What is the philosophy of Chinese Medicine? Whew! That is quite a question, but briefly speaking the ancient Chinese believed we all possess a life force or energy called Qi, pronounced Chee. They believe that the Qi flows through 12 channels or meridians in the body. When this energy is blocked or out of balance then the disease state occurs. When this Qi is in balance then disease cannot exist. What is Chinese Herbal Medicine, and should I be concerned with taking prescription medicine with my herbal medicine? That is a very good question. You should be concerned with whatever substances you put into your body. That is the reason you would want to consult with your Doctor, and have your Doctor talk with your Herbalist to minimize any risk. But one should also remember that herbs are food, and herbal formularies are concentrated forms of food. Side effects are much more likely with pharmaceuticals than food. Chinese medicine places a large emphasis on proper exercise and herbal formulas, much more than acupuncture. That is why at Holisitc Hands you can consult with a Master Herbalist, versed in western as well as Chinese herbalism. What is cupping therapy? Cupping is the placement of jars, either glass or plastic, with suction on acupuncture points. This works by creating micro trauma at the site, then when the body’s defense mechanisms begin to heal the small trauma there, it will also facilitate healing the rest of the area. It is generally not painful, but the patient will feel some pulling of the skin. What is Moxabustion? Moxabustion involves the burning of the herb mugwort, often on the acupuncture needle itself. At Holistic Hands we use the liguid form of the herb and spray it on the body, and or the needle, and the heat from an infrared lamp is used to heat the moxa into the body. This form of therapy is very beneficial for those with stiff and aching muscles who experience a lot of cold, such as cold hands and feet, and an aversion to cold. Many people fear the insertion of needles will be painful, but most patients report only very minor discomfort, which quickly goes away. Sometimes the needles are electrically stimulated which can be even more effective especially for various types of muscular pain, known in Chinese as bi (bee) syndrome. Why do you only teach adults? I have been to many martial arts schools in the area and most of their students are under eighteen. That is precisely why. We do not think there is anything wrong with teaching kids, believe it or not, I was a kid once myself! But plenty of people are doing it, and doing a very good job. We wanted to offer the culture, philosophy, and beauty of the art to adults, in a mature and sophisticated, realistic way and that can hardly be done when there are a mix of kids and adults in the same class. How can you structure a class just for me? We take into consideration what you are looking for in an art. If you are in a class for learning how to stretch and strengthen you back for instance, we can find the right Qi Gong class to suit your needs plus show you some generalized movements that you can add to a Qi Gong routine which would have the effect of calming your mind, slowing your breath, and stretching and toning your soft tissue. May I take Tai Chi and Karate in the same hour? No. Time doesn't permit and it would be too confusing. However, you can combine self defense with these arts and the Qi Gong for each art is always included. May I take more than one class per week? Yes, a student may take as many classes or book as many hours of instruction as they can handle. Do I have to spar or fight in a tournament? No, of course not. We teach adults here and, while sparring and competing in tournaments is a great way to learn and appreciate the martial arts, it is not the only way. Those things are good for kids; it teaches them sportsmanship and how to compete in a good way. But we are not trying to teach discipline per se; we are helping our more mature students to understand the realities of personal combat and gain an appreciation of the art they've chosen to study.  Do I have to buy any special clothes or uniforms? No. We offer professional instruction here and the client may choose to participate to whatever level they feel comfortable. Is it possible to get rank? Yes. Currently you may get up to the rank of Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Shorin Ryu Matsumura Sokendo and up to Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Jiutien Zhidao. There are some requirements for achieving rank, however. We require membership in the International Matsumura Seito Society and there is an annual fee of $25 to belong to that organization. If I choose to pursue rank is there a testing fee? Yes. The fee is $30 for ranks below black belt and $125 for black belt and above.