Essentials of the practice of the form and push-hands

This month again I am busy and unable to post proper article.
So let me share the Taichi classic again! This time I like to post of the classic on Push-hand. Please post your experience and view on this part of Taichi.

by Li I-yu
as researched by Lee N. Scheele

Formerly people said: “being able to attract to emptiness, you can use four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds.” Not being able to attract to emptiness, you cannot deflect a thousand pounds. The words are simple, but the meaning is complete. The beginner cannot understand it. Here I add some words to explain it. If someone is ambitious to learn this art, he can find some way to enter it and every day he will have some improvement.

Desiring to attract to emptiness and deflect a thousand pounds, first you must know yourself and others. If you want to know yourself and others, you must give up yourself and follow others. If you give up yourself and follow others, first you must have the correct timing and position. To obtain the correct timing and position, you must first make your body one unit. Desiring to make the body one unit, you must first eliminate hollows and protuberances. To make the whole body without breaks or holes, you must first have the shen [spirit of vitality] and ch’i [vital life energy] excited and expanded. If you want the shen and ch’i activated and expanded, you must first raise the spirit (pay attention) and the shen should not be unfocussed. To have your shen not unfocussed, you must first have the shen and ch’i gather and penetrate the bones. Desiring the shen and ch’i to penetrate the bones, first you must strengthen the two thighs and loosen the two shoulders and let the ch’i sink down.

The chin [intrinsic strength] raises from the feet, changes in the legs, is stored in the chest, moved in the shoulders and commanded in the waist. The upper part connects to the two arms and the lower part follows the legs. It changes inside. To gather is to close and to release is to open. If it is quiet, it is completely still. Still means to close. In closing there is opening. If it is moving, everything moves. Moving is open. In opening there is closing. When the body is touched it revolves freely. There is nowhere that does not obtain power. Then you can attract to emptiness and use four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds.

Practicing the Form every day is the kung fu of knowing yourself. When you start to practice, first ask yourself, “Did my whole body follow the above principles or not?” If one little place did not follow them, then correct it immediately. Therefore, in practicing the Form we want slowness not speed.

Push hands is the kung fu of knowing others. As for movement and stillness, although it is to know others, you must still ask yourself. If you arrange yourself well, when others touch you, you don’t move a hair. Follow the opportunity and meet his chin and let him fall naturally outward. If you feel someplace in your body is powerless, it is double-weighted and unchanging. You must seek the defect in yin and yang, opening and closing. Know yourself and know others: in one hundred battles you will win one hundred times.

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I am currently in Belfast UK for a project assignment. So have very little time to focus on my Blog entries. For the time period I like to post a article I received from my Tai Chi School newsletter.

Source: unknown.

Taichi is one of the most popular Chinese internal martial arts, where it consists of smooth, rhythmic, gentle and graceful circular movements. Breathing is deep and relaxed and is in accordance to the tempo of the Taichi movements. These movement techniques help to integrate the mind and body which allows achievement of total harmony of the body.

Taichi has become an increasingly popular form of physical exercises around the world for all ages, both as a basic exercise program and as a complement to health care methods. Regardless of your age, Taichi can offer both physical and mental benefits to your health and fitness. Here are NewAgeTaichi top 10 reasons to give Taichi a try.

1. Increased flexibility and reduced risk of injury – Improvements in posture alignment, strength and flexibility have been attributed to Taichi among those individual who practice the exercise. Its slow circular movements allow for gentle stretching and warming up of muscles, tendons and ligaments and are often compared to continuous passive movement which is used to increase the speed of healing. Taichi also allows for compression to the joint which aids in providing nutrients to the surrounding cartilage.

2. Focused breathing and concentration – A primary component of Taichi is the rhythmic breathing that emphasizes a relaxed state of mind and body which encourages strong blood circulation. During Taichi practices, oxygenated blood flows to the muscles and brain.

3. The mind-body connection – Rather than mindlessly going through the motions, Taichi requires you to focus all of your energies on performing each movement precisely. When coupled these Taichi movements and breathing together, it is said to dissipate stress and anxiety. This also helps in improving the neural muscular adaptation in the body.

4. Greater strength and stamina – Taichi also improves strength and stamina physically through the various Taichi routine practices. It helps to generate the inner energy, which revitalizes the physical system, promote strength and stamina as well as flexibility and relaxation. The slower the tempo and the lower the movement posture, the greater the strength and endurance benefit that can be achieved. This is especially true when the Taichi practice is done in the correct posture alignment and movement patterns.

5. Fewer muscle imbalances – Those who are new to Taichi may notice muscle and flexibility imbalances throughout the body, which is often the primarily cause of body aches and soreness. Taichi movements are specially designed which consists of carefully well coordinated natural body movement to help correct these imbalances over time by proper posture alignment and movement patterns.

6. Better balance and stability – Balancing require you to engage the core stabilizer muscles, which can help improve overall stability. In Taichi, the movements transition emphasize on the focus of weight transfer, which activates a lot of the core stabilizer muscles. Over time, the body will acquire better balance and stability which helps to prevent falls and injuries.

7. Improved posture – Taichi helps to strengthen and open up tight areas such as the shoulders and muscles of the upper back, which is necessary for good posture. Taichi also focus on the body being erect and spine neutral during practices which helps to keep the body and spine in neutral alignment.

8. Greater kinesthetic body awareness – Taichi requires you to contract and/or relax specific muscles during practice, thereby increasing kinesthetic awareness of the body’s strengths and weaknesses. Kinesthetic body awareness is improved through Taichi slow and rhythmic movements that focus on proper postures and constant muscle contraction and relaxation during the Taichi routine that increases neutral muscular activities.

9. Stress reduction – Taichi helps soothe the mind and lower stress levels by focusing the mind on the inner self and the Taichi movements rather than on external distractions.

10. Cross-training benefits – Taichi combines flexibility, strength training, agility and balance to create a holistic mind-body physical activity that is a perfect addition to any fitness regimen.

Scientific investigation has shown that the physiological, psychological and social benefits that develop through the regular practice of Taichi are long lasting among this population.

The Classics are generally cited as the authoritative source on T’ai Chi Ch’uan principles by Yang, Wu and other styles that have branched off from the original Chen Family Styles. The authenticity of any documents prior to Yang Lu-chan is questioned, and there appears to be a sense among some Chen stylists that the attribution of some of the Classics to historical/quasi-mythological figures was an attempt by early practitioners to avoid giving full credit for the development of T’ai Chi Ch’uan to the Chen Family. There is apparently a tradition in Chinese writing to attribute works to ancients, so questions about authenticity cannot be discounted.

T’AI CHI CH’UAN CHING

Attributed to Chang San-feng (est. 1279 -1386)
as researched by Lee N. Scheele

In motion the whole body should be light and agile,
with all parts of the body linked
as if threaded together.

The ch’i [vital life energy] should be excited,
The shen [spirit of vitality] should be internally gathered.

The postures should be without defect,
without hollows or projections from the proper alignment;
in motion the Form should not become disconnected.

The chin [intrinsic strength] should be
rooted in the feet,
generated from the legs,
controlled by the waist, and
manifested through the fingers.

If correct timing and position are not achieved,
the body will become disordered
and will not move as an integrated whole;
the correction for this defect
must be sought in the legs and waist.

The principle of adjusting the legs and waist
applies for moving in all directions;
upward or downward,
advancing or withdrawing,
left or right.

All movements are motivated by I [mind-intention],
not external form.

If there is up, there is down;
when advancing, have regard for withdrawing;
when striking left, pay attention to the right.

If the I wants to move upward,
it must simultaneously have intent downward.

Alternating the force of pulling and pushing
severs an opponent’s root
so that he can be defeated
quickly and certainly.

Insubstantial [empty; yin] and substantial [solid; yang]
should be clearly differentiated.
At any place where there is insubstantiality,
there must be substantiality;
Every place has both insubstantiality and substantiality.

The whole body should be threaded together
through every joint
without the slightest break.

Chang Ch’uan [Long Boxing] is like a great river
rolling on unceasingly.

Peng, Lu, Chi, An,
Ts’ai, Lieh, Chou, and K’ao
are equated to the Eight Trigrams.
The first four are the cardinal directions;
Ch’ien [South; Heaven],
K’un [North; Earth],
K’an [West; Water], and
Li [East; Fire].
The second four are the four corners:
Sun [Southwest; Wind],
Chen [Northeast; Thunder],
Tui [Southeast; Lake], and
Ken [Northwest; Mountain].
Advance (Chin), Withdraw (T’ui),
Look Left (Ku), Look Right (Pan), and
Central Equilibrium (Chung Ting)
are equated to the five elements:
Metal,
Wood,
Water,
Fire, and
Earth
All together these are termed the Thirteen Postures

This new be a great news to Tai Chi Chuan lovers across the world.

The art of Tai Chi Chuan is one of the great treasures of traditional Chinese Culture. In July of 2009, the top Masters of the five traditional Chinese family schools of Tai Chi Chuan, as well as other top Tai Chi Chuan practitioners and scholars will come to Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee for an international level Tai Chi Chuan Symposium. The theme of this Symposium will focus on the international development and growth of Tai Chi Chuan and will feature evidence-based academic sessions, Masters workshops and other special events designed to foster an exchange of knowledge and cultures.

This Symposium will be the first of its kind in the United States. Beginning on July 5th 2009, it will offer a unique opportunity to study with five of China’s top Masters. Arrive early and begin your Symposium experience by attending one of the best birthday parties in the country. The Nashville 4th of July celebration offers family fun, great food, live music and spectacular fireworks displays. In addition, join us during the Symposium as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association.

Please keep visiting my blog much more about Tai chi on the way!