The 1 Hand Salute

The Buddhist monk, “Huiko” would wait patiently each day, awaiting Bodhidharma to show up at the gate of the Shaolin Temple and ask if he would teach him. But each time Bodhidharma would refuse. One story even says that not only did Bodhidharma refuse but told Huiko, “I will not teach you until the snow turns red”. So, to show his dedication, Huiko took his sword and cut off his left arm. Huiko became Bodhidharma’s successor.

So when students have something in their hands that might restrict them from doing the traditional close right fist into the left hand salute, it’s permitted to move the item to the left hand and bring the right open hand to the center of chest and bow head.

Cancer and Nutrition

One of the easiest and most effective ways to promote good health and to help protect against cancer is with your diet. The American Cancer society estimates that one third of all American cancer deaths might be diet-related. The conclusion is really pretty simple: kick cancer-loving food to the curb; embrace healthful food.

However, good health is not just one ingredient but is made up of several things including exercise, proper diet, stress management and connecting to one’s spirituality.

Nutrition – to boost the immune system, to increase natural mechanisms for eliminating the tumor, and to prevent reoccurrences.  Typically this includes nutritional supplements, intravenous protocols (such as high doses of vitamin C, anti-oxidants, and immune support nutrients), and diet (such as frequent raw vegetable juices, whole grains, legumes and elimination of foods which feed cancer and weaken the immune system).

Enzymes – to facilitate the breakdown of the protective coating around cancer cells and to support healthy metabolic processes.

Oxygenation – to bring vital energy to the cells, reverse tumor growth and facilitate the elimination of pathogens (fungi, bacteria and viruses) which may be weakening the immune system.  This may take the form of ozone therapy, deep breathing exercises (qigong) and/or oxygenation of the blood directly through intravenous protocols.

Detoxification – to eliminate substances which may be burdening the immune system, compromising metabolic processes and blocking energy flow (e.g. heavy metals, pesticides, environmental toxins, and metabolic wastes).  This may take the form of herbal and nutritional products that open up the elimination channels (liver, kidney, colon, and urinary system), colonics, detoxification diets, and IV chelation protocols. Juice Fasting is a great way to detox the body.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to replace the advice of a Certified Doctor or licensed health practitioner. Please consult with your doctor or health care provider beforehand.

Tai Mantis Kung Fu Academy celebrates its 17th anniversary this April with a special
deal: 17% off tuition for new students and 10% off most items in the
Pro Shop for existing students! -See Shifu Newton for details

The Brain

The brain, a three pound chunk of organic matter, is not only the body’s most marvelous organ, it is the most complicated object known. The brain processes 400 billion bits of information per second, it makes the lungs expand with the inrush of air, and the heart beat 100,000 times per day and pumps 2 gallons of blood per minute, the immune system fight off infection. It secretes enzymes in exact amounts to digest your food, it monitors pain and pleasure, signals when to eat and sleep, house memories and thoughts. Every second 100,000 chemical reactions take place in every 70 to 100 trillion cells that make up the body. Recent calculations estimate that the communication between cells actually travels faster than the speed of light. By the way, this is 186,000 miles per second.

Beyond the work the brain does automatically comes something far different. Out of the human brain arises consciousness-the unique ability of Homo sapiens, “thinking man,” to be aware of being aware. Consciousness sometimes referred to as mind, or possibly as soul.

The brain is the instrument we use, the machinery we use to process thought. It also haves auto-processes to allow us to function. The brain’s central intelligence “clearing house”- mind is what the brain does; mind is the brain at work, measuring a working brain, is studying the mind.

My question is! If the brain is the instrument for intelligence, for processing thought, and mind is what the brain does, if you could improve the way your brain works, who’s doing the improving? Consciousness is our self-awareness free will individual. It’s not the body, not the brain, not the mind! Consciousness is what manipulates the brain to produce thought.

STRESS

 Under ideal conditions the body maintains homeostatic balance. This is where the body has the ideal blood pressure, temperature, the right levels of glucose in the bloodstream, and so on. Then there comes stress which was a part of our evolutionary make-up as a survival mechanism. When faced with a tiger that just jumped out of the bushes the cortex uses the data it has collected to make a decision on an appropriate response to the startling stimulus. If the cortex perceives a real threat the brain automatically sends signals straight to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then releases a stress hormone known as CRF. Next, the hypothalamus also signals to the pituitary gland to release hormones (ACTH) along with epinephrine and cortisol into the blood-stream that energize all of the body’s organs preparing us for fight or flight. This all works from the autonomic nervous system that has two parts to keep the body in homeostasis, which are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

Chronic stress, especially chronic psychological stress, can bring havoc upon the entire body. The heart starts working really hard, pumping with more force, pumping more frequently. Blood pressure is increasing, going through the blood vessels with more force. The blood vessels in response slowly begin to build up more muscle wrapping around them. This makes the blood vessels more rigid, which requires more force to get the blood through them. Now we are facing problems with hypertension. Enough of that slamming of blood against the walls of the blood vessels and you begin to get little bits of damage there, little bits of tearing and scarring that wind up getting inflamed. Then plaque starts sticking to these areas along with fat, glucose, and cholesterol. Once the coronary vessels are damaged, when you increase blood flow during a period of stress, they no longer vasodilate; they constrict.

Chronic or frequent stress with high cortisol levels are associated with a decrease in the body’s natural immune response, a decrease in DNA repair, and an increase in autoimmune diseases. This keeps the body out of homeostatic balance which set us up for all kinds of illnesses and diseases.

Chronic stress can lead to neuron death in the brain. Neuron loss in the hippocampus (referred to as hippocampal atrophy); neurons in the hippocampus have high concentration of receptors that bind cortisol, and long-term elevated cortisol levels induce chances that result in the death of these neurons.

On Saturday July 30 the Tai Mantis Kung-fu school had it’s Forest Falls hike and picnic. The weather was nice even with the light on again, off again thunder showers. The water was high from the winter snow and Nature was at it’s best.

Have you ever notice you seem to be more forgetful when you are stressed? Stress causes the brain to release hormones to deal with the threat. The hormone cortisol does damage to the hippocampus, impairing the ability to remember. Learn more from our lectures in, Stress and Your Body.

Now for over 16 years as the Inland Empire’s only Authentic Traditional Chinese Kung-fu School.

These authentic, traditional kung-fu schools have always been rare and can be considered as a lucky find for those that find themselves close to one.  Others can only be sadden to find that they don’t even have one in their state. Over 1500 years of tradition and Chinese culture in learning everything from feng shui, Lion dance and Traditional Chinese medicine to 18 classical weapons and the I Ching.  

Now with our lectures, as Shaolin once was, we are a Institute of higher learning.

It is the discipline of mind and body that brings us in harmony with the Universe, that gives rise to the spirit and makes glorious this human experience.

Shifu Don Newton

College level lectures, now being offered to all those who have a passion for learning. Lectures in; Understanding the Human Body: An Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology. Stress and the Body. The Human Body: How We Fail, How We Heal. Nutition Made Clear. Biology and Human Behavior. Consciousness and Its Implications. Optimizing Brain Fitness. Philosophy of Mind. From Yao to Mao: 5,000 Years of Chinese History. Check Calendar for days and time, or give us a call.

The hike this weekend at Deep Creek by Lake Arrowhead was vigorating and peaceful. To meditate in nature is to draw upon one of the strongest forms of Qi. Doing Qigong in nature is like stepping out into the Sun for vitamin D. The Chinese actually have a Qigong called, Zhan Zhuang which means standing like a tree. Sometimes done right by a tall tree to absorb the tree’s energy. Nature, love it, embrace it, and to take care of it is to take care of humanity.