training for life Archives - White Dragon Martial Arts

Expert or Master?

May 11, 2023|by Tai-Sifu Ben Stanley|Blog

It’s time to clear up some misunderstanding about skill levels in traditional kung fu systems—specifically the difference between expert and master. Japanese karate styles make this difference pretty obvious through belt rankings that award a master-level ranking and belt only after special re...

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Using Tournament Time

February 27, 2023|by Tai-Sifu Ben Stanley|Blog

Unlike the average karate or Tae Kwon Do school, many traditional Chinese martial arts schools don’t ask or even encourage their students to compete in tournaments. A fear of looking bad or disgracing the school in front of the competitor schools’ students keeps many Chinese martial art teac...

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The Fan’s Fighting Application

November 27, 2022|by Tai-Sifu Ben Stanley|Blog

In ancient times, fans were the only practical air-conditioning units available. Even today, many people still rely upon paper fans for instant relief from hot summer heat. But did you know the same innocent-looking, hand painted, folded triangle can be a deadly self-defense weapon? I am speaking ...

kung fu, training for life|2 comments

Elements of Push Hands Practice

November 4, 2022|by Tai-Sifu Ben Stanley|Blog

There are two sides to tai chi practice—the tai chi form and push hands (tui shou). Ancient tai chi scholars wrote that “You learn the tai chi form to learn to know yourself, and learn push hands to learn to know the opponent.” Forms practice teaches you your own proper relaxation, body posi...

tai chi, training for life|2 comments

No Belts in Kung Fu

October 6, 2021|by Tai-Sifu Ben Stanley|Blog

This article originally appeared in the June 1991 issue of Inside Kung Fu Magazine, “Training for Life” by Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong. You might say that in Japanese and Korean martial arts, the most important part of the wardrobe is the belt. The belt’s color designates the martial ...

karate, kung fu, self defense, tai chi, training for life|1 comment

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