Principles Archives - Chen Style

Master Chen Xiaowang’s Ten Core Theories of Tai Chi

Master Chen emphasizes making Tai Chi more scientific by applying modern principles from disciplines like kinesiology, physiology, biomechanics, psychology, and traditional Chinese medicine. He believes that Tai Chi's past mysticism arose because its internal mechanisms weren’t fully understood. His approach involves systematic explanations grounded in science to make Tai Chi comprehensible and practical for all learners.

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December 17, 2024

Principles

Mr. Li Jingwu’s Treasured “Tai Chi Secrets” Functional Song

- **Seek to Understand Energy through Lightness and Agility:** Yin and Yang harmonize without stagnation. - **If Four Ounces Can Move a Thousand Pounds, Master the Expansion and Contraction:** - Maintain Centering, Flexibility in the Hips, and Understanding of Opening and Closing to Achieve Lightness, Agility, Freedom of Movement, and Comfort. **Harmonizing Yin and Yang without Stagnation:** - Most people start from not understanding Yin and Yang to understanding their separation. I believe practicing Tai Chi aims to integrate Yin and Yang into one. In Tai Chi, Yin is Yang and Yang is Yin. Yin and Yang are abstract representations of opposing elements like force, movement, etc., representing direction, existence, emptiness, and solidity. Harmonizing Yin and Yang means combining neutralization and issuing force into one. For example, when a movement goes up, there’s a downward force simultaneously, like a spring that stretches has a contracting force, and when compressed, it has an expanding force. These forces coexist in one movement, allowing one to maintain centering. Understanding energy is the prerequisite for harmonizing Yin and Yang. **The Body's Main Strengths:** - The body’s main strengths come from two areas: the horizontal force of the hips and the vertical force of the spine. The intersection is the sacrum, connected by strong ligaments to the sacroiliac joint, which is difficult to relax. Most people are unaware of this area. Try using these joints when practicing Tai Chi. Only when these joints move can you achieve expansion and contraction. **Expansion and Contraction:** - Generally refers to paired body parts like shoulders, hips, and hands. Expansion and contraction also describe the Dantian, but not absolutely. The Dantian naturally expands and contracts with abdominal breathing. The limbs rotate and stretch relative to the Dantian and tailbone. This is called both expansion and contraction, with breathing and movement combined.

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June 15, 2024

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Tai Chi and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the human body is an interconnected whole, centered around the internal organs, connected through the meridians that circulate qi and blood, linking to other bodily structures like the sense organs. Within this whole, the internal organs, meridians, and qi and blood are interrelated and mutually restrictive. Under the leadership and coordination of the "Heart - the Monarch's Palace" (the cerebral cortex and central nervous system), they perform various physiological activities, maintaining the balance of yin and yang. Tai Chi Chuan, created based on the theories of yin and yang, internal organs, meridians, and qi and blood, can be summarized in one phrase: "Intention and qi as the ruler, bones and flesh as the ministers." The three adjustments are: adjusting the heart, adjusting the qi, and adjusting the body. The nine essentials are: stillness, concentration, connection, smoothness, sinking, fluency, relaxation, correctness, and integration. During practice, one must achieve tranquility of the mind and spirit, relax both internally and externally, move qi with the mind, move the body with qi, and unify spirit and form, intention and qi. Long-term and consistent practice will thus achieve the goal of strengthening the body. 1. Strengthening the Heart "The heart is the master of the five internal organs and the six hollow organs." Tai Chi Chuan particularly emphasizes "calming the mind and using intention," using the mind to guide movements, thus achieving tranquility of the mind and spirit, concentration of thoughts, and relaxation of the body. This allows the internal organs to function normally and achieve relative balance. A calm mind results in quick thinking and fluent speech. Smooth circulation of heart qi enhances its function of governing blood circulation, reducing and eliminating internal blood stasis. With smooth and abundant blood flow, the complexion naturally becomes rosy.

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May 27, 2024

Principles

I Ching and Tai Chi

The I Ching states, "One yin and one yang are the Tao," and "it is the mother of all things under heaven." Tai Chi embodies the way of yin and yang, originating from the Infinite (Wuji), which generates the Supreme Ultimate (Taiji), and from Taiji arise the two forms, yin and yang. The "Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor" says, "Yin and yang are the ways of heaven and earth, the guidelines of all creatures, the parents of change, the origin of life and death, and the house of divine intelligence. To cure diseases, one must seek their root in the fundamental principles of nature." Yin and yang are the fundamental laws of unity and duality in nature, governing all changes and transformations; thus, they are where life and destruction begin.

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May 14, 2024

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Tai Chi and Five Elements

The word “Tai” （太）meaning “Supreme”, “Ji” （极or Chi) meaning “Boundary” and “Quan” （拳or Chuan) meaning “fist” or “movement”. Together, the term “Taijiquan” meaning a kind of movement to make a power without limit. Taijiquan, or how some people say Tai Chi Chuan, coming from very old Chinese thinking about world and nature. First time people talk about this in “Yì Jīng” （易经）book, very old book from China, talking about how world change and keep balance. This book, more than 3,000 years old, saying everything always changing but follow rules, and balance is important. This “Yi Jing” book and ideas inside it, like “Taiji”, “Yin &Yang” （阴阳）and “Five Elements” （五行), very important for Chinese old thinking, like Confucianism and Taoism. Also, these ideas become big part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Long time ago, more than 2,000 years, “Huangdi Neijing” (黄帝内经）book talk first time about “Yin & Yang” and “Five Elements” for human body and health. This book say human body is like small world, need to keep balance of Yin & Yang energy for good health.

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April 19, 2024

Principles

Three Core Secret of Tai CHi Practicing

Tai Chi Chuan is globally recognized as the foremost martial arts style, epitomizing the quintessence of Chinese martial arts. It ranks among the three major internal schools of martial arts in China—Tai Chi Chuan, Xing Yi Quan, and Bagua Zhang. As a vessel and emblem of traditional Chinese culture, Tai Chi Chuan manifests and interprets the wisdom of traditional Chinese philosophy through the physical form.

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April 11, 2024

Tai Chi

Principles

In Tai Chi Kung Fu Cultivation, “Four Mores” Are the Most Essential and Indispensable Mental Techniques

After a certain period of training, when the body has become suitably supple, the internal strength in the "zhongqi" (central energy) has increased, and the mind has become more alert and aware, a naturally sinking momentum, sensory responsiveness, and a soft yet resilient strength will naturally emerge. Due to these conditions, what is referred to in the terminology of Tai Chi Chuan as "Jin" (a kind of internal force) is experienced. After experiencing this "Jin," learning various push hands techniques and further studying the skill of "understanding Jin" will not be difficult to master thoroughly.

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March 9, 2024

Read more about the article Mr. Li Qiguang’s Notes on Martial Arts Practice Insights

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Mr. Li Qiguang’s Notes on Martial Arts Practice Insights

Practicing boxing emphasizes specialization; through specialization comes mastery, and with mastery comes profound insights and endless discoveries. Consistent practice is crucial; seize every moment to practice. Practicing boxing requires concentration; with concentration comes calmness, and from calmness comes vitality. Not only should one remain calm in stillness, but also maintain calmness in motion. Achieving a calm mind is essential; a calm mind leads to a clear spirit, and a clear spirit leads to harmonious energy. The initial focus should be on relaxation and calmness; relaxation brings agility, which allows for smooth circulation of blood and qi; calmness leads to focus, which is essential for delivering powerful strikes. Therefore, relaxation and calmness are key to practicing boxing. The essence of martial arts is nothing but concentrated effort. When learning boxing, one must not be clever or hasty, as this leads to carelessness and superficial understanding, missing the essence. Constant reflection and examination are necessary; where the mind goes, energy follows, and with energy comes strength. Boxing techniques, ultimately, depend on mental agility.

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February 28, 2024