Dim-Mak Archive
Extreme Boxing Immersion
Every month I put on a mini-workshop to immerse practitioners in Tai Chi Chuan concepts. Immersion allows more time to study peculiar and specific aspects of this Supreme Art. I attempt to move from yin to yang, healing concepts with slow, qigong work to intense, explosive practices with combat ideas. Both are potent pieces.
The best immersion includes both combat and healing, and then emphasizes one or the other. It’s difficult, at least, to achieve real fa-jing, explosive energies without sinking and relaxing enough to generate whip-like actions and ease. Likewise, healing and health benefits are impotent without visceral stimulation and mind-shift states achieved in the shake of combative applications or inside the mind of an awakened-state animal. Each workshop includes both combat and healing work, and, month after month the focus rotates from fight to heal, one after another.
The November workshop was by invitation only. We covered the 4 of 12 Devastating Mother Applications from the Short San Sau. We worked out numbers 4, 5, 6, and 8 as follows
- Squeeze (Ji or Chee) then Elbow, Punch, Angled Elbow
- Press (An) Punches Throat into Vibrating Punch, Neck Clap and Head Smack
- Press (An) Tiger Punches Throat, Wrist Snaps Head Back, Palm Slams Collar, Jerk into Elbow
- Jerks the Arms to Headbutt, Pressing (An) below Collars, Swipe the Neck, and Beak Punches
Read Short Fight Form and Mother Applications »
Reflexology seems like it might mean the study of reflexes, and that definition would fit Real Taiji. We do, afterall, study the reflex system; we ease into the reptile brain using Qigong, push hands to develop reflexive responses to attacks, and explore applications to see dim-mak striking methods.
Reflexology refers to massaging and pressing tender points on the hands, feet, and ears. This zone therapy envisions that hands, feet, and ears reflect the body, internally and externally. Reflexologists believe that pressing on tender points in the feet or hands or ears heals a tender heart or relieves a trouble liver.
Doubt about Reflexology’s efficacy as a healing art usually contests the ability of Reflexologists to directly heal organs and tissues. Doubt also manifests because, like the Taiji industry, few licensing bodies and standards exist to drive a high-quality education and ethics into the industry.
Real Reflexology Healing Powers
Few, real Reflexologists make bold healing claims, preferring, instead, claims that Reflexology heals using indirect healing powers.
