Athos Antoniades Graded to 9th Dan Kenpo Taiji
Athos has been awarded '9th Dan', a great honour in Kenpo Taiji
Kenpo Taiji is a progressive system and Athos has been awarded his 9th Dan for internalising it to its highest level ever. Having previously introduced 'Reptilian Brain', 'Eagle Vision', 'Dim Mak', 'Fa jing', 'No Mind' and 'Sub conscious reflex action' into the system, he has now introduced the concept of INTERNAL STILLNESS and CONSCIOUSNESS.
Internal Stillness is the very essence of who we are, consciousness itself before it manifests into any form, whether it be physical, thought, emotion or perception.
The student is taught through the practice of 'Internal Training' methods, such as Tai-chi, Wuji, San Sau, Chi kung and others how to gain internal stillness by being Sung. This will have the effect of gathering the unmanifested chi into our Dan Tien, our psychic energy centre. Our Consciousness will then become the awareness which becomes the space for whatever is happening to us in the Here and Now, the present moment. Our mind will be free of all concepts, including the concept of 'non-violence', if the situation warrants it (if we are attacked for instance), sudden violence will be a spontaneous sub-conscious reflex action. Our response will not be from thought, something we do not have the luxury of in a fight, but from a state of conscious presence, a spiritual awareness. You can in fact say that God is doing our fighting for us!
Just like any wild animal we would be violently aggressive on the outside but calm within, reacting to any situation with maximum aggression, power, speed and perfect timing, not anger.
We would never resist any situation but, in the way of the Tao, adapt accordingly, as any resistance will cut us off from 'Being', the only place of true power. Resistance is weakness and fear masquerading as strength.
By accepting surrendering and adapting to any situation we stay present, allowing the light of consciousness to transcend the person, therefore, guiding us to maximum efficiency.
Whilst many Kenpo instructors are still struggling to understand and teach 'sub-level' 4, which simply means fighting at a subconscious level, which is the only level that real fighting can take place anyway as it is totally illogical and you cannot apply logic (conscious brain) to an illogical situation! Athos has for the first time elevated the Art to unprecedented levels by introducing the Superconscious into it.
Some have jumped onto the bandwagon and are claiming to teach the internal, but not having had over 25 years training and teaching in the internal as Athos has, they really, are wide of the mark. Others have been wiser and invited Athos to do workshops on his work with great success. He has indicated that he will be only to pleased to assist any one who approaches him get on to the right path and guide them accordingly.
Those outside the Martial Arts community are now taking an interest in his work. He was recently invited by the Welcome Trust (a major interest in researching the brain) to do a workshop/seminar on 'Martial Arts and the Inner you'. Several hundred people attended.