Stuart Alve Olson

Throughout history Taoists have promoted the development and restoration of the Three Treasures-body, breath, and spirit-through the gentle practice of qigong. At the center of this practice are the Eight Brocades, a series of seated postures that developed durning the 3,000-year Taoist quest for longevity and vitality. Now Stuart Olson provides the first English translation of Master Li Ching-yun's treasured teachings on the Eight Brocades. One of the most famous qigong masters of this century, Master Li Ching-yun is reliably chornicled to have lived more that 250 years, during which he practiced the Eight Brocades on a daily basis. His longevity and personal endorsements attest to and validate the Eight Brocades as the quintessence of Taoist health and qigong practices.

With Master Li Ching-yun's time-honored teachings as a guide, Stuart Olson presents and authentic yet accessible approach to this unique practice. Each exercise begins with its original Eight Brocades text, which comes from the Lao Lin stone engraving of the old Hangchou period, followed by Master Li's interpretation of that text and explanatory comments from Olson. Also included are step-by-step instructions for each exercise, fully illustrated with detailed photographs of Olson performing the exercises. Because the Eight Brocades are the foundation of all qigong, this book provides valuable advice for all practitioners, regardless of the style they practice or the depth of their experience.

Stuart Aove Olson currently teachers Eight Brocade qigong, Taoist meditation, and I T'ai Chi. He has studied under numerous Taoist masters incuding Ch'an master Hsuan Hua, Kung fu and healing master Oei Khong-hwei, Dharma master Cheng Yi, and T'ai Chi Ch'uan master T.T. Liang. He is the author of T'ai Chi According to the I Ching, Tai Chi for Kids, and Tao of No Stress. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part 1 The development of qigong
Taoist longevity practices and the three treasures
Taoist longevity practices-Arts of nourishing life; Abdominal breathing
The three treasures-Ching; Qi; Shen
Part 2 The eight brocades-The physical practice
The traditional method, with commentaries
Author's introduction to the eight brocades-The development of the eight brocades; Practicing and finding a teacher; Li Ching-yun
Li Ching-yun's introduction to the original text of the eight brocades
The methods of the eight diagram active kukng
Secrets of he eight brocades
The first brocade: The heavenly ddrum
The original text
Li Chung-yun's commentary
Author's instructions
The second brocade: Shake the heavenly pillar
The original text
Li Chung-yun's commentary
Author's instructions
The third brocade: The red dragon stirs the sea
The original text
Li Chung-yun's commentary
Author's instructions
The fourth brocade: Rub the court of the kidneys
The original text
Li Chung-yun's commentary
Author's instructions
The fifth brocade: The single pass windlass
The original text
Li Chung-yun's commentary
Author's instructions
The sixth brocade: The double pass windlass
The original text
Li Chung-yun's commentary
Author's instructions
The seventh borcade: Supporting heaven
The original text
Li Chung-yun's commentary
Author's instructions
The eighth brocade: Grasping with hooks
The original text
Li Chung-yun's commentary
Author's instructions
Concluding exercises and commens
Concluding exercises: The original text
Li Chung-yun's commentary
Author's instructions
Ching-yun's concluding comments
Appendix to Part 2: Summary of instructions
Part 3 The lesser heavenly circuit-The spiritual practice
Three interrelated techniques
Author's indtroduction to the lesser heavenly circuit
Developmentof the leser heavenly circuit
The first regime: Externally patting the eight subtle meridians and twelve cavities-The eight subtle meridians; The twelve cavities-Methods for self-massage
The second regime: Internally opening the eight subtle qi cavities-The eight subtle qi cavities
The third regime: The lesser heavenly circuit
Appendix to Part 3: Summary of instructions
Suggestions reading (bibliography)
About the author
Index… (meer)

Developed by Wang Lang over 300 years ago, Praying mantis kung fu is the only martial art based on the fighting skills of an insect. This fascinating system utilizes swift, methodical movements for defense and offense, and is well respected as an art that helps practitioners develop great strength and perseverance.

The Complete Guide to Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu provides and in-depth look at the history and practice of this remarkable martial art. Author Stuart Alve Olson, a student of T.T. Liang, primarily draws on the lineages of Masters Feng Huan-I and Wang Han-Fon but includes detailed descriptions of all major schools, styles, and lineages. The first half of the book provides a clear, thorough account of the development of the art and the Taoist principles from which it arose; the second half contains step-by-step descriptions of the fundamental Praying Mantis stances, exercises, footwork, and kicks, which are clearly illustrated by more than 200 photographs. Including important information on tactics, theory, mental techniques, breathwork, and philosophy, this book provides the basis for not only mastering the martial art of Praying Mantis Kung Fu but also mastering oneself-the true goal of all martial arts.

Stuart Alve Olson has taught martial arts worldwide and is the author of Steal My Art: The Life and Times of T'ai Chi Master T.T. Liang and many other books on Taoism, Qigong, and Chinese martial arts. He is the founder of the Phoenix Taoist Center in Phoenix, Arizona, where he lives.

Contents

Introduction
Praying mantis kung fu
1 Brief historyof praying mantis kung fu
The story of Wang Lang Creating Praying mantis kung fu
Praying mantis kung fu lineage
Northern praying mantis kung fu styles
2 Theory and practice of Northern praying mantis
Twelve principles for self-defense and offense
The eight hard and twelve soft ways I
The eight hard and twelve soft ways II
The twelve ideals for body movement
Eight training divisions
Eight striking and eight non-striking points
Eight long and eight short
Five internal and five external activities
Student and teacher requirements-Student requirements; Teacher requirements
Skills acquired from practicing-Activating the qi; Mind-intent; Strength; Developing the brath; Intrinsic energy
Gaining a root and agility
Skills of the eight hand uses
The process of internal refinement
Advice on practice sessions
Part One Eight kung methods
Prelude
Exercise 1 Iron ox ploughs the earth
Exercise 2 Riding a horse, double fist pulling
Exercise 4 Mantis colliding its arms
Exercise 5 Tyrant king raises the cauldron
Exercise 6 Immortal pushes the void
Exercise 7 Planting flower, left and right
Exercise 8 Pushing over a mountain to uproot a tree
Part Two Eight stance methods
Prelude
Song of the eight stances
Stance 1 Riding the horse stance
Stance 2 Mountain climbing stance
Stance 3 Seated tiger stance
stance 4 Seating coil stance
Stance 5 Empty stance
Stance 6 Tiger's head stance
Stance 7 Pretending to be defeated stance
Stance 8 Chicken standing in the snow stance
Part Three Eigtht footwork methods
Prelude
Footwork method 1 Up-rooting step
Footwork method 2 Striding-over step
Footwork method 3 Folding step
Footwork method 4 Encircing step
Footwork method 5 Shifting step
Footwork method 6 Backward crossing step
Footwork method 7 Walking step
Footwork method 8 Long-striding step
Part Four Eight kicking methods
Prelude
Kicking method 1 Pulling the yin kick
Kicking method 2 Mandarin ducks kick
Kicking method 3 Axe blade kick
Kicking method 4 Penetrating the heart kick
Kicking method 5 Knocking over the tablet kick
Kicking method 6 Sweeping away the lotuses kick
Kicking method 7 Closing the gate kick
Kicking method 8 Whirlwind kick
T'ai chi ch'uan Master, Liang Tung-Tsai
About the author… (meer)

Having the incredible good fortune of being born, as he says, in 'interesting times,' T. T. Liang has lived through a century that included two world wars and the decline of the Ching dynasty through the post-Mao era. His life bridges the industrial and technoqlogical revolutions. Born in China in 1900 amid abject poverty, he later attained great wealth, postion, and power. Liang suudied T'ai Chi Ch'uan in Taiwan with Professor Cheng Man Ch'ing for more than twenty years, becoming his Ta Shih Hsiung (Chief and First Disciple). Stories of his years with Professor Cheng describe a great and close realationship, as well as a rocky and difficult one. In the 1960's, Liang retired from his job in China as the second highest ranking officer in British customs and came to the United states to teach T'ai Chi-an occupation that then lacked respect in most Westerner's eyes. With little money and no position of authority, he experienced a radical change. Not only has Mr. Liang lived more than one hundreds years in great health, but his life has been amazingly rich and varied in experience.

More than a biography of Liang's life, Steal My Art also explains both the history and development of his teachings. These include his 150-Posture T'ai Chi Dance and 78-Posture Two-Person Dance-the mainstays of his skills and expression of his true genius. Also presented are his Ten Guiding Principles, which he considers the core of studying and practicing T'ai Chi , as well as a guide for living.

Another section is devoted to Liang's humorous and philosophical sides. No one who ever studed with or met him has escaped his quick with and playful practical jokes, stemming from his endless horde of old Chinese sayings and stories.

Contents

Introduction
Setting the stage
T. T. Liang
The book
T'ai Chi
The two proteges
Steal my art
Conclusion
Liang's early years
Biography of Master T. T. Liang
Liang's Mrtial art lineages
Stories from the past
Leaving Ningpo
The Chinese mafia
Meeting Yang Cheng Fu
The Japanese torture
Two months to live
Prof. Cheng Man Ch'ing
General Yang Shen
The Taoist recluse yang
Becoming a Taoist disciple of Fu
Master Chang Ch'in Lin
Master Hsiung Yang Ho
Master Huang Hsing Hsien
Meeting Bob Hope
Life in New York
T'ai Chi Dances
Theory and practice of T'ai Chi-On the origins of T'ai Chi; The four goals f T'ai Chi; Learning and changing
The 150-posture T'ai Chi dance
Creating the solo dance
Nourishing health
Gaining a root
The practical function
The 178-posture two-person T'ai Chi dance
Creating the two-person dance
Pushing-hands
Intrinsic energies
Principles for issuing an attack
Investing in loss
The T'ai Chi Master
Adapting music to T'ai Chi
Imagination becomes reality
The ten guiding principles
The old rogue
Three stories Liang liked to tell
The freeloader
The three religions
The Skung Dynasty farmer
Stories of the old rogue
The U. N. muggers
I don't teach cops!
The judo master
Typical henpecked husband
You lost the bout
Growing old
The painting class
Learning how to lose
The Taoist
That's BS!
Learning to swear
Just keep on driving
The blackboard poems
Macrobiotics vs. MacDonalds
Correcting their postures
The wallet
The nursing home
The accusation
The bounced check
Dr. Frankenstein
The film
Half dead, half alive
Mine is Ch'i, yours is cheese!
The grand master
My wallet, hurry up!
Never make a direct hit
Twinkies
The Rotary Club
The letter under my door
Beautiful, what it is?
Slipping on the ice
He's too old to teach
The unauthorized biography
Look, beautiful nurses!
Be a bat
The immortal paradise
Liang goes to college
Birds of a feather
The lone mosquito
A moment of Zen
The witch
The pill of immortality
T. T.'s angels
The big thump
Monk in the snow
The duck ancestors
The bloody eunuch
The Jehovah's Witnesses
The T'ai Chi nuns
I didn't feel a thing
Liang the centerfold
A night in Houston
He's an asshole
The big boy feast
End of an era
Afterword
About the author… (meer)

Popularly referred to as 'pushing-hands,' the two-person training practice of sensing-hands (T'ui shou) has never been adequately presented in English-until now. With translations from Chen Kung's Chinesse classical work, which has long been considered in Asia as the 'Bible of T'ai Chi,' Sturart Olson's T'ai Chi Sensing-Hands is the most comprehensive and definitive work ever published on sensing-hands training.

Sensing-hands is the training system that develops the basic skills and internal energies of interpreting, yielding, neutralizing, and issuing, the fundamentals for mastering the practical applications of t'ai chi.

This book provides the traditional concepts from which all t'ai chi self-defense methods have developed, revealing the long-guarded secrets previously unavailable to t'ai chi students.

Contained wthin are detailed explanations and photographs of the Eight styles of sensing-hands and the Four movements of fixed-stance and active-steps-which incorporate the posture movements of warding-off, rolling-back, pressing, and pushing.

Included are instructions on how to perform the ten exercises in high, medium, and low posturings of closed and direct stances, and how to incorporated tao movements and practice free sparring.

Also provided is a detailed explanation on the original and true meanings of adhering, sticking, joining, and following-the traditional terms for applying warding-off, rolling-back, pressing, and pushing.

'No t'ai chi student should be without this book as the concepts presented, both for the beginner and advanced student, are so valuable and necessary that it should be read over and over again. The contents of this book will make even the most advanced student feel like a beginner.

'Stuart Olson is the first to undertake the formidable task of translating into English the section Chen Kung's original book on sensing-hands. Many of the concepts and techniques Chen presented in his Chinese text are very subtle and esoteric, and translating them into English requires someone who is Western, fluent in translating Mandarin, and deeply familiar with Tai Chi Ch'uan and all its subtletics. Stuart Olson is uniquely qualified for this task.'-Jonathan Russell Senior Student of Master T.T. Liang

Contents

Acknowledgments
The Sung Dynasty immortal ancestor, Chang San-feng
Yang family lineage
About the author, Master Chen Kung
Foreword by Jonathan Russell
Preface
Introduction-How to practice sensing-hands; The three interpreting skills of sensing-hands; The function, foundation, and expression of t'ai chi; The three divisions of t'ai chi practices; Beyond sensing-hannds; Studying with a teacher
T'ai chi sensing-hands-Master Chen Kung's introduction
The eight styles of sensing-hands
Translator's preliminary instructions
First style: Single-hand sensing-hands
Second style: Pushing & warding-off
Third style: Pushing & rolling back
Fourth style: Pulling-back & neutralizing
Fifth style: Withdraw-pushing & neutralizing
Sixth style: Rolling-back & pressing
Seventh style: Thrusting & neutralizing
Eighth style: Single-hand, circular-thrusting
The four skills of sensing-hands
An explanation of adhering, sticking, joining, and following-and opposing, leaning, discarding, and resisting
The four skills of sensing-hands in fixed-stance
Summary
The four skills of sensing-hands in active-steps
Methods of the four skills in active-steps
Instructions for active-steps in the direct stance
Summary
Afterword
Suggested reading (bibliography)
About the translator… (meer)