Tai Chi Chuan topics.
Tai
Chi Qi Gong (太極氣功)
. Tai Chi Qi Gong is a foundation art to Tai Chi Chuan. tai Chi Chuan is
no other than Qi Gong used as a martial art, with its set of martial
theories and applications. It helps the beginner to feel and understand
Qi, and to learn how to use the mind to lead the Qi so that it can circulate
smoothly. Practicing Tai Chi Qi Gong exercises can significantly improve
one's health. In addition, Tai Chi Qigong is the key which helps the Tai Chi
practitioner learn how to use the Yi (mental intention) to lead the Qi to
energize the physical body for maximum efficiency.
Tai Chi Exercise Routine (太極拳套).
This is the exercise that the general public identifies as “Tai Chi”.
Each style of Tai Chi has its own routine. In TTCC,
traditional Yang Style and Wu Style of Tai Chi Chuan are taught. For
beginners, a wonderful easy and simple to learn format called “Easy Tai
Chi” is taught. Easy Tai Chi is not a sales and marketing gimmick
which takes 4 minutes to practice. It is traditional tai Chi Chuan in its
entirety, but presented in a way that is simple, easy and a pleasure to
practice. Because it is easy to learn, student progress at a
much faster rate.
Tai Chi Stationary Pushing Hands (太極定步推手,
Tai Chi Ding Bu Tui Shou). The purpose of Tai Chi Pushing Hands training
is the same as that of the external styles of Shaolin. However, Tai Chi
Chuan emphasizes greater sensitivity to touch, yielding and emptiness.
Students learn the important Tai Chi Chuan principles of
yielding, listening (Ting), understanding (Dong), following (Sui),
sticking (Zhan), adhering (Nian), emptiness (Kong), coiling, releasing,
exploding (Fa), controlling, borrowing (Jia), leading (Dai), and neutralizing
(Hua).
Stationary Pushing Hands contain the foundational exercises of single pushing hands and double pushing hands. The TTCC program starts with Easy Pushing Hands, which is a stationary free format style. Students learn to circle and yield. Then they graduate to pushing hands applications to out balance the opponent, and then to lock up and eject the opponent. Then Square and Round Pushing is taught. These incorporate the energies of Ward Off (Peng,), rollback (Lu), press or squeeze (Ji), push (An).
Next, the student learns pull down (Cai), split (Lie), elbow (Zhou), and shoulder (Kao) within the context of Round Pushing.
Then, the student learns pull down (Cai), split (Lie), elbow (Zhou), and shoulder (Kao) within the context of Da Lu.
Silk Cocoon Reeling Training using the Tai Chi
Symbol (太極圈纏手練習,
Tai Chi Quan Chan Shou Lian Xi). This exercise trains the
student in the foundational jings of Tai Chi Pushing Hands and sparring.
The student traces the hands or feet using the Tai Chi
symbol. It enables the student to twist and change directions at will
during Pushing Hands or sparring.
Yang Tai Chi Sparring Set (Tai Chi San Shou Tui Lian). This is a pre-arrange sequence of techniques
executed by 2 practitioners. The purpose of the Yang Tai Chi
fighting set is to allow students to test and practise the principles of Tai
Chi Chuan in a combat situation with safety. Students learn how to
advance, retreat, side-step, and dodge into the most advantageous position
during combat, while locking the opponent into a disadvantageous position.
Tai Chi Moving Pushing Hands (太極動步推手,
Tai Chi Dong Bu Tui Shou). Tai Chi moving pushing hands is the training
before Tai Chi sparring. In moving pushing hands, the student must use stepping
strategy with the techniques learned in stationary pushing hands and the
fighting set. Students who have reached the level where the opponent cannot set
them up, and can use their own techniques skillfully, have completed the basic
training for sparring.
Tai Chi Combat Boxing (Tai Chi San Da Quan)
This is the fighting art of Tai
Chi. Tai Chi Chuan principles are applied in combat.
Tai Chi Free Sparring (太極自由散手對打,
Tai Chi Zi You San Shou Dui Da). Barehand Tai Chi sparring is
one of the final goals of physical instruction. This is the equivalent of
free sparring in Karate or kickboxing.
Tai Chi Sword (太極劍, Tai Chi Jian). The sword is the epitome of Chinese martial arts. Its usage requires a high level of Qi development and subtle movements.
Sticking Tai Chi Sword (太極劍對練,
Tai Chi Jian Dui Lian). Sticking Tai Chi sword training is an
extension of Tai Chi Pushing Hands training. It helps the student to
extend their Qi and sensing beyond the body and along and to the tip of the
sword.
Tai Chi Sword Sparring Set
This is a pre-arrange sequence of techniques executed by 2 practitioners.
The purpose of the Tai Chi fighting set is to allow students to test and practise
the principles of Tai Chi sword in a combat situation with safety.
Students learn how to advance, retreat, side-step, and dodge into the most
advantageous position during combat, while locking the opponent into a
disadvantageous position.
Tai Chi Sabre (太極刀,
Tai Chi Dao). Tai Chi Sabre is a cutting, slashing and hacking
weapon which requires quick and forceful manipulation. Sticking training
is part of the curriculum.
Tai Chi Staff (太極棍,
Tai Chi Gun). The staff is the first long weapon in Tai Chi.
Sticking training is part of the curriculum. As in Tai Chi Pushing
Hands, students learn feeling, listening, following, sticking, and
adhering. Sticking training is part of the curriculum.
Tai Chi Spear (太極槍,
Tai Chi Qiang). The spear the king of the long weapons in Chinese
martial arts. The earliest forefathers of Yang Tai Chi were expert in the
spear. Students learn to extend their sense of feeling along the shat of the
spear, and to direct their Qi to the tip of the spear. As in Tai Chi
Pushing Hands, students learn to feel, listen, follow, stick and adhere
to the opponent's weapon. Sticking training is part of the curriculum.
Written by John Chow
14 March 2005
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