Doghead's Cosmic Bar
This is a science fiction character forum. Doghead's Cosmic Bar is an intergalactic bar run by your favorite bartender, Doghead. Stop in, have a drink, and get your talk on!
Posts 7,996 - 8,009 of 13,738
Posts 7,996 - 8,009 of 13,738
In China, it's still a big deal. There are "push hands competitions." People are often severely injured in them (broken necks, arms, etc.). To me, this goes against the entire spirit of taiji, but that's just my opinion.
The funny thing...is that in order to get maximum health benefits, you have to do the moves as you would against an opponent, which means you need to practice with an opponent sometimes, to test yourself. We practice it slowly, and with very little force, most of the time (incidentally, the less force used the MORE effective taiji is). But it's easy to get carried away
. I have never been put to the test in a life/death situation, and hope that I never do, but, yes, the combat element is still an important aspect.
The real lessons for self defense, though, are alertness (being aware of your surroundings) and ability to react. Most people freeze up when confronted with violence.
The funny thing...is that in order to get maximum health benefits, you have to do the moves as you would against an opponent, which means you need to practice with an opponent sometimes, to test yourself. We practice it slowly, and with very little force, most of the time (incidentally, the less force used the MORE effective taiji is). But it's easy to get carried away
. I have never been put to the test in a life/death situation, and hope that I never do, but, yes, the combat element is still an important aspect. The real lessons for self defense, though, are alertness (being aware of your surroundings) and ability to react. Most people freeze up when confronted with violence.
Botmaster Poll
1. I began building bots because: bd i'm probably replacing something, but damned if i know what it is...
2. I post in the forums
A.B.E.
3. I have the following sites bookmarked
E. Others i have so many random bookmarks...
4. If I had 10 millions dollars I would
E.
5.If I could make my bot do one thing perfectly, it would be
A. B.
1. I began building bots because: bd i'm probably replacing something, but damned if i know what it is...
2. I post in the forums
A.B.E.
3. I have the following sites bookmarked
E. Others i have so many random bookmarks...
4. If I had 10 millions dollars I would
E.
5.If I could make my bot do one thing perfectly, it would be
A. B.
After a bit of a hiatus I am back here again. Hi room! 
1. I began building bots because:
A. I love AI (I struck out "I am a programer" because the more I try to do it the more apparent it becomes that I am not
)
2. I post in the forums
E. Other (at random)
3. I have the following sites bookmarked
E. Others (tech,shareware and astronomy)
4. If I had 10 millions dollars I would
B. Quit my job and start a charitable foundation
5....one thing perfectly, it would be
A. Make sense (carry on a coherent conversation)
1. I began building bots because:
A. I love AI (I struck out "I am a programer" because the more I try to do it the more apparent it becomes that I am not
)2. I post in the forums
E. Other (at random)
3. I have the following sites bookmarked
E. Others (tech,shareware and astronomy)
4. If I had 10 millions dollars I would
B. Quit my job and start a charitable foundation
5....one thing perfectly, it would be
A. Make sense (carry on a coherent conversation)
Hey! revscrj, long time no see!
Poll:
1. E, it's all for the creative side of character development. And the opportunity to chat with your characters without knowing what exactly what they'll answer (and see how they react with others)
5. A and B, my "perfect" bot would be totally himself... funny, and coherent (at least, in his way).
Poll:
1. E, it's all for the creative side of character development. And the opportunity to chat with your characters without knowing what exactly what they'll answer (and see how they react with others)
5. A and B, my "perfect" bot would be totally himself... funny, and coherent (at least, in his way).
Hejix: Heya!
Rox: See- that is exactly what my bot's grammar sounds like
Ulrike: along the lines of 'less is more' in martial arts, Aikido it wholley based on the principle that when one attacks one is weak, for the way of harmony is not aligned with the way of combat. The resultant deefense style that evolved out of that concept is utterly beautiful and oddly applicable to everything from conversation to mass social dynamic.
Rox: See- that is exactly what my bot's grammar sounds like
Ulrike: along the lines of 'less is more' in martial arts, Aikido it wholley based on the principle that when one attacks one is weak, for the way of harmony is not aligned with the way of combat. The resultant deefense style that evolved out of that concept is utterly beautiful and oddly applicable to everything from conversation to mass social dynamic.
Hi Rev! It's good to see you back.
Ulrike, thanks for the great answer. I was familiar with the words "chi" and "ki", but you had to throw in ji just to keep me on my toes. Due to a change in my work scheule, I will have to stop going to Yantra classes (a Tibetan form of yoga). I am looking for something to do on a different day and there is one studio near me that offers "Tai Chi Martial Arts" and another that offers "Taoist Martial Arts." Can anyone give me suggestions on what I should look for when chosing a new teacher?
Ulrike, thanks for the great answer. I was familiar with the words "chi" and "ki", but you had to throw in ji just to keep me on my toes. Due to a change in my work scheule, I will have to stop going to Yantra classes (a Tibetan form of yoga). I am looking for something to do on a different day and there is one studio near me that offers "Tai Chi Martial Arts" and another that offers "Taoist Martial Arts." Can anyone give me suggestions on what I should look for when chosing a new teacher?
Roxie, your attack on Mel Arware (and others) is completely unacceptable. I am sure that I am not the only one who tried to explain the rules of posting to you in a private chat. I am posting this publicly because you would take neither hint nor direction in private. Psimagus is right when he tells you he is not the only one who feels youve gone too far.
As a group, we have been more than tolerant. Calling people names is not funny or clever. It is weak and small minded, and makes you look bratty. Posting everywhere without regard for the topic or content of your post is not friendly. It makes you look self-centered and ignorant. This behavior is not working for you. You need to start treating other people better, so you can make friends and have the social contact you seek.
I am very sorry if you have a neurological disfunction or developmental delay that is makes social interaction difficult. I really do understand how hard it can be. Maybe if you took our suggestions and started making your own bot, you could pour your energy into a hobby and that could help you focus. You can also try exploring other forums. You may like www.livejournal.com or http://www.kidzworld.com/kidzworld/. If you find people who are interested in the same things you are, you will be better at talking with them. Anyway, its good to visit a lot of sites and see which ones you like.
If you do build a bot, Ill be happy to help you as much as I can, as long as you behave well. I post a bit too much myself, despite the fact that Im disgraphic (my spelling and typing are very bad). I know that perfectly nice people can have a few crossed wires in the brain. I am glad you are trying to be social, but you need to stop and think about what you do, and change your behavior to something that works better for you.
As a group, we have been more than tolerant. Calling people names is not funny or clever. It is weak and small minded, and makes you look bratty. Posting everywhere without regard for the topic or content of your post is not friendly. It makes you look self-centered and ignorant. This behavior is not working for you. You need to start treating other people better, so you can make friends and have the social contact you seek.
I am very sorry if you have a neurological disfunction or developmental delay that is makes social interaction difficult. I really do understand how hard it can be. Maybe if you took our suggestions and started making your own bot, you could pour your energy into a hobby and that could help you focus. You can also try exploring other forums. You may like www.livejournal.com or http://www.kidzworld.com/kidzworld/. If you find people who are interested in the same things you are, you will be better at talking with them. Anyway, its good to visit a lot of sites and see which ones you like.
If you do build a bot, Ill be happy to help you as much as I can, as long as you behave well. I post a bit too much myself, despite the fact that Im disgraphic (my spelling and typing are very bad). I know that perfectly nice people can have a few crossed wires in the brain. I am glad you are trying to be social, but you need to stop and think about what you do, and change your behavior to something that works better for you.
Rev: The philosophy of Aikido is very similar to that of taiji. My first martial arts class was, in fact, Aikido...but it was my senior year of college, and there wasn't any aikido to be found in my home town afterwards. I went hunting for something similar, and found taiji.
Bev: Taiji is, itself, considered a Taoist martial art. I'm not sure what else might fall under that label, but I would expect they do qigong (aka chi-kung = breathing/energy exercises). As far as teachers... You want someone who realizes that not everybody's body has the same capabilities, and who emphasizes safety. Anyone who tries to force your body into a position should be avoided (guiding you into a position is okay, but shoving, etc, is not). For the taiji one, ask about the teacher's lineage. I do the Cheng Man Ching short form, and my teacher traces his lineage back to the Grandmaster through three lines. If it's a Yang style form, the lineage should go back to the Yang family, Wu style to the Wu family, etc. I'd be wary of anyone who can't provide his lineage or tries to dodge the question.
Bev: Taiji is, itself, considered a Taoist martial art. I'm not sure what else might fall under that label, but I would expect they do qigong (aka chi-kung = breathing/energy exercises). As far as teachers... You want someone who realizes that not everybody's body has the same capabilities, and who emphasizes safety. Anyone who tries to force your body into a position should be avoided (guiding you into a position is okay, but shoving, etc, is not). For the taiji one, ask about the teacher's lineage. I do the Cheng Man Ching short form, and my teacher traces his lineage back to the Grandmaster through three lines. If it's a Yang style form, the lineage should go back to the Yang family, Wu style to the Wu family, etc. I'd be wary of anyone who can't provide his lineage or tries to dodge the question.
I really want to thank psimagus for the tic tac toe game. It's almost working, I think. If anyone doubts the intellect of psimagus, just try typing the game in..never mind developing it. So I raise a flagon of ale to psimagus and Brother Jerome.
Ulrike:
I have always been leery of the qiqong as I first ran into it as a form of meditation (which is perhaps the wrong introduction). I found that while it did provide a rhythmic matra-like action it also caused implicit body-focus; thus no matter how much I practiced it I would only go so deep into the meditative state because of that tie-to-the-flesh it had (I will credit it for keeping me breathing now while I meditate- something that used to be a problem for me)
I have always been leery of the qiqong as I first ran into it as a form of meditation (which is perhaps the wrong introduction). I found that while it did provide a rhythmic matra-like action it also caused implicit body-focus; thus no matter how much I practiced it I would only go so deep into the meditative state because of that tie-to-the-flesh it had (I will credit it for keeping me breathing now while I meditate- something that used to be a problem for me)
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