I had a great conversation with newfound friend (and community member) Shaun Beastman Anderson over on his site at - https://www.skool.com/the-lotus-vault-3538/virilitas-podcast-ep-3-2 He has a great presence on Skool, well worth checking out- and we had a great and far ranging talk covering many topics. Have a look and post some reactions, I would love to hear what you all think.

I am in the process of getting my next set of programs together- I have ideas of what to present, but thought I would get some input from the community- What aspect is most important/interesting to you all? What would you like to see emphasized? Let me know in the poll, and in comments if you would like as well.

to all the mothers out there, and everyone who has one. Hope your days have been stellar!

The emphasis of the next program will be QiGong as it relates to the Martial Arts of TaiJiQuan (Tai Ch'i) and BaGuaZhang (Bagua). So I am taking this opportunity to say a few words about the relationship of QiGong to Martial QiGong. QiGong is literally Qi Work, or Qi Skill. Gong is the same word/concept as what is commonly pronounced "Kung" as in KungFu and with the addition of "Fu" means "a skill that has been acquired over time". This is an important concept. It takes time. It is a skill. It requires effort. This is an argument for Martial QiGong. I see many examples of non martial QiGong. Some is good, some is frankly kind of empty. With Martial QiGong, there is an expectation of a test. A push. A pressure. It doesn't need to be violent, it doesn't need to be fighting, but it does need to *work* on some level. There is a feedback mechanism. If, for instance, I am performing a blocking movement, intended to block someone striking at my face, but I do not cover my face with it, then it is incorrect. Not for a vague or abstract reason, but because it is an ineffective block. This is where the Martial Art becomes useful. It has built-in efficiency, it has a testable attribute that you can verify through experience. It has a right way and by necessity a wrong way. So while *Qi* and *Energy* can be nebulous concepts, Martial QiGong has the benefit of at least having that structure, the possibility and the idea that it can be tested, even argued about from a basis of experience. It is a *skill*. I am not here to denigrate anyone's practice, but I will say that Non-Martial QiGong lacks that testability. There is much that is out there that is full, real practice with great benefit. The difficulty being that without that testability, anyone can say anything, suggest possibilities and capabilities of any magnitude, and the hopeful novice can be in danger of falling prey to the many who would deceive them. Led to wave their arms and envision, without touching the real internal.

this is an interesting article about the present- the Now is crucially important to Martial Arts - when do we move? when do we wait- action or reaction ? Understanding our perception of Time and some of the tricks our brain uses to keep us going are very useful to reflex, reaction and decision making. Have a look https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/present-momentreal-science-says-right-now-bookbite/59337/