Explore the art, philosophy, and incredible benefits of this ancient practice for improved well-being and inner harmony.

The two Force within Tai Chi

    In Tai Chi Chuan, there are many techniques, among which "Smooth Force" and "Touch Force" are important. "Smooth Force" is about experiencing the circulation of one's own strength and mastering the formation of force circles in different body parts. This practice, traditionally referred to as "circle drawing" by the old masters, is essential for improving one's Tai Chi skills and physical fitness. In Tai Chi, "Smooth Force" is a technique that aligns the body's various parts. The power developed through this technique has unique meanings and content, differing from the usual ways of exerting force in daily life or work. Generally, innate force is called "natural strength," while the force obtained through martial arts training is called "acquired strength" or "internal strength." This acquired strength enhances the technical quality and various attributes of Tai Chi Chuan, making the body relaxed, supple, and coordinated.       "Smooth Force" is first experienced during form practice and stance training, using the mind to guide and harmonize spirit, mind, qi, and strength. This coordination balances the body's upper and lower, left and right, front and back. For example, when both hands rise in "peng," the body should have a downward intention, incorporating chest containment, back expansion, and sinking qi to the dantian. When pressing down with both hands, the body should have an upward intention, coordinating with shoulder relaxation, elbow sinking, head lifting, and sinking qi to the dantian. When pushing forward with the hands, the mingmen (life gate) should have a backward stretching intention. This duality of movement allows the practitioner to feel the internal force's extension and balance, creating a state of support in all directions, achieving a balance between movement and stillness, and preventing physical ailments from improper posture.

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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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What is Tai Chi

Nowadays, there are many people practicing traditional Tai Chi worldwide—reportedly several hundred million. As a representative of Chinese cultural heritage, Tai Chi has also been honored as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Such large numbers and market scale are indeed gratifying. It's certainly a good thing that the valuable practices left by our ancestors benefit more people.     From a health and wellness perspective, the value of Tai Chi is unquestionable. However, as a martial art, today's Tai Chi has strayed from its martial roots, becoming unrecognizable and far from authentic. With the widespread promotion of Tai Chi, there are very few who can truly be said to practice "traditional Tai Chi." Those who master the traditional skills are even rarer. The reason for this is simple: although many people practice Tai Chi, very few truly study what "Tai Chi" is. Many believe that knowing a few routines constitutes Tai Chi. Because of this, today's Tai Chi is often ridiculed as "Tai Chi exercises."

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Tai Chi Demo Master Yang Sau Chung

       Yang, Sau Chung (1910-1985), the eldest son of Grandmaster Yang Cheng Fu, began his Tai Chi Chuan training at the tender age of 8 under his father's vigilant supervision. By the time he was 14, he had already started assisting his father in teaching the art. His role grew significantly, and by 19, he was accompanying his father on teaching tours across China. Notably, many who claim to have been taught by Yang Cheng Fu were, in reality, instructed by Yang Sau Chung due to his active involvement in these teaching sessions.       In 1949, amidst significant political changes in China, Yang Sau Chung relocated to Hong Kong. Here, he continued his teaching but chose to do so privately at his home, maintaining a low profile until his death in 1985. His commitment to preserving and proliferating the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan was profound, echoing the dedication of his forebears—his father, grandfather Yang Chien Hou, and great-grandfather Yang Lu Chan. Through his efforts, Yang Sau Chung attained one of the highest levels of mastery in his family's style.

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Advanced Combat Techniques: Understanding Vital Organs and Joints

Picking up from where we left off, we continue to explore the role of the hip joint in technical movements. I will introduce two types of force exertion in the hip joint: thrusting and rotating. Let's use the "Push Thrust" move from boxing as an example to explain the thrusting force.        In boxing, the Push Thrust is a basic takedown technique. Unlike the pushing actions in self-defense videos online, the Push Thrust requires the explosion of full-body strength, propelling forward while the hands carry and then thrust forward vigorously.       This move is somewhat akin to the Tiger Pounce in Xingyi Quan, resembling the pounce of predators like wolves and tigers during a hunt. Note that once executed, this move is almost impossible to counter. Here, I advise against retreating to absorb the impact and then trying to counter with an over-the-shoulder throw, as that might send you flying even further.    Now, let's break down the Push Thrust. First, the front foot steps forward, allowing sufficient space for force generation. Then, the back foot pushes off the ground, driving the whole body forward, and the hip joint thrusts forward, powering the upper body to lean forward and push with the hands. This move can also be combined with the "Catch" technique, grabbing the opponent's shoulders to complete the movement. When ensuring an effective attack that the opponent can't dodge, this move can directly knock down the opponent.

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San Da: the front hand straight punch.

 In this article, I will explain the most basic and commonly used punch in Sanda: the front hand straight punch.      In the realm of combat, the front hand straight punch mainly comes in two types: one involves turning the front foot (this type of front hand straight punch is often intended for direct strikes, causing damage to the opponent with strong lethal power).         The second type does not involve turning the front foot. Compared to the first type, this front hand straight punch has weaker lethal power, but it is more effective in connecting subsequent actions. Its primary use is for probing the opponent, measuring the striking distance, scoring points, and linking subsequent actions for combination attacks (such as a front hand straight punch followed by a back hand straight punch, or a front hand straight punch followed by a throwing technique).

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How to enhance Tai chi in real life combact

    Tai Chi consists of thirteen postures that encompass the trajectories of human movement. As people move, their inherent balance is disrupted, and their center of gravity shifts continually with the direction of motion. The body must constantly adjust to establish a new equilibrium during movement. This balance involves a dynamic interaction between the active and passive movements of the limbs and the overall direction and force of the body, expressed as "sticking is moving, and moving is sticking, where yin does not leave yang and yang does not leave yin."

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How Tai Chi Breathing

      Regarding relaxation techniques, each school provides detailed descriptions, generally approaching it from two aspects. The first is "mental relaxation," which involves relaxing the mind to achieve tranquility. This encompasses clearing the mind of distractions and maintaining a state of calm and detachment, as described in the ancient text "Huangdi Neijing" which speaks of a state of serene emptiness and natural simplicity.

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