The Damo Mitchell Podcast

Damo chatting about his recent trip to the United States (Maryland, Washington DC and Louisiana) as well as his views on American/Western media. He also looks at one of the prime principles for developing within the arts - this is the principle of organising 'practice intent' according to the idea of Cause, Effect and Conditions. Not filmed in the usual Podcast spot due to being on the road in the USA still. 

In this podcast, Damo Mitchell discusses various aspects of understanding qi, including the complexities and dangers of oversimplification. He explores the concept of qi in martial arts, the power of belief and its effects, and the negative impact of the internet on discussions about chi. Mitchell also shares his personal journey of encountering chi and reflects on the process of self-reflection and unraveling attachments in the exploration of qi.

In this episode, Damo and Adam Mizner are in Bali, chatting about the nature of cultivation and what place the various arts such as Taiji, Qigong and Meditation play on this path. They discuss their personal entry into Taiji, the nature of pushing hands, Zhong Ding, meditation and more.This episode was filmed on a day off after they had been practicing together for the month of April in order to further develop their skills and help each other out in their practice. TRIGGER WARNING: To those easily offended by such things, alcohol features in this podcast!

In this episode, Damo is giving his personal opinion on the recent 'tongue sucking' scandal involving the Dalai Lama. The nature of cultural differences are looked at, along with public shaming, honest mistakes, red flags for abusive behaviour and the dangers of attributing divine qualities to humans, no matter how kind they may seem. It is important that people don't jump to sensationalised opinions whenever something unexpected happens, but we should also not ignore potential risks as nobody in a position of power should be above scrutiny. 

Damo talks about his experiences of finishing the first week of a five year long martial arts retreat in Bali. Over five years, a group will be going deep into both external and internal martial arts, meditation and medicine. After the first week, Damo sits down and discusses his first impression of teaching the retreat and the mindset behind the people in attendance. 

In this episode, Damo is testing out new sound equipment and talking about power issues in Qigong, Taijiquan and associated arts. He looks at the nature and difficulty of teaching, why teachers are so controlling and why they spend so much time badmouthing all of their rivals or perceived competition. Damo also discusses his experience of the politics of training in China and spending time with Chinese masters.

Dive into the fascinating world of Daoist philosophy and its connection to Chinese medicine. Discover the Wu Shen, or the Five Spirits, as a model of fragmented psychology rather than divine spirituality. Explore the nuances of Taoist language, especially the significance of `Shen` for beginners. The discussion highlights the importance of personal experience in Daoist practices, emphasizing how individual insights can shape understanding. Tune in for reflections on spiritual growth and hints at future controversial topics!

In this episode, Damo is chatting to his good friend, Joey Nishad. Joey is a Yang Taiji practitioner who gives his view on training, teaching, the internal arts scene and the arts in general. The discussion then goes on to Joeys experience at the recent ‘Martial Man Camp’ held in Chiangmai before it gets personal with a look at mental health in the internal arts. 

Damo Mitchell chats with his father, Paul Mitchell, a seasoned martial artist. They discuss the evolution of martial arts training, cultivating internal energy, authenticity in teaching, and the challenges of discussing esoteric phenomena. The conversation delves into the spiritual growth through martial arts practice, the importance of balance and connection in training, and the journey into Taiji training.

In this episode, Damo is on his own and chatting about the importance and weaknesses of lineage, systems and traditions. He looks at the nature of spiritual practice, awakening and how this takes place according to the various methods contained within traditional training.