Rodney Yee: challenged to a duel! 
(image courtesy of USA Today)
the terms:
- fight: mixed martial arts sparring — w/headgear/mouthguard and/or light gloves…no going for the eyes or groin (Rodney)!
- OR yoga endurance: who can sit in full lotus longer?
the idea:
recreate legendary fight in oakland between bruce lee and wong jack man
except this time instead of san francisco versus oakland, it’s oakland versus berkeley — the scrappy newcomer versus the icon.
i will play wong jack-man, exponent of the northern shaolin style.
mr. yee, we fashion as the flashy and tempermental “bruce lee”.
who won between bruce lee and wong jack-man? who do you think would win between me and rodney?
let’s review the stats:
Rodney Yee: challenged to a duel!
|
Me |
||
|
|
|
|
| Height |
6′0″ |
5′7″ |
| Weight |
150 lbs (gotta hit that ghee) |
155 |
| Training | ||
| # of Workout Videos |
0 |
his style is: “known for its use of props”! (first line of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyengar_Yoga)
and Gaiam is a “lifestyle company” that creates media content, information, experiences and products that appeal to consumers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaiam)
here’s more about my yoga training and style:
The Vinyasa Method
the eight (ashta) limbs of classical Raja Yoga, as outlined by Pantanjali in the Yoga Sutras, and Ashtanga (upper-case ‘A’), which refers to the subject of this article. The eight limbs connoted by the word ashtanga refer specifically to the eight spiritual practices outlined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra:
Yama [moral codes]
Niyama [self-purification and study]
Asana [posture]
Pranayama [breath control]
Pratyahara [sense control]
Dharana [concentration]
Dhyana [meditation]
Samadhi [contemplation]This style of yoga is characterized by a focus on vinyasa, or a dynamic connecting posture, that creates a flow between the more static traditional yoga postures. The vinyasa ‘flow’ is a variant of Sūrya namaskāra, the Sun Salutation. The whole practice is defined by six specific series of postures, always done in the same order, combined with specific breathing patterns (ujjayi breathing).
A standard Vinyasa consists of the flow from chaturanga, or plank, to chaturanga dandasana, or low plank, to urdhva mukha svanasana (Upward-facing dog), to adho mukha svanasana, or Downward-facing dog. The purpose of vinyasa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. It also improves flexibility, as well as tendon and hard tissue strength, allowing the student to practice advanced asanas with reduced risk of injury.
There are six series altogether. Each sequence typically begins with 10 Sun Salutations and the standing poses. This is referred to as the “opening sequence”. The student then moves to either the Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A, B, C, or D, depending on his or her skill level, finally closing with a set of inverted postures, referred to as the “finishing sequence”. Ashtanga Yoga is traditionally taught in Mysore style (supervised self practice), where each student moves through the practice at his or her own pace and level. In the West, it is more common to find classes devoted to a specific series, and guided by an instructor.
Sources and Additional Info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtanga_Vinyasa_Yoga
Surya Namaskara - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Strike a Yoga Pose: Sun Salutation A
Strike A Pose: Sun Salutation B
Sun Salutation B - City Yoga Instruction Sheet
What does kung fu have to do with it?
“This Plum Blossom fist form moves, as the name implies to the eight directions”
Pa Kua Pattern - Eight Directions From the Yi Jing
“To go forward you must think of backward, to push upward you must remember downward. The kung fu practitioner should never lose sight of this concept. True kung fu requires the mind to perform opposing tasks simultaneously.”
http://www.plumpub.com/info/Articles/art_TMmeihua.htm
“There have always existed special physical exercises specially designed to break energy blockages in the body, remove tension and rigidness and to acquire and make vital energy flow thus leading to not only a physically healthy and happy life but freedom from negative forces. These exercises were and are certain forms of ethnic dance, moving meditation like Tai Chi and certain forms of yoga correctly taught and, the martial arts. Understand that the current forms of these arts have other motives and their ancient goals have been all but forgotten and therefore their benefits drastically reduced.”
http://www.plumpub.com/info/Articles/art_ansaribody.htm
Bodhidharma: a South Indian monk who journeyed to southern China (420 - 550 CE) and subsequently relocated northwards @ the Shaolin Monastary.
When he arrived Boddhidharma was appalled to find the monks fat, and without the ability to even stay awake during his lectures. In addition, the monks were unarmed and easy pray to bandits when they attempted to go out into the world to teach. So they decided to stay in the safety of the monastery. This explained one reason that Buddhism was no longer as widespread as it had been.
Recognizing the ability of tea to help a person stay awake has made tea a part of the practice of zazen.
Bodhidharma created an exercise program for the monks which involved physical techniques that were efficient, strengthened the body, and eventually, could be used practically in self-defense. When Bodhidharma instituted these practices, his primary concern was to make the monks physically strong enough to withstand both their isolated lifestyle and the deceptively demanding training that meditation requires. It turned out that the techniques served a dual purpose as a very efficient fighting system, which evolved into a marital arts style.
His system involved dynamic tension exercises. These movements found their way into print as early as 550 A.D. as the Yi Gin Ching, or Changing Muscle/Tendon Classic. We know this system today as the Lohan (Priest-Scholar) 18 Hand Movements, which serves as the basis of Chinese Temple Boxing and the Shaolin Arts. Many of the basic moves of both tai chi chuan and kung fu can be seen in the scenes recorded on the walls of the temple.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhidharma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin_kung_fu
These skills helped the monks to defend themselves against invading warlords and bandits. Bodhidharma taught that martial arts should be used for self-defense, and never to hurt or injure needlessly. In fact, it is one of the oldest Shaolin axioms that “one who engages in combat has already lost the battle.” Bodhidharma also taught medicine to the monks and arranged for Chinese doctors to come to share their knowledge with the Shaolin. In three years the monks became so skilled in both the martial arts and medicine that they start to be feared and respected by the bandits. This went a long way toward continuing the spread of Buddhism and Zen thoughout China and the rest of Asia.
http://nawabprodigy.blogspot.com/2007/05/martial-arts-its-origin.html
Additional Info:
What is chi?
“Following the battle with Lee, Wong would train in the internal styles until he had developed such chi power that he can, according to Peter Ralston, a former student of Wong and the first non-Asian to win the Chinese Martial Arts World Championships in Taiwan, take a punch to any part of his body without injury or even discomfort. As for Wong’s offensive capabilities, they have apparently never been tested.” - EBM Kung Fu
Although everybody has chi, few people have much of it, and fewer still know how to express it. But according to the Chinese, this precious elixir can be cultivated and controlled through the exercises of the internal martial arts styles.
Specifically, they say chi can be brewed in the tan tien, a spot about an inch below the navel. Once the tan tien is filled, the chi supposedly spills out into other parts of the body, where it is stored in the marrow of the bones. It is said that as a martial artist develops chi energy, his bones become hard, his sinews tough, is muscles supple and relaxed, which allow the chi to circulate freely through the body.
Chi usually takes much longer to develop than muscular strength, but it is considered a much more formidable energy. In normal times it is said to serve as a source of extraordinary vitality and as a guardian against my diseases. And in battle, it is said to provide a person with awesome power and near invulnerability.
http://www.kungfu.net/brucelee.html
what is prana?
Prana is a Sanskrit word that refers to a vital, life-sustaining force of living beings and vital energy in natural processes of the universe. Prana is a central concept in Ayurveda and Yoga where it is believed to flow through a network of fine subtle channels called nadis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prana
what is pranayama?
Pranayama (Sanskrit: pra-n.a-ya-ma) is a Sanskrit word meaning, lengthening of the prana or breath. The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Pra-na, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and “a-ya-ma”, to lengthen or extend. It is often translated as control of the life force (prana). When used as a technical term in yoga, it is often translated more specifically as “breath control”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama
the three minds:
The three minds are: the real mind, the brain-mind and the ego-mind. The real mind is the consciousness of the heart or part of the soul, the door to superior world and divine guidance. The brain-mind has a lot of different important functions but is not the origin of thoughts, intelligence or creativity—it’s basically a machine. The brain-mind receives instructions from either the real mind or, more commonly, from the ego-mind. The brain interprets the information it receives and in turn sends instructions to the body. The ego-mind is by nature, emotional, reactionary and defensive. For our objectives, it’s necessary to learn to identify with and use the real mind.
The developmental process for achieving freedom from the dominance of the ego and its illusory state and tension, requires spiritual practices and the assistance of someone who’s been there. There have always existed special physical exercises specially designed to break energy blockages in the body, remove tension and rigidness and to acquire and make vital energy flow thus leading to not only a physically healthy and happy life but freedom from negative forces.
These exercises were and are certain forms of ethnic dance, moving meditation like Tai Chi and certain forms of yoga correctly taught and, the martial arts. Understand that the current forms of these arts have other motives and their ancient goals have been all but forgotten and therefore their benefits drastically reduced.
http://www.plumpub.com/info/Articles/art_ansaribody.htm
Yoga: In Modern Culture
The practice of Yoga asana has been popularized by the entertainer Madonna, who is a student of the Vinyasa style. British musician Sting, a Kundalini and Tantric Yoga devotee, has also contributed to the popularization of Yoga practice in the West. One of the more popular Yoga practice video features actress Ali McGraw, also a long-time practitioner.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtanga_Vinyasa_Yoga#The_Vinyasa_Method
