Who is Bodhidharma? Traditional practitioners of karate and kung fu know him as the legendary founder of Shaolin Kung fu. Buddhists know him as the first Zen patriarch. He is a powerful master of the body and the mind. But that’s about all martial artists know about this enigmatic monk.

Apparently he is relatively unknown in India, historically teeming with famous Hindu spiritual gurus, yoga and Indian martial art masters. Perhaps that’s why Tamilians from Bodhidharma’s kingdom – where he was born a prince before traveling to China — in Southern India are excited to rediscover their nearly forgotten hometown hero.

At TanDao we hope to reintroduce the deeper meaning of Bodhidharma’s spiritual teachings that is forgotten in today’s martial arts to complement Bruce Lee’s popular fighting interpretation of Shaolin.

As this serendipitous going viral video indicates – The Wheel has turned. Hello India – Tamil Nadu, we hear you!

More on Bodhidharma

Power and Peace,

What is more powerful a boxer’s right cross, a JKD straight or a karate reverse punch? How does the grappling of systema, krav maga or jujitsu compare? Whether your style is aikido, wing chun, capoeira, or JKD, there are inherent strengths and weaknesses.

Comparative combat is vital for today’s martial artist. Though sentiment may lead us to feel otherwise, there is no ultimate system. Despite the infinite variety of techniques – kicks, punches, throws and joint locks – there are universal principles underlying them all. A kick between the legs is the same whatever the style. Right?

Unfortunately the indiscriminate adaptation of “absorb what is useful” or “use it if it works attitude,” often creates superficial understanding of movements. Worse, it diminishes the depth of much traditional knowledge. In the name of universal principles there is a simplistic reduction of the techniques as it’s “all the same.” We simply cannot appreciate the ingenuity of methods that require decades of training to realize. At the same time, we must recognize the aspects of traditional teachings that are antiquated for today’s lifestyle. Finding this balance is challenging.

Comparative combat is more than believing that there are universal principles behind all systems. Do you know the differences between a Thai, Tae kwon do, Goju or JKD round kick? They are similar – but different. They employ different biomechanics. For students this may be confusing. So we must learn to ask critical questions on technique, tactics and strategy. What are the differences? How do they generate power? Why are they different? What are the strength’s and weaknesses? And, so what?

We must study the differences between the variety of techniques and styles before we can discover universal principles. For Evolving Martial Artist seeking the Way of Movement, comparative analysis leads to seeing the same technique with new eyes. Gives you the edge.

Keep practicing, exploring and adapting,

TanDao Fight Lab’s Within the Flow, introduces Tan’s Dazzling Hands (TDH, the internal stage of TanDao) dynamic free flow movement. Graceful and fluid.
“Hao kan, bu hao yong,” is a Chinese phrase that means: “it looks good, but is useless.” We realize that to modern reality based fighters, who view martial arts through the eyes of science, these soft circular moves appear flowery and utterly unrealistic for combat.

Yet to those initiated into the secrets of traditional form, these natural and spontaneous impromptu internal hand techniques conceal functional self protection techniques and practical tactics. To those with eyes to see, know that Shaolin and Daoist masters encoded principles of biomechanics, physiology, kinesiology within these flowery motions. But the keys to deciphering them were guarded.

So despite the appearance of softness and elegance, there is martial power. Are you aware of the secret keys and specialized training tips needed to adapt these dynamic free flow moves to brutal combat? And besides hidden martial power, the ancients knew that within the flow of the internal life force energy or qi are powerful ways to promote health, longevity and personal transformation.

Let go!
Discover power
Within the flow