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Tai Chi

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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Principles

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

Li Dao zi

Principles

Tang Dynasty Taoist Li Daozi’s Seven Levels of Tai Chi Internal Cultivation Practice

In the "Great Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Personalities," only Li Daozi's proficiency in "Nirvana Sutra" and "Abhidharma" is recorded. This matches exactly with the records in the "Biography of the Ten Powers," which mentions his expertise in "Nirvana and Abhidharma." However, the dictionary does not mention Li Daozi's other areas of knowledge. In contrast, the "Biography of the Ten Powers" provides detailed accounts, describing him as proficient in literature, martial arts, medicine, and the Yi Jing, covering a broad range of skills including "Nirvana, Abhidharma, the Huang-Lao teachings, promoting the teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism." Yet, there are no records of Li Daozi's writings in historical materials. The "Biography of the Ten Powers" specifically highlights Li Daozi's martial arts achievements, namely his creation of the "Wuji Life-Preserving Martial Arts." It also details the theoretical foundation of this martial arts system, identifying it as crucial for understanding the origins of Tai Chi theory,

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February 27, 2024

Tai Chi

Principles

Incredible guides Hong Junsheng : Tai Chi Upper, Middle, lower rules

The tongue should lie flat against the upper palate, preventing the mouth from drying and excessive saliva production. Some suggest the tongue tip should touch the upper palate, allowing saliva to flow and be swallowed. However, this might interfere with proper breathing during practice. A flat tongue position is recommended.

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October 17, 2023

Tai Chi

Principles

Tai Chi Principles, Wu Yuxiang’s Classical Teachings Explained

　The basic principles of traditional Tai Chi are simple to say but difficult to put into the body: calm the mind, remove unnecessary tension, distinguish empty from full, keep the body connected, let the feet and legs support the movement, use the waist to direct it, and allow the hands to express what the whole body is doing. After practicing Tai Chi and other Chinese martial arts for more than forty years, I have become less interested in how beautifully someone can repeat these principles and much more interested in whether they can actually show them when they move. The current ChenStyle author biography records more than four decades of hands-on martial arts experience, including training, competition, judging and exchanges with senior practitioners. 　Many of these ideas appear in what we now call the Tai Chi Classics, especially the writings associated with Wu Yuxiang (武禹襄) and the Wu-Li tradition. The old texts are short. Sometimes a single sentence contains enough material to keep a serious student busy for years. That is one reason I think reading them as a list of inspirational quotations misses their real value. They were meant to guide practice.

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August 4, 2023

Tai Chi

Principles

Why Tai Chi Moves in Circles: Roundness, Neutralizing & Power

In Tai Chi Quan, defense is also an attack, and an attack is also a defense. One cannot apply Tai Chi Quan's methods to attack without being able to use those same methods to defend. Since every movement involves circles, the more profound the skill, the smaller the circles become. Sometimes the movements are imperceptibly circular, encompassing both defense and attack. Therefore, in push hands exercises, one must be attentive to "listening to energy," which means practicing sensitivity and touch to feel the opponent's force. By sensing the direction of the incoming force, one can use half a circle to defend and the other half to attack. This is what is meant by "stickiness" in Tai Chi, which is the same as "adherence" or "following."

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August 3, 2023

Principles

Tai Chi Empty or solidness ?

The importance of Tai Chi's emptiness and fullness or soilds foot stepping, and openness and closure, are equally crucial. Regarding the whole body, there is emptiness and fullness. When the left side is full, the right side is empty, and vice versa. This means that if the left half of the body is full, the right half is empty, and if the right half is full, the left half is empty. Additionally, the body can be divided into upper and lower halves, with the waist as the boundary. When the upper body is full, the lower body is empty, and when the upper body is empty, the lower body is full. These combinations create a complex interplay of emptiness and fullness throughout the body, forming what is known as "full within emptiness" and "emptiness within fullness," as well as…

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August 3, 2023

Read more about the article How to Change Force in Internal Martial Arts ?

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How to Change Force in Internal Martial Arts ?

To transition from External Martial Arts to Internal Martial Arts, one needs to change the way force is utilized. As Huang Baijia said: "Zhang Sanfeng excelled in Shaolin and then transformed to Internal Martial Arts. This is known as Internal Martial Arts. If you grasp either of these, it is enough to surpass Shaolin." The phrase "transform to Internal Martial Arts" means converting the external muscular strength to internal power. However, even in different stages of training in Internal Martial Arts, there is still a need to change the way force is used.

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July 29, 2023