Sifu Brian Kuttel

10 Minutes of Tai Chi a day would do you well... with a real instructor, not AI slop... Skip the misleading ads, look up a tai chi school near you or find an instructor online that you trust.

If it promises you abs in 30 days, it isn't tai chi...

YouTube video by Sifu Kuttel Are These Targets Better than Tatami??? Lancelot Targets Comparison and Review

youtu.be/MZbyV2aS92E?... How does a roll of wet newspaper wrapped around a pipe stack up against a roll of grass???
Here’s what I found!!!
#sword #tameshigiri #swordtesting #backyardcutting #tatamiroll #lancelotsword

From Chen Weiming's 1929 Book - Answering Questions About Taiji
(In practice)
– Your spirit is concentrated and your energy is calm.
– It is to be centered and upright, leisurely and comfortable.
– It is to be indulgingly unhurried and greatly elegant.
– It is to be done continuously without pause.

"Receiving a contract to train one of these organizations on behalf of a political party, or other organization, was a major source of pride and an important form of economic patronage for civilian martial artists. "

"Nowhere is the association between the martial arts and the militarization of the population more evident than in the creation of “Dadao Teams” between the 1920s and the 1940s."

A Social and Visual History of the Dadao: The Chinese “Military Big-Saber” ***Is there any topic more beloved by modern students of Chinese martial arts history than the dadao?  I can’t think of one.  Enjoy!***   Rediscovering the Dadao: A Forgotten Legacy of t…

chinesemartialstudies.com/2020/12/02/a...
"In times of conflict both national and local leaders have used them to militarize the population, supporting paramilitary organizations and guerrilla forces. These activities were widespread during both Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War..."

Colorization of a Republic Era martial artist. The guard of the sword is the common “ace of spades” shape common to the time.

Jwoi Kuen - Zui Quan - Drunken Boxing

Congratulations!!!

除 暴 - 安 良 “Eliminate Violence, Restore Peace” Inscribed (possibly with gold leafing) on an antique Dadao from the mid 20th century

Just in time for Wilds! 😅

😅 I’ve been lucky to have had the chance to train with and learn from some amazing people. You’re in a great school, CKFA and the Lengyels are truly amazing people and martial artists!!!

Yeah! Sifu Andrew and I trained together for many years and grew up through the system!!!

Okay, lastly and very cliché...

just have fun!

Seminars are an experience, so enjoy it as such. Every fun, intense, educational, frustrating, and awkward moment alike 😅

I actually wrote an article about it a few years ago, you can see it on my site www.sifukuttel.com/articles--bo... (scroll down) otherwise videos online have sections edited out of the form. Use those as inspiration for combining techniques into flowing sequences, not learning or getting details.

After the seminar, it will be up to you to keep the form. This means asking your instructors to help you learn the rest of it, maybe even getting a group together to practice a few minutes after class. There aren't many resources out there beyond some writing and articles from Kung Fu Magazines

Bring a notebook, write your notes down in your terms, draw stick figures if you need to. It's for your memory, so do what's best for you. Watch how Grandmaster does his movements, and listen to what details he mentions, and be ready for a random joke here and there, he's got a sense of humor!

Since you'll be visiting a different school, they might have a different etiquette than yours, a good rule of thumb I always use is to simply treat everyone like a Sifu, instructors and students alike. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions if you're unsure of the form, or anything else in general.

so if you can identify the combos, it will be helpful for your memory later. Another thing I'd suggest is to sit next to an instructor (from your school or another) so you can follow along and see details and ask questions.

Your Instructors know the form so they will be able to help you work through it at your own pace after the seminar. So as you learn it, focus on memorizing the first section and then look for unique combinations and sequences. There's many right and left side balance and symmetrical combinations

Yeah for sure! First off, don't stress over learning the form in a single session, especially with this form. Since your sitting down and facing the same direction the entire time you won't have room reference or direction changes to remember combinations and sequences.

YouTube video by Tai Chi with Sifu Kuttel Tai Chi Double Fan

Yang #Taijiquan Double Fan
youtube.com/shorts/Iu1Ha...

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Marie Curie, Physicist and chemist.

Today is International Day of Women & Girls in Science.

Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of science & health & continue to inspire generations of scientists & innovators. 🔬 #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM

My favorite examples of koftgari are Tibetan saddles: www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthrea...
Mind blowing levels of craftsmanship, and how incredibly the ornamentation does not reduce the durability or practicality of the original saddle.

Today's find: Koftgari - Damascening: A labor intensive method of precious metal inlay into hard steel through annealing, scoring, and inlay or beating.
www.directcreate.com/craft/koftga...

YouTube video by Sifu Kuttel Seung Dao 雙刀- Twin Sabers - History, Principles, Training, Design Aspects

youtu.be/6vzLAL_D834?...

Long video about Shuang Dao or twin sabers!

YouTube video by Tai Chi with Sifu Kuttel Snake Creeps Down Training and Exercises

#taichi training to for your snake creeps down posture.

youtu.be/vNj3PK8fAT0?...

A senior mole reason for smaller spear heads on longer spears is the weight reduction. Ming Dynasty spear heads are nearly as small as arrow heads, but when you have 3 meters of pole behind it, it becomes like a bullet!

Found a Five Clawed Dragon on the ceiling of Musée Ariana 🐉

Happy New Year!!! 🥳