T'ai
Chi Ch'uan began in China. T'ai Chi is one of the five Chinese
accomplishments to make a person complete, included with painting,
poetry, calligraphy, and music. There is no data as to when it
began and nor as to who is the founder of traditional T'ai Chi. It
has been said that it began some 2,000 or 3,000, or even 5,000
years ago. Some family styles of Tai Chi have a known founder in
their background. However, this class is traditional T'ai Chi
Ch'uan, no one really knows who is its founder nor when it began.
This traditional style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan was very popular before
the Chinese Revolution. But after the revolution, the
practitioners of this form left mainland China to withdraw from
the Communists.
T'ai means,
"ultimate, great or unlimited. Chi means, "energy", and
Ch'uan means, "fist". Chi can be described by the Yin/Yang Theory.
This theory refers to the negative (Yin) and positive (Yang)
electron power as we know from physics. Some believe that
teaching this theory is the same as teaching Buddhism, however,
this belief comes from a basic misunderstanding of the theory,
itself. The actual theory carries no religious connotation. It is
only one explanation and expression of the balance of positive and
negative energies within the universe. This is relating to
physical energy, NOT to any spiritual powers of Goodness and Evil.
T'ai Chi Ch'uan is of SCIENCE, not of religions.
Your Instructor,
Master Stephen Yang, is a born-again Christian and a graduate of
Northern Presbyterian Seminary in America and active ordained
pastor.
There are two kinds
of exercise required by human body: external exercise and internal
exercise. External exercise is the use of muscle movement, such as
walking, dancing, weight lifting, kicking, swimming, etc. During
this exercise, your body is active, but your mind is relaxed. On
the other hand, internal exercise does not use your muscles. It is
the exercise of your "mental muscles". When meditation, yoga, or
qi gong is practiced, your mind controls your body condition. At
that moment, your mind is sharp but your body is relaxed. The
practice of T'ai Chi makes complete balance of your internal and
external condition through carefully considered movements and
steps with breathing control.
The Eight Truths
of T'ai Chi
1. Do not be
concerned with form. Do not be concerned with the ways in which
form manifests.
2. Your entire body
should be transparent and empty. Let inside and outside fuse.
3. Learn to ignore
external objects. Allow your mind to guide you, and act
spontaneously, in accordance with the movement.
4. The sun sets on
the western mountain. The cliff thrusts forward, suspended in
space. See the ocean in its vastness and the sky in its immensity.
5. The tiger's roar
is deep and mighty. The monkey's cry is high and shrill.
So should you refine
your spirit, cultivating the positive and the negative.
6. The water of
spring is clear, like fine crystal. The water of the pond lies
still and placid. Your mind should be as the water and your spirit
like the spring.
7. The river roars.
The stormy ocean boils. Make your ch'i like these natural wonders.
8. Seek perfection
sincerely. Establish life. When you have settled the spirit, you
may cultivate the ch'i.
The Five Virtues
of T'ai Chi Ch'uan
1. Your study should
be broad, diversified. Do not limit yourself. This principle can
be compared to your stance, which moves easily in many different
directions.
2. Examine and
question. Ask yourself how and why T'ai Chi works. This principle
can be compared to your sensitivity, which is receptive to that
comparison which others ignore.
3. Be deliberate and
careful in your thinking. Use your mind to discover the proper
understanding power.
4. Clearly examine.
Separate concepts distinctly then decide upon the proper course.
This principle can be compared to the continuous flow of T'ai Chi.
5. Practice
sincerely. This principle can be compared to heaven and earth, the
eternal.
The key points to
observe in T'ai Chi practice:
· The real
application of the form should be hidden, not obvious.
· Discover calm within
action and action within calm.
· First the body should
be light; then it will become limber. When limber it should move
freely. Whoever moves freely will be able to change the situation
as needed.
Instructor : Cynthia
and Master Stephen Yang
