Magic and good Kung Fu

I will make this post very brief. It is aimed at those who have chosen the path less troden.

First just a little clarification about the word Kung Fu. We all, in the west, think that it means chinese martial art . Somethng which I practiced myself for many years. However, the term is actually pronounced Gong Fu .When translated from chinese ,it means skill or can mean skill acquired through hard work or skill applied. I sometimes like to joke and say :"that was good Kung Fu" when someone does something well.

The reason why I bring Kung Fu into the discussion is because a lot of people who have embarked on the study of magic are confused and not sure if they are meant to discard some of the natural abilities they possess in favour of what the textbook or the teacher tells them.

Below are just a handful of natural abilities that people have without having gone through any form of training.

1)Obtaining things through Visualisation (ATS has many threads on this - eg Skyfloating's thread)
2)Achieving things throough positive thinking
3)Making someone trip
4)transferring consciousness to somebody else's body.
5)loading up wishes on the astral matrix
6)Telepathy
7)rehearsing events in the mind and then seeing them unfold exactly as rehearsed
8)etc, etc,

An analogy can be drawn up with Kung Fu (the fighting kind). Kung Fu is the martial art . Yet , a martial artist will specialises in one style (eg Praying Mantis or Wing Chun or Dragon , etc). It should be the same in Magic. Magic is the art. It has a dogma and a framework and within that you can develop your own unique talent and bring out a few more.

What I found exciting with Kung Fu was the Forms. Forms are a sequence of movements aimed at a specific kind of attack from an opponent. Each form (and there are hundreds) is practiced until all the movement become second nature. That mean that in the even that you were set upon , you would react automatically and your movements and blows would be effective.

Now if any of you have studied both Music and Kung Fu , you would have realised the similarity between forms (in Kung Fu) and Scales (in music) By learning scales in music you create the connection with you fingers . With constant practic of scales , your brain makes a connection with your fingers and gives you the ability to automatically play the notes on the sheet music without even having to think . It is as if you fingers themselves were reading the sheet music.

Now , do we have such a thing in Magic ? Yes, we do. They are the rituals. Just like Forms (in Kung Fu) and Scales ( in music), rituals do a bit of the same thing.

Remember to put 'your' magic within a bigger framework (eg Qabalah or any other you choose)

Time flies .. I must too

a reply to: crowdedskies

That was good post fu.

a reply to: crowdedskies

I'm already doing that (channelling energy into your muscles etc) but thanks for the heads up for those who don't already know

originally posted by: greencmp
a reply to: crowdedskies

That was good post fu.

Fu to you

a reply to: crowdedskies

most magic is just a fancy word for discipline, much like kung fu. the point is to hone your mind by honing your body, which lends better control over how you interact with other bodies and other minds. the best magic and kung fu are the kind where the least effort yields the most results.

Interesting, and to the point.
As a practicioner myself (i use the word Student or Adept) i couldn't agree more.

The 'magic' however, is not really magic at all, just being able to summon & project your 'Chi' or life force.
I guess you could call it just 'the Force'
Buhddists beleive that this life force permeates all living things, so the Star Wars analogy isn't far from the truth.

Dragon is the hardest form IMO and quite frankly this old bod of mine just isn't up to it, i have developed a much more relaxed style, when i practise at all, which is rarely these days.
Too much going on, lol
Cool post!

originally posted by: playswithmachines

Dragon is the hardest form IMO and quite frankly this old bod of mine just isn't up to it, i have developed a much more relaxed style, when i practise at all, which is rarely these days.

It's a lot of hard work. The exercises at my shaolin school were strenuous and we had people able to do double back somersaults. I am also on a break.

"Kung-fu".

The power of the mind and the spirit to achieve things that often seem like 'magic', often without even moving a muscle, conserving the physical needs until they are called upon to defend as a last resort.

The power to transmit to others the same as above by projecting our own 'aura' as an influence and offering reality as a prevention.

The power to be in control of the 'moment' and have a centre of focus...the best place to start. Something that can take a lifetime to master.

The power to influence the world around by projecting energy, sometimes without others realising, knowing when to observe and when to partake.

Yes, magic in this form and the power we can accumulate can destroy or create.

We can change monsters and bullies by doing nothing but focusing and letting time pass by. A mirror if you like.

Fear the unknown enemy or the introvert who shows nothing and gives nothing to feed upon, for he/she has the reserves built from your own power to fight wars.

"Haaiiiii-yaaaa!" (silent)

originally posted by: crowdedskies
It's a lot of hard work. The exercises at my shaolin school were strenuous and we had people able to do double back somersaults. I am also on a break.

Incorporate less body and more mind perhaps?

originally posted by: nerbot
"Kung-fu".

The power of the mind and the spirit to achieve things that often seem like 'magic', often without even moving a muscle, conserving the physical needs until they are called upon to defend as a last resort.

The power to transmit to others the same as above by projecting our own 'aura' as an influence and offering reality as a prevention.

The power to be in control of the 'moment' and have a centre of focus...the best place to start. Something that can take a lifetime to master.

The power to influence the world around by projecting energy, sometimes without others realising, knowing when to observe and when to partake.

Yes, magic in this form and the power we can accumulate can destroy or create.

We can change monsters and bullies by doing nothing but focusing and letting time pass by. A mirror if you like.

Fear the unknown enemy or the introvert who shows nothing and gives nothing to feed upon, for he/she has the reserves built from your own power to fight wars.

"Haaiiiii-yaaaa!" (silent)

A very good comparison of Kung Fu and Magic.

Sorry no war cry from me today. A bit tired

originally posted by: TzarChasm
a reply to: crowdedskies

most magic is just a fancy word for discipline, much like kung fu. the point is to hone your mind by honing your body, which lends better control over how you interact with other bodies and other minds. the best magic and kung fu are the kind where the least effort yields the most results.

Or fight demons to the death. Funny how that works, took a lot of effort but i got Voodoo badder than the houdoo do and I don't even know how it's used.

originally posted by: Godthief

originally posted by: TzarChasm
a reply to: crowdedskies

most magic is just a fancy word for discipline, much like kung fu. the point is to hone your mind by honing your body, which lends better control over how you interact with other bodies and other minds. the best magic and kung fu are the kind where the least effort yields the most results.

Or fight demons to the death. Funny how that works, took a lot of effort but i got Voodoo badder than the houdoo do and I don't even know how it's used.

demons are just reflections in a funhouse mirror. the hardest part of dealing with them is adjusting how you understand yourself, which i agree, is one of the most difficult aspects of discipline, like breaking and resetting your finger bone (or maybe a leg bone? ) after it has mended badly. but well worth it, in my opinion.

originally posted by: TzarChasm

originally posted by: Godthief

originally posted by: TzarChasm
a reply to: crowdedskies

most magic is just a fancy word for discipline, much like kung fu. the point is to hone your mind by honing your body, which lends better control over how you interact with other bodies and other minds. the best magic and kung fu are the kind where the least effort yields the most results.

Or fight demons to the death. Funny how that works, took a lot of effort but i got Voodoo badder than the houdoo do and I don't even know how it's used.

demons are just reflections in a funhouse mirror. the hardest part of dealing with them is adjusting how you understand yourself, which i agree, is one of the most difficult aspects of discipline, like breaking and resetting your finger bone (or maybe a leg bone?

) after it has mended badly. but well worth it, in my opinion.

June 2012 best thing that ever happened to me. Thanks for the fight. Getting close to play time.

The way of the Tao is to go.
Water always finds its level.
Be as water.

Goku invented the kame-hame-ha to do what Bruce Lee could do with a stick.

originally posted by: skunkape23
The way of the Tao is to go.
Water always finds its level.
Be as water.

Never ready, always take action, truth sits plumb even when the water is low on the left.

originally posted by: crowdedskies

originally posted by: playswithmachines

Dragon is the hardest form IMO and quite frankly this old bod of mine just isn't up to it, i have developed a much more relaxed style, when i practise at all, which is rarely these days.

It's a lot of hard work. The exercises at my shaolin school were strenuous and we had people able to do double back somersaults. I am also on a break.

We always practised full contact,and with real weapons. Once i fainted & once my Sifu broke a rib by accident...that is however not the reason i stopped, simply that other things of greater importance than my own personal development have taken over my life...yet i still hold all his teachings sacred to heart, he was recently promoted to Shao-Lin Grand Master. and rightly so, he taught me a lot in a short time.
You may also be amazed to find he is a Muslim...........

originally posted by: Godthief

originally posted by: skunkape23
The way of the Tao is to go.
Water always finds its level.
Be as water.

Never ready, always take action, truth sits plumb even when the water is low on the left.

There are times when no action is the most powerful action. Be wise in how action is applied.

Really cool thread

The avenues of the human mind, body, spirit are countless, their expressions and forms, different thoughts and channeling of energy.

This is just another expression and discipline of human natures.

When one consciousness existing in material forms, can bring the relationship of kinetic and mental energy together, they can understand the deeper meaning of such practices.

a reply to: playswithmachines

How do you train full contact with real weapons?
We use dull training weapons with full spartan suits for FC and that can get pretty dangerous at times, that sounds unnecessarily crazy. I'd be curious to see how it's done.