On the Way towards Self Mastery
"Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand." (Confucius)
The ancient scriptures and wisdom that inform the internal martial arts such as Tai Chi, Xingyi and Bagua Zhang are rich in profound statements that guide both the physical practice and the inner development of the practitioners. These wisdoms often emphasize the subtle use of force, the importance of mindfulness, patience, understanding of the laws of nature and the self.
The problem is that these statements are often misinterpreted and misconstrued because of a lack of personal experience.
The Lao An system teaches participants to apply the inner principles very quickly.
What is there? What is real?
What can be used and what should be changed?
In the Lao An system, participants embark on a self-analytical journey to the inner source of strength in order to verify the true meaning of these statements based on their own experiences.
The ancient wisdom of the internal martial arts is not just a guide to physical practice, but a deeply rooted philosophical principle that affects life as a whole. It teaches patience, humility, understanding the natural flow of energy and the importance of inner peace. Principles have been proven over centuries and still offer valuable insights for those embarking on the path of internal martial arts.
"Investment in Loss" is one of the central philosophies of the internal martial arts. It encourages practitioners to overcome the ego and focus on long-term gain rather than immediate success. This philosophy teaches that true progress is often achieved by accepting defeat and learning from those situations. In practice, this may mean consciously backing down, giving in, or even taking a weaker position in order to grow and gain deeper insights in the long term. By consciously "losing" in a moment, one invests in the long-term understanding, mastery of the art and the self.
"Investment in Loss"
(吃亏是福, chī kuī shì fú)
"3 Ounces Move a Thousand Pounds" (四两拨千斤, sì liǎng bō qiān jīn)
This statement emphasizes the principle that it is not brute strength that makes the difference, but the ability to use energy efficiently. In internal martial arts, the practitioner learns how to redirect or neutralize the opponent's force rather than meet it head-on. Through fine timing, precise technique, and an understanding of leverage and energy flow, a small amount of force can have a massive impact. This principle shows that it is not the strength of the body that counts, but the understanding and mastery of technique and energy.
"Wu Wei", often translated as "non-action" or "action through non-action", is a Taoist principle closely related to the internal martial arts. It emphasizes the art of acting in accordance with the natural flow of things, rather than fighting against it. In practice, this means that the practitioner learns to recognize and respond to the opponent's movements and energies without offering unnecessary resistance. "Wu Wei" teaches that true strength lies in the ability to adapt to the flow of life and act from that flow, rather than forcing through sheer will and force.
"Wu Wei" (无为, wú wéi)
"Stillness in Motion" (动中求静, dòng zhōng qiú jìng)
"Stillness in Motion" is another central concept that emphasizes inner calm and balance, even in the midst of movement. In the internal martial arts, this means that the mind remains clear and calm even when the body is moving. This inner stillness allows the practitioner to perform each movement with the utmost precision and awareness, without being distracted by external circumstances. This principle promotes the development of a deep inner stability that allows one to remain calm and centered in any situation.
FAQ / Frequently Asked Questions:
FAQ:
What is the Lao An System (LAS)?
The LAS is primarily a therapeutically oriented training system based on internal martial arts knowledge that serves self-optimization.
In LAS you will learn to use the insights (and secrets) of the internal martial arts to free your body and mind from counterproductive patterns and thus optimize them. One of the main focuses is the dissolution of blockages.
Is LAS a martial art?
No. The LAS uses the interoceptive-self-analytical path of the highly mindful internal martial arts to achieve a higher level of self-understanding and to be able to see the self, but also life in general, from a different perspective.
The applications in the field of power transmission and control seem unreal.
Is it all staged?
The power transmissions appear unusual because they are enabled by uncommon (or less well-known) connections between body and mind.
Information about some of the underlying mechanisms can be found on the "Biotensegrity" page. To truly understand, one must gain personal experience through contact with others. These arts have a great deal to do with sensitivity (awareness, mindfulness, interoception, fine motor control).
Can the LAS also be used by athletes, martial artists or in the field of self-defense?
-
The LAS can be interesting for athletes as the body mind connection (the dynamic connection between mental and physical states) and its use for improving performance becomes apparent in special partner exercises. This can be relevant for competition, especially as methods of mental control (breathing techniques, visualizations) are also taught.
-
Martial artists should know that the LAS training methods are friendly and cooperative and meditative and peaceful. There is no sparring, no mats for ground fighting (there may be mats on the wall that we "jinge" our training partners into as a test of the implementation of the internal mechanics), and no weapons training. Nor are forms of Tai Chi taught. A lot of time can be wasted this way without actually understanding. The LAS teaches the essence of the internal styles.
-
Since the exercise program is varied, the knowledge gained from partner exercises is repeatedly applied within a "framework" such as that of Chi Sao (Wing Chun), Push Hands / Tui Shou (Tai Chi) or the flow drills of Kali.
-
LAS can be relevant for interested martial artists in that many of the perspectives or real secrets of the internal styles are passed on. The core art of each participant can be enhanced and given a new quality through knowledge of the "internal" mechanics and the mind-body connection.
-
Self-defense: For women in particular, the LAS can mean empowerment in terms of their own ability to defend themselves, their charisma and their self-confidence. Women learn to compensate for their generally inferior physical strength compared to men by applying biotensegrity (whole-body strength) and observing inner principles. Very few men would expect that a physically inferior person could exert an almost superhuman force on them.
Are there any studies or other evidence of the effectiveness of the approach?
Especially in the field of neuropsychology, for example, the term "interoception" and its therapeutic significance are becoming increasingly common. Further information on the theoretical embedding of the LAS can be found here .