Lifestyle, philosophy and sayings. Ó
The attitudes and philosophy at the heart of all that is taught by us at the Clinic is that of freedom, mercy and tolerance.
Freedom is a commodity that few of us are expected to have in this society where all attitudes and reactions, all notions
of worth are designed to entrap one into ownership and the measure of worth in possessions.
From childhood, we are expected to be competitive, to be better than our peers and to live a life of struggle and debt
with one aim, to get the biggest house, the latest car, the flashiest TV and so forth.
In that is a precarious happiness fraught with anxiety and stress with the constant fear of failure.
The Chi Do Chi Kung Massage therapy is a remarkable medium for achieving a relaxation of mind, body and spirit.
When this is done, the whole person is given and ’MOT’ and all the organs, chakras and energy patters are aligned,
corrected and restored as far as possible. The patient is then able to talk freely of the problems or otherwise, their attitudes
and so on within a very, very safe and free environment. The treatment rooms are relaxing and informal, the whole attitude
one of absolute trust.
Coupled with the classes in such as Tai Chi and Chi Kung, the treatment becomes a way of life.
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In the Martial arts one learns to know one’s self and to be put in a very realistic situation and to be taught how
to deal with situations as they arise, how to defuse situations, how to protect others and how to deal with an attack in the
most expedient way.
The arts of Karate, Judo, Aikido, Tai Chi, Chi Kung and the specialist styles created by the Master are explored. The safety
aspects are high on the agenda and whilst the training is relaxed and largely informal with a good socialising atmosphere,
the discipline is strict and the tuition to the highest standards from all the instructors.
Advanced students are taught some Dim Mak, the advanced katas from Tomiki Aikido, Weapons and are instructed in the use
of Boken, Jo and all manner or other likely street fighting weapons.
Students are expected to present themselves prior to the start of a class to prepare the Dojo and warm up. Also, Do declare
any injuries or physical impairment before the classes start. You will probably be asked to complete a health declaration
and to pay a fee to cover the insurance and costs of the lessons.
The rules then are..
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Train for and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Do not aggravate any situation.
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Do not take unnecessary risks.
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Think ahead and do avoid obvious situations.
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Use your instincts and do not ignore your feelings.
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Do not carry obvious targets for thieves.
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Walk confidently.
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Do not rely on anyone coming to your help.
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Learn how to avoid and defuse a situation, to take control and to influence events
in a beneficial manner.
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Strike is NOT the first option.
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Be sure that you are in fact being attacked and react with mercy if at all possible.
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The best defence is ‘No fight’.
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Only attack another person as a last resort in order to defend another who is
being attacked.
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Know yourself.
The following is taken directly from the book of instruction to students. Written by the Master it gives an
overview of much of the course work and details the massage methods , how we deal with viruses and so forth.
Basic philosophy
It is better to learn 6 basic techniques that you can do well than to learn 1000 that do not work.
You will be taught over 200 fundamental techniques and during that you will find your own interpretation of each and those
which suit your personality and physique, your life style and beliefs. It is a supermarket in which you may shop freely. After
that, you will learn hundreds of other techniques, katas or set forms and meditation, self awareness, confidence in yourself
and your ability in order to lead a better life.
It is better to react to achieve position and posture for the response to the attack than to think what you might have
done from the safety of a hospital bed.
The notions which follow an attack are from hindsight. With adequate training under realistic situations you will avoid
the self regret or recrimination, guilt or negativity which may follow. Have no regrets unless you have caused unnecessary
violence or harm to another. Do always what you feel is right and honourable.
It is better to avoid the situation in the first place and to have awareness of those around you or to trust your instincts
than to have to think once the event is taking place.
You will be taught the fundamentals of avoidance, the best methods of defusing a situation and the healing arts will teach
you meditation, calmness and the ability to think without language. This is Muge Mushin or no thought. Once the body and mind
are correctly programmed the techniques will be so fast that you will not remember them nor will your attacker. It takes less
time to drop someone than it takes for their mind to comprehend what is happening.
It is better to live the life than enter paradox or duality.
Be the person who you want to be, not someone else’s implanted conditioning. Do not try to change others. If that
is to happen for the better then it will do so by your example and tolerance.
It is better to learn how to attack and to know the motivation and intent of an attacker than to live a life of submission
and false hope that it will never happen to you.
Some martial arts will try to indoctrinate that it is never your right to hurt anyone ever. That is the right of those
who wish to lead that life. The Chi-Do does not accept that at all and you should not vilify those who believe otherwise.
It is a different way and to simply destroy those who have those beliefs is nothing short of bullying. Within the Chi-Do is
complete understanding of both sides and the ability to be merciful from a position of grace, not fear or panic. The non combatant
position of army padre has seldom stopped them getting shot. That has terminated the opportunity of the good that they may
have done had they lived.
The ability to bully is very tempting and most of us will know the feelings that it provokes in us. Whilst you may not
choose to do so, your attacker or those who provoke you may have these feelings but not under control. In business it may
be an advantage even to think and act in this manner and many politicians or those in power may not have got there without
this ruthlessness. Certainly there are those who deem it necessary and essential for success.
If it is appropriate to absolutely dismiss an opponent with contempt in order to stop a fight with others, then do so.
Do it arrogantly and with panache. It is more merciful than to have to put 6 more in hospital.
It is better to learn how to disable your attacker in an instant than to prolong a fight which should not have started
in the first place.
Be sure that the attack is real, not imagined and do not use more force than is necessary. To strike once may be correct.
To then kick the attacker in the ribs whilst he or she is unconscious is not merciful.
It is better to live a relatively exemplary life than carry in your mind the thought of guilt.
Any concept in your mind that you may have deserved this attack for wrong that you may have done or thought of doing, any
sensation of this being a just retribution for sins will inevitably mean your defeat. Put behind you the things which you
may have regretted and live for the day. You are the person of that day. If you have genuinely atoned for past sin
and lead now a good and unsullied life, then be proud of yourself. Face the consequences and be free.
It is better to learn body language from the outset than to wonder why you might have invited or provoked the attack.
You will be taught in role play and by example how this works. If you act as a victim you will be a victim. A neutral and
non aggressive posture and conduct is taught as part of the syllabus.
It is better to keep yourself fit and to avoid excesses.
Train regularly, practice daily, eat well and do not drink alcohol to excess. Each morning and evening, do the exercises
which you will learn. Enjoy the open air and the pleasures of life.
It is better always to see the best in people than to expect that anyone and everyone is there to harm you.
Avoid paranoia. Most people are good, honest and relatively trustworthy. Do not tell lies or embellish events with unfounded
fact and only comment when it is asked of you. Gossip and muck raking are destructive in all walks of life and lead to aggression,
upset and negativity.
It is better to smile than to frown.
There is an expression that a smile turneth away wrath. Do not be a sycophant or appear to be patronising.
It is better to love than to hate.
Hate is destructive. Love is eternal and uncompromising. If the one that you love will be happier with someone else, then
let go. Better to be friends forever than to live a life of torment. The unconditional love of the healing within this
art is essential.
It is better to be one with the whole than to be a part of that which you do not comprehend.
Understanding may neither be necessary or your right to know but acceptance and unconditional love of all people, their
rights to exist and to conduct their lives in peace is vital to your peace of mind and to the avoidance of conflict.
It is better to own yourself than a possession.
You only need air, food and shelter. The rest you can get.
It is better to be wanted than needed.
Oppression and greed, jealousy and malice come from the need to possess and the insecurity of rejection or preclusion.
It is better to be honoured and respected than to be reviled.
Respect is earned by example and conduct. Do not carry with you any feeling of awe for anyone and do not be intimidated
by rank. No-one has the right to live on their laurels past or for you to comply simply because they expect you to do so.
An ex soldier or one who has died in the service of the country and people as a whole are to be honoured, whether of the winning
or the losing side. Wars are initiated by politicians or land owners, not by the people who want to live in peace.
A good sensai will not expect you to be in awe and the Chi-Do does not accept the concept of ‘willing Uke’
or the right of any sensai to apply force or unnecessary pain during training. A good sensai has no ego to satisfy and the
motivation for that position must be shown to be the good of the student and the development of the art. If a sensai tries
to bully you, deck him or her at once. Do not take it from anyone. A king only rules when others obey...
It is better to learn how to heal than to destroy.
The Yin and Yang of the returning to balance of all nature demands equal prowess and the healing arts have been seen to
be inseparable from the best martial arts for millennia. Chi-Do uses techniques that have been written of since 1100 AD from
cultures that are 5000 years old. There are only 6000 possible ways of moving a body and each art employs a different route
to those basic mechanics. It is the philosophy of each method that defines the art, not necessarily the methodology.
It is better to ask than to assume.
Presumptions are based on incomplete fact or lack of understanding. It is basic tenet of all science that a proposition
or theory has to be capable of proof. So too is it with these arts. Your instructor will be fully versed in the Chi-Do methods
and will not have got to that position unless he or she has been able to demonstrate the ability. No one is given favour.
Both sexes train in equal measure to the same standards and you may trust your instructor as being street wise, as having
asked the same questions during their training. If they are asked what they do not know, it is part of their character to
say so and to ask until the question is answered. Understand that the whole ethos of Chi-Do is knowledge, not blind faith
or the unquestioning following of students. If you can put a technique on your instructors when they do not expect it, the
instructor will thank you for advancement of knowledge.
It is better to train against full force than to be led into a false belief of the effectiveness of a technique.
After the initial demonstration and practice all blows are delivered in a realistic manner with full force. Whilst Chi-Do
is not ‘Full contact’ in the manner of Kick Boxing, you should not be there to receive the blow. Obviously, there
is no element of competition and you must have respect for your training partner. You will learn how to control the blows
so as not to do injury unless you absolutely have to in a real life threatening situation.
It is better to use Chi power than a hammer.
You will learn how to harness and direct the Chi energy. It is present in the body all the time and you will learn how
to instantly summon more from the energy around you. It will not flow as well in tense muscle and your strikes will be delivered
with the power at the point of contact, not otherwise. Relax and use the diaphragm breathing techniques at all times during
your daily life. This will promote good health and contentment leading to the calm ability to deal with situations.
It is better to have a belief than to live in chaos.
Believe in yourself and the rights of others. Follow your belief in a deity, god, prophet, mentor or science or whatever
you will, by your right to discriminate and decide. The creator has endowed you with this right. Not to use it denies your
existence and place in this all being. Follow the concepts of inevitability in all things and the fact that all of us have
a right to exist in peace.
Tony Hardiman 1995 Ó
