image adapted from Smith
& Pittman's excellent book
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Brian Milani is longtime
student of internal martial arts, particularly Tai Chi and Bagua, but also strongly influenced by the standing
practices of Yiquan (Mind Fist) and the philosophy
of aikido.
More of my
specific martial arts influences are explored further below. But first I should mention more general
influences. Spiritually, I've drawn on the
'in-the-world' practices and perspectives of Taoism, Mevlevi
Sufism, Zen, Krishnamurti, Gurdjieff,
and others. Philosophical influences
have included Karl Marx, Lewis Mumford, Thomas Berry, Christopher Alexander,
George Leonard, Sri Aurobindo, Dane Rudhyar, Jacob Needleman, E.F. Schumacher, and Ken
Wilber. Ecologically,
politically, and economically, my many influences have included Barry
Commoner, Angela Miles, Fred Block, Wayne Roberts, John Todd, Ken Geiser,
Paul Sweezy, Murray Bookchin,
Hazel Henderson, Genevieve
Vaughan, Ed O'Sullivan, David A consistent concern of mine has been in exploring the interconnection between individual and social change—especially in a historical and evolutionary context. This webpage is intended to bring together some favourite thoughts, clips and links relating to the "internal martial arts" of Chinese boxing, like taijiquan (tai chi chuan, or "Great Ultimate Fist"), baguazhang ("Eight Trigrams Palm"), and xingyiquan ("Form of Mind Fist"). They are elements of what have been called "transformative martial arts" (mind-body disciplines geared to change—personal, social or both) that can include many martial arts, traditional and otherwise—from capoeira to aikido to escrima and more, depending on how and why they are practiced. I am a former carpenter-builder and
social activist who writes and teaches on green economics, green business,
and community development at York University's Faculty of Environmental
Studies, and at OISE of the University of Toronto. I currently study Jiulong
Baguazhang with the Mind-Body Training Institute in
Toronto, and attend tai chi sessions at Cecil St. Community Centre. This page is mainly for fun, and will evolve sporatically, but any suggestions or comments are welcome: bmilani (at) web.ca |
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Writing and thinking
somewhat relevant to martial arts "Kung-Fu Crisis: Martial Arts in an Age of
Transformation," forthcoming essay "New Productive Forces and
Emerging Human Potentials,"
Chapter 4 of Designing the
Green Economy: The postindustrial alternative to
corporate globalization, Roman & Littlefield, 2000 "The New Ecology of Politics,"
Chapter 5 of Designing the Green Economy: The postindustrial alternative to corporate globalization,
Roman & Littlefield, 2000 "Transformative Learning and the Tao of
History: Spirituality in the Postindustrial
Revolution," Into
Mountains, Over Streams: International Journal of Qigong & Taiji Culture online; (in 3 parts) May 18, 25
and June 1, 2011; [essay originally written for the OISE TLC, spring, 2001] Paths Beyond
Domination: THE WALK OF LIFE: Centre, Circles, Power & Blending in Bagua and Tai Chi, powerpoint
presentation, Transformative Martial Arts seminar, OISE-UT Transformative
Learning Centre, July 2, 2008 Principal Martial Arts Teachers |
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Tchoung Ta Tchen (Sifu T.T. Tchoung) Yang
style Tai Chi Chuan Vancouver
1980-82 |
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Master Yau-Sun
Tong Yang style Tai Chi Chuan Nova Scotia 1984-87 |
early 80s: Master
Tong (right) with his teacher Grandmaster Gu Liu-Xin |
Morris, Maria 
