The Damo Mitchell Podcast

A podcast by Damo Mitchell on the common question of 'should you lift weights alongside practicing internal arts such as Taijiquan or Qigong?' 

Many past and contemporary masters of Taiji have said that you should lift weights at all when practicing Taiji whilst an equal amount of teachers have said the opposite. This can cause confusion and so Damo attempts to answer this question from his own perspective and experience. 

Damo chatting with his father, Paul Mitchell, in Somerset, UK. They discuss the nature of classical martial arts training, the modern movements towards sports fighting, the history of Japanese Karate and approaches to both learning and teaching these systems. 

Paul has practiced and taught Japanese and Chinese systems of practice for many years in the South of England. 

Damo Mitchell in the forests of Sweden, chatting about the recent explosion of poor mental health which resulted from the Covid era. He looks at the nature of believing ones own mind as well as how extreme visualisation within the internal arts may contribute to a loss of sense of reality. 

The main section of the podcast talks about the difference between the paths of 'sensation' and 'cultivation', two roads that are presented to a practitioner when they first start out within an art such as Qigong. 

A podcast (as requested) on the topic of Baguazhang and the underlying principles of the system. Damo Mitchell discusses the similarities and differences between Baguazhang and Taijiquan. Further discussion then looks at the following principles of Baguazhang training:

- Yi and Qi

- The Baguazhang body

- Static postures

- Circle walking

- Common errors

The discussion covers the theory of developing the body prior to learning any of the forms of palm-changes which are usually what is demonstrated and what most people know as Baguazhgang. 

A very niche podcast here. This one is looking at the quality of touch in Taijiquan pushing hands. Damo discusses the difference between 'grappling' style push hands and 'subtle Qi type' push hands practice. The mechanics behind pushing hands and the internal arts in general are looked at as well as the nature of Qi within these arts, the place of 'somatic empathy' and the problem with 'empty force' style practice. 

Damo Mitchell discussing the phenomenon of 'speaking in tongues' which is commonplace within many Christian traditions but also within Qi Gong and Nei Dan schools. He discusses the nature of religion, his own approach to religious practice, the idea of attachment and the necessity for recognising transience when approaching the spiritual path. Another random chat whilst Damo is on the road in the United States. 

Damo Mitchell doing a late night podcast on the idea that 'a spiritual awakening is a painful and chaotic process'. 

Damo explores this idea and explains why he doesn't see this as an accurate statement as the suffering is unrelated to the awakening process itself. He also looks at the nature of suffering when on the internal path, the nature of 'going inside' as well as a common form of Qi deviation which is similar to a psychotic break. 

Damo Mitchell responding to many of the questions he is asked on semen retention and sexual Qi Gong. He discusses two different reasons for semen retention - rationale from an alchemical/energetic perspective and then rationale from a meditation perspective.

As a rule, he is anti the practice of long-term semen retention for the sake of it. What is important is the correct intention behind it, understanding the pros and cons of it and recognising the importance of discovering normality of sexual activity. He looks at these factors as well as the risks of such practices

Damo Mitchell looking at the development of the group here in Bali over the course of the third semester. This is a talk about the overall plan for student development over the previous 18 months and then onwards into their future. The students development is based on working through external mechanics, then on into Dan Tian and Qi development followed by learning to develop the 'internal body' of arts such as Taijiquan and Xingyiquan.

Adam Mizner & Damo Mitchell chatting about various aspects of Yang Taijiquan...