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.
Protected: Training with an enemy – Part 2
Protected: The Snake and My Enemies
Protected: Treating the Enemy
How to kill pests without killing?
While I was learning from my Sensei on Okinawa, I observed a good nature of him. He values life. Any harmless animals or insects that got in his way or attention, will be rescued and saved. Around his dojo, I could find beetles, snails, spiders, lizards and a dozen or two of harmless insects or animals. No pests are ever allowed in his dojo though. Even if he needs to kill a mosquito, his killing is gentle and snappy, reducing suffering of the mosquito. Perhaps, I am over exaggerating.
I can never forget how he turned around his car and sped to rescue a spider he noticed on a road which he had passed. When we reached there, some boys were trying to kick the spider and they were preparing to capture it and played with it like a toy until its death. Sensei picked up the spider. He showed it to me. It was a black spider with some yellow stripes on its legs and body. It was harmless. He took the spider across the road to a bush and gently put the spider down on one of the bushes. Then we went to the town happily.
Speaking about mosquitoes, I hate mosquitoes. When I need quietness and a good and restful sleep, somehow, it will find a way into the bedroom and humming away near my ears as though it sings, “Blood, blood, I am going to suck your blood. Yummy!” If I ignore it, I will feel itchiness on my skin after a while.
My favorite weapon to fight mosquitoes is an electric bat. It operates on rechargeable batteries. It looks like a badminton racket but very much smaller. The netting is made of some metal wires and is electrified when you hold down the button on the handle. To catch/kill a mosquito, sometimes mosquitoes, just hold the button down and wave the racket against any flying mosquitoes. When the mosquito(es) come(s) in contact with the electrified wire, it will be trapped and electrocuted. When the batteries are strong, it will give up very loud electric snapping sound. “ta ta ta ta ta ta …..” and I can see electric sparks sparkling on the mosquito’s body and its abdomen will glow red hot. If I hold down the button longer, I can smell the barbecue mosquito. Love it! Sometimes, the electric snaps much stronger and tears the mosquito apart. I can see the mosquito without its abdomen but still alive beating its wing, making the humming sound, circling and dancing on the floor, as though it sings, “Ne, ne, ne, ne, ne…. I am still alive!”
I plow my own garden now after learning how to grow goodness from my master gardener. I need to keep my garden healthy. To keep my garden healthy, I need to weed it and get rid of the pests. There are two ways to keep the pests at bay. One is to use toxic chemical to kill them. Yucks! The other alternative is to build a barrier to keep the pests away from my garden. This is something called Green House!
Unknowingly, I have somehow built a shield surrounding my garden. I did not realize about the shield, when some pests were trying to destroy my garden and crops and I sprayed some aerosol trying to kill them, until my master gardener showed me his great wisdom.
The green house is a shield built surrounding my garden keeping the pest at bay, away from my crops. By keeping pests outside the garden, makes them envy of the delicious foods inside my garden and soon the pests will die by starving themselves to death. What a great way to kill pests!
First Commercial Photo Shoot
Just came back from the photo shoot at the studio. It was a real experience. The portable studio kit was easy to setup. It took less than 15 minutes for me to setup and lights up.
I met with a challenging and look impossible task. How to make a bouquet of flower to stand without a container/vase and not to let any instrument visible in the photo? It would look like as it floating in the air.
I had to improvise a little stand to support the bouquet vertically. I loved the challenge and finally solved the problem.
A great news and a great start
What a great news LA brings home. She makes her first sales to two neighbors. Good saleswoman she is! I am really happy for her to have a great start today.
Today is a happy day for me. She got a great start and I received a great lesson from Gandalf.
Thanks, Gandalf!
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