Posts by meatsheet
Brown Belt Weapons Test – Intergrative Arts
Brown Belt test under Coach Peter Hill happens on February 1st 2024. Video not taken. Next on February 15th, 2024 we record the same test. Lucky for me I was able to make it through both. I paid an adrenaline rush price that taught me quite a bit. Although I was able to keep composure for test, after filming I was buzzing with energy for three days. Managing energy flow is the next phase for me.
So the backstory. The short version. I studied Chinese and Kenpo for about 5 years, pivoted to Xing Yi and in 2019 I’m introduced to Coach Peter Hill. Coach Hill helps me expand on my Tai Chi and Kenpo. But with more ‘add ins’. Peter integrates Balintawak ( see Filipino stick arts for more) , Shaolin Chi Gung and Kung Fu hence the name Integrative Arts. For me, my journey has come full circle. My original Kenpo /Tai Chi teacher Master Ray Fisher is Coach Hill’s student and we share many peers. This is all very exciting for me.
I can’t forget John and Karen Burns. They own and operate Fluid Martial Arts. Thanks to them and the great dedication and energy they bring, I was able to meet Coach Hill. Ever since then I am excited to train consistently and regularly. I have a few students in which I see their improvement over time. This blog entry and video is for documenting and education.
Keep in mind, these forms contain obvious movements. When you watch martial arts what is sometimes hard to see is the hidden aspects. The adrenalin. The breath. Internal control. The hours of practice . That is to say mind, body, spirit connection. Many can see obvious body movements. The mind and spirit is not as obvious.
Balintawak
Balintawak is one of the Filipino Martial Arts. Also known in short as FMA. My teacher is Coach Peter Hill. He teaches us to flow between the concepts of Tai Chi , Chinese Kenpo, Kung Fu, and various weapons. Hence why he calls his teaching Integrative Arts. Balintawak is a facet of this integration.
We use sticks that tend to be made of rattan or bamboo. What is so captivating for me about this integrative art is how the concepts of Tai Chi Chuan and empty handed striking / blocking apply to it and cross over into it. One simply needs to build stick control and adjust for the range of the stick length. Below you will find Coach Peter Hill’s video demonstrating a “leader” drill.
Self Defense
This is a slippery slope for some. Sometimes in life situations arise in which one or more persons attempt to disrupt one or more persons energy field. Acts of aggression, power plays, or just those who are out of balance. Self defense is simply the restoration of balance to any situation that is volatile, tense, or in some cases violent.
You may find that I am a bit lacking on self defense content on this web page. That is due to having the appropriate means to document and test various self defense applications. Thus this is a future goal
Tai Chi Chuan / Chi Gung
Greetings seekers. Tai Chi Chuan (AKA taiji chuan or Tai Qi ) is one of the three internal Chinese martial arts. Chi Gung (AKA Qi Gong) is a facet of each internal. One may say the entry level or doorway at ground level to any of the three. Chi gung may be translated a few ways. I like to think of it translated as energy work. Having said that do not worry or get wrapped up in semantics and pronunciation. This is a transcendent art that cannot be captured in words and writing. ““The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.” Meaning that the dao or ‘way’ is best experienced through awareness and consistent training.
Tai Chi and Chi Gung practiced consistently has shown to bring health benefits. It has roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (AKA TCM) . It is said that it may have once been or originated from yoga and the history of internal arts is old enough to have no recorded origin. Traditionally passed on from teacher to student over generations. The internal arts carry rich culture and lineage. For more history look up Da Mo or Bodhidharma.
My particular style and lineage is Yang. It is probably the most widespread and common style. Others are Chen , Wu , and Sun. From there it gets more specific as teachers and students spread out all over China long ago. One village or town could practice slightly different than another even if their lineage is Wu, Sun, etc etc.
The wonder of the internals is how did they come to be discovered? That is the Mystic quality of these arts. They were not invented. They were discovered. Likewise to put it modernly they are downloaded to the consciousness.
Jin Shin Jyutsu Accupressure
This is a very practical, abridged version of accupressure. It’s a hybridized and sometimes a disputed discipline. Due to the fact that the modality I learned picks from Japanese and Chinese medicine, it can attract attention from critics. I am of the mind that if something is practical and gives results then its origins (albeit Chinese, Japanese, etc ) are not really a focal point.
By no means do I profess to have more than a cursory understanding of traditional Chinese Medicine and healing. I can say that this modality ties in very nicely with Shing Yi Chuan and the internal Chinese martial arts.
The common denominator is both are based on Chinese 5 elements.
If one observes the diagram you can see a basic overview of how this works. The outer arrows represent how one element produces the next. Hence we have production cycle. The elements across from each other are simultaneously the ones that ‘conquer’.
For example metal cuts wood. Therefore some know this as the conquering cycle. You may see it called something else. However it is usually a synonym for production/ conquering. The key is a basic understanding if one wishes to heal or be healed.
Another fascinating concept is that each element is related to a primary and secondary organ in our torso. Going deeper each element relates to energy lines called meridians. Example: The metal meridians are connected to lung and large intestine. The lung meridian travels from the hand up the arm and follows into the upper arm. Large Intestine continues onward through the shoulder inside the neck and terminates near the philtrum. Philtrum being that groove under your nose. It is easier to study anatomy charts, doagrams and 3D mannequins rather than have one trace them on your body as these turn inward and change direction.
This is one of the reasons I chose Mystic Energy Arts as a name. Someone or multiple people discovered this energetic system. It was not invented. If I may paraphrase Sifu Tom Morrissey.
I offer one free trial treatment. This consists of an interview to find out what is the imbalance or ailment. If I can cross reference what is going on I can then research which treatment (energetic flow) needind to be addressed. Next I take your pulse on the wrist to discover which point ( correlating to an organ) is dominant. Many times that pulse that correlates ties in with the ailment. From there I can suggest a specific flow.
This flow treatment entails reclining on the back and allowing the points to be harmonize. It is not like accupressure massage. It involves a delicate touch and an order of operation specific to each flow.
Actual treatment does not exceed 50 minutes. The entire process would take about an hour. I can screen the ailment ahead of time. If this something you are interested in. The best way to reach out at this time would be my Instagram , Facebook , or Twitter. Soon I’ll post an email you can reach me at as well. Be Well .
Ba Gua
Also known as Ba Gua Chuan, Pa Kua Chuan , Bagua Zhang, 8 Trigram Boxing and more.
One of three Chinese Internal Martial Arts. Overall energy is like a tornado, spiral, or ‘spinning’.
Gong style utilizes Ba Gua energy but is DRIVEN by Shing Yi energy, mind, or if you will , power.
When combined with Shing Yi (rolling, direct, arrow like ) mind and energy, it is a formidable, unorthodox energy to contend with. Think of a freight train with hurricane surrounding it. Train is always in the “eye” where it is calm. Conversely, the whirlwind around it wreaks destruction if that is what is intended.
Rather than go on about this here I recommend experiencing this first hand from a teacher who has reputable lineage and one who has immersed themselves in this or other internal. Often this is taught with Tai Chi , Shing Yi, and some form of external kung fu. At intermediate level (ni dan) and above these delineations begin to weave together.
Gong Style uses the 8 palms of the old form. There are many more styles of Ba Gua. The common thread seems to be fluid circular movement and change. Ba Gua as a martial art ties directly in with Feng Shui and Traditional Chinese Medicine. These palms and energy patterns harmonize ones energy. As in Feng Shui, you set up a space in a specific pattern to maximize your intent, thus is the same with Bagua ( 8 Trigram Boxing) Boxing referring to practice of defense from Eastern origin. See also Western Boxing. They’re both similar but not the same.
More Coming Soon .
Xing Yi / Hsing I
There are three main Chinese Internal arts. Shing Yi (AKA Hsing Yi , Xing Yi) . In order to have simplicity, lets consider this is the art that powers or drives the others that I train. If you want to know more specifically then reach out.
When thinking of Hsing I and relation to other internal Chinese based martial arts ; of all three it is the hardest of the soft. It’s the closest to the externals. The externals are the martial arts like Kenpo, Krav Maga, Muay Thai , various karate styles etc. So one may think of more explosive, muscle based power or actions being linked to the external arts (mostly , at least) . The internals focus on relaxing and using the breath to aid us in achieving the goal we set. Of course if one achieves balance and proficiency in any style, internal, external, the lines beome more blurred. I strive for the ability to blend the internal concepts with the external. Moreover to shift back and forth with these energies when appropriate.
The other two main Chinese “soft” or internal styles are Tai Chi and Ba Gua. There are more soft styles or disciplines that borrow heavily from the internals, but for simplicity I focus on the three mentioned most frequently. Often you see all three taught with Shaolin based Kung Fu of some kind.
Gong Style Hsing I Chuan is based on traditional Chinese medicine and the Five Elements Cycles. It is a powerful self purifying system. Although it’s rooted in healing, it is a powerful defense system. So you can build your physical and energetic system up with this or , if you know how to direct energy, break down someone else’s energy. It depends on the situation, your intent, and goal from moment to moment.
More coming soon
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!