Chris Chi

Tai Chi for health & wellbeing

 

 

Push Or Shove Tai Chi

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One of the techniques I practice each day is the ‘push.’

And there is a difference between a push and a shove when it comes to Tai Chi.

In the Tai Chi Chuan Treatise by Chang San Feng there is a line ‘…. if there is a front  there is a back’  (‘When attacking or defending on one side, you must be aware of the other side’).

Here’s my interpretation of this in regards to a push.

When you are pushing an opponent forward be aware of the reverse direction.

Try this concept on a punching bag.

Hold your arms out in front of you, elbows bent and push the bag and see what happens.

If upon contact the bag swings away from you  then you are shoving and not pushing because you have not paid attention to ‘the other side’ i.e. the reverse direction.

Now try it again by focusing on the reverse direction while you are pushing forward.

If the bag hardly moves then you are correctly pushing and not just shoving.

It took me many attempts to get to a basic skill level.

It’s not easy, have a go and let me know what happens.

Footnote: Quote from Dr Yang Jwing-Ming Advanced Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Vol. 1

Tai Chi – Miracle Cure?

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Is Tai Chi a miracle cure for your problems?

Is it the best fighting art?

In two words, no and no.

It’s not Tai Chi that will provide you with a miracle cure.

The miracles you are looking for may occur if you do two things.

  1. Keep an open mind
  2. Practice

Very simple concepts that are difficult to do because it requires discipline.

So the next time you read about the miracle of Tai Chi, ground yourself in reality and focus on the above concepts.

If you do your Tai Chi, wellbeing, and self defence skills will improve gradually.

Footnote: There are no free yum cha’s in Tai Chi. Only practice.

Sitting Meditation

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As part of my overall training I do about ten minutes of sitting meditation each day.

I do it for two reasons;

  1. it enables me to calm my mind
  2. it gives my wonky knees a rest from the more physical training I do

When I do this meditation I spend two minutes on the ‘inner smile’, three minutes on ‘dissolving’ and five minutes on focusing on my tan tien.

Here’s how to do it;

  1. sit on the edge of the chair
  2. relax the shoulders
  3. Imagine a string attached to your head, gently pulling you straight up
  4. feet shoulder width apart and flat on the flloor
  5. Hands resting on the knees
  6. Breathe slowly, deeply and comfortably

Although I combine my sitting meditation with other techniques,  it is okay to sit there and just meditate.

Have a go and let me know how you feel afterwards.

Top 5 Tai Chi Books

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Here are my top 5 Tai Chi books that I often refer to for research purposes.

1. Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan – Wu Ying-hua and Ma Yueh-linag

2. Wutan Tai Chi Chuan – Cheng Tin Hung and D.J. Dockerty

3. Wu Style Taijiquan – Wang Peishing and Zeng Weiqi

4. The Inner Structure of Tai Chi – Mantak Chia and Juan Li

5. Advanced Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Vol 1 – Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming

I will write up a review of each book in future posts.

What are your top 5 Tai Chi books?


60 Workshops in 26 Days

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I will never forget February, 2008.

I delivered 60 workshops in 26 days.

The workshops were our ‘Pozitive Kidz are Happy Kidz’ schools program which focuses on building self esteem from a Tai Chi perspective.

The students age range from 5-12 years old.

At that stage, each workshop ran for 30 minutes – four per morning – two before the break and two after the break.

These were high energy workshops which included props , games and humour to engage the children for the full session. A traditional approach would have been boring and not work as well.

By the time the third and fourth session kicked in during the morning I had to stay centred and make sure I was not repeating or forgetting to include an activity.

Because when I deliver a workshop I leave some flexibilty so I can react to what is happening in the moment, besides covering the core skills.

I now know what it feels like to be out on the road covering several gigs a day over an extended period.

It may not be rock n roll but it’s great fun and exhausting.

Why put my self through this ‘ordeal’?

I’ve got no choice.

I’m passionate about what I do.