1 million visits
Yipee! My website has surpassed 1 million visits milestone on this last day of 2007. It took almost 6 years (since February 1, 2002) to reach this mark. A good reason to celebrate.
I like to thank all visitors and fan readers from all around the world for giving the support. Thank you and I wish everybody a Happy New Year 2008. May you and your family in good health and have a prosperous new year.
Protected: Feeling - The ultimate learning - Part 1
Chinese Medical and Health Search Engine
I came across a Chinese Medical and Health Search Engine, lolong.com (络龙). It is a brain child of a group of young Chinese technopreneurs operating in Chengdu, China. The idea is nothing new but it certainly will make searching for medical and health related materials easier with their sole concentration in this area. If you are looking for some medical or health related information, why not give it a try?
Snake!
I like snake but I never touch one before. Today, I came to a close encounter with a snake. My telephone and DSL fritz again. I could not make a call from my house telephone so I went to mom’s house to report a faulty line to Telekom. When I arrived there slightly before noon, I saw a snake sliding on the electrical cable on the wall of the neighbor’s house. I saw its tail moving and sliding into the crevice between the wall and electric cable. At first glance, the color of the snake was black. It could be the venomous cobra. I could estimate it was about 3 to 4 feet long!
Without further delay, I called the Bomba (Fire Department) to help capture the snake. I waited at the front of mom’s house to keep an eye on the snake while waiting for the Bomba to arrive. After some minutes, they came in a fire engine.
They checked the crevice but could not find any sign of a snake. I told them that I really saw its tail about 2 feet long and that could not be a lizard’s tail. One of the guy inspected further under the crevice and he saw something and confirmed a snake was hiding in the crevice. He used a thick cable to reach into the crevice and the snake fell out.
I was right! It was about 4 feet long. Black but with some green and black cross hatching. They said it was “ular daun” (literally translated leaf snake).
The photo (click for larger view) is not so clear to confirm the species of the snake. But it could be Chrysopelea ornata or Chrysopelea paradisi (paradise tree snake). This tree snake could fly and often called flying snake or flying tree snake. Watch the movies how the snake “fly” here. This is a website of Jake Socha, a hepatologist from The University of Chicago. Very interesting.
Back to the snake. We thought it was dead or passed out because it was not moving. That’s why I went closer (but not too close) to take the photo. After a while, it became lively again and moved swiftly under my car. The Bomba men were trying to surround it but it moved too quickly and finally it found an exit and disappeared into the bushes in front of mom’s house. I saw it moving swiftly into the bush and I was closest to it. I could have picked up its tail but I did not have the gut to do it. Not like my karate grand master who is so quick that he can catch an Okinawan Habu snake with his bare hand. The Okinawan Habu snake is a very venomous snake on Okinawa.
The incident also brought two schoolmates to meet again. One of the Bomba guy, asked me if I was from St David just before they left. We exchanged some information and he appeared to be Khalid from 5A2, same year as me. What a happy ending. The snake did not die, two ex-schoolmate met again. Really happy ending.
Control
Control is the ultimate skill level for any martial artists. To be able to control your strikes is the hardest to achieve compared to how hard you can strike your opponent.
I recalled in a tournament 18 years ago, where I was enraged by the referee who did not award me point when I gave a uraken-uchi (back fist strike) to my opponent every time he threw a gyaku-tzuki (reverse punch) to my mid section. I struck him with uraken-uchi to the side of his head but he could not even touch my gi. I had the advantage of long reach than him. I was 6′3″ and he was about 5′5″. I became more frustrated and angry as his punches did not touch me but awarded point. I don’t deny his gyaku-tzuki was perfect in posture, movement, power, speed and timing. My uraken-uchi struck harder every each time he was awarded wazari (half point). The last few strikes were the hardest, if they all landed on the vital point such as the temple, he would be traumatized. I struck on his parietal with surgical precision. Parietal is the largest and hardest skull bone which covers both sides and the lateral of the brain.
I never met my opponent since after the fight until I met two of his friends at a National Sports Science Workshop in September 2004. We talked about the old days and mentioned about this guy. Both of them told me that this guy said to them how powerful my uraken-uchi. He was feeling dizzy and disoriented after the fight.
Uraken-uchi is my favorite technique because of the advantage of my long range and height. I developed a powerful uraken-uchi and was able to strike hard without drawing the hand backward closer to the body. 18 years ago, I had already developed controllable uraken-uchi with various level of power.
After the tournament, it took me almost 15 years to develop precise control which I am able to deliver an uraken-uchi to opponent’s face with superficial tingling sensation without any obvious injury. Today, my uraken-uchi can strike like a sledge hammer or as soft as a pat on a baby. I have yet to master control as I don’t feel satisfied and am still continuously seeking perfection.
How to develop control and precision in a strike? Well, feeling is the most important factor in acquiring such skill.
Uechi-Ryu Zankai - My Anamnesis - Part 8
A great advancement in my teaching/coaching experience occurred when I switched from one karate style to another and finally to Uechi-Ryu. My journey has taught me a great deal about teaching. My current teacher, Seizan Sensei has been my good guidance and I have learned a great deal from him too.
Recently, after the last grading test on December 21, I received valuable feedbacks from my teacher. It is extremely easy to learn movement of kata in Uechi-Ryu compared to any other styles. The main factor is the minimum techniques and stances. The most fundamental and frequently used stance is Sanchin-dachi, followed by kiba-dachi and zenkutsu-dachi. Sanchin-dachi appears 98% in all kata. There is only one blocking technique in Uechi-Ryu, the versatile Wa-uke or circular block.
The wa-uke looks very easy and simple by making a circular motion with the arm. The easiest and simplest thing requires most effort to understand and the most difficult to master. I have been trying to teach the basic concept about wa-uke to my students. Even the most senior student has difficulties to understand my teaching.
We often hear a saying, “Empty your cup… to taste my tea.” or equivalent. It is necessary for those who switch over from other style of karate to Uechi-Ryu. They need to unlearn what they have learned. They have to put all the techniques behind. One most important thing they need to put behind is their attitude before they can open their mind and let the knowledge be absorbed like a sponge.
Besides an open mind and/or attitude to willingly accept new knowledge, skills and techniques which look contrary to their previous training, another important requirement is open up all the senses/feeling during training and learning. Senses or feelings, include vision, hearing, touch, macro and micro movement, instinct, and heart. Feeling is a necessary factor in training which most students and teachers have overlook.
Training with feelings can accelerate the understanding of a technique and concepts behind it. Even my most senior student cannot feel or at least describe her feelings during training or practice. Most karate trainings are merely repeating mechanical performance and lack emphasis on feelings. Feelings are most important in the understanding of Uechi-Ryu concepts.
I will write about effectiveness of training by open up all your senses in a series of articles here. I will also write about advanced wa-uke concept in another article. But these articles will only be available to my students and Zankai fellows.
Laser Treatment
I went for my scheduled eye examination at my doctor’s clinic in KL yesterday. Everything is fine except the transparent cells covering/holding my artificial lens have begun growing and blurring my vision. I need a laser treatment after 3 months. The treatment is a 5-minute outpatient procedure which uses laser to polish the lens.
Is the growth normal for people who have cataract removed? Can anyone provide some information and experience please?
《秋风夜吟》
一时心血来潮，写了一首诗《 秋风夜吟》。这可是我第一首中文诗，献丑了！
秋风轻拂又一载，回首笑看众愚痴。
奴面不如花面好，江湖恩怨今秋了。
云鬓斜簪春欲放，仰首挺胸迎彤霞。
龙虎鹤功悲新竹，学问功名笑野梅。
老夫高歌轻俗世，秋风伴我饮一杯。
－－贺文耀 2007年12月26日著。
Birthday Wish 2007
Last year, I made a birthday wish to learn Uechi-Ryu karate from Toyama Sensei. My wish came through and again thanks to Scott of Canada who led me the path.
Actually, I got to train with Toyama’s Sensei trusted student, Seizan Sensei, my teacher. And I got the chance to meet Toyama Sensei and performed in front of him. I feel I am one of those lucky people to be able to find great teacher.
This birthday, I make another wish, to achieve my dan ranking of my dream before I retire from public teaching. The dan and my retiring year remain as secret in my heart.
Christmas Carol
Here is the video for the Christmas Carol at doukoukai on Friday December 21, 2007. For more story, visit here.
Merry Christmas to all.
客家百家姓——贺
我找到一则有关客家贺姓的文章。我从《梅州网》转载在此分享。
一、姓氏源流
贺（Hè 賀）姓源出有二：
1、出自姜姓，为东汉汝阴令庆仪曾孙庆纯之后，避安帝父之讳由庆姓改为贺姓。据《姓纂》则记载说：“齐公族庆公之后。”又据《古今姓氏书辨证》、《姓氏考略》等所载，出自姜姓，齐桓公支庶齐庆父之后皆以庆为氏，至东汉汝阴令庆仪，其曾孙庆纯官拜侍中，为避安帝父孝德皇帝（庙号庆宗）之讳，改名贺纯，其后代相传姓贺，史称贺姓正宗，是为江苏贺姓。
2、出自他族改姓而来和小数民族中有贺姓：
➀ 据《魏书·官氏志》所载，北魏孝文帝汉化改革，将鲜卑复姓贺兰氏、贺赖氏、贺敦氏等均改单姓贺。
➁ 苗族吉学氏，汉姓为贺、杨。
➂ 土族贺尔加氏、贺尔基氏、苏贺氏等汉姓均为贺。
➃ 裕固族呼郎嘎特氏，汉姓为贺。
➄ 新疆锡伯族何叶尔氏，汉姓为贺。
➅ 辽宁沈阳锡伯族贺在尔氏，汉姓为贺。
➆ 今布依、撒拉、傈僳、满、蒙古、俄罗斯、东乡、回等民族均有贺姓。
得姓始祖：贺纯。贺姓出自姜姓，是一个出现较晚的姓氏。春秋时齐桓公有孙名公孙庆克，其子庆封（史称庆父）以父名命氏，称为庆氏。庆封在齐灵公时任大夫，在庄公时为上卿，执掌国政，后因故逃往吴国。东汉时，有后裔庆仪为汝阴令，其曾孙庆纯官拜侍中，为避汉安帝之父刘庆的名讳，将庆改为同义的贺字，庆纯改为贺纯。其后子孙以贺为姓，他们尊贺纯为贺姓的得姓始祖。
二、迁徙分布
综上所述，贺姓得姓是在今浙江绍兴一带，他从一开始起就成为当地一大望族。故族人自改姓为贺以后，就以会稽为其堂号、郡望。贺纯有孙名贺齐，为三国时吴国大将军齐之孙贺邵任中书令，邵之子贺修在西晋任太子太傅，由于仕宦周迁等原因，贺姓开始在江浙一带缓慢迁徙。会稽贺姓在汉魏六朝时期，他们与同郡的虞、魏、孔三姓并称为“会稽四姓”。魏晋南北朝时期，因北方兵连祸接，各民族不断大举南迁，使得南方的贺姓家族分布更广。出自鲜卑的贺姓，也很快繁衍壮大，后与从江南北上的贺姓不断地融合发展，逐渐在北方形成两大郡望，即河南郡、广平郡。唐朝时，贺修的十二世孙贺德仁为唐太子中书舍人，德仁的侄孙贺默为彭州（今江苏省徐州）刺史，德仁的侄曾孙贺知章任唐玄宗秘书监，可见此期世居会稽之贺姓已呈大批北上之势。宋代词人贺铸为贺知章之后，生于今河南汲县，晚年退居苏、常。唐宋之际，贺姓已分布于我国东部广大地区，其中在北方，是以今河南、河北、山西、山东、陕西分布最为集中。此期又形成山阴（隋时贺德基之族所在）、青州（宋时贺恂之族所在）、忻州（宋时易州刺史贺惟忠之族所在）、陈留（宋时右千牛卫大将军贺率景之族所在）、蔡州（宋时中散大夫贺应诚之族所在）、济南（宋时秉议郎贺适中之族所在）、齐州（宋时光禄卿贺志诚之族所在）、密州（宋时贺宽之族所在）等郡望。明初，贺姓作为洪洞大槐树迁民姓氏之一，被分迁于江苏、河南、山东、湖北、河北等地。明清以后，贺姓遍及全国各地，并有远播海外者。如今，贺姓分布甚广，尤以湖南、山西两省多此姓，两省贺姓约占全国汉族贺姓人口的百分之三十一。贺姓是当今中国姓氏排行第九十七位的大姓，人口较多，约占全国汉族人口的百分之零点一八。
三、历史名人
贺 纯：东汉时官拜侍中。原姓庆，名纯，为齐桓公支庶庆公的后代。据《姓氏考略》指出：“后汉庆纯，避安帝父孝德皇帝讳改为贺氏，望出会稽、河南。”他既然在朝为官，就不得不对皇室的名号有所避讳，而把自己原来的姓氏改掉了。这位贺纯也是当时十分有名望的人物，他博极群书，曾经屡次向朝廷奏请数十事，多被接纳，后来并做到江夏太守。为贺氏的得姓始祖。
贺 循：会稽山阴（今浙江省绍兴）人，晋代时官至光禄大夫，为支持司马睿的江南士族领袖之一。其博览群书，善写文章，为当世儒宗。
贺 铸：卫州共城（今河南省汲县）人，北宋著名诗人、词人，号庆湖遗老。其词善于锤炼字句，因《青玉案》中有：“一川烟草，满城风絮，梅子黄时雨”之句，人称贺梅子。有词集《东山词》、诗集《庆湖遗老集》传世。
贺 岳：海盐（今属浙江省）人，明代著名医学家，有《明医会要》、《医经大旨》、《药性准绳》等传世。
贺 懋：清代临清人（今属山东省），官至贵州道监察御史，宽舒公明，清慎仁爱，民称为“贺青天”。
贺 昌：山西省离石人，中共早期重要领导人之一，曾参加“八·一”南昌起义，后任中央苏区红军总政治部副主任。1935年在江西会昌牺牲，卒年29岁。
贺 龙：湖南省桑植人，中国无产阶级革命家、军事家、中国人民解放军的创始人之一，十大元帅之一，为中华人民共和国的建立立下了不朽的功勋，文革中惨遭非人待遇，于1969年被迫害致死。
贺狄干：北魏时鲜卑人，魏道武帝将领，因功赐爵襄武侯，通《论语》、《尚书》诸经，有儒者风度。
贺若弼：字辅伯，洛阳（今属河南省）人，隋朝大将。博涉书史、善骑射，因会文精武，得北周齐王宇文宪器重，用为记室。随上柱国大将军韦孝宽攻陈，屡献计谋，克数十城，遂任寿州刺史。因战功卓著而被封为宋国公，官至右武侯大将军。炀帝时因议论朝政得失，被加以诽谤朝政的罪名杀害（与下同姓同名者有别）。
贺若弼：隋代民间琴师，对于他的演奏艺术，苏轼曾有诗云：“琴里若能知贺若，诗中定会爱陶潜。”说明他演奏的乐曲意境与陶潜的诗境类似。贺若弼创作了宫声十小调：《石博金》、《不换玉》、《汪峡吟》、《楚溪吟》、《越江吟》、《孤愤吟》、《清夜吟》、《叶下闻蝉》、《三清》，还有一首佚失传，其中《清夜吟》见于明代的《西麓堂琴统》。宋太宗喜爱古琴，也爱附弄风雅，据《续湘山野录》所载：宋太宗嫌这些小调的名称不够“雅”，就把《古博金》改名为《楚泽涵秋》，把《不换玉》改名为《塞门积雪》。
贺知章：越州永兴（今浙江省萧山）人，唐代著名诗人，官至秘书监。后还乡为道士，号四明狂客，擅长草隶书，好饮酒，与李白友善，为“吴中四士”一，其诗仅存二十首。
贺逢圣：江夏（今湖北省云梦）人，明代大臣、学者。因学问渊博，才华过人，官至礼部尚书，兼文渊阁大学士。
贺隆锡：曲沃（今属山西省）人，清代著名画家。侨居江宁，善画山水、人物、兰竹、兼工诗词小楷。
贺长龄：湖南省善化（今长沙市）人，清代大臣，道光时历任贵州巡抚、云南总督等职，主张查禁私种罂粟和吸食鸦片，惠政颇多。著有《耐庵诗文集》。
贺炳炎：湖北松滋人，1955年被中央军委授予上将军衔，解放后，历任四川省军区司令员、成都军区司令员等职。
贺敬之：山东峄县（今枣庄市）人，当代著名诗人，其诗善于及时捕捉和表现现实生活中的重大政治命题，有强烈的政治化倾向。主要作品有《放歌集》、《放声歌唱》、《雷锋之歌》、《贺敬之诗选》等。
贺锡德：音乐编辑家。湖北省武汉市人。1945年即创建汉口上智中学军乐队，任队长，师从著名管乐家马艺汀（马谦受）学吹小号及乐队配器。1948年春，先后就读于南京金陵大学先修班及北平辅仁大学经济系，参加辅仁大学轻音乐队，清华大学军乐队及管弦乐队，曾随队参加“欢迎解放军入城式”及“中华人民共和国‘开国大典’”等多项重大活动。1950年12月，响应政府“抗美援朝”号召，参加军政干校曾任华北空军政治文化部干事，后调华北空政文工团。向罗忠镕学习和声，并自学音乐理论，配器法及对位法。1952年，随着朝鲜战争深入，该团部分人员编为中国人民志愿军九七部文工团入朝，在前沿阵地上为中朝部队进行慰问演出，直到1953年朝鲜停战后回国。1995年调军委空政文工团任乐队队员。1958年转业到中央人民广播电台，先后任外国音乐编辑、中国音乐编辑、音响导演、外国音乐组组长等职。1981年参加中国音乐家协会，并任美国音乐研究会会员。
贺亦然：生于1917年，毕业于延安抗日军政大学，1932年加入中国共产党，1940年任军分区副政委，1943年任地委副书记，1947年任二野十纵三十旅副政委、政委，1948年任174师政委，1950年来广西剿匪兼任宜山地委第一书记，1950年任玉林地委第一书记、容县地委书记。历任广西省委常委、宣传部长、文教委员会主任、广西区党委常委、人民政府副主席。1985年离休。
四、郡望堂号
1、郡望
据《姓氏考略》载：“后汉庆纯，避安帝父孝德皇帝讳改为贺氏，望出会稽、河南。”
会稽郡：秦始皇二十五年（公元前222年）于原吴、越地置郡，治所在吴县（今江苏省苏州市）。顺帝时置山阴。此之贺氏，其开基始祖为汉庆纯。
河南郡：汉高帝二年（公元前205年）改秦三川郡置郡，治所在雒阳（今河南省洛阳市东北）。此之贺氏，其开基始祖为后魏贺兰氏、贺赖氏改为贺氏之后裔。
广平郡：汉景帝中元六年（公元前149年）分邯郸郡置郡，治所在广平（今河北省鸡泽东南）。此之贺氏，其开基始祖有二说：其一，为汉庆纯之后；其二，为后魏贺兰氏、贺赖氏改为贺氏之后裔。
青 州：汉武帝置十三刺史部之一。辖今山东省东北部、河北一小部，治所在今山东省益都。东汉治临萏。东晋以后治今益都辖境缩小。隋唐为青州北海郡。宋青州。元为益都路。明改青州府。民国废府。
忻 州：隋以秀容（今山西省忻县）置忻州，治所在今山西省忻州市。民国废。
陈留郡：秦代置郡，在今河南省开封东南陈留城。历代均置。1957年并入开封县。又西汉陈留郡，治陈留县。北魏时治浚仪，隋唐为汴州陈留郡。
蔡 州：隋改溱州置，治所隋名上蔡，唐名汝阴，即今河南省汝南。北朝也曾置蔡州，治蔡阳，在今湖北枣阳西南。
密 州：隋改胶州为密州，治所在今山东省诸城。明废。
济南郡：汉有济南国。楚七国乱后为郡，治东平陵（今山东省章丘西）。晋移治历城（今山东省济南）。北魏为齐州。宋政和中升济南府。元为路。明清为府。民国废府。
2、堂号
四明堂：唐朝时光禄大夫贺知章，诗作得最好，书法也漂亮。醉后作诗填词写字，毫不费力就成了卷轴。他自号“四明狂客”。
此外，贺姓的主要堂号还有：“会稽堂”、“广平堂”、“百岁堂”、“赐曲堂”、“诗文堂”等。
五、宗族特征
1、贺姓是一个比较年轻的姓氏，他们得姓于东汉的安帝年间，只有一千八百余年的历史。
2、字行辈份排列有序。如浙江嘉兴贺姓一支字行为：“启泰铉愚王召晟尚，开庆锡宸玉绍德。”
A Joyful Night
Last night, after giving the grading test to three students at the doukoukai, a group (20+) from Bukit Beruang Methodist Church came to carol at the doukoukai. All, including my kids were having fun. For the first time, my kids saw a large group singing Christmas carols. Dominik, especially, was in “shocked” seeing so many strangers with Santa’s hat!
More pictures and story here.
We wish all our friends and family a Merry Christmas, Happy Winter Solstice, Happy New Year and best of health.
Ganbatte kudasai!
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Coding War or Extinction of Human Race?
When I stumbled on this story about a software engineer and his encounter of a bug in a missile launch command and control system, I read with delight because it has been a while since I read an exciting piece of story about Ada. On the other hand, I was so nervous because our extinction might just be a string away.
The story is about a software engineer trying to maintain a 400KSLOC legacy system when the OS and compiler version were upgraded. You can read the full story here.
It is pretty exciting to read about the job of working on the legacy Ada code of such mission critical system. Why was the error occurring? What would be the consequence if the missile launch test failed? What if the missile were launched “accidentally”?
I believe, one day, the human race will extinct as was portrait in the movie Terminator. The extinction will be due to an error in a software, or rather the negligence or ignorant of a software engineer.
What the story tells us is that it appeared to be some 20 lines of code which caused the upheaval this Thanksgiving. May be it is really Thanksgiving for giving the human race another chance to survive. So, do what you want to do most, enjoy life while you can.
贺姓是个年轻姓氏?
《贺》姓在马来西亚华人当中算是少数姓氏。据我所知《贺》姓户在马六甲更是廖若晨星。在搜集了一些网上和书籍里的资料，才发现原来《贺》姓是那么的古老和大有来头。
在具有5000年悠久历史的中华民族当中，贺是一个比较年轻的姓氏。他们得姓于东汉的安帝年间，算起来虽然只有1800多年的历史，自然也不会跟我国那些古老的姓氏一样，是“以国为氏”或“因地命姓”。那么他们的姓氏又是从何而来的呢？关于这个问题，《通志氏族略》上提供了十分详尽的答案说：“贺氏，即庆氏也，姜姓，齐恒公之支庶也；汉时避安帝父讳改为贺氏。”另外，《姓氏考略》也指出：“后汉庆纯，避安帝父孝德皇帝讳改为贺氏，望出会稽、河南”；《姓纂》则记载说：“齐公族庆公之后。”
从以上这些考据资料，对于贺氏的来龙去脉，就一目了然了——贺姓是从庆氏改过来的，改姓的缘故，是为了避帝王的名讳。而庆氏，原来是周朝齐国的公族，是曾经称霸春秋的齐桓公的后代，而齐国的始祖又是那位辅佐文王定天下有大功的姜子牙，则后世的贺姓人士，自然也是姜太公的后裔了。
实际上，贺姓的渊源，尚不仅止于姜太公，还可以进一步追溯到比黄帝更早的神农氏，因为姜太公是神农氏的后代，神农氏居于姜水，他的后裔就以姜为姓，而《左传》上也说：“炎帝神农氏，姜姓之祖。”象这样一步步地推溯上去，则贺氏的历史怎会年轻？他们不但不年轻，而且悠久古老得很呢！
贺氏是东汉时从庆氏改过来的，是齐桓公支庶庆公的后代，那么，这位贺氏的始祖庆公，又是怎样的一个人呢？关于庆公这个人，相信只要是读过《史记》的人士，必然都知道指的是春秋时代的大夫庆封，因为在当时的齐国，庆封曾经是一位翻云覆雨的重要人物。
至于那位头一个把自己的姓氏改为“贺”的庆纯，根据史载，是东汉安帝时的侍中，他既然在朝为官，就不得不对皇室的名号有所避讳，而把自己原来的姓氏改掉了。这位贺纯也是当时十分有名望的人物，他博极群书，曾经屡次向朝廷奏请数十事，多被接纳，后来并做到江夏太守。
- 姓氏来源
- 出自姜姓，是为避帝王名讳所改的姓氏。春秋时，齐桓公（姜姓）有个孙子叫公孙庆克，他的儿子庆封以父名命氏，称为庆氏。庆封在齐灵公时任大夫，在庄公时与崔杼曾为上卿，执掌国政。后两人再升为左右相国。因崔杼家内发生内乱，庆封以弑君罪灭掉崔氏，独霸朝政。于是庆封把政事交给儿子庆舍处理，自己只管吃喝玩乐，引起了朝上朝下对庆氏的不满，后庆封的亲信卢蒲癸和王何，趁庆封外出之机，杀死了庆舍，庆封见势不妙，便逃到了吴国。吴王噶朱方封给庆封，庆氏宗族闻讯赶来相聚，从此，庆氏比在齐国时还要富裕。至西汉末，子孙徙会稽山阴，东汉时传至庆仪为汝阴令，其曾孙庆纯官拜侍中，为避汉安帝的父亲刘庆的名讳，”庆”字改为同义的”贺”字。庆纯改为贺纯。史称贺姓正宗，是为江苏贺氏。
- 出自少数民族改姓。据《魏书.官氏志》等所载，南北朝时后魏孝文帝迁都洛阳后，实行汉化，将鲜卑族复姓贺兰氏、贺拔氏、贺狄氏、贺赖氏、贺敦氏皆改为汉姓贺氏。是为河南贺氏。
- 迁徙分布 中国贺氏播迁各地，主要是在汉代之后，分布地区广泛，郡族门望较多。 据《元和姓篡》记载，庆质的孙子叫贺齐，为三国时吴国大将军，齐的孙子贺邵任中书令，邵的儿子贺修在西晋任太子太傅，修的12世孙贺德仁为唐太子中书舍人，德仁的侄孙贺默为彭州刺史，德仁的侄曾孙就是唐玄宗时秘书监贺知章。又据《古今姓氏书辩证》记载，南北朝时，后燕有清河太守贺耕，南凉都乐都(今属青海）有将军贺连，宋朝时有忻州定襄（今属山西）贺氏、易州（今属河北）贺氏、开封陈留（今属河南）贺氏、蔡州（今河南汝南）贺氏、洛州（今河南洛阳）贺氏、济南（今属山东）贺氏、会稽（今浙江绍兴）贺氏、齐州临邑（今属山东）贺氏，密州（今山东诸城）贺氏等。其中，会稽贺氏和河南（今洛阳市）贺氏族大人众，所以贺氏以会稽、河南为郡号。洛阳的贺氏以鲜卑族居多。 除了上述贺氏之外，宋代以后各朝代贺姓人散居各地者仍多，不胜枚举。清代江西贺氏，因躲避官事，千里迁徙至陕西榆林府，今天已经是名门望族。
- 郡望堂号 【堂号】 “四明堂”：唐朝时光禄大夫贺知章，诗作得最好，书法也漂亮。醉后作诗填词写字，毫不费力就成了卷轴。他自号”四明狂客”。 【郡望】 会稽郡：秦始皇二十五年（公元前222年）于原吴、越地置郡，治所在吴县（今江苏苏州市）。顺帝时置山阴。此之贺氏，其开基始祖为汉庆纯。 河南郡：汉高帝二年（公元前205年）改秦三川郡置郡，治所在雒阳（今河南洛阳市东北）。此之贺氏，其开基始祖为后魏贺兰氏、贺赖氏改为贺氏之后裔。 广平郡：汉景帝中元六年（公元前149年）分邯郸郡置郡，治所在广平（今河北鸡泽东南）。此之贺氏，其开基始祖有二说：其一，为汉庆纯之后；其二，为后魏贺兰氏、贺赖氏改为贺氏之后裔。
- 历史名人 贺 循：会稽山阴人（今浙江绍兴）。晋代时官至光禄大夫，他与顾荣同为支持司马睿得江南士族领袖。善属文，博览群籍，尤精《礼》传。朝廷疑滞皆咨之，辄依经礼而对，为当世儒宗。 贺知章：字季真（659─744），越州永兴人（今浙江萧山县），唐代著名诗人。证圣元年进士，历任国子四门博士、太常博士、礼部侍郎、加集贤院学士、太子宾客兼秘书监。天宝三年因不满奸相李林甫专权而返乡为道士，隐居镜湖。一生风流倜傥，豪放不羁，好饮酒，与李白、张旭等关系密切，时称”醉中八仙”。能诗，又工书法，尤善草隶，其诗今存20首，其《回乡偶书》传诵颇广。他高寿85岁，为贺氏名人中得寿星者。 贺狄干：代人（今河北北郭一带），鲜卑族，魏道武帝将领，因功赐爵襄武侯。他曾在长安习读史书，通《论语》、《尚书》诸经，尤儒将风度。 贺 岳：海盐人（今属浙江），明代著名医学家，著有《明医会要》、《医经大旨》、《药性准绳》等。贺自镜：河南南召人，明万历进士，历任参议、按察副使、右参政，五省监军、七省经略使，封天官。贺康年：河南南召人，自镜公长子也，明崇祯年间湖广道台，骏马。贺 懋：临清人（今属山东），大清贵州道监察御史，宽舒公明，清慎仁爱，民称为”贺青天”。 贺长龄：湖南善化人（今长沙），道光时历任江苏、福建、直隶等省布政使、贵州巡抚、云贵总督等职，主张查禁私种罂粟和吸食鸦片，重视经世致用之学，惠政颇多。 贺 龙：红军创始人之一。
The growth of a seed - My greatest challenge
Some upheaval stirred up. Not in my domain but rather from another domain. The upheaval has taught me more valuable lesson from Sensei. He told me a story about a seed. How it breaks through its nut shell, makes its way through boulders and dry hard soil, and finally the surface, growing up into sunny new world. But the challenge does not stop there…
Here’s his gardening wisdom:
When the Gardener plants a seed in good soil and waters it, it begins to grow. First it must soak up the needed water, expand, and push through the hard seed shell. This is painful, difficult, and exhausting work. Did you know of the plant’s nervous system? This is the most painful stage of a young plant’s life! Many seeds just give up and die before sprouting.
This was when you decided to leave the old association, based only on words made many miles away by me, a stranger. You could have just quit karate (“died”) or “stayed in the shell”, but you didn’t. You “soaked up” my words and essays, and decided to break through the shell.
Then the seedling must push up blindly toward the surface of the soil, not knowing what lies ahead, or how far it might be to the surface. Hopefully the soil has been softened and moistened by the Gardener, and hopefully there are no rocks and stones in the way. But despite the greatest efforts of the Gardener to prepare the way, sometimes there are, and the new seedling has to wind around them or push them out of the way. To a tiny new sprout, sometimes even a grain of sand is like a huge boulder! But it must push on, or die.
This was your final decision and preparation, your commitment to making the trip to Okinawa, your arrival, and the anxious hours before actually beginning your work.
It was like holding your breath as you swim through an underwater tunnel, with no way back – how much further, how much further, when will you reach the end and break the surface, how much further…?
Now the tender new sprout reaches the soil’s surface and breathes in the fresh air and begins to absorb sunlight! What a joy! The gentle breeze, the warm sunlight, the uncountable stars at night as the tiny new shoot sleeps and grows using the day’s stored energy. But it is still tender, and easy to injure. It must be protected and nourished through this critical stage of development.
This was your training here on Okinawa, and your realization that all I said to you was true. This was your beginnings of study with me and your fellow students on the Nagahama Dojo, and the encouragement you got whenever you made progress and growth in the system. This is the excitement you felt when you first met Toyama Sensei and finally had an opportunity to perform for him, and met his approval for your performance. This is the culmination of your studies in one short month that cemented your resolve to “plant your roots” in UechiRyu. You have seen the sunlight and now you strive upward toward the source of your energy and growth. And this is my commitment to take care of your development, and see that you have all possible opportunity to reach your potential.
The promise and commitment of the Gardener to the plants in his care. So it was from Toyama Sensei to me.
Now the plant is growing with strong stem and branches, new leaves and increased absorption of sunlight and water. It’s well-formed root system digs deep and cannot be pulled up easily. The bark on its stem grows tougher every day, and stronger each week. Small bugs can no longer assail it. Birds are no longer interested in pulling it from the ground for use in building their own nests – the “sprout” has become too tough. However, not having seen even one season of growth yet, it is still in its youthful stages of development and needs the attention and ministering of the Gardener. There are still some plant-eating animals that can cause mischief – but the Gardener gives what protection he can until the plant is a full-grown tree, which will take some time yet.
The plant is far from mature enough to produce fruit for creating more like itself. That will naturally take several seasons. But it has the start that few of its kind have in the wild, unattended and surrounded by weeds and rocks that stunt its growth and rob it of vital nourishment. It can look down now at its beginnings in the soil, and laugh at what once seemed to be huge boulders and heavy barriers in the way of its growth; they now seem like tiny grains and pebbles, and small light twigs. They no longer bar the way; they add to the nutrition of the soil and the protection of the roots. And so those things that once caused pain and fear are to be appreciated.
My greatest challenge came two days ago when I received a feedback from Sensei about our video performance. Suddenly, I realized the greatest challenge is lying within the concept of the system. It is the hardest to teach to a student. Although I realize most of the concept taught by Sensei on Okinawa, I find myself have not completely absorbed. Even if I have absorbed, I am not able to apply the concept through kata.
The concept in Uechi-Ryu Zankai is simple but rather complicated to understand and to apply. For instance, applying “yawarakasa” and “binkansa” at the same time. Not to mention applying both together with “chikarazuyosa”. For all these three elements, they need a mind with opened senses, to be able to feel and to control every muscles and bones. A better understanding and the capability of manipulating body central of gravity are vital in the process of learning, understanding and applying.
This may not sound too difficult for me due to my prior understanding of bio-mechanics and kinesiology from the cross training of karate which I received many years ago. I also would like to thank those teachers who cross trained me and helped me to understand the concepts (of other styles). Without them, I would have been struggling harder by now.
I have taught my students how to move and how to do kata, alright. Yet, I have not been able to realize the conceptual model in their understanding and application. This is the greatest challenge in my entire karate coaching career.
太极、无极的误解
“太极”一词 源出《周易。系词》：“易有太极，是生两仪。”含有至高、至极、绝对、唯 一之意。这带给人们一种优越感、一种超越感。是以好些练太极拳的人都不把其他武术放在眼里，有似井水，情愿留在井中，享受它那独一的超越感。
在宇宙里，万物都是在运动或静止的行态。来自于牛顿的《自然哲学的数学原理》(Mathmatical Principles of Natural Philosophy, 1687)，定义如下：
所有物体都将一直处于静止或者匀速直线运动状态，直到出现施加其上的力改变它的运动状态为止。
经典力学，又称古典力学或牛顿力学，是力学的一种。经典力学以三条牛顿运动定律为基础，是在宏观世界和低速状态下研究物体运动的基要学术。在物理学上，经典力学是最早被接受为作用于物体上的力学的一个物理模型。经典力学又分为静力学（描述静止物体）、 运动学（描述物体运动）、和动力学（描述物体受力作用下的运动）。在十六世纪，伽利略就已采用科学实验和数学分析的方法研究力学。他为后来的科学家提供了许多豁然开朗的启示。艾萨克·牛顿则是最早用数学语言正确地描述出这些定律的英国科学家。以下分别列出这三条牛顿运动定律：
- 第一定律：如果物体处于静止状态或作等速直线运动，只要没有外力作用，物体将保持静止状态或等速直线运动状态。这定律又称为惯性定律；
- 第二定律：物体的加速度与所受的净外力成正比，与物体的质量成反比。加速度的方向与净外力的方向相同。即
； - 第三定律：两个物体的相互作用力总是大小相等，方向相反，同时出现或消失。强版第三定律还另外要求两支作用力的方向都在同一直线上。
“无极”就是所谓的“平衡”。不论物体在当物体静止或运动状态，它都是处于在一个平衡状态。当物体在外力和相对力达到的时侯，物体就处于静止状态。当物体处于运动状态而不受外力的影响，它就会继续前进。当外力影响了物体，那时物体里的平衡就被干扰，而改变它的状态，那物体就从“无极”转化成“有极”。
“极”就好比方向。在物体的运动，其运动方向可分为“正方向”或“反方向”。两极化就是指方向的变化、状态的变化（静止或运动）和伸缩的变化等等。第三定律说明了两极和无极。两个物体的相互作用力总是大小相等，方向相反，同时出现或消失，这是极化。要求两支作用力的方向都在同一直线上，是极化到无极也就是平衡的条件。
“太极”也有“物极必反”之意。当物体运动状态达到了极限之时，它就“静止”了。哦？何解？
拿光子 (photon) 来说， 光子的运动速度（299,792,458米/秒 或 1,079,252,848.8千米/小時）可说到了极限。可是对肉眼来说，光是静止不动的。我们夜里看到的星星，它所发出的光芒是在好几万年甚至于好几亿年之前的时侯。
这也就是爱因斯坦的“相对论”。当一个物体 A 以高速度向另一物体 B 前进，而物体 B 以慢速度向那高速度物体 A 前进，在那两个物体上所观察到的另一物体向自己前进（如A观察B，B观察A）的速度是一样快的。是以“太极拳”以慢打快的原理，就是物理学里的相对论！
这就是“太极”和“无极”以科学的解释。古人对这些物理学已有了相当的认识，只是以中国古老文学的型态给演译出来。岂知被不谙文学的人乱来解释一番，把太极拳理给弄糊涂了、神化了、玄化了、优越化了、超越化了等等。可哀！
丹田和气的误解
冯驰先生生于1962年，12岁开始学少林拳，1982年考入临沂师范学院体育系。主攻武术，在校期间主要学习了长拳.太极拳.形意拳.八卦掌等。毕业后一直在银行学校从事武术的教学与研究工作，在此期间他应邀出席全国各种武术研讨会，接触了许多武林大家名家，获益非浅，并参与写作了两部师范院校专用武术教材。1991年又拜大成拳创始人王芗斋先生的亲传弟子孔庆海先生为师，深得孔先生喜爱，尽得孔先生倾囊相授，冯先生聪颖过人，系拳学奇才，他崇尚科学，追求真谛，勇于探索，不步后尘。正因如此，他才以惊人的毅力，过人的气度，创立了“平衡拳道”，从而真正揭示了传统内家拳学的本质，抓住了拳学的核心。近年来他应邀到很多地方讲学。在全国性刊物《武魂》杂志上发表文章10多篇，其中重要的如：2001年第2期《跳出气的误区》.2001年第7期《论大成拳之三大错误及纠正方法》.2002年第1期《大成拳生存与发展的唯一出路之科学性》.2003年12期《武林绝学揭示》.2004年第3期《通过“五弓合一”快速求得劲》2004年第5期《论内家拳与外家》等。特别是《论大成拳三大错误及纠正方法》是对武林界释放的一颗重型炸弹，在全国引起了很大的反响，引发了近年来少有的武术大辩论，冯先生也因此而成为全国武林界最具争论性的核心人物之一。
冯驰先生说：
中华武术自宋、明、清以来，发展迅速，流派林立。一方面拳种繁衍，一方面人体内外整体观的武术理论已逐步趋于完整，无论南派、北派、内家、外家，莫不一致提倡内练气，外练形，内外兼修，以提高武术的养生作用与技击水平。
内家拳，作为中华优秀的传统武术，更注重“气”的锻炼。如内家拳中的太极拳云：“养气为君骨肉臣”，“以心行气，以气运身”，“气遍身躯不少滞”，“气沉丹田”、“气宜鼓荡”等；形意拳云：“精灵养根气养神，养功养道见天真，丹田养就长命宝，万两黄金不予人”，由此可见内家拳对气的重视程度，他们并且摸索出一套完整系统的训练方法，大体分两步：一步是养丹田之“气”，养气之法通过调身如：头领颌收，劲部松直，涵胸拔背、塌腰敛臀、护肫圆裆、松肩垂肘等来达到“气沉丹田，通过调息“气沉丹田＂，行之既久，常若一团气力坚凝于腹脐之间。二步是运“气”，运气之法是通过丹田鼓荡，“周天运行、螺旋缠绕”等使“气”运到身体各部位，以备养生与技击。
为什么如此内家拳如此重视“气”的锻炼？究其原因是因为他们认为“气”是高能量物质，是人体运动的原动力。武术中的高级劲台太极拳中的弹抖劲，形意拳中的中寸劲等都是“气”发放的结果。其实这是一个天大的错误。造成这一错误的原因很简单，就是由于当时科学不发达，技术落后，对人体的解剖知识，生理机能不明，单凭身体的感觉得出的结论。也正是这种结论的错误，才造成了中华武术史上最大的误区。可以说，几乎每一位练武者，特别是内家拳锻炼者都受到了不同程度的误导，走了不少弯路，有的甚至终生不能重返拳学正轨，真是可惜可叹！
既然掉进“气”的误区，就要跳出“气”的误区。要想跳出“气”的误区，首先就要弄明白“气”的真正含义。真实“气”的真正含义有两层：一层是通过所谓养所得的丹田之“气”，实际上就是腹腔内的压力，是自然的生理因素所致，而不是什么高能量物质，也不是武术中的弹抖劲、寸劲的根源。可能有人会问：为什么通过养气能感到丹田气足了，爆发时丹田的鼓荡能感到身体的力量增大了呢？原因是在养时通过调息，锻炼了腹压肌的收缩力，当腹压肌再收缩时，使腹腔内的压力比原来增强，这样我们的感觉好像是丹田里的气足了；当爆发时由于丹田的鼓荡，一些腹压肌拉长收缩，被动牵引脊柱产生一定的力量，但这种力量对技击来说是微不足道的。那么说丹田“气”（腹腔压力）没有什么用途了吗？其实不然，丹田之气有一个很大的用途，就是当腹直肌、腹外斜、腹内斜肌这些对脊柱运动力臂长的肌肉收缩拉动脊柱运动时，如果腹压肌中膈肌动力产生的腹内压能当好支撑点，就能使脊柱、特别腰脊产生动抖运动，这才是武术中弹抖劲的根源。通过腰背的主动弹拌运动与产生的力量非常大，与丹田鼓荡被动牵引脊柱产生的力量悬殊很大，作用差别也很大。二层是所谓运至全身的“气”绝不是与呼吸有关的气，更不是什么高能量物质，而是遍布全身的神经纤维和神经末梢。太极拳中“以心行气、以气运身、气遍身躯不少滞”的气真正含义实际就是大脑发出指令，通过神经纤维的传导，达到全身的神经末梢指挥全身肌肉的松紧协调。可能有人会说：为什么通过全练功，身体有麻热胀、蚁走等得“气”的感觉？其实这是人体自然的生理现象。凡是学过人体生理解剖知识的人都知道，人体的各种体育运动，都是神经支配骨胳肌收缩的结果。人体骨胳肌大小共有六百余块，大部分是小肌肉，而在平时的运动中起主要作用的都是大肌肉，这样一部分小肌肉如果长期用不到或锻炼不到，神经支配这部分肌肉的能力就会降低或根本就不能支配；另外，每块骨胳股都由很多肌纤维束组成，并且每一肌纤维束都有神经支配，即使经常运动的骨骼肌里也有神经支配不到的肌纤维束。通过练功使支配不到的肌纤维束的能力得到加强，在这一过程中，由于神经接通或神经支配能力的加强，都伴有电位变化，形成电荷移动，使身体有麻热胀、蚁走等得“气”的感觉。
在上一册文章里，龙说：“气是无型的…” 不代表以仪器所测量到的一些生理现像并不足以构成一个完整解释‘气’的理论。往往好多练武之人，不去做进一步的深入了解，而“人云亦云”把误解一代传一代。
只要一提到“气是假的”，就会受到很大的震荡。这是人类迷信和固执的心态。就好相说“神是不存在的”。丹田和气已经到了一种精神信仰的地步，好比宗教。把他们的迷信给打破了，他们就会很痛苦，而且会很执着的回应以保护他们对丹田和气的信仰。我的文章不是要给这些人痛苦，而是要给那些开明，勇于脱离传统，勇于探索之人做参考。至于那些执着迷信之人，要是不能接受，就请一笑置之。
而丹田有上丹田，中丹田和下丹田。有三丹田，五丹田之说。这里所指的是下丹田，也统称丹田。丹田多指人体脐下三寸处，也称“小腹”。这里头除了小肠，根本什么都没有。而这人体脐下三寸处，正好是人体重心所在。前文所说的“其心不正，亦邪”。其心就是指人体重心。如人体重心不中正，那人就会失去平衡而跌倒，也会影响健康。有肥胖之人的小腹是凸出的，俗称“肚腩”。因为肥胖之人的小腹是凸出的，其人体重心不中正，也比常人显得笨重和容易跌倒，健康也比常人差，之所谓：“其心不正，亦邪”。
腹腔上面是肺，而肺和腹腔有横隔膜把肺和腹腔分离。横隔膜是造成肺和腹腔里的压力的型成。“丹田内转”是解腹腔里压力的变化，使肺部压力相互形成。腹腔压力的变化，把内脏均匀的分布开来，也造成肠的蠕动，增强肠对营养的吸收，废物的排出，是以有养生之说。
人的祖先是猿猴，以四脚行走。腹腔里的内脏，均匀的分布，如图里的黑猩猩。其重心中正，力大无穷。可能就连几个太极高手一起上，也未必是黑猩猩的对手。难到黑猩猩也会上乘的内功／气功不？道理很简单。人的先祖慢慢开始进化，改以两脚行走。这时，内脏开始受地心吸力影响而往下移，腹肌开始退化松懈，造成“其心不正，亦邪”。气功就是呼吸法，改善人体构造，内脏的分布，回归大自然原始的动物本能。这时，“意守丹田”就是指在意识的控制腹腔，横隔膜的运动和内压力，再慢慢的进入潜意识的控制。这时“心正而身亦正”。如仔细观察图里黑猩猩，就能看到它那强壮凶猛的身体是受其重心所支配 － “心正而身亦正”。这也是为什么武术以动物为基础的原因。
“以身变手，以气变手，以意变手”有何解？手是型体上的构造，看得见，摸得着，这是“以身变手”。如果没有神经的电子讯号和血液（压）的流动，那手就没有作用了，这就是“以气变手”。有了神经的电子讯号和血液（压）的流动，那手就起作用了，那还的有在意识或潜意识的支配或控制，那才能随心所欲, 这就是“以意变手”。“以身变手”并不是只是型体上的构造，看得见，摸得着这就草草了事。手和身是相连的。手就是身，身就是手。而手的运做，要靠身体和重心（丹田）的支配和控制，以达成最理想的运动，那就是“运动经济学” (motion economy)。
话说回来，人的呼吸有分先天和后天两种形态。胎儿在母亲体内是用脐带呼吸。所吸之物是带有氧气和养分的血液。所呼是带有二氧化碳和废物的血液。这些血液在胎盘里进行了一系列复杂的运转。胎儿这时是用逆腹式呼吸。逆腹式呼吸方法是一种能够增强人体气机顺畅、调节人体功能、平衡人体阴阳的一种呼吸练习方法。平时我们的呼吸特征是：吸气时腹部凸出，呼气时腹部凹进。而逆腹式呼吸方法则相反，体现在外形上的要求为：吸气时腹部凹进，而呼气时腹部突出；逆腹式呼吸具体方法，取站、坐姿均可。慢慢用鼻腔吸气，同时腹部内收，胸部上提，横隔膜下移，肺部吸满了空气之后再徐缓吐气，呼气时腹部慢慢鼓起，渐渐恢复到原来的状态。逆腹式呼吸有以下好处：
- 扩大肺活量，改善心肺功能。能使胸廓得到最大限度的扩张，使肺下部的肺泡得以伸缩，让更多的氧气进入肺部，改善心肺功能。
- 可以改善腹部脏器的功能。它能改善脾胃功能，有利于舒肝利胆，促进胆汁分泌。腹式呼吸可以通过降腹压而降血压，对高血压病人很有好处。
- 吸氧量加大，令大脑氧充足，对安神益智有好处。吸氧足，气血就活跃，有利于伤病加快复元，经常练此呼吸法伤病的确是比一般人好得快！
- 由于比普通的腹式呼吸增加了对腹部的压力，因而血流加速，血中的酸素浓度提高。其结果就是免疫细胞机能的活性化，间接性副肾机能的强化，以及因此而被提高的免疫力。
- 现代生理学认为腹式呼吸加大了腹肌和横隔膜的运动幅度，起到了增加肺的换气量，按摩内脏，促进新陈代谢的作用。从现代气功学的角度来看，腹式呼吸能强化腹部混元气的聚散开合，而腹部混元气的多寡以及运化则直接关系到躯体形态的变化，肥胖就是由于这一部分气的运化失常而引起的。因此，炼功减肥着重于腹部气机的锻炼。
逆腹式呼吸法是胎儿和初生婴儿的先天呼吸法。此呼吸法也被称为“道家呼吸法”。原因是道学里认为：“逆则生，顺则死”而形成的养生之道。此言有理。胎儿在子宫里不是呼吸空气。出生时哭，是要把肺里的液体排出然后呼吸空气以让肺部由呼吸液体转换呼吸空气。那时肺部还未成熟，不能用顺腹呼吸或胸呼吸，要不然必死无疑。这是大自然的神奇之处。古人运用文学和智慧，以六个字，“逆则生，顺则死”来形容养生之道。试问这六个字要是给一般没有文学和医学知识之人仕，又会得到什么样的解说？
在婴儿出世后的第一或第二月，婴儿慢慢的转去“顺腹式呼吸”。待婴儿的肺部渐渐的成熟，婴儿也改用“胸式呼吸”。
气功里的呼吸法也采用这三种，以达到先天和后天呼吸法的好处。 吸氧足，氧气在肺部活跃的进行转换，带有足够氧气的血液也活跃的在人体各器官进行转换，那就是所谓的“气血活跃”。
当掌握了这三种呼吸法，最高境界是以呼吸之时，胸部和腹部都能不动。这时呼吸仅靠横隔膜。呼吸时，胸部和腹部都不动是武术最高境界的需求之一。呼吸时胸部和腹部的起伏，是武术里的大忌。和高手过招，他能观察胸部和腹部的起伏，就能掌握你的呼吸。就在吸气之时，一拳打在身上，好比打在充满空气的气球，立刻爆裂。肺里有很多小小的气囊，当充满空气的时候，一遇外力的打击，里面的空气会发生震荡。要是气囊里面的空气压力过高，那时小小的气囊就会像气球般爆裂，轻则伤，重则死。是以气功或呼吸法是武术的根基。
我在呼吸法上有所掌握，也能做到呼吸时，胸部和腹部丝毫不动，也能发力和发劲。我可以感觉到发力和发劲时毫不吃力。
丹田和气功是古代生理学，生物学，生物力学的结晶品。那好比“阴阳”或“两仪”就是现代的二进制 (binary) 学说。冯驰先生所说：
由于当时科学不发达，技术落后，对人体的解剖知识，生理机能不明，单凭身体的感觉得出的结论。也正是这种结论的错误，才造成了中华武术史上最大的误区。
正如我前文所说，在古时，可能是读书人创作了武术，然后以文字记载，又当时不知所谓何物，就以一些文字比如丹田之类，以求记载。那为什么读书之人会创作了武术的呢？读书之人缺乏劳动以至身体机能衰退，而创作了有如气功之类呼吸法和五擒戏之类的运动法，进而演变出武术之学。而武术也有源自文武之家。武家创作的武术，多以武将军或是属下创作而多以练外功和硬功为主。目的是在极短时间内练得功夫用以杀敌。而古时武将军，都是文武双全，能以特出的文学来记载武术心得。后人却以迷信和愚昧的智慧来解读博大精深的武术文学。可哀！
练武最重要敢承认错误，纠正错误。盲目的和一些执着迷信之武夫，“人云亦云”那有何足道？那又跟莽夫有何分别？
气功，武术和中国文学的见解
《龙》看了《脊骨论》和我的电邮之后，回复说：
武术是建立于生物力学和物理学，以生物体内物质运动和物理学里的运动和惯性原理，来达到以其的效果。
气功是有的。可惜它被人给神秘化了。气功是呼吸的运动。气功讲究的是在于有系统的呼吸训练法，务求锻炼肺部的自然呼吸和放松，以至促进内循环，增强生物电磁。有效的控制呼吸，能达到《意》，也就是潜意识，来控制身体内分泌，比如，肾上腺素。
肾上腺素的一般作用使心脏收缩力上升；心脏、肝、和筋骨的血管扩张和皮肤、粘膜的血管缩小。肾上腺素能使心肌收缩力加强、兴奋性增高，传导加速，心输出量增多。对全身各部分血管的作用，不仅有作用强弱的不同，而且还有收缩或舒张的不同。对皮肤、粘膜和内脏（如肾脏）的血管呈现收缩作用；对冠状动脉和骨骼肌血管呈现扩张作用等。由于它能直接作用于冠状血管引起血管扩张，改善心脏供血，因此是一种作用快而强的强心药。肾上腺素还可松弛支气管平滑肌及解除支气管平滑肌痉挛。利用其兴奋心脏收缩血管及松弛支气管平滑肌等作用，可以缓解心跳微弱、血压下降、呼吸困难等症状。这也是所谓的《气》！
气功对生理上有一定的帮助。能以呼吸随心所欲的控制肾上腺素的分泌，就能增强力和劲的输出。《气》是无型的，但是它是有迹可循。当腎上腺素分泌增加之后，供血也随着增加。此时，人体所产生的红外线和电磁波也相对提高。这就是被人们误解的所谓气功。
读了她的文章之后，我和她的看法有同感。 我认为，中国文学是深奥的。中国武术里头的理论，不能用仅是武术的观点去看，而是要从文学和科学的观点去看，研究和分析。中国武术里的文学，并非就是专业人仕如医生，律师，工程师之类就能明了。
比如说，《其心不正，亦邪》所指其重（中）心不正直，就没有好姿态，也就不能得力。被不諳中国文学的武夫来说，意义可就要偏差十万里咯！
再有，《以意催力》是指以潜意识来发动全身所有筋骼，骨头和肌肉的互动而发力，传力。
要知道，在古时，可能是读书人创作了武术。一般莽夫，又怎能写出深奥的武术文学？
脊骨论
以下的论文有一点符合《上地流山会空手道》里头对身体脊骨往后倾，双肩往后拉，胸往前扩张，腹向内和向上提，来达到全身骨骼的排列正直不偏，使全身中定、垂直，松紧、开合、起落随意相变，来发力。上地流山会空手道是属于内家拳种。
以我对空手道（由其是上地流山会空手道）的见解，什么丹田，气功之类的，目的是以呼吸和收缩腹部来达到发力，而力和劲都能随心所欲，也改善人体内脏和内循还，进而提高身体免疫系统，使身体更结实强壮。
肌肉越柔软，它就更能伸缩自如。发劲更能随心所欲。人的肌肉都是往前向后伸缩，如能练到肌肉向横伸缩，那发出的劲更有爆发力，而且是能很轻松自在的一触即发。不过，肌肉向横伸缩只有动物才能做到。能做到这点的人，世上没有几个。上地流山会空手道创始人，当山清辛先生，就以被证实能做到肌肉向横伸缩。他老人家能踢破三片两寸厚的木板，而且轻松到如踢豆腐，不用摆什么架子和大声叫喊。
很多丹田气功什么的，多数受到武侠小说和电影的影响，使到众多人如痴如迷。
作者:常书范
那些全力追求大成拳学终生而无悔的青年朋友，那些抛家舍业出门求学的莘莘学子，哪个不想学到周身松活弹抖，触手发人上墙的大成拳真实功力？纯朴天真的认为只要吃的苦中苦，多练狠练就能练成高深的功力。果真是这样吗？我的回答是否定的。即使你打破千条沙袋，单掌劈开伍块红砖，也绝对练不出松活弹抖、一触即发的整体混元爆发力来。因为你选择的是一条背道而驰的路。肌肉越发达，皮越坚，肉越厚，偏离整体弹抖力也越远。通过我三十余年对拳学、发劲的苦索痴求，身操体悟，应该如何去追求一触即发、有感即应的良好内劲，同时也给不迷信神功奇说并致力于务真求实的明理之士以启悟，这是我最大的愿望。
《唐鉴》卷三开篇即说：“贞观元年，帝谓太子少师肖瑀曰：朕少好弓矢，得良弓十数，自谓无以加，近以弓示弓工，曰：皆非良才。朕问其故，工曰：木心不正，其脉理皆邪，弓虽正（劲）而发矢不直。朕始悟，向者辨未精也。”此文告诉我们：宝弓良弩表面华丽精美，漆之光鲜，拉之弦鸣，如内中之心不正，尚不能发矢正直，劲道随心所欲。而习大成拳者，虽站桩艰苦，试力有恒，如体内脊骨不能中定、垂直，松紧、开合、起落随意相变，劲发时怎能由内及外，正直不偏，力源于脊骨之内，而中正安舒呢？
假若几十万年前外星人曾经到过现在人类居住的地球，当今天他们再度光临时，就会大吃一惊。因为他们会发现过去见到过的那些在树上轻灵敏捷跳来跳去嬉戏争斗的猴子居然能直立起脊骨在地面上行走，竟会用悬在半空中的前肢掌指去制造、操作各种复杂的机器……人类在漫长的进化过程中，最大的变化就是由四足履地爬行转。为两足直立行走，最大的进化是大脑，最大的退化莫过于以脊骨的缩张、开合纵展四肢的机敏灵活的先天本能。
我的弟子送过我一部《百兽图》集，内有古今各代善画虎者的作品数百幅。其中的虎或静或动，或距或卧，或走或跳，或纵或扑，或一爪前伸，一爪后缩；或弓脊缩背，四肢相接，紧凑一团；或伸脊纵背，皮肉分拧，陡长倍余。数百幅虎形态各异，逼真的展现了兽中之王以脊骨的弓缩和展放提挈皮肉骨架运行的种种动作、劲道和劲意。
一只猴子竖蹲不动时其形较短小，但身一纵几乎长大了一倍。因此，山西戴氏形意拳以这种“蹲候桩”作为入门基础功法，其形简意深已显而易见。
蛇之折，鱼之游，兽之搏，禽之扑，百兽万物之运动、力量均源于脊骨之开合。假如你在水中抓住条鱼，刚离水面它便会猛然扭动背脊，脱手而去。一个壮汉不一定能抓牢这么一条鱼。鱼也是脊骨发力。
有一位不谙武事的忘年之交，已93岁了。他是四十年代末从省城大医院遣送回家的，但却是一个脾气和学问抖很好的老人。当时山东农村大多食以野菜，他生活虽比一般人好一点，但一日三餐也常常没有保障，而且有时被抄家，受到一定的精神刺激。生活环境虽恶劣，但它年逾九十却仍耳聪目明，腰脊挺直，丝毫也不显老态，这在当时皖、鲁、豫三省交界的百余里地面上也是一大奇迹。一日，他突然卧床不起，我去看他。他说将不久于人世了。我惊问其故，他说：我昨夜起如厕，一脚踏空，不宜摔坏了胯骨和骶骨。骶骨一坏，腰脊不能立起，四肢百骸运转失灵，僵卧病床不得动，怎能活的长久。进而他说：人的骶骨和骨盒联合，坚固于人体中节，骶骨是脊骨立起的基石，但正常人的骶骨和骨盒是向前倾斜的，脊骨立在骶骨上如站在一个陡峭的斜坡上，时时有向前滑动的趋势，这就是人年纪大了容易驼背弓腰的缘故。我年轻时学习过西方医学的生理解剖，时常有意将自己的骨盒向前上方翻转，以减少骶骨的倾斜度，久之则养成了习惯，所以从外形看我的脊骨总比别人立得直，我总觉得这也是我得以高寿的主要原因。果然老人卧病月余就谢世而去。这位老人虽不动武功，但他的一席话对我以后探讨内家拳起了关键性的作用。通过进一步的学习，我了解到人的脊骨分为颈椎、胸椎、腰椎、骶椎、尾椎五个部分，其中颈椎骨有7节，胸椎骨有12节，腰椎骨有5节，骶椎、尾椎共有10节，人的脊骨从上到下共有34节之多。因为颈椎在人体重心的上方，虽然转动灵活，活动范围较广，但它只能起到四面八方转动头颅的作用，对调整整体内劲的作用不大；胸椎12节因同肋骨相连，转动范围有限；尾椎是人类祖先进化时遗留下的痕迹（俗称尾巴）；骶椎穿越骨盆而下连股骨。骶椎、尾椎在脊骨旋转，张缩、开合的发劲中也只能起到中正下垂，稳定重心的作用。所以在整体内劲的蓄发调节统驭变化中，唯一的五节腰椎骨最起作用。
腰椎处于人体中间，前有丹田，后有命门，左右两侧有两肾相连，是人体一个至关重要，举足轻重的部位，如“丹田内转”“丹田开合鼓荡”“命门后撑”“命门鼓起”“肾里藏花”“出肾入肾”等等。古人对丹田、命门、两肾的锻炼、运动也正是五节腰椎的外围前后。由于古人对人体生理结构知识的局限，他们并没有认识到五节腰椎的潜转内动才是丹田内转鼓荡和两肾的右提左落、命门的鼓起后撑的最根本动力至今大多拳学家还是将注意力放在丹田上。
凭经验，笔者认为：整体的鼓荡、开合、起落、纵缩、神经的兴奋，肌肉的颤抖，脊髓的电磁脉冲、弛张都必须启动于五节腰椎。传统的练功方法则普遍认为：一切力量启动于丹田，将丹田捧到了至尊的神秘地位。实质上，丹田（小腹）内是排泄人体消化废物的大小肠，它们对参与促动整体之运动并没有什么神秘的力量。因为腰椎有效的运动，必然带动腹内深层、浅层、斜向、横向、竖向的筋腱、肌肉伸张、拉牵的作用；而腹肌的伸拉、弛张必然会带动内脏的摩擦蛹动，上鼓下荡，这便是人们认为丹田有内动的真实感受。其实脊骨不动，腰椎不作伸纵扭转，丹田（小腹）是不会自己内动的。将丹田看成神秘发力之源的人在当今武术界仍然相当普遍，这就是内家拳修习十年纯功夫尚不能出门的原因。
如果我们舍却丹田而主动去锻炼脊骨\腰椎，腰椎一动丹田自然会内动潜转，这比天长日久以丹田的动硬去扯动惰性的脊骨要容易千万倍。而一些武术大家和一些新拳学的创始人能写出洋洋万言与众不同的新说，但其中谁也没有将脊骨的张缩弹发、五节腰椎的内转变劲提到练功的首要核心位置，是着实可惜的！
今年春天河北一位练形意拳的武友来我这里，他先后拜过三位老师，已练了十几年拳脚。我见他站三体式，起动时都已后腿的蹬力往前顶撞，将后腿的蹬劲通过身体直撞倒前手上。每一踏步如巨夯砸地，轰然作响，乍看很能打出形意拳激烈沉雄的刚猛风格。可是我还是诚意的告诉他：“你这样的发劲虽然是整体力，看起来撞击力很大，单平直推进，脊骨没有起落，难以变化灵活，最易为高手利用。”我从他原先练的形意拳“狸猫上树”“龙虎相交”等几个典型动作中教他脊骨、腰椎怎样提放卷纵扭转开合；怎样以五节腰椎内部的惊炸弹拦劲弹抖起四梢之力；怎样以腰椎提起的重力砸向对方的重心实点，轻易的将对方击出等，近两个小时，他如大梦初醒，非常后悔苦练所浪费的十几年宝贵时间，他以后来信说：看来真功夫不在练功年限之长短，出力流汗之多少，能否以脊骨的提纵展落去撞击对方的整体重心才是拳学技击的核心问题。他还说：以这种脊骨的抖射起落之发劲和以前功力超出自己的师兄们切磋，撞出他们去也是非常容易的事。
拳的运动，由于利用脊骨的卷进、压缩和突然的弹放，能使足弓、足腕、膝、胯、肩、背、肘、腕的弹性肌肉一起卷紧和突然抖放。脊椎带领上下九节可作随意挥洒和突然的转折变形，使膝纵胯扭，肩抖背弹，双臂如鞭任意发出一圈圈连续不断轨迹不同的无规律无断续的搏杀之波浪。这种运动被称作大成拳的脊骨弹抖切削搏杀术。
其实，你能否有效的利用脊骨旋转起落之内劲去切削对方的重心，作一实验即可。如对方对你面部突然击出一拳，你随意探手一接，对方能否旋转着栽出去，如果不能就证明你对脊椎的内转发力还没有真正掌握。
当年芗翁之健舞，近来有人以仅能恢复表演而成为一种时尚，好像谁能做出龙游蛇惊鹤戏等动作来才是得到了芗翁的真传。我则认为芗翁作舞是熟谙腰椎脊骨张缩吞吐后而作的一种即兴表演，下一次不一定是上一次机械之重复。至于传芗翁健舞的黄慕樵先生，我相信则是以教健舞之神之意为主，而不是注重健舞固定之形式；况且芗翁之舞有形意拳之沉雄，心意拳之刚健，太极拳之圆活……更有郭云琛先生的激烈刚猛，谢铁夫先生的弹抖空灵，黄慕樵先生的舒展飘逸……不仅融百家之精华，而且不拘一家之模式。芗翁之舞，缓动如似动不动的三月柳絮，飘逸飞扬的满天梨花；快动如疾风中的杨柳，奔腾翻滚的天际乌云；急时则像岩浆之喷射，铁汁之出炉，飞瀑之骤落，大河之决堤，惊涛之裂岸，可谓身探如蟒，势缩如猿。在如醉如狂中以脊骨带动肢体切削出一串串横竖斜偏的圆弧。头领，肩沉，胸空，腹实，无须顾此失彼，脊骨运领尽在其中。一位浸淫拳学50余载，并剖析过多家经典的老拳家回忆：“芗翁抬手之间浓缩了武术各门各派的诸多精华。是功力智慧的凝结和升华。”笔者认为一个人能以芗翁这种神、意，这种脊骨内动去舞，虽不似芗翁，而精神酷肖也。反之，你既是上穷于碧霄，下掘于黄泉，仅学芗翁当年健舞之形，而神不附，意不似，外形再真而实质皆非也。大成拳开合、勾锉、推按、挤压、猫洗脸、蛇缠手、神龟出水等试力；矛盾、托婴、浮云、提插等桩功，无不得到脊骨腰椎的飞胀、压缩、伸拉、纵放为主。只有脊骨得到了缩与放，开与合，右虚左实，右提左落的实质锻炼才能够达到“大动不如小动，小动不如微动，以至外形不动，内部生生不已之动”的上乘练功境界。才能够真正浑元一致，圆满统一。否则，意念再多，想象再丰富，也只是胡思乱想，不会达到预期效果。
Steganography and Information Security
One of the major threats in this information age is the exposure of sensitive information in the Internet. The most common method of securing information is through encryption technology. Today, 128-bit technology is the commonly used encryption method in emails and documents. Recent upheaval as my ISP closing down port 25 for SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) has rung an alarm to my computing needs on the Internet. My ISP’s decision is to curb spammers who have abused direct SMTP access to email servers. The act is a foolish one as this will not stop spams but at the same time, it affects those genuine users.
A 128-bit encryption can be broken into with cluster computer. A cluster computer consists of computers, called nodes, with one or more CPU. These computers are connected to a network. A special program capable of distributing calculation tasks to all the nodes is needed. This architecture is called Beowulf. Breaking a 128-bit encryption is just a matter of time depending on the number of nodes and the number of CPUs on each node.
My ISP forces all direct SMTP connection to be routed to an unsecured proxy server. As an emergency contingency to my Internet use, I quickly setup encryption for my email client. So far, the closing of port 25 has not affected me.
As I have the need to send sensitive work information across the Net, I feel the encryption is not enough on a unsecured proxy server. I would elevate the level of information security by using steganography together with encryption.
Steganography is a technique to embed information to a digital photo or picture without altering the photo or picture at eye level. The technique uses advanced algorithm to manipulate bits of data in the digital image with the bits from the information I am going to send. To extract the information from the encrypted digital image, an original image is the key. Only my intended recipient has an original copy of the digital image.
Chewing Tobacco Can Cause Mouth Cancer
When I talked to my friends from Hospice, I learned about chewing or smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol, can cause mouth cancer.
My friend’s father-in-law died of mouth cancer last year. I did not know about it until I met him two weeks ago when he came back from US for visiting.
I know a friend from Norway who likes to chew tobacco. I hope he is reading this. Please stop chewing tobacco and take good care of yourself. I have seen so much people suffering from cancer. I wish you best of health.
Information Forensics
What is information forensics? Information forensics is a science of investigation into systemic processes that produce information. Systemic processes utilize technology, primarily computing technology, in creating, delivering, storing, evaluating and processing of information. This process is usually complement by manual process. Information forensics investigation dwells into the aspect of creation, operation and evolution of the enterprise information.
My first exposure to information forensics was during my project seeding at UTAR. Dr. Robert Tee was a good friend of mine and he exposed me to information forensics. Although we did not dwell too much deeper into it, I did some research myself and practice it. I provide Information Security Assessment Service to my clients on demand basis.
Information forensics is also very useful for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). My current SEO effort has fully utilized my skill in information forensics investigation to optimize my blog search results on search engines. I also utilize this skill to investigate the visiting patterns of my visitors by cross-referencing their IP addresses from various sources, visiting destination, search criteria, and other interests. From this information, I can have a deeper understanding of the visiting habits of my visitors and identify their search interest. To date, I have identified some spammers and reported them.
I am amazed how information forensics investigation helps me in SEO. If you would like more information about SEO or ISAS services, please visit here.
Shocked!
We went to Pak Putra for dinner last night. It was dinner time and there were too many people at the restaurant. The restaurant was very busy and in a chaos. We waited for some time for our drinks to arrive. Then another some time for our foods to arrive. The kids were getting a little inpatient. Finally, we got all the foods to fill our empty stomachs. Our foods came, some were not exactly the same as what we ordered. Our Tandoori chicken was not baked thoroughly and etc…
We are regular customer there. The boss, his wife, his brothers and some of their old staff know us and we are very much like friends. After the food, when I settled the bill, I made a feedback to one of the boss’ brother about the service. He assured me and told me to make our orders through him next time we come.
About leaving, another brother of the boss approached us and apologized for the chaos and the service. We gladly accepted his apology and that’s what I call “Service”! We had a short chat and LA asked about the lady, his sister-in-law. We used to see her sitting at the counter. We have not been seeing her since this January/February. So, out of curiosity, LA asked him.
He told us that she has lung cancer! What a shock we had. She was so healthy and a non-smoker. He told us her condition is getting better but needs a lot of rest. We wish her best of health and a speedy recovery.
We encountered many people, friends, relatives and acquaintance who suddenly have been diagnosed of cancer or suddenly died of cancer. My sister, Angie, died of cancer 2 years ago.
That’s life. What can we do?
LA and I decided to donate RM1 to Hospice for every bouquet sold. This is the least we can do to spread our love to those unfortunate but brave cancer victors to fight the horrible cancer. So, let’s reach out this Christmas and share your love.