About Tai Chi
The Walking Tiger
Tai Chi Club: Providing private and group lessons in metro
“A toned body
that is strong as an ox, as supple as a tiger, and as quick as a striking snake
requires a type of strength that is much more complex than just power lifting.
To acquire this type of strength requires gaining skills of strength, agility,
grace, relaxation, readiness, effective breathing and confident movement. Tai
Chi’s simple movements provide all that is needed to retain these qualities for
yourself.”
From Stay Young With Tai Chi; by
Ellae Elinwood
Like Yoga, Tai
Chi frees and mobilizes the body’s energy to enhance health, awakens the mind,
reduces stress and improves flexibility and strength.
It (Tai Chi) is
different from Yoga in that one doesn’t move into a posture and stop, but you
keep moving continuously and smoothly; while breathing slow and deep, through a
series of postures; all the while shifting the weight from one foot to the
other. This movement, done with the right state of mind and with calmness,
energizes the body and relinquishes trapped or blocked energy from the body. In
this respect it is very similar to acupuncture, but without using any needles.
[Pictured left:
The symbol we often called the “Yin Yang” is known in the east as the Tai Chi]
Be Wary
After decades of
study there are now recognized masters in the
Unfortunately,
there are those who still try to exploit Tai Chi by promulgating its mystical
image. A little bit of web browsing will uncover demonstrations wherein some
“grand master” displays his Chi power by touching someone, or a group of
persons, and by the force of his “Chi power”, he sends all of these people
flying out in all directions.
This looks fake because it is. All that is needed is a partner who will
add a little drama to the demonstration.
Claims of elusive
mystical powers which might be imparted to you through years of dedicated study
are merely devices to lure in and keep students of the so called “grand
master”.
This does not
means that Tai Chi cannot afford one with exceptional strength, energy,
coordination and flexibility. But, all of the powers gained by Tai Chi practice
are what responsible practitioners call “super normal”- not supernatural. These
powers do include remarkable increases in sensitivity, intuition and healing.
But, these are innate human powers you were born with. All Tai Chi does is
divest one of barriers, fully enabling to practitioner.
In the words of
Linda Myoki Lehrhaupt, a skilled teacher and observer of human nature; “Most
students who quit Tai Chi after a short time do so not because Tai Chi is
difficult to learn but because their expectations are not satisfied quickly
enough. They leave because they do not want to face disappointment. Not wanting
to feel the pain of disappointment is often what holds us back.”
Her
recommendation is even more profound:
Being able to
say; ‘I’ll try again’, is one of the deepest expressions of faith in oneself.”- Linda Myoki Lehrhaupt
A Story Which Helps
Explain the Tai Chi Exercise
We humans
learn best and deepest from rhyme, song, dance and story. The Tai Chi ‘form’ is
all of these things.
At the heart of
the Tai Chi journey is a sequence of exercises most practitioners call; “the
form”. The form is like a “learn by doing” textbook created by the Tai Chi
masters. Usually, when you see people moving in unison through this slow motion
“dance”, you are watching people practicing the form.
When I was about
ten years old, my family moved to some rocky foothills in east 
granite boulders, perilous little ravines
and steep drops.
Soon, my friends
and I conspired together to sneak into a neighboring backyard early every
afternoon and go swimming in their pool.
To get to the
neighbor’s backyard pool, we would run across a dangerous course; jumping
ravines, scurrying up and down cliffs, leaping, spinning and clambering on and
over huge piles of sharp edged granite boulders.
In order to learn
to traverse this course easily, we had to push our selves out of our comfort
zone. One whom has done lots of Tai Chi becomes unthreatened, even relaxed,
with the feeling of pushing beyond the comfort zone.
At first we did
this very carefully and with trepidation. But, after a while, we became able to
do this quickly and easily at relatively high speed, with the nimbleness of
mountain goats.
Learning the Tai
Chi form is very much the same. At first, one learns slowly and carefully. But,
eventually one is able to move through all the movements in a steady, smooth,
relaxed manner.
This process of learning the form is more important than the form itself, for
one acquires the ability to move through all life experiences in a calm,
relaxed, centered way.
At most Tai Chi
schools they will go on endlessly about postures. I have actually seen teachers
get a ruler to measure and assure that the student’s hand is so many inches
apart. These people have, in the words of the great Alan Watts; “Mistaken the
map for the territory”.
[Left: An example
of a Tai Chi posture called, “Playing the Guitar.] This movement has very beneficial affect
on the energy pathways to the stomach and intestines. However, this “posture”
is not held or frozen in place. There is no pause. This is a “snapshot”. The
Tai Chi community could just as easily have chosen to represent this another
way.
This
preoccupation with precise form and postures completely misses the point. Tai
Chi postures are in many respects, merely a means to and end. They are each
just a “snapshot” of a body in motion. It is the WAY OF MOVING which is
important-not the individual postures.
If the individual
postures were so sacred, then all masters would do them exactly the same way.
But they don’t. The masters understand that the postures are merely a teaching
tool.
Sung (The deeply relaxed free movement of Tai Chi)
This Chinese word
has no translation into English; at least one that isn’t a Psychiatric term.
But, it is the first goal of Tai Chi. Before
correct structure, rooting, the awakened mind, and all the other myriad of Tai
Chi principles. This is the key.
Think for a
moment of a time when, as a child, you hurt yourself. Maybe you stubbed a toe
or fell down-something like that.
Many of us were
fortunate to have a mother to run to. Our mother, if she deserved the name,
would have held us and consoled us. She offered reassurance.
[Pictured left:
Yang Cheng-Fu, who first published the Yang form, now practiced by millions
worldwide]
We give ourselves
that same feeling all the time. If you watch closely you will catch yourself
grasping one of your own hands or arms during a stress situation-giving
yourself reassurance.
Well, we do the
same thing internally. That is, we “hold onto ourselves” internally, too. This
is especially true after severe trauma.
Sung refers to a
state of relaxation to such an extent that we free ourselves; not only from
external muscular stress, but also from this internal tension.
How is this
manifested?
Consider the
simple act of walking. Most people tense up their leg when stepping in
anticipation of meeting the ground. One who has achieved a high degree of Sung
relaxes the leg completely, only tensing it just enough to support the weight
during the next step.
This results in
the relaxed, noiseless and smooth step of the Tai Chi practitioner.
Peng (The bubbling well of energy produced by
the state of Sung)
This is another
term which has no translation. It is the opposite of Sung. That is, like Yin
and Yang produce one another, Peng is the soft, flowing, expansive energy that
is produced by moving from a closed, sunken, gathering position with Sung; into
an opening, rising, expanding movement.
During a movement
like Ward Off, or even Raise Hands, one will feel this sense; almost like a
feeling of suction, filling us with energy.
Slow Motion
Exercise (Slow movement is not
Tai Chi’s defining quality)
Most of us recognize Tai Chi when we see
it slowly performed. And, it is quite true that one will gain the most health
benefits and learn better by practicing in slow motion. But, Tai Chi may be
performed at any speed-including very fast.
In fact, I
recommend practice at different speeds, in different conditions, in darkness,
on bumpy ground-even on stairs.
What is the ideal
speed? That is really determined by one’s breathing pattern. At first, you
might move a little fast, because you breathe as many as 10 or 12 times a
minute, eventually, breathing will become much deeper and slower, and your Tai
Chi practice is likely to slow down.
The truly
defining qualities of Tai Chi are actually structure and rooting.
Structurally, Tai
Chi emphasizes a relaxed but very strong alignment of the lower and upper body
which is very strong, but also very relaxed.
[Pictured left:
MASTER Cheng Man-ching, who almost single handedly founded Tai Chi in
Tai Chi’s stress
upon on “rooting” cannot be over emphasized. Rooting means that every movement
is done from a sunken, deeply relaxed posture. This develops deep leg strength
and balance, while enabling one to use the whole body movements of Tai Chi with
great coordination and efficiency.
Chi (The life force energy nurtured and enhanced by Tai Chi)
The Chi refers to
the animating energy of the body; sometimes called life force.
Unlike western
medicine, the ancient healers of the east see the human being; as well as
everything else, as a form of energy. When this energy flows freely, it may be
enhanced, strengthened, channeled and focused for healing, elevated
consciousness or self defense.
What does Chi
feel like?
The flow of this
energy feels at first like a flush of warmth. It really is the fluid flow and
pressure of the whole body moving loosely, like a snake.
Later, one is
likely to feel pulsation. This is a sensing of the body pulse.
[Picture left:
The Heart meridian. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that we are creatures of
energy and that our bodies contain thousands of energy pathways, called
meridians]
Eventually, one
will feel tingling, like sand flowing over the skin. Wriggling, twitchiness,
flushness, mottled hands and the sense of a feeling like a “thrill” are all
commonly reported feelings which are manifestations of the flow of Chi energy.
Have you felt Chi
before? You may have felt the flush of warmth and energy after stretching. Or,
if you hold your arms up in the air until they become tired and heavy. That
feeling when you drop your arms and relax is very much like the fluid pressure
and flush of warm energy from Chi.
Do you believe;
as most people, that your state of mind can change your health? Causing ulcers,
reduced metabolism, and damaging the heart?
If this is true,
then the opposite is also true. A different state of mind; one that is uplifted,
energized and centered, can produce better health.
Elevated
Consciousness (Heightened
awareness derived from a natural state of mind)
Have you ever
noticed that you can sense when you are being watched?
This is one of the
innate human capabilities shared by all living creatures. The liberated state
of mind one achieves through meditation or Tai Chi frees the natural ability to
sense the intent of others, the state of other’s emotions and elevated power of
intuition. Tai Chi teachers are quick to point out that these powers are by no
means “supernatural”. In fact, they use the term “supernormal”, to describe one
who has accomplished this level of awareness.
In this sense,
one can see that Tai Chi is not about acquiring, but more about divesting
oneself of preconception and the stress and self consciousness which so often
prevent us from becoming fully awakened human beings.
Fear, Self
Consciousness and Tension (Stress
is an external force; tension is internally produced)
Fear should be our servant. It is a
valuable instinct which cannot be ignored.
Living in modern
culture rarely presents us with life and death situations, but it does subject
us to an almost constant level of stress. Yet, in order to live peacefully in
this culture, we must often suppress our reactions to these stimuli.
However, the body
still reacts to this stimulation, dumping adrenalin into our systems and making
us either “close down”, or to act out to release the stress in some
other way.
[Pictured left:
Master Bob Klein. He is a patient and dedicated teacher.]
The exercises of
Tai Chi, with their deep concentration and breathing, put us back in touch with
our body and mind, unifying awareness and intention to free us from this
blockage.
More important,
because of the constant attention we must give to staying relaxed during Tai
Chi, we acquire the ability to recognize stress response right away. Awareness
of this enables us to analyze the response and the stimulus, and then react
calmly.
Enhanced
Sensitivity (Natural innate
abilities which are freed by reduced stress and heightened awareness)
The meditative
state of mind from Tai Chi exercise teaches use to concentrate our full
attention. This is combined with our intention through a series 
of exercise which teach us to “open up and
relax” in stressful situations.
The Tai Chi form
starts with 45 degree turns and steps, and gradually increases these turns and
steps until eventually, at the end of the Tai Chi exercise, we learn to sink our
weight and do a 360 degree spin in a balanced and calm way. This unites the
natural human fear of falling into the exercises and teaches us to relax when
the primal fear is stimulated-making us much more centered and relaxed when
subjected to other kinds of stress.
[Picture left: An
example of structure. During “Ward Off”, the wrist is rotated, and if the body
is aligned correctly, forms a very strong but flexible structure with is quite
powerful, but also protects the arm from serious damage]
In addition, the
tradition of “following along” and mimicking the motions of a teacher elevates
our sensitivity and reflex response to the motion of other people or objects.
There is a
Japanese word; “
Strengthening the
Body, Improving Endurance and Amplifying Immune System
The spiraling, shifting, twining movements
of Tai Chi stimulate the whole body like a deep massage. The stretching and
spiraling movements build up the tensile strength of the muscle fibers, joints
and connective tissues.
The opening and
closing of the joints is what causes the circulation of lymphatic fluids. This
opening, closing, weighting and un-weighting; combined with rotating and
spiraling movement is therefore for strengthening to the immune system.
The circulation
of cerebral spinal fluids, which occurs at a natural “pulse” of about 8 seconds,
exactly matches the pace of a Tai Chi form performed at normal speed.
[Pictured left:
Master Robert Chuckrow PhD]
One must think of
the brain as having two ends. The top end is the seat of all the higher
functions, but the lower end, where the spine connects with the pelvis, is
where the real consciousness is seated. Tai Chi reconnects our preoccupied,
self conscious upper brain with our Tan Tien, the lower mind. This area, with
its very dense network of nerves is also the center of the human immune system.
Breathing (Unifying intent with our most basic and
primal function)
The deep rooting
and sinking of Tai Chi exercise, combined with a very relaxed body, causes a
natural expansion of the diaphragm and much deeper oxygen circulation into the abdomen;
that area of the body where we breathed before we were born.
This deep relaxed
breathing is of enormous benefits to overall health.
Time and
Timelessness (Living more “in
the moment”)
All of us have
had this experience. Some event; like the assignation of a president or the
explosion of a space shuttle; to the birth of a child, a first kiss or any
other profound event. We call this a “timeless moment” because it is
permanently etched in our memory-seeming to transcend the effects of time.
The exercise and
deep, meditative state of mind in Tai Chi enable us to open our minds and see
time as a human invention which limits our perceptions. This state of mind
allows us to be “in the moment” and fully aware that looking ahead and looking
backward is an illusion.
Somatic Awareness
The science of hand
writing analysis has taught us that each of has unique writing which can tell us
graphically about personality traits. We also know that this graphology enables
experts to deduce the writer’s state of mind. The expert can tell us if the
person was depressed, bored, excited or energized.
“The slow
motion approach of Tai Chi doesn’t just allow, but rather compels, an enhanced
state of self awareness. Tai Chi students learn to cultivate two important
concomitant states; those of attention and intention, combining them into an
inseparable one.” John Loupos
Likewise, an
expert in body language can determine a person’s state of mind, attitude and
intentions by carefully watching a person’s posture, movements and demeanor.
Taking this
simple idea a step further, one can see how military experts can unify and
change the intention and attitudes of a group of men by teaching to drill and march with bold marching and precision drilling.
It is also true
that predators, including human predators, can detect weak or submissive
individuals by their demeanor-just like any other predator in nature.
“When we focus
inward, away from the distractions of daily life, and concentrate on beneficial
objects such as our breathing, body, movement, or intent, then our mind
naturally rebalances itself and we become more in tune with ourselves.” -“Total Tai Chi” by Mathew Rochford
Recognizing all
of this, we also recognize that a change in the “way of moving”; as in the
military example, can change the attitude of the person. Tai Chi uses this idea
to combine the human powers of intention and attention together to change us
into a more calm, centered and focused state of mind.
Self Defense: The
Principles of Adherence, Non-Action
In my opinion,
Tai Chi Chuan is the most effective method of self defense.
I don’t use the
term “martial art”. First, because Tai Chi is almost purely defensive. And
also, because the term “martial art” has been so warped and caricatured by pop
culture.
The Tai Chi
practitioner learns to absorb, stick to the attacker (adherence) and blend with
the power of an attack; and then to use that energy like a bent tree branch,
whipping back at the attacker’s weak point with an enormous energy. This
release of energy is called Fa Jin.
However, the
degree of coordination and connectedness needed to perform at this level
requires years to acquire. So, if a person’s motivation for learning is mainly
for the self defense aspect-then there are other arts which will provide
excellent self defense training much faster.
Pushing Hands (The two person bonding exercise which, in
pop culture terms, compares best the “Vulcan Mind Meld”)
Some experts, experts
whom I feel truly understand this art, prefer to call this exercise “sensing
Hands”, rather than pushing hands.
In the pushing hands exercise we work with
a partner. Hands are joined together and the partners work together in a
pushing and pulling exercise, each trying to uproot the other’s balance.
This is first
done slowly in a prearranged pattern. But, eventually it is done is a free
motion way and becomes very spontaneous.
The intent is not
to have a competition, but to work together to improve sensitivity, rooting and
structure. If practiced with care over a long period one begins to free and
enhance the inherent ability to sense the intent and even the thoughts of
others.
[Picture left:
Dr. Robert Chuckrow has published a superb series of books and videos on Tai
Chi, Chi Kung and Pushing Hands]
I teach this only
to the most advanced students. Firstly, I delay teaching it because one must
first learn all the basic Tai Chi movements.
And second,
because popular culture has warped this noble exercise into an international
competition where one may seek to win a trophy.
It is not
surprising that pop culture doesn’t “get it”, but one cannot help thinking that
we seem to try to turn almost every conceivable human activity into a
competition.
Likewise, form
competition has also resulted in a warping of Tai Chi from a marvelous system
of exercise and self defense, into a performance art.
This is because
when the Red Chinese took over in
Later, realizing
its importance to the culture, they changed this policy. But, they then
nationalized the arts and merged them together into a performance art called Wu
Shu.
Today,
international competitions are held to decide who has the best Tai Chi form performance.
As a result, Tai Chi has changed, adding lots of extra flourish and prettiness,
so as to more easily impress the audience and the judges.
In the past few
decades this “show art” has become so prevalent that many practitioners
actually believe it is the real deal.
Fortunately,
there are still many whom understand this, and practice the art with the
original flowing, dynamic, deeply rooted and small circular movement as the
original Tai Chi.