Somatic Systems News

Former Full-Contact World Champion
Founder of Cheng Hsin Internal Martial Arts
Best-selling Author

-Amplify your understanding and performance of internal arts such as Aikido and T’ai Chi Ch’uan.

-Elevate your interactive skills essential for competitive arts such as Judo, Karate, MMA and Boxing.

-One of the most important and unique martial arts workshops to come to Japan!





PETER RALSTON was raised in Asia and began studying martial arts at the age of 9. Cross-training in multiple arts decades before such an approach became fashionable, by 20 Peter held black belts in Judo, Jujitsu, and Karate, had been Sumo champion at his high school in Japan, Judo and fencing champion at UC Berkeley, and had demonstrated proficiency in Kempo, Chuan Fa and Northern Sil Lum Kung Fu. He went on to study Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing I Chuan, Pa Kua Chang, Aikido and Western boxing. Through his training, Peter sought the principles that lead to effortlessly effective interaction, both in martial arts, and in all activities.

In 1975 Peter founded the Cheng Hsin (“true being”) School of Internal Martial Arts. In 1978, to demonstrate the effectiveness of his approach to martial arts, Peter entered the World Championship full-contact tournament held in the Republic of China; winning with an ease and grace that brought comment from the other participants. He was the first non-Asian to win, a special feat that did not go unrecognized in the international martial arts community.

Today Peter has a retreat centre in Texas and teaches workshops all over the world, sharing his hard won understanding to all, free from dogma and fantasy. It is rare to find a martial arts master, rarer still to find a martial arts master who is also a master teacher. With over 40 years of teaching experience, Peter Ralston is a highly trained and insightful facilitator, freely and openly teaching what he has learned from years of insight and direct experience.

CHENG HSIN martial art is not just a collection of techniques, tactics and strategies. It is an inquiry into the nature of skill itself. Cheng Hsin is Peter Ralston’s unique solution to communicating the principles that made him a world champion: principles that lead to incredible skill in martial arts, or any interaction.

Peter’s teaching transcends all styles and forms of martial arts, and will greatly benefit your progress in your current art. This event is a unique experience and offers the possibility of tremendously deepening your martial skill. With seven to eight hours of training each day, Peter’s tools include a wide variety of exercises, games, explanation and exploration. If you are serious about developing as a martial artist, you will not want to miss a moment of Peter’s teaching.



CHENG HSIN VIDEO

Boxing Evasion
Uprooting
Throws
The Cheng Hsin Endeavor
Honesty

Books by Peter

Zen Body-being: An Enlightened Approach to Physical Skill, Grace, And Power

Cheng Hsin: The Principles of Effortless Power

Cheng Hsin T'ui Shou: The Art of Effortless Power

Ancient Wisdom New Spirit: Investigations into the Nature of "Being"

Reflections of Being

WORKSHOPS

I. Introduction to the Art of Effortless Power
14th & 15th Feb 2009, 09:00 ~ 19:00 (With rest and lunch breaks, actual daily training time of about 7-8 hours.)

Peter’s Cheng Hsin work is rooted in the three arts of Tai Chi Chuan, Aikido, and Pa Kua Chang, with strong influences from arts such as Judo, Jujitsu, boxing and others. In this workshop you will learn the foundations: developing body structure and energy use, effortless power, uprooting and throwing, footwork, and evasion skills. Martial interaction will be introduced through game playing.

II. Advanced Applications of the Art of Effortless Power
16th ~ 18th Feb 2009, 09:00 ~ 19:00 (With rest and lunch breaks, actual daily training time of about 7-8 hours.)

This workshop builds on the fundamentals acquired in the previous workshop as you learn to neutralize aggression, blend with forces, and disrupt the balance and power of attackers by projecting them through space or throwing them to the ground. Skills are transferable to a striking context, and habits developed in this practice will greatly enhance your abilities in any striking art as well as grappling/throwing arts.

III. Boxing
21st & 22nd Feb 2009, 09:00 ~ 21:00 (With rest, lunch and dinner breaks, actual daily training time of about 8 hours.)

The principles of Cheng Hsin applied to techniques and tactics within the art of boxing. Peter is an excellent boxer and he will share with you his unique approach for developing truly skillful boxing. Learn to use effortless power in your punches, and develop skills in dodging and footwork. Ninety percent of boxing skill lies in the mind, therefore we will also work on perspective, perception, and training the mind as well as the body.

PRICING & REGISTRATION

FULL WORKSHOP
Benefit from all 7 days of Peter’s martial teaching (I, II & III) ¥113,500 (¥94,500 with deposit plan)

ART OF EFFORTLESS POWER
Cheng Hsin fundamentals plus 3 more days of advanced training (I & II) ¥93,000 (¥77,500 with deposit plan)

EFFORTLESS POWER & BOXING
Cheng Hsin fundamentals plus boxing (I & III) ¥79,000 (¥66,000 with deposit plan)

SINGLE MARTIAL WEEKEND
Learn the fundamentals of Cheng Hsin or develop your boxing skills (I or III) ¥44,500 (¥37,000 with deposit plan)

PREPAID DEPOSIT PLAN - Pay 50% of your workshop fee by 15 October 2008 and the remainder by 15 December 2008 to enjoy the best the price for Peter’s teaching. (Prices listed in parentheses above.) Please note: Places in the workshops are limited and those who have submitted payments will have precedence. It is strongly recommended to register and send a deposit immediately to ensure your spot. All fees paid are non-refundable unless the workshops should be canceled by the organizers.

TO REGISTER - Please email your name, address, occupation, phone number, email address and desired workshop(s) to:
info@somatic-systems.com
Please send payments to:
Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Azabu Branch Regular Account #4730164 -
Somatic Systems (株) Daihyou Torishimariyaku Tani Kaori
PayPal is also accepted, please email for instructions.

VENUE -
Intro to Art of Effortless Power (14 & 15)
　　Bukkyo Dendo Center Building 8th Floor
　　4-3-14 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
　　2 minute walk from subway Mita Station A9 exit
　　　(Mita & Asakusa subway lines)
　　6 minute walk from JR Tamachi Station West exit



Advanced Art of Effortless Power (16-18) & Boxing (21 & 22)
　　Theatre1010, Marui Building 10th Floor
　　Kita Senju Station West side, Tokyo
　　1 minute walk from Kita Senju Station West exit
　　(JR train lines & Tokyo Metro subway lines)




Depending on numbers and interest of Japanese participants, part or all of the workshop may be translated to Japanese.

BODY-BEING EXTRA! - Peter will also teach a 3 day (Feb. 11th ~ 13th) movement and awareness workshop based on his book ‘Zen Body-Being’. Anyone attending any portion of the martial workshop will receive 10% off the Body-Being workshop fee. It is an excellent prelude to the martial training. For information about the Body-Being workshop, click here.

For a PDF of the martial arts flyer, please click here.

For more information about Peter Ralston, please visit www.chenghsin.com and Wikipedia.

This is Peter's first time teaching in Japan, do not miss this special opportunity!!