My Teeth Are Full of Fillings But I ve Never Had A Cavity In My Tongue!

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Eleanor Chase
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1 The Way of Martial Arts MONTHLY INTERACTIVE LESSONS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR DAILY LIFE B Y M A S T E R E R I C S B A R G E Lesson 10 My Teeth Are Full of Fillings But I ve Never Had A Cavity In My Tongue! The Chinese observed long ago that all qualities in nature have a range of opposite extremes bright or dark, hot or cold, left or right and they labeled it yin and yang. Neither extreme is better or worse. It is only better or worse in a given context. Two natural qualities that are especially relevant for us in our martial arts training are density, and motion. Density displays the extremes of hard and soft. Motion displays the extremes of stillness and speed. Scientists tell us that density and motion are closely related to each other: The more dense an object, the less motion among the molecules. You don t need to be a scientist to observe this: Teeth are hard, and tongues are soft. Teeth stay still, the tongue is ever moving. The soft and moving tongue stays healthy while the hard and static teeth decay! SO WHAT DOES THAT TEACH US? The lesson is that soft overcomes hard, and movement wards off decay. To paraphrase a Chinese expression, Doors rot away, but the hinges never do. Wind and water destroy rocky mountainsides, but the hardest rock never destroys wind or water.

2 If you want to stay healthy and live a long life, stay soft and keep moving! What s really meant by staying soft is letting go of resistance and tension. When you throw a rock into the air or into a body of water, the air and water don t resist. They part and yield and remain unaffected. But when rocks are confronted by air and water, the rock stands solid and immoveable. The rock may survive temporarily, but it will be destroyed in the long run. In our bodies, resistance causes tension: Two forces build and squeeze against each other, decreasing movement. Density and hardness increase. As a result of this hardness, the movement of chi is reduced, blood flow slows, and strength and health are squandered. Nearly every modern disease both physical and psychological -- is aggravated by tension. When you let go of the resistance then the tension ceases, the hardness turns to softness, and the chi again flows freely. This is true not only within your body, but also when up against the strength of an opponent. Resistance to the opponent s strength and movement creates tension which burns energy and leaves you vulnerable to damage much like the solid rock mountain. But yield to the opponent, and you are as impervious to damage as the wind and water. FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF THE TAI CHI CLASSICS In previous lessons I recommended that you read and continually study both the Tao Te Ching and the Tai Chi Classics. Below are a few quotes from them related to the topic of softness and movement: Tao Te Ching: The softest of stuff in the world pentrates quickly the hardest; Insubstantial, it enters where no room is. The gentle way will overcome the hard and strong. By letting go it all gets done; -2-

3 The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try, the world is then beyond the winning. The female of the world: Quiescent, underneath, it overcomes the male. Tai Chi Classics. Adhere, join, stick to and follow with no resistance. If the opponent presses very efficiently, one must turn and step in the most suitable manner to escape. If the opponent moves even slightly, I move first. The abdomen is completely relaxed then the chi can permeate the bones, the spirit is at ease and the body is tranquil. EXERCISE ONE Stand with your arms extended straight in front of you, with hands in fists. Tighten every muscle in your body to make them as hard as you can: The fists, forearms, neck, chest, stomach, legs, etc. as tight as you can squeeze the muscles. Observe your breathing. Observe what happens to your strength. What you find is you can barely breathe so you re getting no fuel into the body. The tightness of the muscles constricts the movement of chi and blood, so whatever energy you do have can t circulate to the cells. The brain, which uses more oxygen than any other organ, is quickly starving and When the opponent puts pressure on the left, the left becomes insubstantial; when pressure is brought on the right, the right becomes insubstantial. -3-

4 you feel dizzy or light-headed. At best, you can hold this extreme tension for a minute or two, and then you are exhausted. Periodically do this exercise to remind your self just how counter-productive tension is! EXERCISE TWO Throughout the day, start to notice two things: First, notice the times that you start to feel tired during the day. You may discover that like many people you get tired not from over-exerting yourself physically, but rather from sitting still too long. Maybe watching TV too long (I sure hope not!), or sitting at your desk at work, for example. When you start to feel tired, get up and move around: Take a walk, do some chi kung exercises, or any other movement for a few minutes. Notice how you usually feel more alive and energized, and don t need to resort to a caffeine or sugar fix. Remember the air and water comparison they re never still for very long! Second, when you are physically exerting yourself, whether in martial arts class or doing yard work, for example, notice when you start to feel really tired. Mentally and physically try to relax as deeply as you can, and mentally yield to the activity rather than resisting or fighting to stay strong. Notice how it often gives you a second wind and you suddenly feel stronger and better able to keep going. ASSIGNMENT In this lesson I ve described the perspective that for our physical wellbeing or martial arts skills, soft often overcomes hard, and movement is generally superior to being static or stuck. In a paragraph or two explain how you think this strategy of softness and movement might pertain to our mental well-being as we go through our daily activities of work, family activities, relating to friends and neighbors, etc. Send your thoughts to Master Sbarge at lessons@thepeacefuldragon.com. Please put Lesson 10 in the subject line. -4-

5 RECOMMENDED READING Ki in Daily Life, by Koichi Tohei I ve had the original version of this book for over twenty years, and it remains one of my favorites. Written by a Japanese Aikido master, the principles of relaxation and focus are explored as they relate to combat, health and well-being. Non-dissension and cultivating a balanced Way in life are at the heart of this book, with chapters on breathing, sleeping, eating, and more. Note: Ki is the Japanese translation of the Chinese word Chi (energy). SSSS Every month a book or article will be suggested by Master Sbarge. Reading about topics related to the arts you are training in will help you get the most out of your practice. Just remember that reading can never replace your practice! Each month s recommended reading is purely optional, though Master Sbarge may on rare occasion ask that you do read a particular book. For additional reading suggestions by Master Sbarge, go to Please remember that for any book or other item you purchase through The Peaceful Dragon website s link to Amazon.com, a percentage is automatically sent to The Peaceful Dragon. We appreciate your support of our school. Note: All Peaceful Dragon students are urged to complete monthly assignments because they are important for you to fully benefit from your training. -5-

table of Contents Foreword: Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Chapter 6: Chapter 7: Chapter 8: Chapter 9: Chapter 10:

table of Contents Foreword: Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Chapter 6: Chapter 7: Chapter 8: Chapter 9: Chapter 10: Table of Contents Table of Contents Foreword: You Can Be a Runner... 6 Chapter 1: Why Run?... 8 Chapter 2: What You Need to Get Started... 18 Chapter 3: A Trip to the Running Store... 26 Chapter 4: Setting