So, Yoshi, thats your new training style? Sit On Your Ass Kung Fu?

A lot of martial artists are disparaging of anything they dont learn in a dojo, and perhaps with some justification. However, after I beat the crap out of my feet doing dumb things learning about footwear (see my article on footwear for more. I do stupid things so you dont have to. Or, at least, thats what I tell myself), I needed some time doing something else. Now, doing something else doesnt mean I skip learning about Martial Arts. So, with my feet propped up and under ice to keep the swelling down, I started looking at tai quigong videos. Hey, I could persuade my wife that it was business related. She didnt buy that when I was watching Jet Li in Hero for some reason.

Jet Li is a practitioner of Tai Quigong, among his other styles, and you can see how its impacted what hes working on. Tai quigong is, in many ways, like rhythmic yoga. It stresses flexibility and range of motion, rather than hard, sharp movements. Its a foundational skill sit, focusing on breathing and qui management, and is good for improving energy levels and health in general.

And since it doesnt actually need a dojo with falling mats, its not bad for learning off of a video. Yes, I know, thats heresy learn a martial art from video? More seriously, the video lets you pause and slow down the motions, and since tai quigong focuses on one set of motions at a time, it lets you focus on form and meditation while you do the exercises.

Of course, it doesnt do you any good to watch these videos while sitting on your ass on the couch, so my buddy Stu really did have a point when he came by to visit. We got up, cleared the living room floor and tried following along. Let me tell you, both of us, veterans of hard styles, found it a surprising workout to go through the motions slowly. My feet were still bruised to two shoe sizes to large, so that mightve been why I was moving like a 98 year old man with bursitis, but Stu was breathing hard and trembling halfway through the first set. Moving your body slowly and breathing takes a lot out of you!

On the flip side, with no punches, no kicks, and no beating parts of your body into hard unyielding targets, and no rapid movement, it was suitable for doing at home, in spite of the strenuous workout. And a darn site safer to the furniture. (Let me tell you, street gangs have got nothing on an angry wife when you knock a lamp into the bar by trying to show someone a move in the living room!)

So, if you cant make it to the dojo, or are just wanting to tone up before getting to the dojo, check out some tai quigong videos and work it out, nice and slow and careful. Youll be glad you did!