tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926482844100900134.post1256571506676760100..comments2023-10-11T10:15:08.092-04:00Comments on Internal Gong Fu: What Internal Strength Means to MeMike at internalgongfu.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522311573919277909noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926482844100900134.post-54901339532097448322011-07-13T18:23:20.705-04:002011-07-13T18:23:20.705-04:00Anonymous,
Not every student is a match for every ...Anonymous,<br />Not every student is a match for every teacher. <br /><br />Not every teacher is a match for every student.<br /><br />There is a saying that a student tests the teacher for three years and then the teacher tests the student for three years. It could take six years to discover if there is a good match or not. <br /><br />Did you ask specifically why your teacher said he couldn't teach you anymore? It is only fair that you understand "why" first. It may not have anything to do with you and then again, it may.<br /><br />Try to find out the answer to this question so you won't make the same mistake next time by picking a teacher with the same issue. Similarly, you may need to learn how to change your pattern or issue so this doesn't happen again. <br /><br />I say this with much compassion as it truly is a hard lesson to understand. <br /><br />I have personally studied with many people before finding The School of Cultivation and Practice. I mean, it took many years on the path to understand this myself. <br /><br />Regarding practicing on your own, I too have gone for stretches of time without a teacher. These times served me well to reflect on my practice and to re-examine what I really wanted. <br /><br />So while I wasn't being spoon-fed any new form, technique or application, nor had readily available practice partners, I was going inside and learning something a little deeper which prepared me for my next level of development.<br /><br />I wish you the best and thank you for the comment. I hope my reply is helpful in some way.<br /><br />MikeMike at internalgongfu.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16522311573919277909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926482844100900134.post-68454248743486249472011-07-12T21:08:20.012-04:002011-07-12T21:08:20.012-04:00Any tips for staying motivated without a teacher? ...Any tips for staying motivated without a teacher? I studied with a ru men disciple from Chen village for 6 years and one day he announced that he just couldn't teach me. I've tried other classes but they all seem to do things differently even though they all claim to be qualified Chen style so now I am just practicing on my own and don't feel like I am really learning anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926482844100900134.post-25640590431698110622011-05-09T17:09:28.355-04:002011-05-09T17:09:28.355-04:00Peter,
Appreciate your comment!
I recently read R...Peter,<br />Appreciate your comment!<br /><br />I recently read Ralston's "Zen Body-Being". I resonate with a lot of this material. A very good book.<br /><br />Ralston compared to Sigman? I like that both their explanations are very grounded in a pragmatic, western, kinesthetic paradigm.<br /><br />I've come to appreciate the effort it takes to figure this stuff out and present it in ordinary terms.Mike at internalgongfu.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16522311573919277909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926482844100900134.post-46235232116678827232011-05-06T16:31:04.356-04:002011-05-06T16:31:04.356-04:00Hi Mike,
Thanks for all the info and honesty.
...Hi Mike,<br /><br />Thanks for all the info and honesty. <br /><br />I was wondering if you've come across any of Peter Ralston's stuff (effortless power, etc.) and what you thought of it, as compared to Sigman.<br /><br />PeterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926482844100900134.post-36213347095239423922011-05-02T08:37:51.092-04:002011-05-02T08:37:51.092-04:00Hey School Brother,
It was once again very cool to...Hey School Brother,<br />It was once again very cool to watch you show us your abilities to take a relaxed connect push with out bracing at the last class at The School of Cultivation and Practice. Also, your fajing or is it fali, either way from what little I can tell you're looking good Mr Mike. Sometimes I think you are very modest about your abilities.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01692929540728535730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926482844100900134.post-34138615323345342912011-04-29T00:10:19.027-04:002011-04-29T00:10:19.027-04:00Hey Mike, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts...Hey Mike, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts in this forum! <br /><br />Hmm... your question is a good one. "what sign post are you looking for to confirm that you are NOW on the correct path?"<br /><br />I'd say for me, it's a sense of freedom and expressiveness in my body as well as solidity, like there is no part of me that is being "ignored" and that all parts are working as a whole... integrated.<br /><br />How I can tell is whether external "pressures" cause my structure to "break".. which for me is splitting off, or accumulating tension and stress in some area... or whether I feel like these pressures help me find my center and settle more into myself.<br /><br />The awareness of connection that Wujifa stance trains, under pressure, helps me in this process of "feeling, understanding, and being aware"Dan Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11299494408170285120noreply@blogger.com