Good Kung Fu Goes With The Flow Of The Tao

Let’s think more deeply about our Shuang Yang art. Kung fu, when done properly, should reflect the Tao—the Way. It’s the way of things, the way of nature, the reality of existence. We always want to flow with the Tao rather than battle against it, because battling against it is like swimming upstream. It’s much easier to go with the flow, but first, you have to identify the flow.

The old Chinese had the idea that life should flow smoothly, without constant changes of direction, constant crises, or unnecessary drama. They even had a curse: May you live in interesting times. The idea was that an ideal life is drama-free—it flows along, you live your life, drink your tea, there are no problems!

If you look around, you’ll notice that some people’s lives seem to flow well, while others are a disaster, always lurching from one crisis to another. Why is that? It’s because different people are on different wavelengths, moving in different flows. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get yourself to a place where your life flowed smoothly?

To do that, you have to stop blaming external factors. Stop saying, “Oh, this happened to me” or “That happened to me.” Look inward. What kind of energy are you cultivating? You want to cultivate energy that flows smoothly.

Practicing Shuang Yang is your chance to cultivate that smooth flow of energy. It’s your chance to move smoothly—no sudden starts or stops, no sharp corners, no tightness or stiffness. Just relaxed, flowing movement. That’s quite a challenge, and it will take a long time and a lot of practice, but it is achievable. People do it.

When you achieve that smooth, harmonious flow, it comes from within you. You’ve had to align yourself with that wavelength, that flow. When you do, it’s there within you at the deepest level. It’s not something you read in a book or think about consciously—it’s just there. It becomes part of you, your energy, your wavelength. And it will extend into all parts of your life. You don’t have to think about it—thinking about it too much might even ruin it. Instead, you just flow naturally.

When you reach that state, it’s pretty incredible. That’s something worth having.

Where should you start? I really recommend starting by observing your breath. Do you have a smooth cycle of breathing—breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out? Is it in a nice, relaxed flow? Or is it something else? Observe your breath, cultivate your breath, and then build your Shuang Yang practice around your breath. Then you’re on your way!