Martial Arts

By Jeff Patterson 8/12/09 The guard position in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is defined by having your back on the ground and your legs between you and your opponent. There are many variations of the guard; two of the most common are the closed guard and the open guard. Having your opponent in your closed guard… Read more »

The Six Healing Sounds is a Taoist qigong and sitting meditation. The Six Healing Sounds set falls on the health and spiritual/psychological end of the qigong spectrum.  This set is a very calming routine and is an excellent qigong form to work in the evening. It helps shed the tensions of the day, calming your… Read more »

There are thousands of people teaching tai chi and tai chi push hands around the world. Personally, I have trained with many teachers here in the states as well as teachers in China. I have found that even with the “Masters” there are few who really have a good understanding of how to apply the… Read more »

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Seminar with Rigan Machado Saturday November 12th Rigan Machado is an 8th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Carlos Gracie Jr. An outstanding fighter, Machado was world champion in BJJ for seven years running and amassed a record of over 360 documented wins. Equal to his ability as a competitor are… Read more »

There are different fighting stances a fighter or competitor will use depending on the type of event, fight or situation. The strategy and style of the competitor will also vary with the event depending on the fighter’s ability and education. Different styles or methods of fighting have strategies that may include hand held weapons, kicking,… Read more »

Renowned author, Tai Chi and Qigong master, Dr. Yang will be holding a seminar in Portland, OR. Intended for all skill levels, this seminar will focus on the foundation of your Qigong practice; developing a strong root of understanding to support your training. We will also be exploring and playing various sticky hands concepts, improving… Read more »

By Jennilyn Nelson “So, I’d like to check in, ask how Peter is doing lately,” says Joseph, an eleven year-old martial artist from our Youth Power program. He leans against my desk, eyes looking concerned. Peter is Joseph’s nine year–old brother. Leave it to an older brother to seek an impromptu progress report. The other… Read more »

By Jeff Patterson 6/9/09 Like most competitive full contact fighting sports, Muay Thai Boxing has a heavy focus on body conditioning. Many coaches believe that 80 percent of a fighters success is based on his/her conditioning. Muay Thai is specifically designed to promote the level of fitness and toughness required for ring competition. Training regimens… Read more »