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’.
Personally, I regard myself as a Tai Chi teacher and not a Tai Chi Chuan teacher. I have learned the self defence aspects but I much more enjoy teaching the mind and body health benefits of Tai Chi. And besides, I’m not highly skilled in the areas of Tai Chi self defence so for that reason I’d rather not teach that aspect of it.
How would you describe yourself?
Are you a Tai Chi or Tai Chi Chuan person?
Hi
I have found that your blog is very intersting. Many open comments are a good source to know how different the peopele from differnt culture backgrouds in understanding some traditional Chinese cultures, particualrly in Tai Chi. My interpretation of Tai Chi Quan is a vehicle of Tai Chi philosophy both in health and martial arts. Therefore, when you practice Tai Chi Quan, you can set your mindset frame for either health (‘Wen’ practising) or defence (‘Wu’ practising), to achieve diffent results. Nowadays, ‘Wen’ practice domins in public mainly for healthy purpose.
A good teacher is a must from my point of view, if you want to learn real Chinese Tai Chi. Becasue Tai Chi Quan belongs to one of the inner martial arts, it’ll be very difficult to know the core of Tai Chi Quan if you only follow a book or video. A good tai chi quan teacher should fully understand the nature of tai chi and the philosophy. That means Tai Chi is the basis of Tai Chi Quan. It will be very helpful if a Tai Chi Quan practitioner can read some books in Chinese by great masters such as Wang Peisheng, Feng Zhiqiang, Sun Jianyun, Yang Zhenduo, Chen Zhenlei and Qian Timing etc.
Thanks Henry.
Yes, it’s fascinating to see and hear different people’s interpretation of Tai Chi. I like your description of ‘Wen’ and ‘Wu’, I haven’t heard it described that way before.
I agree with you that a good teacher is essential to learn Tai Chi whether it is for Wen or Wu purposes. Yes research is important and I often refer to my Tai Chi books which includes ‘Wu Style Taijiquan’ by Wang Peisheng and Zeng Weiqi.
Regards
Chris
Thanks Chris,
It is good to know your favourite sytle is Wu Tai Chi tought by Master Wang Peisheng. It’s a Wu style popular in the north of China (Beijing). There is another Wu style popular in the south of China (Shanghai) tought by Wu Yinghua and her husband Ma Yueliang.
I like Wang Pengsheng’s style very much. I can play his 37 forms and 64 Tai Chi Sword. I have his book and the supplement books by his two students. Unfortunately they are all in Chinese. But I must say, I have originally started with Zhao Bao Tai Chi (75 forms) which is the latest one opened to the public. I have systematically learnt Tai Chi from this style since 1980s. I have not seen anybody practising this style in Sydney or Melbourne. Do you know who is playing this style? Thanks.
Henry
Actually I learned Master Cheng Tin Hung Wutan’s style back in 1987 when I belonged to the Australian Federation of Wu Style Tai Chi, Blackburn Academy. Over the years I’ve focused on the form taught by Wu Yinghua and Ma Yueliang. I did learn Wang Peisheng’s form from his book awhile ago but stopped practicing it because it tended to overlap with the Wu style I’m now practicing. I very much liked his form and his book; detailed and easy to follow.
Unfortunately I don’t know about Zhao Bao Tai Chi style so I can’t help you there.
Regards
Chris
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your information and it is good to know that you have a lot experience in Tai Chi and contributed a lot to the communities.
I am a researcher but Tai Chi Quan is my favourite in my spare time. I leart Zhao Bai Tai Chi in 1988. Since finished my PhD at UNSW in 2002, I have more time in my hands. I started to be interetsed in the evolution of the Tai Chi forms from sytle to style and from generation to generation. I am trying to find the answers to these evolutions. That is mainly why I have extened my interetst to other sytles. After reviewing most of the books written by the masters and practising some of them, I have gradually found some fundamental reasons why the sytles are differnt. It is fascinating! I believe that you have had some similar questions asked yourself why the same named movements are presented differrently when you play differnt styles.
Best wishes,
Henry