The Walking Tiger Tai Chi Club
Providing private and group lessons in metro
“Tai Chi, practiced correctly
and regularly, will gain one the pliability of a child, the health of a lumberjack
and the piece of mind of a sage.” Cheng Man-Chi’ng
Today Tai Chi is the world’s most widely practiced exercise regimen. Its growing popularity is due to the fact that it is the most complete method of whole body exercise known to man. But, it is more than an exercise system. It is also a form of meditation, self massage, physical therapy, self defense and even psychotherapy.
Tai
Chi is a branch of Yoga. Its origins date back at least 7 millennia. From this
tree we also got acupuncture, Chinese traditional medicine, herb medicine and
several other self defense systems.
Tai Chi is not easy. Anyone who packages it that way is “diluting” its essence for mass consumption. But, its extraordinary benefits are, as they say; “worth the candle”. Part of the process is working through our impatience and frustration…
“The only knack, as committed students learned, was to work through the frustration whenever it arose.” Return To Stillness by Trevor Carolan
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About Tai Chi
Class Schedule and Locations (New class May 6)
At the Walking Tiger School we practice health focused Tai Chi; never forgetting the basis for real Chi mobilization is in its self-defense aspect. We practice the style created by the great master Cheng Man-ching.
After Master Cheng passed away, his senior students continued developing his style. Most notable of these are William C. C. Chen and Dr. Robert Chuckrow.
The deeply rooted, explosive and continuous style they have developed discards the pretty poses and dramatic flourish of present day Yang style, and returns to Tai Chi’s original “way of moving”.
Experienced observers often see elements of the Chen style; even the Wu style-Tai Chi styles which have managed to stay closer to their origins.
Master Cheng’s style is often called innovative. But, a deep study of Tai Chi history reveals he was actually returning to the original style, which existed before pop culture and Red Chinese intrusion turned it into a show art. Therefore, while many might call his style “the Yang style”, it is really a branch of the current Yang style, and deserves to be called the Cheng Style”.
All too often, in our fast paced popular culture, things that really deserve slow and close study become caricatured and diluted into something very shallow and expedient. Because we love this art and what it has given us, we leave this pop culture baloney to others, and practice the art the way it was intended: long, slow and deep.