Thanks, as Master Cui says, “There is chi kong in tai chi but there is no tai chi in chi gong.” All the best to you as well.

John

If you want real health benefits you have to practice it like it was practiced. Sure, people have health benefits just with waving-hands-oh-i-am-so-elegant form performance but hey - you can have all than without the form - simple Qi Gong exercises are doing the trick.

So, if you can, practice with someone who can teach you how to fight with Tai Chi Chuan.

Wish you best in your practice

I think your right about the martial aspect for most people. However, tai chi can be a very effective fighting art if you train for it. It’s not much different than external styles when it comes to body mechanics and application, the difference is in internal energy. External arts often develop energy flow once someone reaches a high level of mastery; tai chi works to cultivate this from the beginning. It takes very little physical effort to use internal energy and the force can seem out of proportion to the effort put forth.

Thanks,
John

I heard Master Yek Sing Ong basically say once that, Taichi for health alone can provide some health benefits, Taichi performed just as an external martial art is not any better than any other martial art and maybe worse… but only when it is done for both the martial arts, that the inner health benefits will it deliver it’s true strength… or words to that effect.

Something about intent, cause and effect.

Like Yin and Yang, one is out of balance without the other, but also you might find that some people will never be able to develop to a effective level of martial art but everyone can probably achieve better health.

I think you’re right when you say it’s hard to have tai chi without applying the yin-yang theory and showing applications. You’re also right when you say bad posture promotes bad chi flow.

What amazes me about tai chi though is that even posture that’s not quite correct still leads to some health benefits if practiced regularly. When the martial side is at least introduced, the student benefits that much more.

Thanks,
John

Yes showing martial applications for each form is important and we do that with each student as well.

It’s my understanding that Yang Luchan developed Yang Style with “hidden” applications to honor the promise he made to the Chen Family. He was never to teach anyone outside of the family Chen Taiji. There aren’t any empty moves in Yang Style either, and the energy releases are not obvious in the forms for this reason. We do however practice them while working on individual forms.

Thanks for the feed back and for giving me the opportunity to point this out.

John

Wasabi is good for what ails ya… pickled ginger I’m not all that sure about.

That’s an good explanation about relaxation. A lot of newer students equate relaxation with lying in a hammock doing nothing. I like to refer to the state we’re seeking as being loose with structure and I think we both end up in the same place. Cultivation is definitely the key.

You’re welcome for the plug, after all you’re doing good stuff. Thanks for the feed back.

John

I think teaching students the concept of the martial application is an important part of developing proper form. That’s what my Master does, what my Teacher does, and what I do now. It lets students know where to focus and therefore aids in chi (qi) flow to the extremities. I find that when I focus on a martial application I can feel the energy flowing more freely. Sounds as if your students are really getting a lot out of your classes.

John

Studying tai chi “for the health of it” is a good path to take. Knowing what we want often comes to us only after we’ve tried a few different things and it sounds to me as though you know what you want. Witnessing your own re-birthing through tai chi is a worthy goal.

John