do so.

So, to use an example, if I am punching using just the muscles of my arm, the amount of force I can impart is related to the mass of my arm and the speed with which I move it. I use the muscles of my arm to give it kinetic energy and then impart that kinetic energy into my opponent. However if I can punch from the centre of my body and also use all the mass of my torso and upper body, I can impart a lot more force, as I am using a lot more mass. The arms don't need to be substantially stronger, just able to maintain the structure that allows a connection between the force from the torso and the fist. I have put a lot more energy into the system (to be imparted to my opponent) not by increasing the force of my arm muscles, but by involving more of my body.

The principle of tai chi is therefore about understanding the structures that allow you to transfer force from different areas of the body. We developing the levers, linkages, drive shafts, cogs and mechanics between all the different parts of the body that allow this transfer to take place. The force being transferred can be our own internally generated force, or can be things like gravity, or centrifugal force. In other words if you can transfer your body weight from your feed to your opponent (at the correct angle), it is suddenly a powerful impulse for them to counter.

For further reading, along those lines, I heartily recommend a visit to the martial tai chi website which expands upon these points in great detail. That page provide some great descriptions of Chinese tai chi concepts in a western physics framework.

The happiness advantage

Wonderfully entertaining talk from TED talking about the benefits of being happy and five very simple steps to achieve it (all backed up by scientific research). Everyone should take the time to watch this. Seriously.



For reference here are the links to the research he quotes for the creating lasting positive change:

• 3 Gratitudes (Emmons and McClough, 2003)
• Journalling (Slatcher and Pennebaker, 2006)
• Exercise (Babyak et al. 2000)
• Meditation (Dweck, 2007)
• Random acts of kindness (Lyubomisky, 2005)

Tai chi: What people think

The science behind massage

Wow, it doesn't get much more scientific than this! Here is an article published in Science Translational Medicine, into how massage works. Interestingly, it seems to work against what is commonly claimed. People should take what this study says very seriously as this represents cutting edge work that is thoroughly proven and scientific. Along with Nature, the Science journals represent the pinical of peer reviewed scientific publications. There simply isn't a more authoritative or scientific accolade that can be given to a paper other than being published in Science or Nature.

The good news is that massage works as a healling therapy - this research explains why. Some quotes from the news article (rather than the paper itself):

"Massage's healing touch may have more to do with DNA than with good hands. A new study has revealed for the first time how kneading eases sore muscles—by turning off genes associated with inflammation and turning on genes that help muscles heal. The discovery contradicts popular claims that massage squeezes lactic acid or waste products out of tired muscles and could bring new medical credibility to the practice.

The results, published online today in Science Translational Medicine, suggest that massage suppresses the inflammation that follows exercise while promoting faster healing. "Basically, you can have your cake and eat it too," Tarnopolsky says. He adds that the study found no evidence to support often-repeated claims that massage removes lactic acid, a byproduct of exertion long blamed for muscle soreness, or waste products from tired muscles. "

Zen table

Now this really is a project bringing Zen into the 21st Century! The beauty and fascination of a zen garden dynamically cared for by a computer/robot :-) Why not donate a buck? I did as I would love to own one....

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fnbrit/zen-table

Review: Tai Chi Imagery Workbook

Generally there are three types of tai chi book: The classic ("reflections on historical manuscripts"), The theory ("the power of chi") and The instructional ("A step by step guide to the yang style sword form"). A Tai Chi Imagery Workbook: Spirit, Intent, and Motion by Martin Mellish, is none of these, and so is to my mind one of the most exciting tai chi books I have read in a long time.

Each of the three traditional categories are at some level unsatisfying to the typical Western reader. Martin Mellish clearly understands this and his novel approach to the subject means that his book is one that truly is accessible to Western readers, rather than the mere lip service to accessibility that "theory books" pay. Theory books are generally based on the premise that Westerners simply do not understand the concepts of chi, meridians and energy and set out on a bold quest to educate and enlighten us. In this workbook however, the premise is entirely different. In tai chi "intention" is fundamental, as the way the mind communicates with the body is through visualisation. Traditional tai chi theory is designed to tap into this to help the practitioner use their imagination and the metaphors to guide their actions. That is why the classics are filled with exotic poetry and the names of postures are analogues for everyday actions - at least everyday in China 400 years ago.

In order to use the traditional visualisations for practical tai chi benefit, the Westerner needs to understand the historical culture of China 400 years ago. In order to do tai chi you need to visualise, and in order to get the visualisations you need to understand Chinese culture - a big barrier for most westerners. Martin Mellish's book throws off these doctrinal shackles by realising that it is the visualisations that are important not the Chinese cultural understanding (although he modestly and respectfully declines to point this out). The visualisations were originally created from everyday actions so Martin skilfully recasts them using modern everyday Western culture. Many of these visualisations will already be familiar to tai chi practitioners and teachers, as this "problem" has already been consciously and subconsciously recognised, hence allowing many of these modern metaphors to creep into our classes, particularly where beginners are involved. The power of Martin's book is that he authoritatively collects a wealth of disparate imagery together as the perfect resource for tai chi practitioners and teachers alike. This book will make you think and I guarantee it will spark at least one mini eureka  in everyone who reads it.

I should also mention that this book also has an excellent, although slightly incongruous, appendix on tai chi research. As evaluating medical research is Mellish's day job, he takes the opportunity to share this expertise on the subject of tai chi. I found this this an extremely useful and concise explanation of the benefits of tai chi and the degree to which each of these is supported by proper scientific analysis. A refreshingly authoritative review in the sea of propaganda.

A Tai Chi Imagery Workbook: Spirit, Intent, and Motion is a must have, not necessarily to read cover to cover, but to regularly return to for inspiration as a trusted reference source.