AboutKen Gullette Expertise I am a senior level (black sash) instructor in the American Tao System of
Internal Arts. We study and practice the internal arts of Chen Tai Chi, Hsing-I Chuan, and Baguazhang. I also study and teach Chi Kung (Qigong) and Chin-Na.
I began studying martial arts in 1973. I was 20 years old, a college student, and was inspired by Bruce Lee and the Kung-Fu TV show. My first teacher was Grandmaster Sin The in Lexington, Kentucky. I studied Shaolin with him.
During the 1970's I also studied Taekwondo with Master Randy Chambliss. In the early 80's, I studied Tien Shan Pai Kung-Fu (wushu) with Karen Vaughn in Cincinnati.
I met Sifu Phillip Starr in 1987 when I moved to Omaha, and earned a black sash in his Yiliquan system. He taught me the basics of Hsing-I, Tai Chi and Bagua.
In 1998, I began studying Chen Tai Chi with Jim and Angela Criscimagna. They are indoor disciples of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang. I've also learned from Grandmaster Chen and his brother, Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing, the head of tai chi training in the Chen village, Henan Province. Their ancestor, Chen Wangting, created tai chi about 350 years ago. I have also learned from Mike Sigman and other very good instructors.
I have a website, www.internalfightingarts.com, where I teach all three internal arts online to students around the world. The site is very video intense.
Eastern philosophy, especially Zen and Taoism, are very important to me. I am
developing a means of explaining these philosophies to Americans in plain English so they can apply them to daily life in the 21st Century USA. I call it American Tao. I am 55 years old and enjoy competing in tournaments, often sparring young black belts (and even winning occasionally). I can answer questions about the internal arts, chi kung, tournament competition, philosophy, and keeping fit after the age of 40 or 50.
Experience I've taught tai chi for 11 years and studied much longer. I've learned from some of the world's best. My DVDs are praised by martial artists around the world.
I teach online through my new online school at www.internalfightingarts.com.
I have competed in many tournaments. I won two national titles at the 1990 AAU Kung Fu Nationals.
Question Ken
The conception vessel is numbered from bottom to the top. The microcosmic
orbit has it running as a continuation of the governing vessel which makes it
go from bottom lip to the perineum. The little qigong I have done it seems to
move the energy both directions at different times and yet the rest of the
channels run the same direction consistently. Could you shed some light on
this for me?
Thank you for your time.
Mark
Answer I have always done the microcosmic orbit starting at the dan t'ien and moving down, then up the back to the top of the head, down the front and back to the dan t'ien.
Remember, when you do exercises such as the microcosmic orbit, you will feel many different sensations. That doesn't mean what you are actually feeling is what is happening. The mind and body create sensations of things that aren't necessarily there. For example, if you are unable to sleep at night and lie in bed, imagining yourself in a boat on a lake, you'll soon feel the rocking of the boat in the water. That doesn't mean you're on a boat. Another more extreme example would be hypochondriacs. They actually feel aches and pains when there is no reason for it (they want and expect to feel aches and pains and so they do).
The microcosmic orbit is a great mental visualization tool that helps you calm yourself and ease stress. You learn to channel your mind and develop the ability to calm yourself in a tense situation (or self-defense situation). When you ease stress, your body functions better. That's the main reason to do chi kung.
Otherwise, you shouldn't believe everything you read about the ancient science of it. This has never been proven, in objective clinical trials where people didn't have a stake in the outcome, to actually be fact. But it certainly has its benefits.
