Calming the Monkey Mind

Calming the Monkey Mind

What prevents us from logic thinking and pure action? The monkey mind is an often discussed topic in China and grew familiar with legends like Wukong (the monkey king). This term originated from Chinese history and can also be found in Zen and Buddhism. The monkey mind as a psychological term originated from Taoism.

Monkey Mind in the Western World

Without meditation or other internal arts, the monkey mind is bound to be influential in society. The monkey mind usually gives other people a lot of emotional response which is not necessary. By overloading others, they automatically become at unrest too and seek to unload their heavy emotions somewhere and somehow. This is only one example how the monkey mind cycled continuously in the western world. In the end what is left is a chaotic emotional world without discipline and full of unproductiveness. Some people find a solution/enlightenment while others keep unloading emotions for the rest of their lives.

Monkey Mind in Kung Fu Training

Being unable to practice and keeping up self-discipline is also a sign of the monkey mind. The thinking and questioning of yourself make unsure and unrest. It comes when people are not prepared for changes or prepared for sacrifices.

We Have Everything and Nothing

Our “laid back” modern society has everything and having everything is the same as having nothing. It loses its value as nobody knows how to appreciate what we have. This is not only meant in a materialistic way but also in a personal and emotional way. What is important to you and how do you value it?

Start From Scratch

If you are confused by the monkey mind, you should probably start again from the beginning. Are you healthy? What did you do for the things you value? Clean the mind and connect it with your heart. Discover your soul and the genuine essence of what makes you a person. Don’t let yourself get confused again. Reminding oneself of what is important is giving insight to the actual meaning of all things.

Your Mind Your Will

Taoists practice controlling the mind naturally and positively. How can you be sure to be fully in control of your mind? Are you able to do things exactly as you want? Enduring is something most people can’t do without proper training and is always a test of willpower. The thing is how you approach this matters. If you see it as a challenge then yes it is. Challenge is a conflict where you lose face. Taoists see it as “playing” as a child plays with toys.

Sima Qian’s Shiji

Sima Qian’s Shiji
Sima Qian

In Sima Qian’s Shiji, it is written that Lao Tzu was a native of the state of Chu, which is located in what is today the southern part of China. It is also written in this ancient source that Lao Tzu’s name was Li Er ( 李耳) and that he served as a keeper of archival records at the Zhou imperial court. There have also been claims that Lao Tzu was consulted by Confucius on certain matters of ritual, and subsequently heaped praises on him.

Sima Qian also wrote that Lao Tzu lived in the state of Zhou long enough to witness its decline. As a result, Lao Tzu decided to depart. When Lao Tzu arrived at the northwestern border that separated China from the rest of the world, he met an official in charge of the border crossing by the name of Yin Xi.

It was this official who requested Lao Tzu to put his teachings into writing. The result of this request was a book which consisted of about 5000 Chinese characters and is known today as the Tao Te Ching (道德经). Lao Tzu seems to have disappeared after this, and neither his date nor place of death is recorded in Sima Qian’s account.

What is Laozi’s central teaching?

What is Laozi’s central teaching?

The most important thing people can do in life, Laozi asserts in the Tao Te Ching and other works attributed to him, is to gain a state of silent awareness — to open the mind to its source:

Become totally empty
Quiet the restlessness of the mind
Only then will you witness everything
unfolding from emptiness
See all things flourish and dance
in endless variation
And once again merge back into perfect emptiness—
Their true repose
Their true nature
Emerging, flourishing, dissolving back again
This is the eternal process of return

To know this process brings enlightenment
To miss this process brings disaster

Be still
Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity
Eternity embraces the all-possible
The all-possible leads to a vision of oneness
A vision of oneness brings about universal love
Universal love supports the great truth of Nature
The great truth of Nature is Tao

Whoever knows this truth lives forever
The body may perish, deeds may be forgotten
But he who has Tao has all eternity — Chapter 16

Laozi calls on us to “become empty,” to “quiet the restlessness of the mind.” Then we experience the “emptiness” that forms source and goal of all things. This “brings enlightenment” and “reveals the secrets of eternity.” Grounded in this experience, one attains a “vision of oneness,” leads a life of “universal love,” and achieves immortality. In contrast, “to miss this process brings disaster.” To this transcendental field of life, Laozi gives the name Tao or DaoDao is usually translated as the Way or the Path. The term is often understood to mean “nature.” It refers to a very deep level of nature, because, as Laozi says, when you gain the Tao, you gain “all eternity.”

Experiencing the Tao, Laozi observes in this next verse, involves allowing the mind to move beyond the superficialities of thought and perceptions:

A mind free of thought,
merged within itself,
Beholds the essence of the Tao
A mind filled with thought,
identified with its own perceptions,
beholds the mere forms of this world.

To experience “the essence of the Tao,” Laozi indicates, is to apprehend the truth. And the key, again, is to let the mind settle inward, beyond thought, into itself.

Here are some passages from the Hua Hu Ching, another work attributed to Laozi:

The superior person settles his mind as the universe settles the stars in the sky.
By connecting the mind with the subtle origin, he calms it.
Once calmed it naturally expands, and ultimately his mind becomes as vast and immeasurable as the night sky.

As the mind settles inward, Laozi tells us, it expands, culminating in unbounded awareness. This experience, he emphasizes in the same work, is the key to everything good — while missing this experience, he cautions, leaves you forever lost:

Remain quiet. Discover the harmony in your own being. Embrace it. If you can do this, you will gain everything, and the world will become healthy again. If you can’t, you will be lost in the shadows forever.

Here is a final passage from Laozi, this one from work called the Wen-Tzu, again speaking about allowing the mind to settle beyond thoughts to “utter simplicity.” This, he emphasizes, is “the great attainment”:

Clarifying their eyes, they do not look; quieting their ears, they do not listen. Closing their mouths, they do not speak; letting their minds be, they do not think. Abandoning intellectualism, they return to utter simplicity; resting their vital spirit, they detach from knowledge. Therefore they have no likes or dislikes. This is called the great attainment.

If you practice the Transcendental Meditation technique, Laozi’s words shine with a new light. You’ll notice immediately that Laozi is talking about transcending. Many people who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique have had experiences just as he describes. Here is an example:

I distinctly recall the day of instruction, my first clear experience of transcending. Following the instruc¬tions of the teacher, without know¬ing what to expect, I began to drift down into deeper and deeper levels of relaxation, as if I were sinking into my chair. Then for some time, perhaps a minute or a few minutes, I experienced a silent, inner state of no thoughts, just pure awareness and nothing else; then again I became aware of my surroundings. It left me with a deep sense of ease, inner renewal and happiness.

As many meditators will realize, the Tao is not some abstract concept. It is the field of pure consciousness, the source of thought deep within. It is also the source of nature’s intelligence, the unified field of natural law described mathematically by quantum physics.

Every time we meditate, every time we transcend, we experience this unbounded field. We awaken it. We enliven it. Our consciousness expands. Our creativity and intelligence increases. Our thoughts and actions come into harmony with natural law. The force of natural law gathers behind our every thought and action so that we can fulfill our desires without effort.

Chinese Taoist Association marks 60th anniversary

Chinese Taoist Association marks 60th anniversary

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Chinese Taoist Association (CTA) leaders and representatives, in Beijing, the capital of China, July 17, 2017. CTA celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Great Hall of the People Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) — The Chinese Taoist Association (CTA) celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing Monday.

Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng met with CTA leaders and representatives and welcomed all Taoists to contribute more to social and religious harmony.

On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council, Yu, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, extended his congratulations on the CTA’s anniversary.

“The CTA has upheld the banner of loving the nation and the religion, and firmly taken the road that is in conformity with the socialist society over the past 60 years,” Yu said.

Yu called on the CTA to unite believers more closely around the CPC Central Committee, to continue to serve the country, to be a bridge and connection between the Party and the government, and to help implement Party policies on religious work.

Yu also hoped Taoists would train more people to help guide the development of Taoism, and instill more confidence in Chinese culture and Taoist traditions to support world peace and wellbeing.

Source: News.Cn

The First English Interview with Chief Coach Zhong Yun Long

The First English Interview with Chief Coach Zhong Yun Long

When Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon pushed martial arts movies into the Oscar spotlight, it also exposed one of China’s most cherished martial treasures, Wudang Mountain. Nestled in the heart of the mainland in Hubei Province, Wudang Mountain is a famous center for Taoism and is believed to be the birthplace of Tai Chi Chuan. According to legend, Tai Chi (spelled Taiji in modern Mandarin) was created by an ancient Wudang master named Zhang San Feng, who was inspired by mystical visions he experienced on that mountain.

Today, the Taoist temples of Wudang are still active. In fact, Wudang’s temples are protected as one of 730 registered World Heritage sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Inside those temples, the internal styles of kung fu – Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua – are still practiced by robed Taoist priests. Now they are opening their doors to the public for the first time. The Chief Priest of the Wudang Zhang San Feng lineage is Grandmaster Zhong Yun Long. Priest Zhong was our guest during his first visit to America for our Anniversary Gala Benefit last year, and he granted us this first interview for English readers.

Priest Zhong is a peaceful soul with a deep, resonating voice, full lips and prominent cheekbones. There’s a slow grace to his every gesture, which makes being in his presence a very calming experience. His thick black hair and shining complexion overshadow the broad shoulders of a seasoned martial arts master. Adorned in traditional Taoist cap and robe, Zhong was quite excited about his visit to America. He was very impressed with our environmental protection policies and was particularly fascinated by my low emission hybrid car. As a Taoist Priest defending one of China’s natural wonders, he has a genuine concern for conservation.

Taiji is undoubtedly the most practiced form of martial arts in the United States today. Followers range from strapping young push hands champions to the elderly and afflicted. But according to Priest Zhong, we westerners have a very limited understanding of what Taiji is. His mission is to reveal the true meaning behind the movements of this most precious treasure of China.

Origins of a Wudang Priest
“I was born in the year of the dragon in Huangxi City, Hubei. Many of my elders loved kung fu and that left a great impression on me. Although my father was a scholar who did not learn kung fu, my grand uncle both inspired me and taught me a little. In the old countryside, fights often arose between clans, so everyone studied the martial arts. It was a required skill. So in the countryside where I was born, everyone loved kung fu and it was mandatory to study it. This was my inspiration, the city where I was raised. Everybody there loves kung fu, and for whatever reason everyone knew kung fu back then. That’s why I fell in love with kung fu too.”

“In 1978, when I was 13 years old, I began to formally study kung fu under a master named Tang Yun Yue in Jiangxi Rechang. Before that, I was exposed here and there, but I didn’t actually learn a great deal. Under my first master, I studied Yue family boxing and Yang family boxing. That’s Yue as in the famous Song General Yue Fei, and Yang kung fu, not Yang Taiji. This Yang was another general from the Song Dynasty. According to legend, all the men in the family were generals that died in battle, so the women of the family had to become generals to defend the country against the Jin invasion. Anyway, I studied with that master for about six years, and then at 18, I went to Shaolin Temple to study for about six months.”

“At 19, I came to Wudang to study formally. Mostly, I studied under masters Guo Gaoyi and Zhu Chende. Wang Kuangde also taught me a lot. At that time, Wudang was not as open as it is today. Not everybody could go there to study. They had rigid restrictions on who could be accepted as students. Then, in 1984, the Wudang Taoist Association was founded and that began to open things up. Before that, only the older Taoist priests lived in the temples. Due to China’s turbulent recent history, there was a missing generation. All the masters from the last generation are very old. I am the part of the younger generation of priests to come in. It was the first time they recruited new blood for the Wudang Association and I was among the first recruits.”

“In winter of 1985, the Wudang masters asked me to go down the mountain and spend three years to search for lost Wudang masters and schools. I first studied under Gansu Chen Ye and inherited WudangBashenmen (8 Immortal Gate.) In spring of 1986, I traveled toLao Mountain in Shandong and studied Xuanmen Wuxue (dark gate martial study.) That autumn, I went to Zhongnan Mountain in Shaanxi to study Huan Yen Dan Ba (Taoist alchemy) under Gansu Li Yue. I continued my studies on Zhongnan Mountain through the spring of 1987, inheriting Wudang Xingyimen and Baguamen. Then in June I was ordered to return for the first Wudang open tournament.”

Wudang in the Last Two Decades
“Back then, the living standard was very hard. The old masters were very strict. They only taught me in secret at night so that no one would see it during the day. There were no kung fu schools up there. The only people who could learn Wudang kung fu were formal priests. Wudang had very exacting rules about who you could teach and who you could learn from.”

“But after 1988, these rules were loosened. Mr. Qiao Shi, a speaker of the Chinese Congress, visited Wudang and inspired the priests to open the door and spread Wudang martial arts to the world. So we changed the rules and started to teach outside. My old master and I performed for him during that visit. Mr. Qiao Shi saw that it was a great and mystical art. That?s why he said we needed to promote it. Of course, before he had visited, Wudang had already begun to open the door a little. In the old days, Wudang kung fu was not even shown to outsiders, but after the Wudang Taoist Association was formally established, we held two internal martial arts exhibitions in 1985 and 1986. In 1987 we held our first annual lei tai (sparring ring) open tournament. After that I headed northeast continued my research, but I returned in autumn of 1988, and then competed in the National Farmers Athletic Events. In 1988 we began to teach outsiders, and the following year the first Wudang Taoist Martial Arts School was opened. That was the first time we had a school in the mountains teaching outsiders. Now we call it the Wudang Taoist Martial Arts Institute. I also accepted the duty of chief instructor for the Wudang Taoist Association from Guo Gaoyi then.”

“When we first opened the school, we were only allowed to have 40 students a year. That?s all we could take and only Chinese students studied seriously then. Foreigners only came for a very short stays. By 1989, more foreigners came to study, but they all came for too short of a time to learn. Even today, most come and learn a little Taijiquan or a little nourishing qigong. Those 40 students I referred to before stayed all year round to study. It was in 1989 that the association appointed me and Guo Gaoyi to be in charge of the Institute. So from 1989 to 2000, we limited the student body, but after 2000, we’ve opened up to even more.”

“This is the only martial arts school on the mountain that is authorized by the Wudang Taoist Association where you can formally learn Taoist kung fu. Of course, there are eight or nine private schools at the bottom of the mountain where they teach standardized forms. China has a lot of standard competition forms. These schools are actually bigger than the Institute since they are doing it commercially with a great deal of advertising. We at the Taoist Martial Art Institute never advertise. And these days, we do accept foreigners. Several have studied over a year now, but more stay for three month sessions. Most only stay for a week or two.”

“There are about 120 priests and 40 nuns currently registered with the Association. To be recognized, you must be registered. This certifies that you have met the requirements and passed the examinations. There is a Taoist college connected with Purple Cloud Temple (Wudang’s primary temple). The priests and nuns study martial arts, as well as the other aspects of Taoist culture like music, painting, calligraphy, and astronomy. The excellence of some of the Wudang musicians has been recognized by the Wuhan Conservatory of Music.

“From 1995 to 2000, I was in charge of reception for the Wudang Taoist Association as well as the administrator for Purple Cloud Temple, but later I wanted to focus only on the development of Wudang martial arts, so I became president of the Wudang Taoist Martial Arts Institute. I am the 14th generation of the Zhang San Feng branch of Wudang, bearing the Taoist name Qing Wei. Now, there are no more 13 generation masters alive in my lineage. We only have 14, 15 and 16 generation now.”

“Over the last two decades, I?ve participated in many national and international martial arts exchanges, competitions and championships. And I?ve had to answer a lot of challenges, both nationally and internationally. Since master Guo and Zhu have both passed on, I?ve gone on to represent Wudang martial arts in Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States as well as greeted Chinese politicians like Jiang Zemin, Qiao Shi and Li Reihuan. In 2001, we formed our demonstration group. Then we went to represent Wudang at the Qimenpai Wulin Dahui (seven gate systems martial family gathering – Wudang, Shaolin, Emei Mountain, Hua Mountain, Kunlun Mountain, Kongdong and Tibetan.) This was held in Nanjing and organized with the cooperative efforts of Wudang and Shaolin. In 2002, I went to America and Macao. This year I went to Taiwan, which made the newspapers as I was being tested for SARS entering the country.”

Wudang Kung Fu Defined
“Wudang kung fu is one of two main streams of Chinese martial arts. Shaolin kung fu is famous for its strength and explosive power, its external power. Wudang kung fu is exactly the opposite. Softness or yin power is used to overcome hardness. Stillness overcomes motion. Four ounces overcomes 1000 pounds. Of course, it also has a hard part. There is external power. Wudang forms appear soft on the outside, but internally it is really hard. By hard, I mean qi, because internal forms cultivate qi. When you train in this, the qi is very strong and becomes hard inside. But on the outside, touching and seeing it, it is very soft. It?s also like lightning when it comes – fresh and electric. When it explodes, fajin (explosive power) is like thunder.

“These days, mainstream Wudang focuses on Taiji. But Taiji is the big brother, so to speak. Beneath Taiji are three concepts: Liangyi (literally “two gifts” but it can be analogous to “heaven and earth”), Taiji (literally “grand utmost”) and Wuji (literally “void utmost.”) We say Zhang San Feng absorbed a hundred different styles. He took these specific styles, ideals and philosophies and focused them on the life nourishing culture that is Taoism to invent internal martial arts. According to Taoist beliefs, from Wuji arises Taiji, from Taiji arises LiangyiLiangyi became sixiang (literally “four elephants” – this represents the four pillars or forms) and this created Bagua (eight trigrams, same as used in I Ching divination). From this we say “one created two, two created three, three created ten thousand.” This philosophy is the foundation of internal form. That?s why Liangyi, Taiji and Wuji are all under the Taiji umbrella.”

“Yin and yang combined together in balance creates Taiji. When you separate yin and yang, we call it Liangyi. Liangyiseparates the hard and the soft. Put them together and they become Taiji. Within the taiji is the Tao of life nourishing culture. Before, I said that Zhang San Feng absorbed a hundred styles and mixed them with Taoist life nourishing culture. What is really meant by this is that our style has combined the methods of tuna (breathing methods), daoyin(stretching techniques), caibu (collecting and nourishing) and hunyuan (akin to qigong). Now under Taiji there are three different levels, first Liangyi, then Taiji, then Wuji. But if you talk about the form itself, it also has different levels. First is tuna, the breathing method, second is caibu, collecting and nourishing, and third is called hunyuanHunyuan means combining yin and yang, so it?s an internal meditation method. These three levels comprise Taijiquan technique.”

“We use internal power to support external movement. Through many years of study, Wudang has developed many internal forms. In different periods, each form had a different creator. And each creator had his own basic form to base the foundation of his style. At Wudang, we have a basic entry-level form called Wudang Xuan Gong Quan but this is not like Shaolin long fist. It trains the stances, hand techniques and body techniques, combining all of them together.”

“It’s very hard to say how many lineages there are at Wudang today. Through the centuries so many masters have created their own styles. When each master breaks through, when they attain a higher level, they become their own style. When they become their own style, they create another branch of the lineage. Most of the lineages are out in the community among the folk people of the country. Today, there might be thirty or fifty of them, but the Wudang Zhang San Feng branch is the main stream. Now we still call it Wudang San Feng Pai (Pai means “school.”) All of the others came out of the San Feng Pai – they were created and branched out. Under Wudang San Feng Pai are eight men (gates): Taiji, Xingyi (form mind), Bagua (eight trigrams), Baji (eight extremes), Baxian (eight immortals), Xuangong (mystic work), Liuhe (six harmonies) and Jiugong (nine directions). I still focus mainly on Taiji. Wudang Taiji consists of 15 forms. Then from that it also branches out into 18 weapons.

“I want to send a message to the readers that Taiji is not just the Taiji form itself, because it is misleading in the world today. People talk about Taiji and think Taiji is just the form. But as I told you, it’s not just the form. It’s the three most important concepts, Liangyi, Taiji and Wuji. Not only are these in the form, they are the philosophy of daily life. Not only are these the daily philosophy, they are Taoist culture. It?s our ancient culture, our ancestor’s culture. The form you learn is not just for self defense. It can also help you develop your intuition and your hidden potential. When you learn this – the style, the form or the internal technique – it can also help you slow the aging process and enjoy a longer, more prosperous life. Wudang Taoist culture is not only in martial arts, but also in learning qigong and nourishing life. This is very important. Wudang Taoist culture is a treasure of our ancestors and our nation. Now Wudang Mountain has opened the doors. Not only me but all the masters of the mountain are willing to share this treasure with the world.”

Source: KungFuMagazine

Foreigners Iodine Deficiency in Wudang

Foreigners Iodine Deficiency in Wudang

During my training in Wudangshan, I found the first six months to be physically the hardest. As my body adapted to the training routine I frequently felt the following symptoms:

  • Tired muscles
  • Lack of drive
  • Powerless
  • Concentration weakness

Most of this symptoms originate from an iodine deficiency which results from sweating a lot. You should not forget that Chinese people eat fundamentally different food and in some cases, you might not be able to do the same. For me, I don’t like meat and fish as much, especially in China where fish is served differently and might disturb the digestive system. Our digestive system runs at full blast while we adapt to the hygienic conditions.

All of this results in mineral deficiency cause our body cannot change as fast, and we are unable to nourish our body properly.

The wrong solution which most foreigners do would be to eat more sugar, which is simply a drug that might ease the symptoms for a while. This behavior may result in a sugar addiction and will not solve the problem.

The right solution is the following: Eat food with lots of minerals, especially iodine. The number one minerals- and iodine-bearing food in Wudang is seaweed, there are many products and dishes with seaweed, and you might want to eat them daily. My first choice was vegetable soup with fresh seaweed in a restaurant in Wudang. Everything with vitamins and minerals is a good option. You should also adapt to eat the herbs and plants which are served very often in China as primary vitamin and iodine source.

You should feel a few hours later increase in concentration and power after you replenished your mineral batteries.

If your stay in Wudang is a very short-term or you plan to train like no tomorrow, then you might consider carrying an iodine solution with you for emergencies. Be careful not to overdose! If you feel the symptoms listened above very strong, you may want to take one or two drops of iodine solution with a cup of water once a day. I recommend to take them only for three days and find out if your condition improved, I do not recommend to rely on this supplement for too long since your body should be able to adapt to the situation.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency should not be ignored since this influences the function of your internal organs and the stability of your blood circulatory system.

The Oldest Documented Taoist Master Lu Zijian

The Oldest Documented Taoist Master Lu Zijian

Lu Zijian was well known for his high achievements in internal martial arts, Taoist alchemy & Qigong, Chinese Traditional Medicine and Chinese Traditional Painting. As a result of these excellences all converging in the same mind and body, Lu Zijian reached the age of 118 years full of vigor and a bright spirit.

Lu Zijian was born in Yichang, Hubei Province, Mainland China in the 19th year of Emperor Guangxu, Qing Dynasty (15th October 1893). Well, know the martial artist, heading the Dragon Gate lineage of Daoism (Long Men Pai). In 2002 Lu was awarded 9 Duan (the highest grade in Chinese Martial Arts ranking system).

Lu attributed his longevity to his lifelong practice of martial arts and his longevity qigong: Hunyuan yang sheng Qigong.

In 2012 he was considered as the oldest living Chinese citizen as well as the oldest living man, but Gerontology Research Group is still proceeding under further verification.

The former head of Chinese Ba Gua Zhang Federation (Eight Trigrams Boxing, one the three most famous Chinese Internal Martial Arts besides Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan and Xingyiquan).

He started at his young age to study wushu with his mother, and later he was accepted as a disciple of Master Jiang Yin then he studied at the State Medical School of Hubei Province.

Oldest Taoist Master Lu Zijian
Lu Zijian

Historical milestones:

1911: At 18 Lu went to Beijing, he studied Baguazhang with Master Li Chang Ye and Xingyiquan with Master Yu Shirong, and finally he returned in Chongqing Sichuan Province to study Taijiquan with Master Li Guo Chao. (Most probably due to the political instability leading to 1911 Chinese Revolution).

1920: he was a Gold medalist at the Nanjing Yuhuatai Martial Arts Competition at the age of 28.

1929: He was actively against a proposal passed by the Central Ministry of Health of the new Kuomintang (KMT) government severely limited the advertising and practice of Chinese medicine. But finally this proposal was not implemented, and he was part of the Commission for Chinese Medicine Organization. At that time he was in Chongqing as Martial Arts Chief Instructor and a member of the KMT Military Committee.

1979 He is back in Chongqing et was Municipal MCPPCC member. This year he opened his Yudan Zijian Martial Arts Academy as well as the Lu Zijian Chinese Medicine Orthopedics Clinic. He published several articles and books among them “Baguazhang Healing methods” and created his “Baguazhang Hunyuan Yangsheng Gong.”

2007: Lu Zijian on the 24th January became the Oldest man in the world.

2009: Lu Zijian on the 2nd January became the oldest person in the world and was 116 years old.
2012: On 21 October Lu Zijian died surrounded by his family and closest friends one month before his 119th anniversary.

Some historical facts

Huo Yuan Jia was not only a very famous martial artist of his time, but Lu Zijian and Late Great Master Huo have sworn brothers with Huo being the elder brother. They fought together with the  monopolistic influence of Foreign freight companies deserving first the Yangtze river then later in Shanghai. Then they join Chinese Resistance against Japanese troops. He killed three Japanese Martial arts experts in duels. During of the raids they launched against the Japanese forces, Lu’s wife was murdered. He used one single palm to kill one Foreign boxer named Marshall. The name of Lu Zijian grew very fast so that Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jie Shi) the Chinese military and political leader who was leading the Kuomintang (KMT) appointed him as one-star general and Head Bodyguard (General Chiang had thirteen top bodyguards, all of them were his disciples).

While China’s Liberation Lu did not follow the major of Chiang’s remaining troops in Taiwan, he chooses to stay in Mainland China; he stayed in a labor camp up to 70’s. But later he held progressively important posts such as President of Chongqing North-South Wushu Federation, Martial Arts Chief Instructor of the We He Chongqing Headquarters, Chairman of the Association of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine, President of Sichuan Province Martial Arts Association, Director of the Chinese Martial Arts Research Institute…

In 1982 he was Gold medalist of the Gold Lion National Martial Arts Tournament.  He received a special Gold Award in 1984 at the Emei Mountain Boxing Tournament. 1985 appointed President of the International Gongfa Association. 1994, the Chief Adviser of the International Qigong Association, in 2000 he received the gold medal Senior People from the Chinese State Administration of Sports. The Chinese Ministry of Sports, Department of Martial Arts attributed him the title of “Leading authority of Chinese Martial Arts” and rewarded the highest rank of Nine Duan in 2002. He was the Honorary President of the Chinese Wudang Wushu Federation.

His contribution as Expert in Chinese Medicine Treatments for Bone Injuries is widely recognized as he treated numbers of patients in whole China successfully.

Besides his pedagogic skills, his chivalric and generous temperament leads him to nurture thousands of disciples including foreign students, some of them are even very famous and own their martial arts schools, perpetuating the “Zijian” style martial arts. All are under the head organization of Mr. Wang Qinghua. In 1986, he was hired as Principal Consultant International Qigong Society. In the same year, he was appointed as Vice president of the Wudang Martial Arts Development Center of California General Counsel. Since the implementation of the national Wushu Duan ranking system, Lu was involved in the long-term task to revise the teaching and training in Chinese martial arts with all the other 9 Duan top ranking experts of Chinese Martial Arts.

Master ZĪ XIǍO – Wudang Chile

Master ZĪ XIǍO – Wudang Chile

WUDANG CHILE is a project conducted by Master ‘Zī Xiǎo’ Alex Mieza, 16th generation of the Wudang Sanfeng Pai lineage, great Master Yuan Xiu Gang’s official disciple. The project aims to disseminate Wudang internal martial arts and Taoist Wudang culture around the country, Chile, mainly through training courses, seminars, conferences, classes and various other activities.

This project was born by an idea of Master Zi Xiao’s student, the professor Rodrigo Riveros Arias, director of the Wudang Sanfeng Gongfu Chile Academy. The Wudang Chile project is a proposal open to anyone who wishes to form in the Wudang system and seeking to help spread around the country.

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Visit my Wudang School in New York!

Visit my Wudang School in New York!

My plan for my journey:

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My name is Dino Santos, and I live in New York. I recently came back from my long-term studies in Wudangshan.
What I wish to teach is peace and balance not fighting, and the long-term goal is to own my school that will have live in accommodation so for those who are unable to leave the country could have the opportunity to live the full-time experience of martial arts.
My Experience: From 1991 to 1999 I trained with Shidoshi Jean-Pierre Siebel in the art of Taijutsu in New York City, the school was called NY Budo when it was open, my Shidoshi stop teaching so he could focus on his job. Then from 2013 to 2016 I lived in China, Wudang Mountain. I became a disciple of Shifu Chen Shiyu, and my given Gong-Fu name is Chen Yu Zi Guang. My three years on the mountain was an amazing experience, and I learned a lot from my Shifu and fellow Gong-Fu brothers. I primarily focus on teaching Tai Chi (Tai Ji) and Qi Gong. If you train with me long-term, I’m willing to teach the sword forms I know and other traditional Gong-Fu forms.

Visit my school in New York!

You can contact me on my Facebook page or join my group “The Wudang Way“.