tai chi qi gong Archives

martial secrets

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

Stances

Why Tai Chi is the change of Yin and Yang under the feet

Master Yang Yuting, in his later years, described the essence of Tai Chi, saying, "Tai Chi is the change of Yin and Yang under the feet." This is truly insightful. To deeply understand the essence of Tai Chi, the actual movements of the form are not as important as the concept. This reminds me of what Wang Zongyue said, "Its root is in the foot, and it manifests in the fingers." Its Root in the Foot The boxing theory states: "Its root is in the foot, and it travels from the foot to the leg to the waist, all must be connected as one." and "Upper and lower body must follow each other, making it hard for others to penetrate." The wisdom of the ancient Tai Chi masters has saved many later generations from taking the wrong path in their studies. Enlightened by these predecessors, I had an epiphany and deeply realized that the essence of Tai Chi is in the foot; the foot is the root.

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October 17, 2023

Tai Chi

HealthMartialBenefits

Why more you practice Tai Chi, the healthier you become ?

As the saying goes, "After three years of learning boxing, you may lose your skills in just three days." "One day of practice brings one day of progress; ten days without practice result in a hundred days of emptiness." These sayings illustrate the importance of consistent practice in martial arts. Without the determination to practice diligently and view Tai Chi Chuan as a way of health preservation, not just a remedy for illness or a form of physical exercise, individuals are more likely to experience a decline in their skills. Once the skills are lost and various ailments arise, regrets will follow.

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August 6, 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

Tai Chi

BeginnerGuide

Tai Chi Before or After Eating? Food, Water & Meal Timing

　If you ask me whether it is better to practice Tai Chi before or after eating, my answer is simple: I don't like practicing when I am either very hungry or very full. For morning practice, I usually drink warm water first, eat only a light amount if I need food, practice Tai Chi, then give my body some time to settle before having a larger meal. 　After more than four decades around traditional Chinese martial arts, I've found that complicated diet rules are rarely necessary for ordinary Tai Chi practice. What matters more is comfort. When my stomach is too full, turning the waist, sinking, stepping and breathing simply don't feel right. When I'm extremely hungry, concentration can suffer too.

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August 3, 2023

Tai Chi

BeginnerGuide

7 Tips to loose up when practice Tai Chi

Warm-up preparation According to the sequence of practicing boxing, warm-up is essential for relaxation. Before punching, stretch your muscles, move your joints, and gently move your whole body, which helps to relax both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, many practitioners neglect these simple warm-up exercises because they don't value their importance. Even if they do warm up, it's often done half-heartedly. Little do they know that without proper warm-up, the effectiveness of boxing will be compromised, and it may even lead to injuries. Cultivate a tranquil mind A calm mind leads to a relaxed body, and a relaxed body facilitates a tranquil mind. They are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, forming a dialectical relationship. If you talk while practicing boxing, it will not only disrupt your movements and disperse your internal energy ("qi") but also make it challenging to relax your…

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August 3, 2023

Tai Chi

BeginnerGuide

How to prevent knee injury when practicing Tai Chi ?

As Tai Chi, an outstanding martial art of Chinese Wushu, has gained recognition for its health benefits with the development of society, an increasing number of people now participate in learning and practicing Tai Chi. However, among those who practice Tai Chi, some individuals often experience varying degrees of knee joint pain and, in some cases, even long-term knee joint injuries. So, how can one avoid injuring the knee joints while practicing Tai Chi?

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July 29, 2023