Dragonwell Kung Fu

Time for a new countertop....the old one was a repurposed custom coffee/tea table from the old Internal Arts Institute of Santa Fe. This one is from 2" thick wormy maple and knotty red alder....and nearly 4' longer...

When you don't have a large size jointer/planer then edge planing a long board true is impossible...so i have to use the old school way....cleat the two boards to be joined together then pass a saw on the line between them, uncleat one board move it snug and saw again. After have a dozen or so passes the last cut will cut both boards the whole length...then you're ready to glue.

Black Currants beginning to ripen...

Bleys Lee

The immortal Fred Hampton -Marxistmin

Karate is often suffixed by the terms ‘Jutsu’ or ‘Do’. Understanding these concepts is an important part of your training.
Many people comment on my articles that they don’t need self-defense skills, finding the character-building aspect more appealing. While each to their own, this separation limits their potential.
‘Jutsu’, translating to ‘method’, refers to the realistic aspects of combat, forming the foundation for self-defense. ‘Do’, on the other hand, translates to ‘the way’, a path emphasizing the character-building philosophy that guides a karateka's journey.
Sometimes Jutsu and Do are portrayed as opposing forces. Some view karate-do, with its emphasis on character development, as watered-down.
Conversely, karate-jutsu is seen as solely focused on fighting. However, this perspective overlooks the true essence of karate, which lies in the harmonious integration of both Jutsu and Do.
Shigeru Kimura sensei of Shukokai expressed this perfectly when asked if his karate was Jutsu or Do. He simply replied, “Jutsu becomes Do”.
The physical and mental demands of consistent training expose your weaknesses. These challenges, whether they are facing your own fears or pushing through fatigue, builds not just physical strength but also mental resilience.
Do, the ‘way’ of karate, goes beyond physical techniques. It emphasizes self-improvement through the rigorous discipline required to become proficient in your chosen art. The challenges you overcome in the dojo can also help you to face difficulties outside it too.
Jutsu provides the foundation for pragmatic karate, but without the guiding principles of Do, you may feel there is something missing. Conversely, focusing solely on Do without practical training risks leaving you unprepared. True proficiency in karate lies in the synergy between these seemingly different concepts.
It’s important for practitioners to find meaning in the terminology they use, based on their understanding and connection to the art they practice.
For some, karate's beauty lies in its dual capacity to cultivate both fighting skills and self-improvement.
Through committed and dedicated training, you confront your weaknesses, both physical and mental, allowing a good teacher to guide you towards improvement. As you grow as karateka, you can grow as a person.
Many people may have read the narrative from Funakoshi and others, stating that karate is defined by character improvement. While true, this growth is a lifelong journey.
Personally, I call my karate ‘Jutsu. I believe making my karate relevant and practical clarifies this distinction. My students understand that the ‘Do’ comes later, and both reinforce each other.
The ‘Do’ in karate emphasizes personal growth, but it shouldn’t exclude the practical aspects of training. Both approaches have their place within the diverse landscape of karate today.
Ultimately, how you approach karate is a deeply personal decision. The true reward lies in the journey it offers you.

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Before and after....

Xing Yi 5 elements linking form tutorial Practical Combat skills of continuous quan.Wu xing lian huan quan Shanxi style

EOE SU DONG-CHEN TAIPEI 20130519簡昭禎製作

A song about hsiao yang, the young light...

Pink Floyd - Chapter 24 "Chapter 24" is a song from Pink Floyd's 1967 album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. This song was one of several to be considered for the band's "best of" al...

Hey folks...I'm teaching another live online semester starting on May 1st. I'm adding, by request, a 5 week series on "The Insides of Tai Chi Chuan", covering mechanics, alignments, "energies", qi development and what is it anyway?, and how to apply it all in popular tai chi chuan forms. I explain principles, history and the classics. I address it from both western and eastern viewpoints including both the classics and western energetic models. The idea is to optimize your practice time and boost your progress. From a 40 plus year practitioner whose worked with a number of masters. $55
I'm also offering the longer Introduction to Internal Arts 12 week series that goes into more Hsing Yi Chuan and Baguazhang material and teaches the jiben shoufa from Gao style BGZ. $120. Get more info at Dragonwell-liveonline.com

Internal Style Concepts (54): Five-Energy in Tai Chi This video discusses an advanced topic: the 5-Energy concept implying correct and incorrect Tai Chi practice. Also, a solution to correct some common mistake...

He talks about the Dragon Well and the tea by the same name...

Internal Style Concepts (57): Eight-Ability Practice of Ba Gua - Ba Gua Ba Neng - 八卦八能 This video discusses an advanced topic: the Eight-Ability of Ba Gua practice, a fundamental concept of this style.Topics covered in today’s video include:00:...

Introduction to Xingyi-Bagua Palm: Bagua with a Xingyi influence! This video introduces Xingyi-Bagua Palm the style created by Zhang Zhaodong in the 1920s in Tianjin, China. Topics includeWho was Zhang Zhaodong (0:45)What i...

Su D**g Chen - Ba Gua and Hsing-I Volume 1 | In this video, Su D**g Chen teaches his Japanese Students. Hsing-I and Ba Gua Form and applications. In this clip we see Su D**g Chen in his prime...

Luo Dexiu - Gao style Baguazhang, Practice and Application One of Luo Dexiu's old videos put out in conjunction with Dan Miller from the Pa Kua Chang Journal

Zhang Junfeng: Gao Style Baguazhang, Hebei Style Xingyiquan Ji Ben Shou Fa/Tian GanXian Tian Palm ChangesHou Tian Straight LineLike, Share, and Subscribe! Thanks!Edited by Ground Dragon Martial Arts.COPYRIGHT NOTICEUp...

Still life self portrait.

Some cool old stuff....

Judo VS Jujutsu (Structural differences and breakdown) 柔道 柔術 This video discusses the structural differences bet Judo and Japanese Jujutsu, and how they differ in terms of systems and foundation.Koryu & Gendai:https://...

Marine doubts the effectiveness of crazy technique... gets KO’d Marine gets KO'd with crazy technique

RARE Ninja Knockout! Snakebone Hlongwa vs. Torbjorn Madsen Welcome to the Official EFC Youtube channel 😎 Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, EFC is a world-leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. We ...

Not many animals in the UK?

I am really concerned about the number of people who think they could beat a grizzly, elephant, or lion. Either they were joking in the survey or drunk.

Great question....

A thought from Maureen Johnson Smith Long.