Alcohol

[Daniel Madar]

Last night, I went out drinking for the first time in a very long time, with a friend of mine. My buddy is about 6'4" and about 230. Maybe more. He's also in good shape, works out, etc.

The result is that he can drink way more than I can, and I got very drunk indeed.

Towards the end of the night, we were standing in front of a bar, debating the merits of going in, when someone walking down the street decides to start with my friend.

Golden Rule #1 for me kicks in.

Golden Rule #1 is:

Never fight drunk.

Anyway, the guy is trying to face down my buddy, and I'm behind him debating the relative merits of just punching him in the base of the skull, when I figure we can talk our way through it.

Now if you saw the video of the one skater beating up the four losers on the main forum, you saw exactly what the guy was trying to do. That is. win the fight through intimidation. Since my friend and I were not very intimidated, it made him nervous. We were well on our way to talking things out, when the dude's buddy shows up and tries to push me. He fell down, and I said something like: "I'm dead drunk, and you fell down trying to push me. you sure you want to fight me tonight?"


None of that really matters though.

The real question is, doing internal stuff, how do you thing alchohol affects it? Obviously something was working because homey b fell down, but I personally think that alcohol and internal are not a good mix.

[Prairie]

I don't think alcohol and the 'internal' mix at all. However, drinking alcohol in excess doesn't really mix with anything.

Personally, I don't like the way alcohol makes my senses dull. I prefer to remain sharp. ..... but yes - I've over indulged before too. Whoops

[Cody]

I think that alcohol can have bad effects on judgment -- what to do or whether one can do it. Not everyone is affected to the same degree every time. I don't like it, or anything that would take away awareness or clarity (to the extent that it's there, lol). You seem to have done good though.

Okay. It seems you've got good training, absorbed. Alcohol can relieve tension in some. What you did was sink like a stone, just the same and maybe moreso. Whether you turned slightly (inside or out), and/or the guy was tipsy himself is neither here nor there. Fact is, the training you've worked on is part of you.

Cody

[Sam Wiley]

I never fight when I'm drunk because I always end up hurting someone more than I want to. But it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and your training came through for you. Alcohol probably made you relax enough to do the right thing without having to think about it, which is a good thing since you were drunk.

The last time I was drunk and took someone on, I was drinking Mezcal (in fact, I was the one who ate the worm), and this friend of a friend and my roommate started fooling around with my roommate's toy lightsabers. He's really into Star Wars. Anyway, this guy was getting more and more violent and started hitting people with the thing instead of just playing with it, and pretty soon no one would play with him any more. He was begging for someone to "swordfight" with him. So I stepped up. Everyone told him, "you don't want to fight with Sam, especially when he's drunk, you'll get hurt," but he wanted some. So after going round and round with him for a few minutes, he loses it, and starts swinging wildly. I'm doing okay, and I'm even blocking the really nasty stuff coming my way (like strikes aimed at my head, my groin, etc.). But then he hit my hand, right on my thumb, and it started dripping blood. So he backs up smiling (didn't go over too well with me, by the way), and takes a breather. I stood very still, gathering my energy, and when he came back with another flurry, I just stood still and blocked, no attacks. I made the decision to use the blade as if it were my hands. He thrust towards my face, and I used a "whirlwind" technique (a willow tree technique when used with the hands) and redirected his thrust, then spiralled my blade up right into his left eye!

There was an "oooooh!" sound right at that moment, and then the room fell silent...and then the laughter started. Everyone in the room went, "we told you so! What did we tell you? Not to do it! And you nearly lost an eye!" He was bleeding pretty badly, mostly from alcohol in the blood, right on the lower eyelid. A few millimeters higher and he'd be blind in one eye right now.

I saw him a few months later, and he has a wonderful little scar on his lower eyelid. He remembers how he got it, too. But I get the distinct impression he doesn't like me anymore. I wonder why.:confused: :eek: ;) :D

[wufupaul]

I completely avoid alcohol, too many reasons to list here, haha. As far as what you posted, Daniel, one of the reasons I avoid it is because if I do get into a fight, I want to be able to use all my resources, including my mind. :) If I was drunk, I wouldn't be able to think as clear as if I was sober, and my CNS would be running slower.

[Repulsive Monkey]

...will not mix well, and especially when you really need your skills like in the situation you have spoken of.

[Nexus]

Lets see: Beer especially opens up the meridians in the body, allowing you likely to be able to sink more naturally if your body was not already at a state of sung (relaxed awareness). Regardless you seemed to handle the situation perfectly as nobody left seriously injured, perhaps just a bruised ego here and there.

As for alcohol in general, nothing wrong with drinking and relaxing and having a good time, just keep you wits about you and stay out of trouble. Have fun!

[IronFist]

Beer especially opens up the meridians in the body, allowing you likely to be able to sink more naturally if your body was not already at a state of sung (relaxed awareness

So would it be bad to practice taiji or qigong while buzzing just a bit?

Iron

[Nexus]

Originally posted by IronFist
Beer especially opens up the meridians in the body, allowing you likely to be able to sink more naturally if your body was not already at a state of sung (relaxed awareness

So would it be bad to practice taiji or qigong while buzzing just a bit?

Iron

It is entirely up to the practitioner to choose the state of mind and physical sensation they experience during their taiji practice. I can tell you that it has been done before. Also maintain your center about why you practice tai chi. Is it to strengthen your spirit? Does drinking and practicing tai chi contribute to that, is it practical? Try and view your thoughts and questions from different angles, and then make your decission.

Kind Regards - Nexus