What are IMA missing or the 250 year old man

[edededed]

I don't think that IMA will make you live much longer, besides helping to cure certain ailments and such that could cause one to go earlier than wanted. Lifestyle, genetics, and other factors are still very strong here. However, IMA can make one active and healthy to the end of one's life.

Incidentally, I have noticed that a lot of praying mantis (northern) practitioners seem to pass away fairly early...

[Alexander]

bunch of A-holes.. you guys miss the point of this entirely.

The oldest recorded living human without controversy is the 122 year old frenchman. So, the question still begs. What do IMA miss if anything since they all die in their 70s +-

Haoran,
I've discussed this in depth with some other people.

Obviously your longevity is a product of genetics & lifestyle ( to put it simply ). My family has a history of people living to ~ 100 years of age. I knew my great grand mother, until she died at 98. My great uncle lived to be 113 (Yes, 113). No one could give me a straight answer about whether Taoists *actually* live longer.

No offense -- but I have friends living in China, and they have often told me that the Chinese are fond of elaborating their ages to perpetuate old longevity myths. Afterall, Chinese are supposed to live long, right? "Ancient chinese secretttt"

Here's what IMA WILL do for you:


In my opinion -- IMA will keep you strong well into your old age. It's not uncommon (Imho one of the true myths..) to hear about internal martial artists who are strong as an ox until the day they die, and who can still keep up with their students. Such was said of Sun Lu-Tang until the day he died.

For instance, check out Sun Zhijun. Not too shabby at 75!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrPmAxE0WpY

He's still moving pretty loosely, fluidly, he picked up a student (albeit a small, asian one..) and looked to have no problem.

Training daily until your old age mostly does one thing for you: it keeps your body in motion. Some of the problems that we suffer today are from lack of motion (e.g. not opening and closing the door, so the hinge rusts - remember that saying?). The internal martial arts are pretty good about stretching and utilizing all parts of the body, so hopefully that helps you retain functionality into old age.

[Darth Rock&Roll]

martial arts, or rather, any exercise regimen will vastly improve your quality of life in your autumn years.

Longevity is quite a lot about genetics and a goodly portion about lifestyle, but don't sell genetics short.

a machine unused is a machine that rusts and grows stiff.

[Strange]

i need to get my hands on Gorgeous Pill (TM Pending)!
wazzaaaaaahhhhhh~!!!!

[Chris Fleming]

Some like Sun Lu Tang were the ones who actively chose to die when they did, as in, telling their family that they are going to be passing on later that day while they were still in a full picture of health. That is seriously different from dying of old age in one's 70's. There's a book called Graceful Exits which had many such cases from Hindu, Chan, Tibetan, etc traditions where the masters would decide they were done.

[RobP2]

bunch of A-holes.. you guys miss the point of this entirely.

You mean there is a point other than the one on the top of your head?

[GrahamB]

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

[Strange]

her her her

[Dmitri]

you guys miss the point of this entirely

Well perhaps if you picked a slightly smaller number for your title, people wouldn't treat your post as a joke.

What do IMA miss if anything since they all die in their 70s +-

By far not all, -- there were/are plenty of IMA masters who lived (AND practiced) well into their 80's and often 90's and at least one Tai Chi guy that I know of (and everyone else I'm sure knows too), TT Liang, lived till 102.

But anyway, as others pointed out, the relationship between IMA and longevity is a rather tangential one.

[Alexander]

Some like Sun Lu Tang were the ones who actively chose to die when they did, as in, telling their family that they are going to be passing on later that day while they were still in a full picture of health. That is seriously different from dying of old age in one's 70's. There's a book called Graceful Exits which had many such cases from Hindu, Chan, Tibetan, etc traditions where the masters would decide they were done.

Actually, he didn't choose when he was going to die. Although I've heard of the phenomenon you mention (e.g. masters passing in the lotus position), every reference I've read to Sun Lu-Tang's death said that he learned of his death through the study of the oracle of the I Ching. E.g. a prophetic type circumstance (or so the legend goes), not simply saying "Well, I feel good now, might as well die!"

[Chris McKinley]

Haoran,

Sorry if I was among those that missed the droll humor in your post. Still, you ask: "So, the question still begs. What do IMA miss if anything since they all die in their 70s +-". Who says that that means that IMA is missing anything? In fact, where, objectively and scientifically, do we get the notion that IMA are supposed to have the ability to extend human life? Sure, it's part of the folklore of CIMA, but so are many other things that are folklorish, embellished, or even purely fantastical.

Every culture contains such content. Perhaps the difference is that certain elements of Chinese culture, i.e., IMA practitioners, still cling to them as true on faith even to the current day, whereas most first-world advanced cultures across the globe, perhaps including most of the rest of Chinese culture, have long since recognized such folklore for what it is. Rather than deny and disown those elements in their own cultures, they have learned to embrace them, even celebrate them, for what they are....fanciful tales of exaggeration that make great entertainment and that capture a whimsical, enjoyable and unique facet to the given culture.

In terms of the reality of it, there's no need to accept and believe all the folklore tales of IMA in order to recognize their demonstrable and provable, if somewhat less epic, benefits as a form of exercise and meditation.

[Haoran]

Hey Chris,

My point of this all is the feeling that most MA, including IMA are unbalanced because they are only focusing on the fight, the training for the fight, etc. That perhaps, because of this approach (training for fighting only) causes excessive stress on the body thus causing a negative where a positive could be the outcome. Question, how many IMA schools include "yin" training in their programs? Meditation, energy cultivation, diet?

On the other side of this, there have been some well aged boxers but do they continue training in their 50s, 60s, etc?

[Alexander]

Hey Chris,

My point of this all is the feeling that most MA, including IMA are unbalanced because they are only focusing on the fight, the training for the fight, etc. That perhaps, because of this approach (training for fighting only) causes excessive stress on the body thus causing a negative where a positive could be the outcome. Question, how many IMA schools include "yin" training in their programs? Meditation, energy cultivation, diet?

On the other side of this, there have been some well aged boxers but do they continue training in their 50s, 60s, etc?

Boxing is a bit different. From what I've heard (someone please correct me if I'm wrong), the types (and numbers) of punches that are involved in boxing are far more damaging to the brain than what is seen in modern MMA sport fighting.

Ali was incredible in his prime.. not so hot now.

[Dmitri]

IMA [...] are only focusing on the fight, the training for the fight, etc.

Oh hell no he did'n...
TELL 'IM, CHRIS!! TELL 'IM HOW IT REALLY IS!!!

[qiphlow]

i prefer to not to worry about how long i will live, but how well i'm living my life.