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

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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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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relaxing is the basic of Tai Chi

   Tai Chi is about overcoming strength with softness and using intention rather than force. Softness and relaxation are fundamental to Tai Chi, without which it cannot be considered an internal martial art. No matter the style, all sects of Tai Chi advocate for softness and relaxation. It is said that Tai Chi requires three years of practice to achieve softness. In reality, achieving ultimate softness and relaxation is a long-term pursuit, where the softer you become, the higher the quality of internal strength you develop. The greater your skill in softness, the more profound your Tai Chi becomes, and this correlation is directly proportional. Thus, each Tai Chi sect has its own secrets for mastering softness, accumulating a wealth of experience. Methods for achieving softness are thoroughly discussed within these sects, typically from two aspects.

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Very Important Methods of Relaxing the Waist

In Yang-style Tai Chi, relaxing the waist is emphasized as a crucial point: "The waist is the master of the whole body. Only when the waist is relaxed, then the feet are powerful, and the lower stance is stable. Changes between solidity and emptiness all come from the turning of the waist, thus it's said that the source of command is in the space of the waist. Any lack of strength must be sought in the waist and legs."

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