Best Martial Arts for Energy/Spiritual Development

Anonymous · February 11, 2003, 08:24:54

I'm sure Philadelphia has a good martial artist kung fu instructor. They are hard to come by because often they do not advertise. A good instructor is never easy to find. The only reason I found my instructor is because I happened to see him train with his students as I was going to dinner from my dorm. Some instructors will want to be found, and others will not. If you get a good instructor, keep in mind that the training can be excruciatingly painful. But stick with it because it'll be worth it in the end. What I like about kung fu is that we learn how to take a blow and not just deliver them. We also do a lot of energy raising. If you want a style that does energy raising, Tai Chi is very good, and so is qi gong. There are many types of qi gong and what kind you want depends on how you intend to use the energy (called qi, chi, ki) you accumulate. Some styles are for healing, and others for fighting (of course, that's a very general classification, as there are many types (hundreds) of qi gong styles. Tai Chi does both healing and fighting, from what I understand. Look around online for qi gong and you should run into a few different types. Some are more common than others.

kakkarot · February 11, 2003, 13:35:13

tai chi is one that takes decades (multiple) to master, unlike other martial arts that may only take 10 years or even less to master. but the rewards are a lot greater than normal martial arts. look into it at least.

i have heard of another martial art, a long time ago, that is taught somewhere in asia (the philipines i think?) that is based solely on using negative chi to incapacitate or kill (kill at higher "levels") your opponent. i first found it in the "Ninjas and Superspys" RPG source book, but when i did an internet search on it i found an actual site on a real martial art. they even sold videos of their stuff in practice. i didn't order one myself (didn't have the money), but i'd love to see one.

otherwise, most martial arts you'll find taught in america are based more on the physical training than the spiritual. your gonna have to look fairly hard, or get fairly lucky. or just practice on your own.

~kakkarot

Anonymous · February 11, 2003, 14:31:36

hehe yeah, you are going to have to get luck or look hard. I got lucky- REALLY lucky (no, I'm still single lol). Under my teacher I am part of a network all across the country, but every guy I have seen in the network is really, really good. And they're just regulars, not even considered masters or anything close to that. Our training is physical and energetic all at the same time, because by holding our stances we increase our chi. I should warn you that sex ruins the chi because if you have sex you do lose some of your energy to the other person, especially if you are male. The female loses it slowly but only if she gets pregnant, which makes sense because the chi would flow into the child. Anyway, I'm not saying don't have sex, just don't have it often if you really want to accumulate- or you could just practice harder and more frequently [

]. Good luck to you. I am sure you will find a good teacher in the city of Philadelphia. Like Kakkarot said, search and research. I have a lot of faith in the Shaolin kung fu system because everyone I have seen is good. Really good. If you earn ranks and don't practice, they can demote you! I've never heard of that in any other style. There are three schools of kung fu- Wooshoo (sp?) Wing Chun, and Shaolin (Northern [Long fist] and Southern). There are also many styles (tiger claw, eagle claw, mantis, snake, sparrow, drunken, crane, etc.). I do not know much about the other two schools, but Shaolin means Young Forest, Wooshoo means The Art of Stopping a Fight, and I don't know what Wing Chun means. If you want info about kung fu, I can tell you some stuff, i.e. where it comes from, some history, philosophies on fighting/battle, but I don't know any teachers in Philly.

In the meantime, check out other styles; what's important is that you find the style that's right for you. They're all good, if you find the right teachers. Personally I find kung fu to be the most effective because it does EVERYTHING but don't take my word for it. Good luck on your search.

panabelle · February 11, 2003, 14:32:30

Not Shao Lin Kempo. Took it for five years, believe me, not the best one for spiritual development.

ralphm · February 11, 2003, 20:48:04

Probably any martial art would work if you kept it up. I did Chi Gung for a while, it really isn't a matial art but an energy awareness and moving system, which sounds like what you want. You could try out a few, just to see.

Anonymous · February 11, 2003, 22:30:48

Shaolin kenpo is an americanized style (which is why I do not recommend it). My idiot roommate from last semester even took that. He's the most dishonorable lowlife I know. Not to say that everyone in Shaolin Kenpo is a lowlife or anything, but Shaolin kung fu is far more intense than 90-95% of all martial arts. It seems physical, but really it is all mental. If you can sit in a horse stance low enough to balance a dowell across your legs for two hours, only then are you hardcore. Me, well, I'd be proud if I could do it for five minutes (d'oh! [

!]). I must train harder.

panabelle · February 12, 2003, 16:32:28

I think that Shaolin Kempo is a lot less disciplined than other martial arts. My school had really loose rules (we didn't even have to wear a gee if we didn't want to). It's good if you just want some physical exercise, but definitely NOT the best for energy development.

And why would I WANT to balance a dowel across my legs? [

]

kakkarot · February 12, 2003, 17:33:17

epsilon: you could try creating your own martial art. i did. i don't use it to "develop" my energy, but i do use my energy in my martial art; excercising the "muscle" to get it to grow.

~kakkarot

Epsilon · February 13, 2003, 09:25:43

Thanks alot for the replies so far! It seems I definitely have to do a lot of researching before deciding... both on the types and what types I have available to me. I'm pretty young (22) so even the types that take decades to master are fine.

EnderWiggin (nice name btw, Ender's Game might be my fav book I've ever read) could you maybe ask your instructor if he has/knows any instructor friends or aquiantances (sp?) in my area?

Kakkarot, I wouldn't know where to start if I tried to create my own!! [

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kakkarot · February 13, 2003, 13:27:39

begin with the stance. everything that you do, whether you move, you strike, or you defend, begins with the stance.

~kakkarot

astralc · February 14, 2003, 20:10:18

Epsilon

I took up tai chi when I was 25 years old, I am now 47 years old and it was the best thing that I have done in my life. Six months after starting I began to astral travel, it was that good. Good luck on your decision, may it be the right one for you.

Astralc

Xehupatl · February 15, 2003, 04:34:02

AIKIDO

don't do it myself, but very cool and fluid .. no kicking, braking or screaming, but lots of chi --- energy shouldn't be about breaking stuff and hurting people.

Anonymous · February 16, 2003, 14:55:40

Epsilon, I will see what I can do for you. Kung fu and Tai Chi are my two favorite styles! They are both smooth and flowing. Tai chi, though practiced slow, is so fast when done right that you can't even see it. My instructor had done Tai Chi at one point, and speaks highly of it. Kung fu is nice because it incorporates everything and uses energy in the punches, blocks, kicks, etc. I'm willing to bet that there is at least one of the two styles in your area. Look in the phone book. You can always start out in any style and get associated with some sort of martial arts community that way. Through that community, you will meet people who can help you. Keep your eyes open for demonstrations and what not. Just because a school publicizes itself doesn't mean it isn't good. If you join, put everything you have into the style. Any good instructor will see your efforts and hard work and try to help you along even more. Ask questions. And be patient. The sooner you start, the better.

Anonymous · February 16, 2003, 15:00:14

astralc, what amount of energy does one need to astral travel? I've been trying for two years but I have a lot of trouble doing it. I often get a falling sensation when I do try, and reflexively I am pulled back to my body. I haven't tried recently because my roommate was too distracting because he watches lots of tv and stuff, but he moved out to be with his friend, so now I have my own room. Any suggestions?

astralc · February 16, 2003, 19:43:33

EnderWiggnen

what I think was that the tai chi must have centered my energy. We meditate on the tan tien, at or just below the navel, and then try to imagine that we can breathe through it. By doing that diligently every day along with the tai chi exercises must have made it happen.

To answer your question, I imagine that it takes a lot of energy, but it is already there, we just have to learn to relax enough to let it flow. And I spent 10 years solid meditating as deeply as possible, really deeply, and I think that paid off too.

Your falling experience is exactly what I feel when I astral travel, but most of mine are while I am alseep or unconscious (in meditation) so the falling feeling is usually part of a dream, I dream that I am jumping off a cliff, then realise that I am dreaming and then away I go exploring and flying and haveing a ball.

The falling feeling is the kundalini surging through your body as it starts to separate and take off. I suppose that you could learn to let it go and relax more, as you already have it trying to happen for you, just let go and fall asleep and see whether it keeps happening, one day you'll be there doing it. And don't forget to have fun practicing too.

Astralc

Anonymous · February 17, 2003, 12:35:56

thanks for the advice. The falling sensation was startling. I think after awhile you start to get used to it and one day will not even think of it when it happens. I really do need to learn to let go. I can sense a lot of tension in my household when I go home to visit my parents over breaks. I think our energies clash, like a tritone interval on a piano (augmented forth/diminished fifth if you are familiar with music and pitch intervals). It's really strange. I usually don't practice at home because of all the wildness of my little brother and because of my parents and all the busy activity. Plus the TV is always on and I can't concentrate when the TV is on, even if I'm in a different room. Usually I will meditate to specific techno music. The bass beat helps induce the trance state. It raises a lot of energy in me, up through my centerline and then wherever my mind sends it.

Epsilon · February 20, 2003, 19:03:42

Hey.

I've been trying to do some research when I have time on styles and schools in my area. Tonight I came across this school. I hadn't seen it advertised anywhere else I looked. It looks pretty promising. It's only like 10-15 min away from me. I know it's hard to judge a school without going there and checking it out (which I plan on doing someday soon) but what do you guys think about it?

http://www.flowinghands.com/mbs.frames.htm

It offers the 3 types on styles most of you mentioned to look into:
Tai Chi
Qigong
Kung Fu
It also offers Taoism.

I still don't know which style to choose... he explains them all on the website, but I feel like I'm reading a foreign language when reading it. Are there simpler ways to describing them?

Thanks

"Ep"

astralc · February 21, 2003, 00:58:05

EnderWiggen

just keep doing it when you can, my home was like that too at one time but when I left I had greater control over when I went to bed, who was over and that sort of thing, being away from my parents was the best thing ever, but it really was tai chi that started it all and that was after I was married.

Astralc

Epsilon · February 21, 2003, 16:44:11

I was looking at //www.flowinghands.com a little more, and I am pretty impressed with the instructor. He has written and posted articles about the styles he teaches on the website that are very descriptive and informative. Lots of thought went into them, and I think they seem like a good reflection of how and what he teaches. I am really looking forward to checking this place out sometime next week. Still having trouble deciding on a style tho...

I think I have narrowed it down to Kung Fu or Tai Chi. Whichever one I choose, I will most likely do Qigong and/or Taoism as well on the side. He teaches Yang style Tai Chi, and his own Kung Fu style that he created. Is that bad (that he created his own)?? Here is some info taken straight from the website about what he teaches:

YANG STYLE TAI CHI CHUAN
Tai Chi Qigong
Balanced Tai Chi Form
Traditional Yang Style Curriculum

-Form
-Push-hands
-Saber
-Straight Sword

FLOWING HANDS KUNG FU
Flowing Hands Kung Fu is an amalgam of:

-Shaolin Kung Fu
-Kempo
-Southern Praying Mantis
-Yang Style Tai Chi
-Chinese Wrestling
-Brazilian Groundfighting

MEDITATION
Many approaches are instructed at the MBS Academy:

-Taoist
-Buddhist
-Traditional Chinese Sitting Brocades
-Visualization
-Specialized Breathing
-Zhang Chang Standing Meditation
-Diamond Body
-many more

QIGONG

-Tai Chi Qigong
-Standing Brocades
-Animal Frolics
-Microcosmic Circulation
-Absorbing Qigong
-Cleansing Qigong
-Opening Body Qigong
-many more

Do any of you have an opinion on his "Flowing Hands" style of Kung Fu? I'm so undecided...
Kung Fu or Tai Chi, Kung Fu or Tai Chi... [

]

"Ep"

Parmenion · February 21, 2003, 16:51:18

Have you ever considered Jeet Kun Do ? Its the freeflowing system created by Bruce Lee. Now that man had energy!! When i was looking to go into martial arts thats the one i went for but i couldnt find an instructor in my country so i went for Tai Kwon Do instead. I didn't last too long for various reasons but i did find it quite good.

Parmenion

Epsilon · February 22, 2003, 18:36:14

I dont think there is a Jeet Kun Do instructor in my area. [

]
I've never watched any Bruce Lee movies... are they worth watching? I've seen a couple chinese martial arts movies before and they were really cheesy... with bad voice dub-overs and all... hehe [

]

Kung Fu or Tai Chi, Kung Fu or Tai Chi...

"Ep"

Parmenion · February 22, 2003, 18:54:22

Its Jeet Kune Do, my mistake, and if ur in the U.S and u look hard enough ull more than likely find an instrustor in ur area. Just b carefull though because alot of instructors claim to teach Jeet Kune Do when its really their own style they teach.Try reading "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" and "The Art of Expressing the Human Body" both by the master Lee. A good film to familiarise yourself with Bruce Lee is "Dragon...the Bruce Lee Story"

Parmenion

Epsilon · February 23, 2003, 09:01:47

Even though I think I have found the place to study at, I checked out Jeet Kune Do like you said. I only went to like 2 sites about it, but it seemed it was more focused on the fighting side of it... I could be wrong, they could have been bad sources... I was at this one site (I forget what it was called) but it was a site where people from all types of arts chat, and they were all saying stuff like how they're style could kick someone else's styles butt and all. Does that seem incredibly stupid to anyone else?
I don't want to go into the martial arts to be in tournaments or be the best fighter out there. In fact, I hope I never have to use the self-defense side of it. (Though knowing it would be nice, just in case) I'm more interested in the personal growth that can be achieved from dedicating one's self to a martial art. I think I have found the place and instructor, but not the style.
The instructor has his own style of Kung Fu, which I posted a couple posts above, and Yang stlye Tai Chi. I'm still trying to learn more about which would be better for me.(and I'm still open to you guy's suggestions!) [

]

Anyways, if I got the wrong impression of Jeet Kune Do, I'm sorry. If you'd like, send me a good link about it, and I'll read up about it more. But I still don't know if there is an instructor in my area that teaches it..

"Ep"

kakkarot · February 24, 2003, 14:01:07

actually from what i've gotten out of the "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" is that Jeet Kune Do really is just a fighting style. it is focused only, not just primarily like some martial arts, on the combat.

anyone else read anything different?

~kakkarot

Epsilon · February 25, 2003, 08:42:20

I'm still having trouble deciding whether or not the fact my potential instructor does not teach a classic Kung Fu style, but rather his own style made up of different kinds of styles/arts (look about 6 posts above to see what it is made up of) is a good thing or bad thing.

I think I would rather take Kung Fu than Tai Chi, but if it would be better to take a known style of Tai Chi than a new style of Kung Fu, then I would take Tai Chi.

The thing I am wary about the Tai Chi is that it is Yang style, which I have read in a couple places is usually a lesser style because it was changed so much from it's original form. So unless the instructor has been taught the original form, (which is likely because on the website it says how he trained under masters that were of direct lineage of the style) I wouldn't be getting the most out of it.

One last thing. His "Flowing Hands" style of Kung Fu includes Yang Style Tai Chi in it, so do you think it would be better just to take the Kung Fu since it includes Tai Chi anyways?

Thanks in advance for any help or replies you may give me. I'm sorry if I was confusing in this post... I am pretty confused myself right now. [

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