Daoist Films

Someone on Facebook asked about Daoist films, so I thought I would share my list here.

Master Feng. Portrait of a Daoist Monk restorer of temples in China Today - 冯道长 ——当代中国一位重修庙观的全真道士
(79 mn-in Chinese, subtitles in English-French) Directed by Adeline Herrou [Don't think this is officially released yet. I'll watch for it and let you know.]

Han Xin's Revenge, a Daoist Mystery

Grandma and Her Ghosts

Double Vision.  Daoism meets American Detective

Temptation of a Monk.  

There are a lot of other films I could put on this list, but these are top notch. Double Vision is scary and probably the best produced. Grandma and Her Ghosts is fascinating and made for kids. Han Xin's Revenge is a documentary of a ritual, so it is slow, there are three or four films like this, I think this is the best one. Temptation of a Monk is a great film with some Daoist themes, plus history, sex and death. Master Feng was made my friend and it isn't out yet, but it is a beautiful portrait of Daoism in China today and how one man created an authentic life which embodies the Daodejing.

1938 A Moment In Between

Film Release Date: 1938 Location: Beijing (Peking) - China Description: This rare early colour footage of Chinese martial arts was shot in Beijing (Peking), and is part of a 15-minute colour film that shows street scenes, Forbidden City, Summer and Winter palaces.

Some great skill here. Notice the wind-fire wheels in use. That is Nezha's signature weapon. Also there is a guy balancing with his leg up. He goes backwards as if to do a walk-over but then rotates into a back leg extension--I think that is basic training for Nezha Hoop work, I've seen it in opera stuff. Of course I love this stuff and Nezha is spinning around in my head as I'm writing the history of Baguazhang! January Deadlines.

Links November 2017

George Xu declared a new system! 

This is exciting because now I can claim I'm doing a new system even though it is what I have been doing all along. Okay, that's funny. But check it out, it is now illegal to declare a new system in China!

Check out George Xu's new silk-reeling Chansijing DVD's too.

If you are in Beijing, take this guy's tours!

This is a bit late for Halloween but it's never too late for Vampire Daoists!

Pre-Activation Responses

I've been working this idea like crazy over the last month or so in my Baguazhang classes and my own experiments. Probably because of my skateboarding background. Skateboarding tricks where you jump up on a railing and ride down the stairs are only possible with some theory of pre-activation, because the first few times you risk trying it, you are going to fall hard and fast on something unpleasant.  
Here is the quote that got me thinking: 

 When I teach patients or athletes how to integrate foot to core sequencing into their programming my ultimate goal is to establish reflexive motor patterns between foot contact and core stabilization.

Nigg et al. has demonstrated that closed chain neuromuscular stabilization patterns actually occur before foot contact in what are referred to as pre-activation responses. This means that instead of reacting to movement the neuromuscular actually anticipates or pre-stabilizes for movement.

One such study by Nigg et al. has shown that foot & ankle stabilizers activate 100ms before foot contact in runners.   This pre-activation response allows the foot and core to stabilize against impact forces allowing for faster loading responses.  In the gymnast faster foot to core sequencing would mean improved joint stability, faster loading responses and optimal performance.

Here is the link http://shiftmovementscience.com/foot-to-core-stabilization-in-the-elite-gymnast-a-guest-post-by-dr-emily-splichal/

I've been working fast repetitions of ground-reaction-force with weights. I'll try to make some videos because this stuff ties into YIquan beautifully. 

Indian Dance as Martial Arts

You can also watch the other keynotes from the martial arts conference in Cardiff 2017.