A few days ago we took a look at a short compilation video of Sam Masich, a great Taiji instructor from Canada. Here's a few interviews and some action from a 1988 tournament that Sam was in. The quality of the fighting is certainly not as great as some Karate tournaments, but Sam says in the interview that this was his first fighting tournament, and he clearly dominates his opponents. All-in-all, this gives a nice flavor for the essence of Tai Chi Chuan. Read Full Story

Again we have instructor Michael Gilman with a very detailed explanation of the use of the hips or "Kua" in martial training. This video integrates the rooting aspect of gathering to the inside of the foot and releasing from the heel and outside of the foot with proper use of gathering and releasing from the "Kua". All of us have seen people who "float" on top of their hips. They move like stick figures and cannot perform proper rooting skills. No matter what art you practice, this will add g... Read Full Story

I just got back from another great weekend workshop with our Tai Chi Chuan instructor Michael Gilman. This class was on what he calls "The Inner Journey", and delves into the hidden ways of movement that make for really great Tai Chi Chuan. Michael explains things in great detail, and this is the second of an eight-part series. In Tai Chi Chuan, the power is generated from "the root". In this video, Michael explains the importance of "gathering" to the inside of the foot and "releasing"(ener... Read Full Story

A generous tip of the hat to James Keating at MAAJAK for directing us to this funny but ultimately serious article about "Fighting styles that will probably get your ass kicked".LINK HEREOf course, I fully expected to see my life's persuit of Tai Chi Chuan dashed upon the bloody rocks of FAIL. Not so!Spoiler: Judo guys will be very pleased... Read Full Story

Here's a nice little compilation video of Sam Masich, a really great Internal Arts practitioner from north of us in British Columbia Canada. We had the pleasure of having a push hands class with Sam in a very small and infomal setting when he visited our island. Sam is one of the absolute nicest guys I've ever trained with, and has extensive knowledge in the Chinese Internal Arts. In that class, he asked a Karate instructor from another school to try and touch his face. As the Karate guy reac... Read Full Story

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.Well, I don't know what these Cops got this guy down for, he may have been freaking the attendant of the Gas/Mart out, as he is either putting on a great act or is "a little touched" Sure the Police have tough jobs, but they blow this one. I think they:1. could have de-escalated the incident or;2. cuffed him quicker and got him in the car3. they did not have him fully under control4. they tase him for no real reason5. they fail, he gets... Read Full Story

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Ever since I moved to The San Juans, a group of islands which are closer to the Canadian border than they are to mainland Washington State, I've been collecting local Pirate stories. I just heard a doosey this week, more on that coming up, but first some background;There is mounting evidence that the West Coast was explored and populated by Chinese sailors from as early as 2000 B.C.Pirate stories abound; when I was a kid my friends family owned an old cabin in Oregon, at the mouth of The Salm... Read Full Story

The October 27 issue of The New York Times has This Article with updated information on the Karzai government and the ongoing Opium production and Heroin trade. It appears that President Karzai's brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai has been on the CIA's payroll for years. That in itself is not unusual, if not for the accusations that he is deeply involved in the Drug trade. This is part of an ongoing pattern that has been well documented since the Vietnam war. The best book I have read on the subject... Read Full Story

A few years ago I was talking with a young guy from another Dojo who was about to test for Black Belt. He commented that he wondered if his martial skills would work if he needed to defend himself. I was a little shocked, and I asked him if he'd ever been in a fight before. He said no. I laughed, bought him a Beer and told him not to worry, his skills would be there when he needed them. But inside, I wondered. You see, I had rarely thought about that. I had been in lots of fights before I eve... Read Full Story