Chou Si (抽絲) – Drawing Silk, was first mentioned in the classic by Wang Zongyue (王宗岳) “Taiji Quan Xing Gong Xin Jie – Explanation of the Practice of Taijiquan.” Drawing Silk has been widely used by Yang Style Taiji Quan masters while guiding their students’ practice. Thus, it is imperative to understand its true meaning…
All adherents of Yang Style Taiji Quan should be familiar with Yang Chengfu’s Shi Yao, or Ten Essentials. The Ten Essentials serve as guideposts for building posture awareness and implementing Taiji Quan principles into your practice, which will aid in elevating your skill in the art. One of these ten essentials is Chen Jian Zhui…
Any discussion of the Fu Chen (拂塵), or Whisk, should begin with the following adage “Shou Na Fu Chen Bu Shi Fan Ren.” This means “The One Holding the Whisk is not an Ordinary Person.” This saying is significant because it implies that the person holding the Whisk is someone of high status. The Fu…
The term Jin Gang (金刚) is often encountered in various styles of Chinese martial arts and occurs most often in Shaolin Gong Fu, as is evident in routines such as Jin Gang Quan. Styles such as Baji Quan and Xing Yi Quan have the Jin Gang Ba Shi. In Baji, Jin Gang Ba Shi refers…
Nowadays Tai Chi practice is touted for promoting relaxation and other health benefits, but it is important to understand why this idea of relaxation is so important. Tai Chi, also written as Taiji and Taiji Quan, was originally developed as a combative art, and like all combative arts, relaxation and a calm mind are necessary…
In Chinese martial arts, especially the Internal Arts of Taiji Quan, Xingyi Quan, Bagua Zhang, and Liuhe Bafa, the Bai Hui Xue (百会穴) plays an instrumental role in correcting the posture and raising the Yang Qi (陽氣). Bai Hui translates as 100 Meeting or 100 Convergences; I prefer the latter since this is the point…
A Chinese Martial Arts proverb states, “Nei Wai He Yi, Xing Shen Jian Bei,” which means that the “Internal and External Harmonize, in both Form and Spirit.” This proverb is often associated with the Nei Jia, the Internal Chinese martial arts of Taiji Quan, Xing Yi Quan, Bagua Zhang, and Liuhe Bafa. It is also…
When practicing Chinese martial arts, especially the Neijia (Internal Styles)and Qi Gong, you become acquainted with the Dantian. You will hear instructions such as “Concentrate on your Dantian” and “Sink Your Qi to the Dantian” For a practitioner of the Neijia, as well as other Chinese martial arts, it is imperative to know what the…
Nowadays, many Tai Chi teachers focus their teaching on the repetitive practice of the Form, which is often empty but is accompanied by encouraging praise. And they may promote Tai Chi as a cure-all type of fitness exercise. Authentic Tai Chi is not at all easy and must be taught with a systematic and comprehensive…
In the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) one often encounters reference to the Ren Mai and Du Mai (Mai is the Chinese term for Meridian). These meridians also play an important role in Traditional Chinese Martial Arts, especially in the Internal Arts of Taiji, Xing Yi, and Bagua. While the pathway of the Ren…
