Martial+arts

Grandmaster Ip Man spent his whole life as champion of the cause of Wing Chun Kung Fu. He was responsible for advancing Wing Chun Kung Fu to its eminence today. Throughout the world, students of Wing Chun Kung Fu continue to publish articles about Grandmaster Ip Man, his life and achievements. Therefore to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Grandmaster Ip Man this chronicle is being produced for all those interested in Wing Chun Kung Fu.

Ryron and Rener Gracie started doing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu before they could walk, and in 2003, their grandfather, Grand Master Helio Gracie awarded them their black belts in the art. Today, they attribute all their success to the confidence, discipline, and principles of healthy living that were instilled in them during their early years.

Bagua zhang (Ba gua chang/Pakua chang) is an internal energy art even more ancient than tai chi chuan. Bagua zhang was developed 4,000 years ago in Taoist monasteries primarily for health and meditation. In the last several hundred years, bagua zhang has become known as a powerful internal martial art, but it is equally effective as a health and moving meditation practice.

Bagua zhang (Ba gua chang/Pakua chang) is an internal energy art even more ancient than tai chi chuan. Bagua zhang was developed 4,000 years ago in Taoist monasteries primarily for health and meditation. In the last several hundred years, bagua zhang has become known as a powerful internal martial art, but it is equally effective as a health and moving meditation practice. The Energy Arts program emcompasses all three applications of bagua zhang: martial arts, health and meditation. Bagua zhang techniques are based on the I Ching, a 5,000-year-old text considered the classic Taoist bible about the nature of change.

Combat psychology, early detection and the diffusion of violence, have been a lifetime goal in my training. I started training in the martial arts when I was 10, after being attacked by four older boys. I was small for my age, learning early on that brute strength or even quality of technique was not always enough to ensure survival. Later, I would be the smallest bouncer at the bar, then the smallest body guard on the detail. The power of speech became fundamental to my survival. I earned my B.Ed. and taught in the public sector, then shifted to corporate training for 15 years, studying in Neuro Linguistic Programming, hypnosis and various approaches to influence.

Here is a quick learning progression in tai chi in general. Classically you start by learning the physical movements and body alignments. Then you slowly start to fold in the energetics. Just as you have external alignments, you also have internal alignments, which are physically invisible.

Here is a quick learning progression in tai chi in general. Classically you start by learning the physical movements and body alignments. Then you slowly start to fold in the energetics. Just as you have external alignments, you also have internal alignments, which are physically invisible.

Here is a quick learning progression in tai chi in general. Classically you start by learning the physical movements and body alignments. Then you slowly start to fold in the energetics. Just as you have external alignments, you also have internal alignments, which are physically invisible.

Last year (2009) for the very first time, I decided to open up my strictly private masterclass programme to a very small group of dedicated aspirants. After 36 years in the martial arts, ten years on nightclub doors and twenty years of teaching combative martial arts on the world stage I wanted to bring the essence of everything I'd learned, practiced and discovered into one comprehensive and groundbreaking programme.