The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Ted Mancuso1
I have to admit that I’ve spent many years standing around just… standing around. Standing practice entered my life in the late Sixties. I experimented from that point on with sessions of continued standing and then modifications. You should know that there was not a lot of information in English on the subject and it was generally agreed that the practice took care of itself, it educated you as you went on. What does standing do? I am not here to convince you of its esoteric qualities. There are many levels of this from the sublime to the silly. My …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by school
Tai Chi for Health Get started or deepen your skills Meets twice a week for 3 months Tuesdays & Thursdays 9-10 a.m. Sept. 6 to Nov. 24 (we may adjust the final class date to accommodate Thanksgiving) Academy of Martial & Internal Arts 1570 Soquel Dr. (across from Dominican Hospital) (We will meet in the parking lot in front of the school) taught by Narrye Caldwell, AMA instructor and 40 year practitioner Tuition: $285 (paid in advance for full 3 months) or $120 per month This 3 month series is an introduction to the beautiful art of Tai Chi. We …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Ted Mancuso
After class the other day my student Harvey, who has studied with me for more than 15 years, asked me a pointed question: “How and why does a longtime practitioner maintain his or her interest in studying Tai Chi?” This caught my attention immediately, because he asked me to consider it from the advanced study point of view, not the more common basic level. After 50 years practicing Tai Chi, I admit that the shoe may be old, but it still fits. I went home and wrote this question at the top of a page of wide-ruled yellow paper: “What …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by school4
Our illustrious and accomplished colleague and friend in Sacramento, Sifu Robert Nakashima, has generously created and shared his daily Neigong routine. Running about 20 minutes, even just watching this video provides calm and comfort, although getting up and trying it yourself is highly recommended. The setting, the presentation, even the light chirping of birds in the background—along with, of course, Robert’s smooth and beautiful performance—all contribute to a real gift.
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Ted Mancuso
Nowadays, everyone seems to want a practice. But the fact that martial arts practice has a path all its own may result in some disappointment to those seeking a casual gym-style experience. Such deep practice can render unexpected results. The art establishes a special relation to the body, leading to some confused feelings. I thought that it might be a benefit for students to recognize some signposts on the journey. Phases like those below do not follow a given sequence but, with the proper amount of practice, they will come. 1.Great Expectations You may find that in the first few …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by school
Everything starts with basics. And when you are young and/or just beginning a long term study of expertise, whether your taste runs to the piano or the basketball hoop, there is always a sentinel line of basics to be crossed before you get to the “good stuff.” But the surprise—slow and sometimes disappointingly painful—is that there is no end to the study of basics. When you have learned the most exotic parts of some discipline‑let’s be obvious and say martial arts, for instance—and mastered the strangest weapons, you will put them away, at least for most of the time, and …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Narrye Caldwell2
I love teaching Tai Chi, and I especially love introducing this beautiful health promoting martial art to beginners. But many people start out with some ideas that are not only wrong, but prevent them from sticking with the practice long enough to benefit from it. This is not their fault. Unfortunately, bad teaching and popular but misleading ideas abound. So here’s my attempt to set a few things straight and get people started off on the right foot (sorry for the pun.) 1. Tai Chi is a martial art. Yes I know, that sounds obvious. But many people come to …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Ted Mancuso
Due to the nature of Kung Fu the first thing to say about warm ups is that some people don’t believe in them. There are even some famous teachers who see no value at all in warm ups. Some of these teachers say, “After all, you can’t warm up before a fight.” They believe that you should do the warm ups and the basics as a whole, that the warm ups and basics should be so close together that they are indistinguishable.
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Jean Andrews
Every man and woman travels through the martial arts by himself or herself. The journey is nothing if not personal and often intimate. For Jim Mullen, one of our top teachers, the journey has been a long one and, as you will read, a fascinating one…
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by school
It is often said that the martial studies are about fighting. This is hardly the whole story any more than mathematics is about adding up your shopping receipt.
It’s probably happened to all of us at least once. That unsettling moment when you look at a word you’ve just written and then question its spelling – even though you’ve used it countless times before – because now it appears entirely foreign. Perhaps you’ve had the experience of, upon becoming suddenly aware of being observed walking down the street, watching helplessly as your gait becomes stilted until you feel as though you’re no longer in control of your own limbs. How is it that in this split second we’re reduced to a third grade literacy level or made strangers …Continue reading →
The Academy of Martial and Internal ArtsPosted on by Jean Andrews
Peter Thelin, a Tai Chi Chuan teacher here at the Academy and a student of Ba Gua Zhang, recently left us after studying and teaching here for many years. Much loved, he was a light and an inspiration to Academy student. I interviewed him before he left about his association with martial arts. Peter grew up in Massachusetts. His intellectual, esthetic and emotional roots were formed in the fertile culture of Amherst, a town that had housed the likes of Daniel Webster, Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost. There the New England appreciation of nature and poetry made its imprint on …Continue reading →
