Is Tai Chi really difficult to practice? What is the hardest part to learn?

Ancient Tai Chi manuals clearly state that all movements in Tai Chi are formed in response to the opponent's actions, thus lacking the fancy, bizarre, and complex proactive skills found in some external martial arts. In this sense, Tai Chi is actually simple and easy to learn. However, even the simplest actions can be challenging. For example, who can't walk? Everyone thinks walking is simple, but tightrope walking is essentially walking. How many people in the world can walk on a tightrope hundreds of meters high above a canyon? Hence, walking also involves difficulty and tricks.          Indeed, no matter how clear and straightforward the principles and techniques of any skill in the world, learning it involves difficulty and tricks; mastering any skill to a high level is even more challenging. Learning Tai Chi is naturally difficult and requires tricks, and for the average person, the difficulty can be quite substantial, even insurmountable for some, hence the saying, "Many practice, but few succeed." Can this situation be changed? Of course.

Continue ReadingIs Tai Chi really difficult to practice? What is the hardest part to learn?

The root of rootlessness, the form of formlessness, is indeed the best realm of Tai Chi!

The "Classic of Boxing" states, "Its root is in the feet, issued through the legs, directed by the waist, and expressed in the fingers." This indicates that the root is in the feet, with the axis in the waist. The waist being the axis shows that Tai Chi is a circular movement, and it's a three-dimensional spherical movement. The rolling of a sphere, where every contact point on the sphere can neutralize the opponent's force, leading the opponent into emptiness, and can strike the opponent, making it impossible for them to defend.       Those who practice Tai Chi have this experience, such as when lifting the cat step or splitting the leg, the contact point on the solid foot transitions from the little toe to the big toe, then to the inner side of the heel, and finally, when it lands on the outer side, the center of gravity is the most stable, and lifting the empty foot is the lightest. If the toes grip the ground fixedly without change, it will inevitably become rigid and lose balance. This is true for lifting the foot as well as for issuing force, practicing boxing, playing hands, and pushing hands techniques, all requiring the yin and yang movement of the soles of the feet. When the body is in motion, how can the center of gravity on the soles of the feet remain unchanged? Relaxed, resilient, with the skill of using minimal force to move a great weight, all require taking advantage of opportunities and situations, being agile and circular, to truly understand energy.

Continue ReadingThe root of rootlessness, the form of formlessness, is indeed the best realm of Tai Chi!

Tai CHi Master Lu Zijian at 118 years of Age

Lu Zijian was a highly revered master of Tai Chi and internal martial arts, whose life spanned over a century, living from 1893 to 2012. His longevity and mastery in martial arts made him a legendary figure in the realm of Chinese martial arts. Born in Yichang, Hubei Province, China, Lu Zijian demonstrated an affinity for martial arts from a young age. His journey into the world of martial arts began with learning from local masters in his youth, and as he grew older, he sought out more renowned teachers to further his skills. Throughout his life, he mastered various styles, including Tai Chi, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, and Qigong, among others.

Continue ReadingTai CHi Master Lu Zijian at 118 years of Age

Learn Tai Chi Basic Required to Defend Against Opponents

  Mental Aspect "When two people engage in combat, each harbors a desire to win. They quickly engage and strike with bravery, similar to an eagle swooping into a chicken yard. The fists must display imposing might from all directions, feet must tread the central earth, looking down on the opponent as if no one else exists. Dominate with spirit, conquer with skill, respond to the enemy with action, exhale with noise, disrupt the enemy's intentions, and bolster our own momentum. Head must butt, hands must strike, body must press, steps must surpass, feet must kick, spirit must intimidate, and breath must assault. Actions must be spirited, every move precise. Practice with emotion, use with inherent form. Aim for 'internal spirit, external ease.' Calm the mind, consolidate the breath, gather the spirit. A calm mind keeps the breath from rising, maintaining a good state of relaxed and sinking form. Consolidating breath prevents spirit from leaking, creating a profound momentum. When exerting force, this increases strength

Continue ReadingLearn Tai Chi Basic Required to Defend Against Opponents

Can it still fight? Unveiling the truth behind the evolution of Tai Chi

The simplification and focus on health aspects have greatly influenced the transmission of Tai Chi's martial arts and techniques. The more challenging and bias-prone Taoist qigong has been diluted, replaced with the safer, modern practice of push hands. 1. **Background of Traditional Martial Arts Not Evolving into Combat Sports**      Tai Chi, and traditional martial arts as a whole, have encountered significant difficulties in contemporary times. Originally combat-oriented, traditional martial arts have shifted towards sports, fitness, and health in the modern era. However, with the rise of various attractive fitness programs, the market for traditional martial arts has shrunk. In recent years, traditional martial arts have been under scrutiny.

Continue ReadingCan it still fight? Unveiling the truth behind the evolution of Tai Chi

After Practicing for a While, How to Further Improve Your Tai Chi Level?

After a period of training, the body becomes appropriately supple, the central Qi (energy) increases internal strength, and the mind gains clear awareness. Subsequently, a natural sense of relaxed heaviness emerges, along with intuitive sensitivity and a soft yet resilient power. The effect of these conditions, in terms of Tai Chi terminology, is called "Jin" (force). Experiencing this force and then learning various pushing hands techniques and further studying the skill of "understanding Jin" can lead to sudden enlightenment.

Continue ReadingAfter Practicing for a While, How to Further Improve Your Tai Chi Level?

The Essence of Tai Chi Push Hands

Embracing the circle and maintaining unity, from Wuji emerges Taiji, and from Taiji returns to Wuji, from nothingness comes existence and returns to nothingness. The whole body relaxes, each joint seamlessly connected. By adapting to the opponent's immense and abundant force, bending when necessary and extending when possible, against rigidity I remain soft, I follow when the opponent resists, rendering their relentless assault ineffective, graceful as bamboo swaying in the wind, using softness and flexibility to remain stable under fierce attacks. "The way that can be told is not the eternal Way; the name that can be named is not the eternal Name." All lies within the natural shifting and handling of Taiji, where movements reveal agility within stability, embodying the boxing classic's saying, "Let him bring forth all his strength to attack me, I only redirect a fraction to control his might," utilizing minimal force to overcome great strength, achieving softness overcoming hardness through evasion and engagement.

Continue ReadingThe Essence of Tai Chi Push Hands

Ba Gua Zhang Popular Question & Answers

Why do practitioners of Baguazhang constantly walk in circles? Baguazhang, also known as Turning Palm, is vividly described by some as the "Millstone Door" due to practitioners' continuous left and right rotational walking in circles. The Bagua Song by Master Dong Haichuan goes: "Travel the ends of the earth with the primordial qi, the true essence of Bagua is my domain, every move does not stray from the change of feet, standing still is deemed to have fallen to the ground." The constant walking in circles, rotating left and right, is a major characteristic of the Bagua martial art school, making it unique, efficient, and an important skill.

Continue ReadingBa Gua Zhang Popular Question & Answers