Seraphim

Actually I did. You think that I had never try before and will rather to blame fate for everything, come on. Nevertheless, my advances is often very limited( I put in quite a lot of work) unlike some of my peers(who can do compex moves with only a small amount of practises), thats why I said that some things like talent are fated. For now, I have other better interests as well.

My reply : Martial Arts is not about making complex movements, it's about learning how to defend yourself. You shouldn't get discouraged by what you sees to be a failure. Didn't your teacher say anything to encourage you onwards? He (or she) should.

Martial Artists are categoried by elements - Four elements (Five actually but the fifth is not a simple element by itself) - Earth, Fire, Wind and Water. This four elements refers to strenght and weakeness of a person.

In your case however, I could say you are a Earth fighter which means you cannot move very fast or use your legs like other kickers (I persumed you are overweight). The strenght of a Earth fighter lies in his grappling and wrestling down his opponent and what an Earth fighter should concentrate is his endurance level.

In that context, your teacher should have taught you striking techniques with fists, grappling and throwing down your opponent and also try to build up your endurance so you will last longer.

Answerer

Hmmm, interesting. What about water, wind and fire fighters? What are their characteristics?

Seraphim

Hmmm, interesting. What about water, wind and fire fighters? What are their characteristics?

My reply : Interesting about this Elemental concept is that no one knows where or who started it. You can find traces of it in early civilization such as Egypt and Greeks. I guess the concept was borrowed from them OR brought from them as humanity moved toward the East.

Wind Fighters usually small in size or physical characteristics - such as skinny fellows with no natural armour such as fat or muscles. Their strenght lies in their ability to move faster than their opponents and lies more toward either hit-and-run tactics. Against a high endurance opponent, such as Earth fighter, Wind fighter are at disadvantage.
The most common attacks a Wind Fighter uses is kicking. They love to kick and use their legs because they cannot afford to get near their opponent to use their fist and risk taking blows themselves.

Water Fighters usually something of a middle-range. Well-built in term of physical structures and well-muscled. Their strenght usually lies in speed and pyhsical attacks.
This type of person usually starts with their fists and end up doing grappling where whoever endures the last will emerge winner. Against a Earth fighter, Water won't stand much and against Fire, Water is toast (or boiled).

Fire is most dangerous kind there is (such is my character ). Aggressive and annoying as hell, Fire fighters are simply short-tempered, short-fused and short-sighted bunch who attend to get in, beat the crap out of his opponent and get out.
Fire fighter's main strenght is his speed which could match that of a Wind and his strenght, but his attack is somewhat slower than that of a Wind, simply because Fire usually concentrate his attack before attacking.
A person who can dodge well (such as Wind) or someone who could endure (like Earth) could win IF he could dodge or endure long enough against the opponent (Fire). Water fighter may not able to match Fire since the main factor in winning or losing here comes from Agrressiveness of a person and not endurance level alone.

There is a fifth element. In Japanese Martial arts (such as Karate, Judo etc), it is call VOID. In Chinese martial arts, it is Metal. In Indian Yoga practice, the fifth is Agas (Space or something like Void).

A Void fighter IS the most dangerous of them all. He is someone who could move like the Wind, endure like the Earth, Dodge like a Water and fight like a Fire. Usually such person is rare since you have to learn and master everything there is to learn and master in a martial art AND put it in practice.

gwh00

Evidently martial arts does not improve the powers of concentration…

The topic is pranayama or circulation of breath (prana). The purpose of pranayama is the dissolution of rigid or blocking elemental energy structures within the body-mind complex. This in effect fluidizes consciousness allowing the practitioner to enjoy the benefits of greater concentration, stamina and clarity of mind. The practice is designed to facilitate the work of self-transformation and is a sacred science. Anyone taking up this practice should understand that the goal is self-realization and physical benefits are of a secondary consideration.

Peace,

Gary

Revelation-Initiation

Seraphim

Evidently martial arts does not improve the powers of concentration…

My reply : How do you know this? Are you a Practitioner of any martial arts by any chance?

The topic is pranayama or circulation of breath (prana). The purpose of pranayama is the dissolution of rigid or blocking elemental energy structures within the body-mind complex. This in effect fluidizes consciousness allowing the practitioner to enjoy the benefits of greater concentration, stamina and clarity of mind. The practice is designed to facilitate the work of self-transformation and is a sacred science. Anyone taking up this practice should understand that the goal is self-realization and physical benefits are of a secondary consideration.

Peace,

My reply : Maybe to a (newbie) Yoga practitioner, but definately not for a Martial Artists. Any good Yin Yang practitioners will know about the importance of elements and how their interact with the body, also how important is the breathing exercise and mental exercise (such as meditation) to balancing the mind and body.

gwh00

My comment was pointedly sarcastic. I forgot to say “your powers”. Please stay on topic.

Pranayama differs from the breathing practices of the martial arts in that the power gained during circular breathing is projected inwardly to dissolve the internal fragmentation an achieve union or wholeness. There is no outward projection of that power. It is inappropriate to discuss martial arts in this context.

Taoist breathing originated for the same purpose (firing the crucible of inner transformation) and is appropriate in this thread. It was only adapted to martial arts and some say corrupted, in northern China during the lawless period. The corruption began when self-realization (the internal) faded into insignificance and self-protection (the external) became paramount.

I am a certified practitioner of Qigong. I suggest that you all read Iron Shirt Chi Kung by Mantak Chia it is very applicable to this pranayama thread.

Seraphim

My comment was pointedly sarcastic. I forgot to say “your powers”. Please stay on topic.

My reply : Hmph ... Sarcasm can be use to make people THINK, not upset or PO them.

Pranayama differs from the breathing practices of the martial arts in that the power gained during circular breathing is projected inwardly to dissolve the internal fragmentation an achieve union or wholeness. There is no outward projection of that power. It is inappropriate to discuss martial arts in this context.

Taoist breathing originated for the same purpose (firing the crucible of inner transformation) and is appropriate in this thread. It was only adapted to martial arts and some say corrupted, in northern China during the lawless period. The corruption began when self-realization (the internal) faded into insignificance and self-protection (the external) became paramount.

I am a certified practitioner of Qigong. I suggest that you all read Iron Shirt Chi Kung by Mantak Chia it is very applicable to this pranayama thread.

My reply : Well, you forgot to answer a few questions, namingly :

1. Are you practitioners of any Martial Arts? Yes or No.

2. If Yes, which one and what is your rank, how many years of experience and have you ever fought in sparing matches or in real street fighting?

3. If No, exactly what makes you so sure that breathing done by Martial Artists is differ to those practited by other non-Martial Artists?

4. As practitioner of Qiqong, what is your point of view about the Breathing regulation and regulation of Elements within the body? Yoga and Yin Yang Principles both have Elements and its regulation in it.

Reading alone is USELESS if you do not practise what you have learn, rethink of what you learn, practise of what you have discovered.

Seraphim

Can't answer the questions, can you? Answers for questions such as this is not found in books, it can be only found in person who experienced it.

Anyway, I think I been here long enough. Advice before I leave - IF you wish to learn some principles or teachings from East, remember this :

1. NOT everything you learn through books and teachers is sufficient. Most of the time, you have to practise what you learn in various ways before you could understand its true value.

2. Learning one portion from one country or sect alone is NOT enough to get the whole picture. Asian countries are interlocked by means of cultural and value exchange. Nations such as India and China were exchanging ideas about various things for a long time.

3. If you think everything that comes from East can be catalog using your Science, I suggest that you skip learning anything from the East and stick to your Science.

Thank you. Hope you will give proper description on what you were expecting whenever you start a new thread in the future. Have a nice day.

gwh00

Zenaphobe,

What would you consider your prime motivation for engaging in the practice of pranayama?


Seraphim,

Let it go!