Body Alignment Vs Energy Cultivation.
My opinion on body alignment vs energy cultivation in Tai Chi practice.
My opinion on body alignment vs energy cultivation in Tai Chi practice.
The release of tension in the body can lead to the release of unconscious memories to the conscious mind. This is true because we can suppress painful or traumatic experiences by unconsciously tensing certain parts of our musculature. There is also anecdotal and subjective evidence to support this, such as the spontaneous tears that may… Read more »
The Dantien What is traditionally called the Dantien has an important place in the discussion of Tai Chi. The Dantien is said to be an energy point/nexus located approximately 2 inches bellow the navel, but within the body. It is often said to be a reservoir of what is often called ‘chi’ in Chinese. Whether… Read more »
Sensitivity Training Another important aspect of Tai Chi training is Sensitivity Training. One of the things about the Tai Chi player is their ability to sense the intention of their opponent. How can they do this? They do this through the sense of touch. This is why as Tai Chi players we are told to… Read more »
Relax Relaxation is the priority and prime focus of all Taoist Exercise and Martial Arts, including Qigong. Relaxation is induced through deep breathing, awareness of and release of tension, awareness of breath, and mindfulness. Breathing in the practice of qigong is a deep diaphragmatic breathing with an expansion of the abdomen on the in-breath, and… Read more »
Can Tai Chi Chuan be used for Self-Defense in a street situation? The truest answer I can give is Yes…and No. Confused? You won’t be after you finish reading this. So, read on. Let’s start with the first answer to that question: “Yes.” Let’s enumerate the reasons why “Yes” would be an appropriate answer to… Read more »
“Peng” or “Ward off” is one of the main forces (energies/techniques) used in the arsenal of Tai Chi Chuan. It has the internal, feeling-awareness, subjective feeling quality of a ball filled with air, or when in use of a boat being floated upon the ocean, in this case, you are the ocean and your opponent… Read more »
The Tai Chi form, whatever form you may practice, is filled with movements that can be interpreted as self-defense or martial applications. These range from the obvious, such as a punch and a kick, to the not-so-obvious, such as the movements named ” Grasping the Birds Tail’, or “Apparent Close-up.” In truth, each movement has… Read more »
Most of us are familiar with, to some degree or other, the slow, flowing movements of the Tai Chi Chuan form. The form is a series of interlinked flowing movements, that look like a stylized, imaginary fight with a number of opponents. This is true in a Tai Chi form, as much as it is… Read more »
What is Qi? Is it truly a part of Taiji practice? Can it be used to augment Taiji’s martial and self-defense abilities?