Tai Chi for health & wellbeing
Lately it has been too wet to practice my Tai Chi weapons’ forms so I’ve had to practice in my living room.
I use my wooden sabre and sword for safety reasons but my eight foot spear can be a problem. Especially near a television set or over hanging lights not to mention the walls. So far I haven’t destroyed anything yet.
I’ve just started to relearn another Wu style spear form and have found the count method makes it easier to remember the moves.
It’s a technique I teach beginners during my Tai Chi classes, private lessons and presentations.
All it involves is counting out aloud each movement of a posture. The number of counts depends on how many individual movements there are in the posture you are practicing.
For example one of the spear postures I’m learning has four separate movements. Here’s what I do: [Read more…]
By Chris 5 Comments
Tai Chi Chuan translates to ‘grand ultimate fist’. And today the most popular way of describing this ancient Chinese health and self defence system is ‘Tai Chi’.
While researching Tai Chi recently I read Bruce Frantzis (a renowned Tai Chi teacher) book, ‘Tai Chi for Health’ in which he describes Tai Chi Chuan as ‘encompasses its martial arts or warrior aspects’ ‘ and ‘Tai Chi ‘encompasses philosophical and spiritual concepts’. [Read more…]
Beginners: Practice daily so you’ll remember your form for the next Tai Chi lesson.
I had a very enjoyable time at last Sunday’s Push Hands session held at Fawkner Park, South Yarra.
I managed to drag myself out of bed and do 30 minutes of Chi Kung to loosen up before driving to town which took about an hour. Memo to self – don’t drive down Toorak Road -too busy!
Well, I survived the ‘ordeals’ – finding a parking spot and training. We had nine turn up, four Tai Chi practitioners and five Wing Chun practitioners. Training ranged from gentle to vigorous (without the killer moves :). Interesting to experience Chi Sao vs Push Hands.
We trained for two hours with a ten minute break in between. Ten minute rotations between participants.
[Read more…]