The Essence of Taikokyu from a broad perspective. It is said that the way that we nurture our lives is the acquiring that one keeps oneself as fluid and flexible and viable as possible. One should not stay still for too long, nor should one exhaust oneself by trying to perform impossible tasks. One should learn how to exercise from nature by observing the fact that flowering water never stagnates and a busy door with active hinges never rust or rots. Why? Because they exercise themselves perpetually and are almost always moving. Lao Tsu, Chinese Philosopher This of course is the essence of the aphorism: “The Rolling Stone gathers no Moss.” 転がる石に苔むさず Korogaru ishi ni koke musazu. Taikokyu aims at keeping our bodies essential fluids like our blood, our hormones, our lymph and our vital energy circulating and doing what it does best; work to carry the vital life, force energy through the body as essence connective highways. Our prime focus then, through the gateway of Taikokyu, is internal, not merely external. By getting our Essence moving, like a flowing mountain stream, through deep focused (kokyu 呼吸 breathing, balanced and rhythmic physical, exercise and movement (undou運動). The body and breath are then harmonized, and our vital energy is circulated from head to toe through every organ system, and into all the tissues, fascia and cells of our bodies. There are many priceless lessons from the great Masters that have gone into the making of our body breath awareness. The distilling down of all of this beautiful gifts and lessons has given Taikokyu the Essence of its principles. Our natural rhythmic movement is the foundation for cultivating Our Life Essence and our energetic response to daily living. The moderation in which we practice brings balance and is truly the key to the stabilization of all systems working harmoniously. Hard and strong versus soft and pliable. 強弱柔剛 Kyoujyakujugo When we are born, we are soft and flexible; when we die, we grow hard and rigid. So it is with all things under the great spirit.

When we think about breathing, we must always remember the fundamentals of what breath is to sustain life. Fact is we can go for a long period of time without food and even long periods of time without water, but we can only live for a few moments without air. Even when we consider going out there for a few moments, one cannot help but think of the amazing Pearl divers off the coast of southern Japan. The Ama 海女 can work for long periods of time collecting seaweed and shellfish, especially abalone. But they are only holding their breath for up to two minutes per dive, but in very harsh conditions. Nonetheless, the most important thing to realize is that breath can never be taken for granted and its connection to our life and overall health is not just important it is essential. Having said this, the nutritional value of breath itself is far more vital than the life essence we receive from food or water through our digestion. What’s most important is a breathing influences the bodies bioelectric balance just his diet influences the biochemical balance Basically our breathing apparatus is capable of dualistic function those functions are both cleansing like detoxing and literally cleaning the air as it’s breathed through the sinuses as they act as a filtration system. Then of course our inhalation is energizing by charging the body with a vital nutrients it gets from the air itself. When our breath is used as a cleansing or detoxification element the body cycles the air out through exhalation and this is releasing into the atmosphere things like carbon dioxide. Why this is is because as we breathe oxygen in to energize the cells in our body the process that takes place creates carbon dioxide as a byproduct. This is exactly why our body exhales carbon dioxide as it is considered byproduct waste. The fact is our exhalation breath contains many volatile organic compounds as they are sometimes called VOCs. There are more chemicals, besides carbon dioxide in these byproduct accelerations chemical such as: acetone, ethanol, and other alcohols; methanol, isoprene, ketones, water, and even hydrocarbons.

Are working. I could use a nap thanks to the hyperventilation I’m now receiving! Domo @Jay Sensei Soké!

Working through class. Sorry I missed it.