We want you to get involved. Enjoy our blog, add your comments to it. Our videos, articles, and audio recordings are here to help you along in your journey. Have a look at our community.
Qi means Life Force Energy. Gong means skill. Qigong is the skillful practice of gathering, circulating and applying Life Force Energy.
You will leave this workshop with new ways of opening and closing your Yoga classes using Qigong.There will be a special emphasis on the Microcosmic Orbit Meditation from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. First we will locate the 3 Dantians (energy fields) and then locate the 12 acupuncture points that are stimulated during the circulation of chi through the vessels.
We will then do the traditional Gwan Gong Stroking his beard standing microcosmic orbit meditation. This regulates the chi in all 12 channels of the body and helps to release trapped emotions.
Qigong is one of the oldest and base practices of TCM which makes it a valuable and practical addition to your Yoga skillset.
I look forward to helping you deepen your practice.
Which of the Five Elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water surges most strongly within you? Are you most like the supple birch tree bending in the wind? The sun-setting crimson behind the clouds? The fertile fields that nourish and provide? The snow-capped mountains reaching toward the heavens? Or the rushing river flowing to the sea? We all have strengths, weaknesses and affinities to the Five Elements. This 3 hour workshop-style lecture will help you discover why you react and carry repeated patterns of disharmony that manifest in illness: physical, mental or emotional.
“We must first bring our own garden in order before we offer to help our neighbour.”
You will start by filling out a questionnaire to determine your own personal elemental archetype and then we will look at harmonious and disharmonious patterns.
Are you a teacher? This knowledge is an essential first step if you are including Traditional Chinese Medicine in your teaching style.
Here is an out of the ordinary & fun way to celebrate Mother’s Day Weekend. Mother & Daughter learning the fundamentals of self-defense. Where are those “secret” pressure points that make men squeal? How can you overcome a stronger opponent using their force against them? How can you amplify your strength by having multiple lighting fast strikes? As the saying in Kung-Fu goes ” Speed snatches victory from the strong”. These principles will be revealed through a series of practical & realistic self-defense situations relevant to women. We will also explore the importance of having a confident posture, awareness, listening to intuition, reading signs, & using ones voice.
This 2 hour workshop is empowering, insightful, fun, and a great bonding experience.
This workshop is also open to single female participants.
Space is Limited, please call or e-mail to register.
Date: Saturday May 12th 3-5 pm.
Cost : $ 49 Mother & Daughter inclusive. (Invite a friend for $ 20 more per friend).
This Qigong series will introduce the student to the foundation of a Medical Qigong practice. The goal is to strengthen the body’s protective energy field (Wei Qi) and bring balance to the body. We will start by Purging the body of stagnant Chi, Tonifying and Regulating. We will then practice 2 time honoured sequences (YiJin Jing and BaDuan Jin). These sets will circulate, regulate and balance the body’s Qi bringing great health, vitality and peace of mind. These movements are easy to learn and provide lasting health benefits.
6 week series. April 23rd to May 30th.
Mondays & Wednesdays 12:30-1:15 pm.
Wednesdays 6:30-7:15pm.
$ 120 for six sessions or $ 220 for unlimited access.
Dragon Warriors Summer Kung-Fu Camp (for 7-12 year olds)*.
Every morning, the day begins with Kung-Fu training. The children have fun as they explore the 5 animal styles of Kung-Fu through drills and games intended to develop martial arts, improve coordination & teach self-defense. The Dragon Warriors learn life skills such as the value of perseverance, the power of a focused mind, the desire to excel, the importance of team work. The camp also introduces children to aspects of Chinese culture. The excitement continues after lunch as each day we engage in a new & enriching activity:
Monday : Chinese Calligraphy, each student learns to write : love, peace & strength.
Thursday: Crafts. We make Chinese Lanterns/Dragon Boats. Children learn about the Chinese lantern and dragon boat festivals & make their own.
Friday: Kung Fu Cinema. The camp ends with the watching of a Kung Fu classic on a big screen with popcorn.
Dates & Times:
July 16th-20th, 8:30am-3:30pm.
August 20th-24th, 8:30am-3:30pm.
The cost is $ 499 per week. (in addition to Kung Fu training, fee includes archery @ Casaloma, yoga @ Bspoke, & chinese cultural segment).
To reserve a spot a $ 200 non-refundable deposit is needed. Each participants gets a $ 100 credit for every referred friend
* younger or older applicants will be considered,contact us to discuss.
Studies have shown that the longer kids train, the less aggressive they get, and the more self-control and discipline they have. Martial Arts training imparts to children, life skills, builds character, empowers them to live more accomplished lives, develops an indomitable spirit, builds confidence, self-esteem, focus, respect, teaches the value of hard work, and cultivates a person who strives for excellence.
To register email us at : [email protected] or call us at 416-972-9652.
We are located at 374 Dupont Street come and meet us in person.
I have invited Laoshu Scott Rodell to join us from Washington D.C. He will be conducting a 2 day workshop in Chinese Fencing.
After attending one of his workshops I was impressed with his depth of knowledge and his level of skill. He is a historian of the Chinese sword, versed in the Tai Chi classics, skilled & insightful. The workshop will introduce the beginner to foundational drills of Chinese Fencing, done solo & with a partner. If you are a martial artist, a fencer of any style, or an actor who does stage combat, you will find this workshop insightful. If you are already a practitioner of Tai Chi sword this workshop can open your mind to see greater depth in your art. It is empowering & fun.
Register now as space is limited.
Date: April 21st & 22nd (* you can attend for 1 day if you wish, ask about daily rates).
Time: 9-3pm or add an extended 2 hours & do 9-5pm.
Cost: 9-3pm both days : $ 199,
9-5pm $ 249 for both days. ( * one day rates available).
As part of our on-going health chi kung series we invite you this February to join us for a 5 week series. Develop strong Chi through the practice of an ancient and renowned qigong/chi kung, set. Dated back to the 6th century this set was created by Tamo, one of the geniuses of the Chinese healing arts. Qi/Chi refers to the internal energy which underlies all biological functions. Gong/Kung means work or cultivation. The purpose of qigong is to develop strong chi, to ward off disease and improve emotional health. The basic purpose of Yijinjing is to turn flaccid and frail sinews and tendons into strong and sturdy ones.
- improve blood circulation, increase chi flow, stimulate spinal nerve cords,help them function more effectively.
February 1st-29th every wednesday 6:30-7:30 pm. $ 85 + tax for 5 sessions.
Here is a glimps into the form: http://bit.ly/zuCcFB
Wake up on Sunday morning and head down to Wu Xing Martial Arts for a 75 minute Chi Kung workshop accompanied by a live violinist. This workshop focuses on the ‘muscle and tendon changing classic’ and on the ‘eight pieces of silken brocade’, two classical & ancient Chinese Health Exercises aiming at cultivating one’s internal energy. Feeling energized after a great Chi Kung session, we will all step next door to Dish Cooking Studio, one of Toronto’s premier cooking schools, for a warming bowl of Chinese broth. Sitting around the communal kitchen the dish teacher will demonstrate how to make traditional Chinese broth, enjoy! This year treat your Valentine to breakfast in Beijing.
Sunday February 19th, 11am-2pm.
Chi Kung/Qi Gong with live violinist 11-12:15.wuxingmartialarts.com
Cooking of Chinese broth and meal 12:30-2pm. dishcookingstudio.com
As some of you may know, I’ve been studying the martial arts abroad this year (in Japan). So far it’s going great and been the experience of a life-time, and today I’d like to share some of that experience with each of you.
Strangely though, the idea I share today is not something I first picked up in Japan. It’s something I learned from Sifu Ali. Often times during a class at Wu-Xing I’d hear him say “Carpe Diem”. Then he’d pause thoughtfully and translate it for those who were staring at him blankly as “Seize the day”.
Now, we’ve all heard of an idea like this before, but how do we apply it to our lives? How do we really seize the day?
If you ask him, Sifu will give you a plethora of clues and hints to increase your effectiveness in not only your martial arts training but in your life as well. But, today, I will share a Japanese example.
First, we can break this idea down further to “seize the hour”, “seize the second”, or even “seize the moment”. For what is the day made of except a rapid series of moments?
And, in the zen way of thinking, this is where we begin. With a moment.
Have you ever had a perfect moment? How about in your training? Did you ever throw a perfect punch (or better still a perfect block)? And, most importantly did you do it on purpose?
Since coming to Japan I’ve witnessed Olympians, World Champions, and Ancient Senseis training. Each one drills the same techniques over and over again with such fervor, speed, and accuracy. It often makes me wonder if I’m seeing human movement. Maybe they are all robots or aliens!? And, while they train in this fashion there is a complete and total focus about them.
When I asked the Kaichou (president of the school) about the efficacy of this training method he told me “when we train, we are seeking ‘Do’. ‘Do’ means ‘the way’, and ‘the way’ is the path we follow to realize our true potential. It is only through countless encounters with a technique that we can truly understand and master it. Every repetition is a chance to seize the moment.”
ah ha! “So, all I have to do is focus on what I’m doing and repeat?” I asked.
“Essentially? Yes” he said, “But, that isn’t always as easy as you think.”
So, there you have it. We can seize a perfect moment (through focus, giving yourself completely to what you’re doing, and allowing for many repetitions), we just need to work on doing it first and foremost for one single moment. We then strive for twice, three times…and eventually you’ll be seizing huge chunks of time (days, weeks, and even months).
note: It may seem a daunting or exhausting task to focus on each moment of everyday, but start with just one, and see where it takes you. You might be surprised at how relaxing it can end up being.
So, whatever you decide to spend your time doing today. Why not add a little more focus?
Talking with your spouse/loved one? Turn off the cellphones and T.V.s while you do it. Writing a report? Hang a “do not disturb” sign. Or, if you’re working on your Do-Pi Crane form, try clearing your mind until you actually see yourself as a noble crane.
Just some zen food for thought from the land of the rising sun
