These Pakour guys are a donut-eating cop's worst nightmare.

But I think I see a new Cirque de Soleil act in the making.

If only I could put the t.v. remote down - I could do that stuff.

"The idea that we only use 12% of our brains is outdated. Neurologists are only now beginning to uderstand what is going on in much of the brain. The 88% is just doing stuff they don't fully understand."

Yeah, I read something similar, that actually, we use the whole brain, but not at the same time. Parts of the brain keeps shuffle orders to other parts of the brain, so the brain plays ping-pong with the neurons. Playing ping-pong - that is what the other 88 percent does!

only 12% thats gatta be wrong or Terri Schiavo would be A.O.K.

ChicagoCraig, I have never seen lightness skill in application, only heard stories, but if you truly want this ability, go outside during a lightning storm, and when lightning hits you, quickly channel that energy to your lower dantien. Be carefull though because one wrong move and your head will explode!!

And David if we used though whole of our minds potential we would be GODS!!! Can you explain the unexplainable? Neurologists have only begun to understand what is going on in much of the brain for the last fifty years!, but if you can use all of your brain, then you can help ChicagoCraig by throwing lightning bolts down to him. Just watch out because he might bend over, spread his cheeks, and shoot them right back to you.

Tims Doppleganger, you obviously don't understand sarcasm. Don't get me mixed into your anal chi lightning bolt style/trainning/whatever - I'm not interested in your weird trainning methods.

ChicagoCraig Im sure that you have your own anal chi style/training/whatever-and trust me when I say, I dont want any part of your hot air balloon bat style flying chi penis fist or your fetish for animals with wings.I'm not interested in YOUR weird training methods.

Happy training with that though, I just hope I never run into you in a dark alley some where.

If you are speaking of philosophies sure the "bagua" could not exsist without the "Taichi", "taichi" without "wuji", if you are speaking of the martial arts then I would say no,no,no. Bagua is more than a complete art and all it has to offer can only be found through hard, long training, and perhaps a couple of life times or more.

well said jay.

Don't forget the most important percentage is the "reptile brain". That makes all things possible.

"And David if we used though whole of our minds potential we would be GODS!!! Can you explain the unexplainable? Neurologists have only begun to understand what is going on in much of the brain for the last fifty years!, but if you can use all of your brain, then you can help ChicagoCraig by throwing lightning bolts down to him."

Respect my authority, or I will send lightning bolts on you! No, to be serious, I just try to eplain something I read, that they are understanding better now, how the brain works. I am not good at explaining this, so please forget everything I said, if you want.

But this "reptile brain" Mr. Erle is speaking about. . . I donīt believe in it. In earlier days, people spoke about to "empty the mind." In japanese they speak about the state of "munin" or Wu xin, in chinese: "No mind". This is enough for me. I am happy if I can succeed empty my mind. Why should I transfer into a reptile?

David Borg. The 'reptile brain' concept is pretty well established in science. It can also save your ass. In computer terms, the brain has dual or even multiple processing. It is common that the more 'primative' sections of your brain can recognize danger and even cause you to move out of the way while the more complex 'reasoning' parts of the brain hasn't recognised a problem yet and doesn't know why the rest of you is doing that.

This system is not quite as fast as those reflexes which cause your eye to blink as an object approaches or to pull your hand off a hot stove, but is tremendously faster than the 'figgure it out then decide what to do' part of the brain. It is also partly responsible for 'intuition', those 'gut level' feelings where one function of the brain is registering signs of impending danger but the more complex, reasoning section hasn't recognised them or is ignoring them.

Lesson: 1. Always trust your gut level feelings when they are telling you something is wrong. 2. You're sometimes better off doing what your instincts want to do. and 3. In self defense, letting the reptile brain do its thing can help your survival.

Thanks Mark! Interesting view. Iīve read many things that Erle has written on the subject. But anyway, I think it would be more fun if you offered some more concrete way of developing this "skill". I think sounds, well, quite nice actually. But I seldom listen to what sounds good. I want to hear about a useful way to learn, study and develop something. Otherwise, well . . . if not, I am not interested.

"3. In self defense, letting the reptile brain do its thing can help your survival."

So, this sounds good, but how do you actually do it?

Does Erle have a discussion board where you guys can pontificate this crap?

Can you please tell me what kind of psyhic abilities can be developed in Ba Gua Chang? Iv only brushed the surface of this subject, but I would be interested and grateful for any feed back you can give.



Thanks

A way that is a way is not the way that is a way

Shane: If it works, it ain't crap.

David: I don't have any good answers for you on the line that you are looking for. That Laur fellow talks around this topic somewhat when mentioning that sometimes people going into the 'fight or flight' response even shut down speech processing and may only pretty much grunt or have only one syllable utterances. That is not a deliberate act.

It seems to be more a matter of 'letting go' of the higher functions of reasoning and allowing the more basic levels take over briefly. This can but doesn't necessarily mean going beserk (something that can get you in trouble) This is also why it works better with the 'flowing' movements of many Chinese or Philipino arts but not as well with the modern Japanese arts which are more rigid and the movements less natural.

Check out the books 'Powers of Mind' and 'Bone Games' which were informal looks at altered mental states due to meditation or extreme physical practices.

After that last sentence I stood up and tried something I had not done for a long time. First heard of it in Erles stuff. I extended my fingers and toes and made them 'clawed' and rigid. I imagined a cat or tiger extending its' claws as if about to rip somebodies guts out. It very quickly gave me a feeling of agression and getting ready to fight. My verbal abilities seemed to lessen and to speak to speak would move me away from the feeling. Whenever I do this, the left side of my lips become tense. Left side only, not sure why.

Sometimes I have done this while practicing the Single Palm Change and the sensation is very diferent than when doing it in the 'normal' way.

The laughing may now begin, however this has been my experience.

Hey, I just got back from "Parkour"ing. I climed on lots of ••••, jumped off an 8-9 foot wall, slid down the railing of a long set of stairs, had lots of fun. I think with regular "Parkour" training, I'll be lighter them most people. I also plan to tell someone (and very soon) that they shouldn't test me, because I'm trained in "Parkour".

-Chris Hein

Mark, the way I understand it, the left side of the brain is for analytical thinking, hence its discomfort at the effects of strong emotions.

Mark,thanks for your efforts, I really appreciated it. Well, maybe it is a bit like in the Taiji-classics, that about attack like an eagle(or falcon? Forgot) and concentrate on the opponent like a cat ready to attack a mouse. Some Chen practitioners likes to talk about "animal flower". Maybe these things are the keys. Well, so long as you can apply and use something, then itīs just fine with me. If you understand what I mean . . .

Best rgds - David

Humble student,

You asked the question;
"Can you please tell me what kind of psyhic abilities can be developed in Ba Gua Chang?"

Why yes I can.

After you learn the single palm change, you will be able to predict the weather.

After you learn the double palm change, you will be able to find water with a stick, and bend spoons with your mind.

After you learn all of the eight palms, you will be able to win the lotto (every ••••••• time!), remote view, levitate, contact aliens with your clairvoyant power and explode kittens from a distance with your chi.

Let me know how your training goes.