Stuff on my Mind
/Here is a woman in Australia who, like me, understands that "core strength" is a big mistake: Edgecliff Physiotherapy.
I learned about her from Josh Leeger who also turned me on to Exuberant Animal.
Also from Josh I got to Philip Beach's site describing Meridians as Emergent Lines of Shape Control. Here is a pdf of a paper which explains the theory. This made me think that meridians don't really "exist" they are trained reactions which disappear the better your internal practice gets. Which explains why Medical Qigong is the lowest level of qigong, the meridians are most apparent in sick or dying people. It also corresponds well with the Daoist notion that the meridians are lines of fate, lines (and points) which provide a window into either freedom, or robot-zombie-like predictability.
Speaking of fate, here is a rationalist approach to Astrological Horoscopes! I think the author nails it in his own quirky way. My own experience following a Daoist Auspices Calendar for several years taught me a whole bunch of unexpected lessons. Like that their is a lot of freedom in letting an external force (in this case words on a page) decide for me whether to go out and party or to stay home and study. When you're free, you can waste a lot of time and brain power trying to pick a day and time to get a hair cut, or buy new shoes, or work in the garden. Just looking at the Daoist Calender externalized all that strategizing and weighing of options--which freed up a lot of time and energy.
I've been reading Gustavo Thomas' blog and watching his videos, great stuff!
Look at all the stuff canceled in Tokyo. We have found lots of stuff to do here anyway and people are happy to see us. I had very fresh raw pork liver the other night, with beer, yum. I'm happy to report that Tokyo is still full of great deals on delicious food, especially lunch. For example at a sushi boat restaurant, if I eat as much as I possibly can it only costs about 8 dollars US.
We went to a Kabuki show. My main comment is that the actors have to practice a whole lot of stillness! How anyone could miss the connection between stillness in the theater and stillness in martial arts I do not know. Oh, and the costumes are amazing.
Check out Akira Hino, Jazz Drummer, martial arts teacher, dancer. Here is his Video Channel.
Japan is so fashion conscious, it is impossible to be here and not think a lot about clothes and shoes. I hope I can find some time to work on making my own because that seems like the only really satisfying way to stick my head down that well.
Daniel Mroz published a book on martial arts and theater, check it out! Now I really have to work on getting mine in to print.
I got the book Impro to Rory Miller at Chiron and he loved it. We are still awaiting a review.
Check out Tokyo Probe. Beer.
I learned about her from Josh Leeger who also turned me on to Exuberant Animal.
Also from Josh I got to Philip Beach's site describing Meridians as Emergent Lines of Shape Control. Here is a pdf of a paper which explains the theory. This made me think that meridians don't really "exist" they are trained reactions which disappear the better your internal practice gets. Which explains why Medical Qigong is the lowest level of qigong, the meridians are most apparent in sick or dying people. It also corresponds well with the Daoist notion that the meridians are lines of fate, lines (and points) which provide a window into either freedom, or robot-zombie-like predictability.
Speaking of fate, here is a rationalist approach to Astrological Horoscopes! I think the author nails it in his own quirky way. My own experience following a Daoist Auspices Calendar for several years taught me a whole bunch of unexpected lessons. Like that their is a lot of freedom in letting an external force (in this case words on a page) decide for me whether to go out and party or to stay home and study. When you're free, you can waste a lot of time and brain power trying to pick a day and time to get a hair cut, or buy new shoes, or work in the garden. Just looking at the Daoist Calender externalized all that strategizing and weighing of options--which freed up a lot of time and energy.
I've been reading Gustavo Thomas' blog and watching his videos, great stuff!
Look at all the stuff canceled in Tokyo. We have found lots of stuff to do here anyway and people are happy to see us. I had very fresh raw pork liver the other night, with beer, yum. I'm happy to report that Tokyo is still full of great deals on delicious food, especially lunch. For example at a sushi boat restaurant, if I eat as much as I possibly can it only costs about 8 dollars US.
We went to a Kabuki show. My main comment is that the actors have to practice a whole lot of stillness! How anyone could miss the connection between stillness in the theater and stillness in martial arts I do not know. Oh, and the costumes are amazing.
Check out Akira Hino, Jazz Drummer, martial arts teacher, dancer. Here is his Video Channel.
Japan is so fashion conscious, it is impossible to be here and not think a lot about clothes and shoes. I hope I can find some time to work on making my own because that seems like the only really satisfying way to stick my head down that well.
Daniel Mroz published a book on martial arts and theater, check it out! Now I really have to work on getting mine in to print.
I got the book Impro to Rory Miller at Chiron and he loved it. We are still awaiting a review.
Check out Tokyo Probe. Beer.
