The 'Science' of Meditation

Meditation/Mindfulness is a can of worms IF you go chasing the science. 'Tis very hard to tie down in way of effects as 'feelings' aren't statistics.

As a lifestyle I tend to be a tad hostile to because of the oft association with ethereal metaphysics.

Gautama Buddha -- I'm looking at you, kid.
But I've always appreciated the Zen-ness of conscious movement.
Static or sedentary meditation is so unlike me and my fidgets.
Since I do come from an age when Biofeedback was the fashionable rage -- at least in my 'hood -- I defer to the physiology of conscious slowness, breath and heart rate.
While working in mental health, I'm no stranger to relaxation therapies, which are essentially guided meditations.
But over time I became interested in drone sounds and especially Sufi rhythms -- plying at me from Bandung to Timbuktu. This drew me to an interest in frame drums -- especially the Daf.
I love the Daf because it is not essentially religious despite its pitter-pattering.
Then I moved onto soundscapes. And that, my friends, was a revelation which is now an addiction. Anything with water -- rain, stream or sea -- turns me 'off' in the nicest way. 'Tis a great way to dose off...accompanied by meteorology or aquatics.

Us stick men decorate with fire

 

Petrol Heads will run a speed stripe along the flanks of their beasts, but us stick men decorate with fire.

To burn patterns in one's weapon is the thing in some sectors of the stick fighting universe. Less so among stick walkers.

Different sticks/different patterns.

The New Me Comes Out

In my many attempts to keep my body in functioning I embraced lifestyle mode. Not that I was set to feel better. It was more about not feeling worse.

In that pursuit -- as is my online want - I logged my activities on a blog.

Remember those? I was an active blogger 'bf' -- before facebook.

I called mine 'KickBike & Kettlebell'.

That I have sold the kickbike and will soon part with my kettlebells I thought I'd mark  with a name change.

BianGun --https://biangun.blogspot.com/ -- in honour of the North West Chinese whip stick -- a martial art I have embraced.

That it often spelt biangan or bian gun or bian gan should not be cause for botherment as neither of us are likely to speak Chinese.

I know my limitations and rely on Google Translate.

So there I was happy as Larry -- or as happy as Li-liang -- when the more I went down the hitting stick rabbit hole my POV changed.

In action: stop motion mode.

 

Biangun studies : Technique Samples

Bian gun is my weapon art of choice for the jo length.

 

My kind of stick work: customised, evangelical and improvised

I think I've finally got my stick work sorted.

I've now signed up as a Patreon to Light Haven out of Goa, India as a student of Pekiti Tirsia Kali * -- although I'm only really interested in kali sticks. 

KALI

Tuhon Aditya Roy (pictured)is a wonderful teacher who offers a generous and very supportive YouTube presence.  

The Kali anchors my study and training because it gives me a clear martial perspective in a real world -- rather than traditional -- context. Without spiritualism, hierarchy or mythic traditions based on ancient warrior wars. Practice and discipline rules. Not magic.

The Hanbo vs my other sticks (Jo and Kali)

 

The epitome of a wacking stick: the hip high Hanbo.

My drill sizes are Kali stick > Hanbo > Jo staff.

My Hanbo could be a thicker gauge to be proper --ouch! -- but this one moves through the air with a lot of power and a threatening whoosh!.

Not the Bo. But the Jo, Hanbo and Kali

 

Despite my enthusiasm, I have been a concerned that my stick drilling activities were being ruled by the Japanese tradition of stock vs sword -- as an offshoot of kendo. Nor do I dig the lingo or the clobber, the deferential rituals or samurai mystique.

I know what I like.

 

Compared to the martial artists I've known over the years -- and boxers -- some of whom were pro and champs -- I know very little about the fighting arts.

But I know what I like.

So in pursuing a hybrid stick fetish I'm being loyal to my own inclinations, background and limitations.

And I think I'm onto something with this idiosyncratic kali/jojutsu combo.

Kali drills at night before bed

 

Pictured here is I with my kali sticks. 

That's about their length: from my hands to the top of the image. Strong and light as they are cut from rattan. The tiger burn marks are Filipino traditional.

You can use one in a drill...or you can use two. 

Much as I am passionate about my Jō staff,  these sticks done right are awesome. 

As I mentioned in the past, I am doing drills with the Jō and with kali sticks. 

Jo Staff + Kali Sticks : way to go.

 

This is not a religious shrine...

 

This is not a religious shrine...

Seen here is my everyday stick collection.

'Tis my way.

Beginning the 20 Jo Suburi.

 Today I began learning the 20 Jo Suburi .

I had to look 'suburi' up.  

Stick Spinning: I know a limited range of motion when I see or feel it.

Little did I realise what was involved when I took up the stick. The world of sticks as defensive weapons is amazing.

Basic human stuff. Organic protection.

If only I'd taken up the staff earlier. But then, embracing sticks at this time sponsors a certain eclectic approach to what to do with them. 

And there's a lot to that.

By their sticks you shall know them. Bo vs Jo.

Since my stick collection has increased I must be like a dog. 

Fetching.

I do nonetheless have a range of weapons as classed in the martial artz vernacular. You can do a lot with these, except, as Chancellor Otto von Bismarck pointed out about bayonets, sit on them. 

At right are two: my Silambam Bo (the tall one) and my Jo. 

The Bo has flex and cut from rattan (I suspect).

The Jo is bamboo aggregate whose career was supposedly to be  a broom handle. 

Needless to say, they perform differently in my hands.  I can, nonetheless, do the same moves with both with varying success. 

Stick Progress:February 2021

Generally I practice my stick skills everyday. I prefer to set a conscious session aside that includes warm up, twirling and a drill or kata. 

While practice, in my makes, doesn't make perfect -- I am getting better and attaining 'moves' I never imagined I'd perform. 

I know this, because I also practice when out walking and there is a certain joy to be had throwing a stick around while barrelling from A to B.

Mr Cool.

As we speak, aside from 2 primary spins -- double hand twirl and single hand wrist role -- I'm  still working ion my #13 Jo Kata. In that, I may know the moves but my execution isn't necessarily martial. 

Notes on stick length

Donga stick fighting in Ethiopia

 I'm sure to want to review this later...but I gotta ask: how long should your stick be?

The simple answer is that's up to you.  

Methinks Jō staff

...

Dave with his Jo Staff