Tai Chi Tuesday: Spending the Weekend With Richard Clear

Fairfax, Va. recently had a visitor from Maryville, Tenn.

Sigung Richard Clear gave Tai Chi Chuan workshops, including healing, chi energy and fighting the Tai Chi way.

Friday night was the healing workshop.

I have completed level 4 healing with Sigung Clear, and he demonstrated a few healing techniques I never saw before. (This is Sigung Clear's M.O.: just when you thought you have seen the best he has to offer, he goes a bit deeper into his bag of tricks.)

I was pretty impressed when he mimicked someone's posture in order to match the other person's energy to release the other person's tension.

Saturdays workshop was on borrowing energy — and 4 ounces moves 1,000 pounds.

This is probably the most sought-after skill for most Tai Chi practitioners. Within a couple of hours, all participants were comfortable applying this skill, and we were moving each other with little to no effort.

Sunday we practiced fighting skills (mostly evading and rolling). There were some great drills in evading punches and grabs.

If you have n opportunity to participate in one of Richard Clear's workshops, I highly recommend it. Check his website (http://www.clearstaichi.com/tai-chi-workshops) for workshops or request one for your kwoon.

Tai Chi Tuesday: Slacklining as Meditation

One of the key elements of Tai Chi is being mindful of what you are doing at that very moment. Mountain climbers have found a way to bring mindfulness into Tai Chi and meditation with a new practice called slacklining.

Slacklining involves stringing a webbed mountain climbing line between two posts or trees just a couple of feet off the ground.

The college students in the video below are doing it for a number of reasons (to impress a possible mate is one), and performers have done it for the thrill. Hardcore mountain climbers have created "highlining," which is stringing line between — you got it — two high points and walking across the crevass.

No matter the reason, however, practitioners all say the same thing: they value the focus, concentration and, yes, meditation required to achieve this skill.

Would you try slacklining for Tai Chi practice or meditation?

Tai Chi Tuesday: Tai Chi Goes to the Movies

Tai Chi has a place in modern cinema: just ask Keanu Reeves.

The actor is making his directorial debut with a movie that centers on Tai Chi and its application in current Chinese sports culture. In this new cinematic fete, a young fighter of exceptional talent finds himself fighting for his life in the underground world of Chinese Fight Club.

In this movie, Keanu Reeves performs with a former colleague: Tiger Wu Chen, who worked as a stunt professional in two of the Matrix movies. Chen's credentials reach back to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, another popular Chinese movie that heated up American movie screens.

Do you think Tai Chi will be positively or accurately represented in this movie? And do you plan to see it when it's released November 1?

Tai Chi Tuesday: Breathing for Self-Defense

Here is a video by Sigung Richard Clear, who will be giving workshops in Fairfax, Va., on September 20-22. I have attended four events he has held — two Tai Chi Gala workshops, one semi-private healing workshop and a qi gong healing weekend workshop — and I have learned a lot and enjoyed myself immensely.

If you're interested in attending his upcoming Fairfax workshop, drop me a note via e-mail and I'll share the information with you.

Check out his YouTube channel for more videos.

Hope to see you in September.

Tai Chi Tuesday: Seven Transformations of the Tai Chi Form

Tai Chi, like all other disciplines of study (including non-martial arts studies), evolve over time. It is important to understand the phases of Tai Chi so we don't get to hung up on any one phase in our practice. The key is to keep an open mind so we are open to a deeper learning.

Here is how I see the Tai Chi phases, or building blocks, work and evolve.

Each individual will spend a different amount time on different phases, depending on their understanding, their ability to learn new things and dedication to practice.

1. The form. The form is the series of movements that make up our set. This is the beginning of your Tai Chi practice. how we move properly, weighted and balanced. (Better balance provides fall prevention)
2. Good dan tien breathing. We breath through the dan tien to create relaxation and energy flow through the body. (This lets us de-stress and lowers blood pressure.)
3. Combine dan tien breathing with the form. This allows us to learn to move in a relaxed and balanced state of mind, or calm mindfulness.
4. Apply the movements to self-defense scenarios. This adds more flow to the movements when it's attached to context. At this point, many practitioners begin to make the form their own — and we learn how to defend ourselves).
5. Chi development. Make sure chi development takes place all through the study. When the form starts to flow and feel relaxed, chi flow increases and the form evolves once again. Now the form takes on a living, breathing feel as we expand and contract the chi energy. (Other health benefits include healthy organs).
6. Revisit the self-defense aspect. This happens once the chi energy becomes more part of the form. Instead of just moving with the dan tien leading. We perform the self-defense movements with the expanding and contracting of energy. (Learn to manipulate opponents energy: "Move 1,000 pounds with four ounces.")
7. Put your mind and body in harmony. It is imperative if you wish to perform Tai Chi skillfully — total relaxation. Mind and body need to be in harmony. This relaxation of mind and body can be very spiritual for some people. Spirituality brings better understanding of self, which in turn brings better relationships with others.

Tai Chi Chuan is multi-faceted, as I have stated many times. Each practitioner needs to choose how far to take their practice to make it enjoyable and beneficial to their needs.

Tai Chi Tuesday: The Science of Elastic Force

I have attended dozens of workshops, seminars, classes and symposiums in my life, but only three have changed my life. The Science of Elastic Force, with Sifu Mark Rasmus, is one of them.

There are always new techniques to learn and tricks of the trade, but Mark Rasmus does his best to increase the overall skill level of his students — and succeeds.

The Science of Elastic Force is the elastic properties, magnetic properties and electrical properties of the human body. Once this is examined, we can take these forces and manipulate them on an opponent. Creating tidal waves of force, supplied by ripples of force from our opponent.

Sifu Mark Rasmus not only has great skill, but he is able to teach this skill in a limited amount of time. Perfecting this skill normally takes years — but after this two-day seminar, I feel like I got a pretty good handle on it.

Check out some of Sifu Mark Rasmus' videos on YouTube.

I also would like to thank everyone who attended the seminar because I enjoyed practicing with them. I just wish I was able to work with every person in attendance.

I also learned an important tidbit: eight or nine hours of Tai Chi a day is about my limit.

Tai Chi Tuesday: Previewing the Skills of Sifu Mark Rasmus

I will attend Sifu Mark Rasmus' seminar this weekend in Maryland. Here is a video from his YouTube channel.

I am looking forward to all of the things I will learn and practice with him. I hope to see you there!

Tai Chi Tuesday: In China

Courtesy paranormalcore

Tai Chi Tuesday: Video Introduction to Chi Healing

Chi healing — using your energy to help another person feel better and heal quickly — is easy to learn, and easy to do. Watch my video below to find out more.

Tai Chi Tuesday: Fight Stress With Tai Chi

Stress attacks at any age.

Worried about school? Check.
Work? Yep.
Family? Absolutely.
Health? Sure.

Find a stress reduction activity to help you cope — and tai chi is the perfect activity for every age and fitness level. Here are just a few benefits of tai chi, according to Positive Medicine:

• Decreases stress and anxiety
• Increases aerobic capacity
• Increases energy and stamina
• Increases flexibility, balance and agility
• Increases muscle strength and definition
• Enhances quality of sleep
• Enhances the immune system
• Lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure
• Improves and helps alleviate joint pain
• Improves symptoms of congestive heart failure
• Improves overall well-being in older adults

No matter how busy you are or how stressed you feel, you must make time for your health and welfare.

If you're not sure how to find a tai chi class, call your city's recreation program, or e-mail me and I'll help you find your local resources.

Take care of yourself: you're the only you you have.

Tai Chi Tuesday: The Thirteen Postures

All the thirteen postures of Tai Chi Ch’uan must not be treated lightly. The meaning of life originates at the waist.

The thirteen postures of Tai Chi Chuan are the foundation base to this art. It is important that students be shown and trained in them. Yang Cheng-fu tells us in his Ten Important Points "that the waist is the commander and that all movement must pass through the waist." The waist is also where we must turn to generate Chi and storing it at the Tan Tien.

When moving from substantial to insubstantial, one must take care that the Chi is circulated throughout the entire body with out the slightest hindrance.

When moving the body through the movements, it is important that you are aware of your changes from insubstantial to the substantial and that the Chi is still being transported to various part of the body. To do this you must be very relaxed and your mind clear so as Chi can flow easily without any hindrance. When this happens you have health. When it stagnates ill health will follow.

Find the movement in the stillness, even stillness in movement. Even when you respond to the opponent’s movement, show the marvel of the technics and fill him with wonder.

Tai Chi is referred to as moving meditation. The mind should be as still as if you are in sitting meditation, but you should still be able to actively circulate your Chi. You should look centered and calm from the out side, but with in is like a raging sea. When you are attacked you should still be calm and aware. When you have learned this you are able to respond in a calm and natural way to an opponents moves. Tai Chi is change and you should follow and respond naturally to the opponents every subtle move and situation.

Pay attention to every posture and study its purpose. That way you will gain the art without wasting your time and energy.

Study wide and deep and with determination and seriousness and that will determine your degree of success. To understand each posture you must study and research its nature and purpose then to acquire your goal is easy.

In every movement you must pay attention so as the heart (mind) stay on the waist, then completely relax the abdomen, and your Chi will rise up.

When you commence your Tai Chi form, allow your mind to sink to your waist and focus on Tan Tien (Yi Sou Tan Tien). When your abdomen is relaxed and your mind clear, the Chi will rise up and permeate your whole body.

Your Tail Bone should be centered and upright so as your spirit (Shen) rises to the top of the head. The top of the head is suspended and the entire body is relaxed and light.

Your tailbone should be straight, but do not exert force to acquire this, it should be natural for to force this will cause the tailbone to push forward. The back is straight with an insubstantial energy lifting up through the top of the head.

Carefully study and pay attention when doing research, extension and contraction, opening and closing follow their freedom.

This point relates to pushing hands. Contract to neutralise the opponent’s power, and at the same time close to store your Jin (chin) then extend and open to emit your Jin. To do this your technic must be natural and free flowing to follow you opponent’s intention. This allows you to stick and follow and to defeat your opponent. If you don’t research these technics you will never gain the key to Tai Chi Ch’uan.

To enter the door and to be led along the way, you need to have oral instruction; practice without ceasing, and the technic is achieved by self-study.

It is important that you understand that a teacher is needed to learn the art. There are to many subtleties and it is easy to miss what is being emphasized in a movement. If you make a slight error at the beginning, by the time you have reached the end you will have missed by a thousand miles. In the early times there where two types of students, those of the outer school and those of the inner. Outer school students where taught the basic form and only a little of the principles. The inner school students where those chosen as worthy and of right quality that were shown the inner secrets of the styles. To day most students have the opportunity to study wider and deeper than those only in the outer school. It is amazing to day to hear the number of students who put them selves in the outer school when they say "I have finished the form, now I know Tai Chi"! All they have is form. It is when you have the form together that the real learning begins. You need a good teacher who can impart the knowledge to you and once you have been shown the way, then it is up to you to practice unceasingly and continue researching yourself.

When asked about the standard, function and application of the thirteen postures, the answer should be the Yi (mind) and Chi are the master, and the bones and muscles are the chancellor.

When looking at the correctness of movement the criteria is, are the mind and Chi directing the movement. All the movements are done with Jin supported by the Chi and directed by the Yi (mind). If the movements are done with the bones and muscles, this is your Li (strength) and is considered incorrect.

Carefully investigate what the ultimate meaning is: to increase and extend our health and age, and maintain a youthful body.

This is what most people learning Tai Chi to day are looking for. The important thing here is to practice many time and often, then the prize will be won.

The song consists of one hundred and forty characters, every character is true and its meaning is complete. If you do not approach and study in this manner, then you will waste your time and energy, and sigh in regret.

It does not matter for what reason you study the art, whether for health or martial art, you must study the meaning of the Song of Thirteen Postures or you are just wasting your time and energy and your effort will amount to nothing.


 With thanks to Sigung Richard Clear and Tai Chi Australia

Tai Chi Tuesday: Novel Tai Chi

For most people, practicing tai chi is a choice. For Tao, however, it's a new life — and for Roan, it's a total surprise.

Wesley Chu features tai chi in his new science fiction novel, The Lives of Tao, which prominently features martial arts and fitness as a way of life — no, the only way to live — in this world and every other.

Reviewers call funny and fast-paced. Are you going to read it? I think I will. I'll let you know what I think.

Have you found other fiction in which tai chi is featured? Or is it a tough practice to convey into words? Let me know in the messages below, or drop me a line.

Tai Chi Tuesday: Aiding Those Experiencing Parkinson Disease

Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching

Tai chi has yet another therapeutic application: for those who experience Parkinson Disease.

A study by Madeleine E. Hackney and Gammon M. Earhart published in Gait & Postures Journal in 2008  shows that tai chi can be helpful for balance and dexterity for those experiencing mild to mild-moderately severe Parkinson Disease.

According to the study's abstract, 33 people with the disease were randomly assigned to two groups. The Tai Chi group participated in 20 one-hour training sessions completed within 10–13 weeks; the control group had two testing sessions between 10 and 13 weeks apart without interposed training. 

The tai chi group improved more than the control group on six indicators of balance, gait and mobility — and all tai chi participants reported satisfaction with the program and improvements in well-being. Read about the study here.

Tai chi appears to be an appropriate, safe and effective form of exercise for some individuals with mild-moderately severe form of the disease.

Check back tomorrow for a tai chi bonus about the annual Tai Chi Gala in Albany.

Tai Chi Tuesday: The Beauty of Tai Chi

Courtesy Tea and Tao

Tai Chi Tuesday: Holistic Approach to Fighting Pain Takes Root in American Medicine

There is no panacea for pain. We can take a pain reliever, but that masks the symptoms. Doctors are beginning to join forces with patients to alleviate the root of the problem — or, barring a cure, manage chronic pain.

According to the AARP, doctors have begun to use a holistic approach, joining mind and body, with long-term management options for chronic pain of arthritis, injury or other ailments.

Not surprisingly, one of the key elements of chronic pain management is exercise: tai chi, yoga and dance, to name a few. Doctors already have identified the value of tai chi with heart patients and stroke patients and also have identified its importance to bone health.

The AARP Bulletin article "Fight Pain" (April 2013) lists not only tai chi, but acupuncture and massage among the tools doctors have begun using to treat chronic pain (which, according to the article, "becomes a disorder in its own right").

In these cases, doctors prescribe pills and other medications cautiously because the relief is temporary and limited. Escalating doses don't always help and often lead to dependence on the medication.

To find a tai chi class near you, check with your local parks and recreation department or check with the International Taoist Tai Chi Society.

For those who can't easily make it to class: consider using a DVD at home. E-mail me for some suggestions.

Tai Chi Tuesday: Fixing Tebow

According to Deadspin and Newsday, quarterback coach Steve Clarkson fixed Tim Tebow's elongated throwing motions — with tai chi. Clarkson noted that Teabow's feet and his arms were not working in unison, it appears.

"There was a lot of Tai Chi that we kind of put into his workouts where we really taught him to make his body work as one unit," Clarkson was quoted in Newsday. He also noted that Tebow lost about a dozen pounds, which helped his form.

(Photo courtesy Steve Clarkson: Dreammaker)

Tai Chi Tuesday: 10 Benefits of Tai Chi for Older Adults

Tai Chi Tuesday: Celebrating World Tai Chi Day

Saturday was World Tai Chi and Qi Gong Day — take a look at what Chen Huixian Chenjiagou Tajiquan Academy in Kansas City did. Visit the website for more great photos.

What did you do? Let us know!

Tai Chi Tuesday: Tai Chi Chuan Morals and Commandments

Do you follow these "morals and commandments" — or do you even agree with them?

Tai Chi Tuesday: Practicing From a Wheelchair

Don't let anything stop you: tai chi is an option for fitness and flexibility no matter your mobility and fitness level.