Hamilton Jiulong Baguazhang

This is a good article.

“To learn martial art, you must have Wu de (Martial Morality). Wu de is of utmost importance.
Martial art is not about getting fame or fortune.
To learn martial art is to live in the Tao. If you separate from the Tao, then you will lose the way.”
– Grandmaster Wang Yongquan

“Yang Family Tai Chi Master Wang Yongquan believed in acting according with Wu De (Martial Virtue). He had a noble character and possessed great martial skills, and known for being virtuous and excelled in martial arts. He was honest, compassionate, sincere and dedicated. He liked learning martial arts and was an enthusiastic teacher. He did not care for fame and lived a simple life.

When he talked about other martial arts styles and practitioners, he always pointed out their specialties in positive terms and never negatively. He said, every style has their unique features and advantages, it does not matter which style, if on becomes proficient in it, then its good.

When challengers visited,, he treated them with respect and stopped without boasting his achievements and without embarrassing others. When he took on students he looked for virtuous characters.

He taught wholeheartedly and did not withhold information. When he tested their hands, after Fajin, he would grab the opponent’s arm, to prevent them from falling down. If anyone had trouble understanding he would patiently explain again.” – Editor’s note

from Wang Yongquans Writings on Yang Style Tai chi — feeling peaceful

Translate by Richard Man

TaichiExaminer Bridging Science and Tradition: Dr. Bronwen Nishikawa’s Internal Arts Journey

Some more good information about the lymphatic system.

🌬 The Diaphragm: The Hidden Bridge Between Breath, Lymph & Emotion

By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS
Lymphatica – Lymphatic Therapy & Body Detox Facility

💚 Introduction: The Organ You Feel Every Second, But Rarely Know

Most people think of the diaphragm simply as the muscle that helps you breathe.
But what if I told you — it’s not just a muscle, it’s a rhythmic organ of flow that connects your lungs, heart, lymphatic system, and even your emotional state?

Every inhale and exhale is a pump — not just for air, but for lymphatic drainage, circulation, and calm.
When your diaphragm is restricted, your lymph slows, your nervous system stiffens, and your body begins to whisper: “I can’t release.”

🌿 Anatomy of the Diaphragm: The Body’s Internal Bridge

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped sheet of muscle sitting right below your lungs and above your liver and digestive organs.
It’s literally the bridge between your upper and lower body, separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

When you breathe deeply, the diaphragm descends, massaging your liver, gallbladder, and stomach while pressing fluid through the largest cluster of lymphatic vessels in your torso — the cisterna chyli.
This movement creates a wave of detox, helping the body move lymph, waste, and emotions upward and out.

💫 The Diaphragm & The Lymphatic System

Your diaphragm is the heartbeat of your lymphatic system.
• With every breath, it acts as a vacuum pump, drawing lymph upward from the abdomen toward the thoracic duct.
• When you hold your breath (from stress or shallow breathing), lymph stagnates — leading to bloating, fatigue, and inflammation.
• Gentle, rhythmic breathing keeps the lymphatic flow alive, which is why your lymphatic drainage sessions feel more powerful when you pair them with deep breathing.

🌸 The Emotional Diaphragm

This organ doesn’t just move fluid — it moves emotion.
Have you ever felt your chest tighten when you’re anxious? That’s your diaphragm protecting you.
It holds emotional tension like a shield between your heart and your gut.
When it softens, tears, warmth, or even tingling can follow — that’s your body releasing what it’s been holding.

Trauma, fear, or chronic stress can cause the diaphragm to “freeze,” creating shallow breathing patterns that limit oxygen, lymph flow, and self-regulation.
This is why breathwork, prayer, or gentle lymphatic therapy can feel profoundly healing — they unlock the diaphragm’s flow.

⚗️ When the Diaphragm is Restricted

Common signs include:
• Tightness in the chest or upper abdomen
• Shortness of breath or sighing often
• Acid reflux or bloating after meals
• Swelling in the upper abdomen or underarms
• Fatigue or feeling emotionally “stuck”

When the diaphragm can’t move freely, both circulation and lymph drainage slow down, creating a physical and energetic congestion.

🌿 Supporting Your Diaphragm
1. Diaphragmatic Breathing – Place a hand on your belly. Inhale through the nose for 4 seconds, feel the belly rise, exhale slowly. Repeat 5–10 cycles daily.
2. Lymphatic Therapy – Gentle drainage at the thoracic inlet and abdomen releases the fascia surrounding the diaphragm.
3. Posture & Movement – Stretch, open the ribcage, and walk regularly to keep the diaphragm flexible.
4. Emotional Release – Crying, laughing, or singing are natural diaphragm exercises — each resets the nervous system.
5. Castor Oil Packs – Placing one over the upper abdomen softens the connective tissues and supports deep drainage.

🌺 Final Thoughts

The diaphragm is more than a breathing muscle — it’s the spiritual metronome of the body.
It keeps rhythm between body, mind, and spirit.
When it moves freely, lymph flows, digestion awakens, and the heart feels lighter.
Every deep breath is a message to your body:
“I am safe. I am flowing. I am healing.”

Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.

A lesson in humility

Founders Day 2025

Jicheng Shifu Yancy Orchard, lineage holder of the Daoqiquan Health and Combat Arts once again hosted our annual Founders Day celebration at his school in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. I attended in my capacity as an instructor of Nine Dragon Baguazhang in Toronto along with instructors and students from other schools in Canada, the United States, and Australia, to commemorate the legendary founder of Daoqiquan, Lama Zurdwang more than 400 hundred years ago and the Li family masters who followed in his footsteps to the present day.

Although Daoqiquan was for centuries a family art, it was my teacher, Shigong John Painter who, with the blessings of his teacher, Li, Long Dao, began teaching the arts to the public over 50 years ago and opened his school in Arlington, Texas, for the annual celebration before formally passing the lineage to Shifu Orchard.

Perhaps it is because Daoqiquan was a family art to begin with that Founders Day has always felt to me like a family gathering instead of a stuffy formal affair. Shifu Orchard and his exemplary students welcomed we out-of-towners with the kind of warmth and generosity that comes from the heart. As always, there was an excellent teaching program that left me wishing I had a bigger brain to store all the quality material presented by Shifu Orchard.

Thank you, Shifu Orchard and thank you to your dedicated students for all your work, kindness, and dedication to keeping the art I love alive.