The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I am a bit bored at work today.. I am sitting here pondering .. again... about my Tai Chi class last night.
One of the concepts discussed was 'grounding'. Basically, he showed how we can stay stable and grounded when someone pushes us, and we do this by relaxing. We do not push back. We remain firm and 'rooted' and 'sink' into the ground for stablity. If we start to push back, or try to fight back, the other person wins becasue we have weakened our defence.
hmmmmm... iiiinnnterestink!!!!
Also, the moves are for fighting, but he says that in the martial art, we see the attack, accept it as it comes to us, and deflect it away. HIs words were "Thankyou for giving me that lesson, I reject it and give it back to you"
The lesson being that the person attacked us.
We use the attackers power against themselves (common concept in self defence too), he says we 'deflect' thier aggression back to them by staying calm and gracefully handing it back to them. (maybe through a punch to the face, but it is handed back, this is a fighting martial art after all).
I am very much liking what he says about the energies and the 'chi' and that once we understand our own chi, we can then use it. It is not about getting anyone elses chi (taking their inventory), not about fighting them (acceptance), it is not about controlling them (control yourself).
You know... Al Anon/ACoA comes up in so many forms. I am glad I am practicing the 'grounding' with my husband, I am doing it spiritually and physically. If I am grounded, and he pushes me, I should maintain my stance and relax. He is doing the Tai Chi with me but he is a black belt in other martial arts already. Nice he can help to teach me in that way, and in life in general when his addiction monster gives me a differnt lesson in life.
Just ponders... participate if you will with your own thoughts.
Love your post. Love it! I have really been feeling that I'm fighting a spiritual battle against the evil disease that has consumed my husband. Thanks so much for this. Now I have a new quote to use " thanks for the lesson, I reject it, and give it back to you". I feel more powerful already!
I cut and pasted this from a site I am reading (I really should do some work.. but seeing as I work in drug and alcohol education.. I kinda am working .. aren't I???)
One important element of Tai Chi is its emphasis on helping those that are being attacked. Tai Chi as a martial art has the unique ability of protecting you and your friends, while not harming the assailant but immobilizing him. In martial arts terminology Tai Chi absorbs the attackers energy, and then gives it back to them usually in the from of a push. This type of self defense is a spiritual practice because it is based on ahimsa or nonviolence. Instead of being completely passive we look at our assailant with compassion and try to immobilize him out of concern for his own safety from bad karma. This may not always be possible, but we as practitioners should at least know that the assailant is working from a very troubled set of conditioning, one they cannot easily get out of. This then should elicit compassion for the attacker, and for all beings caught in habitual patterns. This type of altruistic intention is a very lofty spiritual practice http://www.naturalhealthweb.com/articles/Mosher1.html
Great example and awareness. Taking care of ourselves, in a non aggressive manner, with compassion and understanding for others is a true gift of alanon
I am glad you are discovering these principles in other forms of communications Spiritual Truths are like that they are Universal.
I loved the quote from your Tai Chi instructor. I find when I am in acceptance of a difficult situation in my life, I can find gratitude in it. When I can be grateful for the good and the bad, therein lies spiritual growth.
This is a great posting. I started doing martial arts last year and it helped me applying these techniques to my life. as you said it very well its self defense not agression or offense. The goal is to deflect the punch and not to display how much you know. it is about control, inner strength, awakening the "chi". You want to protect yourself but not start the fight. Like al-anon its a life changing experience, very compatible in a lot of ways. I found it very humbling as well, lots of mental and physical endurance. Thank you for your share and the wisdom.
So glad you are doing something to take care of you and enjoying it!!
Hugs p :)
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Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
LOVE IT! Great healing work :) I do Svaroopa yoga, for me, its what I need right now...my kids do Okinawan Karate, its awesome... Love that you can bring it back here and share it with us!
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-youfoundme
Let go and let God...Let it be... let it begin with me...
I've just returned back to Jiu-Jitsu after a 4 year break. I totally enjoyed it and felt a real spiritual-mind-body connection at times.
The spirituality of Jitsu and the concepts of deflecting your opponents power and momentum are very familiar. I highly recommend you read up on the spiritual and meditation techniques, I've found them invaluable.
