The internal training required of Taijiquan and other internal martial
arts is often dismissed by some as some kind of esoteric practice. However, it is interestingly to note that
many elite level mainstream sports coaches now acknowledge the critical
importance of the “inner world” of the athletes under their charge. None more so than top sports psychologist
James Loehr, who has trained world-class athletes in many different sports, who
asserts that in the final analysis even the thoughts inside an individuals head
must be considered as a physical aspect to be rigorously trained if they are to
achieve excellence in their chosen discipline:
“This may sound quite shocking
coming from a psychologist, but all the evidence is there. The body is physical; talent and skill are
physical; emotions are neurochemical events and are therefore physical; and
thinking and visualising are
electrochemical events in the brain and are also physical… let’s get it
straight once and for all: thoughts and feelings are physical stuff too; they
are just as real and every bit as fundamental to achievement as talent and
skill” Loehr, 1995).
Constructive Thoughts and Practical Applications
Left are some images from Asian Martial Arts: Constructive Thoughts and Practical Applications. This commerative book marks the end of publication of The Journal of Asian Martial Arts. There is a preview of the book on Amazon. Congratulations to editor Michael De Marco for his great work over the years! If you love traditional martial arts - support this project!
